54 Lodgings in ike Strand. QJuly, 



against the morrow, and then act decisively one way or the other. At 

 parting for the night, the Major made me promise to breakfast with 

 them in the morning. s-A 



Monday the 8th. — " I will pour my sorrows/' said I, as I strolled to- 

 wards the Major's, " into the gentle bosom of my Angelica ; this day is 

 the last of my reign, unless by some bold stroke I secure a retreat from 

 the ills that environ me ; with Angelica's assistance I may brave them 

 all — why should I hesitate ? — nothing else now can save me." Musing 

 thus, and thus determined to make the awful confession, I entered the 



Major's library : " Good morning, IMr. ; sad news for us all," 



whispered he, laying down the newspaper he had been reading, " the 

 King won't join the procession to-morrow, after all." I felt my heart li- 

 terally leap within me — I seized the blessed journal in a transport of 

 delight — (I shall continue to take that paper as long as I live !) — 'twas 

 true ! Oh ! who would not envy me my feelings, if I could describe 

 them ! — I was emancipated from a living death. Grumble on, good citi- 

 zens, I join you; but, pleased as your Englishman proverbially is 

 with the jirivilege and enjoyment of grumbling, few there are, I ween, 

 who feel more satisfaction in the performance of this national anthem 

 than a certain " lodger in the Strand." 



Regardless of the gloom that quickly overspread the sensitive Ange- 

 lica Celestina's fair visage, reflected from half a dozen others around the 

 breakfast table, I positively smiled — in my sleeve ; while I never ceased 

 all day, nor indeed have I yet ceased talking loudly of " provoking dis- 

 appointment," — " great preparations," — " insufferable Sir Claudius,"— 

 and " unfeeling ministers," though, as far as these last are concerned, I 

 cannot help thinking them, in this particular instance, the wisest that 

 ever took office ; and out of pure gratitude, and upon the principle that 

 flowers were strewn by some unknown hand upon the tomb of Nero, I 

 shed several very watei'-like looking tears when they resigned. 



By the by, as I understand His Majesty tinll honour the " good citi- 

 zens," although he has put it off", at least once, since the above occurrence, 

 whenever the happy day is positively ascertained, I shall be delighted to 

 give up the eligible apartment mentioned above, in favour of any lady or 

 gentleman ambitious of obtaining " lodgings in the Strand." A. 



GOOD NIGHT TO TAGLIONI ! 



Good night to Taglioni ! The thought comes down like a drop- 

 curtain upon all my scenic remembrances ! IMany a time in the past and 

 present month has this parting benediction been on our lips. Prince 

 Leopold has wished good night to Belgium, and Leontine Fay to the 

 Haymarket Theatre. Curious and manifold have been the changes of 

 place and circumstance. ]Mr. Ward has vacated the city for Lord's 

 Cricket Ground, and Horace Twiss the House of St. Stephen for the 

 dwelling of ]\Iagog. Praed is out of Parliament, and a tallow-chandler 

 is lighted in his stead. IMay they all live a thousand years — 1 shall 

 gain nothing either by their presence or absence. I could say good 

 night to a million of them, without a trembling of an eye-lid. But 

 Taglioni — I should like to see the man who could say Good Night to 

 Taglioni ! A sack and the Thames, near the Isle of Dogs, would be his 

 appropriate recompence. '* 



