232 Conches, Cabs, and Omnibuses. ^Sept. 



balloon ; decayed wheels, broken-kneed horses, and the immediate contact 

 of a driver covered with filth, smelling of gin, and perhaps carrying 

 about disease with him, are the charms of the cab. The only rational 

 contrivance hitherto, is the omnibus or the stage ; and if they were al- 

 lowed to ply through the streets as they do on the road, at a fixed price, 

 according to the time — which would probably be better than the distance, 

 in so large a city as London — for instance, at a shilling an hour, and with 

 smaller sums for the half hour and the quarter — a very remarkable addi- 

 tion would be made to the comforts of the multitude, who are now com- 

 pelled to trudge through the streets, in heat and cold, or be cheated by the 

 ruffians of the whip, and insulted into the bargain. 



I'AGANINI S IMTERVTEW WITH SATA>J. 



The Deil came fiddlin' thro' our town.— Burns. 



There was a man — a solitary man — 



Stood in the depths of a dark night alone. 



And ever and anon his fingers ran 

 Along an instrument of dulcet tone. 

 'Twas in a dreary room. 

 Or dungeon, where the gloom 

 Looked still more gloomy in the shadowy night. 

 From the fast-failing glare of one poor candle's light. 

 'Twas said he was confined 



Within that prison for some unknown crime — 

 Some dark mysterious act of vengeance or of shame. 

 So damnable, that holy men resigned 



So great a sinner to a place and time 

 Where torture punishes with burning flame 

 Those whom their blessed prayers forget to name. 



But there was he adjudged for years and years. 



To wash away his errors in his tears. 

 Some said he had a most unhappy case. 



That he had shrunk from all his guilt disclosing ; 

 Some said the tenor of his life was hass. 



For he'd been found with others' goods transposing . 

 And some in a mysterious manner hinted 



That he'd been known so very high to play. 

 He couldn't keep it up, unless he printed 



And gave false notes away. 

 Then others, who were more mysterious still. 



Swore he had been the leader of a hand, 

 Who made some shahe, and other people thrill, 



With many a fearful instrument in hand ; 

 And some were sure 'twas treason, for of late 



He had been seen holding communications 

 With many people of another state, 



And made strange oi^ertures to other nations. - 

 But these are all pretences 



Got up by Rumour in her many shapes ; 



