1831.] The Steam-Boul; a Papei- of mg Uncle's. 289 



fectly inspired, he fell foul — commus el laQ — of aU sorts and conditions 

 of men, and being full of most fastidious censure, he converted the '^ an- 

 gelic creatures" of his sober rhapsodies, into " demons curst and fiends 

 detestable," beneath the ban of his pot-valiant energy. The thrifty 

 Solomon, who had quietly disposed of all his wares on board, found out 

 a fellow in the faith who helped him to the cheapest stock for his retuim. 



Miss Psyche Gobbleton and Master Hercules were taken ill, from 

 having swallowed an enormous quantity of plum-stones, and could hardly 

 be prevailed on to take such medicine as was calculated to relieve them. 

 But to shew what specious methods of inducement a judicious parent 

 can extend to children, they were told that if they took their physic 

 " like good loves," they should have two puddings instead of one on 

 Christmas-day, a promise which the young deslroyers hailed with such 

 alacrity, that if a double quantity of mince-pies had been added to the 

 prospect, the little souls would have made a hearty effort to swallow all 

 Apothecary's Hall. 



The Albums of the young ladies were amply stocked with the remarks 

 arising from their short excursion, and a mass of information, ocularly 

 authenticated, might be found among a host of painted butterflies, cha- 

 rades, and autographs of poetasters. Dunkirk was recorded as a town 

 in France, with all its topographical delineations ; and indeed that fact 

 was left utterly indisputable. 



IMost of the young gentlemen returned on board with blackened eyes 

 and lacerated faces, the record of their vernacular politeness, in having 

 caught the earliest chance of being rude abroad, and calling little French- 

 men " frogs ;" a piece of impudence which the Gallic youth retorted, ten 

 to one, by the opprobrious epithet of " gros Jean Bull," and a tremendous 

 drubbing, indecently provoked and bounteously bestowed. 



Peregrine and I regaled ourselves with a bechamcUeoi soles, a pullet, 

 and a glass of Macon. On the ensuing morning, I was called before a 

 juge de paix, of whom and of his like I have digested my remarks ; 

 which for the benefit of all foreigners, and for the dignity of France 

 herself, I shall shortly offer to the serious meditation of her chief au- 

 thorities. 



A DAV AT THE HEAD-QUARTERS OF THE RUSSIAN ARMY 



IN POLAND. 



I WAS at St. Petersburgh when the first intelligence of the Polish 

 insurrection reached the Russian capital. When the first movement of 

 surprise caused by this unexpected political event had in some degree 

 subsided, but one feeling appeared to pervade both the government and 

 the Russian people — a mingled feeling of indignation and pity _; violent 

 indignation against the men who had madly precipitated their country 

 into a contest so unequal — pity for the gallant but ill-fated Poles, on 

 whom the unsparing wrath of the northern autocrat was about to fall 

 with an iron hand. Indeed, the moment chosen for the development of 

 the insurrectionary movement, appeared singularly ill-timed ; for the 

 Russian armies, for some time before, had been rapidly concentrating 

 on the Polish frontiers. Orders were immediately sent of!" to put these 

 troops in motion — and the campaign commenced. 



The season was already far advanced ; and, having no taste for the 

 fublimity of a hyperborean winter, I turned my back on the Russian 



M.M. New Series.^VoL. XH. No. G9. ii D 



