134 GLAUCUS ; OR, 



by meddling with those existing interests, and 

 " vested rights which are but vested wrongs," 

 which have proved fatal already to more than one 

 Board of Health. For last night, as he was sit- 

 ting quietly under a stone in four fathoms water, 

 he became aware (whether by sight, smell, or that 

 mysterious sixth sense, to us unknown, which 

 seems to reside in his delicate feelers) of a pal- 

 pable nuisance somewhere in the neighborhood ; 

 and, like a trusty servant of the public, turned 

 out of his bed instantly, and went in search ; 

 till he discovered, hanging among what he 

 judged to be the stems of tangle (Latninaria), 

 three or four large pieces of stale thornback, 

 of most evil savor, and highly prejudicial to 

 the purity of the sea, and the health of the 

 neighboring hei'rings. Happy Squinado ! He 

 needed not to discover the limits of his author- 

 ity, to consult any lengthy Nuisances' Removal 

 Act, with its clauses, and counter-clauses, and 

 exceptions, and explanations of interpretations, 

 and interpretations of explanations. Nature, 

 who can afford to be arbitrary, because she 

 is perfect, and to give her servants irrespon- 

 sible powers, because she has trained them to 

 their work, had bestowed on him and on hi.^ 



