BOYHOOD. 11 



sides being active. Positive and negative may do very well in 

 electricity, but in the common concerns of life they are very 

 unpleasant. 



Thou wilt have heard of the wonderful change in the 

 politics of Ireland. How Wellington and Peel have learned 

 sense at last ; how O'Connell can now sit in parliament ; how 

 the entire county of Clare was lit up with bonfires on the night 

 that the news of the king's speech reached us ; and how the 

 conflagration spread from county to county, till nearly all 

 Minister was lit into one great bonfire, far more brilliant than 

 those got up by our worthy Captain Bock, proving to the people 

 of England how grateful the people were for being en- 

 franchised. Yet, this much-desired act of grace on the part 

 of the Government has come clogged with fetters which, 

 though in reality trifling, appear monstrous to our prejudices. 

 It was most amusing to see the papers preceding and following 

 the king's speech. The high church papers all of a sudden 

 changed their tone, and went so far as to hint the necessity of 

 declaring the throne vacant (how very loyal !), while the 

 opposite party were for once in their lives seen supporting the 

 Government. But an end to home affairs. We are likely to 

 have a very brisk campaign in Turkey. Poor Greece seems as 

 far as ever from freedom, though she is in a more comfortable 

 state by having France for her master instead of his Sublimity. 

 But why need she wish to be free ? She has liberty enough for 

 the present, and the mere name of an independent government 

 is nothing when she has to fight for it with such a mild and 

 'polite neighbour as Turkey. By-the-by, I fancy that our birds 

 called turkeys have their name from their reel, bloody necks, and 

 their strutting pomposity, so very like the boasted strength and 

 omnipotence of the " Brother to the Sun and Moon." I have 

 not exactly as yet settled down to anything, but am a kind of a 

 nameless person in " H. Brothers' " office, putting my hand to 

 everything, but having nothing exclusively to do. 



To the same. 



November, 1829. 

 Well, peace is at last concluded with Turkey, and, as yet, 

 all looks quiet in Europe, but who knows how long it may 

 continue so? A very extraordinary address to the French army 



