contributions to the public treasury. Few among the great officers of the empire can boast an illustrious origin. Houan, the intimate adviser of the Viceroy, the mandarin to whose influence rumour attributed in part the diplomatic skill of Ki-ing, was born in the Shan-tong, of obscure parents. He had attained the rank of mandarin of the second order, and was a member of the imperial college of the Han-lin, when he was accused by his enemies of venal partiality in the examinations over which he was called to preside. By a severe sentence he was at once hurled from the pinnacle of rank and honour to the very foot of the official ladder. At the time when we were presented to him by the Viceroy, Houan was engaged, with that patient resignation the secret of which the Easterns alone possess, in regaining step by step the position from which he had so suddenly fallen. The blue button already decorated his cap, which had not yet regained its peacock's feather. Amidst the servile crowd who surrounded the Viceroy, the expressive look, the noble physiognomy of his intimate councillor, inspired a powerful sympathy. Ki-ing, to his honour, had not abandoned his tégé in his disgrace, and from the confidence which he showed him publicly, might be inferred, that in his heart he protested against a decree which was probably aimed, in the person of Houan, at the champions of that moderate cause, the chief of which was as yet beyond the power of attack.

pro

In China no diplomatic conference takes place without a banquet. A dinner of thirty covers awaited us in a low saloon, ill lighted by the oblique rays which fell from above on an inner court. Comfortably wrapped in their warm pelisses, the mandarins defied the cold and humid temperature, against which we were very imperfectly sheltered by our thin uniforms.

A Chinese dinner is no longer a novelty; but it is always a frightful affair-we may add, an awful reminiscence to a European stomach. The dessert alone might have found favour in our eyes, and this led the way to the repast. Two long rows of pyramids, three or four inches high, and composed of almonds, sweetmeats, dried fruits and preserves, presented as we entered the banquet-room a graceful coup d'oeil, which would have made a child jump for joy. After this simple service, appeared a number of tin dishes filled with indescribable viands, all fuming with nauseous oily vapours and melted fat. The servants now quickly laid before the guests small bowls, filled to the brim with pheasants' or

pigeons' eggs, gelatinous balls, and whitish filaments which crackled between the teeth like the strings of a violin. These suspicious-looking messes were then watered with cups of tea without sugar, or cups of sam-chou,-a lukewarm drink obtained by the distillation of rice. Champagne, so called, with some Spanish and Portuguese wines, circulated amidst this frightful pell-mell, and added their European poison to these indigenous ones. At length, when this gastronomic penance seemed to be ended, after each of us had in turn received from Ki-ing, Houan, Potin-qua, or other of the hosts, some fragment, contributed by these amiable epicures from their own plates,-after we had all, bon-gré mal-gré, done honour to these offerings, which were skilfully transferred to our plates on the ends of the little skewers, we found to our consternation and dismay that the veritable dinner had not yet commenced. A troop of scullions came rushing into the room, armed like a regiment returning from a marauding attack on pigs, roast sheep, fowls, geese, and ducks, at the point of the spit. Then resting the palm of their dirty hands on the meat, these heroes of the carving-knife set to work to cut off thin slices from the joints, which they presented to us. Happy the stomachs of iron able to bear such a trial without turning with disgust! At length the Viceroy took pity on his guests; balls of rice were set upon the table, and after rendering homage to this cereal of China, we were at liberty to rise from table, returning thanks at not having sunk under the effects of our first Chinese dinner. Of all the guests seated at this banquet, the most pitiable victim was our luckless interpreter; obliged to serve as medium of all the jokes and pleasantry, all the questions, all the messages, which passed incessantly across the table from one end to the other. There was not a mandarin present who did not think himself bound to pass a complimentary toast to one or other of us, which he did by raising with both his hands his cup full of sam-chou to a level with his lips, and giving his head a formal balancing movement. The handsome Houan, the pink of ti-mié, or fashion, distinguished himself above all the rest by his laudatory urbanity. With flattering expressions of politeness, he drank to the venerable beard of one of the officers of the "Bayonnaise," modestly assigning the honours of a septuagenarian to a man who was scarcely thirty; but Houan knew the human heart, and his smile, full of finesse and meaning, seemed to say to his guest, "you fancy that I flatter you, but I am sure you will pardon me!"

Amidst this gracious interchange of compliments and courtesy, a mutual confidence and good understanding were naturally soon established between "the children of the flowery earth," and the amiable Fa-lan-ça-is; but the day was declining, and we were soon obliged to take leave of the Viceroy. The effusion of politeness which we had received on our arrival accompanied us to the boat, the Viceroy insisting on himself seeing us embark. The ebb served us now as the flood-tide had favoured us in the morning, and before sunset we had regained the factories.

FORGIVE AND FORGET.

Forgive and Forget, sweet doctrine refined,
Which blesses the man who enjoys it:
It gives him repose in his innermost mind,
While actions contrary destroys it.

Oh! proffer the right hand of friendship and peace,
To him who would injure or harm thee,

And surely thy friends will in number increase,
While enemies seem to alarm thee.

Forgive and Forget, or the anger conceal,
Which causes dissensions at home,

And hearts nearly breaking thy kindness will heal,
And peace will extend to thine own.
For passion is madness! and anger is rage,
Uncontrollable, cruel, and strong;
Deforming to young, and degrading to age,
Indulgence in either is wrong.

Forgive and Forget, 'tis the language of God,
The step-stone to heaven from earth;

The ladder to climb, the path which if trod,
Will end in a glorious birth.

Then cancel the wrong, howe'er 'twas incurr'd,
Make haste to be wise, to be just;

Be not thy forgiveness one moment deferr'd,
But trample each wrong into dust.

Forgive and Forget, and taste of the bliss
Lost affection recover'd bestows;

Why should you a portion of happiness miss,
To add to thy number of foes?

Each generous action 's recorded above,
And what can more generous be?

Than to fetter each foe in the bondage of love,

VOL. III.

And chain his affection to thee?

2 A

G. M. M.

By the Author of "Stray Leaves from a Freemason's Note-Book.”
(Continued and concluded.)

IV.

His Britannic Majesty's representative at that period at the Austrian court, was a nobleman who abhorred trouble, and loathed a scene. A veteran diplomatist was Lord Sarston: deep in the mysteries of courts and cabinets. He could speak for three hours on a knotty point of foreign policy, and leave his hearers as well informed when he closed as when he commenced. A plain topic he could mystify, embarrass, and perplex with a web of subtlety that defied all unravelment. But then he had a most courtly bow; a ready smile; could clothe a refusal in the most complimentary language; and had an irreproachable cuisine. His dinners were faultless, and his balls perfection. Rows, and everything that led to such atrocities, he held in utter detestation. Mr. Cobden himself could not be a more ardent lover of peace. His Lordship's aim was simple:-to discharge his duties easily; to pocket his ambassadorial allowances quietly; to escape all House of Commons comment on his despatches; and to be bored by "no nonsense.

Who could have the heart to quarrel with a being who had no angles in his course of conduct, such a quiescent man, and such an irreproachable envoy!

But on the memorable evening when Maurice Heathfield sought refuge at his hotel, his Lordship's digestion sustained marvellous derangement. He listened with averted eye and reluctant ear; and his dismay at young Heathfield's recapitulation of injuries, at his appeal to him as a British subject for protection, at the apparent absence of all provocation, deepened by a growing conviction that he must act, and at once, was most amusing.

"Of course, I credit your statements," exclaimed his Lordship, at the close of Heathfield's narrative, "I have no reason to distrust them,-none-none; but provocation must have been given, though perhaps unwittingly, on your part. The Austrian government, sir, is-is-is-somewhat stringent in its enactments."

"To my knowledge," returned the young man, firmly, "I have not violated them, even in thought."

"Your papers seized!-seized by government emissaries, and at mid-day! Strange! Pray, among your papers was there any political document ?"

"None whatever.'

"Do you belong to any political society?" "I do not."

"Are you

mixed up with any reform association?"

"I am not."

"What brought you to Vienna ?"

"Business connected with our firm."

"But your main-your direct-your special object?" pursued Lord Sarston, somewhat sharply.

"Repayment of moneys injudiciously advanced to Herr Grüt."

The peer looked up quickly.

"Herr Grüt!” he repeated musingly, "Herr Grüt !—the name is familiar to me. Is he not the wealthy banker; and the confidential financial agent of the Emperor?"

My Lord," returned the young merchant, with a smile, "the best proof to me of Herr Grüt's wealth would be his prompt repayment of the debt he owes us. The other point has better foundation than mere matter of hearsay. It is matter of general belief. For myself, I can say that we have confidently reposed upon it."

"Ah! say you so?" cried his Lordship, briskly; "then weigh my next question, and answer it fully and frankly: in any one of the papers seized, is there any allusion to the Emperor, direct or indirect, in his public or private capacity?" Many, many allusions to him; but mostly having reference to his private enterprises."

"Daylight!" said his Lordship, with emphasis,-" daylight!" Then to a servant, who entered "The carriage within twenty minutes; and tell Mr. Stanhope, I wish him to accompany me.'