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Now here is a sum very nearly amounting to TWO MILLIONS Sterling, which, upon the face of the account itself, every body in Ireland knows cannot be due. It is, and every part thereof is, and always was, direct

Let us, however, be just. The late excellent and worthy Under-Secretary for Ireland, Mr. Drummond, was made aware of the real state of the case shortly before his death; and with the energy that was so characteristic of all his thoughts and actiously charged upon the grand jury cess, and (would that he had bequeathed it to some of his surviving friends!)-asked at once to know practically how the preparation of a counter-return could be set about. The mode, which was simple enough, was intimated; and ere there was time to carry it into effect, Mr. Drummond was called away. We shall never look upon his like again. His enthusiasm in pursuit of truth, and unwearying zeal therein, died with him. But this is no question of personal character; it is, or ought to be, a plain matter of public duty; and although too much precious and irrecoverable time has been suffered to roll by, we hope, and we have a right to expect, that among the host of placemen and expectants that every government has at command, two or three will be set to the useful work of producing a complete and satisfactory discharge in account, of the huge sum we have been thus dis-credited with.

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payable thereout by regular instalments, with legal interest thereon. The county and city grand juries are required, nay, they are not allowed a discretion by the acts of parliament which authorize the Board of Works to advance them respectively such sums as they require, to present these instalments for the payment thereof. They are bound by law and by their oaths to present all such sums, no matter what the circumstances of their county or city at the time may be. The judge of assize, or of the commission by whose signature their presentments are fiated, is left no option or discretion in regard of them; and all these high and learned functionaries, and all the grand juries in Ireland must have entered into the national conspiracy to defraud, and must have sought the attainment of their crime through forty years of wilful and corrupt perjury, before these TWO MILLIONS of Bull money could have run in arrear, or justly become chargeable as a deficiency against our nation!

Partial deficiencies there may have arisen in other items; but let us have at least a fair national reckoning, ere the interests and the honour of the country are again impugned. This wretched thing is no account; will no Irish member move for one, and drag the truth to light?

LINES FOR MUSIC,*

ON HEARING, AFTER MANY YEARS, AN AIR FAMILIAR TO CHILDHOOD.

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In charming Music-in mem'ry's Music wakes the past! In charming Music-in mem'ry's Music wakes the past!

J. F.

This song, adapted to a beautiful French air, and arranged by Mr. Haverty, will be published by

Mr. Novello, of London, early in the present month.

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FIRE-SIDE RAMBLINGS.

PART II.

THE TAKING OF SNUFF ORIGINALLY A

BLACK ART.

VERILY, it is an odd system and a laughable -that taking of snuff. Who first invented it? At the bottom of whatever cogitation this question cost me, I think I have found, if not a certainty, at all events a probability, that to accident the discovery must be attributed, as in the history of the medi

cinal bark.

What is more easy than to imagine, first, a set of Indians grouped round one of their fires, exulting in the loud yells of their war song, and in the grotesque performances of their war dance? Secondly, what more easy than to imagine some leaves of the tobacco-plant finding their way to the fireplace with the other materials of fuel? Thirdly, what more easy than to imagine some of these leaves getting but a partial roasting-that kind of cracked crisping necessary to make them pulverescent ? Fourthly, how easy to imagine, then, a breeze springing up, bearing the lighter particles of this primeval "high-toast," noseward among the dancers-diffusing such influence, that the choral yells of triumph are checked in their throats, and degenerate into the less unnatural but more convulsive whiz of their sneezes ? Fancy, then, an unusual sensation coming over them, opiate-like and pleasurable, but, because it is unusual and its cause not understood, a little alarming. They would deem this overpowering odour to betoken the approach of some offended deity-they wax brown-(their pale)-the war song is hushed-the war dance ceaseth -they squat upon the earth. At length, a committee of the whole forest (their "House") sitteth upon the occasion, and the chief addresseth the assembly. Eloquently does he advise them of some deity offended; eloquently does he recommend to them what measures of appeasement must be observed; what presents offered; what victims immolated-when lo!-the speaker (squatted, as he is, to leeward of the fire, and in rather close propinquitude thereto) finds his face, on the sudden, covered with dust, feels a kind of spasm in his utterance, shuts, with an involuntary compression, his eyes, corrugates his nose, opens his mouth, and

experiences again what all had believed to be the "odour" of the coming" sanctity." The sneezing over, the chief (for he happeneth to be the head sage of their ethical, as he is the head warrior of their bellicose councils,) continues his speech; but in the fullness of his wisdom he pursueth the true scent at last, for he had observed whence the dust arose, and what it was that the "ruffian blast" had blown into his face. He now explaineth the cause of the sternutatory chorus, and of its immediately consecutive influence-and, himself beginning, obligeth each of his subordinates to take a pinch of the half-burnt tobacco-dust, and apply it to his nostrils, to ascertain if a similar effect can obtain. Well a similar effect does obtain, and the chief thereupon, to the infinite satisfaction of his auditory, winds up his oration by telling them that the displeasure of their deity would shew itself in the infliction of some bodily suffering, rather than in such pleasing convulsion, such healthful concussion, as that they had just undergone, together with the co-instantaneous change that had wrought upon them such (he was the very first to think so) "agreeable titillation of their olfactory nerves," such dulcet feeling of sleepy stupefaction. 'Twas impossible that an offended deity could wake up an aroma like this. "No, offended deities will always have an offensive incense in their (invisible though they be) advances, as too well some of you know, if you recollect the Marsh of Muddy-flat, where Death sacrificed so many of our brave compeers." In short, nem. con. it was resolved that they were all delighted at the accident, and that each should keep about his person what box his artistic ingenuity could fashion, (their's were the first snuff-boxes,) in which he was to have and to hold certain of the half-burnt dust of the tobacco-leaf, to excite, when he pleased, the sternutatory convulsion and the "agreeable titillation." By habit, however, the former effect was not so uniform, while, on the contrary, habit appeared to strengthen the latter.

What, I say, more easy than to imagine all this? Nay, much more than this, that some of the Spanish discoverers of America observed these Indians preparing and using

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this powder; that, thereupon, they believed | dogmatic disregard to, and defiance of, conit, at first sight, to be some "elixir vitæ," sequences, present or to come, keep turning full of magical virtues; that, in due time up his nostrils! He cannot help it. They they learned, and exercised, and delighted become, as it were, his twin nurslings; they in this their Black art; that, soon were they have a perpetual appetency-an insatiable "up to snuff" with them-nay, a pinch or eraving for their confection; their bias totwo above them," being able (we'll suppose) ward their food is fixed and unalterableto grind the weed in mills which they pre- their Schneiderian palates cannot tolerate viously used for other purposes; and, lastly, any other. Neither will they bear to be that when they sent over (as they really did) spoon-fed," the plain finger and thumb to Spain and to Portugal supplies of this feeding will alone satisfy them. Differing singular weed, they also sent an account of from all other nurses, he hath no hope of the manufacture and use of the powder. weaning them even for a day, for they are By the Aborigines this weed was called spoiled in their rearing; they are not of the "petun"-alias, named by Hernandez de unsnuffing, chameleon family-the totalToledo, "Tabaco"-alias, by the French, abstinence society of Nose; they will not "Nicotiana," on their being first acquainted live on mere air-tangible, solid, substantial, with it through a certain John Nicot, whose must be their dietary, and that, too, liberally several merits are doubtless set forth by their supplied. Three hundred and sixty-five proper biographers. Great indeed must pence a year it taketh to support them crethey have been, for they have awakened an ditably, to say nothing of the heavy bills of unparallelled revolution in European tastes the laundry nymphs, for their daily supply and smells-a revolution which, year after of apparel for them in the shape of silk handyear, hath continued to be further revolu- kerchiefs. For, though they drivel much, tionised down to this very day. Attributing yet are they not insensible to the propriety what verisimilitude you please, kind reader, to this our origin of snuff, be it for you now to observe what happened in its progress. What at first was the genuine pulverized "petun," was afterwards adulterated with other ingredients, as errhines—but, hold-I have too great a solicitude for the unitiated to enumerate the errhines, narcotics, perfumes, &c. that are now available with the professors of this Black art. I should not forgive myself if I were thus to give an opportunity of more extensive imposition. Enough that the schools of this art are but too numerous already in our several cities, if we judge from the men of colour, collossal and diminutive, that stand boldly over the shop windows, or, more ignobly, are hooked by the back to the jambs of the doors. And, by the bye, this use of black statues giveth a great colouring to my conjecture of the art having been a Black art; for, may it not be probable that the Spanish manufacturers, for the speedier sale of their commodity, imported into their shops, as shopmen, some of the AmericoIndians, or Negro slaves,-aware that attraction was everything; and that our moderns, without knowing it, are commemorating this custom in "still life," as best is suiting to each one's taste for design. But beshrew all doubt and digression.

Now, it seemeth odd-very odd, that, although the snuff-taker hath ocular, or auricular, or gustatory, or all together, besides the direct olfactory testimony touching the constituents of his snuff, yet doth he, with a

"emunctæ naris." And, grey beard Antiquity, did I not bear an ill-will against thee, I might speculate upon thy mossgrown nomenclature; first, taking my stand upon the Nares, I might be tempted to prove that thou hadst given this surname to the nostrils, from some similarity of drivelling observable between them and thy Umbrian river, Nar, that whilome (and may still, "mutato nomine," for aught I know) paid tribute to the Tiber. Avaunt, old dotard, I have not sympathy for thee.

Reader, dost thou not now recognise in the midst of this twin family-these Siamese Epiphyses,-my own especial "care ?" Dost thou not see them solicitous for my countenance, and hungering pruriently for their accustomed sustentation? Or, the sooner to dissolve this figurative paternity, dost thou not see with what a meritorious liberality my left hand offereth the snuff to my nostrils, even while I am writing this yet offereth so as with a sense of right— moreover, so as not to be eleemosynary, thing to raise a blush-but so as to lower down to zero all other "voluntary systems" whatever, in the scale of the cheerful giving?

IN PRAISE OF MY WALKING-STICK.

Reader, art thou, like me, a bachelor? And, if so, hath Nature afflicted thee, like myself, with an undue length of upper extremities, of which you know not how to dispose when abroad, unless some young lady

or old gentleman lean on you, or you lean upon somebody who may be willing to allow the familiarity, as a conjuncture preventive against the gaucherie of movement which would inevitably arise, were the disengaged unsupported arms to sway about ad libitum, against every rule of every fencing and every dancing master ? A happy alternative is left you, however, if you have not these helps to get on; you have one excellent and often more satisfactory help-your walking-stick.

When performing thy ambulatory suburban solo, didst thou deem it, as I have often deemed it, a kind of day-light somnambulism, in which, while the senses were awake, all the vibrations-the impulses of thy cheerful temperament, were sleepingand slept on, till, first, the dawn of the expected companionship broke gray upon and seemed to stir a little their sleepiness, then shone at length, in the brightness that completely awakened them. And 'tis a brightness-that which beameth from friendly intercourse; and more is it felt, deeper it goeth to the soul of such somnambulist, I dare surmise, than to that of other man. Now, in the absence of the friend you lean upon, or of the friend who leaneth upon you-ere the coming-the approach of the wished for dawn and the brightness, how have you got on? How could you get on with a mind at ease, if deprived of your alternative-the walking-stick? Under these circumstances you hunger after a something companionable, the stick becometh a substitute for you; you thirst after the gushings of mirth, 'tis the wand (if you are Irish) that striketh and bringeth them out of you; you are cold, 'tis your third leg to help on the circulation; you are lamed, 'tis a crutch to you; you are blind, verily, it is a staff to you. I defy you to get on with the surefootedness, the untroubled tramping of straightforwardness, do what you may or can, without the aid of your stick. Aye do-do if you like-yes, yes-take off the glove from the left hand and place it in the already gloved right hand; coax, if you like, your left thumb into the arm-hole of your waistcoat, leaving the four fingers without to play pianowise upon your breast. Let me see you move on now. I put it to you -your hand is on your heart-I put to you, do you feel yourself walking independently ? Of what avail how much or how often thou mayest twist and twirl that glove? Of what avail the aerial arcs and circles thou art describing with it? Of what avail the imaginary "overtures" thou wouldst play upon

thy waistcoat, of "Fra Diavolo," of "The Mountain Sylph," or of "La Sonnambula ?" Canst thou yet work up a stout-worthy spirit-an unstumbling steadiness? No ;these performances cannot effect it; the co-opera-ting stick hath the only influence. The arcs and circles, see how much bolder -more elevated-more enlarged are these which the stick maketh! "Sublimi feriam sidera vertice," whizzeth the stick in its twirlings; and, if the musical imagery be "still so gently o'er you stealing," art thou not in the light of Signor Negri, or other conductor, beating most excellent time for whatever orchestra happeneth to perform in thy head?

But it must be a stick, not a stair-rod; while of an unpretending, it must not be of a shillelah calibre; while "simplex munditiis," I will, nevertheless, allow it eyes with a silver rim to them, and a tasselled string of unambitious colour and weft; while sufficiently elastic, I must have it smooth, (I hate the affectation of a stick which is a lusus naturæ, knarled, tortuous, full of wens and warts, and the like unsightly excressences,) but not a whalebone contrivance, like that I once saw a fool give nine shillings for-the most truly effeminate utensil (I don't call it stick) I ever saw. What, think you, was its handle? An ebony cigar tube! with a little square speck of silver insertion, for the engraver to mark fool upon it, the name of the purchaser. Below this handle was a little circular band of silver, to which was appended a small ring, to which was fastened a very bushy tassel, almost as big as that of a bell-pull! Think of a huge bulky man, in his senses, in the open day, in a large city, going into a shop to purchase this! Look at him in the crowded street endeavouring to walk with it! See, he scarcely toucheth the flags with it! It feeleth light-fragile to him as a very barley straw! Nevertheless, mightily is he proud of it, and why? Alas! for the very reason of all others that would induce any other man to leave it in the Bazaar, viz., because he seeth no other man using the like; because he panteth after novelty! No, no, a stick to be a stick is not to be a curiosity; or, if it be, then let it have place in the museum of an Academy of Arts, as a specimen of the crooked perverseness, the plastic capriciousness, the unmeaning eccentricity that artistic skill will, in its periodical fits of insanity, exhibit, just as it does in another walk of art among our Cruikshanks. would, on the contrary, have your stick give you a certain share of support. In the prosy

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