recent marriage with the Queen of England had furnished the provinces with a most valuable alliance. He concluded with a tremendous exhortation to Philip on the necessity of maintaining religion in its purity.

After this the councilor proceeded to read the deed of cession by which Philip, already sovereign of Sicily, Naples, Milan, and titular king of England, France, and Jerusalem, now received all the Burgundian property, including, of course, the seventeen Netherlands.

The Emperor then rose to his feet. Supported upon his crutch and upon the shoulder of William of Orange, he proceeded to address the states.

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As long as God granted him health, he continued, only enemies could have regretted that Charles was 15 living and reigning; but now that his strength was but vanity, and life fast ebbing away, his love for dominion, his affection for his subjects, and his regard for their interests required his departure.

Turning toward Philip, he observed that for a father 20 to bequeath so magnificent an empire to his son was a deed worthy of gratitude; but that when the father thus descended into his grave before his time, and by an anticipated and living burial sought to provide for the welfare of his realms and the grandeur of his son, 25 the benefit thus conferred was surely far greater.

Posterity would applaud his abdication should his son prove worthy of his bounty; and that could only be by living in the fear of God, and by maintaining law and

justice in all their purity as the true foundation of the realm.

In conclusion he entreated the estates, and through them the nation, to render obedience to their new prince; begging them at the same time to pardon him 5 all errors or offenses which he might have committed toward them during his reign, and assuring them that he should unceasingly remember their obedience and affection in his every prayer to that Being to whom the remainder of his life should be dedicated.

Sobs were heard throughout every portion of the hall, and tears poured profusely from every eye. As for the Emperor himself, he sank almost fainting upon his chair as he concluded his address. An ashy paleness overspread his countenance, and he wept like a child.

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Even the icy Philip was almost softened as he rose to perform his part in the ceremony. Dropping upon his knees before his father's feet, he reverently kissed his hand. Charles placed his hands solemnly upon his son's head and blessed him. Then raising him in his 20 arms he tenderly embraced him, saying as he did so, to the great potentates around him, that he felt a sincere compassion for the son on whose shoulders so heavy a weight had just devolved.

Philip now uttered a few words expressive of his 25 duty to his father and his affection for his people. Turning to the orders, he signified his regret that he was unable to address them either in the French or Flemish language, and was obliged to ask their atten

tion to the Bishop of Arras, who would act as his interpreter. Antony Perrenot accordingly arose, and in smooth, fluent, and well-turned commonplaces expressed at great length the gratitude of Philip toward 5 his father, with his firm determination to walk in the path of duty, and to obey his father's counsels and example in the future administration of the provinces.

This address was responded to by Jacob Maas, who had been selected to reply on the behalf of the states10 general. Queen Mary of Hungary, the regent of the Netherlands during the past twenty-five years, then rose to resign her office, making a brief address expressive of her affection for the people. Again Maas responded, asserting in terms of fresh compliment and 15 elegance the uniform satisfaction of the provinces with her conduct during her whole career.

The orations and replies having now been brought to a close, the ceremony was ended. The Emperor, leaning on the shoulders of the Prince of Orange and 20 of the Count de Buren, slowly left the hall, followed by Philip, the Queen of Hungary, and the whole court; all in the same order in which they had entered, and by the same passage into the chapel.

From The Rise of the Dutch Republic."

MAZEPPA'S RIDE.

[ABRIDGED.]

LORD BYRON.

LORD BYRON was born in London in 1788. When he was ten years old he inherited a title of nobility and took possession of Newstead Abbey, the ancient family seat near Nottingham. His early education was received at private schools, and he entered Trinity College, Cam

bridge, when he was seventeen

years of age.

Two years later his first volume of verses, "Hours of Idleness," was published. It was severely criticised, and the young poet replied in so savage a poem that he attracted much attention.

After leaving college, Byron traveled along the shores of the Mediterranean, visiting Greece and Turkey. On his return he published the first part of "Childe Harold," which is generally con

sidered his greatest work. After the publication of this poem he 20 was recognized as one of the leading poets of England.

Byron took final leave of England when he was twenty-eight, and lived for several years in Switzerland and Italy, where he wrote some famous poems.

The cause of Greek independence appealed so strongly to him 25 that he raised a large sum of money, and in the summer of 1823 he sailed to the assistance of the Greeks. He was made commander-in-chief of an expedition, but was taken ill and died on the 19th of April, 1824.