PARLIAMENTARY SPEECHES OF LORD BYRON: delirium. These are the persons who reverse the fable of the mountain that brought forth a mouse; they are the mice who conceive themselves in labour with mountains. To return to the Catholics, suppose the Irish were actually contented under their disabilities, suppose them capable of such a bull as not to desire deliverance, ought we not to wish it for ourselves? Have we nothing to gain by their eman'cipation? What resources have been wasted? what talents have been lost by You the selfish system of exclusion? already know the value of Irish aid; at this moment the defence of Eng. land is intrusted to the Irish militia; at this moment, while the starving people are rising in the fierceness of despair, the Irish are faithful to their trust. But till equal energy is imparted throughout by the extension of freedom, you cannot enjoy the full benefit of the strength which you are glad to interpose between you and destruction. Ireland has done much, but will do more. At this moment the only triumph obtained through long years of continental disaster has been achieved by an Irish general; it is true he is not a Catholic; had he been so, we should have been deprived of his exertions; but I presume no one will assert that his religion would have impaired his talents, or diminished his patriotism, though in that case he must have conquered in the ranks, for he never could have commanded an army. But he is fighting the battles of the Catholics abroad, his noble brother has this night advocated their cause, with an eloquence which I shall not depreciate by the humble tribute of my panegyric, whilst a third of his kindred, as unlike as unequal, has been combating against his Catholic brethren in Dublin, with circular letters, edicts, proclamations, arrests and dispersions-all the vexatious implements of petty warfare that could be wielded by the mercenary guerillas of government, clad in the rusty armour of their obsolete statutes. Your Lordships will, doubtless, divide new honours between the Saviour of Portugal, and the Dispenser of Delegates. It is singular, indeed, to observe the difference between our foreign and domestic policy; if Catholic Spain, faithful Portugal, or the no less Catholic and faithful king of the one Sicily (of which, by the bye, you have lately deprived him), stand in need of succour, away goes a flect and an army, an ambassador and a subsidy, sometimes to fight pretty hardly, generally to negociate very badly, and always to pay very dearly for our Popish allies. But let 231 four millions of fellow-subjects pray for Upon the consequences of your not And now, my Lords, before I sit down, will his Majesty's ministers permit me to say a few words, not on their merits, for that would be superfluous, but on the degree of estimation in which they are held by the people of these realms. The esteem in which they are held has been boasted of in a triumphant tone on a late occasion within these walls, and a comparison instituted between their conduct, and that of noble Lords on this side of the House. What portion of popularity may have fallen to the share of my noble friends (if such I may presume to call them), I shall not pretend to ascertain; but that of his Majesty's ministers it were vain to deny. It is, to be sure, a little like the wind, "no one knows whence it cometh or whither it goeth;" but they feel it, they enjoy it, they boast of it. Indeed, modest and unostentatious as they are, to what part of the kingdom, even the most remote, can they flee to avoid the triumph which pursues them? If they plunge into the midland count es, there will they be greeted by the manufacturers, with spurned petitions in their hands, and those halters round their necks recently voted in their behalf, imploring blessings on the heads of those who so simply, yet ingeniously, contrived to remove them from their miseries in this to a better world. If they journey on to Scotland, from Glasgow to Johnny Groat's, every where will they receive similar marks of approbation. If they take a trip from Portpatrick to Donaghadee, there will they rush at once into the embraces of four Catholic millions, to whom their vote of this night is about to endear them for ever. When they return to the metropolis, if they can pass under Temple Bar without unpleasant sensations at the sight of the greedy niches over that ominious gateway, they cannot escape the acclamations of the livery, and the more tremulous, but not less sincere, applause, the blessings "not loud but deep" of bankrupt merchants and doubting stockholders. If they look to the army, what wreaths, not of laurel, but of night-shade, are preparing for the heroes of Walcheren. it is true there are few living deponents left to testify to their merits on that occasion; but a "cloud of witnesses" are gone above from that gallant army which they so generously and piously dispatched, to recruit the "noble army of martyrs." What if in the course of this triumphal career (in which they will gather as many pebbles as Caligula's army did on a similar triumph, the prototype of their own), they do not perceive any of those memorials which a grateful people erect in honour of their benefactors! what although not even a sign-post will condescend to depose the Saracen's head in favour of the likeness of the conquerors of Walcheren, they will not want a picture who can always have a caricature; or regret the omission of a statue who will so often see themselves exalted in effigy. But their popularity is not limited to the narrow bounds of an island; there are other countries where their measures, and above all, their conduct to the Catholics, must render them pre-eminently popular. If they are beloved here, in France they must be adored. There is no measure more repugnant to the designs and feelings of Buonaparte than Catholic Emancipation; no line of conduct more propitious to his projects, than that which has been pursued, is pursuing, and, I fear, will be pursued, towards Ireland. What is England without Ireland, and what is Ireland without the Catholics? It is on the basis of your tyranny Napoleon hopes to build his own. So grateful must oppression of the Catholics be to his mind, that doubtless (as he has lately permitted some renewal of intercourse) the next cartel will convey to this country (things in great request, and of equal cargoes of seve-china and blue ribbands value at this moment), blue ribbands of and his ministerial disciples. Such is the Legion of Honour for Dr. Duigenan that well-earned popularity, the result of pensive to ourselves, and so useless to those extraordinary expeditions, so exour allies; of those singular enquiries, dissatisfactory to the people; of those so exculpatory to the accused and so paradoxical victories, so honourable, as destructive to the best interests of the we are told, to the British name, and so British nation: above all, such is the reward of a conduct pursued by ministers towards the Catholics. will, I trust, pardon one, not often in the I have to apologise to the House, who habit of intruding upon their indulgence, for so long attempting to engage their attention. My most decided opinion is, as my vote will be, in favour of the motion. SWEDISH THIEF CATCHING holm consists entirely of the skins of animals, and they walk in pairs, carrying in their hands a curious instrument for THE dress of the watchmen of Stock seizing culprits who may endeavour to make their escape from them. It is so contrived as to shut fast about the neck, being applied below the back part of the head, and becoming tighter the more a person struggles to get free. When once, therefore, this instrument is fixed, the prisoner is sure to remain quiet, through fear of being choked: afterwards it opens with a spring. "Perhaps," says Dr. Clarke, "this portable trap, or thief-collar, might be made usehension of midnight robbers in our ful in our own country, to aid the appre. metropolis." The watchmen of Stockholm carry about their rattle spikes in dismal ditty, of which the following is with these instruments, calling the hour a translation: The clock has struck ten. THE RUINED CITY.. 233 ON THE HINDOO CASTES. From "Sketches of India." THE Hindoos are divided into four sects, or castes: of these, the Brahmins rank pre-eminently first; they are privileged to officiate as priests of the gods, supposed to meditate continually on divine things, and are supported by the industry of the other three. The second, or Cheteree caste, is considered noble: from this, princes used to be chosen, and from this men are trained to the use of arms, and military service. The third, or Bhyse caste, conducts all the details of business, commerce, and all the internal trade. In the fourth, or Soodra, are comprised all the labourers, artizans, and manufacturers. All others of the native population of India (and they are numerous) are chandalas or outcasts, and perform the lowest offices of toil and drudgery. The Vedas, or sacred books of the Hindoos, can only be read by the Brahmins, or first caste; and the second caste alone is privileged to listen to them. The two others cannot either read, or hear them read; they are permitted, however, to use the Shasters, or holy commentaries on the Vedas. The poor Chandalah dare not either enter a temple, touch an altar, or offer devotion to any of their idols. The four Vedas are said to be composed in metre; twenty-five thousand stanzas in each Veda, and four lines in every The fourth Veda is said to treat entirely of the knowledge of the Good Being; but, either from antiquity, or a peculiar dialect, the language of it is become obsolete, and few of their Pundits profess either to read, or understand it. The Shasters are holy commentaries, or mere books of divinity and science. There are two principally known; one is more highly esteemed in the south, the other in the north of India. THE RUINED CITY. SKETCH II. The Hindoo Bride. "Here, on a smooth stone on the river's brink, I found the impression of two feet, encircled by the hooded or sacred serpent, the emblem of eternity. This notes the spot where some victim of the tyranny and craft of priesthood has sacrificed herself on the funeral pile of her husband, and, deluded by the pride of superstition and custom, has with steady fortitude lighted the very flames from which she madly hoped her conquering spirit would ascend, and force the portals of a vanquished heaven."-Sketches of India. Upon that tablet overthrown, I fain the mournful tale would trace, Fairest of all the nymphs who stray'd The bright sun's beams are shining On helmet, spear, and scymetar; Once more farewell,"-away-away: But from that hour, her woman's pride, That is the note of victory! The rising sun's enlivening beam Her jewell'd presents now are gone,→→ META A RECURRENCE TO THE DAYS OF YOUTH. Driginal. WHEN wand'ring back to former days, Those days of childhood now long gone, The bliss of which has left them drawn Deep on the memory. When life to us was yet a toy, A thing not fully known; But pictured then an age of joy, When all our thoughts on pleasure went, When sport was all our care; And health its strength and vigour lent, Those sports with glee to share. O, when the languid hours of school Came to the wished-for close, And from each tedious irksome rule, With glowing haste we rose, What eagerness we then display'd, To give bright pleasure reign; If but a moment us delay'd, It seem'd an age of pain. : But onward gazed, still onward gazed, While yet hope's rainbow shone; And what we thought an age of joy, That Time comes only to destroy To make each vision fall. For like the leaves by autumn blown, The last at length departs; The love of life no longer bl ooms, SYMPATHY. By F. B. Original. COLD is the air, when the snow so white When she gazes on him whom she loved so well, ROSEDALE AND ITS TENANTS. The Spirit of the Magazines. (Concluded from page 217). 235 and Handel put down by Weber. And Our next neighbours were two ladies, Well! they were friends, and nothing remained but to look out for a house. Dorothy wanted a farm, Letitia a cottage. Dorothy talked of cows and clover, DoLetitia of nightingales and violets. rothy longed for Yorkshire pastures, Letitia for Welsh Mountains; and the scheme seemed likely to go off for want of an habitation, when Rosedale, in all the glory of advertisement, shone on Miss Letitia in the Morning Post, and was immediately engaged by the delighted friends on a lease of seven, fourteen, or one-and-twenty years. It was a raw, blowy March evening When the fair partners arrived at the cottage. Miss Letitia made a speech in her usual style on taking possession, an inVocation to friendship and rural natrue, and a deprecation of cities, society, and man; at the conclusion of which, Miss Dolly underwent an embrassade; and having sufficiently admired the wonders within, they sallied forth with a candle and lanthorn to view their ruralities without. Miss Letitia was better satisfied with this ramble than her companion; she found at least trees and primroses, whilst the country felicities of ducks and chickens were entirely wanting. Dolly, however, reconciled the matter by supposing they were gone to roost, and a little worn out by the journey, wisely |