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get you,” said he, rising, and grasp- of his own rise from very humble ing the other's hand warmly ; “how beginnings to a condition of reasonare you? when did you come up to ably fair comfort and sufficiency. town? You see the eye is all right; I'm in rags, ye see, Mr Butler," it was a bit swollen for more than a

said he; my father was in rags fortnight, though. Hech sirs ! but before me.” you have hard knuckles of your "In rags !" cried Tony, looking own."

at the stout sleek broadcloth beside It was not easy to apologise for him. the rough treatment he had inflict- “I mean,” said the other, “ I'm ed, and Tony blundered and stam- in the rag trade, and we supply the mered in his attempts to do So;

but paper-mills; and that's why my MʻGruder laughed it all off with brother Sam lives away in Italy. perfect good-humour, and said, “My Italy is a rare place for rags—I take

“ wife will forgive you too, one of it they must have no other wear, these days, but not just yet ; and for the supply is inexhaustible--and so we'll go and have a bit o' so Sam lives in a seaport they call dinner our two selves down the Leghorn; and the reason I speak of river. Are you free to-day ?” it to you is, that if this messenger

Tony was quite free and ready trade breaks down under you, or to go anywhere; and so away they that ye'd not like it, there's Sam went, at first by river steamer and there would be ready and willing then by a cab, and then across some to lend you a hand; he'd like a low-lying fields to a small solitary fellow o' your stamp, that would house close to the Thames—“Shads, go down amongst the wild places chops, and fried-fish house,” over on the coast, and care little about the door, and a pleasant odour of the wild people that live in them. each around the premises.

Mayhap this would be beneath you, Ain't we snug here ? no track- though ?” said he, after a moment's ing a man this far,” said M‘Gruder, pause. as he squeezed into a bench be- “I'm above nothing at this mohind a fixed table in a very small ment except being dependent; I

“I never heard of the wo- don't want to burden my mother.” man that ran her husband to earth “ Dolly told us about your fine down here.”

relations, and the high and mighty That this same sense of security folk ye belong to.” had a certain value in M'Gruder's Ay, but they don't belong to estimation was evident, for he more me—there's the difference," said than once recurred to the sentiment Tony, laughing; then added, in a as they sat at dinner.

more thoughtful tone, “I never The tavern was a rare place for suspected that Dolly spoke of me. “hollands," as M'Gruder said; and “That she did, and very often they sat over a peculiar brew for too. Indeed I may say that she which the house was famed, but of talked of very little else. It was which Tony's next day'sexperiences Tony this and Tony that; and Tony do not encourage me to give the went here and Tony went there; receipt to my readers. The cigars, till one day Sam could bear it no too, albeit innocent of duty, might longer—for you see Sam was mad have been better; but all these, in love with her, and said over and like some other pleasures we know over again that he never met her of, only were associated with sorrow equal. Sam says to me, ‘Bob,' says in the future. Indeed, in the cor- he, 'I can't bear it any more. dial freedom that bound them they "What is it,' says I, ' that you can't thought very little of either. They bear?'—for I thought it was somehad grown to be very confidential; thing about the drawback duty on and MʻGruder, after inquiring what mixed rags he was meaning. But Tony proposed to himself by way of no, sirs ; it was that he was wild a livelihood, gave him a brief sketch wi' jealousy, and couldn't bear her

,

room.

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to be a-talkin' about you. 'I think, thrifty ways, he would be able says he, 'if I could meet that same to maintain a wife decently and Tony, I'd crack his neck for him.'” well ; and he referred to Doctor

That was civil, certainly !” said Forbes of Auchterlonie for a charTony, dryly.

acter of him; and I backed it my“*And as I can't do that, I'll just self, saying, in the name of the go and ask her what she means by house, it was true and correct.” it all, and if Tony's her sweet- “ What answer came to this?” heart?'"

A letter from the minister, say“He did not do that !” cried ing that the lassie was poorly, and Tony, half angrily.

in so delicate a state of health, it Yes, but he did, though ; and would be better not to agitate her what for no? You wouldn't have by any mention of this kind for the a man lose his time pricing a bale present; meanwhile he would take of goods when another had bought up his information from Dr Forbes, them? If she was in treaty with whom he knew well ; and if the you, Mr Butler, where was the use reply satisfied him he'd write again of Sam spending the day trying to to us in the course of a week or catch a word wi' her? So, to settle two; and Sam's just waiting pathe matter at once, he overtook her tiently for his answer, and doing one morning going to early meeting his best, in the meanwhile, to prewith the children, and he had it pare, in case it's a favourable one." out.

Tony fell into a reverie. That • Well, well ? ” asked Tony, eag- story of a man in love with one erly.

it might never be his destiny to *Well, she told him there never win, had its own deep significance was anything like love between her- for him. Was there any grief, was self and you; that you were aye there any misery, to compare with like brother and sister; that you it? And although Sam M'Gruder, knew each other from the time you the junior partner in the rag trade, could speak; that of all the wide was not a very romantic son of world she did not know any one so character, yet did he feel an intense well as you; and then she began to sympathy for him. They were both cry, and cried so bitterly that she sufferers from the same malady, had to turn back home again, and albeit Sam's attack was from a very go to her room as if she was taken mild form of the complaint.

and that's the way Mrs M'Gru- “You must give me a letter to your der came to know what Sam was brother," said he at length. “Some intending. She never suspected it day or other I'm sure to be in Italy, before; but, hech sirs ! if she didn't and I'd like to know him.” open a broadside on every one of “Ay, and he'd like to know us And the upshot was, Dolly you, now that he ain't jealous of was packed off home to her father; you. The last thing he said to me Sam went back to Leghorn; and at parting was, “If ever I meet that there's Sally and Maggie going back Tony Butler I'll give him the best in everything ever they learned bottle of wine in my cellar.'” for it ain't every day you pick up When you write to him next, a lass like that for eighteen pound say that I'm just as eager to take a-year and her washing."

him by the hand, mind that. The " But did he ask her to marry man that's like to be a good hushim ?” cried Tony.

band to Dolly Stewart is sure to be “ He did. He wrote a lettera a brother to me." very good and sensible letter, toom and they went back to town, to her father. He told him that he talking little by the way, for each was only a junior, with a small was thoughtful —M'Gruder thinkshare, but that he had saved enough ing much over all they had been to furnish a house, and that he saying, Tony full of the future, yet hoped, with industry and care and not able to exclude the past.

ill;

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THE NAPOLEONIC IDEA IN MEXICO.

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NAPOLEON the Third is a monarch Suez Canal, designed to connect of rare genius as well as of great the eastern and western seas; and power; and it is a pleasure to however doubtful may be thé sucreview the policy of such a man cess of the scheme at present, we in a sphere which is free from the doubt not it will be realised in the influences of international rivalry. end. The project of tunnelling the The French in Mexico is a differ- Alps likewise owes its initiative to ent question from the French on Napoleon III., and will connect the Rhine. As Englishmen, we his name with a greater work than cannot regard without a feeling of the road of the Simplon, which was mistrust and dislike the policy of one of the glories of his uncle's Napoleon in Europe ; but bappily reign. With a boldness which pays we can do so when the scene of little regard to what ordinary men his far-reaching projects is the call impossibilities, he has also proold empire of Montezuma. We posed to unite England and France do not demand of any monarch by carrying a submarine railway that he shall consult the good of under the British Channel,-a prothe world irrespective of the in- ject which we have no desire to terests of his own country; but see accomplished until a new epoch unquestionably the greatest mon- has dawned upon Europe, and the arch, the one who will longest live relations between the two countries in the memory of men, is he who have been established upon a more shall achieve the greatest triumphs reliable basis of friendship. Lastly, for mankind at large. In exile and among those projects of material in prison, Louis Napoleon had as well as of political interest, we ample time to meditate on the high come to the intervention in Mexico, mission to which, by a strong and undertaken professedly, though not strange presentiment, he felt him- primarily, with a view to regenerate self called. He reviewed, as a poli- that fine country, to rescue it from tical philosopher, the requirements impending ruin, to restore it to a of the age ; and thus when he came place among the nations, and launch to the throne, he brought with him it upon a new and independent many high designs already formed, career. which he was resolved to accomplish Of all the projects of Napoleon so far as the opportunities of his III., this is the one which is most career should permit. One of the to be applauded for the good which earliest-formed of his great schemes it will accomplish for the world at was the construction of a ship large. Nevertheless—and this is a canal which should cross the Isth- compliment to his sagacity, rather mus of Darien, and form a highway than a detraction from the merits of commerce between the oceans of of the project—the motive which the Atlantic and Pacific. Such a inspired it was connected with the work is less needed now that the interests of France, and still more age of railways has succeeded to with those of his own dynasty. the age of canals; nevertheless it The Emperor was desirous to find will probably be accomplished in some enterprise which should emthe future. As Emperor, Louis ploy his army, and engage the atNapoleon has taken no measures tention of his restless and gloryto carry out this project,-his other loving subjects, until the affairs of schemes having hitherto absorbed Europe should open to him a favhis attention and fully taxed his ourable opportunity for completing powers. But he has energetically his grand scheme of “rectifying” the supported the sister project of the frontiers of France. And in this

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he has succeeded. Even though Latin Church. Spain, once the the enterprise has not been popular greatest Power in Europe, has for in France, it at least served to at- long been torpid, and, though now tract the thoughts of the French to showing symptoms of revival, will a foreign topic,—it has furnished a never regain anything like its forsubject of conversation and debate, mer position in the world. In -and it has, moreover, shut the America the collapse of the Romish mouths of the war-party in France, Church has been still more conspicuand established a solid excuse or ous. On the other hand, the Protesthe Emperor not engaging in a tant and Greek Powers are prosperEuropean conflict until he had got ing and extending themselves. The this Transatlantic affair off his greatest change which is impending hands. These were considerations in Europe— the downfall of the of present value which Napoleon Ottoman rule—will bring a vast was not likely to underestimate, extension of power to the Greek though he could not frankly avow Church ; and slowly but steadily them. Nevertheless they would the same Church, following the bathave been void of force if the ex- talions of Russia, is spreading over pedition could not have been justi- central, and will soon spread likefied upon intrinsic grounds. And wise over south-western Asia. It it is to the peculiar character of will extend from the Baltic to the those grounds, as illustrative of the Pacific, from St Petersburg to Petroscope of the Emperor's views, that paulovski. Protestantism has still we desire briefly to draw attention, greater triumphs to show. Accombefore considering what are likely panying the colonies of England, to be the actual results of the en- it has become the dominant faith terprise.

in North America — among the The grandeur of a nation depends thirty millions of the Anglo-Saxon upon the influence of the ideas and race, who may be said to hold the interests which it represents, not fortunes of the New World in their less than upon the material force hands. In India, in the Australian which it can exert. England, for world, at the Cape, and wherever example, is peculiarly the represent- England has planted her energetic ative of Constitutional Government colonies, it is the Protestant Church and of the interests of commerce. which reigns supreme. By his inIn Russia we behold the head, and tervention in Mexico, Napoleon representative Power, of the Greek III. endeavours to arrest the decay Church. France, also, we need of the Romish Church in America, hardly say,

is a representative and to check the continuous spread Power. Her monarchs for cen- of the Protestant Anglo-Saxons. turies have borne the title of the The “Empire of the Indies,” reared

eldest son of the Church;” they by Spain, and so long a bright gem have been the protectors of, and in the tiara of the Popes, has gone at all events they peculiarly repre- to wreck. Brazil, with its enorsent, the Church of Rome. But mous territory but mere handful the Church of Rome has been losing of people, is the only non-Protesground, alike in the Old World and tant State in America which is not in the New. The great kingdom a prey to anarchy and desolation; of Poland has dropped out of the and a few years ago, the gradual map of Europe, and nearly all its extension of Anglo-Saxon power parts have gone to increase the over the whole of the New World territories of Protestant Prussia, appeared to be merely a question and of Russia the champion of of time. Seizing a favourable opthe Greek Church. The loss has portunity, the “eldest son of the not been compensated by Church” now intervenes to repair adequate increase

in the fallen fortunes of the Papacy the States which adhere to the in Central America, and in so doing

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to erect a barrier against the tide and advantageous frontier. Partly of Protestantism, and to reflect new also, he hopes, by establishing a lustre upon the Church of which league, a community of sentiment he is the champion, and with whose and action, between the so-called greatness that of France is indissol Latin races of France, Italy, and ubly connected.

Spain-in which league France will These considerations affect the naturally hold the first place. By moral, rather than the political, his intervention in Italy, he has engreatness of France; but there are deavoured, and not unsuccessfully, others of a different character which to attract Italy to him as a depenmoved Napoleon III. to attempt dent ally. By his intervention in the regeneration of Mexico. The Mexico, he plays a part which will latter, however, relate to the same tend to attract Spain likewise ; and object considered from a different he trusts to complete an alliance point of view. Europe is remodel with that country by, ere long, supling herself on the principle of porting the claims of the Spaniards nationality. Twenty years hence, to the possession of Gibraltar; and the Slavonian race will have expe- also, if an opportunity offers, of rienced a great augmentation of effecting a unification” of the power-partly from increase of pop- Peninsula by obliterating Portugal ulation, which is proceeding rapid- (the ally of England) as an indely in Russia, and partly from a pendent State. Meanwhile, by remore perfect political organisation generating Mexico, he adds to his and community of action estab- own renown—shows himself a fitlished among the now scattered ting leader for the future league of portions of that family of nations. the Latin races; and, at the same The Teutonic race is destined to time, he opens a new field for the experience a lesser but somewhat commerce and enterprise of France, similar increase of power. Com- which may help to save the nation pelled by disasters which, even in from its social demoralisation and this hour of triumph, may be seen concomitant discontent, and impart to await them, the Germans will to it a new and healthy impulse consolidate their strength by uni- towards increase of population, fication, and will thereby acquire without which it will be impossible much greater power than they now for France to retain her high posipossess, even though they lose a tion among the Powers of Europe. considerable portion of their non- Mexico is a country well fitted German territory. In the face of to engage the attention of a great these contingencies, Napoleon III. monarch, to justify his efforts on meditates, has long been meditat- its behalf, and to more than repay ing, how France is to obtain a com- them by the results which will mensurate addition to her strength. attend its regeneration. The cliCentralisation and organisation are mate of its central and most inhaalready complete in France ; no bited region is perfectly suited to new strength is to be looked for the constitution of Europeans, and from these sources. Her popula- especially of the so-called Latin tion, too—unlike that of Germany races. The country abounds in and of Russia—is stationary, and mines of the precious metals; and even threatens to decline if some so great are the treasures hidden new impulse be not communicated in its mountains that the mineral to it. How, then, is she to keep wealth of the country is still, comher place in the future ? Partly, paratively speaking, undeveloped. replies Napoleon in his secret The soil, too, is remarkably fertile ; thoughts, by incorporating the and owing to its peculiar geographiRhine provinces and Belgium – cal formation, the country yields in thereby acquiring at once an in- perfection most of the productions crease of population, and a strong alike of the temperate and the