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cause he had a nature so noble, that even ambition, "that last infirmity," could not sway him from his balance. HE WAS A NOBLE MAN, if ever such existed, and we could not wish him a better epitaph.

Still the world will go on. After a decent space, politics will resume their course, and the tocsin of party again clash in the public ear. We confess that we are not sorry to observe that, within the last few weeks, the Opposition journals have been peculiarly active in their attacks upon Lord Derby's Government. Such onslaughts, at proper times, and upon good or plausible cause shown, might possibly be rather damaging-but, at present, when the journalists have nothing tangible to lay hold of, these diatribes invariably react in favour of the party assailed. To abuse a man without being able to assign a reason for it, is, in reality, bad policy. It naturally suggests a suspicion that the abuser is more actuated by spite than by conviction-indeed, it is very like reviewing the work of an author who has not yet published his book. We gather, however, from this sudden activity on the part of opposition writers, that they do not anticipate an easy dislodgment of the present Ministry, but that they must work hard, as they have already begun to work early, before any such consummation can be effected.

To us it seems that what the country absolutely requires is a firm, intelligent, and clear-sighted government. We have had many experiments of late, and much discussion which may now be profitably suspended. The meeting of the new Parliament is a new era, and such it was proclaimed to be by Lord Derby, long before the dissolution. Civil strife, when unnecessarily prolonged, may be almost as hurtful to the general interests of the country as civil war; and, now that an appeal has been made to the electoral body of the nation, it is, we think, the duty of all to acquiesce in the verdict which has been returned. There is a great deal of business on hand which will brook no delay. We do not speak of schemes of reform in any department, which, though needed, are not of that instant importance to engross the attention of the Legis

lature, but of the more pressing questions which concern our welfare, and, it may be, our independence as a nation. Circumstances which have lately occurred must compel us to look with minute attention to our national safety. We are not alarmists, but we believe there is hardly a man in the kingdom who at this moment is free from an undefined apprehension of coming danger; and, considering the enormity of our stake, it behoves us to be upon our guard. Some two or three years ago, when the French ideologists were in power, our demagogues sneered at the possibility either of the subversion of the Republic or of an aggressive movement. Mr Cobden referred to his friend Cremieux as the Jupiter Stator of France-where are the Republic and M. Cremieux now? If the men of Manchester had studied history, they must have seen, through analogy, that some crisis like the present would occur; but their studies lay in a different direction. They consulted nothing but importation and exportation tables, looking upon the mind of man as cartridge-paper; and so the coupd'état came upon them like a thunderbolt. We wonder if they have subscribed any funds for their former confederates now at Cayenne - we doubt it sorely. Such is the cohesion of fraternity, that neither Blanqui nor Barbes would have contributed a sous for any of their English brethren whose zeal might have exceeded their discretion.

Let England look to herself, and to her own safety. Much good has been achieved by the existence of rival parties in the State; but party is not faction, and of that we must now especially beware. Party acts on principle, faction on none. When an Opposition opposes simply because it is not in power, then it is factious, and ought not only to be discouraged, but to be crushed. Then it becomes not the enemy merely of the Ministry, but the enemy of the Constitution and the country, and, as such, deserves to have the brand of infamy stamped upon it. We say this without anticipation of what may take place within a very limited period of time. We know nothing of the designs of party; but we are convinced of this, that

there never was a time when, from the indications which are visible in the political horizon, good men and true were more imperatively called upon to sink minor differences of opinion, and to unite together, to consult seriously regarding the public safety, as now. Blustering we have had enough let that cease. It will cease, as blustering always does, on the advent of imminent danger.

We

We are sorry, in this wise, to take our farewell of the Holidays. should like to have expatiated on the humanising and indulgent spirit engendered by such a period of relaxation, of which perhaps no better instance could be found than the mildness of our present remarks upon our political adversaries. Much we might have said of pleasant pastime, of adventures by flood and fell, of the long sea-loch with the fleet of yachts traversing the water like wild swans, of the dark correi by the springs of Aven, haunted by the stately deer. More congenial to our mind are the sights and sounds of nature, than the babbling of small Oppositionists over their modicum of fiery drink; or even the fierce declamation of a provincial Hampden, who conceives that, without his assistance, there can be no security for Britain. Far rather would we have transferred to our pages, however

feebly, the impressions which we have received among the grand solitudes of the mountains, than refer to subjects suggestive of wrangling, stifling rooms, uncomfortable banquets, and the platitudes of fourthrate oratory. But what help for it? We must return to work, and we cannot quite pass over without remark the manner in which the Whigs have contrived to abuse the shooting season. Peace be with them! They are very bad shots, and we are thankful that our principles free us from the temptation of participating in any of their battues. when the real strife commences, and when the best interests of the country are evidently the topics of discussion, then the patriotism of party must declare itself-disengage itself, if necessary, from antiquated views-since a paramount interest (that of the nation) is common to us all.

But

And so we bid the Holidays farewell! Sweet has been our repose upon the mountain turf, and by the well where at mid-day we counted our sylvan spoil; and if Lord John Russell had done nothing more, and his satellites confined themselves to such glory as they might derive from an exhibition of their game-bags, our present article on the Holidays would certainly have remained unwritten.

Printed by William Blackwood & Sons, Edinburgh.

EDINBURGH MAGAZINE.

No. CCCCXLVI.

DECEMBER, 1852.

VOL. LXXII.

CONTENTS.

MY NOVEL; OR, VARIETIES IN ENGLISH LIFE. PART XXVII.,

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WILLIAM BLACKWOOD & SONS, 45 GEORGE STREET;
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To whom all communications (post paid) must be addressed.

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THE chiefs of the Blue party went in state from Lansmere Park; the two candidates in open carriages, each attended with his proposer and seconder. Other carriages were devoted to Harley and Levy, and the principal members of the committee. Riccabocca was seized with a fit of melancholy or cynicism, and declined to join the procession. But just before they started, as all were assembling without the front door, the postman arrived with his welcome bag. There were letters for Harley, some for Levy, many for Egerton, one for Randal Leslie.

Levy, soon hurrying over his own correspondence, looked, in the familiar freedom wherewith he usually treated his particular friends, over Randal's shoulder.

"From the Squire?" said he. "Ah, he has written at last! What made him delay so long? Hope he relieves your mind?"

66

Yes," cried Randal, giving way

to a joy that rarely lighted up his close and secret countenance-" yes, he does not write from Hazeldeannot there when my letter arrived-in London-could not rest at the hallthe place reminded him too much of Frank-went again to town, on the receipt of my first letter concerning the rupture of the marriage, to see after his son, and take up some money to pay off his post-obit. Read what he says." "So while I was about a mortgage-(never did I guess that I should be the man to encumber the Hazeldean estate)-I thought I might as well add £20,000 as £10,000 to the total. Why should you be indebted at all to that Baron Levy? Don't have dealings with moneylenders. Your grandmother was a Hazeldean; and from a Hazeldean you shall have the whole sum required in advance for those Rood lands-good light soil some of them. As to repayment, we'll talk of that later. If Frank and I come together

NOTICE.-The Author of the Article in this Number of BLACKWOOD'S MAGAZINE, entitled "MY NoVEL; OR, VARIETIES IN ENGLISH LIFE, Part XXVII.," and of other Articles that have appeared under the same designation, signifies his intention of preserving the copyright in such Article and Articles in France, and of publishing a French translation of the same work. He consequently prohibits its republication in France without his sanction in writing.

VOL. LXXII.-NO. CCCCXLVI.

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