CHAPTER XIII.

"Sir Tob.-Come thy ways, signior Fabian."

Fab.-Nay, I'll come; if I lose a scruple of this sport, let me be boil'd to death with melancholy."

SEVERAL successive days were entirely given up by Eugene to visiting the different booksellers; but without any introduction to them, an unfledged author literally, "to fortune and to fame unknown," the result was what might have been anticipated.

If there be any place that brings to mind the saying, that "gold maketh unto itself wings, and fleeth away,” it certainly is London. When, at the expiration of this period, Eugene, in utter despair of succeeding in the object that had brought him over, came to examine his purse, with an intention of returning without delay to

Curs'd be the verse, how well soe'er it flow,
That tends to make one honest man my foe!'

But is it possible can the age indeed be so lost to purity and refinement, as to prefer what is gross and immoral to what is chaste and refined ?"

"Ah, sir, it is a sign you know very little about it, or you would not ask the question; but it is truth, upon my ho nour, sir, all that I have asserted, as a very short residence in this great mart of literature, and world in itself, London, will prove to you."

*I am sorry for it," cried Eugene, "from the very bottom of my heart," with a sigh that proved him sincere in what he said" sorry for it, from the terrible de generacy it argues.'

"And you persevere in your romantic resolve? excuse the expression, sir; but I really know no other to apply to yours, so diametrically opposite is it to what selfinterest would prescribe."

Perhaps so, sir; but," haughtily, "that is my consideration.”

“Assuredly, sir, assuredly, every one to their taste and their principles; if they pay for them, why, as you say, sir, that is their affair. But we need not entirely part in this way; here is a lighter volume of poems, that I don't care if I take; so what say you will this," producing a few sovereigns," answer for them? I am no haggler, wanting to take advantage of any one; so at a word, will this do?"

Eugene hesitated; he had built much upon these poems; but his purse was very low, and his spirits, in perfect sympathy with it, equally so, and the glittering gold, just fresh from the Mint, looked so tempting, that, in short, the wish to grasp it in his hand, as his own, was not to be resisted; and accordingly, after very little further difficulty, the bargain was closed. "Well," cried C -, as he locked the papers up in his desk, " before this time to-morrow you will probably have the pleasure of hearing your verses chanted in a hundred different keys, in a hundred streets in Westminster."

St. Doulagh's, he found sufficient did not remain within it for the purpose. To describe his feelings at the moment would be impossible; he absolutely staggered under them. As he sat in the coffee-house, considering what was to be done, an isolated being, in the midst of busy thousands, away from friends, from kindred, from all who could feel for, or would sympathize in his forlorn situation, his eye was caught by an advertisement to the following effect, in a paper that lay before him; and which, the moment he had perused, decided him on calling again on C

though with the greatest reluctance, not merely from his previous conduct, but having heard no further from him." Wanted, by a learned society, a secretary.-For particulars apply to Mr. C. &c. &c. On explaining to this gentleman the business on which he had now called on him." Bless your heart!" he exclaimed, "this is a thing that would not answer for you! I am sure I have had more than a hundred applications already for the situa

tion, and probably may have a hundred more, ere a person be found qualified to fill it; so few thoroughly understand the science the society profess to study." "Pray may I beg to know what that is?" Cranioscopy*, Craniology+, Phreno

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logy +!"

Then, I flatter myself," said Eugene, "I am at home! each of these I have long made a particular study of, so that if I do not perfectly comprehend them, it must be through stupidity."

"Indeed!" but with rather a sneer"oh! well, if that be the case, here's the president's address," taking a card out of his desk, and giving it to him; " but should you not succeed (though I see you expect it), let me know, as I was just on the point of writing a note to you as you came in.'

Eugene, with new-flushed hopes, immediately set out according to the direction of the card. He found the president at

Inspection of the cranium. + Discourse on the cranium. Frantickness.-Dr. Johnson.