hove-to, and her main yard to the mast, had forereached a little, and crept so ahead, drawing instinctively, may I say, or providentially, to the place; the quarter-boat dropped almost ere the order was given, a few strong strokes, and the buoy and boy were hauled into her stern-sheets, and hoisted up in the boat, and handed on board. Wrapt in the folds of the flag lay the gallant boy, his fez gone, his long hair hung round the staff, which his white arms, bared in his exertions, clasped with desperate energy, as the whole was handed carefully to the quarterdeck, for to separate the two seemed impossible. His head moved, and one general shout proclaimed "he lives! he lives!" The doctor now attended, and, keeping back the crowd, the staff and flag were taken from his grasp, and the body borne to my cabin, which was shut from all intruders. My own duties kept me on deck, nor dared I inquire for the patient, so fearful was I of my new hopes being dashed to the ground just as they were born. Quickly the vessel flew on her own course, as filling and tacking we renewed our track for the Bosphorus.

My duties were performed, and purposely every minutia of them was lingered over before I sent for the doctor; he was still with his patient, but would come directly. It was sunset before he did, and with many technicalities, a form of speech he excelled in, added that there was every hope. He was an Italian, a most skilful practitioner, and one in whom I had great faith. Unlike our countrymen generally, he was niggard of his words, save the longest and most incomprehensible medical ones: the merest stomach-ache, in his relation, became a mighty affair, and though on all other subjects taciturn to a fault, on this he was overwhelming. Men, in his eyes, were subjects, and everything was subservient to science, and I half believe he considered war as a merciful dispensation for providing practice. As fellow nationists we were much together, at least, during the earlier months of our acquaintance, until I found that he looked on mankind only with reference to their constitutions, scenery as affecting health, water as creating malaria, and mountains as catarrh and colds. He now disgusted me by a long lecture on the probable effects of excess of excitement on fair-haired persons, and while I was in an agony to see and hear of Afi, he was confusing me with long Latin words. It, however, appeared that the boy must be left alone, and time would develope the rest.

On descending to the state cabin, I found Hassan diligently employed in concocting the bulletin of his action. He sat upon the divan which ran across the stern; on the deck before him was the scribe, a poor Christian, who contrived, however, to repay the humiliation of his position by peculating nearly all the income Hassan had: once in his debt, the latter had never extricated himself from the incumbrance, and the apparent cringing sycophant was the real lord and master. As I ate my dinner, the matter of the report was in full discussion, Hassan appealing to his attendants, who stood around for confirmation and support in the wondrous details he dictated to the scribe. He put the stranger

first seen at daylight down as having played an active part in the action, but retiring early thoroughly beaten, and, though dismasted, effecting an escape through her wonderful sailing. As I said nothing, and the attendants cried peki, he proceeded, amidst many blessings on the Padishah, to recount how he captured the second frigate, and that I, the capitaine, obeying his orders, did wonders. "Waugh! How noble !" cried all. "Hassan Effendi-Arslan min Islam, the Lion of Islam! Generous as brave. Oh, capitaine, thank him-say Mashalla!"

"I shall come upon you, Hassan, for a share of prize-money, if you took her," I said.

"Eh wallah," he said, "we must sink her, then; I never thought of that. Well, put her down as-as a line-of-battle ship, and say she must have sunk-did sink-Afreet! may God confound them all."

Vainly I protested, and said such untruths were sure to recoil on himself.

"If it is God's will, so be it. You Franks know nothing; I let you command the ship, do let me at least write the dispatches. You don't think the Capitan Pasha believes them, do you? Not he-making a sign with his finger, as of cutting, takes half; then another sign, half that, and then again, until holding up his fore-finger, and putting his thumb to the first joint, there is very little left, and that is truth. Were I to tell the truth-bare truth, he would say Hassan is a fool, or Hassan Bey is too old for a command, or Hassan has not seen anything; he is blind not to see the Russians are in Sevastopol, the Black Sea is empty of those sons of Iblees. No, Hassan Bey, thanks be unto God, is a sailor, you are his best capitaine, come and sit here, Ibnee (my son), and we will.. Eh wallah, it is good, another glass, and to Jehannum with the Moscophs."

"Land-land!" It was early dawn; ahead lay the land,—all astern the ocean we had left, and on the "Jemili" flew. The entrance from the Black Sea was shut in as we were a little to the south, and the mountains, on either side, close it from a distant view. Nine knots on the log-reel soon ran us in; and as we closed, a cutter was observed under the land, working up for the entrance. "A Russian, Hassan, for a month's pay," I cried. "Aferin! (it is good)" said the skipper, thus involuntarily closing with my bet. Our colours were hoisted, and all the crew gathered up to witness the chase. "Out reefs, lads," and the points were loosened, the sails up almost at the word. "Royals on her, Achmet," and she flew with the crowd of canvass. The cutter saw us, but showed no colours. "Clear away the bow-guns, sons of Islam-steady, steady at the helm." Our adversary had meanwhile stood in close to the land; but unable to fetch the entrance, spite of all her screwing up, was compelled to tack, or run on shorean alternative the high iron-bound rocks, with deep water to the brink, offered small temptation for. She therefore tacked, standing out to meet us. "Ready, forward!" I cried, as we got our distance. Scarce had I spoke when the cutter yawed, and a

heavy shot came ripping through our foresail, tore our mansail, flying aft, struck the water just astern. It shook the charcoal out of Hassan's pipe, who cursed the shot's mother as his servant readjusted his fire. "Quarters, men, quarters! and cast loose; he means to fight. Now then, foward! fire when your aim is on.” Our shot grazed the water just to leeward of her. "Allow a little windage, captain, or your gun will only hurt the waters; only take her while she is in stays," for as the bay opened she hove about. "Well done, well done!" The shot took her as she flew round, and the peak dropped as the haulyards were cut through, and now she opened on us from her long after pivot guns, firing high, but well. Crash, crash, went our spars, as her heavy shot flew among them; nor were we slow to return the fiery challenge; and as the "Jemili" flew rapidly after her, overhauling her fast, her decks were swept repeatedly. Two men took her helm; each were shot down but another succeeded, and her peak haulyards were re-rove in spite of our fire. On our own side her fire did much damage; and more than one gallant fellow proclaimed the unity of God, and the name of his Prophet, as he was shot into eternity. Hassan's pipe was sent to shivers, and he commenced cursings alternately with texts of pious import. But now we were compelled to discontinue our fire, for on rounding the point of Beicos the whole Anglo-French fleets broke full in view; and so close were we before they were seen, that our shot would have fallen in among them. The cutter, after a few more discharges likewise ceased, and keeping away put more convass on her mast, setting square sail, and running jib. And there before us lay the mighty fleets of the two mightiest powers in the world, line upon line, tier upon tier, awful in their majestic strength, overpowering, even in their repose. A loud cry burst from my excited crew as they surveyed the sight, and saluted the mighty force as friends and allies, welcoming them as come to do battle for Allah, El Sultan, and El Huch. The cutter flew straight for the fleet, as a dove oft, when sore pressed, takes refuge in the arms of her enemies; the corvette rushed on impatient to attain her prize, and already were the boarders ready, crouching on the forecastle, eager to spring on the foe the moment we approached. Right ahead lay a mighty three decker, with an admiral's proud flag at her mast-head, and the huge ensign of England at her peak; the cutter passes her bow, the corvette leaps almost on her, as we near her quarter; the cutter's rigging passes across the folds of the flag as she shoots beneath her stern. "Up, braves!" I cried, as I saluted the flag, and sixty of my men sprung ready at the call. Bright gleamed their flashing blades; fire shot from their black eyes, as I sprang on the bulwarks to lead them on; the cutter, struck by our bow, flew up in the wind, the corvette alongside overhanging her whole length. "Hold, hold!" cried a voice of thunder, and an English lieutenant, who had boarded us unnoticed, came to my side. "The British admiral forbids your capturing that vessel." "She is my prize. Board, men, board !" I roared, at the utmost stretch of my lungs. "I have, sir," said the Englishman, in execrable Italian,

"to inform you that the admiral will not allow you to touch that vessel."-" And sir," I said, "what are you here for, as friends or as foes?" "Not to argue," he replied, "but to order."-" Do that to your own people," I replied; "she is mine, and I have her; see, her crew are beaten below, and my men only await my presence to seize them;" for the Russians had rushed below as my boarders dropped on their deck. "You must not keep her," said the lieutenant; "see the signal to man our boats, and compel you to relinquish the cutter. Sir," he added, saluting me politely, as he drew his sword, "You are my prize,-prize to her Britannic Majesty for transgressing her moral support."

"Prize, par Dieu! never! Back to your boat, or I cut you down. Back, men, back on board, every one of you; there, bring her ensign; back, back! brace round the head-yards; there, steady; meet her with the helm; brace by again," and tearing the cutter's mast out of her, as her rigging caught our waistanchor, we shot ahead. And well it was; a hundred boats, a thousand oars, each pulled by lusty arms, were in hot pursuit. The lieutenant remained on the deck, as if uncertain how to act. I told him to put up his sword, or he would have it taken away from him. He looked uncertain for a moment; nor did I like to touch him, he looked so brave, so eager, and so manly. Observing, however, that we dropped the boats fast, he sheathed it with a bang; and turning to me as coolly as possible, said, "Well, sir, you are off-escaped-clear gone without-no. You are off. What will you do with me?" "With you," I replied, "wish you a very good morning, and a more honourable mission next time." As we gained the entrance of the bay I hove to, fired a gun of defiance, and then put the Englishman into the boat, which returned him to his ship.

My men had brought the cutter's colours which I handed to Hassan, and had carried all the arms and things away they could find on her deck in their short and hurried visit; these were now cast in a heap on ours-prizes to our valour. But stay-a boxwhat is this?-Signals-the box is leaded-this is indeed a prizebut underneath were letters; these had been thus prepared ready to sink-a precaution always used in vessels of war, with regard to important papers, that ought not to fall into an enemy's hands, and here they were probably overlooked in the excitement-they had not been thrown overboard before we boarded. Several letters, French, Russian, English, Greek-my God! my God! what treachery they revealed!-nor could I see why that proud flag had floated over so foul an action. England, I had thought thee free and pure !-had sighed that my own land was not more like thee; but now, shame on thy name!-rather would I be a Russian than degraded beneath thy rule. A light has failed from before me; a star dropped from my heavens. If England's faith fails what hope of good is left on the earth? Thy mission was to enlighten and redeem-and thou too art spotted-most foully sullied with treachery and deceit.

SCENES ON THE OPENING OF THE HOUSES
OF PARLIAMENT.

I PURPOSE to sketch some of the scenes which are displayed at Westminster to the chosen few on important evenings luring the Session. I intend to make some observations on the different parliamentary performers, who strut and fret during their brief hour, like the actors on the artificial stage, and then, also, like their brethren of Drury Lane, are heard no more. It is my vocation to be generally an eye-witness of much that the majority of Englishmen only know by hearsay. The reports of the speeches in the different journals give a very imperfect idea of the actual drama as it is in progress within the walls of St. Stephen's. We forget, on reading the columns of the newspaper, that reporters have eyes as well as ears. We forget, on gazing at the ponderous volumes of Parliamentary Debates, that our legislators, through so many generations, were really human beings, and not mere machines for the manufacturing of parliamentary eloquence. How cold and inanimate seem the most elaborate reports the next morning in comparison with the spectacle of busy life when the play is being played out, and the spectators and actors are all looking anxiously for the catastrophe! We may sneer at the House of Commons; we may laugh at the rectitude, the honour, and the learning of right honourable, honourable, and learned members. The spoken words of many may be foolish; the patriotism of many may be faction; but, with all its shortcomings, its folly, its ignorance, its stupidity, where in the world at this day, or, taking it all in all, in any other age, can we find such an illustrious body as the Lords and Commons of England, in Parliament assembled?

It is this feeling which causes the first day of the session to be ever regarded with such peculiar interest. The procession of Her Majesty is not in itself very magnificent, it is seen year after year without the least change in outward appearance; yet it is a sight that is always seen with pleasure, an august panorama that is ever new. Occurring periodically, at each advent it marks a year in the life of a great nation. No ordinary vicissitudes have distinguished the fourteen months which have elapsed since Parliament was last opened. A strong mental effort is required to recall the different circumstances which attended the commencement of the late parliamentary year. The sagacity of statesmen, the hopes of philanthropists, and the confidence of optimists, have each and all, during this short interval of fourteen months, been put to shame.

On the 11th of November, 1852, the Queen opened the fifth Parliament of her reign. A great parliamentary feat was to be performed. A new financial system was to be introduced. The