ans

decency of behaviour in future from the turies, If that commerce is hereEmperor himself. All this may appear after to be carried on, and that interchimerical, but it is all possible. In course maintained, it must be, it can addition to the force from England, ships only be, upon covenants fresh drawn, will be sent from the Cape station and consented, signed, sealed, and lastly from the Pacific station, and great good ratified with salvoes of British thunder. must result from the enterprise,

If a sa

Let no one fall into the mistake that tisfactory establishment for the future can

war is referable only to opium or not be secured at Canton, the China trade

sycee silver. The Chinese have long will be removed to some island off the

viewed the progress of British arms coast further north, possessing a good

and British conquest in Central India, harbour, to which the Chinese must resort,

in Burmah, in Nepaul, and in the our cruisers taking care, if necessary, that the Chinese war-junks do not interfere

Eastern Archipelago, with secret alarm

and wakeful apprehension, which all with, or attempt to stop such trade."

the external affectation of contempt at We shall see. The Yellow Sea is Pekin for the light-haired "barbarifull of shoals and shallow of water. ” could ill disguise. Long have Where are the steam-vessels of war the Celestial Emperors been prepato come from to transport troops and ring silently for defence and for the materiel of war over the shallows? or catastrophe, which, according to an where the pilots to be procured to ancient prophecy of one of the race, steer ships of war drawing deeply is to visit the Celestial Empire in the through the practicable channels ? It shape of the barbarians so outwardly is with difficulty that steamers are despised. As British conquest exfound to carry the ordinary mails from tended to the frontier of Nepaul, the Bombay to Suez at present.

astute Chinese overran Thibet, and Here we close the circumstantial secured in its mountains, among the narrative of Chinese aggression and most lofty and inaccessible in the British supineness. We have exposed globe, a commanding rampart against the spurious pretence of Chinese hu- British aggression and the hostile in. manity, alleged as the moving cause terference of Sepoys and Europeans. of the suppression of the opium trade. As the pride of the Burmese was We have shown its real origin in the humbled before the victorious arms baser motive of the prevention of the of British India, the observant and export of sycee silver. We have up- stealthy Chinese covered and subdued held, and we hope demonstrated, the Cochin-China with their numberless righteousness of the claim of our op- hosts, and by this extension secured pressed merchants, British and Chi- their natural frontier on the south nese, to indemnity in full for loss, more strongly against contact or indamage, confiscation of property, and vasion. So that China has pat redeprivation of personal liberty. We mained stationary so far, whilst the

. have not pretended to dispute the ab- world was in motion around her; but stract right of the Chinese to suppress has long been arming for the inevitthe opium trade, or the positive justice able fight, and preparing for the hour of enforeing the laws against illicit of fate. Could war by any honourtraffic and contrabandists. Nay, more, able effort be yet shunned--and shunwe shall not deny their clear right to ned it can only be by indemnity for close all dealings, whether in tea, or the past and security for the future-far cottons, or silks, or woollens, upon from us be the repetition of that policy due notice given and time allowed for which dictated the march to Affghanthe liquidation of accounts and affairs istan-a policy we deprecate not less -& period of years and not days; strongly than the Great Duke himself provided always that ample indemni- -by which Russia has been attracted fication_indemnification beyond per- already to the shores of the Oxus, haps even the means of China--be equidistant from Cahul on one side proffered and paid for the countless and the frontier of British India on the millions of capital embarked in pro- other; and by which she has been perty afloat, or on shore, fixed or taught that the roads of Cabul and the moveable, little of it elsewhere avail. passes of Candabar, before reckoned able, embarked on the faith of ancient impracticable and impassable, are open stipulations, and the rights established to a Russian as they were to a British of commercial intercourse for cen- army,

TEN THOUSAND A-YEAR.

Part V.

“ FORTUNA Sævo læta negatin, et
Lurum ins lentem lude e pertinax
Tra ismtat incertos honores,

Nunc mihi, nunc alii benigna.
Laudo manentem : SI CELERES QUATIT
PENNAS, RESIGNO QUÆ DI DIT. ET MEA
VIRTUTE ME INVOLVO, PROBANQUE
PAUPERIEN SINE DOTE QUÆRO."

Hor. Carm. Lib. iii, 49.

W

а

While the lofty door of a house a man of rapidly-rising importance in Grosvenor Street was yet quiver. in Parliament. Surely his was a ing under the shock of a previously pleasant position--that of an indepen. announced dinner-arrival, one of the dent country gentleman, with a clear, servants who were standing behind a unincumbered rent-roll of ten thou. carriage which approached from the sand a year, and already become the direction of Piccadilly, slipped off, spokesman of his class ! Parliament and in a twinkling, with a thun-thun, having been assembled, in consethunder-under-under, thunder-runder- quence of a particular emergency, at runder, thun-thun thun! and a shrill à much earlier period than usual, the thrilling whir-r-r of the bell, an- House of Commons, in which Mr nounced the arrival of the Duke of Aubrey had the evening before dethe last guest.

was a large livered a well-timed and powerful and plain carriage, but perfectly well speech, had adjourned for the Christknown; and before the door of the mas recess, the House of Lords, house at which it had drawn up, had being about to follow its example that been opened, displaying some four or evening : an important division, how, five servants standing in the ball, in ever, being first expected to take simple but elegant liveries, half-a place at a late hour. Mr Aubrey was dozen passengers had stopped to see warmly complimented on his success get out of the carriage an elderly, by several of the select and brilliant middle-sized man, with a somewhat circle then assembled, and who were spare figure, dressed in plain black in high spirits-ladies and all-on clothes, with iron-grey hair, and a account of a considerable triumph countenance which, once seen, was just obtained by their party, and to not to be forgotten. That was a great which Mr Aubrey was assured, by man; one, the like of whom many even the Duke of his exertions previous centuries had not seen ; had certainly not a little contributed. whose name shot terror into the While his Grace was energetically in. hearts of all the enemies of old Eng. timating to Mr Aubrey his opinion land all over the world, and fond pride to this effect, there were two lovely and admiration into the hearts of his women listening to him with intense fellow.countrymen.

eagerness--they were the wife and “ A quarter to eleven !” he said, in sister of Mr Aubrey. The former a quiet tone, to the servant who was was an elegant and interesting woman, holding open the carriage door of nearly eight-and-twenty ; the latter while the bystanders took off their was a really beautiful girl, somewhere hats ; & courtesy which he acknow between twenty and twenty-one. She ledged, as he slowly stepped across was dressed with the utmost degree of the pavement, by touching bis hat in simplicity that was consistent with a mechanical sort of way with his elegance. Mrs Aubrey, a blooming forefinger. The house-door then young mother of two as charming closed upon him; the handful of on- children as were to be met with in a lookers passed away ; off rolled the day's walk all over both the parks, empty carriage ; and all without was was, in character and manners, all qniet as before. The house was that pliancy and gentleness ; about Miss of Mr Aubrey, one of the members Aubrey there was a dash of spirit for the burgh of Yatton, in Yorkshire, that gave an infinite zest to her

66

beauty. Her blue eyes beamed with cast into the shade and displace all the the richest expression of feeling-in stern visages of those old poets, orashort, Catharine Aubrey was, both in tors, historians, philosophers and statesface and figure, a downright English men, who ought, in Lord De la beauty; and she knew-truth must Zouch and his son's tutor's judg. be toid-that such she appeared to ment, to occupy exclusively the head the Great Duke, whose cold aquiline of the aforesaid Delamere for some eye she often felt to be settled upon five years to come. That youngsterher with satisfaction. The fact was, happy fellow-frank, high-spirited, and

! that he had penetrated at a first enthusiastic and handsome to bootglance beneath the mere surface of was heir to an ancient title and great an arch, sweet, and winning man- estates; all he had considered in looking ner, and detected a certain strength out for an alliance was-youth, health, of character in Miss Aubrey which beauty, blood-here they all were;gave him more than usual interest in fortune--bah! what did it signify to her, and spread over his iron-cast his son-but it's not to be thought of features a pleasant expression, relax- for some years. ing their sternness. It might indeed “ Suppose," said he aloud, though be said, that before her, in his in a musing manner, one were to person,

say-twenty-four”. Grim-visaged war had smooth'd his " T'wenty-four !" echoed the Earl of wrinkled front.”

St Clair with amazement, my

dear 'Twas a subject for a painter, that

Lord De la Zouch, what do you delicate and blooming girl, her auburn

mean? Eighty-four at the very lowhair hanging in careless grace on each est.”. side of her white forehead, while her

" Eh! what? oh-yes, of course eyes were fixed with absorbed interest I should say ninety- I mean--hem!on the stern and rigid countenance they will muster about twenty-four which she reflected ”had been, as it only." were, a thousand times darkened with • Yes, there you're right, I dare the smoke of the grisly battle-field. say.” Here the announcement of But I must not forget that there are

dinner put an end to the colloquy of others in the room ; and amongst the two statesmen. Lord De la Zouch them, standing at a little distance, is led down-Miss Aubrey with an air of Lord De la Zouch, one of Mr Au.

the most delicate and cordial courtesy; brey's neighbours in Yorkshire. Ap. and felt almost disposed, in the heat parently he is listening to a brother of the moment, to tell her that he had peer talking to him very earnestly arranged all in his own mind that about the expected division ; but Lord she was to be the future Lady De la De la Zouch's eye is fixed on you, lovely Zouch. He was himself the eleventh Kate--and how little 'can you imagine who had come to the title in direct what is passing through his mind ? It descent from father to son ; 'twas a has just occurred to him that his sud- point he was not a little nervous and den arrangement for young Delamere anxious about-he detested collateral -his only son and heir, come up the succession — and he made himself inday before from Oxford-to call for finitely agreeable to Miss Aubrey him about half-past ten, and take his as he sate beside her at dinner. The place in Mrs Aubrey's drawing-room,

Duke of - sat on the right hand side while he, Lord De la Zouch, goes down of Mrs Aubrey, seemingly in high to the House—may be attended with spirits, and she appeared proud enough certain consequences. He is specula. of her supporter. It was a delightful ting on the effect of your beauty bursto dinner-party, elegant without ostentaing siddenly on his son-who has not tion, and select without pretence of seen you for nearly two years; all this exclusiveness. All were cheerful and gives him anxiety—but not painful animated, not merely on account of anxiety-for, dear Kate, he knows that the over-night's parliamentary victory, your forehead would wear the ancient which I have already alluded to, but coronet of the De la Zouches with also in contemplation of the coming grace and dignity. But Delamere is as Christmas; how, and where, and with yet too young-and if he gets the whom.each was to spend that “ righte image of Catharine Aubrey into his merrie season," being the chief topic of head, it will, fears his father, instantly conversation. As there was nothing

on

a

peculiar in the dinner, and as I have spire ; an immense yew-tree, with a no time for describing such matters in kind of friendly gloom, overshadowdetail—the clatter of plate, the jing- ing, in the little churchyard, nearly ling of silver, the sparkling of wines, half the graves. A little behind the and so forth-I shall request. the church is the vicarage-house, snug reader to imagine himself led by me and sheltered by a line of fir-trees. quietly out of the dining-room into After walking on about eighty yards, the library-thus escaping from all you come to the high park.gates, and the bustle and hubbub attendant upon see a lodge just within, on the left such an entertainment as is going hand side, sheltered by an elm-tree.

in the front of the house. You then wind your way for about We shall be alone in the library a third of a mile along a gravel walk, here it is; we enter it, and shut the amongst the thickening trees, till you door. 'Tis a spacious room, all the come to a ponderous old crumblingsides covered with books, of which looking red brick gateway of the time Mr Aubrey is a great collector—and of Henry VII., with one or two deeplythe clear red fire (which we must set stone windows in the turrets, and presently replenish or it will go out) mouldering stone-capped battlements is shedding a subdued ruddy light on peeping through high-climbing ivy. all the objects in the room, very fa

There is an old escutcheon immedivourable for our purpose. The ample ately over the point of the arch; and table is covered with books and pa- as you pass underneath, if you look pers; and there is an antique-looking up you can see the groove of the old arm.chair drawn opposite to the fire, portcullis still remaining. Having in which Mr Aubrey has been in- passed under this castellated remnant, dulging in a long reverie till the mo. you enter a kind of court, formed by ment of quitting it to go and dress for a high wall completely covered with dinner. This chair I shall sit in my. ivy, running along in a line from the self; you may draw out from the right hand turret of the gateway till recess for yourself, one of two little it joins the house. Along its course sloping easy-chairs, which have been are a number of yew-trees. In the placed there by Mrs and Miss Aubrey centre of the open space is a quaintly for their own sole use, considering disposed grass-plot, dotted about with that they are excellent judges of the stunted box, and in the centre stands period at which Mr Aubrey has been a weatherbeaten stone sundial. The long enough alone, and at which they house itself is a large irregular pile should come in and gossip with him. of dull red brickwork, with great stacks We may as well draw the dusky green of chimneys in the rear ; the body of curtains across the window, through the building had evidently been erected which the moon shines at present rather at different times. Some part is evitoo brightly.--So, now, after coaxing dently in the style of Queen Elizaup the fire-I will proceed to tell you beth's reign, another in that of Queen a little bit of pleasant family history. Anne: and it is plain that on the

The Aubreys are a Yorkshire fa- site of the present structure has for. mily. Their residence, Yatton, is in merly stood a castle.

There are the north-eastern part of the county, traces of the old moat still visible not above fifteen or twenty miles from round the rear of the house. One of the sca.

The hall is one of those old the ancient towers, with small deep structures, the sight of which throws stone windows, still remains, giving you back nearly a couple of centuries its venerable support to the rightin our English history. It stands in hand extremity of the building. The a park, crowded with trees, many of long frontage of the house consists them of great age and size, and under of two huge masses of dusky. red which some two hundred head of deer brickwork, (you can hardly call them perform their capricious and graceful wings,) connected together by a lower gambols. You strike off the great building in the centre, which contains North road into a broad by-way; the hall. There are three or four after going down which for about a rows of long thin deep windows, with mile, you come to a straggling little heavy.looking wooden sashes. The village called Yatton, at the further high-pitched roof is of slate, and has extremity of which stands an aged deep projecting eaves, forming, in grey church, with a very tall thin fact, a bold wooden cornice running

a

along the whole length of the building, cheerful temper makes every one which is some two or three stories happy about her; and her charity is high. At the left extremity stands a unbounded, but dispensed with a most clump of ancient cedars of Lebanon, just discrimination. One way or feathering in evergreen beauty down another, almost a fourth of the village to the ground. The hall is large and are direct pensioners upon her bounty. lofty; the floor is of polished oak, al- You have only to mention the name most the whole of which is covered of Madam Aubrey, the lady of Yatwith thick matting ; it is wainscoted ton, to witness involuntary homage all round with black oak ; some seven paid to her virtues. Her word is law; or eight full-length pictures, evidently and well indeed it may be.

Wbile of considerable antiquity, being let Mr Aubrey, her husband, was to the into the panels. Quaint figures these last stern in bis temper, and reserved are to be sure; and if they resembled in bis habits, bearing withal a spotless the ancestors of the Aubrey family, and lofty character, she was always those ancestors must have been singu. what she still is, meek, gentle, acceslar and startling persons! The faces sible, charitable, and pious. On his are quite white and staring-all as if death she withdrew from the world, in wonder; and they have such long and has ever since resided at Yatton legs, ending in sharp pointed shoes -never having quitted it for a single just such as were worn in the reign of day. There are in the vicinity one Edward III., or even Richard II. or two stately families, with ancient On each side of the ople replace name, sounding title, and great posstands a figure in full armour; and sessions ; but for ten miles round there are also ranged along the wall Yatton, old Madam Aubrey, the old swords and lances, the very idea squire's mother, is the name that is of wielding and handling which makes enshrined in people's kindliest and your arms ache, while you exclaim, most grateful feelings, and receives o they must have been giants in those their readiest homage. 'Tis perhaps a days!" On one side of this hall, a very small matter to mention, but there door opens into the dining-room, be- is at the hall a great white old mare, yond which is the library; on the Peggy, that for these twenty years, in other side a door leads you into a all weathers, bath been the bearer of noble room, now called the drawing- Madam's bounty. A thousand times room, where stands a very fine organ. bath she carried Jacob Jones (now a Out of both the dining room and pensioned servant, whose hair is as drawing-room, you pass up a stair- white as Peggy's) all over the estate, case contained in an old square tower, and also oft beyond it, with comforttwo sides of each of them opening on able matters for the sick and poor. the old quadrangle, lead into a gallery Most commonly there are a couple of running all round the quadrangle, stone bottles, filled with cowslip, cur. and into which all the bed-rooms rant, ginger, or elderberry wine, open.-But I need not go into further slung before old Jones over the welldetail. Altogether it is truly a fine worn saddle-to the carrying of which old mansion. Its only constant occu- Peggy has got so accustomed that pant is Mrs Aubrey, the mother of she does not go comfortably without Mr Aubrey, in whose library we are them. She has so fallen into the pow seated. She is a widow, having habits of old Jones, who is an inveter. survived her husband, who twice was ate gossip, (Madam having helped to one of the county members about fif- make him such by the numerous en. teen years. Mr Aubrey is her first- quiries she makes of him every mornborn child, Miss Aubrey her last: ing as to every one in the village, and four intervening children she has fol- on the estate, and which enquiries he lowed to the grave, the grief and must have the means of answering,) suffering consequent upon which have that slow as she jogs along, if ever sadly shaken her constitution, and she meets or is overtaken by any one, made her, both in actual health and in she stops of her own accord, as if to appearance, at least ten years older hear what they and her rider have to than she really is—for she has, in say to one another. She is a great point of fact, not long since entered favourite with all, and gets a mouthful her sixtieth year. What a blessed life of hay or grass at every place she she leads at Yatton! Her serene and stops at, either from the children or