Pensioner expressed his regret that it was too early in the season for the Tunny fishery, which he described as being well worth seeing, and which has been celebrated in history even from the times of the Phonicians. He, however, proposed to accompany us on a shooting excursion, and promised to indicate to us the abode of the blue pigeon, which in great numbers frequent all the precipitous cliffs forming the boundary of this rocky coast. We accordingly sallied out, and, proceeding in a southerly direction towards the cliffs, went over ground such as in all my wanderings I had never before witnessed. For hundreds of yards together, not only verdure or vegetation of any sort were nowhere to be seen, but neither did the slightest particle of soil cover the black charred and volcanic mass of hardened cinder, which slowly and painfully we toiled over during our progress, and which ran down to the verge of, and abruptly terminated at, the very water's edge. One might have imagined that in some former fearful convulsion of Nature, on the elements of fire and water waging a deadly warfare, Vulcan had been suddenly arrested by the trident of Neptune, which, Gorgon like, had turned him into stone, whilst advancing in torrents of liquid flame to invade the watery realms of Ocean! Wo to the unhappy mariner driven by the tempest on this inhospitable ironbound coast! where, unless like the old navigator St. Paul, he were pilot enough to steer his skiff into some snug creek, inevitable destruction must await him!

Leaving this scene of desolation, this wide bed of lava and volcanic deposit, we gradually ascended, as the abrupt and rocky shore now assumed a still bolder appearance, and rose to stately cliffs, at whose foot broke the foaming surge with a dull and sullen sound, subdued and deadened to our ears by the fearful height we had attained above the angry and boiling billows. This was the resort of our feathered foes, who, startled from their nests by the stones hurled over the perpendicular sides of the precipice by old Sans Façon, afforded us capital shots; but as all our victims found a watery grave, we were soon convinced that to secure the killed and wounded a boat would be necessary to coast along under the cliffs, and it was now too late to think of such

an accessory.

Tired by our want of success, and panting under the rays of a broiling sun, a flock of goats gave us the grateful prospect of a draught of milk the shepherd-boy who tended them guided us to his hut, and here we gladly reposed for a time after all our unsuccessful toils.

The Arab word "halib" procured us the article required, which we quaffed out of a wooden bowl remarkable for anything save cleanliness; but misery was strongly marked in every part of the abode of these poor cottars, whose remote dwelling was now occupied by the shepherd-boy and a care-worn woman, at whose breast hung a child in the last stage of squalid wretchedness and disease. The apparent state of lonely destitution in which this poor creature appeared to be excited our sympathy, and awakened a curiosity which Sans Façon was enabled to satisfy. He informed us, that some time past the family

*This industrious and enterprising people had established Tunny fisheries in various parts of the Mediterranean, even to the coasts of Spain, Malaga being one of the principal emporiums of the trade.

consisted of the father, who obtained his subsistence by fishing, along with the lad who now tended the goats, and a young man, the betrothed of his daughter, the rustic belle of the district; that by their united efforts they obtained an honest livelihood, and existed in easy competence; that in an evil hour, whilst one day fishing off the Northern shores of Comino, a sudden squall coming on, drove their frail skiff against the cliff, and they were swept into one of the nume rous caves by which the precipitous coast is perforated, and there perished, but the boy, being thrown on a projecting ledge of rock, had alone survived to tell the melancholy tale.

“Antonia was then the beauty of the Island," added Sans Façon : "months have since passed; with them have likewise vanished her charms, and, poverina! she has become deranged-matta," said he, out of compliment to Francisco, who did not understand English, and which made him interlard the latter language with occasional sentences of Maltese and Italian; "and with a garland of sea-weed entwined in her long tresses, she sometimes sits for days together in the lonely cave, to welcome the return, from its fathomless depths, of her father and youthful lover."

The poor woman, who from the mixed language in which the Old Pensioner made this communication had understood the nature of its purport, now burst into an agony of tears, the sight of which was nearly proving contagious: therefore, not wishing to make a display of the melting mood, after putting something into her hand to relieve her immediate necessities, I took my departure, with the resolution of paying next day a visit to poor " Antonia's Grotto," and the "Fisherman's Grave."

Sorrowfully and in silence did we wend our way back to the Palace, now gilded by the last rays of the setting sun. The short twilight of these genial climes soon faded into a darkness as sombre as the gloom which appeared to pervade the whole party, including even the "old girl" and her two pretty daughters. Sans Façon broke the spell by asking us if we did not feel hungry, and would not have our dinner taken up stairs, whilst they were at their usual evening meal, it then being their supper hour? "My good fellow," said I, "that sad story of the poor fisherman has made me feel so melancholy, that were I to go up to those great gloomy apartments, I should have a fit of the blue devils; therefore, if the Ladies have no objection, I should prefer remaining where I am, and taking a share of your cena.

Now although old Sans Façon had probably in his life never heard of such animals as the "blues," still he understood what I meant: we had lights brought in, a clean table-cloth spread, and we soon sat down a sociable little party of six. The "minestra" was followed by a large platter of fish fried in oil, flanked by bacon and poached eggs, and the dessert of goat's-milk cheese, brown bread, and raw onions (start not, my sentimental friends!), was washed down with copious draughts of Sicilian wine, which, being already pretty freely circulated, had long since obliterated all traces of our former gloom. Conversation in all the pleasing variety of English, Italian, Maltese, and Arabic, was becoming animated, when suddenly and without announcement a young man in the garb of a British soldier burst into the apartment,

VOL. L-THIRD SERIES, N. S.-No. 3.

Cc

and after shaking old Sans Façon's arm nearly out of the socket, implanted on the lips of the unresisting Maria a salute which ran again through the lofty hall.

"Welcome, Battista!" said the veteran, after recovering a little from the rough handling he had just experienced; "welcome, my boy! but remember my gripe is no longer so powerful as thine, and if thou squeezest so hard thy wife that is to be, I know not what may be the consequence !"

The rich glow which immediately suffused not only the face, but the very neck and shoulders of Miss Maria, convinced me in a moment that this was her intended.

I was wicked enough to smile most significantly, and the poor girl's confusion was still further increased when her lover, seating himself beside her, took her affectionately by the hand, and made the most tender inquiries after her health; for it appeared that his military duties at La Valette had for some time prevented him from seeing her, and he had obtained a few hours' leave of absence, which he employed in walking seventeen or eighteen miles to get a glimpse of his beloved, and would have to retrace the same weary way next morning at daylight.

Oh! Love, how powerful are thy impulses! and in following thy dictates, how lightly does youth think of dangers and difficulties of space, time, or distance!

However, a much less inducement than the weighty one which swayed him would easily have made thirty or forty miles of rugged ground a mere jest to the handsome, active, young, light Bob-for Battista had already, with a soldier's pride, informed me, and his "wings" had testified, that he belonged to the "cacciadori" of the Maltese Fencible Regiment. Nor did the fatigues of the march or the tender assiduities of love appear to diminish one jot of his appetite, though they caused sensibly to diminish the stores of the commissariat : oil and fish, bread and bacon, cheese and garlic, successively disappeared with wonderful rapidity, to the amusement of all, and the jokes of Sans Façon, which often were of a nature to deepen the hue of poor Maria's complexion. "Well done, my son!" said the hearty old fellow; "another egg; fine things those for young people about to be married: some more wine to keep up your spirits in your present melancholy state; but, corpo di San Bacco-(by the body of St. Bacchus) -if all your children inherit their father's appetite-and I suspect you mean to have a few piccolini-I pity yon poor girl !"

At this sally, which was given partly in Italian, partly in Maltese, to be lost by no one of the party, I looked with malicia at the bride: 'twas too much for her to bear; she pretended to have missed something, stole out of the room, and was pursued by the subdued tittering of the "old girl" and of Conchetta, and a sort of view-halloo from Sans Façon, as Battista immediately followed to assist her in her research, whatever it might be. "Good children those," said the old man; only a pity the lad has got such an appetite!"

"But, old chap!" said I, "let us have some more wine, and give me a pipe: I want to hear some of your history, and where you picked up English so well !"

Glad of the hint, he directly bustled out for a further supply of the generous juice and a provision of the soothing aroma, and other appurtenances and means to boot:" the lover returned under his convoy, with the appearance of assisting him; the glasses were replenished, the lamp trimmed, some grotesque looking little "doodeens," carved out of the hard olive wood, being duly charged and placed between our lips, the Ladies settled at their knitting and platting, whilst Battista read riddles in the swimming eyes of his conscious mistressbeing thus duly arrayed, Sans Façon "told his melancholy tale."

I reckon the evening spent at Marfa as one of the pleasantest of my life, and it was late ere I said to the good people then and there assembled, what I now say to thee, good Reader, " felice notte !"

RUNS WITH THE WORCESTERSHIRE HOUNDS.

ON Saturday, the 21st of January, the Worcestershire hounds had an excellent run from Shrawley, which being considered a bad covert to get foxes away from in consequence of its great size, and almost invariably being deficient of scent, as also it being Worcester market-day, a comparatively small Field made their appearance. They were, however, fully compensated for their trouble. The hounds had scarcely entered the wood when their merry tongues proclaimed the presence of the varmint, nor was he at all disposed to create vexation by hanging in covert he went away in gallant style in a direct line for Ockeridge; nor had the hounds proceeded far when a disaster happened to Grant, which threw him out for some time: in attempting to jump a boggy brook on Mr. Pickernel's estate, his horse slipped in, and, falling backwards on his rider's leg, secured him in a no very enviable position, and from which he could not extricate himself without assistance. Indeed so completely were they both fixed for a time, that some person who was proceeding to Worcester, more anxious to detail news of a disagreeable character than to convey a true report, circulated an account that both man and horse were drowned; and as such representations are usually augmented by relation, all sorts of surmises were raised, and so far credited as to create great apprehension that there must be some foundation for fear. Fortunately both Grant and his horse were extricated without injury to either, and he was enabled to proceed after the hounds, which by this time had gained some distance, attended by Marten, the first Whip, who officiated pro tempore as Huntsman with zeal and ability. As they were at the time going a racing pace, Grant must inevitably have been thrown out, but, luckily for him, they made a turn to the right for Witley, which enabled him to regain his place, still, however, going at a pace that did not afford much time for the slow ones to contemplate, or over-marked horses to be favored with the indulgence of a pull: bearing to the left, they pointed for Martley, on for Ham Bridge, then short to the left over the Ridge-hill, by which

time most of the horses were beaten off, and all those that were going were in difficulties. Among a few others, Mr. E. Dixon and Mr. Barnett were still able to witness the beautiful hunting of the pack, but with the keen edge taken off, which sometimes induces men to ride and press them at times when it is so prejudicial to sport-a sin, however, which Mr. Dixon must at all times be exonerated from. Having surmounted the hill, they kept on over a most severe country to the Hundred House, towards Habberley hills, when, as most of the Field had declined, and as the servants' horses were completely knocked up, the hounds were whipped off.

Wednesday, Jan. 25.-Copcut Elm.-A ball having been given by the Members of the Worcestershire Hunt Club, which it should be observed is a body quite distinct from the Subscribers to these hounds, on the previous evening, a numerous and fashionable assemblage mustered on the occasion; and although an extra half hour had been afforded for repose, by naming the time of meeting at eleven o'clock instead of the usual one, it was very evident that many, who had entered zealously into the exciting allurements of Terpsichore and her attendants, had not quite recovered the effects: indeed some declared they had not been in bed at all, and complained of having tasted rather too freely of the Champagne, which, combined with want of rest, could not fail to produce the usual consequences.

It generally happens on such occasions that little or no sport is shewn, or at least not sufficient to compensate those who attend the appointment for their abandonment of the downy pillow at a moment when it is of necessity left with the greatest reluctance: but such was not the case in this instance; nor could anything have been added to the zealous desire of Captain Candler to afford gratification and amusement to his Field, than what propitious Fate had ordained, without having to undergo the mortification of no sport at all, or the overfatigue of a long and protracted chase, which to some, under existing circumstances, would not have been considered a boon-we had one of the prettiest five-and-forty-minutes, with blood at the finish, that the utmost ambition of any Master of Hounds could wish for. The first covert which was drawn, Hazle, or I believe more correctly Hadzor wood, was blank, when Goose-hill was resorted to, and a brace if not a leash of foxes were instantly on foot, one of which went away the moment he was aroused; but the pack had already settled upon good terms on the line of another, and rattling him at a merry pace in covert, soon convinced him of the necessity of making his exit: breaking away on the lower side, he ran parallel with the brook to the Gloucester and Birmingham Railway, when he turned short to the right, over Huntingtrap farm--a most appropriate name, for it is divided by fences with ditches of a most capacious and inveigling character, besides numerous watercourses and drains in the meadows, which at all times call forth the activity of the most accomplished hunter, but more especially when inundated with water, as they were on this occasion: thence, by the Stanings and Woodrows, he led us a circuit for Hanbury Rectory, near which the hounds experienced a short check; but the fox being viewed in the Park, his line was soon recovered, and running him from scent