as the former. Tom Jones is as fine in its way as Christabel. It is only men of universal mind, like Shakspere, who can ascend to the highest flights of idealism, and descend to the lowest Dutch minuteness, with equal vitality. There have been many complaints of late that we have no existing literature to be compared with that of the preceding centuries; and yet if we look at what has been done within the last forty years, we question whether the world has ever been richer in members, though there may have been a few greater mental giants than in that time. What an array of names in fiction and the drama! Scott, Bulwer, James, Dickens, Gerald Griffin, Banim, Cooper, Mrs. Baillie, Miss Mitford, &c., to begin with; to say nothing of Grattan, Mrs. Gore, Mrs. Hall, Jerrold, Thackeray, Lover, and many others! And as for dramatists-Knowles, Milman, Talfourd, Marston, Hunt, Lovell, Browning, Home, Heraud, Jones-are these nothing to boast of? Then, in ideal poetry, when has England been richer?

We have not had many great poems, but we have had great poetry in abundance; as Childe Harold, Hyperion, Queen Mab, Prometheus Unbound, Don Juan, and Wordsworth's Sonnets testify. In the highest rank of minor poets, Campbell, Tennyson, Miss Barrett, Mrs. Hemans, and about a dozen more will be sufficient to prove that we have done well and nobly in that department: but it is perhaps in history, metaphysics, and theology, that we have been least brilliant. Still such names as Carlyle, Emerson, Macaulay, Godwin, and their best disciples, will not permit us to think, that thought is not busy in English minds. Genius, in fact, can never die, but it has periods of exceeding light and darkness, as all things in nature must have. Often it appears to be lost in obscurity, but anon it rises from the grave with a form as vast as light itself, and rejoices in its elemental power. It rises with a life that proclaims the divinity of its origin, and calls forth the noblest powers of the mind. It stimulates us to exertion in the great, the holy, and the beautiful, and erects the name of man above the perishing things of Time. Genius is not mortal, it is the continual aspiration to the Divine; and the extinction of it would be equivalent to oblivion of truth and eternal wisdom.

COGGLEWOOD TRUSTUM'S FIRST STRUGGLE FOR A SEAT IN PARLIAMENT.

A POLITICAL SKETCH, FOUNDED ON FACTS.*

BY WHIZ.

DURING the late general election, many aspirants to parliamentary honors, and political fame, were-from the wide field open to their, somewhat, extensive ambition-induced to try their luck in the wheel of fortune, of electioneering excitement, and by the free circulation of extraordinary views, principles, and pretensions, (liberally committed to type, on large and fanciful posters) led to imagine, that success was the sure result of a candid confession of a few political views, &c., calculated to make some little impression upon a domesticated and sentimental constituency. The most prominent of the principles, (which were to be found on paper, placarded all over the walls, of the various towns), were the following:-" The People's Charter"- "Abolition of the punishment of Death,"-" Exclusion of Bishops from the House of Lords"-"No Popery grants"-" Vote by Ballot,"-" Short Parliaments,"-"Repeal of the Window Tax," -"Sanitary Reform," "Abolition of the Cursed Poor Law,"-" Cheap Bread,"—" No Starvation,"-" Destruction of Monopoly," "No sanction of Ministerial Artful Dodges," -and such like.

Among the numerous candidates throughout the country, figured Mr. Cogglewood Trustum, a gentleman resident in town, who generally carried on the profession of moneylender; occasionally that of law; and who periodically professed to carry on the business of architect and surveyor, Yes! Mr. Trustum thought, (and very properly too), that he had an equal right to stand forward as a representative, as any linen-draper, candle-maker, hotel-keeper, stock-broker, carrier, chinaman, map-seller, or railway speculator; and accordingly put himself forward as candidate for county of. It was during the candidate's first visit, and introduction to the constituency, that we became possessed of the following particulars :

in the

On the day set apart for Mr. Trustum's electioneering debut, a host of friends (as is usual) was summoned to accompany him down on his political speculation.

* It is almost needless to observe, that fictitious names are made use of.

Mr.

Crumpy, a worthy member of the legal fraternity, was appointed chairman of committee, and chief spokesman of the honestly-disposed club. Mr. Twawdiddy, a literary gentleman of great repute, and "getter up" of many philanthropic institutions, was chosen deputy chairman, and ardent supporter of everything proposed by his superior official, or rather, officious superlative; Mr. Benynoty, a good-tempered member of the London press, was thought the proper person to report progress in the proper quarter; Mr. Bungareeton, an athletic personage, and short-hand professor, was selected as aide-de-camp extraordinaire to the worthy candidate; Mr. Gardypren, a composer, was appointed occasional speaker, and suggester of new ideas; four other gentlemen accustomed to electioneering business, completed Mr. Trustum's committee, making in all, with the honorable candidate, ten persons.

It should be observed, that several deputations had been sent down to from Mr. Trustum; but this was not sufficient for the constituency, who wished to form some idea of the candidate before they pledged themselves to support or reject; they wanted to see him in person, and measure the length of his brain, and height of his stature, and depth of his disposition, &c. Much against his will, then, was it, that Mr. T. should go and exhibit himself, and display, by oral demonstration, his own particular capabilities and peculiar talents; we say peculiar, because a man carrying on professions, which ordinarily take up the time and attention of three individuals, must gain peculiar talents or perhaps talents peculiar to himself, provided he does credit to his neighbour and debits himself with the profits arising therefrom.

put

It was a beautiful morning when the party left Trustum's offices, in three cabs, for the railway terminus, Euston Square. The fineness of the weather seemed to augur some cheering prospects and pleasing occurrences. Hope possessed a firm foundation in the minds of Trustum and Company, and more than an average amount of confidence in the various gentlemen forming the well-meaning committee! With what gladdened spirits did they ensconce themselves in the vehicles! How certain did they feel that success would attend them on their pilgrimage! How well was everything planned for taking the electors by surprise, and for making a firm impression upon the eager-minded voters! How satisfied did they feel that the posters, freely scattered all over the town, would create an extraordinary sensation! Yes! everything had been managed with propriety, zeal, and intelligence, so that all was

accomplished but the usual formality-a grand visit with procession, music, banners, favours, and amiability of personal appearances.

Arrived at Euston Square they were soon in the railway train, which very soon trained itself into locomotion of the usual speed. In about two hours they were liberated from steam propelization, and located in the apartment of a comfortable hotel. Sundry libations of soda-water and brandy, &c., inspired the little band with confidence and unanimity, and gave them an opportunity of recruiting all desirable arrangements and suggestions.

Three carriages and four with postilions and outriders were soon got ready, and banners hoisted, and favours donned, and committee seated, and orders given for motion.

The town of was situated about fifteen miles from the railway station, so that there was a very pleasant drive through a most beautiful part of the country, and well was it enjoyed by the Londoners, who so rarely get a true country excursion now-a-days. In about two hours' ride they perceived, through the trees, that their destination was not far distant; so it was proposed to stop a few minutes to complete any little arrangement and give the horses breath, before galloping up the hill leading to the town. Ten minutes sufficed for this purpose, and if ever horses did use speed they certainly did upon this particular occasion. In what grand style did they ride into the town! The populace rushed out of doors, put heads out of windows with mouths wide openso awfully thunderstruck did they appear at so unusual a sight.

After a slow procession round the town preceded by music, banners, &c., the honourable candidate and friends were liberated from the carriages and domiciled in a large room, anxiously awaiting, and eagerly craving for dinner, which they had been led to expect would be a very sumptuous one, as it had been ordered sometime previously. Much to their dismay did they find, that starvation of appetite had been resorted to for the most disagreeable consequences! Frequently did the worthy candidate urge upon his committee the necessity of abstaining from solidities, in case of doing injury to their zest for a good dinner; for, said he, "it would be a most disagreeable coincidence if they sat down to a good repast and could not do justice to it, after such a pleasant journey."

At five o'clock dinner was announced, and the ten gentlemen rushed up stairs with the appetite of wolves and the vo

racity of pikes; but judge their feelings, their prostrated nerves, their insulted dignity, their defeated corporeal expectations, at finding nought on the table but the half of a cold boiled ham and a profusion of bread.

Is this all?" anxiously inquired Mr. Crumpy of the waiter, and labouring under great uneasiness.

"No, sir;" replied the thick-headed automaton, "we've got some cheese and celery."

"Got what?" "How do you mean?" "What a swindle!" "Where's the landlord?" "This must be the wrong room!" "It's all a hoax!" "D-n the ham and celery!" "This is too bad !" "Shew us to our own ordered dinner." "Diabolical insult!" "Impudence of the most aggravated character!" were only a few of the many expressions that fell from the lips of the panic-stricken deceim.

The landlord was called

"What do you mean," said Mr. Trustum, very angrily, "by insulting us in this

"Pardon me, gentlemen, you should have given me instructions, and I would have provided better for you," said Huggits,* in an abrupt manner.

"The order was given to you!" roared out Mr. Crumpy, "and pray, what is the reason it has not been executed?

"Yes; what is the reason?" exclaimed Twawdiddy, with double fury. "A paltry ham, indeed, and cheese and celery! Do you think we are all fools, sir? Are you ignorant of common sense and legitimate etiquette? Are gentlemen to be treated in this disgusting manner? Don't tell me, sirsend up six bottles of wine immediately, and take away that vile apology for an hungry stomach. Let the cloth be instantly removed! Dinner, indeed! The most glaring affair I ever witnessed! Positively shocking!"

"I wish this fellow had been in London," remarked Mr. Benynoty to Gardypren, "and I'd have given him a lift in the newspapers; but you see these clowns know nothing, really nothing. He thought, no doubt, that we should revel over the ham and fight over the celery. The stupid old billygoat!"

"I must have something," said Trustum; "for I'm starving-decidedly starving."

"Welsh rarebits, my boy, is a capital dish; let's have a quantity," exclaimed Mr. Bungareeton, smacking his lips as he finished speaking.

Landlord of the Bottle Inn.