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being now looked upon with an eye of suspicion by all lodging-house keepers, hotel, tavern, and coffee-house proprietors, waiters and stewards of steamers, &c. The gentleman with the carpet-bag is inclined to make these remarks in consequence of a conversation which he overheard a few evenings since, between a waiter and a chambermaid of a wellknown commercial inn at Gravesend; upon which occasion, on the inmates retiring to their respective rooms for the night, the waiter particularly cautioned the chambermaid to keep a sharp look-out after them ere gemmen with the bags and 'toshes.' The gentleman with the carpet-bag therefore begs leave to point out the necessity of himself and his brother conveyancer making an alteration in their respective travelling conveniences."

The gallant chairman said, that he had no doubt but that the document just read would be highly useful to many honourable members, for whose guidance it should be entered in the journal of the club. He further said, when the honourable gentlemen constituting this enlightened assembly did him the honour of electing him their chairman, he, from that moment, considered himself enlisted in a cause the welfare and interest of which became his own; and in virtue of this feeling he begged to point out the impropriety of prolonging this discussion beyond a very limited period, and should propose that the meeting be dissolved before eleven o'clock, in order to afford honourable gentlemen-for we're "all honourable men❞—an opportunity of reaching their homes before twelve o'clock, and thereby avoid being captured by the various officials of the sheriffs of Surrey and Middlesex.

Mr. Goodsoul begged the further attention of the meeting for a few moments, in order to present a petition which he had that morning received from a large concourse of reduced clergymen and lay members of the universities, as also a number of widows and spinsters of the better order, praying for the establishment of a distinct lodge for the sole reception of the scholastic section of the community, who of late had been brought to a state of destitution in consequence of the preference given by the public, more particularly by parvenues and millionaires, to foreign tutors and governesses, as also the organisation of collegiate schools. This petition was received without a dissenting voice, and was ordered to lay on the ground, there being no table to lay it on.

He

Mr. Gatherpence said that he would, at the next meeting, give notice of a motion, for the purpose of collecting a penny subscription for the purchase of the Crystal Palace, which would make a most excellent central grand lodge, should the number of subscribers be sufficient. should like that great national erection to remain in its present external state, in order to act as a check upon honourable members, when in the heat of discussion, not to outstep the bounds of moderation, or give way to personal invectives by alluding to the past errors or misfortunes of their brethren in distress; he hoped they would recollect that "those who live in glass houses should not throw stones." (Loud cheers.) Should, however, a warlike aspect be presented, such as a bevy of sheriffs' officers and their aide-de-camps around their mighty club, he should recommend the use of iron shutters, like those adopted by a certain noble duke at the memorable period of the passing of the Reform Bill. (Loud cries of "Hear, hear.")

Mr. M'Groatspare said he objected to the subscription fund, for the purpose which had been so well described by the honourable gentleman who had just spoken, being so large an amount as a penny; he thought a much greater sum would be collected if the subscription were confined to a halfpenny. Penny subscriptions had been so very common, that he thought the smaller sum would be more unique, and better suit the finances of the majority of members, as also augment rather than diminish the projected fund; in fact, he felt, from the numbers of the hard-up fraternity, that farthing subscriptions would be ample: he should not, however, press this part of his amendment, lest he should be accused of wishing to make the Hard-up Club a receptacle for all classes -such was not his wish; neither did he desire that it should be too exclusive. (Loud cries of "Hear, hear.") Several other honourable gentlemen followed on the same side, and it was ultimately agreed upon, without a show of hands, that a halfpenny should be the amount of the proposed subscription. Measures were then set on foot for the formation of a select committee to collect the required amount, the proceeds of which were to be called the "The Club of All Nations; or, the Crystal Palace Purchase-Fund." (Loud cheers, and a rattling volley of "Hear, hear.")

The gallant secretary laid before the club a minute of the last meeting, and a list of candidates for admission, which augured a vast augmentation of the members of the honourable and learned craft. This much-to-be-lamented circumstance arose from certain legislative measures which had been enacted. The effects of the new tariff pressed heavily on all classes of the trading community, more particularly the agricultural interests; thousands of farmers and their labourers had been reduced to penury; many of the former had been obliged to surrender to their creditors, and their hardy helpers to seek refuge in the unionhouse. This was a dreadful state of things; but, unfortunately, it was too true; manufacturers were so reduced as to be forced to throw out of employ the majority of their operatives, who thus became burdens on their respective parishes; wholesale and retail shopkeepers had also been sufferers, owing to their stock in hand being rendered almost useless from the influx of foreign goods, and instead of being vendors of those of their own make, were only agents for the sale of the productions of foreign artisans. Such were the effects of Free Trade! Many of the London tradesmen were of opinion that they would not derive any benefit from the Monster Bazaar; even in the most radical manufacturing districts of the north, not a few of the traders are anything but sanguine as to the favourable result which may hereafter accrue to commerce from the Great Exhibition, and wisely augur that the expected competition will not cause an increased demand for British produce; others, in the printed cotton and calico fortification line, think differently, and plod on under the fostering care of Cobden and Bright. Snobs, tinkers, artisans, and the swell mob, look up; but the stanch English yeoman and landed proprietor look down; the more wealthy class of metropolitan tradespeople talk of shutting up their shops, and encamping in Hyde Park or its vicinity; the humbler grade of counter-jumpers purpose bivouacing wherever they can find length and breadth; goodly bevies talk of soaring above the jargon of the brittle Babylon in the monster balloon; these aërial trips will be so far profitable that they will

prevent Mr. Green from looking blue on the events below; clerks, drapers' assistants, and others of the tribe of "gents," have it in contemplation to manœuvre by brigades on Sundays; servant-maids, who are allowed to go to church or chapel; soldiers and policemen, off duty, are expected to grace this miscellaneous throng with their presence. To add to the animation of the scene, it is reported that the élite of the legion of spruce, ginger-beer, and soda-water vendors, intend to form a cordon around Hyde Park, from Shepherd's Bush to Kensington Gate: this numerous corps of bottle-imps hope to keep up a rapid and constant popping at their repective outposts, for the diversion of the civil, naval, and military promenaders of all nations.

In accordance with the hint of the gallant chairman, a few minutes before eleven o'clock the Rev. Welldone Guardall moved the adjournment of the meeting; which instantly broke up, and honourable members forthwith headed for their respective abiding-places. The locality selected for the next gathering did not transpire. During the sitting of the lodge, the outside of the door was guarded by two tall stout members of the learned craft, wearing masks, and loose coats to disguise their figures. These gigantic and able-bodied men of mettle were armed with huge bits of blackthorn, with which they were ordered to defend their position, and to give three distinct knocks at the lodge door, should any suspicious stranger approach their post. Such were the precautions of the sheriffs' prey.

And now long live our noble Queen,

Our heroes long live they;

And when they next do go abroad
May we be there to see.

Viva! Viva the Hard-up!

THE GALLANT "LIBERTIE."
A Ballad.

Now hearken, mates, how dismally
Drive down ye rain and hail;
And fearfullie far o'er the sea
Rides the November gale.

Then let us pass the cheerie glass,
And pile the coals on high,
For fast and taut in Weymouth port,
Right cosilie we lie.

Our Libertie is stanch and strong,

And our captayne's heart is bold; But I would not bee yis night at sea For a hundred pounds of gold!

On deck leap'd hee, straight followed wee,
Nor asked when or where;

But he jump'd into ye rigging,
And he saw ye signals glare.

"Now who so brave, yon ship to save,
Will yis fierce storm defye,

And goe to sea yis nighte with mee?"-
“I, captayne!” “I!" and "I!"

Ah! me, it was a fearful night

When wee went out to sea,

Eight souls in all, of great and small,
Aboard o' the Libertie.

"All hands on deck!" "A wreck! a wreck!" In Portland Baye, for shelter, laye

Now suddenlie they cry;

And speedilie from quay to quay

The awful tidings fly.

Now, Captayne Scott was a bold sailór,
With curled hair and grey;

And a jovial red his face o'erspread,
Like the sun on a frosty daye.

Five hundred ships, or more;

And as we sail'd, some cheer'd, some hail'd "Ye'll ne'er return to shore."

"Cheer up! cheer up!" our captayne cried,
And he carol'd a sailor's glee;

But the billows' roar, as they dash'd ashore,
Drowned his minstrelsie.

And now, at last, all shelter past,

'Mid ye tempest's wild commotion,

We must battle and fight, with main and might,

Alone on ye raging ocean.

Around, on high, from sea to skye,
One deep-voiced roar we heard,
Or a squall flew by with a shriller crye,
Like the note of some evil bird.

Now huge high seas careering
Resistlesse on their waye;
Now broken billows rearing,

And bursting into spray:

Now, open-jaw'd, they leap'd and roar'd,
Like lions in their play;

Now straight aloft their crests they toss'd,
Like giants in the fray.

"God save us all!" cried a young sailór,
And a fearful crye gave hee;
"See the devils lighte their candles brighte
Aloft on our topmast tree."

And we look'd and saw, with eyes
of awe,
The storm-fire fitfully glancing;
Now a pale blue haze, now a blood-red blaze,
O'er mast and mainsail dancing.

"Oh, captayne dear! Now staye not here,"
Cried out one frightened wight;
"But up and awaye for our own snug baye-
The devil's abroad to-night."

"Nay, feare it not," our captayne cried; "Tis but the storm-fire glancing

An omen of weal to the brave and the lealO'er mast and mainsail dancing."

Now, stanch and true, ahead she flew, Though thrice her deck was swept;

"What cheer? What cheer?" our captayne cried,

As he rounded in her lee.

"Oh, help! Oh help!" all hands replied; "For sore distress'd are wee."

Then up and spake their stout skipper, "We here be twenty menne,

And for all and each ye shore yat reach, I'll paye thee guineas tenne.

"Not guineas tenne for fifty menne,

Nor fifty more, I trowe,

Could take us away from yis treach'rous baye

'Till ye morning tide shall flowe.

"But I will send aboard ye

Two seamen, tried and true,
To work at pump and capstan,
And share their fate with you."

In sooth, it was an awful task
To board her as she laye;
And when, with pain, her deck we gain,
Wee'd fain been far awaye.

For the ship did rend, and pitch, and 'scend,
And eke did roll and strain,

That we thought at first she needs must burst, Or part both rope and chain.

And we looked up to wind'ard,

And we saw ye raging sea; And we looked down to leeward, And death was in our lee.

The village lights were gleaming

Far on ye peaceful shore;

And we thought yat ne'er so bright and fair Those lights had gleam'd before.

"Perchance, around yon flickering ray

Some jovial hearts are bounding,

And though she'd heel till shee bared her keel, 'Mid song, and dance, and bright eyes' glance,

To wind'ard still she crept.

By Portland's quarried battlements, And stormy Blacknorth Head, And far awaye adown ye baye, Right gallantlie we sped.

And nearer still and nearer,

'Mid ye tempest's murky gloom, Wee see ye signals flashing,

And we hear ye cannon boom.

Ah, me! it was a par❜lous sight
That luckless ship to see,

As by anchors twayne she rode amayne,
With ye breakers in her lee.

As when some roving falcon

Has stricken down his prey, And left it torn and helplesse,

Then, screaming, flown away;

So, stricken and dismasted,
'Reft of her braverie,

All rent and torn, that ship forlorne,
Lay drowning helplesslie.

And maiden's laugh resounding.

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"Now many a widow'd mother
Weeps for her sailor son,
And offers, ere the dawning,
Her tearful orison.

"And many a maid is dreaming
Of her true love on the sea;
Or eke, with tears and bodinge fears,
Is watching wearilie."

"Oh see! oh see!" the skipper cried,
"Yon signals gleaming bright,
Lit by some watchful pilot,

To guide us through ye night.
"Your Libertie hath gone to sea,
And she'll return no more;
God speed us all, whate'er befall,
I'll run ye shippe ashore."

"Heed not their signals beaming
So brightlie thro' ye gloom,
Like phantom fire-flies gleaming,
To lure us to our doom.

"Full oft I ween those wolves have seen
The horrors of West Baye;
But nought they care how wee may fare,
If they but clutch their preye.

"Full many a crew has come to rue
Yon breakers in our lee,

Who now lie dead, in their stormy bed,
Down in the deep blue sea.

"To sack our land with fire and brand,
Ye Spanish host came o'er,
But a hundred galleys went to wrack,
All on yon fearful shore.

"And when ye south-west gales do blow,
And ye billows roll amayne,
The beaten shore will oft restore

Her hidden hoards of Spayne.

"Both dollars rare and jewels fair,
And bow and petronel,
And targe and spear, and bandolier,
And pond'rous manacle.

"And their crews, so brave, ye ocean wave No pitie had on them;

For their spirits sleep in ye stormie deep, With ye winds for a requiem.

"Wo worth ye daye thou shouldst assaye Yon breakers in our lee,

And Heaven forefend our days should end Down in ye deep blue sea.'

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Now dimly o'er ye eastern wave,

Uprose ye merrie morn;

But little mirth or hope had wee,

Poor sailors all forlorn.

For the wind it flew five points, and blew
Still fiercer than before,

With snow and hail ye frantic gale
Came pelting on ye shore.

But far awaye 'mid drift and spraye,
One lonely sail we see;

And now we cheer, "God speed thee here,
Thou gallant Libertie!"

Light o'er ye billows bounding,

She comes she comes amayne, And hartes did glowe, and tears did flowe, As hope return'd agayne.

"Cheer up! cheer up!" our captayne cried, As he rounded in our lee,

"The gale blows fair, and now or ne'er,
We will be off to sea."

A rope we brought, and bent it taut,
Full fifty fathom long:

"Thou'rt all our hope, my bonnie rope,
The devil send thee strong."

Our helm is shipped-our cable slipped"And now, my Libertie,

Thou must tug and strain, and towe amayne,
Ye big ship through ye sea."

We watched the rope 'mid fear and hope,
As it tugged and it bore ye strayne;
But a heart-sick crye was borne on high,
As it tugged and it snapped in twayne.
But Captain Scott was a bold sailor,
And he hove-to in our lee,
"A hawser," he cried, 66
I'll tow you off to sea."

and whate'er betide,

A hawser we brought, and we bent it taut, One hundred fathom long;

And we did praye as we veered it awaye,
"Our Lady send thee strong!"

And our fears they fly, and hope draws nigh,
As it tugged and it bore ye strayne;
But a cry of despair was borne on ye air,
As it tugg'd and it snapp'd in twayne.

In sooth we were in piteous plight,
And some did wail and cry,
And for distresse and wearinesse,
Some laid them down to die.

And the sea did roar on ye fatal shore,
A cabelle's length a'lee;
Each yawning wave a ready grave,
Down in the deep blue sea.

But Captain Scott, that bold sailór,
He hail'd our frighted crew:
"God speed us all, whate'er befall,
To you I will prove true."

And a cable wee brought, and bent it taut,
Two hundred fathom long;
And we did pray, as we veered it awaye,
"Christ Jesu send it strong!"

Ahead we fly, and hopes rise high,
For the gale still fairer blew,

And away went wee with ye brave Libertie,
While our cable still proved true.

By Portland's quarried battlements,
And stormy Blacknorth Head;
And far awaye athwart ye baye,
Right gallantly we sped.

And though ye gale is raging,
And ye seas are rolling high,
No rocks a'lee, all fair and free,
The tempest we defie.

'Tis sweet I ween to rest at e'en,
When ye deadly struggle's o'er,
And to tell ye tale of ye ocean gale,
All on ye peaceful shore.

Then let us pass ye cheerie glass,
With mirth and melodie;

Nor fear to brave ye ocean wave,
For our friends on ye raging sea.

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