surprise and interest; for I could not imagine what the girl had to say.

"Only, sir, if you would be so kind as not to mistake my brother. He is not clever in saying what he feels. He can seldom speak about his feelings-but I know that his heart is full of gratitude to you, sir. Don't mistake him, sir. Pray don't! The folks here call him proud. Oh, sir! he is humble and thankful-oh, very thankful for the help you are going to give him; and, so-so am I-" she added, in a low hurried tone, as if she were almost afraid to speak for herself, though she had taken courage to speak for him. Then raising her head once more, she looked towards Elizabeth-" Miss Graham, will you speak for me? I do not know how. Dear, dear, Ralph! he is so happy! he has got his wish."

"I understand, Grace," said my niece; "and Mr. Seymour understands perfectly. Come with me, my dear, I want to speak to you;" and, nodding good-naturedly to me, she entered the best parlour with the tearful, blushing Grace, and closed the door.

To be continued.

SKETCHES IN RUSSIA.

[From the Journal of a Gentleman just returned from St. Petersburg.]

DUELLING.

DUELLING is strictly forbidden by the Emperor, and any infraction of the orders of his Majesty is severely punished. Indeed, were it otherwise, it is to be feared that quarrels might constantly arise, the results of which would be most serious, as nearly every other man you meet, above the lower class, wears a sword; a weapon not only confined to the army, the navy, and the police, but is to be seen at the side of every student, of all in any way attached to any military or naval establishment, engineers, military and civil, employés on the railroads and dockyards, the superior employés in the tribunals, courts of law, banks, &c. Judges, secretaries, procureurs, under-secretaries, and an infinity of others, are seen with their mothero'-pearl hilted swords. The most stringent measures are therefore adopted to prevent these weapons being made use of offensively, or otherwise than as ornaments. I am led to these observations by an affair of "honour," as it is termed, which took place at the beginning of the summer, in which a young friend of mine, a most estimable young man, lost his life.

Two young men, the Counts Rosen and Heinrichoff, officers of the Chevalier Garde, having dined with some of their comrades, and possibly drank quantum suff., had a foolish dispute on the relative qualities of their horses. Each supported the superiority of his favourite charger, the dispute became animated, and unfortunately, in the heat of argument, words somewhat discourteous passed on both sides. An explanation, however, took place, and it was supposed that all was settled amicably. Not so, however; on the following day the affair became the subject of conversation among the officers of the regiment, and it was agreed either that a meeting ought to take place, or that it should be suggested to Count Rosen, to whom the first so-called discourteous phrase had been addressed, to leave the regiment. The mover of this resolution, Mons. S....i, the son of General S... .i, undertook to be the bearer of the communication. The consequence was a meeting; and, at the first exchange of shots, the Count Heinrichoff fell dead. As usual, an immediate investigation took place, the particulars of which were submitted to the Emperor on the following day. "This must be put an end to-I will have no quarrelling in the army," said his Majesty; "I will have no duelling. These foolish boys must be made an example of. Let Count Rosen be degraded, and sent as a common soldier to the Caucasus, with power to advance by merit and good

conduct. When he shall have regained his epaulettes, his title and present position shall be restored to him. The seconds, and all who were present at the meeting on the day subsequent to the dinner, be sent to the army with the rank they now hold-thus they will lose two steps; Monsieur S... .i, the mover of the resolution and the bearer of the communication, not to have the power, on any consideration,. to re-enter the Guards until he shall have served ten years in the army." The sentence was carried into effect the same day.

Since that, the Count Rosen, a most amiable young man, has so distinguished himself in several engagements with the enemy, that he has gained the order of St. George, in an unusually short period has been advanced to the rank of sous fficier, and, should his life be spared, it is supposed, and sincerely hoped, he may regain his epaulettes within two years. It is more than probable, taking into consideration that the duel was forced upon him, his Majesty will again allow him to enter the Chevalier Garde.

IZVOSCHICK AND THE EMPEROR'S CLOAK.

*

The Emperor, having remained somewhat longer than usual on his daily visit to his daughter the Grand Duchess Marie-Nicolaivena, the Duchess of Leuchtenberg, having no carriage with him, and being desirous of returning quickly to the palace, most probably having an appointment for a stated time, as he is known to be the very essence of punctuality, took a street sledge. On arriving, the Emperor left the sledge, and was about to enter the palace, when the izvoschick, not knowing his Majesty, who had returned to St. Petersburg only on the preceding day after an absence of some weeks, taking off his monstrous cap with both hands, reminded him that he had not paid the fare. "Good, good," said his Majesty, "I will send you the money." "Ah, baront," (pronounced bahrin,) said the poor izvoschick, looking at the palace, "this is a very large building, and has a great many ways out; your nobleness might make a mistake and leave by another door, or the person you might send with the money might not know at which door I am, and might make a mistake; but if, baron, your nobleness would leave your cloak with me, and take my platet, we shall both be safe." "What!" said his Majesty, who was amused, "do you imagine that an officer driving to the palace of the Emperor would rob you of your fare, which cannot exceed a greevenick,§ or, at most, a p'yetaltine " "Ah baron, forgive me," replied the man, "your nobleness is not an izvoschick. You do not know what we do. It is precisely at the palace of the Emperor, at the theatres, at the tribunals and great houses, that we are robbed." His Majesty threw off his cloak, under which was simply the uniform of a general officer, deposited it with the izvoschick, to the great surprise of some persons who happened to be passing, and entered the palace. A few minutes only had elapsed, when an aide de-camp presented himself for the purpose of redeeming the cloak; and telling the izvoschick that he had driven the Emperor, who had sent him a ten double note (£1 13s. 4d.), which his Majesty hoped would make up for any sums of which he had been robbed by officers or others; and desired he would wait there until he was sent for. The poor fellow was alarmed; he took off his cap with both hands, as usual, fell upon his knees, burst into tears, and crossing himself "Gospodi pometa (Lord have mercy upon me); Gospodi boja moi (Holy God! what have I done? what will become of me)? Boja moi! Boja moi! (No, no, no, I will take no money, I will take no money; pray let me go, oh baron, pray let me go);" saying which he jumped on his sledge, and flogging his horse, drove off at full speed, leaving the money in the hands of the officer, who was too much surprised to stop him or have him stopped. An order was given for the man to be found and conducted to the palace, which was immediately done, as his Majesty always has persons near enough to him when he goes out to mark anything that transpires. The poor fellow was now more alarmed than before. He had not only detained the Emperor's cloak, but, by running away, had acted in direct opposition to his Majesty's commands; and the least he expected was to receive some hundred pairs of rods, and be put into the army. What, then, was his sur

Izvoschick, the driver of a public carriage. During the winter hundreds of the peasantry, not being able to occupy themselves in the country, proceed to St. Petersburg with a sledge of their own manufacture, and one, two, or more horses, where they become izvoschicks, and in the spring return to their homes, frequently having realised considerable sums.

Baron, or bahrin, a term of respect used by the lower classes in addressing their superiors. tEvery izvoschick wears suspended from the collar of his coat behind a tin plate, on which is his number, and for which he pays a certain sum annually. The shape of the plate is changed every year, that the tax may not be evaded.

Greevenick, a silver coin, value ten kopecks silver, 41d. English. P'yetaltine, a silver coin, value fifteen kopecks silver, 6d. English.

prise at being received with kindness, and told not to be alarmed, but to look upon the Emperor as his best friend, whose great happiness and desire was to improve the condition of those whose position placed them at the mercy of evil-disposed persons. The Emperor then gave him a bank-note for twenty silver roubles (£3 6s. 8d.), and dismissed him.

THE FONTALKA.

During the existence of cholera, a number of poor ignorant peasants had been induced to believe, by the evil disposed, that the waters of the canals and riversthe only beverage of the poor and working classes-had been poisoned, and the numerous deaths which had taken place among them was to be attributed alone to that cause, and not to the epidemic. The poor fellows were not aware that the cholera swept off all classes alike, without distinction to rank or position. They knew only that they constantly lost friends and relations from their villages. Those friends and relations had died, they knew not how. They therefore believed they were poisoned. Some thousands of them collected together, armed as usual with their axes and knives, without which a Russian peasant is never to be seen, the former stuck in the belt of his sheepskin, the latter usually carried in his bootand the result might have been most serious but for the arrival of large bodies of troops. A number of the leading rioters were seized, and ordered to be flogged, which punishment is usually inflicted by soldiers on the spot, and is certainly most severe, not unfrequently terminating in death. The first culprit was stripped, and the lash was about to be applied, when the Emperor, who, as I have observed, is everywhere, drove up on his drojka, as usual unattended. On ascertaining the particulars, his Majesty ordered that the punishment should not take place, the delinquents being objects rather of pity than of condemnation, as it was impossible such ideas could have emanated with themselves. "Flogging will not do away with that feeling," said his Majesty; then turning to the poor fellow who was about to be punished, "Go," said his Majesty, "to the Fontalka," (the river near which the scene took place,) "and bring me a bowl of water." The man went-the bowl of water was produced-and the Emperor drank a copious draught of it, to the great astonishment of the poor Moojhicks. His Majesty then addressed them in the kindest terms, ordered them to be liberated, and sent them to their homes; which, but for the opportune arrival of his Majesty, it is most probable they would never have seen again, which may be imagined from the following mode of operation. If the prisoner be condemned to receive a thousand lashes (the minimum in these cases, twelve thousand the maximum), a thousand soldiers are drawn up in single files, in two ranks opposite each other, at a distance of about six yards apart; each man is armed with a strong hazel switch or twig, about six feet in length. A priest is present, before whom the condemned is placed on his knees. After about a quarter of an hour spent in prayer, during which he confesses himself and receives absolution, he is placed in the hands of the provost's men: his sentence, and the particulars of his crime is read aloud; he is then immediately stripped to the waist, his wrists are bound to a musket, which is placed transversely before him, and supported by two soldiers, one on either side. A march in ordinary time is beaten, and preceded by the drummers he has to march past the two ranks, down the one rank and up the other, receiving from each soldier as he passes a blow, which is inflicted with dread. ful severity. Should he drop from exhaustion, which not unfrequently occurs, he is placed on a hurdle, and the punishment is continued until the whole number is administered, be the result what it may. Some time since a soldier was condemned to receive twelve thousand coups de bagnelle, for having committed several murders of a most atrocious character in his regiment. He received the whole number at six different periods, as closely upon each other as it was possible to inflict them; and, as it was intended, he died on receiving the last portion of three thousand. This punishment is termed "Passer un régiment," and is inflicted only in cases of treason or murder, where the army or navy is in some way concerned.

CADEAU TO THE EMPEROR.

During the carnival, masquerades take place twice a-week at the Opera house, and at the Salle de la Noblesse. At these fêtes ladies only are masked; gentlemen are in uniform or en frae. No fancy dresses are allowed. The Emperor and Grand Dukes are usually present, unattended, mixing with the crowd as other individuals, and his Majesty may frequently be seen with a beau masque on his arm, of course of whom he has no knowledge, intriguing him, with which he appears very much amused. On these occasions any masque is allowed, indeed encouraged, to address his Majesty, on condition that the privilege be not abused by presenting a petition,

or in fact soliciting a favour. The following singular circumstance occurred at a bal masque at the Salle de la Noblesse, a short time since :

A masque taking the arm of the Emperor, entered freely into conversation with his Majesty, and having made sundry observations, suddenly ceased and became apparently embarrassed. "Why do you thus break off?" asked the Emperor. "Continue toujours, ta conversation est vraiment charmante, comment, 'su hesches éncore (I fear you are about to act indiscreetly-you are about to ask me to do something for you); allons beau masque, je te pardonne ton indiscrétion pour ton esprit, parle doue franchement." "No, Sire," replied the lady, recovering herself, "I am not about to commit so serious an indiscretion; on the contrary, I am desirous of offering to your Majesty a present." "A cadeau!" said the Emperor, smiling, "donne doue, donne vite." "Not here, Sire, I have it not with me; but if your Majesty will be graciously pleased to say when and where I may have the honour to present it, your Majesty will find it not unworthy your acceptance." "C'est bien, c'est bien," said the Emperor; "nous verrons, nous verrons; demain à midi au palais." On the following day, at the time appointed, a lady in deep mourning drove to the palace, and enquiring for the Emperor, was conducted, as had been ordered, to his private cabinet. On seeing and hearing her he immediately recognised the masque of the bal masqué, and enquired, evidently pleased, "Eh bien, Madame, et mon cadeau, me l'avez vous apporte? Jesuis vraiment curieux de la voir." "Yes, Sire, it is here; have I your Majesty's permission to present it?" "Certainement, certainement; et vous ne me ferez, pas attenire j'erpère." The lady then opening the door through which she had entered the cabinet, brought forward two exceedingly interesting children, a boy and a girl. "Here, Sire," she said, "is what I hold the most precious in the world. Their father-who had on several occasions distinguished himself in the service of your Majesty, fell in the last engagement in the Caucasus, leaving them unprovided for; I am not without friends, but my object in offering them to your Majesty, is, that they should become worthy the bright name and honours so nobly earned by their father, the only fortune he has left them." The Emperor took the children, one in each hand, and begging the lady would follow him, conducted her to the apartments of the Empress. "Madame," said he on entering, "I have a present for your Majesty, the value of which I am convinced will be appreciated. This lady, whom I have to present to your Majesty, Madame the widow of one of my best and bravest officers, who fell in the last engagement in the Caucasus, has done me the great honour to bring me these interesting and fatherless children. Je lui en sais, grê. It is an offering which, certes, I will not reject. They are the children of a good and a brave soldier; I will adopt them, and will be as a father to them. The boy shall pursue the career of the late colonel, and I have no doubt will prove worthy of his sire; but with this beautiful child," pointing to the little girl, "I am really at a loss what to do, otherwise than beseeching your Majesty to accept her as your half of the offering, which is indeed but just." The Empress, at all times happy at an opportunity of doing good, readily and willingly entered into the feelings of the Emperor, kissed the child affectionately, and the happy mother having expressed her acknowledgments, retired with the assurance that her fondest hopes would be realised. The boy would be placed in the corps de cadets or corps de pages, from whence he would pass to the army, and if successful, may one day become a field mareschal of the empire. The girl will be brought up in the Institution de l'Imperatrice, on leaving which she will most likely be appointed a demoiselle d'honnour de la Majesté, and will have every possible chance of becoming the wife of a person of the highest rank and distinction.

THE ADVANTAGES OF A BAD HALF-CROWN.

BY ALFRED W. COLE.

"PARTICULARLY unpleasant upon my soul,-one solitary half-crown left and the governor inexorable. What does he say? Let's take the fiftieth perusal of his letter-Dear Tom: Your extravagance shall receive no further encouragement from me. Your quarterly allowance shall be paid as usual, but not another penny. I am amazed at your request. Your offended parent, THOMAS SCRATCHLEY.' Now, I call that about as unreasonable a letter as a governor ever wrote. Let's take it sentence by sentence. 'My extravagance'-I've overdrawn fifty pounds

VOL. III.

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beyond my allowance, and I owe about a hundred more. Considering that I've been six months in London, and the governor makes me such a beast of an allowance as one hundred and fifty pounds per annum, I can't say that I think I've been so very extravagant. He won't encourage it.' It isn't he that does itit's Shears, the tailor-and Stubbs, the bootmaker-and-and the wine merchant and the jeweller-and the rest of the harpies that encourage it. Hang them! and they'll be down upon me pretty sharply some day for all their encouragement. My allowance shall be paid as usual'-Good; but why not doubled? And then he's amazed at my request'- -a request for a £20 note by return of post. How easily governors are astonished! And he's my offended parent! how easily governors are offended! Well, I'm brought to a pretty stand-still. Can't get a halfpenny till next month-dunned by my landlady, and by all the 'small' tradesmen as they're called (because their wants are so large I suppose, for the fellows always have 'heavy bills to provide for'). Not a man I know that isn't cleaned out, so that I can't borrow a sou, and yet I've got to live in the meanwhile. It's a necessity that I see-though the governor doesn't. What's to be done?”

It was really a very grave question, and one that Mr. Thomas Scratchley, junior, could not answer for some time. While he is thinking of it, we will take a glance at the youth. He is a medical student-that is to say, he is supposed to attend lec. tures at the London University, but usually absents himself from an attachment to late breakfasts, pale-ale, and cigars. He is about one or two and twenty years of age, five feet eight high, sandy hair and whiskers to match, and very much of an Adonis in his "get-up." His father is a respectable country surgeon of extensive practice, and Tom is his eldest son, sent up to town to finish his medical studies, with an allowance of £150 per annum from his father, and a stock of copy-book moral precepts from his mother, enough to furnish the minds of half-a-dozen well disposed young gentlemen.

Tom would not be a bad fellow, but for his vanity. Some one has told Tom that he is good-looking, and Tom is fool enough to believe it, though one would have thought that his own shaving glass would have removed the impression. If Tom could only have got rid of this delusion, he might have pursued his studies rationally and lived within his income, but this unfortunate fancy made him idle and dissipated and extravagant.

"I can't hit on a plan at all," said Tom, after reflecting on the state of his ways and means. "The more I think, the worse things look; and my head gets quite giddy. There's one thing certain-a man must dine. Now, if I spend this half-crown for the purpose of dining, it won't enable me to do so above twice-and two dinners would be very short allowance for a whole month; therefore I must become a diner-out' as often as I can get any one to invite me. I'll call on the Thompsons this very day. Mrs. Thompson's a good soul-she always asks a fellow to dinner-that's one dinner. How shall I get the other seven and twenty? Well, we mustn't dive into futurity-Sufficient for the day,' &c."

And with these reflections Tom sallied forth, after having equipped himself in the height of the fashion, according to a medical student's notions of such things.

He called on the Thompsons. Alas! the Thompsons were not at home. The servant, who gave Tom this piece of information, was quite astonished at the effect it produced, for Tom's face drew down to an extraordinary length and his jaw dropped-so that he had that open-mouthed uncomfortable expression of visage which is commonly called "blank." Tom left a "ticket" and walked away

disconsolate.

He might call on the Dodsleys certainly, but then the Dodsleys lived at Highgate and he was now at Clapham-rather a long walk. Omnibuses were out of the question-they would cost as much as an economical dinner. What could he do? Must he really change his last half-crown?

Tom sauntered on - up the Westminster-bridge road, over Westminster-bridge, up Parliament-street, Whitehall and Charing-cross, and along the Strand, intent only on his thoughts, which were barren of results.

Scratchley, me boy, how are you?" said a loud voice, in a very Hibernian accent, and Tom recognised his friend Ignatius Blake, Esq., of somewhere in Galway, who seized him by the hand and wrung it hard enough to make the bones crackle like castanets.

"I'm devilish glad to see you," said Tom, and so he was; for Tom looked upon every friend now as a walking dinner. Blake looked so jolly, too, that Tom made sure he must be all right in pocket. Tom was so perfectly unacquainted with Hibernian human nature as not to know that an Irishman's spirits generally rise as