mouth and expressive oglings by these well-practised stall keepers. One of these captivators in particular has so many sweet things to say in so fascinating a manner that she charms half the young men who come within the reach of her musical voice; beside, who could resist those ringlets and that magnificent cap? And now see how carefully she is depositing with her own hands, in the coat pocket of a young farmer, the gingerbread he has just purchased. Who would not be that man? Why he looks as happy and proud as Anthony was wont to appear when resting on the breast of Cleopatra !

It is now dusk-you should have taken care of your pockets all day; but be sure to keep a sharp look out now. This is the pickpocket's harvest time. Many a gentleman, when he thrusts his hand into his coat pocket, finds it minus that of which he is in search—viz., his handkerchief; and purses also disappear in a most unaccountable manner. Many "prigs" have already found their way to prison; for as you pass by that place these light-fingered gentry are to be seen in "melancholy mood," looking through the iron bars at the busy crowd without, and "cursing their stars for not being competent to extract purses, handkerchiefs, snuffboxes, &c., without detection.

About this time young men and boys commence puffing cigars! a smoking mania has taken possession of our sex; boys purchase cheroots who never smoked before; some know not the right end of a cigar from the wrong, and many of the juveniles feel very disagreeable sensations in their head from the effects of the narcotic weed. Saints and spiritual-minded people show the whites of their eyes and exclaim against the vanities of the fair. When will true religion, reason, and philosophy take precedence of fanaticism, cant, and hypocrisy ?

The bazaars, shop windows, &c., are now illuminated with gas. How everything shines, sparkles, and glitters! even penny broaches and sixpenny gilt watches look splendid by this light. We are forcibly reminded by these glittering toys that "all is not gold that glitters." As with the tawdry goods exhibited for sale at fairs, so is it with a certain portion of mankind-they must not be judged of by appearances!

Those ladies and gentlemen who feel disposed to patronize the legitimate drama honour the theatre with their presence, as Mr. ---'s company of comedians visit the town during the fair. The uproar and confusion in the house-for it is crowded from top to bottom-effectually precludes the possibility of hearing anything that is said on the stage. The London houses on a "boxing night" have a rival for "uproariousness" in the provincial theatres during their fairs, although George Barnwell may be served up for the edification (?) of the audience.

It is getting late, and the "strollers," not the "legitimates,"

are exhibiting outside their raised platforms for the last time. At a small show there is a figure dark as bronze and cast in a most uncouth mould, attired in female apparel of white. She is hung about with lace and bespangled with silver, dancing in the most disgusting manner, lost alike to shame and all that is lovely and amiable in the female character. This scene is rendered still more wretched by the almost expiring torches in the front of the platform, which are flickering in their sockets. The company now gradually draw to head quarters, tired and fatigued by the day's pleasure, and soon after the gentlemen have taken their supper, grog, and tobacco, they retire to rest, except the lovers of harmony and whist, who "keep it up" till late, or rather early hours. Thieves divide their plunder, showmen, &c., see to their profits; all are tired, and soon "turn in to roost."

Those persons who are so unfortunate as to be placed in front rooms are as much annoyed by the rioting, disorder, and rows of the drunkard in the streets as they were the night previous disturbed by the bleating of sheep and the bellowing of cattle.

The second day of the fair passes much the same as the first, and the third and last is considered the most "genteel" by those who understand the etiquette of these matters, when the inhabitants of the borough promenade the town.

The fair week being over, and all the honest men, women, Cyprians, thieves, and vagabonds who visited the town have departed; the pleasant borough of B-- again becomes quiet, and its inhabitants are left to complain of the depression of trade, dispute about politics, make love, and talk scandal.

A great variety of actual property in the article of human flesh and blood is exhibited at fairs, too. That poor slim child who is enacting the part of young Norval in the tap-room of the Red Lion Inn is the slave of yon bloated and savage-looking being who is playing the part of Glendower. Yes, this ferocious Glendower, night after night, retires to bed drunk on the profits derived from the exertions of his overlaboured infant (slave) prodigy!

That poor blind girl, too, with pale face and thin person is the property of the beldame, her mother, who is leading her through the crowd, and who exhibits her daughter for filthy lucre at every fair in the kingdom. Yes, that mother has made a property of her only child, who, delicate and affected as she is, proves a source of profit (!) to that unnatural mother; for the blindness of the hapless Fanny furnishes a supply of gin, tobacco, board and lodging for her inhuman parent. Alas! human slaves and inhuman slave-holders are innumerable at country fairs; but our space is exhausted, consequently we must abstain from further description. Jerusalem pony races for pannels, climbing greasy poles for legs of mutton, bobbing for penny busters alias rolls and treacle, by rustic young gentlemen, drinking hot tea by ladies over sixty years

of age for new gown-pieces; of singing-matches and jumping in sacks; of scientific acquatic performances for oranges; of grinning through horse-cravats for "bacca and heavy-wet ;" of cap-races by youths of all ages, sizes, creeds, and colours; of racing for undergarments by interesting young ladies, in which exhibitions no disputes or mistakes are to arise.

In all these matters, and a variety of other edifying sports peculiar to country fairs, we are deeply learned; but our important disquisitions on the above all-absorbing topics must be reserved for a future communication.

FAIRY SONG.

COME AND REIGN MY FANCY'S QUEEN.

WRITTEN FOR THE DARK RAVENSFELL," A FAIRY EXTRAVAGANZA.

BY MRS. CRAWFORD.

PRETTY mortal maiden! say

Wilt thou join our sportive band?

Wilt thou fly with me away

To the bowers of Fairy-land?

Lighted by the ruby's glow,

There in crystal halls serene,
Crown'd with pearls of virgin snow,
Come and reign my fancy's queen.

Pretty mortal maiden! say,

Wilt thou join our fairy bands
To the Rebec's measure gay,
Dancing on the moonlight sands?
Thou hast eyes too bright for woe,
Lips like coral berries, seen

Blushing through the mountain snow;
Come and reign my fancy's queen.

Pretty mortal maiden! hie,

To our dazzling halls of light;
Winged fays for thee shall fly,

Culling sweets from morn to night;
Odours from a thousand flowers

Shall thy golden couch impregn,
Mirth and music crown the hours;

Come and reign my fancy's queen.

A SCENE IN THE PALACE OF GEORGE THE

THIRD.*

A DISSOLUTION of parliament taking place, Frederic Stanley,† the plough-boy poet, was re-elected for the city of. His popularity continued unabated; his speeches and writings secured for him the admiration of every liberal-minded individual, although we regret to say he was not so regular in his attendance at the house as a true representative of the people should be. We are compelled to state, too, that the poet was frequently to be found at some fashionable party when he should have been attending to his parliamentary duties. How often does prosperity spoil a man! how frequently do we find those who have, by their great natural powers, elevated themselves to the highest rank of society, cease to act the noble part they were wont to do in their plebeian days. How often does the mentally-gifted commoner-one of the people -nobly struggle with the corruption of the state, and thereby obtain the approbation of his fellow-countrymen, and perhaps a seat in parliament, as a reward for the honest exertion of his powerful talents. After the lapse of a few years, on looking round for the said honest, talented, and enthusiastic man of the people, it may be we find him lukewarm in the cause of reformation, or still worse, an apostate from the glorious principles he once so boldly advocated, which advocacy gained for him the approbation of the people; and in the now ignoble knight, baronet, or earl, all traces are lost of the once truly exalted characters that were acting under the simple names of Thomas A, William B, or John Cyes, prosperity has spoiled a host of our most promising men. How many public characters can we call to mind who, when plain Mr. was attached to their names, fought nobly in the people's cause, and after being knighted or created peers sank into the state of insignificance so peculiar to the order into which they had unadvisedly been initiated. It doth appear that moral nerve is required as much in prosperity as in adversity to uphold the integrity of character amid the many temptations by which the prosperous are surrounded. For the sake of humanity-for the cause of the people, we regret that the truth of the foregoing observations is so frequently thrust upon our consideration. How is it that these humiliating scenes are so frequently presented to our notice? Is it that men, having obtained the object of their ambi

* From an unpublished work of fiction.

+ This name is of course fictitious.

tion, become indifferent to the public weal? If so, the advocacy of freedom by them has been founded upon a false basis; they have been ambitious merely to feed their own vanity; they are not sterling, honest, unflinching friends of liberty. The advocacy of freedom should only be resigned with life; for however enriched a man may become by raising his voice against the besetting sins of his country, he should remember that the people still require his assistance-" It is the cause, it is the cause!"

But now return we to our hero, who has become somewhat more supine in his advocacy of freedom than when he first entered public life. We find him accepting a situation under government, presented at court, and soon afterwards he became a visitor at the palace of his sovereign, of his introduction to which and whom we here subjoin an account.

The poet was accompanied to the palace by the Earl of —one of his late majesty's privy counsellors. On entering a spacious drawing-room Stanley was introduced to the king by the above nobleman. In the same apartment was the queen, with several other members of the royal family, to each of whom Frederic was introduced by his majesty. This part of the business having been performed, the king said, addressing our hero, and again taking him by the hand,

"I have long wished to have an opportunity of spending a few hours in company with the author of The -. You're welcome, thrice welcome to the palace, my dear sir. In order that we may the better enjoy your company," continued his majesty, "there will be no strangers at dinner with us to-day. Excepting my Lord and yourself the party will be entirely composed of my own family."

The king then continued to say all manner of pleasant things to our honoured hero, who was presently surrounded by the queen and the princesses. After the usual compliments were passed between the above illustrious personages and the poet, the queen approached him, and presenting her box, said,

"I have heard, sir, you take snuff; will you taste mine?"

The poet bowed graciously, dipped his fingers into the massive gold box, and extracted therefrom a pinch of the royal mixture, after which her majesty applied some of the narcotic powder to her own illustrious nose. The poet was next beset by the princesses, who, after a little pleasant chit-chat, each and all said they had a favour to ask Mr. Stanley, which they hoped he would grant; whereupon our hero assured the royal spinsters that his services were entirely at their disposal; they had only to command and he would obey.

"Then," said Princess Elizabeth, "the favour we have to request, Mr. Stanley, is, that you will write an original sonnet in each of our albums."