Thanks, thanks to thee, my worthy friend, Thus on its sounding anvil shaped Longfellow. in-ten-e', very great dip-lo-mat-ic, relating to state un-dena-bry, so as not ac-cla-ma'-tion, shouting im-pe'-ri-al, relating to an emperor spec'-ta-cle, a sight in-cens'-ed, made angry | u-nan'-i-mous-ly, with one voice dis-loy'-al-ty, want of respect for a king or queen; faithlessness cu-pid' i-ty, greediness ex-tem'-po-re (Latin), without previous thought con-tu-ma'-cious, obstinate Amongst the presents carried out by our first embassy to China was a state coach. It had been specially selected as a personal gift by George III.; but the exact mode of using it was an intense mystery to Pekin. The ambassador, indeed (Lord Macartney), had given some imperfect explanations upon this point; but, as his Excellency communicated these in a diplomatic whisper, at the very moment of his departure, the Celestial intellect was very feebly illuminated, and it became necessary to call a cabinet council on the grand state question, 'Where was the Emperor to sit?' The hammercloth happened to be unusually gorgeous; and, partly on that consideration, but partly also because the box offered the most elevated seat, was nearest to the moon, and undeniably went foremost, it was resolved by acclamation that the box was the Imperial throne, and, as for the scoundrel who drove, he might sit where he could find a perch. The horses, therefore, being harnessed, solemnly His Imperial Majesty ascended his new English throne, under a flourish of trumpets, having the First Lord of the Treasury on his right hand, and the chief jester on his left. Pekin gloried in the spectacle; and in the whole flowery people, constructively present by representation, there was but one discontented person, and that was the coachman. This mutinous individual audaciously shouted, Where am I to sit?' but the privy council, incensed by his disloyalty, unanimously opened the door, and kicked him into the inside. He had all the inside places to himself; but such is the cupidity of ambition, that he was still dissatisfied. I say, he cried out in an extempore petition, addressed to the Emperor through the window—' I say, how am I to catch hold of the reins?' 'Anyhow,' was the Imperial answer; don't trouble me, man, in my glory.' 'How catch the reins ? ' Why, through the windows-through the keyholes -anyhow!' Finally, this contumacious coachman lengthened the check-strings into a sort of jury-reins, communicating with the horses. With these he drove as steadily as Pekin had any right to expect. The Emperor returned after the briefest of circuits; he descended in great pomp from his throne, with the severest resolution never to remount it. A public thanksgiving was ordered for his majesty's happy escape from the disease of broken neck, and the state-coach was dedicated thenceforward as a votive offering to the god Fo, Fo-whom the learned more accurately called Fi, Fi.-DE QUINCEY, ‘The English Mail-Coach.' BETH-GELERT. Beth-Ge'-lert, the grave of Gelert | crouch (v.), to lie close down, to brach, a female hound blast, the sound made by blowing a horn boot'-y, plunder hie, to hasten a-ghast', terror-struck gouts, thick lumps or spots of blood gore (n.), clotted blood fang, a sharp tooth cringe guise, manner, appearance sup'-pli-ant (n.), one who prays yell (n.), a dreadful cry The spearman heard the bugle sound, And many a brach, and many a hound, And still he blew a louder blast, And gave a louder cheer; Come, Gelert! why art thou the last 'Oh! where does faithful Gelert roam? So true, so brave-a lamb at home- That day Llewellyn little loved The chase of hart or hare, And scant and small the booty proved; Unpleased, Llewellyn homeward hied, His truant Gelert he espied, Bounding his lord to greet. But when he gain'd the castle-door The hound was smear'd with gouts of gore; Llewellyn gazed with wild surprise, His favourite checked his joyful guise, And still where'er his eyes were cast, He called his child-no voice replied; 'Monster, by thee my child's devour'd!' And to the hilt his vengeful sword His suppliant, as to earth he fell, But still, poor Gelert's dying yell Aroused by Gelert's dying yell, Conceal'd beneath a mangled heap, Nor scratch had he, nor harm, nor dread- |