a promise of a religious emancipation. Greenfield, however, now publicly denied that any such promise had ever been officially made, although it might have been hinted, in individual speeches in the Common-Hall, that their claim should undergo a liberal discussion in the united Common-Hall. Thus matters stood, when the Brushites, who had always held out universal philanthropy, and civil and religious liberty, in common with their friends on the other side of the moat, thought to increase their popularity by carrying it into effect. Whether or not they had played off a similar trick to that which had been before passed upon the lord by their prototype Brush, in deceiving him as to the extent of the proposed measure, certain it is that the attempt met with exactly a similar result. Imagining that they had received the lord's full, though as they afterwards confessed, reluctant acquiescence in the measure, Greygoose, aliàs Lord Bowquick, brought in a bill to open the road for Catholics to all places and ranks in the army and navy, without taking the oath of supremacy. The discussion had even pro ceeded to some length, when Bowquick informed the Common-Hall that circumstances had occurred, which rendered it necessary to defer any further consideration of the subject. These circumstances, as afterwards stated by Bowquick himself, were as follow. - The household imagining that the measure would tend not only to quell the fermentations which racked Bogland, but also to increase the land and sea-forces, had proposed it to the lord, and obtained a reluctant acquiescence, but a full one, as they supposed. The bill had proceeded some length before the lord formed any objections, and then these were so extensive as made them prefer to drop the affair altogether. It was also intimated to the household, that the lord required from them an assurance in writing, that nothing of the kind should in future, be pressed upon him. The household offered to withdraw the bill, with a salvo, a reservation to themselves of a power of expressing their opinion and of suggesting to the lord any measure that might seem to them expedient. Poor men! they did all they could to retain their places without losing their popularity, the latter of which they well knew to be their chief support; but the lord was not to be so satisfied, and he signified his pleasure—that the household should resign their offices!! — "Farewell! Othello's occupation's gone." A CHAPTER XI. MERRYMAN'S DREAM OF HIS DESCENT THE AUTHOR INTO THE DESCRIBES REALMS OF PLUTO. AS HIGH IN THE BRITISH CLASSICS, AS HOMER'S PENDING the discussion of the Catholic emancipation, and before the Brushites had the most distant ideas that Farmer Gildrig would venture upon dismissing them, they were in the highest spirits, as they vainly imagined that their master had found it necessary to acquiesce in the measure, and that they should stick another popular feather in their caps. Merryman retired to repose one night, as usual, much more overpowered with brandy, than with the Stay-we fatigues of office, and soon sunk into the arms of sleep. It was now that hour will sing it: 'Twas at the midnight hour, when close is drawn Night's sable shroud, and ghosts are said to glide Thro' grove obscure, across the dusky lawn, Or by the murm'ring brook's moon-silver'd tide. That is, the gloomy ghosts; for, some there are Some shake the plates and saucepans on the shelves, thrice!!! Now here,-now there, the very pleasant elves -At this same hour,-(Reader, we are already tired, and shall not risk thy neck, or our own reputation, by climbing any higher up the Parnassian steep ;)—the facetious Merryman was snug in bed by the side of Mrs. Merryman,—as every good husband should be, playing a nasal duet with the winds. His sleep was not sound: --- but happy is the courtier who can |