to give her much uneasiness.

She was therefore surprised, when

she told Archer, to see that he looked hurt at it.

Mr. Walton had, as yet, been to see none of the " sights" of Portsmouth. His head was too full of his new plans for the building of Associated Homes. He indulged in the contemplation of all the practical details till results grew out of them of a very elevated, ennobling, and also of a very profitable description. It was a novel and delightful thing to realize a large fortune by benevolent actions. Still, a man should not be too ambitious; we should set bounds to our desires; we should not aim at too much; moderation is the secret of enjoyment. Mr. Walton's meditations were often made up of writing-copy maxims, though they dawned upon his mind like new truths to a philosopher. He thought of a motto for his carriage-the carriage he intended to "set up ;" and the first one that presented itself to his contemplation was "Nolo episcopari."

Now, however, Mr. Walton determined that he really would go and look about him a little. He reproached himself bitterly for the hundredth time that he had not been to see Harding. He had not even sent a message to him, nor thought of a day for going to the dockyard. He resolved that he would do something very shortly that should make full reparation. Consequently, he did nothing now, and his conscience was very much relieved.

In this easy state of mind-free, comfortable, sanguine, and not particular-Mr. Walton put on his hat, buttoned his coat, and began to draw on his gloves, to go out somewhere. While he was doing this, Archer entered with Mr. Carl Kohl, to inform him that there was to be a Lecture on Geology at the Mechanics' Institute that evening, and Archer wished to take Mary, and to invite Mr. Walton to accompany them. Mr. Walton at once agreed, adding that he had no doubt but his daughter would like to go, of all things, as she had just received several large books from Comerford's library, and the Literary and Philosophical Institution, upon this very hard study.

Evening arrived; Mr. Walton hurried them all off much before the time; and the party proceeded to the Lecture Room. It was half full already; three or four placards were pasted upon the walls, on the purport of which the audience were for the most part in discussion. The placards announced the sudden indisposition of Dr. Bowles, and that a Lecture on Mesmerism would be substituted. The room continued to fill. Nearly everybody grumbled

aloud at the change of lecture, and-Englishman like-remained nevertheless.

Within two rows of Mr. Walton's party they descried Harding, who was listening to the earnest conversation of a man at his side, apparently a shipwright dressed in his Sunday clothes. Archer and Mary were both about to make signs of recognition to Harding, but Mr. Walton begged them to wait, as he had caught a few words of the speaker's voice, which greatly amused him. It was evidently nothing private.

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Why so?

demanded Harding.

"Eh mon, its jeust a point o' conscience," replied the other. "About what?

"Ye ken that our shep, the Royal Freederick,' is ca'ad aifter the name o' the deceest Deuk o' York. The timmer for her was cut oot an' stackit, and she was named in his life before the keel was laid doon. Aweel noo, the Deuk is deed an' buried; an' he deed sairly in debt; an' naebuddy has paid the debts of him. It is therefore nae gude that a moaral mon should asseest in reering up an eedeefeece like this stately shep to the memory of sic a defaulter."

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It may be a disgrace to his family," observed Harding, “but it is not a rap to us.

"We are the beelders of a shep to honour his deecehonourable name."

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No; somebody else does that; we only build it because we are paid as shipwrights."

"I canna reconceele it to my conscience. I maun soleecet to exchange into ane o' the companies that work in the 'Leander.'' "You can do that, Sandy; but as for your reason, it is not worth a shaving."

"Eh sirs? the Leander' is a fine piece o' workmanshep-the lairgest freegate in a' the Service. Feefty guns, an' twa thoosand tons burthen-equal to the auld seeventy-fours. An', forbye, the ports for'ard are constructed upon a new preenciple, so as to fire richt a-heed or across her bows-twa shot, ane frae each side, would cross ilk ither at the deestance o' saxty faithoms. That's athegither a new principle, lad! An', forbye, there are seeveral leading men in her wha ken the cannie feegurin' o' the fractions an' deecimals, an' may whiles gie a buddy a wee bit of asseestance." "Aha! this is your point of conscience. You wish to exchange into the Leander' to get some help in arithmetic."

"Aweel noo, John-the Deuk o' York's debts are no paid-an' I canna―as a moaral-an' a releegious mon-asseest to build ony eedefeece to honour his name.

"Bravo! ejaculated Mr. Walton, so loudly that all the audience in front of him turned round, and among them Harding. The party had only time to exchange tokens of recognition and greeting-Mr. Walton shaking his hand towards him with most cordial gesticulations-when the Lecturer entered the room, and everybody called all the rest of the audience to order. This important personage advanced with a slow and formal pace; ascended to the platform, and placing himself behind the desk, looked with a vaguely courageous eye over the crowd of heads around him.

The Lecturer was a sedate, sallow gentleman, very tall and attenuated, all his clothes appearing too loose and roomy for the frame underneath. He had a long nose, and no chin; and long, weak-looking arms, terminating in large bony fingers. It seemed as if all his strength had gone into his hands.

The Lecturer commenced his discourse with the earliest known history of Mesmerism, and then receded yet further back into its conjectural history, reaching to the time of Moses, whom he was disposed to regard as the first great practitioner of the sublime science. In this way the erudite Lecturer occupied three quarters of an hour; and it was endured by the audience with exemplary stolidity. He next proceeded to speculate upon the nature of the animal-magnetic fluid; and here, even the most attentive of the listeners showed signs of disapproval. Mr. Carl Kohl, though unable to speak English, had studied it at the University in Germany, and could understand pretty well; and he now shook his head.

Most of these latter

The audience was, as usual, miscellaneous: a few merchants and government officers with their families; many small tradesmen and shopkeepers; and, in consequence of Harding's exhortations, some score of shipwrights and other artisans. There were also a few merchant-captains and mates. seafaring and Dock-yard men—and indeed a great many among the rest of the audience, now began to utter audible murmurs, to the effect that they came expecting to hear Dr. Bowles lecture on Geology, and not Mr. Bamfield on Mesmerism.

"Order was frequently called.

Thus admonished, the audience again became quiet, though

watches were often pulled out, till the Lecturer at length taking the hint, commenced a series of curious anecdotes of the effects of Mesmerism, which he felt assured would redeem his lecture from any chance of being accounted heavy, and prove highly interesting both to the educated and "the vulgar." He related several miraculous cures, three of which he had himself performed. The last was the case of a gentleman of Berlin who had lost his sight, being struck blind in a thunder-storm, though the organ itself did not appear injured externally. He had consulted all the first German oculists with no effect, and had also tried the water-cure, but all to no purpose. Eventually this gentleman had been visited by himself Mr. Bamfield-the humble individual who now stood before them. He had persevered with "passes" daily for the space of three weeks, without any effect, as he thought, and was about to give up the case as hopeless, when it was one day accidentally discovered by the patient's wife, that although he, Mr. Bamfield, had failed to restore the faculty of vision to the proper organ, yet such was the force of the magnetic fluid, and the volition he had sent through the patient, that it had carried all before it, and actually caused a transference of power, whereby the gentleman was enabled to read with his spinal cord. Any unknown book being opened anywhere, and placed opposite to the small of the patient's back-he read off a page like lightning.

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The Lecturer paused. The room was ominously silent, as if the people were drawing in their breath. He looked round triumphantly. Lord, what a lie!" said a loud voice from one side of the room. It was Mr. Downs. The whole audience instantly exploded in a roar of laughter, mingled with half jocose cries of Shame!" Silence ! " "Order!'

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"Der

"Dass ist not un-possible!" cried Mr. Carl Kohl, standing up and hastily adjusting his spectacles, in some excitement. transference of dee senses-oaf dee see sense, namely, more zan any ozer sense-is not un-possible. And dee twice sight-second sight, you call him, mine gentle-mans, on princeeples magnetiques, is also perhaps then yet true."

Another burst of laughter rewarded this luminous explanation and defence.

"No witchcraft!"-"Pooh! pooh!"-"We did not come to hear a lecture on Second Sight!" exclaimed several voices. Mr. Carl Kohl bowed, and sat down.

The discomfited Lecturer, who had retreated a few paces, now cautiously returned to the desk, and again endeavoured to obtain a hearing. His miserable countenance caused some re-action in his favour. He began by relating another little anecdote—one of quite a different kind-showing the powers of the magnetic fluid. A very strong man had been unable to rise from a chair, merely by the magnetizer waving his hands over his head; and the same strong man, on being allowed to rise, and told to stand firm, and upright, was compelled to sit down, in spite of all his efforts, merely by the same waving of the hands thus! And this might be done with any number of men.

Up stood a man at this!-then three more then some fifteen stalwart shipwrights and sun-burnt sea-faring men—and all confronted the Lecturer with faces red and convulsed with restrained merriment.

"Gentle-mans! "exclaimed Mr. Carl Kohl-then stopping short, he bent down his head, and said hurriedly, "I pray you, my sir-Mr. Archer I begs it of you. It is not right zat we allow an infant science to be strangle, or make a foal in her cradle, becose she haf a disastrous friend, zare!" (pointing to the Lecturer)" and a bad pokesman" (pointing to himself) "here!" Archer hesitated. He did not much relish the office.

“I !—I !—a disastrous friend!" ejaculated the Lecturer, who was evidently getting wild with nervousness at the array of men with red faces, standing up in front of him with an air of ludicrous defiance. He endeavoured to proceed, but his voice gurgled and died away, so that he only gave a gasp.

"Poor fellow!" whispered Mary, pressing Archer's hand"he is very foolish; but do try and help him out of this painful position."

Archer rose thoughtfully.

"Order!" said Harding in a deep voice, and with an earnest face. "Allow me a few words, gentlemen," said Archer, “and let us not forget that ladies are present. I cannot think you right in acting thus in a room devoted to the acquirement of knowledge; neither do I wish to defend everything that our friend the Lecturer has said. But perhaps we have all been rather hasty."

This was chiefly addressed to the men who were standing up to daunt and challenge the powers of magnetism. They all sat down quietly, subdued by Archer's pacificatory voice and quietude of manner.