indeed should we have been to offer his Royal Highness the humble hospitalities of the Hall, and then-fancy Mrs. Botherby's "My Gracious!" By the way, the old lady tells me you left your nightcap here on your last visit; it is laid up in lavender for you;-come and reclaim it. The Yule log will burn bright as ever in the cedar room. Bin No. 6 is still one liquid ruby-the old October yet smiles like mantling amber, in utter disdain of that vile concoction of camomile which you so pseudonymously dignify with the title of "Bitter Ale." - Make a start, then;-pitch printer's-ink to old Harry, -and come and spend a fortnight with

Yours, till the crack of doom,

TAPPINGTON EVERARD,

Dec. 16th, 1842.

THOMAS INGOLDSBY.

1.9.

THE

1

INGOLDSBY LEGENDS.

(SECOND SERIES.)

THE BLACK MOUSQUETAIRE.

A LEGEND OF FRANCE.

He'd a mien so distingué, and so débonnaire,

And shrugg'd with a grace so recherché and rare,

And he twirl'd his moustache with so charming an air,
-His moustaches I should say, because he'd a pair, -
And, in short, shew'd so much of the true sçavoir faire,
All the ladies in Paris were wont to declare,

That could any one draw
Them from Dian's strict law,

Into what Mrs. Ramsbottom calls a "Fox Paw,"
It would be François Xavier Auguste de St. Foix.