lings for his present need, and promised a future supply. "Alas!" exclaimed Martlet,

"is this the ordinary fate of genius? How unkind does the world deal with many of its gifted sons! It first flatters, and inspires them with hopes of future fame and prosperity, and then cruelly leaves them a prey to poverty and chilling neglect !"

By this time the coffee-room began to be crowded, for the hour of the proposed debate drew nigh; and Martlet anxiously listened to hear the names of men eminent for literary attainments announced, with something like the respect due to talent. But what was his surprise when he saw few in the room except mechanics; and he was told that they were to discuss the question! "I find," said he, " I must have greatly underrated the intelligence and ability of my order,' when I see them competent to the discussion and decision of the most profound questions! London mechanics can tell, with perfect truth, what governments ought to be—what mental philosophy is; and our ultimate destination is to

them quite plain-what an ignorant part of the world I have been bred in!"

Presently a tall, meagre figure of a man stalked across the room, and with great solemnity seated himself in the presidential chair. After a pause, he rose gradually, like a piece of machinery, and opened the debate in the following words :- "Gentlemen, we are assembled to discuss the greatest question in the whole circle of literature, learning, science, and art, a question no less than the immortality of the soul. There are many individuals in this room, before whose gigantic genius, talent, and ability, all trifling difficulties will hide their diminished heads, wither, and die. Gentlemen, I have only to add a wish, that this debate will be conducted with the politeness, good breeding, knowledge, and education of gentlemen." When the rapturous applause with which this speech was received had in some degree subsided, several persons addressed the august assembly. We shall only give the concluding oration, delivered by one who seemed to be

regarded as a sort of intellectual whale in this little ocean, and one who swallowed all inferior fish. His fine remarks had obtained him the distinguishing epithet of the doctor, of which flattering meed to superior genius he was not a little proud. He was about six feet high, sallow complexion, and he had a hooked nose of extraordinary longitude; with extended mouth, and ridiculous gesticulation, he commenced speaking:-" Gentlemen, may I claim your attention while I set this great question at rest for ever, and scathe the puny arguments of my predecessors, who have arrogantly, presumptuously, and with superlative ignorance, attempted to prove the immortality of the soul. I say, gentlemen, I say it may be affirmed, proved, concluded, and propounded, that the soul, like the body, dies; because it has been asserted, without fear of contradiction, that matter can thinkbut matter, though it does think, nevertheless dies; and, therefore, the soul may die. Gentlemen, let some of the logicians at the other end of the room confute this great and most sublime argument. I affirm further,

that it may be concluded, propounded, and affirmed, that the great intellects, capabilities, extensive capacities, moral feelings, propensities, and, above all, angelic dispositions of men, are insufficient to warrant a belief in the immortality of the soul. Having now propounded and proposed these irrefragable arguments, I trust you will acknowledge that I have completely silenced my presuming, but weak, ineffectual, and narrow-minded, opponents!"

CHAPTER VII.

My young friend's leisure month was now expired, and he began his monotonous routine of manual toil. His hours of labour were from five in the morning till eight at night, and his work required no small portion of bodily nerve. The reader will not therefore think Martlet's situation a very enviable one. Besides, his mind was in a state of literary excitement, which rendered his lot peculiarly painful. He was in a city, too, where there is much to foster a love of knowledge, and a spirit of literary enthusiasm. His desire of knowledge increased with the paucity of his means of acquiring it.

As he walked through the streets, he could not help going into the auctions of books in Fleet Street; and here he would often pass three or four hours, poring over the books. At other times, he rambled about the environs of London, far from the noise and bustle of