neral; and in the course of our remarks disclaim all intention of reflecting upon any persons in particular. The local authorities of all Colonies are of the same stamp-they are, as it were, all of one family; and if it happens that in one particular place we find a local ruler better or worse than usual, we can only attribute it to chance, and not to any essential difference in the system. It has been already said, that the British Ministry are careless of the characters and qualifications of those sent out to distant Colonies with Government appointments, all that is required of a candidate being good interest, that is, having some claim upon some great man, as being a natural son, poor relation, or in some less honorable way, a Most Obedient Humble Servant." Handsome female connexions are generally admitted to be highly conducive to success, if rightly managed, a fact which the unexpected good fortune of many can testify; but merit, per se, seldom procures a commission. The meritorious candidate has little chance without the assistance of some of the above-mentioned qualifications, for Ministers are not such fools as to bestow that patronage for which they have fought so hard, unless they get something for it beyond the inward satisfaction of rewarding merit. Depend upon it, that after all it is no bad thing for a Minister to have an opportunity of apportioning children, paying for favors, providing for mistresses, cancelling obligation, and securing adherents at the public expense, and especially when it can be done without the appearance of evil, which renders it a temptation very difficult to be withstood. Colonial placeholders in general, may be classed as fortune-hunters and adventurers: and from such men, so patronized, what is to be expected than that they will study their own aggrandizement. The present hour is all they have to rely upon. By seizing that golden opportunity they may gain much, and can lose nothing; for they can have nothing to lose. The means by which their exaltation has been procured, having deprived them even of all pretensions to principle and character; for nothing can be more base than that man whose rank and fame is founded in dishonor, and reared by patronage bestowed for unworthy services. How then, we ask, can men, so circumstanced, be trusted as faithful servants of the Colonial Public, seeing that, independent of their probable unfitness, and their having forfeited reputation for the sake of gain, they have so many opportunities and such strong inducements, to act to the injury of the many, and to the benefit of themselves, as are afforded and held out by the possession of power. What care they for the people? What care they for the germinating nation in which they are placed? What care they for the exaltation of the Colonies? A few years, and their fleeting honors will be departed from them for ever, and their only chance of escaping from the contempt, which dishonorable rank, when lost, will entail, is by amassing wealth, which, unfortunately in this sordid age, covers a multitude of sins; and although it can never command esteem, is at all times a protection, even to the greatest villain, from disrespect.

We may perhaps be thought censorious in declaring our firm per suasion, that of the description of persons just alluded to, are nine-tenths of all those who are invested with place and power in the British Colonies throughout the world; and hence it is, that we account for the people of the several Colonies suffering so much at the hands of their local rulers: a severe opinion unquestionably, but, alas! we fear it is but too well founded in truth. Look at the general conduct the official intrigue the secret correspondencethe unheard-of oppressions-the iniquitous acts of injustice-the malignant feelings-the arch hypocrisy and insatiate vengeance of the various Colonial Authorities, as such are recorded, and say from whence but a corrupt fountain could such unwholesome waters flow? But what are these compared to the manifold injuries inflicted under the cover of "Instructions," which, to screen themselves from personal responsibility, they have procured, by misrepresentation, from the Government of the Mother Country-of the advice of Council, a mere set of dancing dolls, moved at their master's will-of circumstances-expediency and the like-whereby they shift from their own shoulders more than one-half of their own responsibility. These, are the various weeds which declare the soil from whence they sprung to be polluted, and which, as history shews us, have ever flourished with the rankest growth in the several British Colonies. This is not said without ample reason, as it is a fact well known to those moderately well versed in Colonial affairs, that such is the ignorance and dependence of the Downing-street functionaries, the greater part of all the "orders from Home," which have been issued from time immemorial, have been framed at the suggestion of the various Local Authorities, contained, if not in public despatches, at least in private correspondence, with the Under Secretaries. Oh! if the private and confidential political correspondence of that Colonial enemy, R. W. Hay, and various Colonial Authorities, could but be published, what an instructive volume it would afford! What an exposition of the arts and trickery of Colonial Politics would then take place! What a key to the systems of local intrigue and official humbug would be placed in the hands of the People; but, alas! there is little chance of these papers obtaining publicity, as those who hold them know too well how to conceal from the public eye, documents which would of necessity cover them and their clique with everlasting shame, disgrace, and obloquy.

Let us not, however, be uncharitable, and deny virtue to all, because history and experience will not grant it to many. Let us not attribute to wilful wickedness on the part of Colonial rulers, all the sufferings and misfortunes of the several Colonies. Ignorance and imbecility may be, and there is little doubt has been, productive of as much evil as corruption and vice. Many there doubtless are, who have misgoverned without benefiting themselves, or intending to do wrong; but even though we may thus find a retreat under the cover of ignorance for certain Chief Authorities, it by no means

vitiates our deprecation of the miserable source from which all Colonial appointments issue. There is but little difference in the result of appointing a wicked man as a ruler, who will sacrifice all for himself, and the result of appointing a weak man, who, suffering himself to be made the tool of those around him, (among whom it never yet happened that there were none wicked) sacrifices the people for the sake of others. The consequence is, tyranny and oppression, which are not altered in their nature or effect by being produced by the Executive, or that of those advisers by whom he is weak enough to be led astray. Wickedness is, in either case, at the bottom of the evil, which may still be traced to prostituted patronage and corrupt influence, seeing that the most subordinate offices in the Colonies are obtained by the same arts and held upon the same tenure as the highest. The prices of all are alike, viz., prostration and servility; and the only difference lies in the different pretensions of the candidates.

Still there are exceptions-bright, shining, noble exceptions, to these general rules; but as we said before, they are the result of chance. It is only by a lucky accident that good and clever men gain patronage, because they have too high a spirit-too noble a soul to seek it by those means which are the most likely to attain it; and this accounts for so few Colonial Officers being found who are fit for their office, in comparison to the number of those, who in every respect, are disqualified for the situations they hold.

Y.

THE BANNER OF FIVE BYZANTS,

St. George for merrie England!
Fling our banner to the breeze;

That flag is borne to sweep the shore,
As it has swept the seas.

St. George for merrie England!
Our step is on the land,

Oh France! thy sun is wrong to shine
On English battle-brand.

The pennons float o'er gallant ranks,
With heart and eye of flame :
Some ride to win their lady's grace ;
Some for a warrior's name.

I wear no colours in my cap,
And little do I care,

When monkish chronicles are writ,
Though my name be not there.

*

The subject of this ballad is taken from an account of a young knight, Allan le Zouch, at the seige of Caerlaverock, who bore a banner set with five byzants.

I will not fight for lady's love,
Life is a price too high;

I will not shed my blood for what
A few soft words will buy.

And still less reck I of the fame

For which the madman bleeds; 'Tis but a record on the page,

One of a thousand reads.

See, yonder sweeps my pennon brave,
With byzants scattered o'er
But sparingly, they were my last—
Now I must fight for more.

I love the festal hall, where smiles
Light up the purple wine;
And ever to win entrance there,
Or gold or steel must shine.

My banner, with its red byzants,
Points out the soldier's way-
On, on! that golden crest must be,
The foremost in the fray!

THE BETROTHED.

PINTRO.

"I never heard

Of any true affection, but was nipp'd

With care, that, like the caterpillar, eats

The leaves of the spring's sweetest book-the rose."

MIDDLETON.

Lucy! Lucy dear! do come down, if it is only for a minute! I have something very particular to say to you;" but Lucy made no reply. "Lucy Morgan, Lucy dear-It is I-Cynric Owen." He threw a pebble at the window; and, presently, it was gently opened, and the figure of a young girl appeared, gazing cautiously around. My dear Lucy, can't you come down to me?" exclaimed Cynric, as his dark eye sparkled in the moonlight with joy at the sight of his

cousin.

"

Gracious heaven-Cynric! Is it you? in the name of all that is rash, what has brought you here?"

What should bring me here but my true love for you, Lucy? But come down, and I will tell you all."

Lucy hesitated a moment before she consented; but she did consent; for, although she well knew that her cousin Cynric was one of the wildest lads on the hill-side, she knew also he loved her with all the warmth and sincerity of his impetuous spirit: and, notwithstanding all his errors, her heart told her too truly that she loved him as fervently. So throwing a cloak over her dress, she joined her impatient lover.

It was a beautiful night; and of that sweet season when twilight had scarcely merged into darkness before day begins to dawn. It was not yet ten o'clock, for Pryce Morgan, Lucy's father, was an utter enemy to any innovation upon the usage of his ancestors; and as the sun rose scarcely earlier than he did, so did the god of day descend not into the sea long before our Welsh squire retired to his dormitory. This, Cynric was well aware of; and he knew that his uncle was now soundly wrapped in sleep.

Lucy was the first to speak-" For heaven's sake, Cynric, why do you run this risk, when you know that there is a warrant out against you for that unfortunate affair at Duffryn? Indeed, indeed, you are too venturesome."

"Never mind, Lucy; so that I see you, and press this kiss upon those sweet lips, I care not much about the risk. And how have you been, dear, and how is my worthy kinsman your father?"

"We have been but sadly, Cynric-all of us. My father grieves deeply about you, and seldom goes out now."

"Grieves about me, Lucy! Oh no! he, who has injured me so deeply, cannot care much about the welfare of his victim."

"You do him wrong, Cynric, indeed you do. My father always loved you as a son, would that I had loved you as a brother! It was your own impetuous, ungovernable spirit that brought this evil on you and on us. Oh, Cynric! I wish we had never known each other!" and Lucy's tears fell fast as she hung weeping on her cousin's shoulder.

Cynric bit his lip, as he endeavoured to restrain one of those ungovernable gusts of passion, which so often possessed him. "This is no time for reproach or explanation, Lucy, he muttered; "I came here," and now his voice was loud and hurried, "to tell you I love you better than ever; and by heaven I swear"

Swear nothing now, Cynric!" interrupted Lucy, exceedingly alarmed at the vehemence of her lover. " Remember that I am here alone with you against my father's express commands; and at an hour when I ought to be in my chamber. If you do, indeed, love me, be calm, I beseech you, Cynric."

"I will, dearest, I will; I am a fool, Lucy, a mad-brained, thoughtless fool! But you must promise me one thing, that you will give me a meeting to-morrow evening at dusk at Lowry Pugh's cottage." "I do promise," was Lucy's faint answer.