for committing suicide. It
appeared a case of very singular _felo-de-se_--for they had so
timed the 'rash act,' as to excite strong suspicions in the
public mind that his Majesty had committed murder.
Circumstances, however, had soon come to light, that proved to
demonstration, that the wretched Ministry had laid violent
hands on itself, and effected its purpose by strangulation.
There--was the fatal black ring visible round the neck--through
a mere thread; there--were the blood-shot eyes protruding from
the sockets; there--the lip-biting teeth clenched in the last
convulsions; and there--sorriest sight of all--was the ghastly
suicidical smile, last relic of the laughter of despair. But
the knocking would not leave the door--and listening to its
character, we were assured that it came from the fist of a
friend, who saw light through the chinks of the shutter, and
knew, moreover, that we never put on the shroud of death's
pleasant brother sleep, till 'ae wee short hour ayont the
twal,' and often not till earliest cock-crow, which chanticleer
utters somewhat drowsily, and then replaces his head beneath
his wing, supported on one side by a partlet, on the other by a
hen. So we gathered up our slippered feet from the rug, lamp in
hand stalked along the lobbies, unchained and unlocked the oak
which our faithful night porter Somnus had sported--and lo! a
figure muffled up in a cloak, and furred like a Russ, who
advanced familiarly into the hall, extended both hands and then
embracing us, bade God bless us, and pronounced, with somewhat
of a foreign accent, the name in which we and the world
rejoice--Christopher North!' We were not slow in returning the
hug fraternal--for who was it but the 'American
Woodsman?'--even Audubon himself--fresh from the Floridas--and
breathing of the pure air of far-off Labrador!

"Three years and upwards had fled since we had taken farewell
of the illustrious Ornithologist--on the same spot--at the same
hour; and there was something ghostlike in such return of a
dear friend from a distant region--almost as if from the land
of spirits. It seemed as if the same moon again looked at
us--but then she was wan and somewhat sad--now clear as a
diamond, and all the starry heavens wore a smile. "Our words
they were n