dog has his day, and the time
will come when I and others, having swam too long, shall find younger
and fresher competitors, who will, like the rats, climb on our backs,
and we shall sink to the bottom of the tub of oblivion. Now, we must
drive on with the stream; the world moves on so fast, that there is no
stopping. In these times, "Si on n'avance pas, on recule."

How the style of literature changes! Even now I perceive an alteration
creeping on, which will last for a time. We are descending to the
homely truth of Tenier's pictures.

Every work of fiction now is "sketched from nature;" the palaces, the
saloon, all the elegancies of high life are eschewed, and the middle and
vulgar classes are the subjects of the pencil. But this will not last
long. It is the satiety of refinement on the part of the public which
for a short time renders the change palatable.

I was yesterday informed that a celebrated author wished to be
introduced to me. I was ashamed to say that I had never heard his name.
The introduction took place, and there was a sort of patronising air on
the gentleman's part, which I did not approve of. I therefore told him
very frankly that I was not aware of the nature of his literary labours,
and requested to know what were his works. He had _abridged_ something,
and he had written a _commentary_ upon another thing!--just the
employment fit for some old gentleman who likes still to puddle a little
with ink. One could write a commentary upon any thing. One of my
children is singing a nursery song, now I'll write a commentary on it in
the shape of notes:--

Pussy cat, pussy cat, where have you been?
I've been to London to see the new queen.
Pussy cat, pussy cat, what did you there?
Hunted a titty mouse under the chair.

Now for a commentary:--

This simple nursery rhyme is in the familiar style of question and
answer, which is always pleasing; and it is remarkable that two
excellent moral lessons are to be found in so few words.

The child who sings it may be supposed to repeat the words without
comprehending their full meaning; but although such may be the case,
still it is most important that even the rhymes put into the infantine
lips should afford an opportunity to those who watch over their welfare
to point out to them on a proper occasion the instruction which they
contain. In the first line, the term pussy cat may be considered
tautological, as pussy and cat both refer to