rld itself, for I studied astronomy with the celebrated M. Olbers
of Bremen, and assisted him in making many useful observations and
discoveries, particularly regarding comets, in the course of which
we came to this melancholy conclusion, that the comet which was
afterwards visible in 1786 and 1795, will, in 83,000 years, approach
the earth as nearly as the moon; and that in 4,000,000 years it
will come to within a distance of 7,700 geographical miles;--the
consequence of which will be (if its attraction be equal to that of
the earth) the elevation of the waters of the ocean 13,000 feet; that
is to say, above the tops of all the European mountains, except Mount
Blanc. The inhabitants of the Andes and of the Himalaya mountains
alone will escape this second deluge; but they will not benefit by
their good fortune more than 216,000,000 years, for it is probable,
that at the expiration of that time, our globe standing right in the
way of the comet, will receive a shock severe enough to ensure its
utter destruction!!!

_Note._--After reading over the above MS., I am inclined to come to
this conclusion--that our historian, while in a human form, must have
been a Scottish nobleman--that he probably was born about the year
1501--and that he lived to about the age of 89.--_Ed._

* * * * *

THE FANCY BALL.

"A visor for a visor! what care I
What curious eye doth quote deformities!"
SHAKSPEARE.

"You used to talk," said Miss Mac Call,
"Of flowers, and flames, and Cupid;
But now you never talk at all.
You're getting vastly stupid.
You'd better burn your Blackstone, Sir,
You never will get through it;
There's a Fancy Ball at Winchester--
Do let us take you to it."

I made that night a solemn vow,
To startle all beholders:
I wore white muslin on my brow,
Green velvet on my shoulders--
My trousers were supremely wide,
I learn'd to swear "by Allah"--
I stuck a poniard by my side,
And called myself "Abdallah."

Oh! a Fancy Ball's a strange affair,
Made up of silks and leathers,
Light heads, light heels, false hearts, false hair,
Pins, paint, and ostrich feathers:
The dullest Duke in all the town,
To-night may shine a droll one--
And rakes, who have not half-a-crown,
Look royal with a whole one.

Hail, blest Confusion! here are met
All tongues, and times, and faces,
The Lancers flirt wi