[Illustration]
Note now, oh! reader, the denotements of my prophet sketch: open your
eyes upon the symbols which I symbolize. Behold the Cross and the
Crescent in neighbourly collision; yet the Crescent is not Burton
Crescent, nor the Cross, King's Cross, though these localities
approximate in as close degrees: but they tell of Europe cooking the
Goose of a Pacha for the Turkey of a Sultan; and, by this time, the bird
is plucked and basted, and may be considered as thoroughly done.
Witness, too, how the dismayed tee-totaller gazes on the wreck of the
Chinese world below. But Bull is in the heart of the shop; no juggler
could save the jugs; every cup is a cup too low; the plates are dished
entirely, and the case of cruelty is equal in atrocity to the murder of
_Ware_. Now is exemplified the difference between a Man-_da_rin and a
daring man. It is breaking-up time, but no holidays. Loud is the music
of _Handle_ among the crockery, but its verbal oratory is demolished by
the entire annihilation of spout. It is going to _pot_ with a vengeance,
and occasions, in China, the perfect distortion of _every human mug_.
Tea, however, is scarce for a season. They refuse to give us their green
for our gunpowder: they mix their mixed with poison, and it is now "How
queer!" instead of "How-_qua_!" They refuse the bidding of Pidding! But
turn from hieroglyphic revealments to the signs and prognostics of the
domestic world. Is your curiosity moved to interest in the play of
Destiny? I then will act the part of _Tell_. Upon the palace of Victoria
I behold the shining of a new _sun_; the hopes of royalty may now be
_boy_-ed up, and a fair young passenger lately arrived by the first
royal _train_ will move to another _station_, and take a place lower, by
reason of what has taken place. I see the world settling, like cards,
into _pax_. Peace coming a-_pace-is_: war we shall pose with repose. The
political horizon shows clear. There will be an improvement in the
State; and notwithstanding the recent explosion of Dr. Church's engine,
I foresee no danger to Church. On the contrary, the sun will shine on
Parson's Green; and, as regards the revenue, there is every chance for a
_surplice_; probably owing to the New Church rate at which the said
engine is going.
[Illustration:
DR. CHURCH'S ENGINE.
]