NUMBER X.

ON LOYALTY.

My Royal Master promised me
To raise me to a high degree;

But now he's grown a King, God wot,
I fear I shall be soon forgot.

You see when folks have got their ends
How quickly they neglect their friends;
Yet I may say, 'twixt me and you,
Pray God they now may find as true.

WHEN the great Emperor of the Spice Islands was driven from his throne and his dominions, by the revolution that obliged so many foreign Princes to take refuge on the British shores; the unruly winds and waves, proving as boisterous as some of His Highness's rebellious subjects, drove him, with fury, into one of our northern ports. On his disembarkation, however, he and his august family were most respectfully welcomed on shore by a distinguished Loyalist, who having an establishment in the neighbourhood, immediately conducted to his hospitable mansion the illustrious, though dethroned Monarch, with all his suite. This retreat, though not altogether calculated for the residence of Royalty, still, he thought, might

prove a comfortable asylum for the moment.Accordingly, every possible arrangement was made for the convenience of the illustrious visitors, as far as time and circumstances would admit. Beds were prepared; fires blazed in every room; the library was to be used as a breakfast parlour,--the parlour as a nursery; the dining-room dedicated to the use of the ladies and gentlemen of the bed-chamber; the drawing-room turned into a general repository. In fine, the whole house, in a twinkling, was turned topsyturvy; the master and mistress respectfully retiring to distant apartments for the time being, in compliment to the royal guests.

So well did the generous-hearted Host know how to render a service in the time of need, without enhancing the obligation, that at the end of a few days, when the Royal sojourners had recovered from the fatigue of their voyage, and intended to take their departure for the great metropolis, they actually called for their bill, supposing they had been all the while at an hotel.It would have distressed their feelings, thought the noble-minded Host, had they been aware of putting him and his family to so much inconvenience; therefore, without offering, he led them to his dwelling, hoping they would find it an agreeable resting place till they felt inclined to proceed on their journey.

"And what did they do," asks the inquisitive reader, "when they were aware of the trouble

they must have occasioned, besides turning the house into utter confusion?""

Do! gentle Reader? Inquire of yourself what you would have done, under similar circumstances, and fancy they did the same. But recollect that Royalty is often kept in happy ignorance; and that the pleasure of obliging meets its own reward. But do not for a moment suppose they were insensible to such attentions. They most condescendingly acknowledged the favor, and took their departure; hoping that, should they ever be recalled to the government of their revolutionized colonies, they would be called upon by their loving subjects to requite their loyalty with something more than thanks; as it was the first wish of their Sovereign's heart, to shew his gratitude for the fidelity and attachment they had ever manifested towards the House of Pimento.

For many years did His High Mightiness slumber, in peaceful security, in foreign courts. At length the King of Terrors "marked him for his own," and all the airy visions of justice, reinstatements and rewards, sunk with the venerable Monarch to the grave; nor did they ever rise again to distract the senses of his heir and successor to the throne.

In process of time, the revolutionary party became weary of the tyranny of the Usurper. A deputation was sent to the Royal Exile, entreating him to re-enter his dominions; and assuring him also of the support of all the ancient nobility, as

well as the chief officers of his late Majesty's navy and army. The transported Prince waited not a second invitation. Messengers were despatched in all directions; and amidst the acclamations of his friends and followers, off he started to take possession of his illustrious father's vacated throne. On re-entering his dominions, he was hailed with joy he was greeted with enthusiasm and was triumphantly crowned in his capital, with every demonstration of gladness. He was, in fact, according to Ludeman's prediction, a much greater sovereign, in point of power and dominion, than any of his predecessors had been.

Scarcely was he seated on the Imperial throne, when congratulations poured in from every quarter; petitions presented reinstatements solicited. His nobles-his officers-his followers in exile would fain have rallied round their Emperor. But he now thought himself secure without them! The ministers who had kept his father out, he kept in. The officers who had fought against him, he honored with promotions ;--his nobles were nominated to posts in foreign courts; --and his humbler friends, were totally forgotten. "Because," said he, "the latter we can depend upon, they will do us no harm; but the former must be well provided for to keep them quiet.

Such was the policy of foreign courts;-such was the encouragement given to the supporters of faction-such was the reward bestowed on the defenders of royalty! Every place, both of emo

lument and trust, was given to those who had been attached to the Usurper, and manifestly inimical to the House of Pimento.

In vain did some ancient servants of the crown who were turned out of office by the invaders, and whose property was seized upon and disposed of to maintain the expences of the war, seek to be re-established. No-it was thought to be inconsistent to turn those individuals out, who had been nominated to the different posts by the late authorities!

In vain did the wretched sufferers whose estates had been confiscated for their loyalty, and were now in the possession of some upstart renegados, petition for a restoration of their property, or some kind of indemnification for the losses that had reduced them from independence and affluence, to a state of beggary. But no;-the property had been transferred so often from one to another, that it would be unjust to take it from the present proprietors! And as to indemnification, it was quite out of the question.

So, according to the maxim of a late mighty Potentate of the north, they were abandoned to their unhappy fate, and left to reflect on their follies and to starve.

Report affirms, that once upon a time, an honest Minister, who had not enriched himself in the public service, was so reduced in his old age, as to be obliged to petition his Sovereign for pecuniary aid; upon which his Majesty cooly