e both might forget their virtues and their
grievances together. Here you'd soon have the violent party-man of
either side, oblivious of everything but his chance of gain; and what
an energy would it give to the great Daniel to think that, while
filling his pockets, he was also spoiling the Egyptians! Instead,
therefore, of making the poor man contribute his penny, and the
ragged man two-pence, you'd have the Rent supplied without the trouble
of collection; and all from the affluent and the easy, or at least the
idle, portion of the community.

This is the second time I have thrown out a suggestion--and all for
nothing, remember--on the subject of afinance; and little reflection
will show that both my schemes are undeniable in their benefits. Here
you have one of the most expensive pleasures a poor country has ever
ventured to afford itself--a hired agitator, pensioned, without any
burden on the productive industry of the land; and he himself, so far
from having anything to complain of, will find that his revenue is
more than quadrupled.

Look at the question, besides, in another point of view, and see what
possible advantages may arise from it. Nothing is so admirable an
antidote to all political excitement as gambling: where it flourishes,
men become so inextricably involved in its fascinations and
attractions that they forget everything else. Now, was ever a country
so urgently in want of a little repose as ours? and would it not be
well to purchase it, and pension off our great disturbers, at any
price whatever? Cards are better than carding any day; short whist is
an admirable substitute for insurrection; and the rattle of a dice-box
is surely as pleasant music as the ruffian shout for repeal.

RICH AND POOR--POUR ET CONTRE.

[Illustration]

If I was a king upon a throne this minute, an' I wanted to have a
smoke for myself by the fireside--why, if I was to do my best, what
could I smoke but one pen'orth of tobacco, in the night, after
all?--but can't I have that just as asy?

"If I was to have a bed with down feathers, what could I do but sleep
there?--and sure I can do that in the settle-bed above."

Such is the very just and philosophical reflection of one of Griffin's
most amusing characters, in his inimitable story of "The
Collegians"--a reflection that naturally sets us a thinking, that if
riches and wealth cannot really increase a man's capacity for
enjoyment with the enjoyments themselves, t