no intention of directing the public eye to the "willow
pattern," that I have alluded to this circumstance. It is simply,
because that thereby hangs an association, and I have never heard the
eloquent expatiator on china, without thinking of the Belgian navy,
which consists of--"One gun-boat, one pinnace, one pilot, one
commodore, and twelve little sailors." Unquestionably, there never was
a cheaper piece of national extravagance than this, nor do I believe
that any public functionary enjoys a more tranquil and undisturbed
existence than the worthy "_ministre de la marine_," whose duty it is
to preside over the fleet I have mentioned. Once, and once only do I
remember that his quiet life was shaken by the rude assault of
political events: it was when the imposing force under his sway
undertook a voyage of discovery some miles down the Scheldt, which
they did alike to the surprise and admiration of the whole land.

After a day's peaceful drifting with the river's current, they reached
the fort of Lillo, where, _more majorum_, as night was falling, they
prudently dropped anchor, having a due sense of the danger that might
accrue "from running down a continent in the dark." There was,
besides, a feeling of high-souled pride in anchoring within sight,
under the guns, as it were, of the Dutch fort--the insolent Dutch,
whom they, with some aid from France--as the Irishman said of his
marriage, for love, and a trifle of money--had driven from their
country; and, although the fog rendered everything invisible, and the
guns were spiked, still the act of courage was not disparaged; and
they fell to, and sang the Brabancon, and drank Flemish beer till
bed-time.

Happy and patriotic souls! little did you know, that amid your dreams
of national greatness, some half-dozen imps of Dutch middies were
painting out the magnificent tricolor streaks that adorned your good
craft, and making the whole one mass of dirty black.

Such was the case, however; and when day broke, those brilliant
emblems of Belgian independence had vanished, and in their place a
murky line of pitch now stood.

Homeward they bent their course, sadder and wiser men; and, to their
credit be it spoken, having told their sorrows to their sage minister,
they have lived a life of happy retirement, and never strayed beyond
the peaceful limits of the Antwerp basin.

Far be from me the unworthy object of drawing before the public gaze
the blissful and unpretending serv