iled Master,
has obtained for him universal esteem, and the King of France is too
generous to withhold, amidst the general feeling, his approbation."

Passing through Long Acre in their progress towards the British Museum,
to which national establishment they had cards of admission, the two
friends were intercepted in their way by a concourse at a coach-maker's
shop, fronting which stood a chariot carefully matted round the
body, firmly sewed together, and the wheels enveloped in hay-bands,
preparatory to its being sent into the country. Scarcely had these
precautionary measures of safety been completed, when a shrill cry,
as if by a child inside the vehicle, was heard, loud and continuative,
which, after the lapse of some minutes, broke out into the urgent and
reiterated exclamation of--"Let me out!--I shall be suffocated!--pray
let me out!"

The workmen, who had packed up the carriage, stared at each other in
mute and appalling astonishment; they felt conscious that no child was
within the vehicle; and when at last they recovered from the stupor of
amazement, they resisted the importunity of the multitude to strip the
chariot, and manfully swore, that if any one was inside, it must be
the Devil himself, or one of his imps, and no human or visible being
whatsoever.

Some, of the multitude were inclined to a similar opinion. The
crowd increased, and the most intense interest was depicted in every
countenance, when the cry of "Let me out!--I shall die!--For heaven's
sake let me out!" was audibly and vehemently again and again repeated.

The impatient multitude now began to cut away the matting; when the
workmen, apprehensive that the carriage might sustain some damage from
the impetuosity of their proceedings, took upon themselves the act of
dismantling the mysterious machine; during which operation, the cry of
"Let me out!" became more and more clamorously importunate. At last
the vehicle was laid bare, and its door thrown open; when, to the utter
amazement of the crowd, no child was there--no trace was to be seen of
aught, human or super-human! The ~7~~ assemblage gazed on the vacant
space from whence the sounds had emanated, in confusion and dismay.
During this momentary suspense, in which the country 'Squire
participated, a voice from some invisible agent, as if descending the
steps of the carriage, exclaimed--"Thank you, my good friends, I am very
much obliged to you--I shall now go home, and where my home is yo