lude the
possibility of extrication; and raised, at the same time, a discoid
of sounds, compared with which the vocal minstrelsy of the long-eared
braying fraternity would have been the music of the spheres!

Sir Felix, in chastisement of their arrogance, would singly have
encountered the whole group, had he not been restrained by Tom and Bob,
who rather than engage in a street brawl with a host of pertinacious
adversaries, chose to yield to circumstances, and purchase freedom
at the expense of a trifling pecuniary consideration, with which the
collectors departed well satisfied.

Our observers having thus obtained their liberty, renewed their walk,
and reached the lodgings of the Baronet without farther interruption.

During their perambulation, the following article was put into the hands
of the Squire, with which we shall conclude our Chapter of Incidents;--

THE KING AND THE LAUREAT.

A LOYAL BIRTH-DAY EFFUSION.

Hail! mighty Monarch of a mighty People!--
While tuneful peals resound from tower and steeple,
And thundering cannons gratulations roar,
Fright'ning old Father Thames from shore to shore;--
For King or etiquette while nobles caring,
To Buckingham-house by hundreds are repairing,
With gorgeous Dames, to whom this day a bliss is;
Accompanied by smiling lovely misses
Of eager appetite, who long to gorge
And batten on the favours of King George;
While London's Mayor and Aldermen set out
In Civic state, to grace the royal rout;
While strut the Guards in black straps and white gaiters
In honour of their Patron and Creators;{1}--
While General Birnie musters all his forces
Of foot Police, and spavin'd Police horses,
To guard St. James's Park from innovation,
And cheque the daringness of depredation;--
While for those partizans who mind their manners
The cabinet ministers prepare grand dinners,
And I, and others of my kindred trumpery,
Dine with the vision'ry 'yclept Duke Humphrey:{2}
I whom the Muses sometimes deign to greet,
Though perch'd in "garret vile" in White-cross street,

1 In honour of their Patron and Creators.--The poet, we
presume, means to draw a line of distinction between the
Military and Civic community; the one