parties, the matter is likely to become the subject of legal
discussion among the gentlemen of the black robe.

The poet, it appears, received half a crown for each
production, from the man of blacking, which the latter
considered not only a fair, but even liberal remuneration
for poetic talent; not overlook-ing, that while the
pecuniary reward would produce comfort, and add a polish to
personal appearance, the brilliance of the composition,
(both of poetry and blacking), would be fairly divided
between he authors of each; and that the fame of both would
be conjointly

handed down to posterity, and shine for ever in the temple
of fame.

Now it requires no uncommon sagacity to perceive, that but
for this unfortunate mistake of the public, the poet would
have remained satisfied, as far as pecuniary recompence
went, with the half-crown,--looking to futurity for that
more complete recompence, which poets ever consider far
beyond pudding or sensual gratification,--fame and
immortality; but, alas!

"From causes quite obscure and unforeseen, What great events
to man may sometimes spring."

Finding from Lord B.'s own statement, that the public had
duly appreciated the merit of these compositions, and had
attached so high a value, as even to mistake them for his
Lordship's productions, our bard was naturally led into a
train of reasoning, and logical deductions, as to what
advantage had, and what ought to have resulted to himself,
according to this estimate, by public opinion.--Lord B. and
his great northern contemporary, it appeared, received
thousands from the public for their poems, while half-crowns
(not to be despised, during certain cravings, but soon
dissipated by that insatiable and unceasing tormentor, the
stomach,) was all the benefit likely to accrue in this world
to the original proprietor: in a happy moment, a happy
thought flitted athwart the poet's mind; and like the china
seller in the Arabian Nights, he found himself rolling in
ideal wealth; and spurning with disdain the blacking
merchant, the blacking, and the half-crowns, he resolved on
a project by which to realize his fondest wishes of wealth,
happiness, and independence.

The project was this: to collect together the fugitive
blacking sonn