What profits how to understand You talk of tinsel! Why, we see That spilt his life upon the cliques. A Timon you! Nay, nay, for shame- You bandbox-off, and let him rest!" Time and a change in the mode of expressing literary amenities on the part of famous authors have made these verses quite curious. We introduce them here for this reason, and not with any desire "to fan afresh the ancient flame" that prompted them. It will only be necessary for us to apologize for their insertion to such of our readers as may recollect their first appear ance five and twenty years ago, or may have seen them since. There was an interval of four years in which Bulwer did not appear before the public as a writer of fiction; but finding, as he says, "bad habits stronger than good intentions," he dipped his novel-writing quill in ink again, and set to work on two very dissimilar stories-"Lucretia," and "The Caxtons." The former-having for its heroine Lucretia Dalibard, one of his greatest creations-drew down a storm of angry criticism about his head. The two chief personages of the story were poisoners. To this criticism the author replied in a long and able defence of his work, and an explanation of what he held to be the artistic principles and ethical designs of fiction. "The Caxtons," one of his most charming stories, followed "Lucretia," and was succeeded by "My Novel." At intervals of some years after one another, "What will He do with It?" and "A Strange Story," were published. The latter was completed in 1862. Lord Lytton has been a popular writer for over forty years, and in that time he has produced above a hundred volumes. He has a good claim to the titles of statesman and orator, in addition to those of novelist, poet, dramatist, and essayist. Such versatility of talent is rare indeed; yet, in all these various paths of literature, the veteran peer has outstripped most of those who have entered the lists with him. He may now rest on the laurels his great talents and great industry have fairly won at the hands of fame. Lord Lytton-then Mr. Bulwer-sat in Parliament first, in 1831, for St. Ives; afterwards representing Lincoln and Hertfordshire. He was created a baronet in July, 1838; and in July, 1866, was raised to the peerage, with the title of Baron Lytton of Knebworth. A SOJOURN IN THE BERMUDAS. "Where once Thou call'dst me up at midnight to fetch dew THE Bermudas, or Somer's Isles, are, as every one knows, or ought to know, a small group of islands in the middle of the Atlantic, about 600 miles due east from Charlestown, South Carolina, which is the nearest land. They are popularly supposed to equal in number the days of the year; and, counting every small rock as an island, I dare say they would run up to something like it. They are composed of comminuted shell and coral, which hardens into a calcareous sandstone; and the only minerals found are small quantities of oxide of iron, menaccanite, and a little manganese. This description of their geological formation was given by the late Colonel Nelson, Royal Engineers; but their structure may be shortly described as being coral below low water mark, and Æolian above it. Vegetation is luxuriant in these isles; for the tamarind, melon, banana, date-palm, palmetto, bamboo, orange, and lemon flourish well there; though the Virginian cedars, with which the rocks are clothed, are decidedly stunted in their growth. Very lovely, too, is this spot, nestling on the broad Atlantic's bosom, where the water is of a most exquisite bluish-green tint, and as clear as crystal, reflecting like a mirror the graceful foliage of the date-palm and dwarf palmetto. Beautiful, too, are the mimic bays which abound everywhere, the crystal waters gently rippling between the shady crags, and breaking musically upon the sandy shore. A perfect haven of tranquillity here, and a pleasant climate enough during the winter months-December, January, February, and March-when the winds are chiefly from the west and north-west, and consequently cool and dry; but owing to the agency of the Gulf Stream, which almost sweeps the shores, the summer is grilling-in fact, almost unbearable. The mercury does not range very high-say an average of 84° for July, August, and September; but, owing to the dripping nature of the south-west wind which then prevails, the atmosphere becomes saturated with moisture, and you live in a perpetual vapour bath; whilst the muscles relaxing, and becoming languid and flaccid, you are completely to use a slang phrase 'sewn up," and feel as though you don't care one jot what becomes of you. I never felt this total prostration in Canada, where the mercury often ranges much higher; but the very recollection of what I suffered in the "still vexed Bermoothes" brings the perspiration out on my forehead even now; and, to make it worse, the glare from the white limestone is so trying, that the only comfortable way to knock about is in a complete suit of white drill, a huge white umbrella lined with green, and a veritable pair of green "goggles" on; when you form a picture that does not astonish the natives there one bit, but most certainly would a Londoner, did you don such a costume, on a sultry day, in Regent-street. But, good reader, "jubes renovare dolores," you would like to know some more of the horrors that I suffered there in the dog-days. Well, heat and glare combined are bad enough; but the unlucky sojourner in Bermuda during the heat of summer has to endure additional misery, in the shape of persecution by loathsome cockroaches, and blood-sucking mosquitoes. The latter prefer a new arrival-his blood, especially if an Englishman, is generally rich, and there is lots of it. Some brute of a fly, posted as scout, having discovered your arrival, forthwith heralds it to his mates, and your doom is sealed at any rate, mine was; for immediately on landing I was set upon by a small cloud of these winged torments, and considerately escorted by them to that part of the island where I fixed my abode. All through the summer these pestilent flies sucked my wretched carcase, till I was daily becoming "beautifully less" from sheer loss of blood. Not only did they persecute me by day, but at night one or two generally contrived to sneak under the mosquito nettingused nine months in the year-and then came that particularly unmusical hum, which signally "murdered sleep." Ah, that ominous music! I seem to hear it now, though sitting in a comfortable room in this most comfortable hotel, where the winged invader hath never been, but where, in his stead, the harmless house-fly buzzes monotonously round my head, occasionally settling on my nose, whence I dislodge him with scant ceremony. or But to return to the mosquitoes rather, their bite, for that is what I remember them chiefly by. I leave you to imagine some kind friend pricking your bare skin unceasingly with a needle for nine months, day and night, and even then I doubt whether you have an adequate idea of the terrible reality. But I must not forget the cockroaches; for after all their little attentions to me during my sojourn in Bermuda, that would indeed be inexcusable on my part-and I do not wish to appear ungrateful, even to a cockroach. As soon as the candles are lighted on a summer evening, in these disgusting creatures come in shoals, when flop goes one into your tea, eddying round and round there, like a duck in a whirlpool; whilst another, more adventuresome, takes a fancy to your hair, and proceeds to explore its recesses. Rather a handsome fellow, too, is this Bermudian cockroach, with his shiny brown coat and his long feelers, with which he tests everything within reach, whether it be a lump of sugar or pair of boots; for so partial are these gentry to leather, that the colonists often keep their boots and shoes in stout canvas bags, well secured at top, to prevent Master Cockroach dining off them. He is a bit of an epicure, too, this insect, in his way; and when he is tired of Wellington boots, often condescends to lunch off your best waistcoat or Sunday hat! There is another insect met with in Bermuda-a kind of flea, called the chegoe, or jigger. Though very minute, this gentleman is mightily particular in the matter of lodgings; and, unfortunately, no place seems to suit him so well as the top of your toe, where he not only locates himself, but tries to rear his young family as well. They burrow down under the skin, and deposit their eggs there, if they are not removed in time; but the negro women are very clever in extracting them on the point of a needle -an operation they seem to take a strange pleasure in. It is dangerous to walk barefooted on the floor in summer here, for you are likely to fall in with a chegoe. Another pest in Bermuda is the red ants, which swarm during the summer months, and attack so remorselessly every article of food, that you are obliged to keep your provender in a safe, with each of its legs standing in a vessel of kerosine oil, as the only protection against their ravages. Now, this oil is to the red ants what pork is to the Jew-they utterly abominate it; but so cunning are the little rascals, that if by chance a lucifer match be dropped into the vessel, they will use it as a raft, and thus safely get over the object of their abomination when, of course, they can easily run up the legs of the safe. If a bird or anything else be suspended from the larder ceiling over-night by a string, no matter how long or fine, you will see these ants ascending and descending it by myriads in the morning, whilst the object itself is one mass of them. the slow mode of locomotion, and expressed a wish that we had railroads instead; when out popped an irate old lady from the cabin, who declared "that, for her part, she was quite content with things as they were;" she wanted "none of them nasty railroads;" and, lastly, "that she meant to remain in Bermuda to the end of her days. She never had left it, and she never would; for she knew no place under the sun at all comparable to it!" I was never more taken aback in my life, and made no attempt to contradict the wrathful old dame; who, seeing that the day was her own, shook her head menacingly at me, and vanished into the cabin! I suppose the suddenness of her appearance had something to do with my discomfiture, for she came up like a Jack-in-the-box! However, she was but a type of all the white colonists, who, taken as a body--though there are some notable exceptions-are a Ber-narrow-minded and bigoted set, who think there is no place like Bermuda, and no people like themselves. But the reader doubtless would like to know something about the people in these distant isles; before discussing whom, however, I must say a word or two upon other subjects. Of course, owing to their small area-twenty square miles-and rocky nature, railroads are unknown in the mudas; and instead of gliding over the smooth bars of steel at forty miles an hour, you jolt through lovely lanes, bordered with orange and lemon trees, and the beautiful oleander, in queer, old-fashioned vehicles, guiltless of springs, and drawn by wiry-look-dinate self-esteem. Broad and liberal views, ing horses. The roads, though extremely uneven naturally, are kept in fair order, on the whole; and turnpikes are unknown. The Bermudas are shaped like a horseshoe somewhat, with one of its curves about double as long as the other; and of the three main islands, the first and second-beginning at the east end-are connected by a causeway just completed, and the second with the third by a bridge. The islands are girt with a double elliptical belt of coral reefs, upon which the waves break with great fury; but the inside waters, being partially land-locked, are usually tolerably tranquil, though severe "white squalls" (as they are termed) occasionally burst over the hills, when the 'Mudian flat-bottomed boats are the safest things to be in. Sailing boats of good size, belonging to Her Majesty's Government, daily ply between the two chief towns, St. George's and Hamilton; and both white and coloured folk are allowed to use them, provided they have the requisite permit from the local control officers. Queer people were encountered in these boats sometimes; and I remember one day, when going to Hamilton, and chatting with a friend on deck, I chanced to lament The better classes are chiefly small merchants; and I should say their salient characteristics were extreme caution, and an inor either in a political or commercial sense, are almost unknown amongst them. Pettifogging would, perhaps, be the correct term to apply to their general transactions. Hamilton, the "Queen of Cities" in the opinion of many of these gentry, is the chief town in Bermuda, and contains the Parliament buildings. It is in reality a large village, with a population of about 4,000 souls, and has little to recommend it beyond picturesqueness of situation. It is built on the margin of a pretty bay; and the houses of white sandstone, with their big verandahs festooned with beautiful creepers, and bright green jalousies, have a very striking effect. The merchants do not live over their stores, but away in the country, in those pretty, snow-white villas, nestling among the green cedars, that you see on the other side of Hamilton Water, as it is called. Frontstreet, which extends along the harbour, is the principal one; for here are nearly all the stores. Its hot, dusty appearance in summer is somewhat diversified by the Pride of India trees planted along the water's edge. And here it is that the small merchants aforesaid do chiefly congregate, busy in receiving their goods from the ships in the harbour. The shops are very indifferent, the goods second |