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colours his zeal in the emperor's cause. His letter to Ferdinand II. does not contain the slightest allusion to such a subject; but, on the contrary, shows that Butler hoped to surprise the emperor with some perfectly unexpected news.

Count Piccolomini, it is true, had intended to command Butler to possess himself of the person of the Duke of Friedland, either dead or alive; but while remarking that this does not furnish any proof of the emperor being implicated, it is seen from Publicius Taafe's statement, that Piccolomini's orders never reached Butler. The suspicion that the emperor was an accessary before the fact in Wallenstein's murder, arises mainly from the fact, that after the deed was done, the imperial court not only expressed its approbation, but sought to justify it in the sight of the world. The inference naturally seemed to be, the man who can approve of such a deed after it has been done, might easily be capable of authorising it, or even of being particeps criminis. But Ferdinand, as it appears, knew nothing of it beforehand. After it had been accomplished, he doubtlessly approved of it, and certainly burdened it on his own shoulders. In that lawless age, the supreme authority usurped the right of passing a sentence of death on a culprit, even though he might no longer be among the living; and this was called sententia post mortem. The emperor's eldest son, Ferdinand, who had already been crowned King of Bohemia, gave it as his opinion that the murder of Wallenstein should be converted into a legal act by such a reflective sentence. This took place through the public justification of the deed, and through this arose the belief in the emperor's intellectual complicity.

Ferdinand II. was, therefore, guiltless of the murder of the Duke of Friedland; the severest reproach must, however, be cast on him for the simulated friendliness which he displayed in his letters to Wallenstein, from the period of his deposition up to February 3, 1634. We cannot consider it a crime, that from precautionary motives, he delayed to publish his manifesto; but to maintain a confidential correspondence with the duke, was a piece of hypocrisy altogether unworthy an emperor.

The Italian generals in the imperial army behaved also in a very reprehensible manner. Förster is perfectly in the right when he ascribes to them mainly the downfal of Wallenstein: we allude especially to Aldringer, Maradas, Piccolomini, Suys, Colloredo, and Marzini. They were not actuated by zeal for the public good, but instigated by implacable personal hatred. Piccolomini's passion, indeed, carried him so far that he wished to eke his revenge on the corpses of Friedland and his companions in crime, by publicly exposing them in the most ignominious quarters of Prague. Ferdinand II., however, would not suffer this barbarity to be executed on any of the main actors, with the exception of Rittmeister Neumann, "on account of his foul tongue;" another proof of the authenticity of the preceding narrative.

THE ROVINGS OF THE RIPPLE;

OR, SCENES AND ADVENTURES DURING MY SUMMER CRUISE.

CHAPTER I.

The Description of a Yacht, and a Sketch of some Yachting Gentlemen-How to Kill Time-The O'Wiggins.

"WELL, old fellow, what shall we do next?" exclaimed my friend Ashmore, as he and I, with two other compagnons de voyage, sat at table after dinner in the cabin of his yacht, the Ripple. Now, whether to describe our four selves or the yacht first? Our "Home on the

Ocean Wave" shall have the preference. She was a very fine vessel, of about eighty tons-a cutter-and as her owner was not fond of racing, she was well fitted for sea. She was beautiful to look at; and as her old master, Isaac Griffith, always remarked when her qualities were spoken of, "a good 'un to go." In fact, she possessed all the usual qualifications of a yacht, and was a first-rate sea-boat. Her interior fittings, though not gaudy, were thoroughly comfortable; for as Ashmore usually spent five months out of the twelve on board, he had made her as habitable as space would allow. She was his hobby, and, as he had no wife to share his affections, he loved her well. She had a large main and after-cabin, besides three good sleeping cabins, and a small one to be used on a pinch. Then there was the master's berth, the steward's pantry, and the galley, with a good kitchen-range and a fine fore-peak for the crew; indeed, by careful arrangement, in the space of a few feet there were as many people comfortably housed as would require a large mansion on shore. All the arrangements for the table were equally substantial and good; indeed, in every respect, below and aloft, the Ripple was what a yacht should be, and I can say no more in her favour.

the

And now for the freights she bore the four jovial bachelors who tenanted her at the time I speak of. Of our worthy host, her owner, to say that he was a very nice gentlemanly fellow, a good companion, and a firm friend, would be less praise than he deserved, for I can affirm that he had many other excellent qualifications, which I need not now sum up. Our fat friend, Porpoise, must come next. He was a lieutenant in navy, of some years' standing; he had seen a great deal of service, and was considered a good officer. He sang a good song, told a good story, and was always in good spirits and good humour. He had been in the Syrian war, in China, on the coast of Africa, and in South America indeed; wherever there had been any fighting, or work of any sort to be done, there has dashing Jack Porpoise been found. He had a good appetite, and, as old Griffith used to say, his victuals did him good. Porpoise was fat; there was no denying the fact, nor was he ashamed of it. His height was suited to the dimensions of a small craft, and then, having stated that his face was red, not from intemperance, but from sun and spray, I think that I shall have sufficiently described our most excellent chum.

The third person in the cabin worthy of note was yclept Gregory

Groggs. How Ashmore came to ask him on board I scarcely know. It could scarcely have been for his companionable qualities, nor for his general knowledge and information, for I have seldom met a more simple-minded creature; one who had seen less of the world, or knew less of its wicked ways. It was his first trip to sea, and he afforded us no little amusement, by his surprise at everything he beheld and everything which occurred. He had a tolerably strong inside; so, as we had fine weather, he, fortunately for us and for himself, was seldom sea-sick. Our friend Groggs was a native of an inland county, from which he had never before stirred, when, having come into some little property, he was seized with a strong desire to see the world. He had been reading some book or other which had given him most extraordinary principles; and one of his ideas was, that people should marry others of a different nation, as the nearest way of rapidly bringing about the Millenium. He informed us that he should early put his principles into practice, and that, should he find some damsel to suit his taste in France, he should, without fail, wed her. We bantered him unmercifully on the subject; but, as is the case with many other people with one idea, that was not easily knocked out of his head.

Ashmore, having fallen in with him on a visit to his part of the country, invited him, should he ever come to the sea-side, to visit the Ripple. By a wonderful chance, Groggs did find his way on board the yacht, as she one day had gone up to Southampton, and once on board, finding himself very comfortable, he exhibited no inclination to leave her. He therein showed his taste; and Ashmore, though at first he would have dispensed with his company, at last got accustomed to him, and would have been almost sorry to part with him.

So much for Groggs. Of myself, the last of the quartette, it becomes me not to speak; so the world must remain in ignorance of what manner of man I am.

We lay at anchor off Cowes-that place far-famed for yachts and yachting adventures. Several other vessels lay there also, mostly schooners-a rig which has lately much come into fashion.

I began the chapter with a question; it has not yet been answered. "What shall we do next?" said Porpoise, repeating Ashmore's question; "why, I vote we go on deck and smoke a cigar."

We had not time to execute the important proposal, before the steward put his head into the cabin, and announced a boat alongside.

"Who is it?" asked Ashmore.

"Mr. O'Wiggins, of the Popple schooner, sir," answered the steward. "She brought up while you were at dinner, sir.'

"Oh, ask him down below," said our host, throwing himself back in his chair with a resigned look, which said, more than words, "What a bore!"

Before the steward could reach the deck, O'Wiggins was heard descending the companion-ladder. He was a tall, broadly-built man, with a strongly-marked Hibernian countenance. Ashmore did not think it necessary to rise to receive his guest, but O'Wiggins, no way disconcerted, threw himself into a vacant chair.

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"Ah, Ashmore, my boy! faith, I'm glad to find any one I know in this dull place," he exclaimed, stretching out his legs, and glancing

round at the rest of us, as he helped himself from a decanter towards which Ashmore pointed.

"We are not likely to be here long, but we are undecided what next to do," returned Ashmore.

"Och, then, I'll tell you what to do, my boy," said O'Wiggins. "Just look in at the regattas to the westward, and then run over to Cherbourg. I've just come across from there, and all the world of France is talking of the grand naval review they are to have of a fleet, in comparison to which that of perfidious Albion is as a collection of Newcastle colliers. There'll be rare fun of one sort or another, depend on it; and, for my part, I wouldn't miss it on any account. What say your friends to the idea? I haven't had the pleasure of meeting them before, I think ?"

"I beg your pardon," said Ashmore, "I forgot to introduce them." And he did so in due form; at which O'Wiggins seemed mightily pleased, and directly afterwards began addressing us familiarly by our patronimics, as if we were old friends. In fact, in a wonderfully short space of time he made himself perfectly at home. The proposal of the Cherbourg expedition pleased us all; and it was finally agreed that we would go there. We could not help being amused with O'Wiggins, in spite of the cool impudence of his manner. He told some capital stories, in which he always played a prominent part; and though we might have found some difficulty in believing them, they were not on that account the less entertaining. Meantime coffee and cigars made their appearance. O'Wiggins showed a determination to smoke below, and Ashmore could not insist on his going on deck; so we sat and sat on; Porpoise enjoying the fun, and Groggs listening with open eyes at all the wonders narrated by our Irish visitor, for whom he had evidently conceived a vast amount of admiration. At a late hour O'Wiggins looked at his watch, and finding that his boat was alongside, he at length took his departure.

CHAPTER II.

The Ripple sails-Plymouth Sound-England's Bulwarks-The Albion-The Regatta-Jack Mizzen and the Fun-Her Fair Crew-Naval Heroes and Nautical Heroines.

We were present at most of the regattas to the westward, but as they differed but little from their predecessors for many years past, I need not describe them. No place equals Plymouth for a regatta, either on account of the beauty of the surrounding scenery, or in affording a good view of the course from the shore. By-the-by, it was some little satisfac tion to look at the two new forts run up on either side of the entrance to the harbour, as well as at the one with tremendously heavy metal between the citadel and Devonport, not to speak of the screw guard-ships, which may steam out and take up a position wherever required. I can never forget the superb appearance of that mammoth of two-deckers, the Albion, with her ninety guns and a tonnage greater than most threedeckers. It is said that she could not fight her lower-deck guns in a heavy sea; but one is so accustomed to hear the ignorant or unjust

abuse, and the falsehood levied at her talented builder, that one may be excused from crediting such an assertion. She is acknowledged to be fast; and, from looking at her, I should say that she has all the qualifications of a fighting ship, and a great power of stowage. What more

can be required? If she is not perfect, it is what must be said of all human fabrics. If Sir William Symonds had never done more than get rid of those sea-coffins, the ten-gun brigs, and introduce a class of small craft superior to any before known in the service, the navy would have cause to be deeply indebted to him. He has enemies; but in the service I have generally found officers willing and anxious to acknowledge his merits.

There is no little satisfaction in cruising about Plymouth Sound. I suspect that now our neighbours would not be so ready to attempt to surprise the place and to burn its arsenal, as they one fine night thought of doing some few years back. People in general are so accustomed to believe our sacred coasts impregnable, that they could not comprehend that such an enterprise was possible. Yet I can assure my readers that not only was it possible, practicable, in contemplation, and that every preparation was made, but that we were perfectly helpless, and that they would indubitably have succeeded in doing all they intended. Neither Plymouth nor Portsmouth were half fortified; and such fortifications as existed were not half garrisoned, while we could not have collected a fleet sufficient to have defended either one or the other. Providentially the differences were adjusted in time, and the French had not the excuse of inflicting that long-enduring vengeance which they have a not unnatural desire to gratify. When they have thrashed us once, and not till then, shall we be cordial friends; and, though electric wires and railroads keep up a constant communication, may that day be long distant! We had brought up just inside Drake's Island, which, as all who know Plymouth are aware, is at the entrance of Hamoaze. We were just getting under weigh, and were all on deck, when a cutter yacht passed us, standing out of the harbour. Our glasses were levelled at her to see who she carried, for bonnet-ribbons and shawls were fluttering in the breeze.

"What cutter is that?" asked Porpoise. "There's a remarkably pretty girl on board of her."

"That must be-yes, I'm certain of it-that must be the Fun; and, by Jove, there's jolly Tom Mizzen himself at the helm !" ejaculated Ashmore, with for him unusual animation.

He waved his cap as the rest of us did, for Porpoise and I knew Mizzen. Mizzen waved his in return, and shouted out:

"Come and take a cruise with us. We'll expect you on board to lunch."

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Ay, ay!" shouted Ashmore, for there was no time for a longer answer before the yacht shot by us.

It

We had soon sail made on the Ripple, and were standing after the Fun towards the westernmost and broadest entrance to the Sound. was a lovely day, without a cloud in the sky, and a fine steady breeze; such a day as, from its rarity, one knows how to value in England. Yachts of all sizes and many rigs were cruising about in the Sound. Largest of all was the Brilliant, a three-masted square topsail schooner, of nearly 400 tons, belonging to Mr. Ackers, the highly esteemed Com