The menials came, “wine? up! begone! we marvel who thou art! 
  Our monarch bids to France, Graysteil, his trusty friend depart!”
  Blood to the Douglas’ cheek uprush’d:  proud blood! away he hied,
  And soon afar, the “poor Graysteil,” the broken hearted, DIED!

M.L.B.

Note—­Graysteil (so called after the champion of a romance then popular) had returned from banishment in the hope, as he was perfectly innocuous, of renewing his ancient friendship with the Scottish king; and James declared that he would again have received him into his service, but for his oath, never more to countenance a Douglas.  He blamed his servants for refusing refreshment to the veteran, but did not escape censure from our own Henry VIII. for his cruel conduct towards his “poor Graysteil,” upon this occasion.

[1] Archibald, of Kilspindie, a noble Douglas, and until the disgrace of
    his clan, a personal friend and favourite of James V. of Scotland.  For
    the incidents of this ballad, vide Tales of a Grandfather, 1st
    Series, vol. 3.

* * * * *

TO THE MEMORY OF SIR HUMPHRY DAVY, BART.

(For the Mirror.)

  To this low orb is lost a shining light. 
  Useful, resplendent, and tho’ transient, bright! 
  For scarce has soaring genius reach’d the blaze
    Of fleeting life’s meridian hour,
  Than Death around the naming meteor plays,
    And spreads its cypress o’er the short liv’d flower. 
  The great projector of that grand design,[1]
  In time’s remotest annals, long will shine;
  While sons of toil aloud proclaim his name,
  And life preserv’d perpetuate his fame.

[1] The Safety Lamp

* * * * *

SODA WATER.

(To the Editor of the Mirror.)

The following extract from a medical periodical on Soda Water, will not perhaps be deemed mal-apropos at the present period of the year, and by being inserted in your widely circulated work may be of some service to those who are not aware of the evil effects produced by a too free use of that beverage.

M.M.M.

On this fashionable article, the editor remarks, Dr. Paris makes the following observations:—­“The modern custom of drinking this inviting beverage during, or immediately after dinner, has been a pregnant source of indigestion.  By inflating the stomach at such a period, we inevitably counteract those muscular contractions of its coats which are essential to chymification, whilst the quantity of soda thus introduced scarcely deserves notice; with the exception of the carbonic acid gas, it may be regarded as water; more mischievous only in consequence of the exhilarating quality, inducing us to take it at a period at which we would not require the more simple fluid.”