be dug up; let canals be cut, docks be built, and all the elephants be killed directly, that their teeth might yield an immediate article for exportation.  A short time would afford a sufficient trial.  In the meanwhile, they would not be pledged to further measures, and these might be considered “only as an experiment”.  Taking for granted that these principles would be acted on, and taking into consideration the site of the island in the map of the world, the nature and extent of its resources, its magnificent race of human beings, its varieties of the animal creation, its wonderfully fine timber, its undeveloped mineral treasures, the spaciousness of its harbours, and its various facilities for extended international communication, Popanilla had no hesitation in saying that a short time could not elapse ere, instead of passing their lives in a state of unprofitable ease and useless enjoyment, they might reasonably expect to be the terror and astonishment of the universe, and to be able to annoy every nation of any consequence.

Here, observing a smile upon His Majesty’s countenance, Popanilla told the king that he was only a chief magistrate, and he had no more right to laugh at him than a parish constable.  He concluded by observing that although what he at present urged might appear strange, nevertheless, if the listeners had been acquainted with the characters and cases of Galileo and Turgot, they would then have seen, as a necessary consequence, that his system was perfectly correct, and he himself a man of extraordinary merit.

Here the chief magistrate, no longer daring to smile, burst into a fit of laughter, and, turning to his courtiers, said:  “I have not an idea what this man is talking about, but I know that he makes my head ache.  Give me a cup of wine, and let us have a dance.”

All applauded the royal proposition; and pushing Popanilla from one to another, until he was fairly hustled to the brink of the lagoon, they soon forgot the existence of this bore; in one word, he was cut.  When Popanillo found himself standing alone, and looking grave while all the rest were gay, he began to suspect that he was not so influential a personage as he previously imagined.  Rather crestfallen, he sneaked home; and consoled himself for having nobody to speak to by reading some amusing “Conversations on Political Economy”.

[Footnote 233:  Substance of a speech, in Parliamentary language, means a printed edition of an harangue which contains all that was uttered in the House, and about as much again.]

ROBERT BROWNING.

(1812-1890.)

LXVI.  CRISTINA.

    From Dramatic Lyrics; written in 1842.

  I.

  She should never have looked at me if she meant I should not love her. 
  There are plenty ... men, you call such, I suppose ... she may discover. 
  All her soul to, if she pleases, and yet leave much as she found them;
  But I’m not so, and she knew it when she fixed me, glancing round them.