THE SECOND VISION OF MUZZAIL
ON the second day of the month, contrary to the custom of my fore- fathers,
I had fasted nearly four-and-twenty hours, in consequence of a derangement of my peptic organs, brought on by the immoderate break-
fast I ate on Monday afternoon, in emulation of the rich men of the
City, who feasted their King on the New Bridge, and showed the mea- sure of their loyalty and joy by the loudness of their voices and the largeness of their appetites. As I was sauntering and ruminating through the public ways of the City, intimidated by sundry twinges of incipient cholera, I met a scribe, who invited me to take a frugal meal with him in the kitchen of a great house which stands in the ancient Palace Yard, near unto the Courts of Law and the Tombs of defunct greatness. The scribe, seeing my displeasure at being invited to eat in
a place appropriated to menials, informed me that this kitchen was the
refectory of the Ministers of the Crown, and the Deputies of the People, who refreshed themselves by discussing collops of beef when they were
weary of discussing the affairs of the nation. When we entered the apartment, several parties were wrangling over their food, and appeared to me like unto curs watching to snatch the meat from each other's months ; while shouts of mirth proclaimed their joy at the success or defeat of each attempt. Immoderate bursts of laughter succeeded the sayings of one who spoke with a peculiar accent, and swore 0 by St. Patrick, the Commons' House was not kept, like his countrymen, on short commons!" My companion endeavoured to make me understand the mystical sayings I heard, by an allegorical explanation of the state of public affairs.
He said, if the Twins of Siam had but one head, they would be a type of the Government of this country-. TUE HE,U1 of the Government had generally inclined towards the more gaudily attired of its two bodies, which claimed superior privileges by virtue of inheritance. Its once sturdy brother sometimes disputed the justice of those claims ; but as they were supported by the time-hallowed traditions of the country, he endeavoured to secure an independence by honest industry, and merely expressed his discontent by a few hectorings of the tongue and threaten- ings of the fist. The pampered body, having become tainted by luxury and idleness, sapped the strength of its healthy brother, by engrafting on him the creatures engendered by its corruption. These noxious in- sects fastened with such keenness on their victim, that they wasted his means of life, and threw him into convulsions, which endangered his own being and that of his mischievous neighbour. At this fearful crisis, THE HEAD, which now inclines unto the humbler body, chose some GREY- HEADED seers to restore it to health, by dissevering from it the creatures which had caused its disorder. Some of these drones dropped from the body without a struggle ; but many still cling to their prey with despe- rate writhings and moanings, and will rather be buried in the ruins of the CONSTIIUTION they have undermined, than submit to dis- memberment.
I had finished my meal when my companion had finished his parable ; and he proposed that we should adjourn to the Chapel of St. Stephen's.
I consented to his proposal, although I had some forebodings that the inclination I felt to slumber would prevent me from joining in the de- votions of the congregation. My conductor obtained admission to the gallery with a silver key. The crowd was so great that I could not see distinctly what was going forward ; but I heard a voice holding forth in such a drowsy hum, that it was necessary to rouse the attention of the auditors with a monitory ejaculation of "Hear ! hear !" from both sides of the assembly. Being propped by the persons who surrounded me, I yielded to my drowsiness, and fell into a deep sleep ; during which I was appalled by a dreadful vision. Ferocious yells, clashing of wea- pons, roaring of artillery, and groans of wounded and dying victims, as- sailed my ears. From every quarter countless multitudes rushed to battle; in some places they were opposed, and in others joined, by the forces sent to resist them. The moment of disorder was seized by the evil-disposed to prey upon the defenceless homes of those who had gone forth to extinguish the torch of discord, which threatened to destroy churches and palaces in its flames. A momentary silence was followed by a shout, which roused me from my painful slumber ; and I was re- joiced to find it arose from the cheering of the assembly, excited by a venerable orator, who, in a mild but earnest voice, was urging the tardy advocates of REFORM to prevent the horrors of itsvoLurross. I went forth into the air, and heard the clock of the Western Abbey proclaim-THE ELEVENTH mutt. The spires of this magnificent build- ing rose in calm grandeur amidst veering clouds, which seemed to por- tend a terrific storm; but a freshening breeze dispersed these harbingers of evil, and each man went gladly on his way, cheered with the hope of . continued peace and increasing prosperity.
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