I am, but really you are so pressing! and as I don't seem likely to get back just at present, I will endeavour to satisfy your curiosity. You must know then, we of the club (its quite select and genteel,) are much divided in opinion as to the origin of our globe. Some cavillers, less orthodox than the rest, say that we know nothing about the matter, and never shall; but our President declares that the secret of the construction of it, and of its inhabitants, was specially entrusted to a particular tribe of our forefathers, as depositaries of this mystery, and that from their Records we learn the truth to be this, videlicet: "That notwithstanding the fact of our finding many insulated, indigenous breeds of men and animals, they are all descended from one couple of ancestors. Our two propagated very comfortably a good while : in the course of succeeding generations, their offspring got so outrageously wicked, there was no bearing it. The Being, who had made all things for his own good pleasure, accordingly resolved to destroy them by a general inundation, to thin them down well, and begin afresh. In pursuance of this plan, he gave timely notice to a very good sort of man, (I forget his name,) and bade him be on the alert: the latter, being good at taking a hint, like a sensible person, made all haste, and got him

self and a few particular friends into a vessel; the very first that was at hand: they had hardly made all right, before off she floated, and every soul perished but this worthy group. They, of course, were in clover; nothing the matter: 'Here's a pretty kettle of fish,' said one of the boys!—' I'm sure,' whined one of the girls,' I don't see any fun in it; we shall have no quadrilles all the season!'- Hold your tongue, hussey;' said one of the elders, < you are always grumbling, think yourself well off; we'll manage to make up a set among us: hang me if I have'nt forgot my fiddle though! never mind, we shall have a pleasant voyage, and make shift, somehow.' And so they did; they had a brace of rattle-snakes as castanets, (we have plenty in our bogs) wreaths of scorpions for diamond sprigs, for they had some fat ones with them, and boa-constrictors and tigers for spectators, and danced as merrily as possible. To be sure, the pretty dear girls were a little nervous at first,' the tigers did leer so!' but, like other quadrille-dancers, they soon got over first impressions; and upon the whole, had a pleasant sort of water-frolic enough. I forgot to tell you, they had taken a few of each sort of the animals found on our globe, on board with themselves, in order that the breeds might not be lost. When the water

went off, the vessel ran aground, and out they all came, rank and file; and as soon as the ground was in travelling order, they went different ways, and every thing went on as before. After that"-"O! but stop, stop, gently, if you please!" I should exclaim, "you are extremely vivacious to night, but we have more phlegm, and like to see our way. You mentioned just now, as an undisputed fact, the existence, at the present day, of many insulated indigenous breeds of animals, that is, if I understood aright, breeds peculiar to certain districts, living on spots parted by vast tracts of water from places where they are not found. Now with all due deference to the authority of your President, whom we will, for form's sake, suppose a respectable man, I must own, I cannot exactly see how he means to support his hypothesis of only a few of each being saved from the waters, especially if any of them are like one we have, called a kangaroo. This creature was discovered by us, at a comparatively late date, on a spot completely isolated; and moreover, his fore legs are so short, so woefully unsuited for aquatic excursions, that I don't think he could swim one hundred yards: how could he get there, from a place perhaps an immense distance off, through the ocean? Besides, you only specified

beasts, birds, and reptiles, at least so I understood you have you no insects, no minute genera, of countless forms? We have tens of thousands; or did you forget to mention their fate in the general wreck?" Here our Lunarian would puff stronger, peradventure blow his nose, as if to sound a parley; upon which I should frankly say: "I tell you what, mine honoured guest, the President was pleased to be funny at your expense; he was certainly joking, or imposing on you; the mildest construction we can put on the story is, he was himself deceived. Such facetious tales wont do here; if the rest of your forthcoming narrative is of a piece with the exordium, smoke your pipe, and don't stir the question further: I was in hopes to have heard some valuable, interesting information; but never mind, as your hero said, 'We must make shift without it.' Come, you don't get on; fill again, and make yourself at home."

AND here, I would point out with delight, with feelings of honest pride, the wide difference in the routes of Ignorance, attended by Cunning and Fanaticism; and of Science, supported by Candour and love of Truth. Ignorance, tied to forms and prejudices, flounders on through thick and thin, without deigning to look on either side, before, or behind. Even if she sees her error, false shame forbids an honest avowal; checks all retraction and amendment: "Let me alone," she exclaims, “I will have my own way, I will not learn better; talk not of impossibilities, to me all things are possible; I engross all learning, all possibility:" and thus, she sticks fast in the mire ploughed up by her own corrosive feet. While meek-eyed Science, rising in silent dignity, diffident yet steady, advances beaming with hope and cheerfulness. She says, in sweetest accents, "I will humbly attempt to know the way of Truth; I will strive without ceasing for the melioration of my genus; I will save them