on his property had not even a plausible pretext for joining in the clamour of the day against their landlords. Yet this did not in the least abate his zealous co-operation with his brother proprietors and the leading members of the Conservative party, to obtain such modifications of the Irish Land Bill as could then be extorted from the dominant party in office. Services such as those rendered by Colonel Taylor were not likely to pass without marked recognition, more especially when the composition of the party with whom he acted is taken into account. On the downfall of the Disraeli administration in 1868, steps were taken to carry this idea into effect; but it was not till July, 1870, that the object was accomplished. On the 23rd of July in that year a presentation of a magnificent piece of plate to the Colonel took place in the large room of the Carlton Club, in the presence of a most distinguished company. The spokesman of the occasion for the donors was Mr. Joseph W. Henley, the veteran M.P. for Oxfordshire, than whom no better selection could have been made. He had then sat on the same benches in the House of Commons with the gallant Colonel for nearly thirty years, and had, moreover, been his colleague when the Conservative party were in office. Besides, his own blunt sincerity placed him above the position of being suspected of using words of course by way of mere empty compliment -a practice so common now-a-days. Mr. Henley is not the sort of man to join in a sham proceeding involving compliance with a mere empty form: hence the propriety of his being selected to take the lead in a cordial demonstration of esteem and regard, on the part of a body of the most high-minded gentlemen in the United Kingdom, to one of their own members. Mr. Henley, addressing Colonel Taylor on that occasion, said, "I have been requested, not only on behalf of those who are here present, but also of some 600 other gentlemen, to ask you to do them the great kindness to accept, at our hands, this small testimonial of our opinion of your deserts. It has fallen to my lot to be, like yourself, in about the thirtieth year of service in the parliamentary warfare. Through that time it has also been my lot to stand with you in many a battle, shoulder to shoulder; and it has been my good fortune to witness the manner in which you have endeavoured to marshal the forces with which we are associated, and to observe the kindly and successful manner in which you have discharged the duties of your office. Those who know what parliamentary life is will appreciate the difficulty of your position; they can appreciate the difficulty which you must have often had in bringing people together in such numbers; and we know the kindness, the consideration, and the ability with which your great services have been rendered. In a matter of this kind, the testimonial must not be reckoned merely by its pecuniary value,-we ask you to accept it as a memorial of the political struggles through which we have passed, and as a pledge of the respect and affection which we entertain towards you." In the course of his reply, Colonel Taylor, said,-"I am very sensible of the great honour I am now receiving at your hands, and I feel deeply the kindness which has dictated the presentation of this magnificent testimonial. My sense of gratitude is enhanced by the circumstance that a man in the high position of Mr. Henley has consented to take the chair on this occasion. He has alluded to the fact that we have both been about thirty years in Parliament; I believe that we both belong to that smail. number of men who during this period have uninterruptedly sat for the same constituency. I have represented my native county for upwards of twenty-nine years, and for more than half that time it has been my privilege to act as 'whip' first with Mr. Forbes Mackenzie, and afterwards with my friend Sir William Jolliffe, now Lord Hylton. I am conscious of the responsibility which the office involves, but that I have not been wholly unsuccessful the attendance on this occasion shows. In 1868, for the first and only time in my life, I became seriously ill, and when I got about again I felt I was not up to my old work. It then became matter of consideration whether I should not best promote my own health and the interests of the party if I made way for some younger man. At that time Mr. Disraeli was pleased to offer me a high and honourable place involving not nearly the same amount of work, and Mr. Noel became my successor. In conclusion, I return my heartfelt thanks to the personal and political friends who have presented me with this magnificent testimonial, and I tender my especial thanks to those who have done me the honour to attend here to-day." Mr. Disraeli, with that cordiality so characteristic of him when he has to take part in any gracious action, observed,-"As my relations with Colonel Taylor were, perhaps, of a more intimate character than those which were maintained with him by any gentleman in this room, I hope it will not be considered intrusive if I say a few words on this occasion. I am glad to have the opportunity of expressing my gratification at a time when such an appreciative tribute in connection with such important services is being rendered to Colonel Taylor. The office which he held for so long a time is one which requires energy, combined with great judgment, perfect command of temper, and great firmness. It is the possession of these united characteristics which has enabled him under very disadvantageous circumstances, acting with a minority in the House of Commons even when we were in office, to bring about results many of which were satisfactory and to all of which we can look back without shame. It is some consolation to us that, when Colonel Taylor found it to be necessary to relinquish the post he so long filled, we were not deprived of his advice and assistance; we still profit by the experience he gained in the position which he filled with so great credit to himself and so much advantage to us. I am very glad that the party have taken the opportunity of expressing their sense of the value of Colonel Taylor's services; and, further, all must rejoice that, as the medium of communication, a chairman should have been fixed on so entitled to universal respect and regard; and it must be extremely gratifying to my right honourable and gallant friend that Mr. Henley has acted on this occasion as the mouth-piece for conveying to him the estimation in which he is held by the Conservative party." Of the testimonial itself it may be of some public interest to append a description. It consists of a very handsome plateau, a seven-branch candelabrum, and two dessert-stands, all of richly chased silver. The whole design is about forty-two inches in height. The plateaus, which are oval in form, contain in the centre ornamental panels, and at the side medallion portraits of the late Lord Derby and Mr. Disraeli. In the recesses are four groups of genii supporting tablets, with monagrams, the crest being at each end. The candelabrum itself, rising from a quadrangular base, contains seven figures, and has two panels; the one with a bas-relief of the Houses of Parliament, and the other with the inscription. The group around the column which supports the seven branches for lights represent Justice, Wisdom, and Legislation, the four angles being each occupied by a figure in repose, with a shield containing the family arms of the Colonel in chased relief. The two dessert-stands carry each two allegorical figures; the one of Manufacture, the other of Agriculture. The whole is enriched with ornamental chasings of the Rose, Shamrock, and Thistle. The inscription states that the testimonial was "presented to the Right Honourable Thomas Edward Taylor, M.P., by his political friends, in appreciation of his long and faithful services to the Conservative party, 1870." THE ISLAND MAID. FROM THE FRENCH OF VICTOR HUGO. O TELL me, is it true? And will thy barque I heard them sing for joy of their return; To my sad heart their songs, their smiles were sad. Why wilt thou leave our isle, young stranger, why? Dost thou forget the morn when the fresh gale Fresh were my cheeks, but rain will dim the rose, Thou shalt be all to me, and I thine own. And good, and I will call thee by the name Or I will be thy slave, still leal and true, Yes, thou wilt leave me. Doubtless, 'mong the hills I would die soon, I know, far from the dear O hear me ! By the lone banana tree, 'Neath whose soft shade our hapless love began, "Tis sunrise. On the sea's empurpled rim A white sail gleams. They sought her in her home She went not with the stranger. W. STARKEY. GERTRUDE DE CHANZANE. BY MADAME DE PRESSENSÉ. TRANSLATED BY F. CORKRAN. Gertrude's Journal, June, 1870. HERE I am two days in Paris, having left our beautiful country for this dusty, burning city. I was met on my arrival by my aunt and my cousin Virginie, accompanied by the German governess, who was introduced to me as Fraulein Thusnelda. Dizzy and stupified as I was after my eighteen hours' journey I must have appeared cold to my aunt, who received me kindly, repeating over and over again that I was to consider her house as mine, and that she trusted I should find myself happy in it. How grief and a sense of loneliness make one unjust! I should have preferred that all this had been left to be understood. As for Virginie, she just stretched out a hand without looking at me, saying, in a voice that sounded very rude, "How do you do, cousin ?" The governess's manners seemed unetuous and fawning, she kept repeating to me that I was sure to be happy in this blessed home. When I found myself in my own room-a room in which there is nothing to remind me of the past I felt such a deadly sadness, felt so appallingly alone, that I gave way to an uncontrollable fit of crying. After my grandmother's death I was alone at Chanzane, but in that solitude, which I loved, there was nothing that was indifferent or a stranger to me. All the rooms of the château were peopled with memories of my childhood, each familiar sound seemed an echo of the past, inanimate things them. selves had a language that I understood, a language that was familiar and dear to my ear. Here everything hurts and saddens me, and jars upon me. Is it that I am one of those plants that die if torn from their native soil? My aunt is between forty-eight and fifty, of middle height, rather stout, and with a high complexion. She talks a great deal, and in a tone I never heard but with her, as of one thoroughly penetrated with the importance and truth of all she says. I believe, from what I have seen and heard up to the present, that she has good reasons to be on excellent terms with herself. It appears she is a woman of rare order, judgment, and tact. governs her house well, and her prodigious activity is the amazement of every one. She is an irreproachable mother and has given a model education to her daughter. She is evidently a good Christian, for I have already heard her quote more than once the precepts of the Gospel, which she says she takes for her rule of conduct. She Were my journal less discreet, it would, perhaps, ask me from what source I have my information, but since it asks me nothing I am not bound to answer. My cousin Virginie is between sixteen and seventeen. She is neither dark nor fair, her eyes are dull, her figure clunisy, her gestures awkward. There is no look of youth about her and I have not yet heard |