CHAPTER I.The Period

edbirthday,ofwhomapropheticprivateintheLifeGuardshadheraldedthesublimeappearancebyannouncingthatarrangementsweremadefortheswallowingupofLondonandWestminster.EventheCock-laneghosthadbeenlaidonlyarounddozenofyears,afterrappingoutitsmessages,asthespiritsofthisveryyearlastpast(supernaturallydeficientinoriginality)rappedouttheirs.MeremessagesintheearthlyorderofeventshadlatelycometotheEnglishCrownandPeople,fromacongressofBritishsubjectsinAmerica:which,strangetorelate,haveprovedmoreimportanttothehumanracethananycommunicationsyetreceivedthroughanyofthechickensoftheCock-lanebrood. France,lessfavouredonthewholeastomattersspiritualthanhersisteroftheshieldandtrident,rolledwithexceedingsmoothnessdownhill,makingpapermoneyandspendingit.UndertheguidanceofherChristianpastors,sheentertainedherself,besides,withsuchhumaneachievementsassentencingayouthtohavehishandscutoff,histonguetornoutwithpincers,andhisbodyburnedalive,becausehehadnotkneeleddownintheraintod