that remarkable leading article which is still fresh in the memories of all, the title of which was “Noble England!”

  It can easily be understood that such unparalleled generosity, on the part of a Prince from whom nothing had been demanded, redoubled the confidence he had already inspired, and tripled the number of emigrants. The total had mounted up to six thousand six hundred and thirty-nine souls, when, as the Consul, after signing, was handing over the sixth thousand and thirty-ninth passport, he casually asked the emigrant what money he and his comrades were taking out. The man replied that they had bank-notes and gold. Upon this the Consul said it was his duty to warn them that they would lose at the Bank of Mosquitos six per cent on their notes and two shillings a guinea on their gold, this loss being explained by the distance between the two countries and the rarity of intercourse, all commerce generally taking the direction of Cuba, Haïti, Jamaica, and of North and South America.

  The emigrant, who was a man of understanding, quite saw the reason for the loss, but, distressed at the thought of the terrible hole which the unfavourable rate of exchange would make in his little savings, he asked His Excellency the Consul if he could not possibly, as a special favour, exchange his bank-notes and guineas then and there against Mosquitos silver or gold. The Consul regretted that he could not part with his Mosquitos cash, because, as the coinage was of pure metal unmixed with alloy, it was of considerably greater intrinsic value than the money of England, but said that for the nominal commission of one-half per cent he could furnish him with bank-notes drawn on the Cazique’s own bank, which would be exchanged at par, on his arrival against the gold and silver currency of the Mosquitos. The emigrant tried to kiss the Consul’s feet, but the latter, raising him with true Republican dignity, said that all men were equal, and gave him his hand to kiss. On that day the change of money began, and the process lasted a week. At the end of that period the Consul had received eighty thousand pounds sterling, without reckoning his commission.

  About the same time Sir Edward Twomouth, the Consul at Edinburgh, advised his colleague in London of the receipt, through methods very analogous to those employed in the capital of the three kingdoms, of various sums amounting to fifty thousand pounds English. The “Doctor,” at first sight, thought the total rather small; but on second thoughts he remembered that Scotland, as a poor country, could not be expected to produce as much as England.

  For his part, his Highness the Cazique Don Guzman y Pamfilos cashed the banker Samuel’s cheque for twelve millions.

  CONCLUSION

  The emigrants sailed in eight ships which had been chartered at their joint expense, and, after a three months’ voyage, they arrived in sight of the coast the reader already knows, and cast anchor in Cartago Bay.

  They found that the only town was the collection of huts we have described, and the only inhabitants the followers of Black Snake, who, on their being conducted before him, asked how much fire-water they had brought him. One part of the unfortunate band having nothing left to return to in England, decided on remaining in Mosquitos; the second half resolved to return to their own country. Half of this half died on the voyage home from hunger and privation. Those who reached London, exactly one-fourth of those who had left it, had no sooner set foot on dry land than they proceeded in a body to the Cazique’s Mansion and the Consul’s Residence. The Cazique and his Consul had not been seen for the last week preceding their arrival, and no one had any idea what had become of them.

  Our own opinion is that the Cazique is living incognito in Paris, and we have reason to believe that he is in some way or another connected with not a few of the industrial developments which have been taking place for some time past. If we receive any precise information as to his movements, we shall not fail to apprise our readers of the fact.

  Just as we are going to press we read the following in the “Medical Gazette “:

  “Up to the present time spontaneous combustion has not been known to occur except among human beings; but a case has just been reported by Dr. Thierry, in which the victim belonged to the simian race. For the last five or six years this individual, in consequence of the sad loss he sustained through the death of a friend, had acquired the unfortunate habit of habitual daily indulgence in excessive quantities of wine and spirituous liquors. The very day of the accident he had drunk three successive glasses of rum and retired, as was his custom, to rest in the corner of the room, whence was heard, all of a sudden, a crackling sound like that of sparks flying about from a wood fire. The housekeeper, who was tidying the room, turned at once in the direction of the sound, and saw that the animal was enveloped in a cloud of blue flames like those emitted by burning spirits of wine, and yet he appeared to be without the power or will to make the slightest effort to escape. The terror with which she was seized at this extraordinary sight prevented her from going to help the poor beast, and it was not until the fire had burnt itself out that she dared approach the spot where it had originated. It was then too late; the animal was dead.

  “The monkey which was the victim of this extraordinary fatality belonged to our famous fellow-townsman, the painter Tony Johannot.”

  THE END

  APPENDIX

  CONSTITUTION OF THE MOSQUITOS, OF CENTRAL AMERICA — DON GUZMAN Y PAMFILOS, BY THE GRACE OF GOD, CAZIQUE OF THE SAID NATION

  The heroic people of this country, having from time immemorial preserved their independence by their courage and their patriotism, were peacefully enjoying the fruits of their devotion at a time when all the rest of America groaned beneath the yoke of Spain. At the great and ever memorable epoch of the emancipation of the New World, the nations of this vast territory had not been brought into subjection by any European power; Spain had not exercised any real authority in the land, and had been forced to confine herself to the chimerical pretensions against which the courage and constancy of the native inhabitants had successfully protested. The nation of the Mosquitos has preserved intact the primitive liberties which she holds directly from the Creator.

  With a view to consolidating its existence, to defending its freedom — the chiefest of all the possessions of a nation — and to guiding its progress towards the happiness of the social state, this country has already chosen us to govern it and in the immortal strife for the freedom of America we have shown the people of the continent that we are not unworthy contribuants to the glorious task of securing the destinies of this noble half of the human race.

  Absorbed as we are in the duties which Providence has imposed upon us, while calling us, by the voice of a free people, to the government of these fair lands, we thought it well to defer, so far, the inauguration of certain changes which would add greatly to the happiness of our subjects; especially did we consider it necessary first to study thoroughly the wants of the nation to which the new institutions were to apply.

  The time has come at last. We are rejoiced at being able to perform this duty, just at the time when victory has crowned for ever the destiny of this continent and has put an end to the strife wherein, for fifteen years, we have been among the first to uphold the banner of independence and to seal with our blood the imprescriptible rights of American peoples. For these reasons we have decreed and ordered, and do hereby decree and order as follows:

  In the name of God Almighty and All Merciful:

  ART. 1

  All the provinces of this country, by whatsoever designations they are known, shall in future be confederated into a single State, which shall for ever remain one and indivisible, under the name of the “State of Poyais.” The various titles, under which we have, up to this present time, carried on the functions of government, shall, for the future, be all merged and consolidated in that of the Cazique of Poyais.

  ART. 2

  All the present inhabitants of this country, and all those who in the future shall receive letters of naturalization shall form but one single nation and be known as the Poyaisians, without distinction as to origin, birth, or colour.

  ART. 3

  All Poyaisians are equal as to duties and rights.

  ART. 4

  The State of Poyais will be divided into twelve provinces.

  Each province is divided into districts, each district into parishes. The boundaries of the provinces are fixed by law.

  For each province there is a governor, nominated by the Cazique. The governor’s duty is to manage the internal affairs of the province; he will be aided by a council composed of magnates, chosen and Organized by law.

  In each district there is a deputy governor, and in each parish a mayor.

  The nominations of deputies and of mayors and their duties will be regulated by law.

  THE CAZIQUE

  The Cazique is the Commander-in-Chief of all the State Forces both by land and sea.

  It is his duty to raise, arm, and organize the forces, in accordance with the numbers and expenditure placed at his disposal by law. He appoints all officers, both civil and military, except in those cases where the constitution provides for their election by the popular vote. He is the Administrator-General of all the State Revenues, and acts in accordance with the laws as to its source, assessment, collection and disbursement. He is especially charged with the duty of keeping order within the kingdom, and he also enters into treaties of peace, and has the power of declaring war. All treaties must be submitted for approval to the Senate. He sends and receives all ambassadors and all descriptions of diplomatic envoys.

  He alone has the right of proposing laws to the Parliament and of approving or rejecting them after they have passed through Parliament. The laws do not become of legal force until after his sanction and promulgation.

  He may make regulations for the enforcement of the laws.

  All lands which do not belong to private owners are hereby declared the property of the Cazique.

  Their revenue and the proceeds of their sale are assigned for the due maintenance of his Highness the Cazique, of his family and of his personal, civil and military, establishments. The Cazique has the power, in consequence of this law, of disposal of any portion of these domains.

  On his accession, the Cazique swears to observe the constitution in presence of the Parliament assembled.

  The Cazique grants letters of naturalization to aliens.

  The Cazique has the right of pardoning offenders.

  The person of the Cazique is inviolable; his ministers only are responsible.

  In case of ill-health, or of absence for some sufficient reason, the Cazique shall have the power of nominating one or more regents to govern in his name.

  Our eldest son, issue of our marriage with Dona Josepha-Antonia-Andrea de Xérès de Aristiquicta y Lobera, born at Caracas, in the Venezuelan Republic, is hereby declared heir apparent of the dignity of Cazique of Mosquitos. In the next session of Parliament, a law will be brought forward providing for the case of the minority of the Cazique.

  PARLIAMENT

  Parliament exercises legislative powers concurrently with the Cazique. No loan can be raised in future, no tax, direct or indirect, can be imposed, without a decree passing through Parliament.

  At the beginning of each session, the members of the two Houses of Parliament swear fealty to the Cazique and to the Constitution.

  Parliament settles the value, weight, pattern and standard of the currency, and determines all weights and measures.

  Each House makes its own rules for the conduct of business and for the good order of its sessions.

  Either House may petition the Cazique in favour of a project of law on such and such subjects.

  Parliament is composed of two bodies; the Senate and the House of Representatives.

  SENATE

  The Senate consists of fifty senators.

  Four years after the promulgation of the present constitution, this number may be increased by due process of law.

  The fifty senators shall be nominated by the Cazique for the first time only.

  The senators are nominated for life.

  In future, when any places become vacant in the senate, the senators shall choose, to fill the vacancy, one of three names submitted to them by the Cazique.

  To become a Senator, the qualifications are: Age, thirty-one years at least; domicile, three years at least in the country; property qualification, three thousand acres in fee simple.

  The Chancellor is President of the Senate.

  The Bishop, or Bishops, of Poyais are de jure members of the Senate.

  The sessions of the Senate are public.

  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

  The Lower House will be formed of sixty members (five representing each province) until such time as an Act shall be passed for increasing that number.

  To become a deputy of the people of Poyais the age qualification is twenty-five years; the property qualification, a freehold of one thousand acres.

  The House of Deputies shall verify the qualification of its own members.

  Each province shall elect five deputies, to form the first House.

  During the forthcoming meeting of Parliament, an Act shall be passed for the redistribution of these sixty seats among the different provinces, according to the population of each.

  Further, during the same session, Parliament shall have the power of giving seats to the representatives of such towns of our State as shall be deemed, from their size, fit to be ranked as cities.

  For the purposes of the election of members from districts, all the inhabitants, being born or naturalized citizens of this State, and who, being taxpayers and having attained the age of twenty-one years, and being neither servants, slaves, outlaws, bankrupts, nor habitual criminals, shall assemble at the chief town in the district, on the day to be notified by our letters patent, and shall elect their deputies from among those persons possessing the necessary qualifications.

  Deputies are elected for the term of four years, and there will be a general election at the end of that period.

  The Cazique names the President of the Lower House, from a list of three prepared by the said assembly.

  The elections will be superintended by a president to be chosen from the electorate by the Cazique.

  The laws for Customs duties, and for both direct and indirect taxation, must be submitted for the approval of the House of Representatives, and cannot be brought before the Senate without such approval.

  The Cazique may dissolve the House, on condition of calling together another within three months.

  The House of Representatives may impeach the Ministry at the bar of the Senate for rebellion, treason, malversation or usurpation of authority.

  The proceedings in the House shall be open to the public.

  RELIGION

  The Catholic Apostolic Roman Religion is that of the State. The ministers thereof are endowed, and the territories over which they shall exercise spiritual jurisdiction fixed by law.

  All religions are protected by the State, and no differences in religious belief shall be held to exclude from public office.

  Bodies professing a faith other than that of the Catholic religion who may wish to establish places of worship, must notify their desire to the civil power, and further show that the ministers appointed to serve the places of worship are provided with sufficient incomes.

  THE PUBLIC DEBT

  ... (The provisions on this head are those already given in the text, as having been drafted by Mr. Samuel.)

  JUDICIAL POWERS

  The judges are appointed by the Cazique, on the nomination of three candidates for the office by the Senate.

  There will be six State Judges who will go on circuit through the provinces, holding assizes and administering both civil and criminal justice.

  A law to be passed subsequently will introduce the system of trial by jury in criminal cases. In each district there will be a magistrate appointed to consider all cases, settling those within his powers, and to bring such cases to the Assizes as he may consider necessary to be tried. Appeals against the Courts of Assizes shall be heard by the Senate. Applications for redress of judgments of the Supreme Court must be laid before Parliament. No subject may be arrested save by the order of a Judge or Magistrate, and the warrant must specify the crime of which he is accused, the said crime being one defined as such by law. Gaolers are forbidden, under penalties attaching to false imprisonment, to receive or detain any person against whom a warrant as described above is not produced.

  As soon as practicable the necessary steps will be taken to draw up codes of both Civil and Criminal Law uniformly applicable to the whole country.

  The foregoing constitution shall be submitted for acceptation to the Parliament which is hereby convoked for the 1st September next.

  Given in London the 20th day of March, in the year of our Lord 1837, and first of our reign.

  [Signed) Don Guzman y Pamfilos Letter from M. Alphonse Karr

  My Dear Alexandre, Allow me to press a request upon you. France contains thirty-two million inhabitants; if each one of them were to be the object of public attention for an equal space of time, that is to say, if fame and honour were evenly distributed, each would have one minute and one-third of this public renown in his life, the average duration of life being taken at eighty years.

  It is for the sake of fame that we hang on to anything which creates a sensation in the world, and long to be a part of whatever attracts notice for the moment; so much so that many covet to a certain extent the situation of the criminal on the road to the guillotine, and find their only comfort in being able to say, “I knew him intimately,” or “I went through the same street the very day after the murder.”