BOTHERUM ASTROLOGICUM PRO ANNO 1841.
Note now, oh! reader, the denotements of my prophet sketch: open your eyes upon the symbols which I symbolize. Behold the Cross and the Crescent in neighbourly collision; yet the Crescent is not Burton Crescent, nor the Cross, King's Cross, though these localities approximate in as close degrees: but they tell of Europe cooking the Goose of a Pacha for the Turkey of a Sultan; and, by this time, the bird is plucked and basted, and may be considered as thoroughly done. Witness, too, how the dismayed tee-totaller gazes on the wreck of the Chinese world below. But Bull is in the heart of the shop; no juggler could save the jugs; every cup is a cup too low; the plates are dished entirely, and the case of cruelty is equal in atrocity to the murder of Ware. Now is exemplified the difference between a Man-darin and a daring man. It is breaking-up time, but no holidays. Loud is the music of Handle among the crockery, but its verbal oratory is demolished by the entire annihilation of spout. It is going to pot with a vengeance, and occasions, in China, the perfect distortion of every human mug. Tea, however, is scarce for a season. They refuse to give us their green for our gunpowder: they mix their mixed with poison, and it is now "How queer!" instead of "How-qua!" They refuse the bidding of Pidding! But turn from hieroglyphic revealments to the signs and prognostics of the domestic world. Is your curiosity moved to interest in the play of Destiny? I then will act the part of Tell. Upon the palace of Victoria I behold the shining of a new sun; the hopes of royalty may now be boy-ed up, and a fair young passenger lately arrived by the first royal train will move to another station, and take a place lower, by reason of what has taken place. I see the world settling, like cards, into pax. Peace coming a-pace-is: war we shall pose with repose. The political horizon shows clear. There will be an improvement in the State; and notwithstanding the recent explosion of Dr. Church's engine, I foresee no danger to Church. On the contrary, the sun will shine on Parson's Green; and, as regards the revenue, there is every chance for a surplice; probably owing to the New Church rate at which the said engine is going.
DR. CHURCH'S ENGINE.