THE pastimes of kings would make a very ouri-ness for poetry which is of a sweet, melting kind, ous book. We mentioned last week the particular fancy the King of Spain, the Prince of Assis, has for playing on the big drum. After all, this is a very harmless amusement, and not half so expensive as building toy-palaces, or half so cruel as shooting stags in a fenced ring. Let us see if we can enumerate the amusements of the different kings of the present day.

Have still left them treasures to spend on their One of course is anxious, naturally, so to do; pleasures,

The ninth of November-Lord Mayor's day, re- Is what no reflecting gentleman would go to do.

SEDUCTION AND ITS CHECKS.

THERE has been a newspaper discussion on the subject of "seduction and its punishment," useful so far as all parties to it have agreed in appealing to the judgment of common sense, with a view to practical objects, rather than to mere dogmatic prejudices; but yet, we venture to think, not so conclusive as it might have been if the disputants had pushed the inquiry quite home. That the subject is a very proper one to be discussed just now, is proved by the fact that the court of queen's bench has granted a rule to show cause why there should not be a new trial in the case of Dingle versus Baker, in which Mr. Justice Wilde laid down the dictum that a parent could not recover damages for the seduction of his child except for the loss of services actually prevented by illness.

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Joseph says that the laws "both of nature and society" visit the woman with far the heavier penalty; which is an assumption. "Nature," like all obscure authorities, is one much abused; and in respect of this question, it does not appear that she has been so unjust as Joseph would make The liability imposed by nature is that of maintaining the progeny; and it appears to be provided for by that instinctive affection which is usually found to actuate both parents; the mather is the more powerfully influenced in the earliest period of the child's infancy; possibly at a later period the father is the more powerfully swayed by the same motive; at any rate, in a greater or less degree it affects both. Both, too, are free to abandon the child; "nature" imposing no penalty for that offence but a wounded conscience. The present discussion was begun by one "Jo- Society goes beyond "nature," and insists that if seph," in the Times, who seems to have been actu- a child be brought into the world, or even if there ated simply by the desire to check cant and need-be a chance thereof, there shall be a guarantee for less intervention of law-a praiseworthy motive. its maintenance, so that it be not chargeable to His main arguments are these. Incontinence is the parish." This further liability, though its ennot seduction. Incontinence is a vice beyond the forcement is highly proper, is altogether a factitious reach of law, and only to be kept in check by social law; wherever society intervenes, it ought moral influences. What is called the "seduction" to do so with equal justice; and therefore the liaof a woman is mostly the mere result of her own bility ought to be imposed with perfect equality on incontinence, and constitutes neither an offence to both parents, who are equally authors of the child's be penally visited on the man, nor a civil trespass being. The liability of the mother is proclaimed to be compensated by payment of damages to by the circumstance of childbirth; but surely the the woman. Another dilettante commentator, law ought to enable her to point out her accomsigning himself "Human Nature," interposes plice, in order that half the liability may be transwith the just observation, that although inconti-ferred to him. Hitherto we have considered the matter as if nence is an offence, the seduction or leading on" to the commission of that offence is as clearly a the woman were her own mistress, having arrived crime as the leading on of children to commit years of discretion;" but if she have not theft. And the Globe more forcibly takes the attained the boundary fixed by law between "inbull by the horns in joining issue on Joseph's fancy" and maturity, the case is considerably main fact. "If," says Joseph, "there is any altered. A minor labors under many social dispriority, it is the woman who makes the first abilities created by law, and has an equitable right advances—at least so far as to give the man to to a countervailing amount of protection; and understand that she will not be greatly offended these disabilities are especially stringent on female by boldness on his part. I doubt (and Joseph minors. A minor cannot act in the affairs of life begs that his readers will refer to the experience without parental authority, and the authority which of their own youth) if it ever occurred to any man is enforced against her liberty of action should to attempt the seduction of a woman whom he also be maintained to protect her against the acreally believed to be modest and virtuous." The tions of strangers. A minor cannot dispose of Globe denies this. "It is our belief, that in far herself in lawful marriage without the parental the greater number of cases, man, and not woman, leave, and should be shielded not less carefully is the seducer." "How often does he effect his against lawless contingencies of an analogous kind. purpose by taking advantage of the ignorance of In this view, the seduction of a minor is a treshis victim!" "But suppose, for argument's pass on parental authority, to the detriment both sake, that both parties were equally guilty, is that of parent and child; and every trespass is the any reason why the man should escape all pun- proper subject of a civil action for compensatory ishment?" Clearly not. There is one conclu- damages. But furthermore, if the seduction has sion, however, on which all are agreed that the been effected by fraud perpetrated on the inexpelegal fiction by which "loss of service" is made rience of youth, then, we conceive, the offence the only ground of action for seduction, is an ab- will partake of a criminal character, and will be surd and contemptible procedure, that ought to be fairly subjected to an aggravation of damages in a abolished in favor of a direct law on the subject. penal sense. There is no reason why the law The nature of the law, whether it be judge- should not proceed upon a direct recognition of made law or regular statute law, would be deter- parental authority in the case of seduction as well mined by defining the nature of the offence against as of its correlative marriage, instead of resting on which it is levelled; and this is the point where the absurd and precarious fiction of lost services. the discussion appears to us to fall short. -Spectator.

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MR. STEPHEN: THE COLONIAL OFFICE.

tation for philanthropy: he belonged to the evangelical section of officials, and encouraged missionary

MR. STEPHEN has fulfilled a long expectation, enterprises. He was reputed to be incorruptible: by abdicating. He retires from the under secretaryship of the colonial office, and leaves behind him no one who can take his place. It is his singular fate that such a statement should be made of so able a man without regret.

Mr. Stephen is followed into his retirement by quasi-official panegyrics, which might pass unquestioned, on the principle de mortuis, but for two facts; the country has still to cope with the consequences of Mr. Stephen's administration; and, there is no surety that it is yet finally relieved of Mr. Stephen himself. He is translated into the privy council and, apart from the possibility of his still exercising some tutelary influence over official departments, there are not wanting rumors that, after a renovating tour abroad, he is to reënter office in some higher capacity.

to be otherwise would have been fatal to one who had pretensions as a purist, especially as corruption is obsolete among the respectable ranks of official people. It is undeniable that he so managed as to be virtually and effectively the real colonial minister, without offending those who bore the title and were content to bear the responsibility.

If Mr. Stephen's astuteness and unquestionable command of technical knowledge were animated by enlarged views and a generous benevolence, the practical result must have been found in the contentment, or at least the prosperity, of the wide regions subject to his administration.

So far as concerns their official relations, the British colonies present a spectacle altogether the reverse of this.

The British sugar colonies are in the last throes With respect to technical and official informa- of a struggle for existence. For a dozen years tion, probably no man knew so much as the retir- their history has been that of a rapid descent from ing under secretary. His knowledge made him bad to worse. The policy of the British governchiefly powerful as an antagonist. In this matter- ment has professedly been, to emancipate labor in of-fact country, the man who can outrun another the West Indies, and to prevent the extension of in exactness or copiousness of information possesses | slave-labor in foreign countries by intercepting the a formidable advantage; to convict an opponent of supply of slaves; and for that purpose a vast "ignorance," even on a triviality, is to lower and sacrifice of life and money is made every year on weaken him; and there were few of the importu- the western coast of Africa: the actual results are, nate claimants that besieged the colonial office that slave-labor is not checked in foreign countries, whom Mr. Stephen could not convict of that dis- but that in the West Indies the supply of labor is grace. With unequalled tact and discretion, he cut off. Just as Mr. Stephen is leaving office, the had acquired some literary repute without letting West Indians are meeting to declare that they it go so far as to override his official reserve; and must give up the struggle against ruin, unless if his literary repute was not greater, the official ministers revise their policy and restore "protecreserve passed as a plea to allow him credit for tion"-the West Indian body of London have been more than he had done. According to this con- up to Downing Street this very week, and the structive repute, he might have been a Macaulay, colonists have been planning an aggregate meetbut he chose to be a Stephen. In office, like the ing of deputies from the several colonies to be held shield of gold and silver, his manner was different in one of the islands. The new feature in the as it was viewed from above or from below; but present stage of West Indian depression is, that in both aspects imposing. His superiors have the colonists have lost hope; unless they are in uniformly, we believe, been impressed with the some way relieved by government from the influconviction that Mr. Stephen was the least presum-ence of the colonial office as it has hitherto been ing, the least obtrusive, the most zealous and able administered, they despair, and, with the natural servant they had ever known. In his presence, men whose "station," not less than personal abilities, placed them at the head of a department in which subordinates possessed more knowledge and A policy which, in the name of "philanthropy," more ability, became inspired alike with official sought to treat savage aborigines like spoiled chilwisdom and with a delightful self-reliance; at first dren, alienated the loyalty of the Anglo-Dutch mistrusting their formidable subordinate, fearing to population in the Cape colony, ceded to this councommit themselves before him, they were speedily try by treaty; and in order to bring back the reässured they seemed to become possessed of Anglo-Dutch to their allegiance, it was necessary all his knowledge and power without any humil- to use force of arms. The war against the Angloiating obligation; their own powers expanded; Dutch is succeeded by a frontier war against the they found themselves, as they imagined, throwing aborigines, whose behavior became intolerable to out suggestions which even he received as master- the veritable British colonists; and in order to pieces; and many an official Dombey has dictated wean the savages from the false notions instilled just what the Carker required. The aspect of the into them by a past policy, it will be necessary to upper secretary viewed from below was that of a shed much of their blood. Meanwhile, to carry man whom it was impossible to thwart, avoid, or on the war with anything like spirit, and yet with circumvent; everything must pass through that a remains of tenderness for the misguided creaone medium. Mr. Stephen had acquired a repu-tures, is a task that has foiled even the spirited

exaggeration of despair, anticipate nothing but literal and final ruin. That is the state in which Mr. Stephen leaves the West Indian colonies.

and ingenious Sir Henry Pottinger. That is the | thus to hasten the adoption of a policy consistent state in which Mr. Stephen leaves the Cape colo- with the safety and prosperity of the British colony; to say nothing of its impoverished and back-nies. ward condition.

A similar spectacle of internecine savage war may now be seen in the youngest of British colonies-New Zealand.

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tion."

Such a novelty would constitute a new era in the history of our colonies, and would immortalize the statesman who should seize the occasion for establishing it.-Spectator.

PACIFICATION OF IRELAND.

IRELAND is more distracted than ever; and un

A show has been made of complying with the general demand for "systematic colonization ;" but the pretence of doing so has merely sufficed to prevent the reality. So totally unlike anything less the new parliament is content to repeat the systematic" is the emigration to North America, vain legislation of its predecessors, coercive or that half of it strays to an alien country, and the soothing, it will be necessary to strike out some other half is the subject of loud complaints that it fresh course in the attempt at reducing chaos to is a nuisance, introducing pauperism and pestilence order. into Canada. Looking to the opposite group of One enormous innovation in the treatment of dependencies available for systematic colonization, Ireland, hitherto unattempted, offers an opening we see a most extraordinary sight. Mr. Boyd, a for hope. Hitherto, remedial measures have conleading colonist in New South Wales, has sent an sisted of bundles of disconnected specifics: as they expedition for the purpose of recruiting the labor were disconnected, they could not work well toof the colony from Polynesia: savages, if not can- gether; and an universal habit of compromising nibals, are to be introduced into New South Wales the law has been the substitute for a true combias shepherds, at the very time when a committee nation of measures. Every class of laws in Ireof the British peers has been solemnly inquiring land is subject to this wholesale compromise, in a how it can dispose of the starving Irish! Such is degree that is almost incredible even to us who are the state in which the governing under secretary | living witnesses of the fact, unless we rehearse the of the colonial office leaves "systematic coloniza-instances. There are laws to protect property: but there is a wide-spread conspiracy to prevent tho collection of rents, the eviction even of defaulting tenants, or any of the processes by which the rights of landed property are enforced; and so universal is this treachery against the law of property, that when a landlord is assassinated for the exercise of his legal rights, as in Major Mahon's case, all the public writers of the country fall to criticizing his conduct, as if the guilt of the assassin and the breaker of the law were to be determined by a critical inquiry into the motives and demeanor of him who appealed to the law. This habit of looking beyond the law is universal in Ireland, and painfully distinguishes that country from England. There is a poor-law to protect the laboring classes, but all, even the laborers themselves, conspire to prevent the levying or collection of rates or the issue of relief according to the law. In England we should say, rely on the law-carry out the eviction-law if you will, but also carry out the poorlaw in Ireland they compromise both laws, and, practically, both are frustrated, so that there is no law. There was an arms act-the attempt to enforce it was bitterly denounced, but the attempt was made; yet all classes possessed arms. So it is throughout the statute-book. Now the blessed innovation of which we speak would be, to combine remedial measures in their design, but when once they were passed into law, to enforce them, if needful, to the last extremity and at any cost.

It does not appear that Mr. Stephen has trained any one to be his successor; Elijah carries his mantle still to wear it himself in the upper region to which he is translated. The removal of so much and such concentrated technical information, will make it very difficult to carry on the routine of the office, impossible to carry it on as it has been. It is to be hoped, therefore, not only that Mr. Stephen will have the solace of finding that he is much "missed," but that some totally new colonial policy will be forced upon the imperial government. It would be quite possible that a better policy should also be a policy easier to administer. Much of the voluminous knowledge attributed to the retiring under secretary was rendered necessary by the needlessly minute meddling of the government in Downing Street. Mr. Stephen is reputed to have possessed an intimate acquaintance with "the various constitutions" of the settlements; an intimacy of which the necessity would be quite superseded if the "constitutions" themselves were superseded by the substitution of simpler and better forms of government; permitting, not prohibiting, the self-development of the settlements by some kind of representative system -encouraging, not checking, the growth of political talent-inviting the influential among the colonists to accept a larger share in directing and fostering those purely local interests which contribute to the weal of the community, but are too remote and local for comprehension or attention in London. Downing Street would govern the colonies better if it did less, and used the talents which are to be found in the British citizen wherever he may dwell. It might console the colonial empire for the loss of Mr. Stephen, if his retirement were

The main object, then, in considering the whole question of Ireland in the next session of parliament should be to devise such a policy that its parts should fall harmoniously into one comprehensive whole, so that every part might be pushed to its utmost extent without deranging or neutralizing other parts.