SCENE,
A magnificent Palace in the neighbourhood of a great City. TVo citizens seek in vain for a Master of | Ceremonies to usher them into the presence of the Great High Lord within. In despair they enter his private Secretary's room. First Citizen. | Good morning Master Secretary ; pray [ Miy'st thou be one of those whose high behest It is, at times to gain the privileged I And august presence of your Great His;') Lord, I Or, do we err in coming to this place ? I In vain we've searched the precincts of the palace, For Orderly or fitting personage, » That we into His presence, admittance Might obtain on matters of great import. Blanb. My Potentate on certain solemn days, , Into his presence, men of high descent Admits ; on such as me he seldom smiles. What would'bt thou with my great ajid august Lord ? First Citizen. On weighty matters — important business With your august Lord we would hold converse. Bland. My great high Lord requires the state and name To know, of all who would his presence ga-n. First Citizen. Here are our cards, and duly graved thereon Our names, (aside) A very eye-sore to His sight, T wi'l make his moody temper rise and pour j The outbreakings of his troubled spirit \ On your devoted head.) | [Exit Bland bearing Cards.] Second Citizen. I This mighty Man, When on your card, and well known name he looks, Will quickly send it back by Bland again. "Tis said that ever since the truth telling Pages of the Cross you gave forth unto The world; (tia whisper'd too, bis stern command, Forbids all those who hireling pay receive Front him, to countenance, or even read I Its pages.) Your image haunts his hours of sleep, And olt he startß, and frightened shrieks your name. First Citizen, ! His own dark deeds, if still the wreck remain Of conscience, in his steel'd and harden'd heart, Must doubtless mar at times his happiness. That heavy sense of animal existence. SCENE 11. Hall of Audience. Great high Lord in State. Euter Bland. Bland. My great high Lord, two citizens"without, Would fain admittance to your presence gain, And further have I borne at their request These cards, whereen appears their name and state. (On looking at the cards seems agitated. Falls into a reverie, Soli'oqujaes.)
'Tis slius these vile plebeians ever thrust Thf-mselves, on my most retired moments, And by riare arrogance my presence gain ; 4 etiing r at naught those forms of etiquette, So needful, to hedge me in my present Lofty station, and by being common To the vulgar herd, all those mysteries Which now do shroud me from their prying eyes Would be lard bare: Of Nature's gifts I've none' To fo-ce from all men" goldrn opinions."' 'Tis the more ne essary 1 bate not One jot of all those outward bars, Which may f .jl admittance to my presence ; Oh J Intellect ! ! Thou God-like attribute ! ! !' Had'st thou to me been gifted";' thnn, aye, then, I would have spurned, and risen far above Tne wretched subterfuge of — Crd'eMies 1 1 ! (Looking ngain at the cards with a serious aspect) l And yet these men. and une a host biniself, Even now would bate me in my very den. But no 1 insultingly their cards by Bland Again I will return with cool command Io send them only through my Orderly I What—ho— there—Bland. What meanest th&, t&at' thou Who hast so long and frequent served in Courts, Should not yet know thy proper dignity To keep ; but need'at make thyself the bearer Of whit thou know'st should only come, but through My Orderly \ I sdy my Orderly ', \ \ (F\ings back the cards to Bland, who takes them again, and leaving th^ Hall »f Audience.— Scens returns to whe/e the Citizina remain waitiDg.) Eland. Good cifz o nBi narrowly have 1 leaped* A reprimand severe from my great L >rd < Who eaid. my proper duty 1 knew not In having been the bearer Of yorfr card*,, Which now again I unto you rettiffi That thro' the proper channel they may reach My great high Lird. Such, Sirs, are his commands. First Citizen. As soon thro' an Orderly 1 as jour-elf, Would we have sent our cards unto your Lord; And vainly did we search the precincts round Of this Great Palace for an Orderly ! (Aside — And lo 1 an Orderly could not be found,) Next thought yourself most fitting gentleman To do this ceremony. Pray unto Your Lord say so : We await his answer. (Exit Bland, who immediately returns.) BjLAND. My Lord says, that shortly he will see you. Citizsns. It is weU. Bland. To another apartment I shall leud you to await his pleasure. (fi.\.eimt. SCENE 111. An Apartment in the Palace. Citizens standing. Lsnnoc, first Minister of State seated on a long three legged stool before a table covered With papers. No other furniture in the room. First Citizen. Good Lennoc, I fear me we have greatly Viohted ths laws of E'iquette, In sending thro' good Master Bland, our cards Unto your great high Lord ; but we could find No Orderly I Methinks your Lord did shew Much more petty anger than good breeding. In sending b»ck our cards — to be again Sent thro' his Orderly \ \ In other climes Such forms are not insisted on ; 4nd always have I seen an anteroom Provided for all visiters who had To wait an audience ; but here sans seats—Sans civility — Sans every thing, We needs must wait the condescending will Of your great Lord. (As Lennoc is about to reply, enter Bland addressing Second Citizen.) Bland. Sir, I'll lead you to the presence of my Lord. First Citizen 1 . On the same business We came here, and together would we see Your Lord. Bland. My Lord did say, that presently He would see you. First Citizen. Unto your Lord bear ■VTy respects, and say, that other business I Have none, than that my fellow citizen And I did come to see him on, and since Together we cannot be admitted Into his august presence, I now do Take my leave, and wish you a good morrow. (Exit First Citizsn. SCENE IV. Hall of Audience. Great high Lord in State. Second Citizen enters. Great High Lord. What would'st thou ? Your business with me say : Second Citizen. I come to make complaint of damages Done unto my lands — of serious loss Sustained thro' frequent inroads of natire Tribes and others, inimical towards me, Of insults offer'd to my family — Of threaten d robbery, if I quit not My dear bought lands— My herds of aattle driven Far into the bush — all this, and much more — I now would know if you will use that povr'r To protect all good and loyal subjects. Which our Lidy Queen hath vested in you ? If not — Is it not right— ls it not just That we protect ourselves ? Great High Lord. Know you sirrah To whom you speak ? "lam the Governor Of all vh'ese territories, vast and wide ! ! I If to be instructed you now come here 'Tis all well — if gratuitous advice To offer— l wish you a good morning.' r Second Citizkn. Sir, if aught there be that can be construed Into disrespect in that I've taid — — (Enter Bland in great haste, pale, bearing despatches.} My Lord, a barque just anehor'd in the stream, Hath brought the news that a new Governor Was shortly to embark from — — d's shores, And rumours were afbat that you -— — Great High Lord. 'Tis false, You He — — . (Scene drops, leaving His Great High Lordship standing shaking, in his shoes.)
n
!»
i
Paris, July 1-8, 1842. Office of the Minister of Marine and of the, Colonies. ■The Secretary of "State for the Departments of Marine, and of the Colonies, to 1 Doctor" William Davies, of Port 'Jackson. Sir,— l have reported to the King the generous -attentions paid jby, you in the month of December, 1841, to'certain French sailors, who were .taken dangerously ill, in consequence of having eaten ( at Port j Jackson, of a certain poisonous berry. His Majesty " If a* gmcidu«ly authorised me to decr.ee to you the Medal, which accompanies this' letter ; which is iurend&l to preserve "the" remembrance' of,iae services. *wnteb you so disinterestedly, and skilfully rendered •^ohMfebat occasion to the French sailors. ''Accept Monsieur, the assurance of My highest consideration, (Sighed) DUPERRE.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DSC18430624.2.10
Bibliographic details
Daily Southern Cross, Volume I, Issue 10, 24 June 1843, Page 3
Word Count
1,399SCENE, Daily Southern Cross, Volume I, Issue 10, 24 June 1843, Page 3
Using This Item
No known copyright (New Zealand)
To the best of the National Library of New Zealand’s knowledge, under New Zealand law, there is no copyright in this item in New Zealand.
You can copy this item, share it, and post it on a blog or website. It can be modified, remixed and built upon. It can be used commercially. If reproducing this item, it is helpful to include the source.
For further information please refer to the Copyright guide.