TALBOYS. _After_ Breakfast. We have been sitting here, sir, _before_ Breakfast for ages, in the Wren’s Nest. During our incubation, what a succession of changes may there not have been in Europe! Revolution on Revolution—blood poured out like water——Hark, the Tocsin! NORTH. The Gong. TALBOYS. The _Breakfast_ Gong! The tremulous thunder meets an answering chord within me. Six o’Clock in the Morning—and no victuals have I gorged since Eleven Yestreen. Good-by to the Wren’s Nest—the very Cave of Famine. This is Turkey-egg—Goose-egg—Swan-egg—Ostrich-egg day. I see Buller eyeing open-mouthed, with premeditating mastication, my pile of muffins. Gormandising sans Grace. Take care you don’t trip, sir, over the precipice—’twould be an ugly fall—into the basin. Now we are out of danger. But don’t skip, sir—don’t skip—till we emerge—on the open ground—then we may dance among the daisies. LETTER FROM MAJOR-GENERAL SIR WILLIAM NAPIER. CLAPHAM, LONDON, _April 11, 1850_. SIR,—The writer of the article headed “_The Ministerial Measures_,” in your Magazine, has been so complimentary to me that I feel ashamed of pointing out an error. He says I wrote my History on _Whig principles_. Had he said _Radical principles_, I should not have winced, though I really endeavoured to write it on the principles of truth and knowledge of the subject. But for Whig principles! God save the mark!—I never thought of them save to censure; and really my History is throughout, by implication, and in many places directly, condemnatory of the Whigs’ policy, and of their extreme arrogance, and presumptuous, erroneous views of the Peninsular War. I trust the writer will, therefore, acquit me of any such foolish, factious design as writing a history upon Whig principles. I remain, Sir, your obedient Servant, W. NAPIER, _Major-General_. _To the Editor of Blackwood’s Magazine._ [We gladly give place to the gallant General’s communication. The writer of the article in question meant simply to convey his impression, that the able and eloquent History of Sir William Napier was not constructed on _Tory_ principles; and consequently, that the letter which he embodied in his paper was to be regarded as the testimony of a political opponent.] _Printed by William Blackwood & Sons, Edinburgh._ ----- Footnote 1: _Correspondence respecting the demands made upon the Greek Government, and respecting the Islands of Cervi and Sapienza._ Presented to both Houses of Parliament, by command of Her Majesty. February 1850. Footnote 2: Protestant heresy. Footnote 3: This is now the case in Germany. Footnote 4: _Journal de la Campagne de Russie en 1812._ Par M. DE FEZENSAC, Lieutenant-General. Librairie Militaire, Paris 1850. Footnote 5: