DICKENS, in a passage of his Travels in Italy, describes an embarrassing position, and a pursuit of knowledge under difficulties that would have discouraged most learners: "There was a traveling party on board our steamer, of whom one member was very ill in the cabin next to mine, and being ill was cross, and therefore declined to give up the dictionary, which he kept under his pillow; thereby obliging his companions to come down to him constantly, to ask what was the Italian for a lump of sugar, a glass of brandy-and-water, 'what's o'clock?' and so forth; which he always insisted on looking out himself, with his own sea-sick eyes, declining to trust the book to any man alive. Ignorance was scarcely 'bliss' in this case, however much folly there might have been in being 'wise.'" CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR DRAWER. On the 25th December, 1840, when the excitement in diplomatic circles upon the subject of the so-called Eastern question was at its height, an English friend dined with Sir Hamilton Seymour and Lady Seymour, in Brussels. Seymour's note of invitation ran "Will you and your wife come and eat a turkey with us." The dinner was a very good one, but there was no turkey; and on the following day our friend sent him the lines below: "On the notorious breach of political faith committed by Sir G. Hamilton Seymour, G.C.H., &c., &c., &c. Her Britannic Majesty's Minister Plenipotentiary at the Court of Belgium, on the 25th December, 1840. "Most perfidious, most base of all living ministers, You deserve to fall back to the rank of plain Misters, Your star taken off, and your chain only serving To fetter your ankles _selon_ your deserving. Don't think that my charge is some trumpery matter Of court etiquette. It is greater, and fatter; Fit cause throughout Europe to spread conflagration, Set King against Kaiser, and nation 'gainst nation. 'Tis a fraud diplomatic--a protocol broken-- The breach of a treaty both written and spoken-- A matter too bad for e'en Thiers' digestion-- The loss of an empire, the great Eastern question! In vain would you move my ambition or pity-- In vain do you offer the province or city-- Neither Bordeaux nor Xeres, nor eke all Champagne, Can make me forgetful of promises vain. Such pitiful make-weights I send to perdition; 'Twas _Turkey_ you promised--at least a partition. 'Twas _Turkey_ you promised--you've broken your word. 'Twas _Turkey_ you promised: and where is the bird?" Seymour's answer the same day: "Of eastern affairs most infernally sick, No wonder I failed to my promise to stick. With the subject of _Turkey_ officially cramm'd, If Turkey I dined on, I swore I'd be d--d. But at least, my good friend, and the thought should bring peace, If I gave you no _Turkey_, I gave you no Greece (grease)." * * * * *