you

seek to know me, you shall do so. If when you go home you see a woman with a rose in her hand, hold out yours, you will know me."

I smiled at the romantic fervour of this reply, and a faint desire arose that my wife and the writer of that letter should know each other, and then I went on with my stupefying avocations.

As I went home, I confess I looked about for a woman with a rose in her hand, but as might naturally be supposed, neither in cabs nor omnibuses did such an apparition manifest itself.

As I entered my own door I gave an impatient shrug at the idea of having been the subject of a foolish jest. But whom did I see standing just within the threshold of my home? my darling, with her fair child-like face, and bright hair; love, and joy, and youth crowning her with a triple crown, and in her hand was a rose !

"Dear husband,” she said, as I kissed her, "I think I loved you from the moment I had your kind, indulgent, thoughtful note. I had written that absurd little story, for I sadly wanted a little money to pay for Gerald's return home at Christmas, to be with papa and mamma, and I had a foolish notion I could write."

"And you were disappointed, my pet; what a savage I must have seemed."

XI.

Host. Enter, Sir Stranger, and abide with me;
Forgive my poverty and scanty table;
Misery herself dwells here and offers thee
The best that she is able.

XII.

needy, have in turn devised and assisted in the endeavour to discover gold, and nearly every part of the globe has been ransacked for the same object. Three centuries ago companies were formed, large sums of money subscribed, vessels fitted-out and able commanders appointed to attempt a discovery-a great discovery; and though gold most certainly was not the original object, it is equally certain that it had a most important influence on the continuous and vigorous prosecution of the discovery, and that the hope of it largely contributed to swell the list of subscribers in two out of the three celebrated voyages undertaken by Martin Frobisher in search of a North West passage. Previous attempts, it is true, had been made to discover this passage; but on the accession of "the Virgin Queen," a host of adventurers presented themselves. Arguments, letters, and memorials followed in succession from persons anxious to attempt the discovery, and equally willing to encounter dangers in order to attain it. Sir Humphrey Gylberte's discourse to prove a passage by the north-west no doubt contributed to stimulate efforts in that direction, and was most probably, as Chalmers says, the cause of Frobisher's first voyage.

A year before its publication in 1575, Frobisher was the bearer of a letter from the Queen to the Muscovy Company, in which they were exhorted to again attempt the discovery. Twenty years had elapsed since Sir Hugh Willoughby's unfortunate expedition, when most of his company perished with cold in Lapland. The Company's answer was not favourable, and the Queen was induced to write a second letter. Soon afterwards Frobisher, with Michael Lok, and others who would be adventurers, obtained the required licence from the Muscovy Company, and a voyage was resolved upon. It was, however, delayed a whole year for lack of money, and might perhaps have been abandoned altogether but for Michael Lok. It was mainly through his exertions that the necessary expenses were collected. Lok himself subscribed upwards of 7001. out of the required sum of 1600l. Everything being at length in readiness, Frobisher sailed on his first voyage from Gravesend on the 12th June, 1576, with his little fleet of three small vessels and thirty-four

men.

It is not my purpose to speak of the geographical discoveries which were made by Frobisher in this or either of his celebrated voyages. They were, as it is well known, of very considerable importance, and thoroughly established his reputation as a great navigator and commander. After much suffering and great hardships Frobisher returned in the fol

lowing October, with the loss of one of his vessels and two-thirds of his little company. Thirty-four persons had sailed with him, thirteen only returned. "He also brought a strange man" from "Frobisher's Strait" with him, who was seized, and by main force pulled on board by Frobisher himself, while in the act of receiving a present of a bell.

Before sailing, Frobisher had made a promise to Lok that he would give him "the first thing he found in the new land." A piece of black stone, "as great as a halfpenny loaf," was the accepted gift, and upon this black stone hangs our history of the (supposed) gold discovery. The stone was in Lok's possession, and as a proof of the value of it in his opinion, he lost no time in handing pieces of it to the assay-master of the Tower, and to other gold refiners. Several proofs were made, and "so much marvaile" at the results, that Lok took them to the Queen herself.

A second voyage previously resolved upon was confirmed, and commissioners immediately appointed to carry out all the details; the Privy Council having unhesitatingly reported in favour of it. The few who knew of the gold discovery were exhorted to secrecy, but without avail. The news soon spread, and doubtless gave some offence to the Queen, for Lok, in a long letter to Elizabeth, took considerable pains "to set down all his proceedings in this matter."

All were now eager to join in the adventure. The Queen doubled her subscription, making it a thousand pounds. The Lord Treasurer, Lord Admiral, and other high dignitaries subscribed £100 each; Sir Thomas Gresham twice that amount; Sir Philip Sydney, £50. All the charges of this voyage were estimated at £4,500.

Frobisher sailed on his second voyage the 26th May, 1577, with three vessels victualled for seven months, and 120 men. Thirty of his company were either miners or refiners, and they were taken expressly to work at the mines whence the piece of ore was brought. If the mines failed, Frobisher was instructed to send one of the ships home while the other two were to proceed to make the discovery of the north-west passage. If they proved successful, he was commanded not to discover the secret of their riches. After four months' absence the ships arrived at Bristol, and Frobisher was immediately ordered by the Privy Council to unload them and discharge the ore. This was to be deposited in Bristol Castle, or some other safe place, under four locks, the keys of which were to be kept by Frobisher himself, the Mayor of Bristol, Sir Richard Berkeley, and Michael Lok. One object of this voyage, the obtaining a quantity

A month elapsed. During this time the officers of the Mint had been directed by the Privy Council to receive the ore into the Tower. Lok had reported to Secretary Walsingham that though not yet brought to perfection because of the jealousy of the workmen, who were loth to show their coining, it was very rich and would yield £40 a-ton, clear of all charges, adding, "this is assuredly true, which may suffice to embrace the enterprise." Notwithstanding this report, it is evident that the opinions of the various "workmen" differed materially. One certified that two tons would yield in fine gold twenty ounces; a second asserted that, although he had proved it to the utmost, he found "no such great riches"; while a third declared that he could discover in the ore neither gold nor silver, or next to none. Some of these proofs of "Frobisher's ore," in the shape of small particles of gold fastened to paper by sealing-wax, are in Her Majesty's Public Record Office, and in a perfect state of preservation.

66

If any unfavourable reports were spread of the value of the ore, they must have been quickly suppressed, or, at all events, have met with little credence. The Queen commanded Secretary Walsingham to write to the Lord Treasurer and the Lord Chamberlain that her Majesty, understanding that the richness of that earth is like to fall out to a good reckoning, is well pleased that a third voyage be taken in hand." Before the truth could be really ascertained, another voyage was resolved upon, and the necessary expenses quickly subscribed for Frobisher's third voyage. The Queen, her officers of State, Lords and Commoners, were anxious to be adventurers "in the goods now come home or else in the next adventure." An expedition more costly than both the two preceding was quickly put in preparation and pressed forward with expedition. Lord Burghley, himself an adventurer, brought all the resources of his active mind into vigorous use to ensure the success of the enterprise. All his memoranda are preserved. Ships were to be sent capable of bringing home 5,000 tons weight of ore. He calculated that one miner could dig half-a-ton of ore a-day, and then reckoned the number of tons that one, two, or three

The

hundred miners could dig in a month. wages of the miners, the freight of the ore, and the charges of keeping a hundred men in the country for eighteen months-in fact, every detail connected with this voyage was, to the Lord Treasurer, a matter of careful consideration. On Frobisher's arrival at Warwick Island, he was instructed to repair to the mines and minerals where he wrought the year before, and there to place the miners and other men to work and gather the ore. While in Warwick Sound, he was ordered to search in other places for other mines; and if any were found richer, to remove thence. Strict injunctions were given against allowing assays to be made of any metal, matter, or ore without authority, or keeping for private use any ore, under severe penalties. Eleven vessels were fitted out at a cost of 13,000l., and sailed from Harwich on the 31st May, 1578; the Queen herself watching their departure, and wishing them "God speed."

Ten weeks afterwards, on the 10th of August, all the miners were set ashore at Bear's Sound. During seven days Frobisher himself visited divers sounds in search of ore. Two of the vessels were laden at Bear's Sound, others at the Countess of Warwick Sound, at "the Countess of Sussex" mine, and at Corbett's Point. Edward Sellman, the registrar of the fleet, in his journal of this voyage, gives a detailed account of the places from whence the ore was obtained, the difficulties of finding it, and of lading it. He says they could not light upon any of the rich ore found last year, that the mine in the Countess Island entirely failed, and that he thinks "much bad ore will be found."

"No

A little house was built at the Countess of Warwick mine to stand until next year, and many mining implements were left in it. The vessels laden, they sailed homeward in "a terrible storm." Immediately on his arrival at Cornwall on the 25th of September, 1578, Frobisher repaired to the court at Richmond, and from thence to London. small joy was conceived" for the safety of the men, though many died of sickness, but especially for the treasure brought home. The ships were laden with "rich gold ore," supposed to be worth 60l. and 801. a ton; and more than double the quantity was brought home than was expected. Several assayers and gold refiners commenced their proofs, and workmen from Saxony and Germany were sent for; but, unhappily, the first trial "proved very evil." Further trials were made in the presence of Sir Thomas Gresham and the other commissioners, but they showed "far from the riches looked for." The ore grew into discredit; the adventurers began to fear their

brilliant hopes might prove illusory, and withheld the money due for payment of the ship's freight. During the next six months further proofs were made in presence of Frobisher himself and other persons, with various results, but none were very satisfactory or encouraging. Then complaints began to be heard, and Michael Lok lamented that "the works at Dartford lie still dead as yet, to the no small damage of the company." Their stock amounted to upwards of 20,000l.; of which the Queen alone subscribed 4,000l., members of the Privy Council, 3,740.; the Earl of Oxford, 2,5201., and Lok alone 2,3801., while Frobisher's subscription was but 2701. Time passed on; nothing satisfactory had been done, In despair, Lok petitioned the Privy Council, beseeching their consideration. He had for three years taken charge of all the business of Frobisher's voyages, and ventured all the goods he had in the world; and he, his wife, and fifteen children, were left to beg their bread henceforth, "unless God turn the stones at Dartford into his bread again."

Two years elapsed, and even then the positive value of the ore had not been ascertained, though the Queen, and all interested, must by that time have been convinced that any amount of gold from it could not be expected. No quantity appears to have been melted either at Dartford or the Tower during all this time. The real truth, however, came out at last, and all doubts were finally set at rest by two assays made by William Williams, in July, 1583. The two minute particles of silver found in two hundred-weight of "Frobisher's ore were not nearly so big as a pin's head, and they remain, to this day, fastened by sealing-wax to the paper, an evidence of the worthlessness of the ore. Thus fell to the ground all the golden dreams of the great value of the supposed discovery.

Michael was the son of Sir William Lok, an alderman of London, and had travelled upwards of thirty years "through almost all the countries of Christianity." He was "an old acquaintance" before Martin Frobisher sailed on his first voyage, but the ruin of one and the disappointment of both embittered their subsequent relationship and made them enemies. According to his own account, Lok had used Frobisher "as his fellow and friend,” had opened all his own private studies and twenty years' labour to Frobisher, had shown him all his books, maps, charts, and instruments. "I daily instructed him," says Lok; making my house his home, my purse his purse at his need, and my credit his credit to my power, when he was utterly destitute both of money, credit, and friends." The last we hear of Michael Lok is unfortunate indeed.

A prisoner in the Fleet, he petitions the Privy Council for consideration for "his present poor state." Nearly 3,000l. was still owing by the adventurers to Frobisher's voyages, and for which Lok was unhappily bound. He earnestly prays for his release, for his accounts to be discharged, his bond for 4,000l. for the Queen's adventure to be cancelled, and a warrant of protection for debts owing by the company. Let us hope his petition was granted. There is evidence that Frobisher lodged at the house of one Brown in Fleet Street, and then, "to be nearer Lok," at Widow Hancock's in Mark Lane. Soon after Frobisher sailed on his second voyage, the pitiful voice of his wife was heard, praying to be kept from starvation. Isabel Frobisher, "the most miserable poor woman in the world," as she styles herself, petitioned Secretary Walsingham for relief until her husband's return. She asserted that she was first the wife of Thomas Riggat, of Snaith, in Yorkshire, a very wealthy man, who had left her in very good state and with good portions to all her children; that she afterwards "took to husband Mr. Captain Frobisher (whom God forgive!), who had spent all, and put them to the wide world to shift," and that her children of her first husband were

with her in a poor room at Hampstead, ready to starve. Unfortunately we have no clue to the result of this appeal. Whether Frobisher had spent all his wife's and her children's portions in the further prosecution of his great discoveries we cannot tell. Though unsuccessful in " gold-digging," Frobisher had no reason to complain of the excitement in that direction. The hopes alone of a gold discovery proved of inestimable benefit, no less to himself than to his country. They helped to rouse the enthusiasm of his admirers, and they encouraged the liberality of adventurers in his voyages for the avowed purpose of discovering the north-west passage.

W. NOEL SAINSBURY.

PURE WATER FOR LONDON. TO THE EDITOR OF "ONCE A WEEK." SIR,-May I call your attention to a statement in a recent article, entitled, "More and Better Water for London," where it is said that half an inch of rainfall is equivalent to 1132 gallons per acre? I should have taken notice of it before, but thought it might be a clerical error, and that an acknowledg ment would be furnished by the author of the article. The number of gallons mentioned above would be supplied by a rainfall of little more than one-twentieth of an inch; and half an inch of rainfall would give 11,311 gallons per acre. The correction may not be of great importance, but it would give your many readers a better idea of what is to be done in attempting to "imitate the grand doings of nature." I remain, yours truly, J. M. H. Keelby, Nov. 22.

A BEARNAIS SKETCH.

PART. II.

THE third of these wet days found me a prisoner to the bare little parlour of our hotel, owing to a bad cold. As our stay at Eaux Chaudes had come near its close, and I was anxious to put a few finishing touches to the picture, I sent a message asking Monsieur Péré and the little boy to come up for an hour or two while it was yet light. They came, unaccompanied, to my relief, by the incessantly knitting mother. I lingered lovingly over these last strokes of my brush, seeking to account for the unusual charm I found in the couple before me. I had not long to seek, or rather I soon put into unuttered words what I had all along felt, that the simultaneous likeness

and unlikeness

between the two Pierres constituted this charm. They were indeed very interesting in being what Tennyson calls "like in difference," and one felt as one looked at Pierrot's delicate, childlike complexion and softly moulded features, that "in the long years liker must he grow," that even these differences must vanish before the unsparing hand of time, that that delicate aquiline nose would magnify into the national nose, so characteristic in the elder Péré; the tiny, wax-like features grow stern and rugged. There was something saddening in the thought that this transformation was inevitable, that to fit the little soldier for the battle of life he must be hardened and roughened, the delicate edge of his refinement blunted, his almost girlish modesty and shrinking,-not from danger, for physically he was in no way nervous, changed into self-reliance and independence like his manly grandfather. And yet why regret that God should with his own tools so fashion his handywork that it may best serve its end? No, my little Pierre, let me not grudge thee the sphere appointed for thee by a wiser, further-seeing Parent than even that kindly old grandfather. "What will be his bent? Voilà la question," had old Pierre said. Leave God to answer that question, Monsieur Péré. Trust Him to reply well to it.

The very

The picture finished, and tea preparing for all the party, it was surprising to see Pierrot at high romps with my little ones. children he had for the last fortnight eyed in the "Place" as though they were his bêtes noires, now enacted the very lively parts of rival wheelbarrows, on whose respective merits the little cantonnier was to decide. For this purpose they were trundled by their legs round the room, but at last Monsieur Péré was applied to for a professional opinion. Pierrot was made supremely happy by the promise of

a real wheelbarrow next winter, when I hoped to find my way from Pau to my country village home. A real barrow, such as he could use on the farm, to be painted blue, with "Péré fils," or as we afterwards decided, "Péré, Petit fils," on it in red letters. How imitative are children of all nations. Did we bear this more constantly in mind, and remember what a powerful weapon example is for good or evil, we should, I think, be more careful how we comport our old selves in the presence of our lynx-eyed little Pierrots. Some quieter entertainment succeeded the barrow race, and occupied the interval before tea. Twice during the afternoon had Péré left us to report of little Pierrot's well-being to his absent mother, the matterof-course way in which he took this, (as it seemed to me,) needless precaution, struck me. Judging from the terms on which they were, it could not have been exactly a labour of love. On this, as on other occasions, his bearing towards his daughter-in-law regarding the boy was much that of a tutor or guardian, bound to look after the child intrusted to him, and to report of him to the mother, as of a charge for whom he was responsible.

He returned from his last visit to their lodgings in the town, just as I was groping in our rickety little cupboard for a pot of quince confiture with which to regale the exhausted wheelbarrows and cantonnier. He was greeted by Pierrot eagerly exclaiming in patois.

Assi qui

"Assi qué lou, grand paü ! l'ouncle Louis!" (Look, Grandpapa, here is Uncle Louis.) This was suggested by an unfinished drawing of mine, which had by accident found its way into the children's scrap-book. An embryo Pierrot, an early attempt. Monsieur Péré's testy answer to the gentle child somewhat surprised me, as he flung the book away, and drew Pierrot to the tea-table. It was a merry meal, my little John Bulls chaffing little Crapaud on never having tasted tea before, and which was only made palatable to his pretty little mouth by a treble allowance of sugar. retorted gleefully that tea was only fit for the women, that men like himself drank wine. Old Péré's pride in the boy's quickness and pleasure was great, and he said to me, "Oh! that he had always such companions."

He