And a Tartar insurrection, when that little trouble comes,
As it may do if you press too much at Pekin, well, who knows?
There is always something pleasing in the quarrels of one's foes.

The Mantchus miss a many of once subject Tartar tribes
Who have--gravitated Russwards. Little call for blows or bribes
To make blood-relations mingle. On the Mantchus this may jar,
But we've not forgotten Kuldja, and we recollect Kashgar.

Wheels within wheels, dear JOHNNY! As to missionaries, well,
They are troublesome--and useful; but to put things all pell-mell
On account of priests and parsons, and of quite an alien creed,
That's scarce "diplomatic," JOHNNY; it is not, dear boy, indeed.

A new Tamerlane, my JOHNNY, who could stir the Tartar hordes
To--say "Asiatic Concert,"--well, you know that thought affords
To your talky "Only General" a quite sensational theme.
But prophecy's not "business," JOHN, and CÆSAR should not dream.

Oh! the world is full of Bogies. _I_'m the biggest of them all
In the minds of many croakers who ne'er saw the Chinese Wall,
But are frightened at the spreading of my kindred--on the map;
For I'm semi-Asiatic, and half Tartar, dear old chap.

Now put this and that together, think of Pamir, Turkestan,
Of Persia, of the Dardanelles!--I think you'll see, old man,
That though this ramping Dragon _you_ may wish to tie and tame,
A Benevolent Neutrality is rather more _my_ game.

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