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leaves us in a bootless inquisition for the fine qualities that shine in the best-humoured of faces, and play in his cheerful and condescending converse. Where too, we asked, is the royalty of nature that reigns there, but reigns in such a sort as to throw out in clearer relief the kindly feelings, that render him what Burke said of Fox," a creature made to be loved?" It is the image of an Otho; and seems to have been taken in the drowzy, inarticulate quietude of the features which a man feels while he is sitting for his portrait, and all the time wishing painter, brush, and pallet at the devil. How much happier is his picturesque and invaluable drawing of our old bard, the venerable Charles Morris! You would swear that he had just smacked the veritable taste of the society's punch, which, time out of mind, it was his office to mix-or was singing one of his best lyrics, or telling a beefsteak story of its days of yore; mingling as he told it, the enthusiasm of youth with the garrulity of ge, and heightening the bliss of the present by transfusing into it the delights of the past.

Talking of Charles Morris, some of the pleasantest days I have passed, have been in those episodical parties that are occasionally branching out from the parent society. One of the most delightful of these meetings was at Charles's snug retreat in Surrey,-provided for him by the kindness of the late Duke of Norfolk, as a pillow for the calm repose of his declining years. It was pleasing to behold this Nestor of the convivial world, who had never quitted town for the greater part of his century, endeavouring (for it was a hard effort) to slumber away the summer in that secluded spot,

"Tacitum sylvas inter reptare salubres.”

It had been arranged that we were to drop upon him by surprise, especial care having been taken to provide an excellent dinner, and some admirable wine, which we packed up in our respective carriages. It was a fine morning we had chosen for our little expedition, and we set out anticipating the amusement we should derive from the bustle of poor Charles, invaded in his tranquillity by so formidable a party. He was basking at the end of his garden on a kind of "specular mount,' listening to the music of a favourite blackbird, that was shrouded in his shady covert, and paying his quit-rent with a song. Suddenly, the cavalcade became discernible, and the rattling of the carriages every moment more distinct. In an nstant they were whirling round the

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sweep before the ivied front of his cottage and the first, out of which jumped the Duke of Sussex, Bolland, and Harry Stephenson, was already at the door. "We are come to dine with you, old bard,' ," said the Duke, as he alighted. At that moment up came the other vehicles, to the unspeakable surprise of Charles, and the consternation of his housekeeper. Baucis and Philemon were not more taken a-back, when they found what visitants had descended upon them. "Your Royal Highness," said the Bard, "has taken us by surprise-but we will send off for some provisions to Dorking: it is only three miles off." In the mean while, conformably to previous instructions, the messenger forwarded for that purpose, was intercepted ;-and a walk into the garden being proposed, we took him to the end of it, and kept him chatting, whilst the servants were setting out the table, and arranging the banquet. All this time Charles was suffering the agonies of a host, who, though" on hospitable thoughts intent," was conscious of the tenuity of his larder, and on the anxious look-out for the arrival of the basket laden with supplies from Dorking. But in a very short time, the dinner, which was a most sumptuous pic-nic, was announced. In truth, it had been prepared almost by magic, its entire mechanisin having been constructed with the greatest skill and foresight. Our old Bard preceded us to the dining-room with every sort of misgiving as to the quality of the entertainment, and making a thousand apologies. But how shall I describe his stare, when he perceived a turbot at the head of the table, large enough for the imperial repast of a Domitian, and a long vista of ham, fowls, venison pasty, terminating in a delicious round of boiled beef. "A most ingenious and well executed device!" exclaimed Charles: "the joke, however, is not at my expense;" and sat down with all imaginable glee to the goods the gods had provided. It was a truly convivial day. The very genius of goodhumour presided over it: reason not de throned, but enlivened by wine :-fancy, anecdote, whim, frolic, overflowed. was seated near Cobb, who was a man of varied and pleasant conversation. We were talking of the bad taste you so often met with amongst people who did not know how to talk, and generally contrived, by a most infallible instinct, to hit upon the most stupid and distasteful topics. Cobb said he had an unaccountable dislike to the relation of dreams, which the narrator seldom failed to detail as circumstantially as possible: and that his ingenuity was sometimes painfully taxed

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to turn off the conversation to a more agreeable subject. These visions, he observed, of an old woman's indigestion ought to be as carefully concealed as the other results of it. He had a severe penance, he said, to go through a few days before, having had to entertain at his house an East India Director or two, who were far from being the brightest of the Leadenhall-street Magi. Ŏne of them happened to be the identical luminary who had proposed to the Court of Directors, that English ladies should be prohibited from going out to India,-a measure, he contended, which would prevent the increase of the race of half-castes for the future. "We were so hard pushed," ‚”. said Cobb, "for subjects, that the fellow began to tell us his wife's dream of the preceeding night. It was a long prosing story, the very worst stuff of which dreams are made. When he had done, I was afraid we should have another dream; so I told him it was nothing to a dream which Mrs. Cobb had. We had been thinking," I said, "of a trip to a watering-place, for the sake of sea-bathing. The subject made such an impression on her mind, that she actually dreamed that she was a bathing-machine at Brighton : but, retaining all her perceptions as to female decorum, was so extremely shocked when the gentlemen came into her, for the purpose of undressing, that she disturbed the whole house by her cry. Whether my friend the Director took the hint or not," said Cobb, "I did not perceive; but we heard nothing more of his wife's dreams,"

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It was about the time of poor Sheridan's death. Cobb had lived much with that highly-gifted man, and told us several anecdotes of him, strongly illustrative of his character. He mentioned a rebuke Sheridan gave J- a barrister, who had usurped much of the conversation by long stories about himself, and his gallantries with women, evidently with a view of impressing every body with the notion of his being a great favourite with the sex; but concluded each adventure by assuring those who listened to him, that from a principle of virtue, he always desisted from pursuing the matter to extremes. The bottle had circulated pretty freely, and Sheridan, who had long shown symp-, toms of impatience, but had remained silent, at last summoned up as much articulation as he could command, and addressed him nearly thus:-"Sir, I have been listening to you for some time, and the result of all that you have been saying is, that your historical relations are without fact, and your amorous ones without intrigue. You may, therefore

plead as a set-off against the liberties you have been taking with truth, your want of success in taking them with women."

Cobb heard him, at the Covent-garden hustings, handle Clifford with considerable strength of irony. Clifford had made some strong comments upon his (Sheridan's) political conduct. When it came to Sheridan's turn to address the rabble, he began thus. "As to the lawyer, who has honoured me with so much abuse, I do not know how to answer him, as I am no great proficient in the language or manners of St. Giles's. But one thing I can say of him, and it is in his favour: —I hardly expect you will believe methe thing is incredible-but I pledge my word to the fact that once, if not twice, but once most assuredly, I did meet him in the company of gentlemen!"

Cobb remarked, that it was a singular circumstance that Sheridan always made a bad figure as a witness in a court of law, when he happened to be subpoena'd on a trial. When Lord Thanet, Ferguson, and others, were tried for a misdemeanor in attempting to rescue O'Connor at Maidstone, and knocking down Rivett, the Bow-street officer who detained him; Law, (afterwards Lord Ellenborough,) who had long borne Sheridan a grudge for the rough treatment he had received from him during the impeachment of Hastings, cross-examined him with great acrimony. The cause had lasted the whole day, and Sheridan was not called till nine in the evening, when, in all probability, he had arrived near the end of his second bottle at Bellamy's. It was not prevarication, but a sort of absurd playing with the questions, that gave Law, on that occasion, considerable advantage over him. Do answer my questions, Mr. Sheridan," said the counsel," without point or epigram." "Very true, Sir," replied Sheridan : your questions are without point or epigram." Lord Kenyon once or twice reminded Sheridan that he was on his oath, and that a court of justice was not a fit place for repartee or quibble.-New Monthly Magazine.

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THE ESCAPE OF THE QUEEN AND INFANT SON OF JAMES THE II FROM WHITEHALL.

HISTORICAL SKETCH.

THE following poem which we here enrich our pages with, is one of several composing a most delightful little volume of poetry, replete with flowing versifica

tion and delightful imagery, bearing the title of the Seven Ages of Woman," with other poems, by Miss Strickland, the talented authoress of "Worcester Field; or the Cavalier."

It was night, but with darkness there came not repose,

To London, that city of splendour and woes; Her streets echoed still with alarum and din, For foes were around her, and tumults within; Strange murmurs were mixed with the rush of the blast,

And the sweep of the rain falling heavy and fast.

Ah! who are the boatmen that vent'rously urge That tempest-tost skiff o'er the black swollen

surge

Of Thames, in his wrath fiercely foaming along, While his tide flows in currents terrific and strong?

See how they labour and stretch to the oar, Midst the gloom of the night and the elements'

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HISTORICAL NOTES TO THE ABOVE POEM.

SIR JOHN DALRYMPLES in his me

She

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moirs of Great Britain gives the following account of the escape of King James's Queen :-On the 6th of December, in the evening, the Queen, with the nurse carrying the Prince, then five months old in her arms, and accompanied by the Count de Lausune, so famous for his own misfortunes, and by a few attendants, went privately from Whitehall. crossed the Thames in an open boat, in a dark night, in a heavy rain, in a high wind, whilst the river was swollen, and at the coldest season of the year. common coach had been ordered to wait for her on the opposite side, but by some accident it had been delayed for an hour. During this time, she took shelter under the walls of an old church at Lambeth, turning her eyes, streaming with tears, sometimes on the Prince, unconscious of the miseries attendant upon royalty, and who upon that account raised the greater compassion in her breast, and sometimes to the innumerable lights of the city, amidst the glimmerings of which, she in vain explored the palace in which her

husband was left, and started at every sound she heard from thence."

Not less interesting than this beautiful and pathetic quotation from the elegant historian above, is the account which King James himself gives of this event, in his own memoirs, which when we consider it was written by the husband, and father of the royal fugitives, must excite in the bosom of every person of sensibility, feelings of the most lively sympathy, for the anguish of heart in which he must have indited it.

"All things being ready by this time for the Queen and princes departure, it fell out opportunely enough that the Count Lozune a French gentleman, was then at the court of England, whither he came to offer his services to the king, but treachery and desertion of so many false friends, made the zeal and fidelity of his true ones, useless, at least in reference to the war, so his Majesty accepted of his offer another way, as thinking him a proper person to attend upon the Queen in this voyage, and that under the notion of his returning to his own country (there being no business for him in England) a yacht might be prepared, and the Queen and Prince pass unsuspected in his company. The Queen had a great reluctancy to this journey, not so much for the hazards and inconveniences of it, as to leave the King in so doubtful a situation, she having

coach ready prepared on the other side, in which she went down to Gravesend, and got safe aboard the yacht, which, considering that the rabble was up in all parts to intercept and plunder whoever they thought were making their escape, was such a providence, that nothing but a greater danger could excuse from rashness and temerity in attempting; but in such afflicting circumstances, where the government of a distressed prince is not only returned, but himself and royal family in just apprehensions of the most barbarous treatment, all other hazards and hardships pass unregarded. Otherwise, for the queen to cross the river in a tempestuous night, with the prince not six months old, to wait in the open air for a considerable time, till the coach was ready, and not only exposed to the cold but to the continual danger of being discovered, which the least cry of the prince might have done; to travel in the middle of an enraged people, without guards, servants, or convenience sufficient to preserve them from common dangers, or even to defend them from the cold, had been a tempting of providence on a less pressing occasion; however, it pleased God to bring them through all those dangers."

Laconics;

OR,

never done it hitherto in his greatest diffi- Pithy Remarks and Maxims, collected

culties and dangers. And therefore when it was first proposed, her Majesty abso lutely refused it in reference to herself, telling the King she was very willing the Prince her son should be sent to France, or where it was thought most proper for his security, that she could bear such a separation with patience, but could never bear it with reference to himself, that she would infinitely rather share his fortune, whatever it should prove, than abandon him in his distress, that all hardships, hazards, or imprisonment itself would be more acceptable to her in his company, than the greatest ease and security in the world without him, unless he really proposed to come away himself too, then she was willing to be sent before him, if he thought it a more proper method to conceal their departure; which the King assuring her he really did, her Majesty consented to it at last.

"This journey and separation therefore, being at length resolved on, the Queen disguising herself, crossed the river, upon the 9th of December, taking with her only the prince, his nurse, and two or three persons more, along with her, to avoid suspicion, and had sent to have a

from various Sources.

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ILLUSTRATIONS OF HISTORY.

AN ACCOUNT OF THE LONDON BRIDGE PAGEANTS IN THE TIME OF HENRY V.

THE following curious detail of those Pageants which welcomed the conqueror of Azincour into the City of London, is collected from a Latin manuscript in the Cottonian Library, which was most probably written by an eye-witness, both of the King's valour abroad, and of his triumphs at home. The manuscript is on paper, in a very small and fair current black letter, and is entitled in the catalogue, The Acts of King Henry V, the author, a Chaplain, in the Royal Army, who saw them for himself.' The account runs as follows:- And therewith, about the hour of ten in the day, the King came in the midst of them all; and the Citizens gave glory and honour to God, and many congratulations and blessings to the King, for the victories he had brought them, and for the public works which he had wrought; and the King was followed by the Citizens towards the City, with a proper, but a moderate, protection. And for the praise and glory of the City, out of so many magnificent acts of the noble Citizens, some things worthy of note the pen records with applause. On the top of the Tower, at the entrance of the Bridge, which stands, as it were, on going into the strength of the City, there stood on high a figure of gigantic magnitude, fearlessly looking in the King's face, as if he would do battle; but on his right and left hand, were the great keys of the City hanging to a staff, as though he had been Gate-keeper. Upon his right stood the figure of a woman not much less in size, habited in the gown, tunic, and ornaments of a female, as if they had been meant for a man and his wife, who appeared favourers of the King, and desired that they might see his face, and receive him with many plaudits. And the Towers about them were ornamented with halberts and the Royal Arms; and trumpeters stood aloft in the turrets which were resounding with horns and clarions in winding and expanding melody. And in the front of the fortress this appropriate and elegant writing was imprinted, 'The King's City of Justice.' And there appeared, on both sides, all tife way along the Bridge, very little youths; and, also, on both sides, out of the stone-work before them, was a lofty column, the height of the smaller towers, made of wood, not less delicate than elegant, which was covered over with a linen cloth painted the colour of white marble and green jasper, as if it had been

of a square shape, and formed of stones cut out of the quarries. And upon the summit of the column on the right side, was the figure of an Antelope rampant, having a splendid shield of the Royal Arms hanging about his neck, and in his right foot he held a sceptre extended, and offered it to the King. Upon the top of the other column was the image of a lion, also rampant, which carried a spear, having the King's banner displayed upon the upper end, which he held aloft in his dexter claw. And across, at the foot of the Bridge, was erected the fabric of a Tower, the height of the aforesaid columns, and painted; in the midst of which, under a superb tabernacle, stood a most beautiful effigy of St. George, all in armour, excepting his head, which was adorned with laurel interwoven with

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gems, which shone between it like precious stones for their brightness. Behind him was a tapestry of cotton, having his arms resplendently embroidered in a multitude of escutcheons. Upon his right was suspended his triumphal helmet; upon his left his shield of Arms of a correspondent magnitude; and he had his right hand upon the handle of his sword, which was girt about him. Upon the tower was raised an extended scroll, containing these words, To God only be honour and glory; and in front of the building, this congratulatory prophecy, Psalm xlvi. 4.--The streams of the River make glad the City of God:' and all the principal towers were gallantly adorned with the Royal Arms embossed upon them, or displayed in banners upon lances reared above them. In the house adjoining to the fortress behind, were innumerable children representing the English Priesthood, in radiant garments with shining countenances: others were like virgins, having their hair adorned with laurels interwoven with gold; and they continued singing from the coming in of the King, with modulation of voice and melody of organs, according to the words of this song in English.'-Chronicles of London Bridge.

CUSTOMS OF VARIOUS COUNTRIES, (No. XI.)

FESTIVAL OF THE CHURCH WAKE.

NOTHING can exceed the jollity_and gaiety of a church-wake in Austria Proper. They are kept every year, on two successive Sundays, in every village. The preparations for the fête are made the week preceding it, by the united efforts

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