sons who are even indicted for it, are, nevertheless, capable of being bailed. Nay, of all perjuries, that of which this man is indicted is the worst: for it was with an intention of taking away the life of an innocent person by form of law. As to perjuries, in civil matters, they are not so very criminal.' They are not,' said Booth: and yet even these are a most flagitious offence, and worthy the highest punishment.' Surely they ought to be distinguished,' answered Robinson, from the others: for what is taking away a little property from a man compared to taking away his life, and his reputation, and ruining his family into the bargain?—I hope there can be no comparison in the crimes, and I think there ought to be none in the punishment. However, at present, the punishment of all perjury is only pillory, and transportation for seven years; and as it is a traversable and bailable offence, methods are often found to escape any punishment

at all.'

Booth expressed great astonishment at this, when his attention was suddenly diverted by the most miserable object that he had yet seen. This was a wretch almost naked, and who bore in his countenance, joined to an appearance of honesty, the marks of poverty, hunger, and disease. He had, moreover, a wooden leg, and two or three scars on his forehead. • The case of this poor man is, indeed, unhappy enough,' said Robinson. 'He hath served his country, lost his limb, and received several wounds at the siege of Gibraltar. When he was discharged from the hospital abroad, he came over to get into that of Chelsea, but could not immediately, as none of his officers were then in England. In the mean time, he was one day apprehended and committed hither on suspicion of stealing three herrings from a fishmonger. He was tried several months ago for this offence, and acquitted; indeed his innocence manifestly appeared at the trial; but he was brought back again for his fees, and here he hath lain ever since.'

Booth expressed great horror at this account, and declared, if he had only so much money in his pocket, he would pay his fees for him; but added, that he was not possessed of a single farthing in the world. Robinson hesitated a moment, and then said, with a smile, I am going to make you, Sir, a very odd proposal after your last declaration; but what say you to a game at cards? It will serve to pass a tedious hour, and may divert your thoughts from more unpleasant speculations.' I do not imagine Booth would have agreed to

this for though some love of gaming had been formerly amongst his faults; yet he was not so egregiously addicted to that vice, as to be tempted by the shabby plight of Robinson, who had, if I may so express myself, no charms for a gamester. If he had, however, any such inclinations, he had no opportunity to follow them; for before he could make any answer to Robinson's proposal, a strapping wench came up to Booth, and taking hold of his arm, asked him to walk aside with her; saying, 'What a pox, are you such a fresh cull that you do not know this fellow! why, he is a gambler, and committed for cheating at play. There is not such a pickpocket in the whole quad.' A scene of altercation now ensued, between Robinson and the lady, which ended in a bout at fisticuffs, in which the lady was greatly superior to the philosopher.

While the two combatants were engaged, a grave-looking man, rather better dressed than the majority of the company, came up to Mr Booth, and taking him aside, said, 'I am sorry, Sir, to see a gentleman, as you appear to be, in such intimacy with that rascal, who makes no scruple of disowning all revealed religion. As for crimes, they are human errors, and signify but little; nay, perhaps the worse a man is by nature, the more room there is for grace. The spirit is active, and loves best to inhabit those minds where it may meet with the most work. Whatever your crime be, therefore, I would not have you despair; but rather rejoice at it: for perhaps it may be the means of your being called.' He ran on for a considerable time with this cant, without waiting for an answer, and ended in declaring himself a methodist.

Just as the methodist had finished his discourse, a beautiful young woman was ushered into the jail. She was genteel and well dressed, and did not in the least resemble those females whom Mr Booth had hitherto seen. The constable had no sooner delivered her at the gate, than she asked, with a commanding voice, for the keeper; and, when he arrived, she said to him, 'Well, Sir, whither am I to be conducted? I hope I am not to take up my lodgings with these creatures.' The keeper answered with a kind of surly respect, Madam, we have rooms for those that can afford to pay for them.' At these words, she pulled a handsome purse from her pocket, in which many guineas chinked, saying, with an air of indignation, that she was not come thither on account of poverty. The keeper no sooner viewed the purse, than his features became all softened in an instant; and with all the

courtesy of which he was master, he desired the lady to walk with him, assuring her that she should have the best apartment in his house.

Mr Booth was now left alone; for the methodist had forsaken him, having, as the phrase of the sect is, searched him to the bottom. In fact, he had thoroughly examined every one of Mr Booth's pockets; from which he had conveyed away a penknife, and an iron snuff-box, these being all the moveables which were to be found.

JOHN MOORE.*

OF DR MOORE, the author of Zeluco, Edward, and Mordaunt, three novels of considerable merit and popularity, it is necessary to give some specimen. As a novelist, he is not remarkable for variety of character, ingenuity of plot, or interesting description; but he discovers an intimate acquaintance with life and human nature, and, in particular, a fund of sarcastic wit and judicious observation, that tends to support a style otherwise tedious and stiff.-The following short extract is from Zeluco, the best of his novels.

THE SLAVE.

HANNO, the slave, allowed symptoms of compassion, perhaps of indignation, to escape from him, on hearing one of his brother slaves ordered to be punished unjustly. Zeluco, having observed this, swore that Hanno should be the executioner, otherwise he would order him to be punished in his stead. Hanno said, He might do as he pleased; but as for himself he never had been accustomed to that office, and he

* MOORE was the son of a Scotch Episcopal clergyman, and born at Stirling, in 1730. On the death of his father, he removed to Glasgow, where he received his education, and went through the regular study of medicine. After spending several years abroad as military, surgeon, he returned to Glasgow, and practised there, until he was engaged to accompany the late Duke of Hamilton on a tour through the continent. On his return he removed his family to London, where (with little exception) he spent the rest of his days. He died in 1802, leaving the following works:-A View of Society and Manners in France, Switzerland,” and Germany, 1779, 2 vols.-View of Society and Manners in Italy, 1781, 2 vols.-Medical Sketches, 1786-Zeluco, 1789, 2 vols.-Journal during a residence in France in 1792, 1793-4, 2 vols.-A View of the Causes and Progress of the French Revolution, 1795, 2 vols.-Edward, a novel, 1796, 2 vols.-Mordaunt, a novel, 1799, 3 vols.-Dr Moore was the father of the gallant Sir John Moore, who fell at Corunna.

would not begin by exercising it on his friend. Zeluco, in a transport of rage, ordered him to be lashed severely, and renewed the punishment at legal intervals so often, that the poor man was thrown into a languishing disease, which confined him constantly to his bed. Hanno had been a favourite servant of his lady's before her marriage with Zeluco; he was known to people of all ranks on the island, and esteemed by all who knew him. An Irish soldier in that gentleman's service, and who remained constantly in his family, had long been acquainted with Hanno, and had a particular esteem for him. As soon as he heard of his dangerous situation, he hastened to see him, carried him wine and other refreshments, and continued to visit and comfort him during his languishing illness. Perceiving at last that there was no hope of his recovery, he thought the last and best good office he could do him was to carry a priest to give him absolution and extreme unction.

As they went together, I should be very sorry, father,' said the soldier, if this poor fellow missed going to heaven; for, by Jesus! I do not believe there is a worthier soul there, be the other who he pleases.' 'He is a black,' said the priest, who was of the order of St Francis. His soul is

whiter than a skinned potatoe,' said the soldier. • Do you know whether he believes in all the tenets of our holy faith?' said the priest. 'He is a man who was always ready to do as he would be done by,' replied the soldier. That is something,' said the Capuchin, but not the most essential. Are you certain that he is a Christian?' •O, I'll be damned, if

he is not as pretty a Christian as your heart can desire,' said the soldier; and I'll give you a proof that will rejoice your soul to hear.A soldier of our regiment was seized with the cramp in his leg when he was bathing; so he hollaed for assistance, and then went plump to the bottom like a stone. Those who were near him, Christians and all, swam away as fast as their legs could carry them, for they were afraid of his catching hold of them. But honest Hanno pushed directly to the place where the soldier had sunk, dived after him, and, without more ado, or so much as saying, By your leave, seized him by the hair of the head, and hauled him ashore; where, after a little rubbing and rolling, he was quite recovered, and is alive and merry at this blessed moment. Now, my dear father, I think this was behaving like a good Christian, and, what is much more, like a brave Irishman too.'

• Has he been properly instructed in all the doctrines