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ment is an Episcopalian, while the Chaplain to the House of Representatives is a Presbyterian. Strangers are admitted every day before prayers, which last for about four minutes.

Stuart's America.

LORD TENTERDEN AND THE CHORISTER. When Lord Tenterden and Mr. Justice Richards, on going the Circuit, once visited the Cathedral of Canterbury, the latter took notice of a singing-man in the choir, who had an excellent voice. "Ah!" said Lord Tenterden. "that's the only man I ever envied. When at school in this town, we were candidates together for a chorister's place, and he obtained it."

LORD BROUGHAM.-The early days of Lord Brougham were remarkable for the sallies of his wit-before the dignity of office had put a restraint on inclination, his social habits often led him into parties of conviviality. At one of those when the bottle had been circulating with more than ordinary rapidity, one of the party not distinguished for his shrewdness, was requested to sing, but excused himself by declaring music was not in his composition. "Nonsense," said Jeffery, who was one of the party, 66 every one can see you have a singing face." Ay," respond ed Brougham, "the notes of music are even developed there, for I can see A flat in it."

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a member of the Church of England, I have no exclusive partialities." Doctor re-assured him of a cordial welcome, and the General was found seated with the communicants the next Sabbath. Stuart's Three Years in North America.

DESCRIPTION OF A MAIL-COACH DRIVER." Here," says the author, "the most lawless of all the drivers I had yet met got the charge of the stage. At the distance of two or three miles from the house, at a point where the road was covered with stumps of trees, he drew up, and tying the reins up at the front window, he said to me, the only passenger, "look to the reins till I come back." He was obliged to go a little way to give out some sewing, as he said. There was neither a house nor a human being in our view, and I felt it unpleasant to be left alone in the forest; but there was no alternative, for the driver was out of sight behind the trees in a monent. He did not return for thirtyfive minutes, and then, feeling some apology to be necessary, he said, "I was obliged to hear her story. The fact is, I keep a girl a little way off; I have built her a house, and I have a negro wench to attend her; yet the people are making a mighty fuss about it. How do they manage these matters in the north, sir ?" I of course advised him to marry, as they do in the north; but he said the girl's family were not equal to his, and he could not think of disgracing himself, though he was very fond of her. The great fault, however, which the public have to find with this person, whose name is Symes, is that of leaving the whole southern mails at the mercy of a stranger, of whom he knew nothing, and who could not be expected to make any extraordinary exertion if any attempt had been made to carry them off.

ib.

WASHINGTON AND THE SACRAMENT. -While the American army, under the command of Washington, lay encamped in the environs of Morris Town, New Jersey, it occurred that the service of the communion (then observed semiannually only,) was to be administered in the Presbyterian Church of that village. In a morning of the previous week, the General, after his accustomed inspection of the camp, visited the house of the Rev. Dr. Jones, then pastor of that church, and after the usual prelimi- ATTACK UPOM A HARE BY A MAGPIE. naries, thus accosted him: "Doctor, I-To record the petty conflicts of the understand that the Lord's Supper is to inferior animals may seem trifling to be celebrated with you next Sunday. I the general observer; but to the nawould learn, if it accords with the ca- turalist who writes the history of a nons of your church to admit communi- species, no anecdote, however trivial, cants of another denomination?" The that serves to illustrate peculiar traits Doctor replied, "Most certainly. Ours of character, can appear either uninteis not the Presbyterian table, General, resting or superfluous. I was inform but the Lord's table; and we hence ed the other day by a friend (a medical give the Lord's invitation to all his fol- man, with whom I am on intimate terms, lowers, of whatever name." The Gene- and on whose veracity 1 can rely), that ral replied, "I am glad of it; that is as he had just witnessed a curious contest it ought to be; but, as I was not quite between a magpie and a fine full-grown sure of the fact, I thought I would ascer- hare; the bird making frequent and tain it from yourself, as I propose to furious pounces at the hare, and purjoin with you on that occasion. Though suing it for a considerable distance,

when the animal escaped by making for a thick hedge, at the other side of which it ran off to some distance from the place where it had entered, and without being observed by the bird. I had always considered the magpie to be a remarkably bold bird, but never conceived him capable of such an exploit as this.

Field Naturalist's Mag.

ANECDOTE OF A JAGUAR.-The jaguars which abound every where on the Orinoco, are so numerous near the cataracts that they come into the village and devour the pigs of the poor Indians. The missionary related a striking instance of the familiarity of these animals.-"Two Indian children, boy and girl, eight or nine years of age, were sitting among the grass near the village of Atures in the midst of a savannah. It was two in the afternoon when a jaguar issued from the forest and approached the children, gamboling around them; sometimes concealing itself among the long grass, and again springing forward, with his back curved and his head lowered, as is usual with our cats. The little boy was unaware of the danger in which he was placed, and became sensible of it only when the jaguar struck him on the head with one of his paws. The blows thus inflicted were at first slight, but gradually became ruder. The claws of the jaguar wounded the child, and blood flowed with violence. The little girl then took up a branch of a tree and struck the animal, which fled before her. The Indians hearing the cries of the children, ran up and saw the jaguar, which bounded off without showing any disposition to defend itself. "What," asks Humboldt, "meant this fit of playfulness in an animal which, although not difficult to be tamed in our menageries, is always so ferocious and cruel in the state of freedom? If we choose to admit that, being sure of its prey, it played with the young Indian as the domes tic cat plays with a bird, the wings of which have been clipped, how can we account for the forbearance of a large jaguar when pursued by a little girl? If the jaguar was not pressed by hunger, why should it have gone up to the children? There are mysteries in the affec. tions and hatreds of animals. We have seen lions kill three or four dogs which were put into their cage, and instantly caress another which had the courage to seize the royal beast by the mane. Man is ignorant of the sources of these instincts. It would seem that weakness inspires more interest the more confiding it is."

Edin. Cab. Lib. No X.

THE IRISH BAR.-The style of the Irish bar is widely different from that of the English. It is less solemn and decorous, but more lively and animated

more glowing and figurative-more witty and sarcastic: it reasons less, it instructs less, it convinces less-but it amuses more. It is more animated, more dramatic; it rises to the sublime, it sinks to the humorous, it attempts the pathetic: but in all this there is too much the tricks of a juggler. It is not that an Irish advocate thinks less of his client than an English one, but he seems to think less; he appears to think most of himself-of his own reputation, of the approbation of his brethren, the applause of the spectators, and the admiration of the court. I dare say I should be most gratified by specimens of eloquence taken at the Irish bar, but were either my life or fortune at stake, I should like to be defended-at an English one.

GOOD MANAGEMENT.—(Original.)

"Look on this side; and on this." An actress, celebrated for her management off, as well as on, the stage, was recently annoyed by the interposition of a needy, as well as seedy, performer, by reason of his not having ample resources, sufficiently agreeable to make him "cut" his engagement, or to abide quietly by his demands. One night, after the conclusion of the piece in which he played, he determined to be resolute in his application, in spite of the liability to an accusation for bis want of gallantry; and catching the opportune moment, he entreated the fair vocalist to accommodate him with a few pounds-if not his whole claim. "You're a very surly fellow," said the lady, wrathfully, as she slid past him. In the course of the next day, he received news of the death of his wealthy uncle, who bequeathed him considerable property. He informed the fair lady of his good fortune, and also of his intention of relinquishing the profession, likewise cancelling his demand on her for his services; when she cast one of her bewitching smiles towards him and said, "You're a good natured soul!" and tearing up his engagement, added, we are quits."

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He was brought to this
By a vain prophecy.-HENRY THE EIGHTH.

IT was the morning of the montem. Eton was a scene of the busiest preparation. Clavering was senior colleger,

and was therefore to be the chief actor

in the pageant of the day. Morley, his friend and cousin, was to be one of the runners, for which he had provided a splendid fancy dress, that bid fair to eclipse every other in the procession. At the appointed hour, the merry collegers proceeded in regular array to Salthill, where the captain of the academic band, ascending a certain eminence, flourished a flag as preliminary to the busy proceedings of the morning. After this ceremony had been duly performed, the runners set out upon their usual expedition of authorised robbery,

VOL. X.

Court Mag.

See page 413

stopping every passenger from the prince to the bargeman, and demanding salt, an Etonian synonyme for money, under pain of summary castigation.

As Morley was traversing a retired road on his return from a most profitable predatory excursion, he observed a very extraordinary figure standing in the centre of his path. He appeared to be a man upwards of fifty, upon whose brow, however, suffering rather than years seemed to have indented many deep lines, which imparted to his countenance an expression of sternness rather than amenity. His eyes were dark, prominent, and full of fire, showing that in spite of wrinkles, which traversed his forehead in broad and clearly defined ridges, the spirit was yet unsubdued by the great conqueror Time; and that though he had passed into the yellow leaf," his faculties were still green. His hair was short, thick, and grizzled; his eyebrows exceedingly bushy and prominent, while the flowing beard, which almost covered his expansive chest, was nearly white, except that portion of it which

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grew high upon the cheek and upper lip. This was quite black, and blending with the exuberant growth beneath his chin, gave him an appearance, though by no means repulsive, yet somewhat approaching to the superhuman. He had evidently been handsome. The wreck of beauty was indeed upon his lineaments, but they were nevertheless noble in ruins. Though the hand of time had begun, to crumble the fabric, still the grandeur of the present was enhanced by associations of the past.The stranger's figure was tall, and of fine proportions. He wore a sort of tunic, confined by a thin silk girdle, which showed it to great advantage. It was evident that he affected singularity, and he certainly had attained his object. Upon his head he had an undress hussar cap, and from his shoulders hung a mantle of purple cloth, edged with tar nished silver. His hose were of grey cotton, carefully gartered with white ribbons, and he was shod with a short buskin which reached just above the ankle. He seemed fully to have subscribed to the court fool's maxim, that "motley's the only wear." Though, however, there was something fantastic in his dress, it was by no means unbecoming. There was an odd sort of elegance about it, which arose perhaps more from the fine symmetry of the figure which it covered, than from any harmonious combination of the colours which composed it. Morley remember. ed to have heard that a person had been frequently seen in the neighbourhood who was supposed to be mad, and who it now occurred to him precisely answered to the description of the figure before him. He nevertheless advanced boldly towards the stranger, and demanded salt.

"Salt!-what mean you?"
Money."

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"Go to the rich."

"We exact from rich and poor alike." "Exact! thou art then both publican and sinner."

"Come, wilt thou deposit thy tribute?" and he extended the mouth of a richly embroidered bag. "Let me beg, venerable sir, that I may not be detained."

"Beg? Thou art too fine for a beggar; thy livery belies thy calling. I should have taken thee for some knave's serving man, who had robbed a theatre to apparel thee; but that I am more charitably disposed to think thou art some ape's serving monkey." The blood rushed to Morley's cheek in a torrent.

"I tell thee again thou art too fine for a beggar. Go to-go to-silly dog!" "I beg not, but exact."

"And suppose I should refuse thy demand-thou art not a very formidable assessor."

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"Then force should compel it."The stranger smiled scornfully.— Come, disburse; a sixpence will purchase your security from any further molestation : we take anything but copper."

"If a sixpence could be divided into intangible atoms, I'd rather blow them to the winds than give thee one. Fie upon your custom. You rob!-ay, you may frown, young bully, and strut like a peacock round a well-I say it at all risks, and in good current English,— you rob in order to make a gentleman of your school-fellow, and purchase an honourable title with the fruits of knavery. Beware of him, young man! He will be a serpent in your path, and sting the hand that fosters him. Take heed, I say; he will repay thy legalised larceny in his behalf with the devil's requital. A word to the wise-if thou'rt a fool, why thou wert born no better than thy kind, and wert therefore born to be fooled."

"What mean you?"

"I mean, in the first place, that I will not give the value of a rush to help to mature an embryo villain. I mean, in the next place, that this Clavering, for whom thou art graceless enough to pillage the poor passenger, is that villain."

Morley was staggered. He felt his heart throb with indignation, but was absolutely overawed by the manner of the mysterious person who addressed him. There was a something in it at once so commanding and uncommon, associating, too, with it, as Morley did, an idea of insanity, that he could neither summon resolution to exact a contribution from him, nor divest himself of an apprehension that there was a prophetic spirit in his words; for impressions often get the better of our judgments, and force us to believe, in spite of the contradictions of our reason. Belief is independent of our wills, and we are frequently conscious of a credulity which we should be extremely reluctant to avow, and of which our very consciences make us feel ashamed. Morley tried to shake off the impression which had so suddenly overcast his spirits, but no appeal to his better sense could overcome its influence. He felt unaccountably depressed; never

theless, affecting to laugh at the ominous prediction, with a smiling countenance, but a throbbing heart, he said to his mysterious interlocutor, in a tone of assumed pomposity," How long hast thou been a prophet, sage sir? I cry thee mercy; I thought the season of prophecy had gone by. Art thou another Cornelius Agrippa, or a male Mother Shipton, whose vaticinal, like the sibyl leaves, contained prophecies that never came to pass, except when some kind soul was sottish enough to do a silly thing, merely for the sake of realising the prophecy. Nay, tell me, thou modern Archimago, can'st thou really look behind the curtain of the present, down the dark vista of the future, and tell of things to be? Thou art beside thyself, as the Roman said to the Apostle of Tarsus, 6 too much learning has made thee mad.'"

"It is well, boy; thou art a cunning simpleton, but a mole would have perception enough to discover how poorly that smirk and flippant wagging of the tongue hides the tremour within. There's lie written upon thy face; 'tis marked as legibly as coward upon thy heart; for while the one assumes the smile of incredulity, which is unblushingly contradicted by the pallid cheek and quivering lip, the throb of apprehension disturbs the other." Morley was struck dumb. He felt this to be too true, and his awe of the stranger increased. The latter continued-"Remember, I have warned thee. Thou art young, and hast not yet tasted the bitters of disappointment. I have wrung them out.' They are prepared for thy speedy quaffing, and they shall be as the gall of asps' within thee. Again, I bid thee beware of Clavering. Farewell!"

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He was about to depart, when Morley, impelled by a superstitious excitement, which he had never before felt, but could not now controul, exclaimed

“Stay; one question more before we part. As I am to he unhappy, is my life to be long or short!"

"Let me see thy palm." He took Morley's hand, and after having attentively surveyed it for several moments, said, in a tone of most painful and almost appalling solemnity, "Thou wilt not count the midnight hour of thy thirty-fourth birth-day; death will take thee with the bloom upon thy cheekthe worm will feed daintily upon it but we must all die; what matters it when ?"

Saying this he slowly turned, slightly

bent his head, and left the astonished Morley almost transfixed to the spot. A sudden thrill passed through his whole frame. His brain began to whirl, and his heart to sicken. It passed, however, in a few moments, but was succeeded by a depression which fell like a paralysis upon his hitherto buoyant spirit. He was ashamed of his want of energy, still he found it impossible to baffle the despondency which was stealing upon him. He felt as if he was about to be the victim of some indefinable visitation. He was conscious, it is true, of the utter absurdity of such an apprehension, yet he could not stifle it; he could not get rid of the awful impression which the words, and especially the last words, of the stranger had left upon him. It seemed as if his inmost soul had been laid bare to the scrutiny of that mysterious man, for he was evidently acquainted with the emotion which his warning had excited within him, and which Morley used his best endeavours to disguise.

"Is it possible," he thought, "that 1 can have anything to dread from Clavering? We have been reared together. We have been attached from infancy, and he has never wronged me. Why then should I suspect him? It were unjust-nay, it were base to question his intregity or to doubt his love."

Morley was extremely distressed, and joined his companions in no very enviable frame of mind. It was some days before he entirely recovered his spirits; and even when he had recovered them, the recollection of that mysterious being who had cast such a dark shadow before his future path, would frequently intrude to perplex and disquiet him. He had no absolute faith in the gift of vaticination. In all appeals to his reason upon this question, the answer was brief and unequivocal. Nevertheless, whatever might be the suggestions of his reason to the contrary, he could not, against the direct bias of his feelings, shake off the impression so emphatically forced upon his mind, by the prophetic caution which he had received to beware of Clavering. Time, and a change of scene, however, at length weakened in his mind the freshness of this strange event; and the remembrance of it eventually became no longer painful.

To account for the bitterness of the stranger's expressions against Clavering, it will suffice to state that the latter had seduced, and heartlessly abandoned, a poor, but amiable girl in the

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