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(the daughter of Time,) which lady had a book in her hand, on which was written verbum veritalis-the word of truth. It was the Bible in English, which, after a speech made to the queen, Truth reached down towards her; which was taken by a gentleman, and brought to her Majesty. As soon as the queen had received it, she kissed it; and with both hands held it up, and then laid it upon her breast, greatly thanking the citizens for that present, and said she would often read over that book.

Chinese SuperSTITION.-Mr. Abeel, an American missionary, witnessed a ceremony, which reminded him of the bloody rites of Moloch. It occurred on the birth day of the Taou gods, and was performed by running barefoot through a heap of ignited charcoal. The fire covered a space of 10 or 12 feet square, and about 18 inches in height. Two priests were standing near the fire performing a variety of mysterious acts. "The prescribed rites being performed," says Mr. A., "the priest approached the pile, went through a number of antics, and dashed furiously through the coals. He was followed, a signal being given, by a number of persons, old and young, who came running from an adjacent temple with their children in their hands, whom they bore through the fire. Others followed; and among them an old man, who halted and staggered in the very jaws of death. The scene was one of mad confusion "This rite is thought by the idolaters to be a test of character; if they have all due confidence in their gods, they receive no injury from the fire.

GEORGE THE SECOND was strongly attached to etiquette; but on many occasions, he appears to have liberated himself almost unconsciously, from its trammels. One afternoon, a person who had been passing an hour or two with some of the royal servants in an upper apartment in the palace, on his return, slipping down a flight of steps, burst open the door of a room at the foot of them, with such involuntary violence, that he fell, completely stunned, on the floor. When he recovered his senses, he found himself extended on the carpet, in a snug apartment, under the hands of a neat little old gentleman, who washed his head very carefully with a towel, and applied sticking-plaster to the cuts which he had received in his fall. When this was done, the little old gentleman picked up the intruder's wig and placed it properly

on the head of its owner; who now rose, and was about to express his gratitude to his benefactor for the kindness which had been shewn to him, but his benefactor, with a dignified frown, pointed to the door, and the man retired in amazement. The room into which he had fallen was the royal closet; and the good Samaritan, it is scarcely necessary to add, was the king himself."-Georgian Era, Vol. I.

GEORGE THE FIRST AND HIS MISTRESSES. In the early part of his reign, or, at least, on his arrival in this country, George the First was far from unpopular; but his decidedly foreign appearance and manners, when they became known, lowered him materially in public estimation. His two German mistresses, who were created Duchess of Kendal, and Countess of Darlington, shortly after his accession, became seriously offensive to the people, by whom they were satirically called the inaypole and the elephant and castle. It is related of one of these ladies, that being abused by the mob, she put her head out of the coach, and cried, in bad English, "Good people, why you abuse us? We come for all your goods.”—“ Yea, d-n you," answered a fellow in the crowd, "and for our chattels too!"

Georgian Era, Vol. 1. VEGETABLE BAROMETERS. Chickweed has been said to be an excellent weather-guide. When the flower expands freely, no rain will fall for many hours; if it so continue, no rain need be feared for a long time. In showery days the flower appears half concealed, and this state may be regarded as indicative of showery weather; when it is entirely shut, we may expect a rainy day. If the flowers of the Siberian sowthistle remain open all night we may expect rain next day. Before showers, the trefoil contracts its leaves; so do the convolvolus, and many other plants. Lord Bacon observes, that the trefoil has its stalk more erect against rain. He also mentions a small red flower, growing in stubble fields, called by the country people wincopipe, which, if it open in the morning, ensures us a fine day. This is the plant now called the scarlet pimpernel, or-from the circumstance here referred to-the Shepherd's weather-glass. This and the poppy are the only scarlet flowers that grow wild in this country.

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Illustrated Article.

THE RENEGADE BARBER;
OR, THE

INQUISITION AND ST. ANTONIO'S
HEAD.

WE sailed with a fair wind, cleared the Straits, and flattered ourselves with the prospect of a successful voyage; but we were miserably disappointed, for three days afterwards we fell in with a small brig under English colours. As she was evidently a merchant vessel, we paid no attention to her running down to us, supposing that she was out of her reckoning, and wished to know her exact position on the chart. But as soon as she was close to us, instead of passing under our stern, as we expected, she rounded-to, and laid us by the board. Taken by surprise, and having no arms, we were beaten down below, and in a few minutes the vessel remained in the possession of our assailants. They held a short consultation, and then, opening the hatches, a boatswain pulled out his whistle, and

VOL. X.

See page 82. ? "All

in a tremendous voice roared out, hands ahoy!" which was followed by his crying out, "Tumble up there, tumble up!" As we understood this to be a signal for our appearance on deck, we obeyed the summons. When we all came up, we for.nd out that if we had had any idea that they were enemies, we might have beaten them off, as they were only fifteen in number, while we mustered sixteen. But it was too late: we were unarmed, and they had each of them a cutlass with two pistols stuck in their girdles. As soon as we were all on deck, they bound our arms behind us with ropes, and ranged us in a line. Having inquired of each of us our respective ranks and professions, they held a short consultation, and the boatswain addressing me said,-" Thank Heaven, you scoundrel, that you were brought up as a barber, for it has saved your life!"

He then cut loose the cords which which bound me, and I remained at liberty." Now then, my lads!" continued the boatswain, 66 come, every man his bird!" and, so saying, he seized upon the captain of the vessel,

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and leading him to the gangway passed his sword through his body, and tossed him into the sea.

In the same manner each of the murderous villains led forward the man he had selected, and putting an end to his life, either by the sword or pistol, launched the corpse into the waves.

My blood curdled as I beheld the scene, but I said nothing. I considered myself too fortunate to escape with life. When it was all over, the boatswain roared out, "That job's done! Now, Mr. Barber, swab up all this here blood, and be d-d to you! and recollect that you are one of us. 1 obeyed in fear and silence, and then returned to my former station near the taffrail.

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The people who had captured us, as I afterwards found out, were part of the crew of an English Guinea-man, who had murdered the master and mate, and had taken possession of the vessel. As our brig was a much finer craft in every respect, they determined upon retaining her, and scuttling their own. Before night, they had made all their arrangements, and were standing to the westward with a fine breeze.

But exactly as the bell struck eight for midnight, a tremendous voice was heard at the hatch way, if possible, more than a hundred times louder than the boatswain's roaring out "All hands ahoy!"

The concussion of the air was so great, that the ship trembled, as if she had been struck with a thunderbolt; and as soon as the motion had subsided, the water was heard to rush into every part of the hold. Every body ran on deck astonished with the sound, expecting the vessel immediately to go down, and looking at each other with horror as they stood trembling in their shirts. The water continued to rush into the vessel, until it reached the orlop beams; then, as suddenly, it stopped.

When the panic had to a certain degree subsided, and they perceived that the water did not increase, all hands applied to the pumps, and by eight o'clock in the morning the vessel was free. Still the unaccountable circumstance weighed heavy on the minds of the seamen, who walked the deck without speaking to each other, or paying any attention to the ship's course; and as no one took the command, no one was ordered to the helm.

For my own part, I thought it a judgment upon them for their cruelty; and, expecting that worse would happen, I

had made up my mind to my fate. I thought of Marie, and, hoping for pardon yet fearing the worst, I vowed, if I escaped, that I would amend my life. # At night we again retired to our hammocks, but no one slept, so afraid were we of a second visitation. The bell was not struck by the men but it struck itself, louder than I ever heard it before; and again the dreadful voice was heard, "All hands ahoy!" again the water rushed in, and again we ran on deck. As before, it mounted as high as the orlop beams; it then stopped, and was pumped out again by eight o'clock on the ensuing morning.

For a month, during which time we never saw land for we had lost all reckoning, and no one cared to steerthe same dreadful visitation took place. Habit had to a degree hardened the men; they now swore and got drunk as before, and even made a jest of the boatswain of the middle watch, as they called him, but at the same time they were worn out with constant fatigue; and one night they declared that they would pump no longer. The water remained in the vessel all that day, and we retired to our hammocks as usual; when at midnight, the same voice was again heard at the hatchway, not followed by the rush of water, but by a shriek of "Tumble up there, tumble up!

We all started at the summons, and hastened on deck; there was something that impelled us in spite of ourselves. Never shall I forget the horrid sight which presented itself: stretched in a row on the deck of the vessel lay the fifteen bloody corpses of my shipmates who had been murdered. We stood aghast; the hair rose straight up from our heads as we viewed the supernatural reappearances. After a pause of about five minutes, during which we never spoke or even moved, one of the corpses cried out in a sepulchral voice, "Come, every man his bird!" and held up its arms as it lay.

The man, whose office it had been to take the living body to the gangway, and after killing it to throw it overboard, advanced towards it; he was evidently impelled by a supernatural power, for never shall I forget the look of horror, the faint scream of agony, which escaped him as he obeyed the summons. Like the trembling bird fascinated by the snake, he fell into the arms of the dead body; which, grasping him tight, rolled over and over in convolutions like a serpent, until it gained

the break of the gangway, and then tumbled into the sea with its murderer entwined in its embraces. A flash of lightning succeeded, which blinded us for several minutes; and when we recovered our vision, the remainder of the bodies had disappeared.

The effect upon the guilty wretches was dreadful; there they lay, each man on the deck where he had crouched down, when the lightning had flashed upon him: the sun rose upon them, yet they moved not: he poured his beams on their naked bodies when at his meridian height, yet they still remained: the evening closed in, and found them in the same positions. As soon as it was dark, as if released from a spell, they crawled below, and went into their hammocks: at midnight again the bell struck; again the voice was heard followed by the shriek; again they repaired on deck: the fourteen remaining bodies lay in a row: another of the murderers was summoned, obeyed, and disappeared again the flash of lightning burst upon us, and all had vanished; and thus it continued every night, until the boatswain, who was reserved for the last, was dragged overboard after the rest by the remaining corpse; and then a tremendous voice from the maintop, followed by exulting laughter, cried out, "That job's done." Immediately after which, the water rushed out of the bottom of the vessel, and she was clear as before.

Returning thanks to Heaven that I was not a party or a sufferer with the rest, I laid down, and for the first time for many weeks fell into a sound sleep. How long I slept, I know not: it may have been days; but I awoke at last by the sound of voices, and found that the people on board of a vessel bound from Mexico to the South of Spain, perceiving the brig lying with her sails torn, and her yards not trimmed, had sent a boat to ascertain whether there was any body remaining in her. I was afraid that if I told them what had happened, they either would not believe me, or else refuse to take on board a person who had been in company with such examples of divine vengeance. I therefore stated that we had been attacked with dysentery about six weeks before, and all had died except myself, who was supercargo of the brig.

As their vessel was but half full, the cargo consisting chiefly of cochineal and copper, which is stowed in small space, the captain offered to take as many of my goods as he could stow,

provided I would allow him the freight This I willingly consented to, and, examining the manifest, selected the most valuable, which were removed to the Spanish vessel.

We had a favourable wind; and having run through the Straits, expected in a day or two we should anchor at Valencia, to which port she was bound; but a violent gale came on from the N. E. which lasted many days, and drove us over to the African shore. To increase our misfortunes, the ship sprung a leak, and made so much water that we could scarcely keep her free.

The Spaniards are but indifferent sailors, and in a storm are more inclined to pray than to work: they became frightened, gave over pumping, and having lighted a candle before the image of St. Antonio, which was fixed on the stern of the vessel, began to call upon him for assistance. Not immediately obtaining their request, they took the image out of the shrine, abused it, called it every vile name that they could think of, and ended with tying it against the mainmast, and beating it with ropes.

In the mean time the vessel filled more and more; whereas, if instead of praying, they had continued at the pumps, we should have done well enough, as the gale was abating, and she did not make so much water as before.

Enraged at their cowardice, and at the idea of losing so much property as I had on board, (for I considered it as my own), I seized the image from the mast, and threw it overboard, telling them to go their pumps if they wished to be saved. The whole crew uttered a cry of horror, and would have thrown me after the image, but I made my escape up the rigging, from whence I dared not descend for many hours.

Having now no saint to appeal to, they once more applied to the pumps. To their astonishment, the vessel made no more water, and in the course of a few hours she was free.

The next morning the gale was over, and we were steering for Valencia. I observed that the captain and sailors avoided me, but I cared little about it, as I felt that my conduct had saved the ship as well as my own property. On the second day we anchored in the bay, and were boarded by the authorities, who went down into the cabin, and had a long conversation with the captain. They quitted the ship, and about an hour afterwards I proposed going

ashore, but the captain said that he could not permit it until the next morning. While I was expostulating with him as to the reasons for my detention, a boat rowed alongside, from out of which came two personages dressed in black. I knew them to be familiars of the Inquisition; and it immediately occurred to me that some former act of my life had been discovered, and that my doom was sealed. The captain pointed me out; they collared and handed me into the boat, and pulled for the shore in silence.

When we landed, I was put into a black coach, and conveyed to the palace of the Inquisition, where I was thrown into one of the lowest dungeons. The next day the familiars appeared, and led me to the hall of judgment, where I was asked whether I confessed my crime. I replied that I did not know what I was accused of. They again asked me if I would confess, and on my making the same answer I was ordered to the torture.

As I knew that I had no chance, I thought that I might as well avoid unnecessary pain, and declared that I did confess it.

"What instigated you to the deed?" Not well knowing what to reply, as I was not exactly aware of the nature of my offence, I answered that it was the blessed Virgin.

"Blasphemer!" cried the grand inquisitor, "what! the blessed Virgin desired you to throw St. Antonio overboard?"

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"Yes," replied I, (glad at all events the crime was not what I had anticipated), she did, and told me that it would be the saving of the vessel." "Where were you?" "On the deck."

"Where did you see her?"

"She was sitting on a small blue cloud, a little above the topsail yard. Fear not, Francois,' said she, motioning with her hand, 'to throw the image overboard.'' The inquisitors were astonished at my boldness: a consulta tion was held, as to whether I should be treated as a blasphemer, or the circumstance blazoned into a miracle. But it unfortunately happened for me that a miracle had occurred very lately; and there were very few people to be burnt at the auto da fe of the ensuing month. It was therefore decided against me. I was reviled, abused, and sentenced to the flames; but I determined as my only chance, to put a good face upon the matter to the very last. Looking up, as

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if to a point in the ceiling of the dark hall of judgment, and holding my hands before, as if in amazement" Holy Virgin," cried I, bending on my knee, "I thank thee for the sign." My Lord," continued I fiercely, “I fear you not; you have sentenced me to perish by the flames; I tell you that I shall leave my dungeon with honour, and be as much courted as I have been now reviled."

The inquisitors were for a moment staggered, but their surprise gave place to their cruelty, when they considered how long they had tortured thousands for doubting points to which they themselves had never for a moment given credence. I was remanded to my dungeon; and the gaoler, who had never before witnessed such boldness in the hall of justice, and was impressed with the conviction that I was supported as I had affirmed, treated me with kindness,-affording me comforts, which, had it been known, would have cost him his situation.

In the mean time the cargo of the vessel was landed at the Custom House, and she was hauled on shore to have her bottom caulked and pitched, when, to the astonishment of the captain and crew, the hole which had occasioned the leak was discovered with the head of the figure of the saint, which I had thrown overboard, so firmly wedged in, that it required some force to pull it out. "A miracle! a miracle!" was cried from the quays, and proclaimed through every part of the town. It was evident that the Virgin had instigated me to throw over the image, as the only means of stopping the leak. The friars of the nearest convent claimed the image from their propinquinty, and came down to the ship in grand procession to carry it to their church. The grand inquisitor, hearing the circumstance, acknowledged to the bishop and heads of the clergy my intrepid behaviour in the hall of judgment; and not three hours after the ship had been hauled on shore, I was visited in my dungeon by the grand inquisitor, the bishop, and a long procession, my pardon requested, and the kiss of peace demanded and given. I was taken away with every mark of respect, and looked upon as one under special favour of the Virgin. "Did I not say, my lord, that I should leave my dungeon in honour?"

"You did, my friend ;" answered the inquisitor; and I heard him mutter, "either there is such a person as the Virgin Mary, or you are a most readywitted scoundrel."

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