their departure, were attended by the shouts and missiles of the exulting populace, when, after vainly attempting to rid themselves of their harassing attacks by firing over the heads of the mob, some of the men of the rearguard, absolutely in self-defence, fired in good earnest, when two lives were lost and four or five wounded. One man was dismounted and dragged down a narrow street, his feather trailing in the dirt, by about a hundred vagabonds, shouting "Kill him! kill him!" But the fine fellow contrived to recover his legs and his sword, with which he cut his way through them and reached his comrades, with no damage beyond a few bruises. This happened during divine service; and the mob afterwards retired, to concert their further measures. The magistrates likewise convened a meeting of the housekeepers at the Council House, after church, to consult as to what should be done. Not having been present at this meeting, I am unable to give any account of its proceedings. I understand that it was thinly attended; and every body knows that the result of its debates was nothing whatever. The proceedings of the rioters were of a very different kind; these were characterised by method, vigour, and promptitude! Before the sages at the Council House had separated, the Bridewell had been carried, the prisoners liberated, and the building was in flames. About three o'clock, I was standing in King-street, which is the line of route from the Bridewell to the New Gaol, when the vanguard of the mob made its appearance, dancing, and shouting with joy and drink. The foremost were three stout fellows, armed respectively with a sledge-hammer, a crow-bar, and a boat-hook; these were followed by fifty or sixty boys; the whole force, I should say, was about three hundred strong, comprising, as far as I could observe while they passed, not an individual of even the lowest degree of respectability of appearance. About a quarter of an hour after the mob had gone by, and while I and three or four gentlemen were standing near the toll-gate, a body of magistrates, attended by a few other respectable persons, came up, and inquired of us the strength and temper of the mob. We described them accordingly, when the magistrates informed us that they were proceeding on an errand of remonstrance, and invited us to join them. Strangers as we were, we nevertheless took the liberty of hinting that it was little better than a fool's errand to remonstrate with a rabble already flushed with success. This representation, however, availed nothing; the magistrates persisted in their purpose, and invited us to accompany them. Curious to see the result, I and another spectator complied with the request, and forward we advanced; but no sooner had we arrived within sight of the gaol than we were assailed by the rioters, drawn up in battle array; and, for the first time, the authorities displayed their activity by flying in all directions. One gentleman, indeed, had his teeth knocked down his throat by a stone; and another was felled by a pickaxe thrown at him. After having thus been ignobly put to flight, I returned to Clifton to my family; in fact, I had not then any apprehension that a mob so contemptible would be suffered to proceed to extremities; I could not but believe that the governor of the gaol would be competent to defend the place against their assault; besides, there was within a quarter of a mile the troop of dragoon guards which had been kept in the city, and which could easily have routed such a pack of raggamuffins. I therefore went away, satisfied that the business must be very speedily settled. I had just sat down to dinner when a servant entered the room, announcing that there was a great fire in the direction of Bristol. I ran to a window at the back of the house; the sky was in a blaze! I seized my hat, and hurried towards Bristol; and immediately learned, from the persons who were thronging in the same direction, that the prisoners in the New Gaol had been liberated, and the building fired by the mob. On arriving at Brandon Hill, the spectacle was very grand and terrific; the whole of the central part of the prison, which formed the governor's house, was wrapped in one sheet of flame, casting a lurid reflection on the dark mass of clouds, and a horrible illumination over the venerable city, which the triumphant yells of the rioters seemed to threaten with similar destruction.

It appeared that the troop of dragoon guards had been sent to the gaol, from whence they had almost immediately returned, without effecting, or rather without attempting to effect, any thing. They then retired to their quarters, and were subsequently spectators of the proceedings in the square, comfortably wrapped in their cloaks. From this time, until they were providentially overcome by the "enemy which is put into the mouth,” the city was in the possession of the mob. A single sledge-hammer made a breach in the gate, through which a single man entered, to whom the keys were instantly delivered. The governor and his suite were shown out; and the liberated prisoners received the congratulations of their friends, who furnished them with smock-frocks to cover their nakedness-for most of them had cast aside their prison dresses. Some, in their impatience, did not wait to have their irons struck off, but hastened after their companions to the Ferry-foot, holding up their chains like ladies picking their steps through a gutter. A black rag hoisted on the gateway, and a thick volume of smoke bursting from the governor's house; announced the consummation of the business. It was a remarkable fact, that while the fire was suffered unmolested to do its work with the furniture, two swords were handed out and flung into the river, as though to intimate that personal violence and plunder were disclaimed. The gateway was pulled down, and sent to accompany the swords. The only article taken from the prison, as far as I am informed, was a bell, which the rioters borrowed for the purpose of calling the body together when they were to march upon any new enterprize. I came down in time to witness the destruction of the toll-gate over the Float, where I met a friend who had been present at the taking of the prison, concerning which he gave me the above-mentioned particulars. Although they had early in the morning plundered the cellars of the Mansion House, the mob still affected to abstain from pillage, for on approaching the toll-house they ordered the keeper to quit, and allowed him a few minutes to remove his property; they likewise asked him "if he had packed up his traps," before they proceeded to fire the place; at the same time, however, I observed some fellows taking the live fowls in a small enclosure belonging to the gate, and cramming them into their pockets. The small lodge, when in flames, formed little more than a large bonfire, around which the rioters gathered, cheering. The sight was very picturesque; and the begrimed, ferocious, and exultant countenances of the wretches, illumined by the flames, formed a group worthy of Salvator.

Thenceforward, the little, delicate scruple respecting plunder, was abandoned. On their way to Lawford's-gate, which was the next public building marked for destruction, the rioters compelled the hospitality of a gin-shop. The way to the Gloucester county prison was through some of the worst parts of the city, and the mob, as they proceeded, were cheered from several of the houses, and warned to beware of the "by spies," which caution was, of course, meant to apply to the well-dressed persons by whom they were attended; we were, however, suffered to accompany them unmolested. Lawford's-gate was broken into, and burned, without the slightest opposition. On their return from thence, the mob, finding they had every thing their own way, no longer thought it necessary to act together in one main body; they therefore separated, one detachment proceeding to Queen-square, and a smaller party directing their course to the Bishop's Palace-I followed the latter. At the Palace, this party met with a check: the first fire which they kindled was put out by the servants, who, aided by a few spirited persons, drove back the mob, who gave way more readily than could have been expected, owing, probably, to their being utterly unprepared for resistance. At this period, with a very inconsiderable accession of force, the place could have been maintained; but none was forthcoming, and the mob returning in greater numbers, their opponents were obliged to give way-and the Palace was effectually fired, amid shouts for the King and Reform. The Chapter-house was at the same time destroyed; and the Cathedral would have shared the same fate, had they not been diverted from this, sacrilege by the presence of mind of a gentleman, who pretending to be one of themselves, diverted them from it.

At the Square, I found the mob burning, destroying, plundering, and revelling. This was, in every sense, the most splendid period of their career. The Mansion House, the Custom House, and the Excise Office, together with two or three dwelling-houses, were in flames. Several of the wretches were involved in the horrible destruction which their own hands had made; others were plundering the private houses, preparatory to setting them on fire. Groups of the rioters, of both sexes, were collected in different parts of the area of the square, eating, drinking, and making merry. Some of the fellows were offering articles of furniture for sale; one man offered a bed, a pillow, and a chair for a shilling. Another was selling wine-champagne for two-pence per bottle, best port and sherry at a more advanced price. Two men were playing at bowls with a pair of globes. I saw a rascal in a bonnet and muff, dancing before one of the drawingroom windows, for the entertainment of his friends below. A man brought a cage to another window, and set fire to its inmate, a canary. Other vagabonds, who were not immediately engaged in devastation or pillage, were viewing the spectacle with frantic demonstrations of joy. Such a commixture of the vainest levity with the most hellish atrocity, was perhaps never before witnessed; nothing but canvas could represent any thing like an adequate picture of the whole scene. Had not the rioters been overpowered by fatigue and intemperance, the whole city must have been smoking by break of day, for there was nobody to oppose their progress; the military, as I before said, were wrapped in their cloaks, unconcerned spectators of the fun.

Early on Monday morning the streets were strewed with bodies of the rioters, motionless with intoxication. At nine o'clock, the 14th Light Dragoons reentered the city, which was immediately delivered up to martial-law. A large number of special constables were at the same time sworn in, and sent in large numbers to patrol the streets, and search for criminals and stolen goods. Military continued to pour in; and after much bloodshed, order was

restored.

In concluding this imperfect and desultory account of the Bristol riots, I am tempted to quote a passage from a letter of Dr. Johnson's, describing a similar scene-the No-Popery mob, in 1780.

"On Wednesday, I walked with Dr. Scott to look at Newgate, and found it in ruins, with the fire yet glowing. As I went by, the Protestants were plundering the Sessions House at the Old Baily. There were not, I believe, an hundred; but they did their work at leisure, in full security, without sentinels, without trepidation, as men lawfully employed in full day. Such is the cowardice of a commercial place! On Wednesday they broke open the Fleet, and the King's Bench, and the Marshalsea, and Wood-street Compter, and Clerkenwell Bridewell, and released all the prisoners.

"At night they set fire to the Fleet, and to the King's Bench, and I know not how many other places; and one might see the glare of conflagration fill the sky from many parts. The sight was dreadful.'

THE MARVEL OF THE MONTH.-If the world goes on at its present rate of progression, marvels will soon cease to be marvellous; yet here is one that will deserve its note of admiration in any age. We have marked it out as the marvel of the month." Is it the Cholera? no. Is it the Lord Mayor? no. What is it? Has the National Debt been paid off, or has the Duke of Cumberland said anything sensible? quite the reverse. Is it any reasonable thing said or done by Mr. Hunt or Don Miguel? no, nothing like it,-it is simply a Honduras turkey! Here is the fact recorded in good round numbers:-"In the month of September, thirty-three thousand seven hundred and fifty persons, and in October, sixteen thousand two hundred and forty-four persons visited the Zoological Gardens, in the Regent's Park. Many important additions have been added to the collection-especially a Honduras turkey." This we take to be as pretty a specimen of an anti-climax as we could reasonably expect to meet with a particularly small "halfpennyworth of bread" to an "enormous quantity of sack." Our visitor from Honduras should be placed at the very head of the rara aves. All other wonders vanish before it. The lions have already fled from Drury-lane, in despair, or disgust; and Sir Charles Wetherell medi

tates a similar retreat. Common curiosities have no chance against such an attraction as this. What! when riot and revolution are hanging like a two-edged sword over us-when incendiarism is rekindling its match-when people are all panic-stricken and plague-stricken-when the funds and philosophers are looking frightened-when the peerage is waging deadly war with us in front, and a pestilence is hovering upon our rear-at such a moment, to see all the marvelhunters in the metropolis rushing Regent's-parkward, forgetting that they are at the same time on the edge of a volcano, leaving the "Unions" of which they are all members to get on as well as they can without them, plunging with a rail-road precipitancy along the terrace, straining their eyes, and out-ArgusingArgus a hundred times over-in search of what? anything that will tend to ensure the passing of the Bill, or save us from the fangs of the great Asiatic Agitator? Alas, no; there struts the object of this more than reform-excitement, in the shape of a turkey, that enjoys the very amazing peculiarity of being a somewhat speckled, brownish sort of bird; and that indeed possesses no other fault on earth, but that of not being grilled. We are startled when we hear of meetings of twenty or thirty thousand persons, to petition for parliamentary purification; yet, in the very midst of this awful and ominous commotion, bere are not less than fifty thousand hearts set beating with exultation at the arrival of a turkey from Honduras. Had they been invited to dine upon it, they could hardly have been more eager. It is very lucky that Honduras turkeys have not three legs, or an eye in the centre of their crania; as in that case the Primrose-hill part of the world would have been fairly overbalanced, the Cholera would have walked about seeking whom it might devour and not discovered anybody; Parliament would have found it impossible to meet at Westminster in consequence of its tendency to Turkey, and the earth would have had considerable difficulty in moving steadily upon its axis. But Providence has prevented all this by limiting the legs of these prodigies to the ordinary number.

We have only one word more to say-and we address it to the Anti-reformers as a body. We throw out a hint to them in charity. We are ashamed to think that they cannot get up a meeting of any kind—it is painful to continue a contest with an army that cannot muster more than fifteen at a time. We recommend them therefore to secure possession of that ornithological magnet, the Honduras turkey. Let them call a meeting on the strength of it, whether in the Regent's Park or elsewhere; what has attracted one fifty thousand may attract another. The announcement that the "Duke of Wellington will preside," is useless; they must resort to a less worn-out-wonder, and head their placards with "the Honduras turkey in the chair!" This is the only chance they have of attracting a suitable assemblage, an appropriate president, and a worthy emblem of the wisdom and dignity of their proceedings.

"GOD SAVE THE KING."-There is one part of the present performances, at both theatres, that is well worth hearing. We do not mean the farce in five acts, or the tragedy in two, that so frequently form portions of the entertainment; but the call which is almost nightly made, in the interval between them, for the "National Anthem." It is rather late in the day to think of criticising "God Save the King;" but we must confess that, until the other night, we were not aware that it was so fine a composition. This is because we never till now had a King, that was worth a hundredth part of the enthusiasm which breathes through every note of it. We have heard it played a thousand times on as many instruments, echoed by as many voices; but we never heard it sung by heart before; it never touched a single chord within us; it never quickened the national pulse for an instant, or thrilled through any breast but that of a sycophant or a sinecurist. It now tells a different story; the King has taught us to be sincere, to sing from feeling instead of fashion, and to find a meaning in the music, which it never had till now. All who love to share in a burst of grateful and generous enthusiasm, should go to the theatres, and hear how “God Save the King" is demanded-frequently by a part of the house hitherto least likely to raise such a call, and by persons in whom loyalty is a much greater virtue than in those who have more to gain by its display. At Covent Garden especi

ally, they will hear it to perfection; for there they will see Mr. Braham (who is evidently growing a year younger every twelvemonth of his life) step from the ranks, and take up the verse allotted to him, with an earnestness that tells you at once that he is throwing his whole soul into it, and that passes accordingly like an electric shock to every heart, young and old, in the theatre. No King can have tasted the true rapture of ruling, until he has been a listener, in a private box, upon such an occasion as that which we refer to. Were we William the Fourth, we would lose no time in purchasing a free-admission for the season. By the way, as anecdotes of the King are multiplying with a rapidity that promises to leave his historians very little to say, we may as well relate one of our own, which is both new and true, particularly as it represents the subject of it remembering the time when his title of Prince was insufficient to protect him from the penalties of transgression, and when the future Monarch had no influence upon the fate of the midshipman. What we have to tell happened after dinner, when some of the company near the King were speculating upon the age of one of the oldest admirals on the list who was seated at the other end of the table. One of the party guessing him at a certain age, "Oh !" said his Majesty," he must be more than that ;" and then glancing down the table at the subject of the conversation, "let me see," he continued, "it is now two-andforty years ago, since he mast-headed me one cold winter's night in the Channel; and I recollect," he added, "that I richly deserved it."

A Correspondent has sent us the following Hints for improving the discipline of KING'S COLLEge, London.

Discipulus esuriens loquitur."
Professors in your plan there seems
A something not quite right,
'Tis

queer to cherish learning's beams
By shutting out the light.
Ah! tell me why should bodily,
Succumb to mental meat,

Or why should eta beta pi,
Be all the pie we eat?

No Helluo Librorum, I,

No literary glutton,

Would veal with Virgil like to eat

With metaphysics, mutton.

Leave us no longer in the church,

With Romans, Greeks, and Hindoos,

But give us beef as well as birch,

And board us-not your windows.

ESCULAPIUS AND ST. STEPHEN'S. Original ideas are rare now-a-days, but certainly a recently defunct Magazine may boast of having put forth one very original indeed. In an elaborate Essay on Huskisson it is gravely stated, that an attendance on medical lectures, and " a course of medical studies, is the best possible preparation" for a Prime Minister. What a host of sucking politicians are, according to these principles, learning physic and patriotism at the London University! what embryo senators are walking St. George's Hospital! The Tories, we suppose, will rise from the elegant auspices of Sir Henry Halford; the Whigs from that practical operator, Sir Astley Cooper. Abernethy, who proposes to make the lean fat by starvation, will be studied by the disciples of Mr. Hume. From Boerhaave to Bentham will be but a step, and Peel, Macaulay, &c. sink into nothing before the "rising talent" of Apothecaries' Hall.

MR. IRVING'S POLITICS.-This "shining light" among the modern Gentiles, is an Anti-reformer. No rights of the people for him. The following passage occurs in his Lectures on the Revelations: he is treating of that part where the four-and-twenty elders prostrate themselves before the throne.

"Methinks this exhibition of the crowned ones of Heaven evermore prostrating themselves before Heaven's King, might set the question at rest as to the origin of