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with the humble fare of a brewer and his wife. At the same time, the reverend applicant for pardon must clearly understand, that Lady Elizabeth Whitbread can never admit blasphemous language as an apology for ungentlemanly conduct."-Oxford

Herald.

FATAL EFFECTS OF LIGHTNING.

GEORGETOWN, OCTOBER 24, 1821. An instance of the extraordinary violence with which lightning acts, on the sudden explosion of electrical clouds, occurred, in these seas, not many days ago, on board the Brig Susan, Captain Thompson, which arrived here on Friday last. On the 16th instant, about 12 o'clock, all hands being on the fore top-sail yard, the dangerous fluid struck the vessel with terrible force, coming down by the wedges of the fore mast, which it carried away in a moment, about eight feet above the board, along with every soul aloft, and shattered the main-top mast and jib-boom into splinters. It also burst the ship on the starboard bow, two planks from the deck.

One of the crew was in a manner, annihilated by the thunderbolt-no mark remained of him but spots of his blood on the sails and rigging. Another, whom the lightning struck, was so severely wounded on the head, and so much scorched, that he remains unfit for duty. The rest of the men were more or less hurt by the fall, when the masts and rigging came down. The dreadful situation of the master of the vessel may well be conceived, but cannot be described. It is gratifying, however, to know that the crew reached the vessel, and, with the usual intrepidity of British seamen, immediately set about cutting and clearing the wreck, although the most of them must have been violently stunned from being dashed overboard. After considerable labour they succeeded in erecting a jury-mast— and were enabled to proceed hither. Many of our readers must have been astonished at the power of electricity, when only collected and employed by human art; but how much more awful is it when directed and exercised in the course of nature.

ANECDOTES, &c.

THE LATE MR. COUTTS.-Some years ago Mr. Coutts was at Bristol Hot-wells, and occasionally walked about in attire which conveyed no sort of notion of his wealth or consequence. On an occasion of this kind, a gentleman, who observed him, took it into his head that he was some venerable person who was afflict

ed at once by a decay both of purse and constitution, and felt desirous of relieving him, but knew not how. At length, perceiving that Mr. Coutts was in the habit of walking with his hands behind him, he took an opportunity to slip a guinea into one of them, and stole away, not without being perceived by the

astonished banker. The consequence was an inquiry, and a formal invitation to dine with Mr. Coutts, by which the charitable donor felt himself highly honoured and gratified. He of course attended, but did not recognise the object of his charity, until Mr. Coutts formally drank his health, and told him he was indebted to him a guinea. The confusion of the gentleman was extreme ; but Mr. Coutts said he was fully aware of his generous motive, and assured him that if ever he could do him a service in return, Thomas Coutts might be commanded. The pledge was afterwards redeemed, by using his influence to procure for a near connection of his new acquaintance an official appointment of considerable value.

On another occasion, while residing at Clifton, with lady Guildford, he used to walk up Park-street, when the carriage usually took him up at the top. As his dress and appearance had more the costume of a decayed gentleman, than that of a rich banker, he was mistaken one day, whilst walking to and fro for the carriage, which was detained in town, by a person of the street, and who, having noticed his anxious looks, and somewhat worn apparel, sent a servant to him with five shillings. The wealthy banker smiled, and returned his thanks, with an assurance that he was not in immediate want!

A REPROVING FACE.-Dr. Resbury, a divine in the reign of Charles II. while walking in the streets of Windsor, observed a person pass him, and turn frequently to consider him with attention. Offended, at length, by an observation so pointed, he

roughly reproved the stranger for his impertinence, who, bowing, and civilly asking pardon, informed the doctor, that he was a painter, and was then engaged in designing a picture of Nathan reproving David; and never had he seen a face so reproving as that of his reverend antagonist. The doctor, enraged, used still harsher language. "It is enough, sir," replied the artist, "I have got as much as I desire, and am greatly indebted to you;" saying which, he coolly walked away.

Agathocles, who, from the son of a potter, came to be king of all Sicily, would never wear the diadem, nor have any guard about him. He also caused his name to be engraved in Greek letters upon vessels of earth; these vessels he disposed amongst the richest of his pots of silver and gold, that he might be thereby reminded whence he descended.

He

Alexander having conquered a great part of the world, came into an island of the Brachmans, a people who used no clothing but the skins of beasts-no houses, except caves-nor any meat but such as nature procured. demanded the reason of their strange manner of life; to which they replied, "we know we must die; whether this day or to morrow, we know not; and, therefore, why should we be anxious to obtain power to rule-honour to be esteemed-or riches to live in pleasure!" With this answer Alexander was so much affected, that he desired them to ask for what they would, and he would give it them. The favour which they requested was, that they might not die. To which, he replied, he could not give that;

"for" said he, "I myself must die." "Why then," replied the Brachman, "art thou so foolish as to live in such pride, seeing thou knowest thou shalt die?" The celebrated physician, Malouin, at Paris, had such a veneration for his profession, that he declared himself convinced that Moliere's death was a just judgment on him for his want of respect to the science of medicine. Being once a witness of the anxious punctuality with which a patient took a most nauseous medicine, he said to him with great solemnity-" Sir, you deserve to be sick!"

SYMBOLIC FESTIVAL.-An old Dutch merchant, retiring from business with an opulent fortune, invited his city friends to dinner. They were shewn into a splendid room, and expected a corresponding banquet, when a couple of old seamen brought in the first course, consisting of herrings, fresh, pickled, and dried, served up on wooden plates, put on a blue canvass cloth. The guests stared, and and did little honour to the repast; when a second course came in, of salt beef and greens. This being taken away, a splendid festival appeared, brought in by powdered lackies, served on damask table-clothes, and a sideboard of generous wines. The old merchant then said-" Such, gentlemen, has been the progress of our republic.-We began with strict frugality, which begot wealth; and we end with luxury and profusion, which will beget poverty. It is better to be contented with the beef, that we may not be forced to return to our herrings." The guests swallowed the maxim with the ban

quet, but it is not said that they profited by it.-American Paper.

ABSENT MEN.-The count de Brancas was walking in the street, and the duke de la Rochefoucault crossed the way to speak to him. "God bless thee, poor man!" exclaimed the count. Rochefoucault smiled, and was beginning to address him :—“ Is it not enough," cried the count, interrupting him, and somewhat in a passion," is it not enough that I have said, at first, I have nothing for you? Such lazy beggars as you hinder a gentleman from walking in the streets." Rochefoucault burst into a loud laugh, and awaking the absent man from his lethargy, he was not a little surprised himself, that he should have taken his friend for an importunate mendicant !

La Fontaine is recorded to have been one of the most absent of men; and Furetiere relates a circumstance which, if true, is one of the most singular distractions possible. La Fontaine attended the burial of one of his friends, and some time afterwards he called to visit him. At first, he was shocked at the information of his death, but recovering from his surprise, he observed" It is true enough! for now I recollect I went to his burial!"

LOUIS XV. Nothing can more endear a monarch to his subjects, or render him more illustrious in the estimation of the thinking and the good in all countries, than when he dispenses his bounties with a single eye to the claims of humanity, uninfluenced by the ignoble views of party, or the interested solicitations of the great and affluent. Of this, his

most christian majesty has given us an instance, which, while it speaks the goodness of his heart, cannot fail to give the noblest right to the appellations of the great and the well-beloved, with which, adulation had dignified his two immediate predecessors. The prince de Monteborg had presented a list to his majesty of

the young gentlemen, who were candidates for the vacant places in the military school. In this list was a great number who were very strongly recommended by persons of the highest rank. "Since these," said the king, "have no protectors, I will be their friend;' their friend;" and he instantly gave the preference to them.

MISCELLANEOUS.

BEAUTY IN DISTRES.-An extraordinary wedding took place at St. Andrew's, Holborn. At a late Old Bailey sessions an interesting young female was convicted of robbing her master; her tears so affected the nerves of a young man in the gallery, that he fell desperately in love with her, introduced himself to her in Newgate, and declared himself an honourable suitor. Her previous good character, added to her decent demeanor in prison, were adduced by her romantic lover as arguments with the recorder and secretary of state for a pardon. Love triumphed, and Hymen lent his smiles to the happy pair. It ought to be added, that the performance of the marriage ceremony was considerately made an absolute condition on getting the pardon.

A GENEROUS LANDLORD.-A tenant of a gallant Baronet, residing in this neighbourhood, lately applied to his landlord, to inform him that he could go on no longer, and wished the latter to enter upon the premises and pay himself for two years' rent which was then due. The land

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CURIOUS ROBBERY.-Some time since, a horse-thief stole a horse near Stubenville Ohio, in the following manner;-During the night he went to a field adjoining the mansion-house, in which there were two horses, one a young horse, which was difficult to catch, the other an old one easily caught. While he was attempting to catch the young horse, the owner awoke, and listening, heard a man say to himself, " since I cannot catch you, I'll take the old one." The owner, knowing that the young horse could overtake the thief, permitted him to proceed. As soon as he was gone, the owner caught the young horse, and went directly, properly armed, in pursuit of the thief. On observing that he was pursued, he left the horse, and ran into a deserted cabin by the road side. The owner tied his nag, and followed the thief into the cabin, who had by this time climbed to the top of the chimney; and,

jumping down, he ran to the young horse, untied and mounted him, and was clear off before the owner issued from the cabin. -American Paper.

A comet, supposed to be the same mentioned of late in the foreign journals, is now visible between nine and ten o'clock in the evening, in the south-west. The last phenomenon of the same kind having appeared here during a warm summer, the present fine weather will, of course, he imagined to be all owing to the Comet.

An American has discovered the principle of a new firelock, by which a soldier will fire fifteen charges at his enemies as fast as he can cock and pull the trigger! A manufactory of this weapon is already established at New York. On the 1st of May, a newly married couple (in the Duchy of Baden) being overtaken by a thunder-storm, took shelter under a walnut-tree, when they were both struck with lightning, and killed on the spot.

CIR

MOST EXTRAORDINARY CUMSTANCE.-We have all heard of the fierce conflict between two cats, (Irish ones, according to the most authentic historians) in which the battle did not end, till they had actually eaten each other up, with the exception of half the tail of one of them. The following marvellous story, which we copy from an American paper, where it is related with all possible gravity, very nearly equals, we think, the above feline exploit:- "Not long since, a son of Mr. Chipman, of Oakland, being in the woods with his dog, he saw a striped squirrel, run into a small hollow log, and perceiving that the hollow ex

tended through the log, he placed the dog at one end to catch the squirrel which he should drive out by thursting a stick into the other end. The dog, anticipating game, stood with his jaws extended over the poor squirrel's only retreat, who now, feeling the necessity of avoiding the contact of the intrusive pole, made a sortie, with such a desperate vigour and velocity, as actually to escape the fangs of his terrible enemy, and effect a lodgment in his throat-the dog immediately threw himself upon the ground in all the agonies of strangulation. The boy, seeing his dog in apparent agony, ran to his aid, and immediately perceiving the cause, without hesitation put his hand into the dog's mouth and seized the squirrel by the tail, which dreading to repass the terrible jaws, tenaciously maintained himself in his position, and actually parted with his brush to maintain his lodgment; the boy, however, made a second attempt, in which he succeeded in seizing the squirrel by the hind leg, drew him forth, and threw him upon the ground; the little animal, before his enemy could recover sufficiently to revenge the harm he had received by the long retention of so rare and indigestible a mouthful, escaped into a tree,"

TAMING WEASELS.-About the beginning of July last year, a female weasel, of the largest species, was taken alive in a field at Craigie, near Perth. The person who caught it amused himself by taming this little animal. In a few weeks the weasel appeared to be perfectly reconciled to the narrow bounds of the house, through which it was

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