him from England. Best, which in the Russian language signifies beast, is a horrid term of abuse, when applied to a man or woman; therefore, Peter familiarly told him to change it. "If your majesty does not approve of my name," said the lieutenant, "I beseech you to alter it to your own mind." Well then returned the tzar, "let it be Bestucheff, and thou art a Russian at once."

Life of the Empress Catherine 11. v. 1, p. 67.

THE 17th of Februar (1598) the king (James VI.) being in the grate kirk (i. e. St. Giles) of Edinburgh at the ceremone, Mr Patrick Galloway red out likit the forme or manner of the divisione of the four kirkis of Edin. ane quarter of the toune to everie kirke. The said 17th Februar, betwixt 9 and 10 in the morning, ane grate darknes be reasone of eclipes, sick ane darknes hes net beine sene, for the hail pepell within Edin. yat knew quhat it wes, yat it had bene duimsday. Merchantis and utheris yat war ignorent, stekit ther buit doris and ran to the kirke to pray, as gif it it had bene the last day. Birrel's Diary, p. 45.

THE following laughable incident that happened at a rehearsal of Coriolanus, while it was preparing for the benefit of Thompson's sisters, is thus related by the celebrated Mrs Bellamy-Mr Quin's pronunciation was of the old school. In this Mr Garrick had made an alteration. The one pronounced the letter a open; the other sounded it like an e; which occasioned the following ludicrous mistake. In the piece, when the Roman ladies

come in procession to solicit Coriolanus to return to Rome, they are attended by the tribunes; and the centurions of the Volscian army bearing fasces, their ensigns of authority, they are ordered by the hero (the part of which was played by Mr Quin) to lower them as a token of respect. But the men who personated the centurions, imagining, through Mr Quin's mode of pronunciation, that he said their faces, instead of their fasces, all bowed their heads together. Mrs Bellamy's Life by herself.

THE 10 of Julii, 1598, ane man, sum callit him a juglar, playit sic sowple tricks upone ane tow, qlk wes festinit betwixt the top of St. Gill's kirk steeple, Edinburgh, and an stair beneath the crosse, callit Josias Close Heid, the lyke was never sene in yis countre; as he raid doune the tow and playit sa many pavies. Birrel's Diary, p. 47.

+

In the year 1785, Kien Long liberated, by a public edict, twelve missionaries out of prison, who, being detected in privately seducing the Chinese from the religion and customs of the country, had been condemned to perpetual imprisonment. This edict, of which I procured a copy in Pekin, does great honour to the humane and benevolent mind of the emperor. After stating their crime, apprehension, and trial, he observes, "Had they made known their arrival to the officers of the government, they might have proceeded to the capital and found protection. But, as transgressors of the law, which forbids the entrance of

strangers, they have stolen into the country, and secretly endeavoured to multiply converts to their own way of thinking, it became my duty to oppose a conduct so deceitful, and to put a stop to the progress of seduction. Justly as they were found to deserve the punishment to which they have been condemned, touched, nevertheless, with compassion for their imprudence, it was not without injury to my feelings that I ratified the sentence. But recollecting afterwards that they were strangers strangers perhaps ignorant of the laws of my empire, my compassion increased for them, and humanity suffers on account of their long confinement. I will, therefore, and command that these twelve strangers be set at liberty."

Barrow's Travels in China, p. 447.

WHEN the fanatics, in the year 1567, came to pull down the cathedral of Glasgow, a gardener, who stood by, said: "My friends, cannot you make it a house for serving your God in your own way? for it would cost your country a great deal to build such another." The fanatics desisted, and it is the only cathedral in Scotland, that remains entire and fit for service. Earl of Buchan's

Life of And. Fletcher.

A copy of the original letter containing the order issued at the reformation, as given in the Stat. Acc. of Dunkeld, p. 422.

"To our traist friendis the lairds of Arntilly and Kinvaid.

Traist friendis, after maist harty commendacion,

D

we pray you fail not to pass incontinent to the kirk of Dunkeld, and tak down the hail images thereof, and bring forth to the kirk-zayrd, and burn thaym openly. And sicklyk cast down the alteris, and purge the kirk of all kynd of monuments of idolatyre. And this ze fail not to do, as ze will do us singular empleseur; and so commitis you to the protection of God.

From Edinburgh the xii. of August 1560.

Signed

AR. ARGYLL.

JAMES STEWART.

RUTHVEN."

"Fail not, bot ze tak guid heyd that neither the dasks, windocks, nor durris, be ony ways hurt or broken,-eyther glassin wark or iron wark."

KING William III. was passionately fond of hunting; and he made it a point of honour never to be outdone in any leap, however perilous. A certain Mr Cherry, who was devoted to the exiled family, took occasion of this, to form perhaps the most pardonable design which was ever laid against a king's life. He regularly joined the royal hounds, put himself foremost, and took the most desperate leaps, in the hope that William might break his neck in following him. One day, however, he accomplished one so imminently dangerous, that the king, when he came to the spot, shook his head and drew back. Universal Magazine, v. 10, p. 120.

NOVELS may be arranged according to the botanical system of Linnæus.

Monandria Monogynia is the usual class, most

novels having one hero and one heroine. Sir Charles Grandison is Monandria Digynia. Those in which the families of the two lovers are at variance may be called Dioecious. The Cryptogamia are very numerous, so are the Polygamia. Where the lady is in doubt which to chuse of her lovers, the tale is to be classed under the Icosandria. Where the party hesitates between love and duty, or avarice or ambition, Didynamia. Many are poisonous, few of any use, and far the greater part are annuals. Athenæum, v. 3, p. 246.

ISMENIAS was sent as an ambassador from his country, to the king of Persia. On coming there, he desired an audience on the business of his embassy. The Chiliarch, named Tithraustes, whose office it was to deliver messages to the king, and to introduce those who wished it, said to him in a pleasant manner, by an interpreter, "Theban stranger, it is the Persian law, that every one, who comes into the presence of the king, must prostrate himself on the ground before he be permitted to exchange a word with him. If, therefore, you would have an interview with him yourself, you must do what the law requires; but if not, the business shall be transacted by us, without your prostrating yourself." Ismenias replied, "Conduct me to him." When he came near him, and was presented to the king, pulling off his ring, and letting it fall unperceived at his feet, he instantly threw himself along, as if in act of prostration, took it up again, and preserved the appearance of practising the Persian homage; when, at the same time, he