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manner, to what regiment I belonged? On which, to make all certain, I chose one that I knew was stationed as far off as possible, and added, that I came on furlough from Calcutta. Well! this is strange, indeed,' said he, for I have very lately arrived from the same place; and, what is still more singular, I hold my commission in the identical regiment you have just mentioned.' This intelligence would have overwhelmed a man of weak mind; but that was not my case. would have sunk down with confusion, or blushed and stammered most awkwardly; but what did I do? why I took my hat, drew out my handkerchief carelessly, bade the lady and the captain a good evening, and was on the point of retiring, when the latter started up, gained the door before me, locked it, and put the key into his pocket. This, I thought, was carrying matters a little too far, and tried vehemently to get into a passion; but the gentleness of my nature opposed me, and I could not succeed. Rascal!' said he, at the same time seizing me by the collar, 'you may assume the dress of an officer, and steal verses from a magazine, but I am determined you shall not steal my handkerchief with impunity.' At these words my courage nearly gave way, for that very morning, seeing the handkerchief hang from a pocket, near Holborn-bars, I could not resist giving the owner one of my peculiar lessons, to make him more careful for the future; and the worst of it was, my love-affair so completely held possession of my mind, that I had forgotten to pick out the initials at the corner. I besought the captain-I implored the lady-but in vain! although, I am confident, she would have got me off if she could; and I was hurried away to a place in which I had never been before, and to which, I sincerely hope, I may never go again.

"The sequel of this love-adventure was, that though I explained, in the clearest manner, the laudable motive which induced me to make myself master of the article in question, the magistrate, who was a very ignorant man, took quite another, and, I will say, a ridiculous view of the case; but requested I might be taken care of, and obliged with a private lodging for two years, which was immediately granted, and I was accompanied by two gentlemen (friends, I suppose, of the magistrate) to a magnificent house, where, however, the rooms were small, and the furniture was nothing to boast of.

"Here was I left at my ease, and although frequently pressed by persons to take a walk out with them, I constantly refused, for I had become quite domesticated-a sort of single family-man. At the end of two years, being particularly invited to take a stroll, I could resist no longer; and the gentleman who asked me seemed highly gratified, although he did not bear me company. He was fearful, no doubt, so much application (for I read a great deal at that time) would injure my health. Ah! well! let people say what they will of the world, there are always some kind and considerate persons to be found in it. Here was a man now, who knew little or nothing of me, and yet felt as great an interest in my welfare as if I had been his own son. My clothes began to look rather the worse for wear-my military coat having lost an arm, and the greater part of a skirt! but my breeches held together pretty well, with the exception of a small rent in the left leg, and a larger one in the seat; these, however, were trifles. Having no money, and not having seen my aunt Sarah for a long time, I thought it would be only showing her proper respect if I paid her the first visit. To her, therefore, I went, and she gave me a few shillings, with which I bought a fustian jacket. This was not exactly a proper habiliment for one of my merit and genius, but I considered that a gentleman looks well in any thing, and put it on. I lived once more at my aunt's house, and, no doubt, should have made my fortune, had not another cursed love-affair stepped in and prevented it. I happened, by mere chance, to scrape acquaintance with a pretty servant wench, who lived with a respectable family in Montague-square; and many an agreeable hour I passed with her, in the apartment that joins the area; when, one night, (oh! never shall I forget it!) my dear Sally's master overheard us, and came down gently. Who is this,' he cried, as he entered the room, making such a noise here?' Sally did not know what to say for a moment, but, on the question being repeated, she drew up the corner of her apron to a level with her shoulder, and stammered out, Please sir, 'tis my cousin sir-from the country.' Her master made no more ado than to take a candle from the table and hold it before my face, which he no sooner beheld, than he retorted, Then your cousin from the country is the rascal who stole my mare!' To deny it, I felt persuaded would be of no avail, as innocence always stands but a bad chance against prejudice and obstinacy; so I went with a gentleman whom he sent for, that every thing might be settled to the satisfaction of both parties.

"

"It was about this time that a sense of filial love, which, I shame to say, had not been encouraged for many years, rose strong within me, and I petitioned the government to let me once more behold the respected authors of my existence. My wish was instantly complied with, and what enhanced the value of this acquiescence was, that, perceiving my dress was not in the best condition, they kindly furnished me with a new suit, and shaved my head, to prevent my becoming sea-sick on the passage. The kindness I then experienced made me a government-man to this day. Not to trespass too long on my hearers' patience, I shall pass over the meeting with my beloved parents, which was extremely affecting, and merely state that, when I had been abroad about seven years, a patriotic feeling suddenly possessed me, and I longed to revisit the shores of my native country. I urged my father and mother, with as much eloquence as I was master of, to accompany me; but my father said they had a public duty to fulfil, and, under all circumstances, he would abide by it. It was, he added, the desire of the ministers at home that he should remain for life where he was, and he conceived that he should be unworthy the name of Briton were he to act contrary to their wishes.

"With the greatest veneration for my father's patriotism, and satisfied that it was for the good of his country, I left the other side of the Atlantic, and began the world afresh, resolving, at the same time, to steer clear of love, which had been the only thing that prevented me from making my fortune."

The ladies scarcely knew what to make of this strange story-The old German tucked in his watch-chain-and Mr. Jones turned up his eyes, observing, "Can such things be, and overcome us like a summer cloud, without our special wonder?"

A loud laugh, and an explanation from the captain, put an end to the delusion respecting this self-convicted felon. "Well! Mr. Harvey, that is the best hoax I have heard of for many a day. With your parish schooling and your transportation! Were you not educated at Oxford? And did you ever see the blue waves of the Atlantic before? Ha ha! ha! You lads from the colleges cannot speak as others speak you must take honest people in, or have no pleasure for your say."

Harvey laughed, but made no reply.

The youngest of the ladies, Emma Barenton, was requested to favour the company with any little story that she might remember. After a few extremely becoming blushes, two hems, and one ha, she told us a legend of her native county, (Lincolnshire,) which ran as follows in the next chapter.

We are tempted to extract the other sketch of which we have spoken. The talent shown in these two attempts, if they do not induce the reading world to seek after the Gondola, will at least induce it to look favourably on any more mature and considerate effort by the same author. Every one at all conversant with the streets of London, must be well acquainted with the person of Isaac Bitton, and will instantly recognise the truth and humour of the following portrait:Fam'd, 'bove every other grace,

For matchless intrepidity of face!”—Churchill.

"If," said Mr. Winnesley, addressing himself to Banton, "it hath been thy fate to reside constantly in London, or even to sojourn there for a season, thou hast, doubtless, perambulated more than once from Charing-cross to Cornhill; and, assuredly, if this be the case, thou hast fallen upon, or, rather, been checked in thy progress by a stout, ill-favoured man, about fifty-eight years of age. dressed generally in a kind of olivebrown coat, fading away by reason of long servitude, corded breeches, worsted stockings, and shoes made more for use than ornament. He is, probably, about five feet nine or ten inches high, has a large head, eyes small in proportion, but, at the same time, of twice the magnitude possessed by ordinary men, and rivalling the coal in nigritude; with a tremendous body and thin legs, which give him somewhat the appearance that St. Paul's would present, supported by two monuments, gracile as that of Fish-streethill. He goeth not out unaccompanied; for a stick, of most excelling dimensions, is ever his attendant. If there were vitality and feeling in a walkingstick, how should I compassionate that oaken Leviathan-that half tree, which is doomed to bear his weight. He limps slightly with one leg, and looks seldom on the ground, for the game that he plays requires vigilance. Dost thou know him yet-or must I describe him farther? Hast thou, then, never, in passing along Cheapside, or its neighbourhood, thinking, perchance, of business or pleasure, or carelessly humming the last fancy

haunting air that thou heard'st at the theatre: hast thou, I say, never been suddenly arrested-rivetted, as it were, to the pavement on which thou wert walking, by a pair of dark eyes placed under the brows of an unwieldy and tawny-skinned Israelite? Hast thou not felt as if transformed into a timorous bird, and fascinated by the glances of this human rattle-snake-this homogeneous basilisk? If thou hast ever worn a drab greatcoat, with pearl buttons, and cherished thy fingers in the loculi, or pockets thereof-if thou hast ever placed thy hat knowingly on one side of thy head-if ever the stones of Cornhill have told "of thy whereabout" by the jingling of thy spurs-if ever thou hast called for stout at the Rainbow, or paid a visit to the Fives' Court-if ever thou hast strutted in a winter-cloak with massive gilt clasps, or, when young, hast aped the manner of a man, thou hast not escaped him. I swear it. Men, be they strangers to him, or otherwise, are his riches, his merchandise; and he keeps a strict and watchful eye upon his goods. London is tributary to him. Wherever he walks he sees around him the sources of his profits. The public is his banker, and he draws as largely upon it as he can. The metropolis to him is an Eden; and mankind, whom he delights in stripping, the tree of knowledge; but the apples which he plucks, like those of Hippomenes, are golden ones.

From what I have said in relation to his young victims, let not the elderly gentlemen of the present day be too secure in their post meridiem, for I once saw him (oh! how well do I remember it!) touch his hat, which is his usual mode of commencing an attack, to one of the most sedate, grave-looking men that I had ever beheld, as he was passing along Leadenhall-street, and moralizing, for aught I know, on the follies and vanities of this world. He was above fifty-could not that deter the irreclaimable acquaintance-scraper? He was dressed in a suit of black-could not that inspire him with respect? He wore powder-had that no influence on his obtrusiveness? Alas! no; all were vain when opposed to his importunities and unalterable assurance. The grave gentleman returned the bow with a slight and undecided inclination of the head; but Bitton was not dismayed, although I should have thought that the nod was sufficiently distant to "give him pause.' How d'ye do sir?" said he, respectfully. The grave gentleman moved his lips, but looked surprised, and as if he either wished to avoid or really did not recognize him. "How d'ye do, sir?" again asked the unblushing Levite; then, putting his mouth close to the ear of the grave gentleman, and looking significantly and rather mysteriously, he added, "Dersh to be a mill on Tueshday, sir." "A what?" ejaculated the man of powder. "A prize-fight, sir; between "Oh! I know nothing about prize-fights;" said he of the black coat, pettishly interrupting him, and walking away; whilst the Jew, without appearing offended by his unceremonious departure, or seeming conscious of his own impudence, walked on, to hunt after more youthful and less obdurate patrons.

"He has left the ring for many years, but takes a benefit at the Fives' Court, every season, in the month of April; and, in June or July, he is abroad again, trying to get off his tickets to all he meets. Ile occasionally exhibits, also, as a conjuror, and teaches broad-sword, single-stick, &c. &c. No argument is left untried to induce you to become his pupil, or take a ticket. When he has once drawn your attention, by his loadstone eye, he puts his stick under one arm, and pulls out his snuff-box, which he graciously extends towards you, and then come the tickets, which it requires no little share of resolution to avoid taking. It is next to impossible, when he is looking for his prey, to shun him. I speak it not from hearsay. I know it; having been more than once "caught upon the hip" by this ticket-selling Shylock. The Strand has seen me in his clutches. Fleet- street has witnessed my futile endeavours to free myself from his button-holding fingers. The Poultry, if it had a tongue, might vouch for my unwilling capture. No blush steals across the mahogany threshold of his countenance; no shame deters him from prosecuting his schemes of self-interest. He has been a stranger to mauvais-honte from his birth, and will never be suspected of any dealings with Dame Modesty he has not trodden her shoes down at heel, but has kept at a most reverential distance; the hem of her garment has never been gazed upon by his penetrating eye; he has never been within gunshot of her veil.

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See him mount the stage at the Court, and thou would'st wonder that a man could be found to put on the gloves against him-not on account of his sparring, although that is anything but contemptible-but his eye, fixed fully and determinately on his adversary, seems made to intimidate those who dare do all that may become a man," but have no wish to fight with the Devil. See him at his tricks of legerdemain, at which he is right expert, and thou would'st conceive that an invisible Mephistopheles were at his side, assisting him in his unhallowed frauds upon thy sight and understanding. He is rich in the lore of the Fancy; eloquent upon his own knowledge of

lar guages; sublime upon the uses of single-stick. Milton is to him merely an old blind beggar, who could not see to face his man; and Shakspeare a deer-stealer, who never put on the gloves. Ask him who are the three greatest men that ever existed, and he would answer, Rothschild, Mendoza, and himself. I have seen him sitting on one of the benches at 'Change, eyeing the man of wealth with a look near akin to idolatry. The rapture of a Londoner on first viewing the ocean, either in tempest or in calm-the delight experienced by a lover when gazing on the charms of his mistressor the veneration of the Persian whilst kneeling to the glorious sun-could scarcely boast the intensity of expression that marked his visage as he gazed upon the richest of his race. There he sat, a Pagan Israelite, paying his silent homage to the golden image of St. Swithin's-lane. Admiration and wonder seemed blended on his countenance as he surveyed the marvel of the chosen ones; and legerdemain, single-stick, sparring, languages, nay, even the eternal tickets, seemed for a moment to be obli terated from his thoughts by stronger incitements and newer impulses.

"Holland, I believe, had the honour of giving him birth, but he has more of the auri sacra fames than the amor patriæ about him, for he speaketh not in favour of his country or his countrymen, whom thou would'st fancy, by his description, to be as blood-thirsty as the bandits of Calabria, although common report speaks of them as peaceable and unoffending. He will tell thee a long story of his vishit to Amsterdam; how he gave leshons in fencing and sparring; how he incurred the hatred of a jealous rival; how he vas varned to bevare of his treacherous enemy; how he deshpised the thought of flying from his advershary; how he vash almosht forced by his friends on ship-board; and how he afterwards learned that his falsh-hearted countrymen had really purposhed to assashinate him on the very night that he shailed for London. But let me give him one good word at parting-for, with all his faults, he is connected in my mind with pleasurable associations which I would not willingly have missed he certainly has a great deal of politeness, a certain bon homie, (whether real or assumed I know not,) and a large stock of good humour. Independent of these things, his impudence supports his family; and I think the object almost sanctifies the means. I bear him no malice; but, on the contrary, hope to see him yet, should I return to England,

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'Pacing along the monarch of Cheapside! '

And, when he passes away from this world to a better, (how great a portion of Abraham's bosom will he not monopolize!) I trust that the tickets which were disposed of in this life for his benefit will not bar his own admission, nor rise up to his prejudice, in the next."

JAMES'S NAVAL HISTORY.*

Ar the conclusion of our general remarks on this work in a late number of the Magazine, we observed, that the limits to which we were confined necessarily prevented us from doing the historian the justice of permitting him to speak for himself. We now resume the notice of the work, with the intention of selecting some of such of the more striking and valuable parts as are capable of being extracted in a small space. To give examples is sometimes the fairest kind of criticism, and very frequently the method most acceptable to all parties.

The first adventure we shall note, is the extraordinary escape of an English frigate from an enemy's port. She walked into the lion's mouth and out again. (A. D. 1794.)

On the 3d of January, the British 12-pounder 32-gun frigate Juno, Captain Samuel Hood, quitted the island of Malta, with 150 supernumeraries, (46 of them the Romney's marines, the remainder Maltese,) for the use of the British Mediterranean fleet; which Captain Hood, being unapprized of the evacuation of Toulon, expected to find at anchor in that port. A strong lee current, and a succession of foul winds, pre

*The Naval History of Great Britain, from the declaration of war by France, in February 1793, to the accession of George IV. in January 1820. By William James. A new edition; in six volumes. London: Printed for Harding, Lepard and Co., 1826.

vented the Juno from arriving abreast of the harbour's mouth, until about 10 P. M. On the 11th; when Captain Hood, not wishing to run the risk of being again thrown to leeward, especially with so many men on board, determined to get into Toulon as quickly as possible. The Juno not having a pilot, nor any person on board acquainted with the port, two midshipmen, with night glasses, were stationed forward to look out for the fleet.

No ships making their appearance in the outer road of Toulon, Captain Hood concluded that the strong easterly gales had driven the fleet for shelter into the inner one: on entering which, he saw a vessel, as well as the lights of several others, and he had now no doubt upon the subject. The Juno proceeded under her topsails, until, finding she could not weather a brig that lay off Pointe Grand-Tour, she set her foresail and driver, in order to be ready to tack. Presently the brig hailed; but no one in the Juno could understand what was said. Captain Hood, however, supposing they wanted to know what ship she was, told them her name and nation. They replied Viva, and, after seemingly not understanding several questions put to them, both in French and English, called out, as the Juno passed under their stern, Luff. The dread of shoal water caused the helm to be instantly put a-lee; but the Juno grounded before she got head to wind. The wind being light, and the water perfectly smooth, the sails were clewed up and handed.

About this time a boat was seen to pull from the brig towards the town, for what purpose was not then suspected. Before the Juno's people were all off the yards, a sudden flaw of wind drove the ship astern. To encourage this, and, if possible, get clear of the shoal, the driver and mizen staysail were hoisted, and their sheets kept to windward. The instant the ship lost her way, the best bower-anchor was let go; on which she tended head to wind, but the after-part of her keel was still aground, and the rudder, in consequence, motionless. The launch and cutter were now hoisted out, and the kedge anchor, with two hawsers, put in them, in order to warp the ship clear. Just before the Juno's boats returned from this service, a boat appeared alongside, and, on being hailed, answered as if an officer was in her. The people hurried out of her up the side; and one of two persons, apparently officers, told Captain Hood he came to inform him, that it was the regulation of the port, and the commanding officers orders, that the ship should go into another branch of the harbour, to perform ten days' quarantine. Captain Hood replied, by asking where Lord Hood's ship lay. An unsatisfactory answer excited some suspicion; and the exclamation of a midshipman, They are national cockades," induced the captain to look at the French hats more steadfastly; when, by the light of the moon, the three colours were distinctly visible. To a second question about Lord Hood, one of the officers, seeing they were now suspected, replied " Make yourself easy: the English are good people; we will treat them kindly; the English admiral has departed some time."

Captain Hood's feelings at this moment can better be conceived than described. The words, "We are prisoners," ran through the ship like wildfire; and some of the officers soon came to the captain to learn the truth. A flaw of wind at this moment coming down the harbour, Lieutenant Webley, the third of the ship, said, "I believe,

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sir, we shall be able to fetch out, if we can get her under sail." There did, indeed, appear a chance of saving the ship at all events, the Juno was not to be given up without some contention. The men were ordered to their stations, and the Frenchmen to be sent below. Some of these began to draw their sabres; but the half-pikes of the Juno's marines were presented to them, and they submitted.

Never was seen such a change in people: every officer and man was already at his post: and, in about three minutes, all the sails in the ship were set, and the yards braced ready for casting. On the cable's being cut, the head sails filled, and the ship started from the shore. A favourable flaw of wind coming at the same time, gave her additional way; and the Juno, if the forts should not disable her, had every prospect of getting out. The launch and cutter, as well as the Frenchmen's boat, that they might not retard the ship, were cut adrift. No sooner had the British ship began to loosen her sails, than the French brig made some stir, and lights appeared on all the batteries. The brig now opened a fire upon the Juno, and so did a fort a little on the starboard bow; and presently all the forts fired, as their guns could be brought to bear. At one time it was feared a tack would be necessary, but the ship came up a little; and finally, at about half past midnight, after having sustained a heavy fire from the different batteries she had to pass, but not without answering several of them with seeming good effect, the Juno got clear off without the loss of a man. Her rigging and sails, however, were much damaged, and two 36-pound shot had struck her hull.

An enterprise more happily conceived, or more ably executed, has seldom been witnessed, than that by which the officers and men of the British frigate Juno thus extri