A CANTERBURY TALE.

Master of the Rolls in their custody, tied back to back. That these two unhappy gentlemen were made fast to the long cannon on the parade, which, being previously loaded, was then discharged, and their bodies blown into a million of pieces. That the smugglers then, in great numbers, marched to the City, where they seized upon the court of Aldermen, and as many Directors of the India Company as they could find, all of whom they put to death, except Brook Watson, who was tied by his wooden leg to the top of the Monument. There was not a word of Mr. Fox, or Napper Tandy, at Rochester, nor of the Queen or Princesses. Poor Watson, said I to myself, (and it blew bitter hard,) what will become of thee in this storm!

Still anxious, I posted to Chatham, where I thought I should arrive at the truth, Chatham being a garrisoned town. Here I had full confirmation, and all the particulars from the landlord, who had them from a serjeant's wife that washed, for a Colonel, who had them by express from London.

the loins, broke his hack, and he expired in great agonies. The troops were all ordered out, and every thing bore the appearance of confusion. In twelve minutes and three-quarters from the time of shooting the King, the Princess was mounted on a black horse, and dressed in regimentals, at the head of a thousand German cavalry, who were supported by eight thousand four hundred and eighty-eight French infantry, exclusive of commis sioned and non-commissioned officers, drums and fifes, at the head of whom was the Pretender, as commander in chief. Both armies met in Hyde-Park, where, the guards did miracles; but overpowered by numbers, they were obliged to rctreat; and had not the providence of God sent the Master-General of the ordnance to Tyburn, with a new howitzer to cover their retreat, they must all have been cut to pieces. There his Grace proved the use of fortifications, by getting behind an old cow-house, and from thence so an noyed the Pretender's army, that they durst not pursue the guards. In the battle the Russian Princess was killed by a musket shot; and on examination she proved to be no other person than the famous Timothy Brecknock, who was supposed to be hanged at Castle-bar some time ago, but who, it seems, was brought to life for this rebellious purpose. Things were in this state when the express set off.

The affair, as related at Chatham, terrified me with horror. A lady, who said she was a Russian Princess, begged to present a petition to his Majesty; she held it in her hand in the form of a large roll of parchment, which his Majesty bent forward to receive, when the treacherous Princess fired off a pistol that was concealed within the roll, and which having four rifle barrels, each loaded with ball, two of them struck his Majesty on the head, and penetrated the os frontis, lodged in the pia mater, and occasioned instant death. But it was not the King alone that fell; a footman, and a yeoman of the guards, were mortally wounded by the two other balls; and the Princess, availing herself of the general consternation, drew forth another pistol and a dagger, and rushing up into the Council-room, there slew the poor Attorney-General, as he was altering and amending a letter from Mr. Eden, about the Commercial Treaty. Mr. Pitt, on seeing this bloodyminded deed, fled to the door, but in his confusion, not knowing how it opened, he was delayed, and unfortunately met the fate of the Attorney-General, being stabbed in the neck, just in the place where Cassius struck the first Cæsar. The stab was so violent, and the dagger so long, that the point penetrated to the lungs, and several of the ligaments of the heart. The undismayed Princess then made her way into St. James's-street, where, meeting an ensign of the guards, she knocked him down with the but-end of her pistol, and, giving him a kick on

Well, says I to myself, my little property is gone, and the national debt will be paid of by a wipe sooner than Mr. Pitt expected. There can now be no doubt of the fact, every thing is so circumstantial. I thought it best, however, to proceed, and I travelied post without asking. a question until I came to Shooter's-hill. There I thought I could plainly hear the firing of small arms and the noise of the Duke of Richmond's new howitzer. I asked the landlord how many the enemy now were, and whether the troops from the interior parts had arrived to strengthen the Royal army. The landlord said he knew nothing about troops, except the d-d troops that were quartered on him against the field-day. "O then," said I, "thank God, some assistance is arrived." -"Assistance!" replied the landlord, "assistance is of no use now. Tankard and his party are routed, and the smugglers have carried the day; they carried off every thing before the troops arrived here." The Rochester story now occurred, and I bemoaned the fate of my poor friend Watson on the top of the monument. "And are they really smugglers," said 1, "that have done this bloody deed?" -"Smugglers! aye, that they are, and stout fellows, I'll warrant them," replied

In about five minutes we were at Wm. Mingay, Esq. Mayor of the City of

PEDLER'S ACRE.

Norwich, his expenses for a dinner, in the which he feasted the Duke of Norfolk, and the Lords, Knights, and Gentry. £ s. d.

Imprimis—Beef eight stone, at 14lb. to the

13

Hume estimates the value or efficacy of a given weight of silver coins in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, to the value and efficacy of our silver coins in the year 1762, to have been in the proportion of only 10 to 1, but we believe no one will 0 5 4 think that, in the year 1824 or even as far back as 1762, the Mayor of Norwich could entertain the Duke of Norfolk, and the lords, knights, and gentry, so sumptuously as Mr. Mingay did in 1561, 16 for 187. 17s. 6d. ör even double that

0 1 4
0 1 4

0

0 0 10

0 1 0 A leg of mutton.. 0 0 5 A loin of mutton

and shoulder of

0

0

Two guinea pigs 0

Four couple of

heus

Thirty-four eggs 0

10

07

1 8

0

Two bushels of

Eighteen loaves of

6

4

wheaten bicad. 0 09

sum.

PARAGRANDINE.

A NEW invention, called the Paragrandine, is spoken of in some of the Italian journals. Its object is to avert hail-storms, as the electrical conductors serve to obviate danger from lightning. In this climate, the hail is O seldom so violent as to occasion any very serious losses; but in many parts 0 20 of the continent, it is dreaded as the most destructive enemy of the husbandman: and we have known insurance companies established for the sole purpose of guarding against loss by hailO storms. The inventor of the Paragrandine is a Signor Apostolle; and many experiments have been made with it by a Siguor Thollard. A report in its favour has been made at Milan by Signor Beltrami. One of the latest accounts of its beneficial effects has been published by Signor Antonio Perotti of San Giovanni di Cassara. He states, that on a piece of land belonging to himself, containing 16,000 perches in extent, having fixed up several of the Para grandini, he had the satisfaction to find that no injury was done by hail to the corn, and very little to the vines, although no less than fourteen storms had oc curred in the current year, five of which appeared to threaten great mischief to his fields, but passed over them and fell on the neighbouring lands of Valvasoni, Bagnarola, and Savorgnano. These instruments are composed of metallic points and straw ropes, bound together with hempen or flaxen threads. Astolfi, in a letter to Professor Francesco Orioli, of Bologna, relates that on the 19th of June a hail-storm, proceeding in a direction from Bentivoglio to St. Giovanni Triano, came near the lands of Count Chenef, which were protected by Paragrandini; on approaching which the clouds were seen at once to disperse. A similar occurrence happened on the 24th of June on the estate of Galiera, where a number of these machines had

been set up by Dr. Paucaldi. The last statement we shall notice is contained up an official regort to the Milan government by Goufaloniere of San Pietro in Casale. He says, that during a stormy day, when there were many claps of thunder and flashes of lightning, he went out to observe the effects of the Paragrandine, and noticed the electric fluid to be attracted by the points of the straw in the machine, around which the flame played in graceful curves; while in the adjoining fields not protected by the Paraglandine, much rain fell, and the lightning did considerable mischief.

BUCHAN,

lay down near the bank, and fell asleep; while his vigilant dog stood near as a faithful sentinel during his master's slumbers.

found that the animal had made au As soon as he awoke, he excavation by scratching, and, upon further inspection, he perceived some pieces of gold a little below the surface of the ground. Having supplied his temporary wants from this unexpected treasure, he adjourned to a neighbouring inn, resolved to prosecute his discoveries on the following day; when he had no great difficulty in discovering. many vessels filled with the precious metal. Having thus, as it were, by a miracle, become the disposer of immense wealth, he determined to purchase the plot of ground, the mine of his riches, -which from him was denominated words of Scripture;-"The kingdom of "Pedler's Acre;" thus verifying the

Was born at Ancram in Roxburghshire, in 1729. He was educated at Edinburgh with a view to the church, which however he quitted for the study of medicine, and after residing there several years he went and settled in Yorkshire, where he became physician to the Foundling Hospital at Ackworth. He continued there till the institution was dissolved, and then returned to Edinburgh, where he practised several years with success. lu 1770 he published his popular book, entitled "Domestic Medicine; or, a Treatise on the Cure and Prevention of Diseases;" which has gone through numerous editions. He now removed to London, where he also obtained considerable practice, which was diminished by the preference he gave to society rather than to business. He published two other useful books, "A treatise on the Venereal Disease," which went through three editions, and "Advice to Mothers on the subject of their own Health, and on the means of promoting the Health, Strength, and Beauty of their Offspring;" both in 8vo. He died in 1805. Dr. Buchan left a son, who is also an eminent physician, and has written "Practical Obrative of this very singular incident. servations concerning Sea-Bathing; to which are added, Remarks on the Warm Bath."

Heaven is like unto treasure hid in a

field; the which, when a man hath found, he bideth; and for joy thereof, goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.”—Matt. c. xiii. v. 44.

PEDLER'S ACRE.

Not long after, the fortunate dog, of this still more fortunate master, died; and the opulent pedler, instigated by gratitude towards the poor animal who had been instrumental in this extraordimary event, desired to obtain for his canine servant more honourable burial than is commonly allotted to this part of God's creation. For this purpose, he applied to the sexton of the parish, offering a liberal donation in the event of his wishes being gratified. Gold can effect every thing; and the wealthy applicant found little obstruction to the accomplishment of his object. The dog accordingly was interred within the precincts of consecrated ground; and there is still to be seen (in Newington Church, we believe) a carved tablet commemo

FOREIGN DRAMA.

BODY AND SOUL. [An Extract from the unpublished works of M. de Reiffenberg, professor in the University of Louvain.]

THE subjoined story, though but little known, is a fact authenticated by historical record, and may be considered Arise. one of those providential instances of good fortune, which not only delight but astonishes the mind.

Before Westminster Bridge was built, there was a rendezvous for passengers on that spot, vulgarly called "the Farthing Ferry." It happened that a poor pedler, having crossed the river from Westminster, oppressed with fatigue,

Soul.

Body.

Who wakes me?

Soul.

Hear'st thou the thunder peal Whose voice loud calls thee from the si

lent dust?

Time is accomplished.

Body.

I belong to nothinguess,

To whom?

EXTRAORDINARY PHENMENON,

Soul.

Body.

Soul
Thy Judge.
Body.

Soul.

To where?

And who is he?

Thy God.

than four yards in depth.

15

This dark

There's no such thing.-Come follow me. slimy mixture of mud and water followed the course of the rivulet, overflowing its banks for twenty or thirty yards on each side, and to the distance of seven or eight miles from the immediate irruption; all this way is deposited a black moorish substance, varying from eight to thirtysix inches in depth, and mixed ocasionally with sand and rocky fragments, pieces of timber, and uprooted trees, which had been borne along by the impetuous torrent. This heavy and powerful stream broke down one solid stone bridge, made breaches in two others, clogged up and stopped several mills, laid flat several whole fields of corn, and overthrew to the foundation several hedges and walls. In its course it entered the houses, floating the furniture about, to the astonishment and terror of the inhabitants. At the time of the irruption the clouds were copper-coloured, and lowering; the atmosphere was strongly electric, and un

Body.

What would he?

Soul.

Vengeance.
Body.

Unhappy wretch!

No, there is no God.
Soul.

Before his throne thoul't find thou art usually close and sultry. There was at

Away! Death hath released me From thy detested intercourse.--Hence, fly,

Nor longer trouble my profound repose. EXTRAORDINARY PHENOMENON A Correspondent has forwarded to us the following account of one of the most extraordinary phenomena which we remember to have seen an account of in England:

On Thursday last, the 2nd instant, at Haworth, five miles south of Keighley, in the West Riding of the county of York, and on the borders of Lancashire, about six o'clock in the evening, a part of the high-lands on the Stanbury-moor opened into a chasm, and sunk to the depth of six yards, in some places exhibiting a ragged appearance, and forming two principal cavities,-the one was about two hundred yards, and the other not less than six hundred yards in circumference. From these hollows issued two immense columns of muddy water, and uniting at a distance of upwards of 100 yards from their sources, constituted, for about two hours, an overwhelming flood from forty to fifty (sometimes seventy) yards in width, and seldom less

The

the same time loud and frequent thunder,
with much zigzag lightning, peculiarly
flaring and vivid. An hour before there
was scarcely a breath of air stirring, but
the wind quickly rose to a hurricane, and
after blowing hard from six to eight
o'clock, sunk again into a profound calm,
at which time the heavy rain, which had
continued all the while, ceased, and,
with the exception of a few floating
clouds, the sky was very serene.
whole is conjectured by the neighbours
to be caused by some subterraneous
commotion, the most considerable as to
its results that has taken place in this
kingdom for many generations. The
river Aire, at Leeds, presented the effects
of this phenomenon last Friday afternoon;
the water that came down the river was
in such a polluted state as to have poison-
ed great quantities of fish; and the
water, continuing in much the same
for culinary purposes as well as for
turbid state, has become entirely useless
dyers, &c. The Commissioners of the
the inhabitants of Leeds, that they will at
water-works have given public notice to
present suspend the supply of water, so
totally useless to them, until the stream
subsides into a proper state.

ANACREONTIC.
Death comes but once, the Philosophers say-
And 'tis true, my brave boys! but that once
is a clencher:

It takes us from drinking and loving away,
It turns us from warm animation to clay.

And spoils at one blow the best Boozer and
Wencher.

And Death comes to all, so they tell us again

And that too, my boys, you'll find is uo fable, Which to me is a reason prodigiously plain, Before we remains are, while here we remain, To drink all we can, and to love all we're able.