cle to pronounce sentence. In the centre was a large table, round which, at equal distances, were placed certain little lumps of money, which my friend told me were to reward the labours of the Inquisition, amongst whom the surplus arising from absentees would like wise be divided. From the keenness with which each individual darted upon his share and ogled that of his absent neighbour, I surmised that some of my fellow sufferers would find the day against them. They would be examined by eyes capable of penetrating every crevice of their constitutions, by noses which could smell a rat a mile off, and hunt a guinea breast high. How indeed could plague or pestilence, gout or gluttony, expect to lurk in its hole undisturbed when surrounded by a pack of terriers which seemed hungry enough to devour one another? Whenever the door slammed, and they looked for an addition to their cry, they seemed for all the world as though they were going to bark; and if a straggler really entered and seized upon his moiety, the intelligent look of vexation was precisely like that of a dog who has lost a bone. When ten or a dozen of these gentry had assembled, the labours of the day commenced.

Most of our adventurers for raising supplies upon their natural lives, were afflicted with a natural conceit that they were by no means circumscribed in foundation for such a project. In vain did the Board endeavour to persuade them that they were half dead already. They fought hard for a few more years, swore that their fathers had been almost immortal, and that their whole families had been as tenacious of life as eels themselves. Alas! they were first ordered into an adjoining room, which I soon learnt was the condemned cell, and then delicately informed that the establishment could have nothing to say to them. Some indeed had the good luck to be reprieved a little longer, but even these did not affect a very flattering or advantageous bargain. One old gentleman had a large premium to pay for a totter in his knees; another for an extraordinary circumference in the girth; and a dowager of high respectability, who was afflicted with certain undue proportions of width, was fined most exorbitantly. The only customer who met with any thing like satisfaction was a gigantic man of Ireland, with whom Death, I thought, was likely to have a puzzling contest.

"How old are you, Sir?" enquired an examiner.

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"I am the strongest man in Ireland." "But subject to the gout?" "No.-The rheumatism-nothing else upon my soul."

"What age was your father when he died?',

"Never you mind that. I don't mean to drink more than a bottle and a half in future. Besides I intend to get married, if I can, and live snug."

A debate arose amongst the directors respecting this gentleman's eligibility. The words "row" and "three bottles" ran, hurry-scurry, round the table. Every dog had a snap at them. At last, however, the leader of the pack addressed him in a demurring growl, and agreed that, upon his paying a slight additional premium for his irregularities, he should be admitted as a fit subject.

It was now my turn to exhibit; but, as my friend was handing me forward, my progress was arrested by the entrance of a young lady with an elderly maid-servant. She was dressed in slight mourning, was the most sparkling beau ty I had ever seen, and appeared to produce an instantaneous effect, even upon the stony-hearted directors themselves. The chairman politely requested her to take a seat at the table, and immediately entered into her business, which seemed little more than to show herself and be entitled to twenty thousand pounds, for which her late husband had insured his life.

(To be continued.)

I. THE FLOWERS OF LITERATURE.

11. THE SPIRIT OF THE MAGAZINES,

No. CXII. Or No. 28 of

1.[or

Vol. IV.

[2d.

THE Kent East Indiaman, which sailed from the Downs about a fortnight ago, was making her way in the Bay of Biscay on the morning of Tuesday the 1st inst., across the heavy swell common in that stormy entrance to the Atlantic, when her progress was arrested by a fatal accident, in latitude about 47 deg. 30 min., and longitude 11 deg. 40 min. An officer, who was sent into the VOL. IV.

hold to see whether the rolling of the vessel had disturbed the stowage, perceiving that a cask of spirits had burst from its lashings, gave the lamp he had in his hand to a seaman to hold while he should replace the cask. Unfortunately, in the continued rolling of the vessel, the man let the lamp fall near the spirits, to which it set fire in a moment.

The flames spread; attempts

2 E

were made to smother them by wet blankets and hammocks, but all was in vain, and they soon assumed an aspect so tremendous, as to shew that it would be impossible to subdue them.

At this moment of despair the man at the mast-head exclaimed that a sail was in sight; guns were fired, and a signal of distress hoisted. The gale, however, was so heavy, that it was for some time doubtful whether the strange vessel perceived the signals, or was likely to turn aside from her course, but this painful suspense was soon removed by her approach. The boats of the Kent were now got out and placed, not alongside, on account of the flames and the danger of staving the boats, but a-head and astern. In the latter many got out from the cabin-windows, but the chief part were let down from the bow-sprit into the boat a-head, the men sliding down by a rope, while the soldiers' wives were lowered into the boat slung three together.

The fire had burst out about ten o'clock, and about twelve the signal of distress had been perceived by the strange sail, which proved to be the Cambria, Cook, outward-bound to Mexico, with a number of mining workmen and a cargo of mining machinery, shipped by the Anglo Mexican Company. It was at two o'clock that the Cambria received the first boat load of passengers, consisting chiefly of ladies and children, half clothed, and pale with fright and fatigue. The whole afternoon was passed in exertions on board the one vessel in sending off the sufferers, and in the other in receiving them. The Cambria had amongst her passengers several stout workmen, who took their station at the ship's side, and were indefatigable in hoisting the poor sufferers on board, so that, out of 642 persons in the Kent, no less than 547 were safe in the Cambria before midnight. The remainder (85 in number) were lost, chiefly in getting out and in of the boats, the swell of the sea being very great all the time. The Captain of the Kent was the last man to leave her. She blew up at a few minutes before two o'clock on Wednesday morning.

It may naturally be asked how the vessel could keep so long together amid so destructive a conflagration? She could not have kept together two hours, had not the officers, to avoid one danger, encountered another, by opening the ports and letting in the water, when she shipped such heavy seas as to become water-logged, which of course prevented her burning downwards.

The Cambria, a vessel of little more than 200 tons, was previously sufficiently filled, having goods in her hold, and about 50 persons in passengers and ship's company. How great then must have been the pressure and confusion caused by an influx which carried the total on board to more than 600! The progress of the fire in the Kent had been so rapid, as to prevent the sufferers from saving any clothes, except what was on their persons, and both officers! and soldiers were thus ill-prepared to encounter the wet and cold of the deck: The cabin and the tween-decks (the space for the steerage passengers) were thus crowded beyond measure, and most fortunate it was that the wind continued favourable for the return of the Cambria to an English port. She reached Fal: mouth in 48 hours after quitting the wreck, and was landing her unfortunate inmates, many of them half clothed, on Friday morning, at the date of our cors respondent's letter.

"Messrs. Wm. Broad and Sons,

Agent to Lloyd's.

"Brig Cambria, Falmouth, March 4, 1823. "Gentlemen-You are aware of my leaving this port on the 24th ult. with passengers and goods to Mexico, and I beg to acquaint you of my return here this morning at 1, A. M. under the fol lowing circumstances:

"On Tuesday last, the 1st inst. being then in latitude 47. 30., and longitude 9. 45., lying to with a strong gale from the westward, under a close reefed main top-sail, we discovered a large sail to the westward, and on approaching found her to have a signal flying of distress, which induced me immediately to render every assistance in my power, and on nearing found her to be on fire. About 3, P. M. being then on her bow, we succeeded in getting the first boat from the vessel, which proved to be the Honourable Company's ship Kent, Captain Cobb, of 1400 tons, for Bengal and China, with troops and passengers, amounting, with the crew, to 637 souls. From three to about eight, P. M. the boats were constantly employed in bringing the people to the Cambria, and succeeded in saving 301 officers, noncommissioned officers, and privates of the 31st regiment, 46 women, and 48 children, appertaining to ditto; 19 male and female private passengers, and Captain Cobb, and 139of the crew, amounting in all to 554. The flames now be coming exceedingly fierce, I could not urge the sailors again returning to the ship, nor deem it at all prudent, for the preservation of the lives already on

board my vessel, to remain longer near the Kent, expecting her instantly to blow up. By accounts since made up, it is supposed that 64 soldiers, 1 woman, and 4 of the crew, were left when Captain Cobb quitted the vessel, whose conduct during the trying occasion is beyond my humble praise, displaying the greatest coolness, intrepidity, and by his exertions, and those of Col. Fearon, the commander of the troops, who were the last to quit, the women, children, and passengers were got into the boats, and they did not leave themselves until their influence to induce any more to go into them was useless. At 2, A. M. the Kent blew up, after being completely enveloped in flames for four hours previous. The fire originated in the afterhold, where spirits were stowed for the use of the troops, a cask of which breaking adrift and bursting, the contents were unfortunately ignited by a candle

in a lantern.

"I feel the greatest gratification in stating, that the gentlemen and their Cornish miners, in all 36, with my own crew, 11 more, behaved throughout the trying period with the greatest kindness, in getting the people from the boats, soothing their sufferings, giving up their own clothes and beds to the women and children, volunteering to go into the boats, (which I had good reason to prevent,) and leaving nothing undone to make them as comfortable as the limited size of my brig would allow (only 200 tons.) It would be pleasing also, could I speak as highly of the crew of the Kent, but I cannot refrain from ex. pressing my great disappointment at their conduct, (in which I am borne out by Captain Cobb,) derogatory in every respect to the generally received character of British seamen, by refusing to return to the Kent for the people after the first trip, and requiring my utmost exertions and determination to compel them to renew their endeavours to get out the soldiers, passengers, and the remainder of their own shipmates, who were left behind, and it was only by using coercive measures, in conjunction with my own crew and passengers, and telling them I would not receive them on board unless they did so, that they proceeded, though reluctantly, in their duty. I must, however, except the officers, particularly Mr. Thomson, fourth mate, and Mr. Phillips, the boatswain, whose conduct and behaviour, in every respect, justifies my warmest praise. It may not be amiss to state, that two hours after the ship blew up, a soldier's wife was delivered of a fine

4.35

boy on board the Cambria, and both mother and child are doing well.-I remain, gentlemen, your most obedient servant, (Signed) "W. Cook." "The following is a list of the passengers, troops, women, and children, on board the late Hon. Company's ship Kent, Captain Henry Cobb, bound for Bengal and China, March 3, 1825:

"Passengers.-Mrs. Col. Fearon and 5 daughters; Mrs. M'Gregor and 1 son; Miss Dick; Mrs. Bray and 2 children; Miss Murray; Mrs. Waters.

"Writers.-Mr. Grant, Mr. Pringle. "Cadets.-Mr. Shuckburgh, Mr. Birch, and Mr. Hatchel.

"Military Officers. Lieut.-Col. Fearon, Major M'Gregor, Captain Sir Charles Farrington, Bart.; Capt. Green, Captain Spence, and Captain Bray. Lieutenant and Adjutant Shaw. Lieutenants Baldwin, Dodger, Raxton, Booth, Douglas, Campbell, and Guinnis. Ensigns Tate, Shaw, and Evans. Assistant-Surgeon Graham. Second Master, Waters. Paymaster, Monk; all saved.

"Total on Board.-19 passengers, 20 military officers, 344 troops, 43 women, 66 children, 145 ship's company.Total 637.

“Return of Troops, Women, and Children lost.-Troops 64, 1 woman, children 21, ship's company, 1 man; marine boys, 3. Total lost, 90."

Another account, from an individual in the after-hold, at half-past one, P. M. on board, states, that the ship took fire and blew up a quarter before three, A. M. It is a remarkable circumstance, that the only seaman lost was a man who was below and present when the fire broke out. Seeing the hold in flames, he ran to the cabin of the se from which he took four hundred sovecond mate and broke open his desk, kerchief, tied them round his waist. In reigns, and rolling them up in a handattempting to leap into one of the boats, weight, and was drowned. he fell short, as is supposed from the

THIRTEEN IN COMPANY.

There is a very old superstition, not yet wholly extinct, that thirteen in company is an unlucky number. It originated, most probably, in the romance of "Sir Tristram." There were thirteen seats to the round table, in honour of the thirteen apostles; but the chair of Judas it was deemed unlucky to occupy.