clares himself to be Ganlesse, a Roman Catholic priest : but finding his companion no catholic, states that he is 'Simon Canter, a poor preacher of the word.' Peveril determines to get rid of him, and the start of the road, threatening that it is at his peril to follow him. The real name of this man is Ned Christian, a brother in-law of Bridgenorth. At another inn where they meet, he contrives that Julian shall be robbed of the packet of letters he is conveying from the Countess of Derby. Arriving at Martindale Castle, Julian finds his father just arrested, and fires his pistol at one of his captors, who proves to be Bridgenorth. His pistols had, however, been rendered harmless, when his pockets had been rifled of his letters. Topham and his party arrive to execute their warrant, and take Sir Geoffrey into custody, while Bridgenorth becomes answerable for Julian, and conducts him to Moultrassie Hall, where Alice welcomes them.

Major Bridgenorth cautioned his daughter and Julian to seem strangers to each other. Julian is conducted into an inner apartment: five or six persons in puritanical costume, are sitting, to whom Julian's character was respectively announced by the Major. Here Julian recognised his travelling companion, Ganlesse. A long grace, a plain dinner, a thanksgiving as long as the grace, and an exposition of a chapter in the Bible, by the Major, as long as all the three, followed. Bridgenorth, in conducting Julian to his chamber, tells him that he is known to be a spied spy who carries tokens and messages betwixt the popish Countess of Derby and the catholic party in London; he however offers him the means of escape, of which Julian refuses to avail himself.

Lance Outram an old retainer of the Peverils, musters thirty stout fellows determined to attack Martindale Castle, but being dissuaded from it, resolves on rescuing Julian from Moultrassie Hall, which they boldly assail

ed.

Julian heard the attack, but was unable to get out of the room, until released by Alice who called on him to save her father who was in danger. Julian interposes, Bridgenorth is rescued, and the house, which had been set on fire, is saved by the joint efforts of both parties, On the road to London, Julian accompanied by Lance, overtakes Chaffinch, 'the well known minister of Charles' pleasures,' who, under the name of Smith, had been with Ganlesse when Julian was robbed of his packet. He learns that it is in Chaffinch's possession, rides after him, and takes it from him. Julian arrives in London, where he meets Fenella, by whose means he is conveyed into the presence of King Charles, while the merry monarch was in one of his happiest phrases, amusing himself with a select group of courtiers, in a morning promenade, in the mall of St. James's Park. At the royal command, Peveril and his fair mute are despatched into the apartment of the mistress of one of his pimps, the infamous Chaffinch, wherehe has not long remained till he is alarmed and surprised by the appearance of Alice Bridgenorth, who is chased into the room by the lascivious Buckingham. She had been placed in this den of iniquity by her uncle, Edward Christian, who had wiled the guardianship of her from the unsuspecting father; and the use he made of his power, was to advance a court intrigue, by offering her at the shrine of the licentious Charles. Julian interposes, and conveys her from the gripe of prostitution. his way to his mother's lodging with his trembling burthen, he is insulted by two of the Duke of Buckingham's retainers. He quits Alice, and engages with one of them, whom he severely wounds. For this felony, he is immured in Newgate, where he is made cell companion with the celebrated dwarf, Sir Geoffrey Hudson, whose freaks in arms and pasties are recounted. Meanwhile Alice is seized by the retainer, who had not engaged in the affray, and lodged in his grace's harem. From this place of corruption she is carried off by Christian, who

In

dreads the discovery of his intrigues, and placed in the hands of her father, who happens to be then in London.

From Newgate, Julian is removed to the Tower where his father is confined. The father and son with Geoffrey Hudson are brought to trial for high treason. The infamous Titus Oates appears against them, with other witnesses, but the evidence is deficient, on account of the absence of Bridgenorth, who does not appear. In their way from the court, they are assailed by the mob; but availing themselves of the vicinity of a cutler's stall, they arm themselves, and with little Geoffrey perform prodigies of valor. They are, however, invited to a place of refuge, which turns out to be a house belonging to Bridgenorth, whom they encounter. He professes friendship, and through a variety of secret passages, conveys Julian to an assembly of Puritans, where he discovers that they are assembled for the purpose of a treasonable conspiracy. Into this plot the thoughtless Buckingham has been drawn by the wary and treacherous Ned Christian. The hic et ubique Fenella, however, thrusts Geoffrey Hudson into a violen. cello, which, with other musical instruments, is sent into court by Buckingham, with conspirators, among whom is the noted Colonel Blood, who attempted to steal the crown from the tower, for musicians. Geoffrey steps out from his musical prison, and reveals the plot; the Duke is sent for, partly acknowledges his guilt, and is forgiven. Lady Derby appears at court to rescue the Peverils, who she understood had been imprisoned on her account. The Peverils are presented, and Julian marries Alice Bridgenorth, her father, giving up the claim of mortgage he had on Martindale Castle; and Christian, who acknowledges Fenella, or rather Zarah, as his own daughter, is banished.

STORY OF FENELLA.

In the introductory chapter of the recent edition, to this novel, the following story is given in illustration of, and as a parallel to the case of Fenella, a character the author admits to be taken from the fine sketch of Mignon, in Wilhelm Meister's Lehrjahre.

In the middle of the eighteenth century, a female wanderer come to the door of Mr Robert Scott, grandfather of the present author, an opulent farmer in Roxburghshire, and made signs that she desired shelter for the night, which, according to the customs of the times, was readily granted. The next day the country was covered with snow, and the departure of the wanderer was rendered impossible. She remained for many days, her maintenance adding little to the expense of a considerable household; and by the time that the weather grew milder, she had learned to hold intercourse by signs with the household around her, and could intimate to them that she was desirous of staying where she was, and working at the wheel and other employment, to compensate for her feed. This was a compact not unfrequent at that time, and the dumb woman entered upon her thrift, and proved a useful member of the patriarchal household. She was a good spinner, knitter, carder, and so forth, but her excellence lay in attending to the feeding and bringing up the domestic poultry. Her mode of whistling to call them together was so peculiarly elfish and shrill, that it was thought, by those who heard it, more like that of a fairy than a human being.

In this manner she lived three or four years, nor was there the slightest idea entertained in the family that she was other than the mute and deprived person she had always appeared. But in a moment of surprise, she dropped the mask which she had worn so long.

VOL. I.

7

'It chanced upon a Sunday that the whole inhabitants of the household were at church excepting Dumb Lizzie, whose infirmity was supposed to render her incapable of profiting by divine service, and who therefore stayed at home to take charge of the house. It happened that, as she was sitting in the kitchen, a shepherd boy, instead of looking after his flock on the lea, as was his duty, slunk into the house to see what he could pick up, or perhaps out of mere curiosity. Being tempted by something which was in his eyes a nicety, he put forth his hand unseen, as he conceived, to appropriate it. The dumb woman came suddenly upon him, and in the surprise, forgot her part, and ex-, claimed in loud Scotch, and with distinct articulation, 'Ah you little deevil's limb!' The boy, terrified more by the character of the person who rebuked him, than by the mere circumstance of having been taken in the insignificant offence, fled in great dismay to the church, to carry the miraculous news that the dumb woman had found her tongue.

'The family returned home in great surprise, but found that their inmate had relapsed into her usual mute condition, would communicate with them only by signs, and in that manner denied positively what the boy affirmed.

'From this time confidence was broken betwixt the other inmates of the family and their dumb, or rather silent, guest. Traps were laid for the impostor, all of which she skilfully eluded fire-arms were often suddenly discharged near her, but never on such occasions was she seen to start. It seems probable, however, that Lizzie grew tired of all this mistrust, for she one morning disappeared as she came, without any ceremony of leave taking.

'She was seen, it is said, upon the other side of the English border, in perfect possession of her speech. Whether this was exactly the case or not, my inform