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Your perfect cure;

Our air's so pure,"
Continued the loquacious wife,
""Twould almost raise the dead to
life."

Finding old Goody thus verbose,
The tottering lady craved repose;
Thanking the gossip for her cares :
But, when prepar'd to mount the stairs,
She found no friendly balustrade,
To yield her hand the wonted aid;
For tho' its clumsy rails were oaken,
"Twas broken!

“Good hostess," (croak'd the hectic
fair,)

"Your stairs of all support are bare; And ne'er can be by me ascended, Unless the balustrade be mended." This speech the dame's good humour marr'd,

And threw her somewhat off her

guard:

"The devil take the stairs," quoth she,
"They're an incessant plague to me.
Madam, 'tis true as I stand here
Only within the last half-year,
SIX TIMES the joiner I have paid,
For mending that same balustrade;
And yet, with all th' expense and care,
I cannot keep it in repair;
For, every time 'tis done, just when
"Tis fixt as firm as hands can make it,
The cursed undertaker's men,
In bringing down the coffins, break

it!!!"

CHANCE.

When Isaiah Thomas, printer, of Massachusetts, was printing his Almanack for the year 1780, one of the boys asked him what he should put opposite the 13th of July. Mr. T. being engaged, replied, "Any thing, any thing." The boy returned to the office, and set-“ rain, hail, and snow." The country was all amazement-the day arrived, when it actually rained, hailed, and snowed violently. From that time Thomas's Almanacks were in great demand.

SWIFT TRAVELLING.

The following performance of swift travelling appears to set every competition of modern Jehuism at defiance. It is copied verbatim from a scarce book, entitled "The Abridgement of the English Chronicle", by Edmund Howes, imprinted at London, 1668, (15 James I.)

"Master Lentun's swift Journey between London and Yorke.

"In this month John Lentun, of Kepwick, in the county of Yorke, esq. a gentleman of an ancient family there, kind of good reputation, the Majesty's servant, and one of his grooms of his most honourable privy chamber, performed so memorable a journey as I may not omit to record the same to future ages; the rather for that I did hear sundry gentlemen, many good physicians, affirm it was who were good horsemen, and likewise impossible to be done without danger of his life.

"He undertook to ride five several times betwixt London and Yorke, in five dayes, to be taken in one weeke, between Monday morning and Saturday following. He began his journey upon Monday, being the 29th of May, betwixt two and three of the clock in the morning, forthe of St. Martin's, neere to Aldersgate, within the city of London, and came into Yorke the same day, between the hours of 5 and 6 in the afternoon, where he rested that night. The next morning, being Tuesday, about 3 of the clocke, he tooke his journey forthe of Yorke, and came to his lodgings in St. Martin's aforesaid, betwixt the hours of 6 and 7 in the afternoon, where he rested that night. The next morning, being Wednesday, betwixt 2 and 3 of the clocke, he tooke his journey forthe of the city of London, and came unto Yorke about 7 of the clocke the same day where he rested that night. The next morning, being Thursday, betwixt 2 and 3 of the clocke, he tooke his journey forthe of Yorke, and came to London the same day, betwixt 7 and 8 of the clocke. The next day, being Friday, betwixt 2 and 3 of the clocke, he took his journey towards Yorke, and came thither the same day, betwixt the hours of 7 and 8 in the afternoon. So as he finished his appointed journey (to the admiration of all men, in five dayes, according to his promise). And upon Monday the 27th of this month, he went from Yorke, and came to the court of Greenwich upon Tuesday the 28th, to his Majesty, in as fresh and cheerful a manner as when he began.

278

a

OBSERVATIONS ON HUMAN

LIFE.

FROM THE IRISH TIMES.

There is, in all books of character, reverence for virtue, truth, and honour, therefore the learned never calumniate; scandal and detraction are subjects too low for the scholar, who will not stoop to pick up such dirty trifles from the ground.

The want of employment is the frequent cause of vice; they who are studious are ever busy-their minds are ever engaged; it is lack of emto the ployment which sends men town brothel and gaming-house; the learned envy not the enjoyments of the intemperate, nor the wealth of the oppressor or extortioner.

Disappointment in lucrative pursuits will never grieve those who seek the treasure of wisdom in books-through all the calamities of life they find consolation there.

In the general course of worldly pursuits obstacles will impede, and disagreeable occurrences happen; to bear these with fortitude is necessary for the sake of comfort; but the person who is tremblingly alive all over, whose sensibility approaches to soreness, who magnifies all casualties such a person feels imaginary injuries, and receives unmerited affronts. This unhappy being seeks retirement to brood over ideal misfortunes, or, in continual chagrin, conducts himself in society with folly and imprudence.

One of the delights of virtue is the sensibility to the charms of nature; farewell innocence when rural life affords no pleasure; then the mind is corrupted, and its objects are changed for worldly and sensual pursuits. The odour and beauty of the meadow, the purling of the rill, the song of the bird, the sportive tricks of the lamb or kid, the spirit of the horse, or the fidelity of the dog, are lost on the insipid taste of the worldling; he prefers gloomy November as the season for pecuniary transactions, to the merry month of May and all its delights, and thinks the study of the creation a childish pursuit.

ANCIENT PRICES OF PRO-
VISIONS.

The following prices of provisions in London 280 years ago, during the reign of Elizabeth, are extracted from an old household account for the years 1594 and 1595:

Paid 26th March, for 104 lb.
butter, received out of Glou-
cesterhire, whereof 16lb. at
3d. and the rest at 3d.
per lb.

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Salt for the said butter.
Carriage of the butter from
Bristol to London
Paid 29th March, for a fore-
quarter of lamb, with the
head.

For a capon

Nine stone of beef, at 18 d. the

stone

A quart of Malmsey

£. s. d.

1 6 8

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For 4lb. of soap
Paid April 3, for a lamb
A dozen of pigeons
For 28 eggs
Paid April 6, for three pecks

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of fine flower
For a side of veal
For a calf's head
For a pint of Claret wine
A peck of oysters, July 31
Half a peck of filberds, Au-
gust 19
Half a hundred of oranges,
Feb. 9, 1595

BIOGRAPHY,

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DON RAFAEL DEL RIEGO.

FROM THE UNIQUE.

This illustrious Spaniard was one of the earliest patriots who burned to deliver his country from the tyranny under which it groaned in 1819-20. The memorable 1st of January 1820— the day that first heard the cry of Spanish liberty-was chosen for a general insurrection of all the troops. Riego, having surprised the General in Chief, Calderon, while Quiroga surprised the garrison of San Fernando, marched into the village of Las Cabezas, where was first proclaimed the constitution of 1812; and Riego was hailed by all Spain as the hero of Las Cabezas, and the founder of its liberties. In the course of 1820, Riego made his triumphant entry into Madrid, when

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the most beautiful of women smiled upon him, and the fairest hands threw flowers into the vehicle which bore him through the streets.

Riego was little heard of when the French invaded Spain in 1823. It was the general cry in Spain-" Riego does not speak-Riego does not fight: what does Riego do, then?" But Riego was the corps de reserve of the liberals: and it was prudence not to expose him without an urgent necessity. He was like the standard of Mahomet, which ought not to be unfurled except in a case of desperation: and that case of desperation shortly occurred; for the vacillating conduct of the traitor Ballasteros determined Riego to make one more struggle for the liberties of Spain; and, with his "chosen few," formed a plan for arresting Ballasteros, which proving unsuccessful, he was taken prisoner, and brought into Carolina on the 5th of September, 1823; and from thence conveyed to Madrid, where he underwent something like a trial, and received the sentence to be hung on the 7th of November; and his body to be cut in quarters and distributed in different parts of Spain.The following afflicting detail of his execution, may be relied on as an authentic narrative of that disgraceful proceeding.

On the 7th the crowd began to assemble as early as nine o'clock round the doors of the prison, and in the Calle de Toledo, through which he was to pass to the Plaza de Cavada, where the scaffold was erected. Riego had requested that none but the Spanish guards or troops of the line might attend, the French Commandant therefore only interfered so far as to place a few piquets of French cavalry at the opening of the streets, to preserve order; and there were no Royalist volunteers or other soldiers to line the streets, a few lancers riding up and down to keep the way clear. About half-past twelve the unfortunate man was brought to the outward prison door, pale and emaciated, scarcely exhibiting signs of life; his coat had been stripped off, and he was covered from the neck to the feet, with a white linen robe de chambre, fastened with a cord round the waist. His hands and feet were tied, and he was seated on a sort of matted hurdle, with a pillow to support him, and friars on either side to keep him up, and afford him spiritual comfort. In his hand was placed a small print of the cruci

fixion, A few horse soldiers went first: the constables and officers belonging to the prison, an image of Christ on the cross, the ass dragging the hurdle, a number of ecclesiastics and friars, and a body of cavalry, completed the procession. In the streets, and at the balconies, with few exceptions, there were multitudes to witnessit: the exceptions were of those houses (and those the best) whose proprietors or occupiers had been friends to Riego. The greatest order and silence prevailed. Not an insulting word escaped from any. Little could be seen of him, as he bent his head on his bosom, except once or twice he raised his looks to the friar who kept speaking to him. On arriving at the foot of the scaffold, he was lifted from the hurdle and seated on the first step, where he made his confession. This ended, he was lifted up the ladder almost to the top, and while the executioner fastened the rope about his neck, the priest addressed the by-standers, desiring for him the forgiveness of those whom he might have offended, as he forgave his enemies. The Belief was then begun, and on coming to the words Jesus Christ, he was thrown off from the side; and here occurred the most barbarous spectacle, though a humane act to the sufferer. The hangman jumped upon his shoulders, jerking himself several times, and covering the face with a handkerchief, which he soon took off again, and waved in brutal triumph as a signal for the people to cry out Viva el Rey; but among some thousands, a few hundreds only joined in it, and few repeated it a second time. Two men were below under the scaffold to pull the legs, so that a sense of pain could only be momentary. A savage from the crowd struck the body with his fist, which was the only insult offered. In the evening it was taken to the nearest ehurch, and at night was interred at the Campo Santo, by the "Hermandad de Canidad y Paz"-an institution framed for acts of this nature, and who defray all charges when the collections are insufficient. How are the mighty fallen! seemed upon the lips of every one. What a contrast! the contemplation of this man when in 1820 parading in triumph the streets of Madrid, receiving congratulations and cheers on all sides, and showers of flowers from every window, and subsequently in all public papers dignified with the appellation of "hero" and "immortal," and

by the populace sometimes with those of "Santismo" and "Emperador," and now ignominiously drawn through the dirt to the gallows as the meanest malefactor, without the solace of a friend!-Sic transit gloria mundi!

As the friars alone were about Riego, nothing can be known about him but what they please to tell us. They no doubt tortured him, body and soul, till he was moulded to their own mind, and bereft of all fortitude and resolution; that he exhibited no signs of heroism at his last end was seen by all, and they say, although he did not suffer with the spirit of a hero, yet he died a true penitent. As the king, by the decree of the first October, had stripped him of all his honours, and he was tried by a Civil Court, he could not claim the privileges of a soldier, and probably he felt the ignominy to which he was doomed greater than death itself. It is said he wrote to the king, calling on him to remember his conduct on the 7th July, when he had been his consoler, assuring him of his personal safety, and that he would be the first and last to defend him, and if that consideration did not weigh with him, he then implored his clemency to pardon him. The king's reply was the law must take its course. During his imprisonment, Riego had also written several notes to persons he looked upon as friends, requesting trifling kindnesses, none of which were answered, out of fear, no doubt, of being looked upon ever after with an evil eye by the government. We are told that, the night previous to the execution, he desired a scrivener to be called, and dictated to him what in England would be called a last dying speech and confession, abjuring his errors, and asking pardon of the king, the nation, and the individuals whom he had injured. This has not yet been published, but we have the friar's word for it. The declarations taken from him before his trial are now before the Council of State for their inspection and determination,

In his personal appearance Riego had nothing to boast of a slender make, of about five feet nine, pitted with the small-pox, and his countenance otherwise not prepossessing; his talents and qualities will be best related by those who best knew him. On a slight acquaintance, he appeared to possess a good deal of activity and zeal in what he had to do, but nothing farther.

On the news reaching London, the deepest sorrow was expressed by all people for the fate of this unfortunate Spaniard; and a hand-bill, of which the following is a copy, was widely circulated throughout the metropolis:

"RIEGO!

"The horrid die is cast. The enlightened, the patriotic, the virtuous Riego, hath fallen by the unhallowed hand of the executioner! Despotism hath shed blood, that shall call down vengeance on the conspiring Tyrants leagued against human liberty! That Liberty, having its foundation in the eternal Law of God, and in the inherent Rights of Man, a just Providence, uniting and strengthening the union of good men, will, in due time, avenge the accursed deed! Meanwhile, let the sorrowing advocates of Freedom, as a testimony of their sympathy in the overwhelming grief of the widow, and the relatives of that Noble Martyr to their cause, who are now in England, put on deep mourning, as an outward token of that within, which tongue cannot express! Let that mourning continue for thirtyeight days, the number of years that have been granted to the sacrificed Riego!"

Riego was not handsome; but he possessed great understanding; his dark eyes were full of vivacity and enterprise; his hair was black; of a midàling stature, and a very martial air; his gait and general appearance that of a hero. He was universally beloved by the soldiery; and a private and a serjeant of the guards dined at his table every day. He was above two years a prisoner in France during the war of Independence; and while there, cultivated his mind in reading the best French and Italian authors. He was married to his niece, Maria Teresa, on the 15th October, 1821. This unfortunate lady, who had taken shelter in England, addressed, together with her husband's brother, a petition to the King of France, praying him to intercede in sparing her husband's life; this memorial, after being presented to the French Ambassador in London, was forwarded to Mr.Canning, with an earnest request that he would despatch it to Count Chateaubriand, to be laid before the French monarch. Mr. Canning, with his usual kindness of heart, immediately ordered an especial messenger to forward it to Paris;

but just on the point of his executing this glorious act of humanity, news arrived at the Foreign Office that Riego was no more!

The Garde du Corps, Azlor, who brought Riego to Madrid prison, was assassinated at Santa Cruz de Madela, as a sacrifice to the shade of Riego.

PERCY MALLORY.

BY THE AUTHOR OF PEN OWEN.

Three vols. post 8vo. pp. 1043, Edinburgh and London, 1823. This very entertaining work bids fair to obtain as much deserved popularity as its precursor, Pen Owen. The scene lays partly in Cumberland and partly in London. Percy Mallory is the son of Mr. Rycott, a testy and eccentric, but worthy Cumberland magistrate, who had lost a fine family of children, when this son was sent to bless him in his old age. The child was, however, but a few days old, when a gypsy beldame carried him off to London; and the novel commences with a scene near Blackfriars, where a female throws a child into the arms of a young Templar, who is taken up and nearly committed for child-stealing, when the Cumberland pursuers arrive, and claim the child as the son of Mr. Rycott; while Judith Mallory,who is also brought up, positively asserts it to be her own son.

The young Percy grew up a fine romantic youth, and who formed a band of young adventurers ready to undertake any enterprise, however difficult or hazardous; and a circumstance happened, that put his courage to a severe test: resting on a shelf, at some distance beneath a crag, and suspended over a frightful precipice, he saw a female hanging; by the help of his pole he descended, and reached the same ledge, falling part of the way. He encouraged her against despair, though relief seemed hopeless. An eagle hovered around them as impatient of his prey, until a shot, from an unseen marksman, dissipated their fears on this account. He held the poor creature, who had sunk into a state of insensibility, until the signal he made brought a person to their relief, at a moment when fragments of the cliff were breaking away from beneath them.

"God reward thee, Blencow," said Percy, on the sight of his deliverer, "thou hast done a deed of mercy this

day," looking to the ruddy smiling youth, to whom he addressed himself.

"Stay till it is done," replied this: young Icarus, who was seen balancing himself, and evidently contemplating a footing on the ledge, when Percy cried out, "Stop-stop, it is rotten-and even now trembles under its weight-a feather would overwhelm us!"

"What's to be done, Con!" demanded the other.

"Signal to lower you till you can take this wretched lady in your arms. -I fear she cannot help to support herself-but'tis only for a moment."

"It is impossible," cried the other"the rope will not bear double."

"Try it-it is-but we are sinking at this moment-my very voice shakes our tottering foundation--hold-for mercy's sake, Blencow."

Another rope, with a heavy weight attached to it, was now seen descending.

"God of mercy be praised!" Percy solemnly exclaimed. "He means not he wills not-that we should perishcheery, cheery, my fair fellow sufferer," and he attempted to seize the rope. The wind took it, and it swayed beyond his reach. The dalesman could not aid him, being unable to steady himself, without some fixed point on which to seize with the short ironheaded pole, which he carried to combat with his feathered enemy.

Percy again had recourse to his pole; he touched the rope-it nearly reached his grasp, and again eluded it. Again he began to despair. Those above could afford little aid, as the edge of the precipice projected, in part, over the spot on which they hung suspended, and the impetuous rushing of the wind, bore away the voices of those below, before any distinct articulation could reach the elevated station, to direct any thing like minute evolutions. Certain established signals only could be conveyed. Percy made another effort, dreading at each motion, however cautiously made, that their frail hold would give way;

at length, as the wind swayed the rope, after several ineffectual attempts, he caught the end of it between his teeth. He trembled with agitation, as the hope of relief seemed so nearly about to be realized. To coil and get the running noose under her arms would, in his skilful hands, have been the work of a minute, had those hands been at liberty; but the habitual faci

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