one to defend him. But to these admonitions he always replied, "He that lives in fear of death, every moment feels its tortures: I will die but once." At last, thus fell in the fifty-sixth year of his age, the conqueror of the Gauls, of Pompey, and of the Senate, the master of the Roman Republic and the world, who died without uttering the least complaint, or shewing any mark of grief or weakness, in the year before Christ forty-three.

It is not to be omitted here, that among many other noble schemes and ordinances, which tended to the grandeur of the city of Rome, and the enlargement of the Roman empire, Cæsar reformed the calendar: and with the assistance of the most able astronomers, regulated the year according to the course of the sun. Two months were added to the calendar, and the whole year was divided into three hundred and six-y-five days.-He also added one day to every fourth year in the month of February, and that year was named Bissextile or Leap Year.

The reckoning of time from this regulation, was called the Julian account of time; and some ages after the Old Style, in opposition to the New, or Gregorian Style. This last is now generally followed in most parts of Europe, and reckons eleven days forwarder.

With the death of Cæsar ended the first Triumvirate, or government of the Roman Empire by three persons, Pompey, Cæsar, and Crassus.

VARIETIES.

ANECDOTE OF SIR THOMAS GRESHAM.

Sir Thomas Gresham, who founded the Royal Exchange, was the son of a very poor woman, who one day deserted him in a field; but fortunately the chirping of a grasshopper attracted the attention of a boy, and seduced him to the spot where he lay, and from this circumstance his life was preserved. To commemorate this fortunate event, Sir Thomas adopted the grasshopper for his crest, and hence, also, the cause of the similitude of that insect being placed over the Royal Exchange.

A WELCH EPITAPH.

This spot is the sweetest I've seen in my life, For it raises my flowers, and covers my wife!

HABEAS CORPUS ACT.

Bishop Burnet relates the following curious anecdote of the above act: "It was carried," says he, "by an odd artifice in the House of Lords. Lords Grey and Norris were named to be tellers. Lord Norris being a man subject to vapours, was not at all times attentive to what he was doing; and a very fat lord coming in, Lord Grey counted him ten, in jest at first, but seeing Lord Norris had not observed it, he went on with his misreckoning of ten; and so it was reported to the House; and it was declard, that they who were for the Bill, were the majority, though indeed it was on the other side; and by this means the Bill passed."

At the Bazaar in King-street, Portman-square, there is for sale "a green child's phaeton ;"-and a fine elegant mansion is to be let within fifteen miles of London, the notice of which, after describing all its perfections, concludes by saying, "it has been considered, by every body who have seen it, admirably adapted as a residence for lunatics.”The same paper invites mothers to send their daughters to a commodious boarding-school,where there is "no entrance;" and as an irresistable inducement to single gentlemen of fortune, they are informed, that in the vicinity of Saint James's-street there is a suite of apartments to let unfurnished with conveniences."

ANCIENT LUXURIES.

A pretty correct idea of the comforts enjoyed by the poor of the 16th century, may be gathered from the register of the luxuries in the house-hold book

of the Great Earl of Northumberland. From that document it appears, that in one of the most noble and splendid establishments in the kingdom, the retainers and servants had but spare and unwholsome diet; salt beef, mutton, and fish, three fourths of the year, with few or no vegetables," so that," says Hume, "there cannot be any thing more erroneous, than the magnificent ideas formed of the Roast Beef. of Old England. My Lord and Lady themselves do not seem to fare so very delicately, they have set on their tables for breakfast, at seven o'clock in the morning, a quart of beer, as much wine, two pieces of salt fish, six red herrings, four white ones, or a dish of sprats."

THE FORCE OF LOVE.

A young Hibernian, who was desperately in love with a fair English belle, was so unfortunate as to fail in his suit, though he urged it with all the warmth of his countrymen; swearing unalterable faith by St. Patrick, &c. In revenge for the lady's neglect, he resolved to drown himself, and went to a pond, where stood one of his own countrymen unperceived. The lover plunged into the water; but, in spite of all his efforts, the water being too shallow, he was unable to accomplish his wish. He was now put to his wits' ends, when espying a tree at some distance, and recollecting that his garters were long and strong, in sight of the Irishman, who remained a tame spectator, he strung himself up. When he had dangled in the air for some time, his countryman, who had remained a passive looker-on, began to alarm the neighbours, and related what he had seen; and on being asked why he had suffered the unfortunate gentleman to make away with himself? He declared in his defence-" That by his Jasus he thought the gentleman had a mind to bathe, and then, as he was wet, want to hang for a little bit, in order to dry.

THE MODERN GREEKS. "I have not seen enough of the Modern Greeks," says Monsieur Chateaubriand, "to venture to form an opinion respecting their character. I merely think that there is still an abundance of genius in Greece, just as I conceive, that human nature still preserves its superiority in Rome; by which I would not be understood to say, that superior men are now to be I fear, that the Greeks are not too well found in that city. At the same time, disposed to break their chains, if even they were released from the would not lose, in a moment, the tyranny which oppresses them; they marks of their fetters. They have not only been crushed beneath the weight of despotism, but for these two thousand years they have been a superannuated and degraded nation. They have not been renovated, like the rest of Europe, by barbarous nations, but the very nation which has conquered them, has contributed to their corruption. That nation has not introduced among them the rude and savage manners of the natives of the north, but the voluptuous customs of the southern climes. To say nothing of the religious crimes which the Greeks would have committed by abjuring their altars, they would have gained nothing by the adoption of the Koran. In the book of Mahomet, there is no principle of civilization, no precept that can impart elevation to the character: that book inculcates neither a hatred of tyranny nor a love of independence. In embracing the religion of their rulers, the Greeks would have renounced the arts, sciences, and letters, to become soldiers of fortune, and blindly to obey the caprice of an absolute sovereign. They would either have spent their lives in ravaging the world, or of slumbering on a carpet among women and perfumes."

In treating on the same subject, our enlightened countryman, Dr. Clarke, says "the heads of the young Greeks,

groom who thereupon assemble, and make such biddings, or presents, as their means or inclinations invite; and if these biddings, upon a similar occasion, are not reciprocated by the parties, an action may be brought against

them for the amount :

"As we intend to enter the matrimonial state on Tuesday the 25th day of March next, we are encouraged by our friends to make a bidding on the occasion, the same day, at the young woman's father's house, called Trenythyn uchat, in the parish of Llanon, at which time and place the favour of your very good company is most respectfully solicited; and whatever donation you may be pleased to confer on us then, will be received with gratitude, and repaid with punctuality, whenever similarly required,

By your obedient servants,

JOHN MORGANS. ANN ROGERS." "The young woman's father and mother (Philip and Jane Rogers), also her brothers and sister, (William, John, and Hannah,) together with Daniel Jones, shoemaker, desire that all gifts of the above nature due to them, be returned to the young couple on the above day, and will be thankful for all favours granted."

ON WATCHES.

A correspondent says, watches in general beat and tick from 14,500 to 18,000 in one hour, 17,400 is a very usual trane, but as a true second beats 18,000, the enclosed calculation is taken at that number, and must, of course, beat five in every second, 300 in a minute, 18,000 in an hour, 434,000 in a day, 3,024,000 in a week, and, consequently, 157,784,400, in a year. The vibration of the balance differs according to the escapement; the balance to a vertical watch vibrates or passes backwards or forwards about half a circle; a horizontal about two-thirds; a duplex near a circle; a detached lever rather more; and a lever with rack and pinion will frequently vibrate a circle and a half; but taking the calculation from a detached lever, at one circle, and supposing the balance to be one inch in diameter, or three inches in circumference, a particle of dirt or rust, if placed on the extremity, would travel at the rate of 25 yards in one minute, 1,500 in an hour, 20 miles in a day, 143 miles in a week, 7,471 miles in a year.

FATAL EFFECTS OF SLOVENLINESS.

BY MR. COBBETT.

In my English Grammar, I earnestly exhort my son always to write in a plain hand; because if what you write cannot be understood, you write in vain, and, if the meaning be picked out, that is to say, come at with difficulty, there is a waste of time; and time is property, and, indeed, a part of life itself. The other day, when I first advertised my trees for sale, I besought gentlemen to write to me in a plain hand: to write the dates and the signatures in a plain hand, at any rate.

Nevertheless, I received some letters which lay unanswered for a good while, owing to the bad hand writing. Nobody pays so much attention to a slovenly as to a neat and plain piece of writing. It is an invariable rule with me to fling into the fire at once any blurred or dirty letter that I receive, and every letter that is written across the writing, let such letter come from whom it may. People that write in this manner are idle people. What they put upon paper is unworthy of occupying the time of any persons not like themselves. This seems, at first sight, to be a very trifling matter; but if we duly reflect on it, we shall find it a matter of considerable importance. At any rate, as I am certain, that I never in my lifetime sent a slovenly scrawl to any person whatever, I beseech those who do me the honour to write to me, to write to me in a hand that will not compel me to waste my time, and expose me to the risk of appearing to be guilty of negligence or ill-manners. To young men I would observe, that slovenliness is no mark of gentility; that amongst their most valuable possessions is their time; and I beg them to consider how large a portion of their time is consumed in decyphering even their own bad writing. The hand-writing is, with me, a great thing. I cannot be lieve that slovenliness of hand-writing can exist without a general slovenliness in the conducting of affairs, *** To write plain is the great thing: writing fast comes of itself.

SPENCER THE POET, AND THE

EARL OF SOUTHAMPTOM.

It is recorded, that when Spencer had finished the Faery Queen, he carried it to the Earl of Southampton, the

great patron of the poets of those days. The manuscripts being sent up to the Earl, he read a few pages, and then ordered his servant to give the writer twenty pounds. Reading further, he cried in a rapture, "Carry that man another twenty pounds!" "Proceeding still, he said, "Give him twenty pounds more." But at length he lost all patience, and said "Go, turn that fellow out of the house, for if I read on, I shall be ruined."

MEMOIR OF ARGUELLES, THE SPANISH REFUGEE, NOW IN THIS COUNTRY.

Don Agustina Arguelles, born in Ribadesella in 1775, of one of the most distinguished families of Asturias, was educated in the University of Oviedo. Having finished his studies, he went to Madrid, where he entered into the office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and from it into that of Public Credit, of which Don Manuel Espinosa was the director. This gentleman having remarked in Arguelles both probity and talent, intrusted him with a commission, relating to some financial measure, to the Government of his Britannic Majesty. He was in London when Napoleon invaded Spain. Recalled to his country by this event, he landed at Cadiz, where the central Junta had established their sittings. Having been elected representative for the province of Asturias, and appointed a member of the committee for framing a constitution, he made a report, in the name of that committee, which has been considered a masterpiece of logic and eloquence. During the time he remained a member of the government, he acquired a great ascendancy over the minds of his colleagues, and by his activity and talents induced them to make those political reforms, which the degraded state of Spain required. He had the greatest share in the suppression of feudal rights; of the inquisition; and of the 'abuses and prejudices which had chained both the soil and the mass of the inhabitants of Spain to a few despicable tyrants. On the return of Ferdinand to Spain, Arguelles was denounced for his political principles, arrested, and tried by a special commission, got up for the purpose of condemning the Liberals. The conduct of Arguelles, and of several of his colleagues, who were sharing the same unhappy fate as himself, was ad

mirable on this occasion; they proved their innocence so clearly, and showed so much courage and magnanimity, that they almost persuaded the tyrant's tools to act justly. The men who had been selected to condemn them began to hesitate, and were inclined to acquit them; but Ferdinand, irritated at the delay, and impatient to satiate his vengeance, had the papers relating to their trial brought to him, and he, with his own hand, wrote on each of the causes the amount of their punishments, increasing those which had already been pronounced by the Judges. The sentence which he wrote against Arguelles, was ten years in the Presidios. Thus was this patriot loaded with chains, and carried with several of his companions in misfortune to the hot shores of Africa, doomed to labour amidst felons. The vicinity of Ceuta, however, to Gibraltar, induced the persecuting government of Ferdinand to have them removed to the isle of Majorca. When the late revolution occurred, Arguelles was confined in the little town of Alcudia. The patriots, imagining him still at Ceuta, searched in vain for him there, but in the mean time he landed at Barcelona. His journey to Madrid was a triumph of many days; the inhabitants everywhere made the air resound with his name, and with that of the constitution, of which he had been one of the founders, and indeed one of its martyrs. On his arrival at the capital, the hypocritical king received him with affected kindness, and feigned greatTM regret at the sufferings he had endured. He was nominated, with the consent of all the patriots, Minister of the Interior. His conduct, however, during the time of his ministry, completely disappointed the expectations of the people. The measures adopted by him were only calculated to kindle a civil war; to extinguish the flame of liberty throughout Spain; and to destroy the energies of the people, whose enthusiasm ought rather to have been fanned than smothered by unwise restrictions, particularly at the critical moment when the leagued tyrants of Europe were straining every nerve to crush the new system. The consequence of this strange conduct (whieh had its origin only in the pride and obstinacy of his character, that would not allow him to retrace his steps, when he was in a wrong path,) was the loss of his popularity, and his dis