and who, though in humble circumstances, is a woman of honest principles and strict veracity. She lives in a cellar, containing two apartments; the anterior is a little shop, and the other the eating, as well as bed-room of the family. In the shop the dog's kennel is situated, and near it a cupboard, containing provisions, &c. One evening the cupboard was accidentally left open, and a quantity of black-puddings thereby exposed: this attracted the cat's attention, who was proceeding to make an attack upon them, but was repulsed by the dog, who signified his displeasure by growling, which was occasionally repeated, in spite of orders from the inner apartment to be quiet. At last the noise ceased, and in the morning the dog was found watching the puddings, which he had removed from the cupboard into the interior of his kennel, for their greater security from the furtive propensities of pussy, who was quietly seated at a little distance. On examining the puddings they were found uninjured, and were given to their trusty guardian, as a reward for his integrity.

75. Extraordinary Smuggler.-In January, 1821, as a vessel was steering for the Downs, nearly opposite St. Margaret's bay, while two gentlemen on board were amusing themselves with their guns at a piece of board floating on the water, they saw a bird coming towards them (which afterwards proved to be a carrier pigeon) apparently from the French coast: when it came near enough to observe so many sailors standing on the beach, it made a sudden tack, as if it intended to take another course; when it came near the ship, one of the gentlemen shot at and killed it: the boat was sent and the poor bird brought on board, when, on examining it, to the utter astonishment of all present, was discovered between the feathers (chiefly on the neck) six French gold rings, of the most grand and ingenious workmanship.

76. Filial Tenderness.-As some Christian captives at Algiers, who had been ransomed, were going to be discharged, the cruisers brought in a Swedish vessel, among the crew of which was the father of one of those ransomed captives. The son made himself known to the old man; but their mutual unhappiness, at meeting in such a place, may well be conceived. The young man, however, considering that the slavery his father was about

to undergo would inevitably put an end to his life, requested that he might be released, and himself detained in his room; which was immediately granted: but when the story was told to the governor, he was so affected with it, that he caused the son likewise to be discharged, as the reward of his filial and exemplary tender

ness.

77. The Magistrate insulted.—One of the favourites of King Henry the Fifth, when Prince of Wales, having been indicted for some misdemeanor, was condemned, notwithstanding all the interest the prince could make in his favour: the latter was so incensed at the issue of his trial, as to strike the judge on the bench. This magistrate, whose name was Sir William Gascoign, acted with a spirit becoming his character: he instantly ordered the prince to be committed to prison; and young Henry, by this time sensible of the insult he had offered to the laws of his country, and to his royal father, whose person was represented by the judge, suffered himself to be quietly conducted to gaol by the officers of justice. The king, (Henry the Fourth) who was an excellent judge of mankind, was no sooner informed of this transaction, than he cried out in a transport of joy, "Happy is the king who has a magistrate possessed of courage to execute the laws! and still more happy, in having a son who will submit to such chastisement !"

78. The dutiful Sons.-During an eruption of Mount Etna, many years since, the dangers it occasioned to the inhabitants of the adjacent country became very imminent, and the flames flying about, they were obliged to retire to a greater distance, Amidst the hurry and confusion of such a scene, (every one flying and carrying away whatever they deemed most precious,) two sons, the one named Anapias, the other Amphinomous, in the height of their solicitude for the preservation of their wealth and goods, recollected their father and mother, who, being both very old, were unable to save themselves by flight. Filial tenderness set aside every other consideration; and " Where," cried the generous youths, "shall we find a more precious treasure than those who begat and gave us being?” This said, the one took his father on his shoulders, the other his mother, and so made

up

their way through the surrounding smoke and flames. The fact struck all beholders with the highest admiration; and they and their posterity ever after called the path they took in their retreat, "The Field of the Pious," in memory of this pleasing incident.

79. Fraternal Love.-In the year 1585, the Portuguese carracks sailed from Lisbon to Goa, a very rich and flourishing colony of that nation, in the East Indies. On board of one of these vessels were no less than twelve hundred souls, mariners, passengers, priests, and friars. The beginning of the voyage was prosperous; but not many days after, through the perverseness of the pilot, the ship struck on a rock, and instant death began to stare them in the face. In this distress the captain ordered the pinnace to be launched; into which having tossed a small quantity of biscuit, and some boxes of marmalade, he jumped in himself, with nineteen others, who, with their swords, prevented the coming of any more, lest the boat should sink. Thus scantily equipped, they put off into the great Indian ocean, without a compass to steer by, or any fresh water but what might happen to fall from the heavens, whose mercy alone could deliver them. At the end of four or five days the captain died with sickness; and they were obliged, to prevent confusion, to elect one of their company to command them. This person proposed to them to draw lots, and cast every fourth man over-board, their small stock of provision being now so far spent as not to be sufficient, at very short allowance, to sustain life above three days longer. To this they agreed; so that there were four to die out of their unhappy number, the captain, a friar, and a carpenter, being exempted by general consent. The lots being cast, three of the first submitted to their fate, after they had confessed and received absolution. The fourth victim was a Portuguese gentle man, that had a younger brother in the boat; who, seeing him about to be thrown overboard, most tenderly embraced him, and with tears besought him to let him die in his room; enforcing his arguments by telling him, "that he was a married man, and had a wife and children at Goa, besides the care of three sisters who absolutely depended upon him for support; whereas himself was

single, and his life of no great importance:" he therefore conjured him to suffer him to supply his place, assuring him that he had rather die for him than live without him. The elder brother, astonished, and melted with his generosity, replied, "that, since the Divine Providence had appointed him to suffer, it would be wicked and unjust to permit any other to die for him, but especially a brother, to whom he was so infinitely obliged." The younger, however, persisting in his refusal, would take no denial, but, throwing himself on his knees, held his brother so fast that the company could not disengage him. Thus they disputed awhile; the elder bidding him to be a father to his children, and recommending his wife and sisters to his protection; but all he could say could not make the younger desist. This was a scene of tenderness that must fill every humane breast with pity. At last the constancy of the elder brother yielded to the piety of the other, and suffered the gallant youth to supply his stead; who, being cast into the sea, and a good swimmer, soon got to the stern of the pinnace, and laid hold of the rudder with his right hand. This being perceived by one of the sailors, he cut off the hand with his sword. The youth, dropping into the sea, presently rose again, and regained his hold with his left hand, which received the same fate by a second blow. Thus dismembered of both hands, he made a shift, notwithstanding, to keep himself above water with his feet, and two stumps, which he held bleeding upwards. This moving spectacle so excited the pity of the whole company, that they cried out, "He is but one man; let us endeavour to save him!" Accordingly he was taken into the boat, where he had his hands bound up as well as the place and circumstances would admit. They then continued rowing all night; and the next morning, when the sun rose (as if Heaven would reward the gallantry and piety of this young man,) they descried land, which proved to be the mountains of Mozambique, in Africa, not far from a Portuguese colony; thither they all safe arrived, where they remained till the next ship from Lisbon passed by, and carried them to Goa.

80. Duelling.-It is reported of the famous Viscount de Turenne, that, when he was a young officer, and at the siege of