No sordid views the breast of Swift could
move,
And well might he the godlike man approve;
Well he, who taught a nation to be free,
Applaud that hero, who had rescued three.

The retrospect of a hundred years is full of curious matter for reflection. Ireland, where the foregoing is recorded, in other respects is too like the Ireland of our day,-stained with rapine, murders, and banded combinations riding roughshod over the laws. In England, the remarkable refinement of manners and modes of expression is striking, not less in private life than on the stage and in the press. The contrast in the administration of justice is also a most striking feature. Corporal punishments and executions were numerous beyond belief; and the way in which these examples were carried into effect defy the powers of exaggeration. Of criminals strung up by dozens at Tyburn, we read of one so bunglingly executed, that when carried to Surgeons' Hall for dissection, the first incision brought him to life again; and of the corpse of another, selected from six hanged on the same day by the same body, for their anatomical discourse, being rescued from them after a desperate fight at the foot of the gallows by his armed associates, and taken to Westminster to be buried. R. Briggs, for marrying two wives, is sentenced to be burnt in the hand; and (listen, ye pleaders against flogging in the army or navy) the journals exult over the lashing of Mr. Evans, a sergeant, who had absconded with the regiment's cash-box, and who, we are told, at the age of about seventy received his first well-merited allowance of three hundred lashes at the Tower, being part of the nine hundred which he would receive in full for his delinquency.

The feelings of men are assuredly much improved since such an infliction could be described in such a tone.*

But our researches, for the sake of a jeu d'esprit, are betraying us into an essay, which we will not prolong except by stating, in justice to the age, that charity superabounded far above our, in some respects, more civilised epoch. Kings, princes, corporations, companies, noblemen, private individuals,-in short, all ranks and classes gave profusely to mitigate the rigours of that severe season. And to conclude

The heart of our Princess Goosey seems to have been the only one frozen on the occasion.

The report of the court martial relating to William Walker, of Colonel Reynolds' company in the third regiment of Foot Guards, and Sergeant Evans, of Colonel Duncomb's company in the first regiment, having been made to his Majesty, they are each to receive nine hundred lashes, viz. three hundred from each of the three regiments of Guards; and Evans is afterwards to be drummed out with a halter about his neck, and his crime in capital letters affixed to his back.-February 9th.

Tuesday the first battalion of the first regiment of Foot Guards was mustered at the Tower, when Mr. Evans, the sergeant, aged about seventy, received his first payment of three hundred lashes of wholesome severity, pursuant to his sentence at a general court-martial, for deserting with the company's pay above nine years ago. He is to receive six hundred more at two different times, and to be drummed out of the regiment with the order of Jack Ketch about his neck.-February 21st.

Yesterday Sergeant Evans received his last three hundred lashes on the parade of the Tower, pursuant to the sentence of the court-martial, for running from his colours, and carrying off one month's pay of the company, and was afterwards drummed out of the regiment to the Tower-gate with a halter about his neck.— March 13th.

In which a point of some interest is argued at Richmond.

WHEN Bob heard that General Johnson had called, his indignation was excessive. He was in the house at the very time, nay all the time the General was there; and therefore could not but express in the warmest terms his sense of the extremely ungentlemanlike conduct of his fellow-servant William, who knew that the most direct intimations had been given, that when the General called he wished to have the honour of letting him out. He was conscious of this, quite conscious; and yet, having taken up the General's card, and become thereby certain of its being the General, this slave of passion returned to the kitchen, in which Bob and the cook were refreshing themselves with cold chicken and short cakes, and never mentioned a single syllable having reference to the General until he had actually departed! This Bob held to be a dereliction of principle, of a character so monstrous that it was with extreme difficulty that he withheld that degree of prompt chastisement to which he conceived the delinquent entitled. His philosophy, however, imparted strength to his forbearance, and eventually caused him to be content with administering a grave expostulation, to the justice of which the cook promptly subscribed; for that amiable person had an ardent affection for Bob, an affection which manifested itself chiefly in this, that she reserved for him exclusively all those delicacies of which she knew him to be strikingly fond, which was a monopoly, a species of favouritism, of which William did by no means approve; for, as he had an ardent affection for the cook, it rendered him very uncomfortable. It is to this, and to this alone, that his highly reprehensible conduct on the occasion in question must be attributed. He was jealous- in the tenderest sense jealous; and, albeit the object of his love was extremely tyrannical, and treated him with every unladylike indignity, when he saw her and Bob thus enjoying themselves with the short cakes and chickens, the spirit of revenge took possession of his soul so securely, that it was with a feeling of intense satisfaction he announced, when the General had left, that the General had been. This feeling was, however, short-lived; while the cook laboured zealously to prove to him how utterly unfit he was in consequence to be in any respectable kitchen, Bob was engaged in philosophically showing that his behaviour was beneath the true dignity of a man, which had a very powerful effect.

for

Stanley no sooner returned than Amelia explained to him with feelings of delight that Miss Johnson was the lady whom he had rescued ; that the General had called with a warm heart to thank him; and that he had promised to use his influence with the Captain in their favour; all which imparted great satisfaction to Stanley, who, however, felt more than he expressed.

"I wonder," said he, "how the General found me out."

"His servant, it appears, knew you."

"Well, I am glad that he has called, because, knowing the family

it will be pleasant for you; and I appreciate his kindness in offering to reason with your father; but rely upon it, Amelia, he will soon come round without the mediation of friends; and perhaps it would have been quite as well to let him in his own way get over his obstinacy." "Nay, my love, do not use a term so harsh."

"Why, what other term can be so applicable? What but obstinacy is it?-sheer obstinacy?"

"Fie. Stanley! Remember he is my father!"

"Well, well, my good girl, I'll say no more.-Oh! by the by, Wormwell wants me to dine with him to-day. Will you give me leave to go?"

"Give you leave!" said Amelia, with a smile.

"Why, of course. I cannot presume to go without. I told him that you ruled me with a rod of iron, and that therefore your permission must first be obtained."

Amelia was rather pleased with this idea,-she thought it quite original, and playfully said, that as such was the case, if he promised to be good, he might go, for which, of course, he felt grateful; and, well knowing how little it required to delight that gentle creature, expressed his gratitude with appropriate humility, and then summoned Bob, for the purpose of giving him instructions to take the horses down to Epsom in the morning.

With these instructions Bob, of course, was highly pleased; and in the morning he accordingly started; and at about the same time General Johnson set off with the view of performing his promise to Amelia. The General had in the interim formed his plan. When he proposed to himself the attainment of any object, he would carry the point, if possible, by storm; but being an excellent tactician, and knowing Captain Joliffe sufficiently well to know that with him his favourite mode of attack would not succeed, he had made up his mind to accomplish the thing by stratagem, although he preferred the storming principle much. He appeared to feel that his reputation was at stake in this matter; and it was indeed one of his chief characteristics that whenever he undertook to perform a task for another, he felt more deeply mortified in the event of a failure than the person whom he generously intended to serve. It was hence that he had studied his course of proceeding in this case so deliberately; and as the result of that study was to convince him that he must act with great caution upon the Captain's pride, he resolved to make it appear that he entertained the most friendly feelings towards Stanley, and to show that his noble spirit rendered him worthy not only of the affection of Amelia, but of general esteem and admiration, well knowing how powerfully men are influenced by the opinions of those who form the social circles in which they move, and how easily favourable prepossessions are thus created, and adverse prejudices destroyed.

On arriving at Richmond, the General was, as usual, received most cordially. The Captain insisted upon his dining with them, of course, and equally of course the General consented, but conversed upon none but ephemeral topics until they had dined, when he thought it correct to touch with care upon that point which he felt himself then more than ever bound to carry, and therefore, much to the delight of Mrs. Juliffe, who indulged in occasional exclamations of joy, proceeded to relate all the circumstances connected with the perilous position of his daughter, taking care to paint the rescue in colours the most attractive;