persecution for the time, and obtained an appeal to Felix at Cesarea. His reply to the abuse of the loquacious Tertullus is insinuating, mild, and courtly, and so captivated the corrupt Felix, that this prejudiced governor suffered him to have free access to his friends, and to enjoy some mitigation of his confinement. The exordium of his elegant plea before Agrippa, has been frequently cited, as a brilliant example of the most artful application to the vanity and prejudices of a stern judge, that was ever employed in a court of justice. The effect was magical, and vindicates the power of versatility. Bigotry relented, Persecution dropt his sanguinary scourge; and Truth and Mercy, through the organs even of this partial tribunal, proclaimed loudly, saying, " This man doeth nothing worthy of death or bonds."

In whatever situation we contemplate this shining saint, we find him ever pliant, polite, persuasive, and of the hue of his companions. At Sidon, he attracts the favours of the cour teous Julius. On shipboard, and tossed by the lawless surges of the Adriatic, he softens the boisterous mariner. In Rome, by doing, what the Romans did, he dwells in his own house, two

years peaceably. His languageis that of bland civility. He uses the winning phrase, fellowsoldier and fellow-labourer. He has no nar. row rule of sociability. He consorts, indiffer ently, with Luke the physician, and Zenas the lawyer, and talks, in the festal tone, of Gaius, mine host. He is glad that Stephanas and For tunatus are come, and seems to regret, that Demas should go. His politeness is universal. He commends "Phebe our sister," and greets Mary and Julia. Whether it is "the beloved Persis," or Tryphena and Tryphosa, 'tis all one to the saint; he can salute both or either. Such a character must be loved. Such gentleness has the general suffrage.

"Him, portion'd maids, apprenticed orphans blest,
The young who labour, and the old who rest."

In the early part of my life, while I was mingling with men, and oftener in the city than in my closet, I was acquainted, and charmed with an European gentleman, whose versatility, universal knowledge, and fascinating powers, almost persuaded me, that he was a magician, or the wandering Jew himself. As this extrao di

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nary and agreeable acquaintance afforded a lively proof of the advantages of an accommodating temper, I beg permission to sketch in my rude way, one more picture, and I cau affirm it is done from a masterly original.

I believe it is Dr. Smollet, who, in one of his novels, describes the hero, in company with a grave, plodding citizen. Adapting himself to the humour of his entertainer, the pliable guest, smokes tobacco, though he was averse to the plant, derides idlers, talks of cent. per cent. and harangues upon the funds, like a professed broker. My European acquaintance acted in the very spirit of this species of facility. Like the Aristippus of the Roman poet, every hue of life became him. He seemed to realize the Ovidian fable of incessant metamorphosis, and classical enthusiasm might fancy him the evervarying Proteus, recent from his coral cave. He was, at pleasure, a poet, a painter, a musician, a divine. With men of learning and wit, he poured forth the copious stores of extensive eru dition. With ladies, he discussed the pretensions of rival coquettes, or described the tints of a modish ribband. In the joviality of wine, his chorus was in unison with vociferating re

vellers, and by the couch of the invalid, or at the toilet of beauty, his voice was modulated to the lowest and sweetest tones. I have seen him with a musician, and he held a harp in his hand, and played enchantingly a favourite air, and spoke scientifically of the theory of harmonics. I have seen him with poets, and he talked for hours, with critical precision, of a disputed passage in Virgil or Shakspeare. Three fat-headed American speculators, calling upon him one evening, he interested all their avarice, by proposing a thousand projects of plausible adventure. I have heard him talk on subjects of commerce with a merchant, and he spoke of debentures, and cockets, and clearance, like a custom-house officer. Among the clergy, who so well read as he, in St. Basil, and church his tory. Among lawyers, he took care to remember anecdotes of sergeant Singleton, and lord Mansfield, and to quote, with technical propriety, the pleadings of the one, and the decisions of the other. In fine, he was a general actor. But, whatever was his cast of parts, he could play them well. He was the Garrick of life; and his delighted audience gave him all their applause.

STORY OF SAMPSON.

"Then went Sampson to Gaza, and saw there an harlot." Judges xvi. 1.

STRONG as he was, such a journey debilitated him. It was not the length of the way from Timnath; it was not the rugged road, nor the irksomeness of a hard trotting mule; it was not a stroke of the sun, nor a bleak air, that shook the nerves, and prostrated the life of Sampson, for not one of these circumstances is even glanced at by the historian; no, he saw in one of the stews of Gaza, a venal beauty, and was undone. His wit evaporated; his wisdom turned babbler; he lost his vigilance, his eyes, and his life.

One licentious indulgence excites to another. The blandishments of this courtezan allure to the cells of the whole sisterhood. He lays his head in the lap of voluptuousness, and gives full scope to criminal desire. For it came to pass,