FOUR GREAT MEN.

In a small private chapel in Bristol, there is a marble tablet, containing the following inscription, to the memory of four of the greatest friends of humanity that perhaps ever lived. It was written by a late worthy individual, John Birtel, on hearing of Lord Nelson's victory off Trafalgar.

"John Howard,

Jonas Hanway,

John Fothergill,

Richard Reynolds.

"Not unto us, O Lord! but unto thy name,

glory.

"Beneath some ample, hallowed dome,
The warrior's bones are laid;

And blazon'd on the stately tomb,
His martial deeds displayed.
Beneath an humble roof we place
This monumental stone,

To names the poor shall ever bless,
And charity shall own.

To soften human woe their care,
To feel its sigh, to aid its prayer;
Their work on earth, not to destroy;
And their reward, their master's joy."

Q

be the

HENRY 11.

Henry the Second was one of the most beneficent of sovereigns; he knew the wants of his people, and relieved them with a liberality which renders his name immortal. The year 1176, was remarkable in France for a scarcity of provisions; and the provinces of Anjou and Maine, then under his dominion, severely felt the consequences. These he endeavoured to remove by every means in his power; and actually procured sustenance from the neighbouring states, sufficient for the support of ten thousand persons, from the commencement of April until the harvest. At other times, the corn in his granaries was always at the service of those in necessity.

BERKELEY THE SON.

Dr. Berkeley, son of the celebrated Bishop of Cloyne, inherited all the benevolent virtues of his father. During his residence at St. Andrews, he distributed upwards of £200 annually to poor families, and other deserving objects in that place and neighbourhood; a large sum to come from the pockets of a private clergyman, who was by no means rich in benefices. And although he has been censured with regard to his conduct to the English Episcopalians in Scotland, yet, in the work of beneficence, he knew neither sect nor party; but administered his bounty equally to Nonjurors and Episcopalians.

M. NECKER.

M. Necker once let a house at a very reasonable rate, near Coppet, to a family not very rich; when this family left it, a woman possessed of some fortune wished to hire the house at a lower rate; and for that purpose so persecuted him, that he consented. But he persuaded himself that he ought to restore to the poor family all that exceeded the latter price, which they had been paying him for many years; and he actually returned the whole surplus to them.

ANNE BOLEYN.

Queen Anne Boleyn is said to have been provided daily with a purse, the contents of which were entirely appropriated to the poor, when she casually met with proper objects, justly thinking no week well passed which did not afford her pleasure in the retrospect. Impressed with this conviction, the unfortunate queen insisted that all her attendants should employ their leisure in making clothes for the poor, which she took care to see properly distributed.

A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION. A young Neapolitan of rank having a strong passion for the military service, and despairing of an opportunity of acquiring distinction in his own country, resolved to seek employment in the Austrian army. With this view, he set out for Vienna, furnished with

some letters of recommendation. On the road thither, he came to an inn in the Austrian territory, where he found himself with three strangers, with whom he desired permission to sup; and as travellers are commonly glad of having company, he was readily enough admitted. The strangers were Germans. At the table, the Neapolitan related his story, and told them what his views were. One of the strangers, after having very composedly heard him, told him he thought he was on a bad plan, for that after so long a peace, and such a prodigious number of the Austrian nobility as wanted employment, he saw little likelihood of a stranger obtaining a post in the army. The young gentleman answered, that he was determined to continue his journey; that he felt all the justness of the reasons opposed to him; that in truth, there was but little chance of his succeeding; but that it was, however, not quite impossible, that on observing his thorough good-will for the service, something might be done to procure him an introduction into it. To this, he added a fair account of himself; named the respectable person by whom he was recommended; and still allowing that there was hardly any prospect of realizing his hopes, he confessed he could not prevail upon himself to give them wholly up. The Austrian traveller, who had been the first to dissuade him, then said, "Well, since nothing can put you off your project, I will give you a letter to General Lacy, that may be of use to you." The Neapolitan pursued his journey. On his arrival at Vienna, he waited on General Lacy, and delivered him all his letters of recommendation, excepting that of the traveller, which he happened to have mislaid.

The general read them, and told him he was very sorry he could not serve him, there being an absolute impossibility just then of procuring any appointment for him. The Italian had laid his account with some such answer, but did not absolutely give the point up; and, accordingly, for several days he continued to present himself at the general's levee. At length, he laid his hands upon the letter which he had mislaid, and carried it to the general, to whom he made an excuse for having forgotten it, giving him to understand, as he related in what manner he came by it, that he had not annexed to it much importance. The general opened it, appeared surprised, and after having read it," Do you know," said he, "who it was that gave you this letter?" "No." *It was the Emperor himself (Joseph II.). You ask me for a lieutenant's commission, and he orders me to give you a captain's."

HAYDN.

Haydn, when a boy, was engaged by the organist of the Cathedral at Vienna; but when his voice broke, his master discarded him from the choir, and most inhumauly turned him into the streets, on account of a boyish trick, at seven o'clock one evening in November, with tattered clothes, and without one kreutzer in his pocket. Driven into the street at such an hour, and without any means of procuring a lodging, he threw himself upon some stone steps, and passed the night in the open air. A poor, but friendly musician, of the name of Spangler, discovered him the next morning; and though he himself