DESULTORY SELECTIONS

And Original Remarks.

ORIGINAL CHARACTER OF FRENCH
WRITERS IN GENERAL.

Revenge.

Revenge is a kind of wild justice, which the more man's nature runs to, the more ought law to weed it out. For, as for the first wrong, it doth but offend the law; but the revenge of that wrong putteth the law out of office. Certainly in tak

The most tolerable sort of revenge is for those wrongs which there is no law to remedy; but let a man take heed, that the revenge be such, as there is no law to punish. Ld. Bacon.

THE French are a nation of philosophick enthusiasts. They have not patience enough to plod amiding revenge a man is but even with the perplexities of science, to ex- his enemy; but in passing it over, amine with candour both sides of a he is superior. It is a prince's part question, and form frigid con- to pardon. clusions from preponderant evidence; but with all the ardour and volatility of men, whose souls are the inspiration of feeling, rather, than intellect, they rhapsodize their readers into the most captivating ideas of the character of man, and are ever careful to leave them in love with the subject. Their theories seem to rise from the reveries of romance rather, than the researches of reason. They please, but seldom instruct. We read them, however, over and over again, with renovated delight, and wonder at the fairy fascination, that charms reason asleep.

He was reputed a wise man, who, when asked, when a man should marry, answered "a young man, not yet; an elder man, not at all."

Ibid.

Remark on the English order of Maids of honour and Knights of the bed-chamber.

The family of the emperors was composed entirely of their domes tick slaves and freed men. AUGUSTUS OF TRAJAN would have blushed at employing the meanest of the Romans on those menial offices, which in the household and bedchamber of a limited monarch, are so eagerly solicited by the proudest nobles of Britain. Gibbon.

Imagination.

Believe me, sage sir, you have not sufficient respect for the imagination. I could prove to you in a trice, that it is the mother of sentiment, the great distinction of our nature, the only purifier of the passions animals have a portion of reason, and equal, if not more exquisite senses; but no trace of imagination, or her offspring, taste, appears in any of their actions. The impulse of the senses, passions, if you will, and the conclusions of

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reason, draw men together; but the imagination is the true fire, stolen from heaven, to animate this cold creature of clay, producing all those fine sympathies, that lead to rapture, rendering men social by expanding their hearts, instead of leaving them leisure to calculate how many comforts society affords. Mary Wolstonecraft.

would be purchased with guineas, and paid me with an disturbed, but punctual attention.

Sterne. Diogenes the Cynick philosopher, being asked which was the best wine, made answer "that, which he drank at another man's cost."

Anecdote of Talleyrand.

During the Easter week, 1768, Disappointment. Talleyrand went with some de How am I altered by disappoint-bauched associates to a public ment! When going to ten years brothel, kept in the Rue Croix peago, the elasticity of my mind was tits champs by a woman of the name sufficient to ward off weariness-of La Duboise. He was there inand the imagination still could dip volved in a quarrel with some mousher brush in the rainbow of fancy quetaires of the king's household and sketch futurity in smiling co-troops, and in consequence of delours. Now I am going towards the north in search of sunbeams! Will any warm this desolated heart? All nature seems to frown, or rather mourn with me. Every thing is cold-cold as my expectations!

Ibid.

clining to give one of them the satisfaction demanded, he was thrown from a two pair of stairs window into the street, and both his legs were broken by the fall. Refusing to tell the guet, at that time the police soldiers at Paris, his name and Death, preferred in an Inn. place of abode, he was carried to Were I in a condition to stipu- the hospital, Hotel Dieu, where he late with death, as I am at this mo- remained four days, before the sument with my apothecary-I should perior of the college and his friends certainly declare against submitting could tell what had become of him. to it before my friends; and there- The lieutenant general of the police, fore I never seriously think of the influenced by his relatives, gave out mode and manner of this great ca- that the fracture was produced by tastrophe, which generally takes up accident in the street, and ordered and torments my thoughts as much him to be removed back to the colas the catastrophe itself; but I con- lege.. But there, by the confession stantly draw the curtain across it of one of his associates, the real with this wish, that the disposer of cause was already known, and his all things may so order it, that it readmission therefore refused. It happen not to me in my own house, has been related, that when he was but rather in some decent inn-At informed of his disgrace, though home-I know it-the concern of lying on a bed of sickness, he flew my friends, and the last services of into a passion, swearing that it wiping my brows and smoothing should not be for want of his active my pillow, which the quivering endeavours and philosophical zeal, hand of pale affection shall pay me, if twenty five years afterwards will so crucify my soul, that I shall Christian teachers and Christian die of a distemper, which my phy-pupils were still found in France, sician is not aware of: but in an or if Christian churches were not inn, the few cold offices I wanted changed into theatres and Christian i

Remarks on Queen Elizabeth.

HUMOUROUS ANECDOTE,

From Memoirs of

CHARLES LEE LEWIS.

Ir is very aptly remarked by Dr. Johnson, that, notwithstanding the numbers who daily depart from the Of this Queen I may say, that as theatre of life, "nobody is missed :" the rose is the queen of flowers and to no profession does this observasmelleth more sweetly when it is tion appear more analogous than to plucked from the branch; so I may that of a player. One tragedian say and justify, that she by just de- dies and another steps into his bussert was the Queen of queens and kins: Mr. Suet drops, but Lord of kings also, for religion, piety, Duberly lives, and occasions as great magnanimity and justice; who a roar of laughter as ever. In short, now by remembrance thereof, since our own experience is sufficient to Almighty God gathered her to him-convince us, that, in the profession self, is of greater honour and re- of a player particularly, “"nobody is nown, than when she was living in missed."this world. You cannot question what rose I mean; for take the red or the white, she was, not only by royal descent and inherent birth right, but by roscal beauty also, heir

to both.

Ld. Coke.

Bon Mots of Swift's STELLA. We were diverting ourselves at a play, called What is it like? One person is to think, and the rest, without knowing the thing, to say what it is like. The thing thought on was the spleen. She said, it was like an oyster, andgaveher reason immediately, because it is removed by taking STEEL INWARDLY.

with his company, expressed a deLinnet, while at Hammersmith sire to play at Chelsea, but he was informed it was under the controul of a very inflexible magistrate, particularly averse to giving any encouragement to plays or any other amusements.:

However, notwithstanding this alarming and seeming insurmountable difficulty, Linnet met with a friend, a gentleman, who wrote a warm recommendatory letter for him to the obdurate magistrate, and gave him assurance of his meeting with success..

Much elated with this encourage

Dr. Sheridan, who squandered more tlian he could afford, took out his pursement, Linnet boldly pushed to the as he sate by the fire, and found it was Justice's house, directing his whole very hot, she said, the reason was, that company to proceed to Chelsea, and his money burnt in his pocket. order a dinner at the Swan, and regale themselves. This mandate was cheerfully complied with, and the eventful letter was delivered according to direction. But what was the purport of this letter! Instead of that which should secure a welcome and support, it was one that menaced the reader with a sudden

Stella called to her servants to know what ill smell was in the kitchen? We are making matches, was the answer: Matches, said she, are made in heaven, but, by the brimstone, one would think they were made in hells i

The two maxims of any great man at Court are, always to keep his countenance, but never to keep his word.

scene of horrorTis proper to explain..

Then thus it was:"The comry of The Bold Stroke for a Wife ad been played a few nights before, and old Linnet, resolving on this vccasion to make a grand appearance, had put on the stage waistcoat he had worn in the Colonel, in one" Yes, Sir, he is the master of the f the pockets of which was a letter, play." "A player! and are you upposed to be sent by the Colonel's not an open and an avowed murriend to Obadiah Prim, on hearing derer?" "O Lord Sir! what do hat the real Simon Pure was actu- you mean?" "Look at this letter, lly come, which if not timely pre- you hang dog! Did not you deliver ented must ruin the Colonel's design this to me?"- -Who can describe pon the cautious quaker. Judge the innocent Linnet's astonishment of the magistrate's surprise on open- upon the discovery of the mistake! ing the supposed letter of recom-"Oh, dear Sir, I beg your pardon, mendation, when he found it began thus:

rob and murder my
night, and all their horrid
at the Swan publick house !"-
did not think this of you," says L.
servant to Linnet. "What, de
you know the fellow, Sirrah ?".

“There is a design formed to rob the house and cut your throat."The Justice rang his bell-a servant appeared" Where is the man that brought this letter?" "In the hall, Sir." "Call him up directly." While the servant was employed in going to fetch up the unconscious culprit, old Quorum read on

"The gang, whereof I am one, though now resolved to rob no more,” -here old Linnet made his appearance" Well, friend," says the Justice, "you belong to the gang: how many are there of you?" "We are fourteen in all, Sir." "Fourteen! and where are you all ?"

here is Squire ......'s letter; I hope this will satisfy you." "Hold him till I see what's here." -On the perusal of the real letter, his worship's countenance was changed from a savage ferocity to a most placid smile. He immediately dismissed the innocent aggressor, with full permission for his performing; at the same time giving him this piece of wholesome advice-never to forget his part again.

GAMESTER.

UNHAPPY is that mortal that has imbibed a love for play; so powerful is that seductive passion, that every consideration of propriety, affection, At Tool's, Sir-at the Swan." consanguinity, friendship, and vir Indeed! Oh, very well, you have tue, falls before this all-destroying all your tools at the Swan, have you? leviathan, the offspring of sordid I'll take care of you and your tools Avarice, which, swallowing all the presently." Many thanks, Sir;-nobler sensations of the soul, robs Squire ...... told me you would Justice of her balance, Valour of her Encourage us." "Aye was it he sword, and Pity of her tear. The sent you to my house?" "Yes, professed gamester feels no comSir." Well, and when do you in- miserating pangs for the wide end to begin this grand affair ?"- spreading ruin his favourite vice occasions. He views with hardened callosity and freezing apathy, the wretched man he has despoiled, writhing under the tortures of selfcondemnation, agonized by the stings

We always begin about seven 'clock, Sir."You do! here Thomas, here, seize immediately is daring hardened old villain; he ad his whole gang are coming to

into the stocks by order of the MayTHREE persons have been put or of Limerick, for refusing to take real mint half hence! These go Hibernian shop-keepers seem to have preferred an interest in the stocks to mere hard cash.

To Readers and Correspondents.

THE articles judiciously selected by LADY are inserted with pleasure They denote an elegant and refined taste, which could give a lively interest to original communications.

Appropriate Motto.-During one of Foote's trips to Dublin, he was much solicited by a silly young man of fashion to assist him in a miscellany of poems and essays he was about to publish; but when he ask-a ed to see the manuscrips, the other told him-"That at present he had only conceived the different subjects, but had put none of them to paper." O! if that be the case," cried Foote, "I will give you a motto from Milton, for the work in its present state:

CROSS READINGS are not always worth reading at all; if original and pointed a few may not be unpleasing.

We have the pleasure this evening of introducing to our readers several

"Things unattempted yet in prose or beautiful songs from the glowing pen

verse."

Davenport the Tailor.This man, who acquired a considerable fortune with a good character, asked Foote for a motto for his coach. "Latin or English?" asked the wit; "Poh! English to be sure; I don't want to set up for a scholar."— 6 Then I have one from Hamlet, that will match you to a button-hole “List! list! ch, list!''

AN Irish estate has been recently advertised, with temptations to a

of a native poet. They will be followed
by others of the same style. We trust
they will not be neglected because they
original or despised because they are
American. We should venture to place
some of them by the side of SHEN-
STONE, and invite the literary botanist
to compare others with the flowers,
from the genius of CAMOENS.
which Lord Strangleford has collected

"The Rose" is in full bloom; the thorn of the last verse will wound the part to which it is applied.

SELIM has taken a circuitous jour ney in search of "peace and conte ment," we doubt, however, whether h has yet arrived at their residence.