in future, to avoid all attorneys, and warrants of attorney; and if ever you are called upon to put your mark to any bond, bill, or note, let it appear on the left side; though it may not be so honourable a post as on the right, yet you'll find it a less dangerous one.

Hands. True, but I am surprised you should presume to give advice to your betters !

Feet. Betters! I am descended, Mr. Hands, from the ancient family of the Legs: you are, it is true, descended from the proud family of the Arms: both have bled in the cause of their country, and when yours could no longer sustain the fight, mine have borne them off the tented field in safety. I know the Spindleshanks claim kindred as a branch of my ancestors, and they are a disgrace to it; we are proud, however, to acknowledge our obligations to Mr. Deputy Oak, a sound race, the pride of Old England, and the glory of Chelsea College.

Hands. Come, come, our ancestors are equally illustrious. But, in point of education-I can write.

Feet. And I can leave my mark. Has n't forgery brought many a man to the gallows?

Hands. And has n't one false step often done the same?-A truce, a truce!-let us forget all that is past-let us act in concert in future. Feet. With all my heart: I'll engage that you ''ll

'II

you'll never attempt to put any plan into execution that you won't find me at the bottom of it: if you have a horse, arm my heels, and you outstrip the wind; or if you trust to me, you'll find that I'll leave our pursuers far behind.

DUKE OF MEDINA CELI.

IN consequence of the defeat at Saragossa, and the very low state to which France was reduced, Philip* apprehended he should be obliged to relinquish his pretensions to the throne of Spain. Amongst others, it was suspected, that the Duke of Medina Celi was in the interest of his competitor, Charles. To render so powerful a prince inactive, would be almost equal to a victory; but the method to effect it seemed difficult, especially in the exhausted state to which Philip was reduced. Sir Patrick Lawless, an Irish gentleman, then a colonel in the French service, charged himself singly to secure the person of the Duke. Having previously concerted all his measures, he repaired to the ducal palace, as charged with a special commission from Philip. He invited the Duke to take a walk on a fine terrace, in order to converse the more freely. As the conversation was interesting,

* Philip V.

interesting, they insensibly rambled to a considerable distance from the suite of the Duke, until they came to a passage which led to the high road, where the Colonel had a carriage in waiting. Lawless in a few words told his Highness, that he must directly, and without the least appearance of constraint, take a seat in the coach as he had engaged, at the hazard of his head, to bring him to Madrid, where he would find Philip ready to receive him with open arms. The determined tone with which these words were uttered, the appearance of the man, and above all, his character for resolution and bravery, induced the Duke to resort to the only alternative. They soon arrived at Madrid, where he met with a most gracious reception. The battle of Almanza, which happened some time after, made the Duke deem his visitor, his preserver, as well as that of his immense estate. Lawless was raised in a short time to the rank of Lieutenantgeneral, and governor of Majorca, and in the course of a few years, Philip appointed him his ambassador to the court of Versailles.

THE

THE FLOWERS.

BY THEOPHILUS SWIFT, Esa.

THESE violets to my fair I bring,
The purple progeny of Spring;
Nor thou, dear girl, the gift refuse,
Love's earliest tribute of the muse.
Whate'er has beauty, worth, or power,
Or grace, or lustre, is a flower.
Wit is a flower; and bards prepare
The flowers of fancy for the fair.
In flower of youth the loves appear,
And lovelier blooms when thou art near
The flower of health. The dancing Hours
Earth's joyful bosom dress with flowers;
And beauty's flowery fetters bind,
In sweet captivity, the mind.
With flowers the Graces Venus deck,
And these adorn a fairer neck;

That neck, whose paradise to range,

A flower I'd prove, and bless the change. One little hour I'd live, then die,

A violet in that heav'n to lie.

Of violets kisses first were made,

And Venus swore they ne'er should fade;
She swore, and by the oath she swore,
The spell improv'd and charm'd the more:
Purpling it rose, the fairest flower
That ever grac'd the poet's bower;
To Laura's lips in haste it flew,
And, blooming there, delights in you

Still as you charm, some flower we trace,
Some blossom of the mind or face.
When graceful Laura leads the dance,
We cry, The flower of elegance!
Does fashion's wreath her brow adorn;
We know the flower of taste is born:
As the soft hyacinth is seen,

The flower of breeding marks her mien.
Yon lily, symbol of her youth,

Blooms near her heart the flower of truth;
And well these violet buds express

Her beauty's spring of tenderness.
But not the brightest flowers of spring,
Whose odours charge the zephyr's wing,
Not all the vernal sweets that blow,
The violet's grace, the lily's snow,
Like thee in lustre can compare,
Or breathe so fresh, or bloom so fair;
For in thy bosom dwells a flower,
Not time shall taint, nor death devour;
A flower that no rude season fears,
And virtue is the name it bears.

PETER THE GREAT.

TRANSLATED FROM THE RUSSIAN.

DURING the troubles occasioned by the unbounded ambition of the Princess Sophia*, it is

* Eldest sister of the Czar, who, on seeing her brother placed on the throne, made several attempts on his life.

VOL. I.

I

well