through the principal thoroughfares; the other, exposure in the pillory, where he was elevated in public situations such as Cornhill, Cheapside, or Aldgate -for certain offences, and subjected to the revilings and insults of the crowd; and those were the most harmless visita

tions which assailed him: showers of mud, rotten eggs, and stones, were generally directed towards him; and when, after the expiration of a few hours, he was taken down, he was frequently found entirely exhausted, in some instances seriously injured, and, in one instance, the sufferer was killed outright. Another description of pillory, which has now fallen greatly into disuse, especially in the neighbourhood of London, is the stocks," with a pair of which each parish was usually furnished, and in which drunkards, beggars, vagrants, and impostors, convicted as "rogues and vaga bonds," were locked by the feet, and thus exposed to the scorn of the passersby.

The punishment of burning was not entirely abolished at the close of the last century; for I can remember hearing an inveterate sight-seer, who had punctually attended every execution at Tyburn and Newgate for upwards of fifty years, remark that "he had not seen an execution now for many years, for the fact was, that when he last visited Tyburn, a young woman was burnt, and he returned home so faint and sick after the sight, that he had not the courage to go there again."

ALEXANDER ANDREWS.

THE EMPEROR & THE COMEDIAN.

AN HISTORICAL ANECDOTE.

MANY monarchs have delighted in an extravagant and startling exhibition of power, but the Russian despots, perhaps, more frequently than others, have been in the habit of blending dramatic contrivances both with vengeance and playfulness.

The emperor Paul was a strange, halfmad personage; he honoured with his favour many humble persons, and among the number, one Frogère, a French player, who had the honour of occasionally dining at the imperial table, where sometimes his sallies were held to be brilliant. One day a compliment was paid to the emperor which went to exalt him above his ancestor Peter the Great. The emperor affected modesty, but at the same time attempted a witticism, remarking that so to flatter him was "robbing Peter to pay Paul;" and ap

pealed to Frogère if that were fair. The player, for the sake of the joke, rather than the truth, instantly admitted that that ever any one would be able to rob it was not, 66 as there was no probability Paul to pay Peter." This did not please; there was too much sarcastic truth in it to looked blank; the party broke up before pass current in that society. Every one the gloom had passed away, and Frogère, much disconcerted, retreated to his bed, and tried to forget the mishap in sleep. That night his chamber was abruptly entered by an officer and four armed men, and the emperor's warrant for his arrest was produced. It was announced that he was banished to Siberia, and must forthwith commence his sad journey. He was merely allowed time to provide himself into a carriage, which, strongly guarded, with a change of clothes, when he was forced moved forward, two soldiers with pistols and a drawn sword being his companions in the vehicle. They advanced briskly during the night, and when day returned, the actor was blindfolded.

A stop was at length made; he was removed from the coach, and the bandage being taken from his eyes, he found himself in a wretched hovel. Some coarse food whom he had formerly been on intimate was set before him, while an officer, with terms, looked on in cold forbidding silence.

Frogère was too much afflicted to eat. "What have I done," he exclaimed, "to merit this severity?"

"Need you to be told?" inquired the officer; "have you forgotten the mad insult you ventured to offer the Emperor of all the Russias at his own table? So outrageous a sarcasm his imperial majesty could not forgive."

"Heaven is my witness," said Frogère, "I meant no offence. Can you not make this known? cannot you intercede for me?" Impossible! all I can do is to take care of your property at Moscow. Any other commission that you may give me I will faithfully execute.”

"And am I to be banished for life?"

"No; the kindness of the emperor for you forbids him to go so far; you are only to remain in Siberia thirty years!"

"Thirty years!" Frogère exclaimed with horror. In that mournful hour the vast difference between banishment for life and "only for thirty years" was hardly appreciated.

The officer took his leave; Frogère was again blinded, and the carriage pursued its journey. At intervals it stopped, and a scanty meal was set before the prisoner. How long they had been travelling he could not tell, but he concluded they had reached the confines, when, blinded with more care than ever, he found the upper

part of his dress loosened, his arms pinioned, and in this situation he was placed on a seat. He heard the jarring sound of muskets, and the military word of command, and recommended his soul to heaven. Another movement was made, which told him the fatal moment was at hand, when the bandage fell from his eyes, and he found himself in the same place which he had filled when he hazarded that jocular remark which had caused him to experience so much affliction. The emperor presided, and all present laughed delighted with the imperial prank, for such it was, which had driven the object of it half a dozen miles round the palace under the circumstances described, some four-and-twenty hours. For poor Frogère the change was too violent; he fainted in the moment when his safety was announced, and did not imme. diately revive to receive the congratulations

of those courtiers who could admire such a fearful experiment on the actor's feelings as had been made by the then potent despot, the miserable emperor Paul.

Another still more remarkable scene was shortly afterwards got up in the same place. The emperor joyously supped with the performer and a select company. When the entertainment ended, Frogère and those who remained to the last, withdrew to the chambers in the palace. An alarm was suddenly given; all rose, and sought the emperor's apartments. They entered them, and found the cause of their disturbance was more than a joke, as extended on the floor lay the corpse of the despot!

stretch along the shore in an irregular manner, a distance of more than two miles; whilst various little eminences, rising at intervals, are crowned by buildings of considerable size, among which the Government House is conspicuous, from its flag-staff with the British ensign, as are several charitable institutions, from their size and situation; the whole is backed by a range of high, rugged, and barren hills, of every variety of character, and every diversity of colour, forming an imposing back-ground, and contrasting finely with the pleasing appearance of the town. To the north, the mainland of China presents a few buildings about the small town of Kow-loon, and a succession of lofty hills and mountains, as far as the eye can reach; some rising suddenly from the water's edge, and towering to an immense height, the rugged and stern character of which gives grandeur to the scene, and produces a sublime effect. The whole of the immense bay between these two points is entirely covered by ships and craft of every description; large heavy-built, and wretchedly-appointed war-junks, offering a strange contrast to the beautiful symmetry and correct proportions of the contiguous British menof-war; finely-carved and painted Mandarin boats, fishing and fast boats, sanpans, and every kind of Chinese boat, many of which are so close to the spectator as to afford an interesting insight into the manners, customs, and costume of this singular people."

Reviews.

Autobiography of a Dissenting Minister.

[Smith, Elder & Co.

THIS little work we see from the titlepage has reached a sixth edition. It is a very clever performance; some of the scenes are marked by the insinuating, sly humour which we admire in the "Vicar of Wakefield." The following description of the impertinence in which people indulge who undertake to patronise the "Poor Preacher," is very happy.

"Being a modest young man, I patiently bore being told of my faults, and frequently expressed my thankfulness for the information, wisely remarking that they were our best friends who gave us advice whereby we might profit. There was another excellent feature in the character of this young lady, and that is, that so great was her candour, that she not only told me very freely her own opinion of my ser

mons and prayers and general deportment, but she as liberally communicated to me the opinions of nearly all the rest of the cougregation; for if any one wished me to know this, that, or the other, and felt any reluctance or shyness to tell me of it in so many words, they had nothing to do but to mention it to this daughter of the general shopkeeper, and she would inform me of it in the most delicate manner imaginable. Indeed, she used to boast that no one could speak so freely to me as she could; and she used always and very loudly to praise the good sense which I invariably displayed in not resenting the information, as some silly people would do. To give a specimen or two of the kind of animadversion to which I allude, I will mention a few matters which, though they may appear trifling to those who are not dissenting ministers, are yet matters of moment to those that are. There was an old lady who sat under the gallery on the right side of the pulpit, who was by no means deaf, but could not hear several sentences in the course of my sermons, because I occasionally dropped my voice, or turned too much to the left. There was a young lady who sat on the left side of the pulpit, who was highly accomplished and very nervous, who frequently had the headache in consequence of the loudness of some of my tones. There was an old gentleman who complained that I spoke a great deal too fast, so that it was impossible for any one to understand me; and then, presently afterwards, as ill luck would have it, there was a young gentleman who thought that my utterance was so slow, that the first part of a sentence was forgotten before the latter part was pronounced. There was a schoolmaster who said that he had several times detected me in the improper use of the aspirate, and once he went so far as to affirm that I said vicked instead of wicked. Some complained that I did not use scriptural language enough in my prayers; others wished that my sermons were not quite so metaphysical; and from others I heard the complaint that my style was too florid and ornamented. But still I was very much liked, and was decidedly a general favourite, only I wanted one or two little improvements in order to be quite perfect. All these things were told me quite in confidence, and with the purest intention of doing me a service. In like manner, as touching my general demeanour and deportment, I found that many eyes were upon me, and that my friends were as anxious for my perfection out of the pulpit. For instance, I was told by my monitress of the general shop, that I had been accused of reading novels; now I knew it was very wicked to read novels in general, but I thought that there was no

harm in reading those of Walter Scott; but my friend observed that a novel was a novel, and I could not deny it. Some persons also, not of the congregation, used, I was told, to remark that I could have but little time for reading and composing sermons, for I might be always seen walking about the town; but it was very kindly said for me that while I was walking I was thinking. Once it was gently intimated to me, that it had been observed at a house where I had supped, that after supper I had mixed some gin and water for myself, in which the gin was as much in quantity as the water; but my informant kindly said that she did not believe the statement, and begged me not to make myself at all uneasy about the matter, and to take no notice of it whatever, only to be more on my guard for the future."

The Mysteries of London.'

THIS little book, which will prove a use[Cunningham, Strand, ful companion to strangers visiting London, professes to unveil the frauds which are daily practised in the metropolis; and successfully and with much humour details the tricks resorted to by the proprietors of the meanest rag-shop up to the complaisant haberdasher in his gilded shop in Regent-street. There is a mixture of severity with truth in the remarks on some of our respectable tradesmen : nor does the learned profession escape the author's lash.

THE ATTORNEY.

"There is no villany of which the London pettifogger is not capable: and as law is, for the most part, anything but equity, he succeeds in his griping extortions four times out of five. These fellows, who are truly the scum of the earth, usually attach themselves to discounters and loan societies; and they also practise in the Insolvent Courts, making the " poor one poorer still;" or setting creditors at defiance in a case of rich rascality. The last is "nuts" to them. I never heard of any one who had seen a dead pettifogger. They seem to bear a charmed life. Alas, poor human nature! Let me advise you earnestly to have nothing whatever to do, save with the most respectable members of the profession. Their position renders it impossible for them to act dishonestly.” BEAUTY,

illustrative of the mode practiser by puffing hair forcers, is piquant.

66

'All the appliances for defeating ugliness and communicating personal attraction may be obtained from the westend perfurmers. However pimpled or

muddy the skin, it becomes in their hands smooth and transparent; unsightly down and wrinkles disappear together; and the hair--but sad tricks are played with that. I knew a Scotch lassie whose elf-locks of red were changed into a delightful and silky brown; but one fine morning I was surprised to find her with swollen eyes, green hair, and an intolerable pain in the head. She blest the Pomade de Venus, of course, and sent for the doctor. He ordered her head to be shaved, declaring, and very properly, that after such dangerous folly she was fit only for a lunatic asylum."

ALMACK'S.

"In Venice there was a 'Council of Ten,' and in King-street, St. James's, there is a Council of Four, equally summary in its proceedings. The punishments inflicted by the latter are not quite so severe, though in either case you pass, when condemned, over the Bridge of Sighs. The council consists of a duchess, two countesses, and the beautiful Mrs. ***. Their decrees are as unaccountable as inscrutable; but that which commonly carries the day over beauty, virtue, accomplishments, and even birth, is wealth. Dancing and social enjoyment are of the least possible moment at these assemblies, the ballot for membership being only another word for patronage in Church and State. This Gyneocracy, or petticoat dominion of 'Four,' forms, in truth, an estate of the realm."

BEAU.

"A London beau, of a certain age, is an optical delusion-a fraud of the more inoffensive kind. Naturally sans teeth, hair, whiskers, moustache, eyebrows, with one eye, and as thin as a lamp-post-he comes forth plus all the above, perfumed, debonnaire, and twenty years younger than he really is."

Want of space prevents us from giving a few clever extracts. We will, however, in a future number, return to this interesting little work, feeling confident that the extracts that we shall give will be appreciated by our readers. Those of our country friends who are "uninitiated in London life," will relish the Mysteries of the Great Metropolis.

Experimental Marking of Saimon Fry-To ascertain the precise period occupied by the salmon in passing from the state of a smoult six or seven inches long to its mature size, and also the stages through which it has to pass in the interim, parties connected with the fisheries have commenced an experiment, by marking a considerable number of the fry; which now abound in the Tweed, with different coloured worsteds, according to the state they may be in when captured. They commenced on Friday last from time to time, as long as the smoults reat Horncliff, and will continue their proceedings main in the river.-Berwick Warder.

The "Wolf Fish."-A wolf fish, or Anarr-hicas Lupus, was caught by Mr. James Watson, fisher. man, Greense, on Tuesday week. Its extreme length was 5ft., and its weight 3st. 3lb. In the Kelso museum there is one of similar dimensions, which was caught at Goswick, and pre sented by the late Robert Wilkie, Esq., of Ladythorne. It has earned the name of wolf among the fishermen by its savage rapacity when caught-snapping and biting at everything within its reach. The fish has been salted down for use it was caught on a cod-line hook, with a haddock bait.

Life in Trees.-Ancients beheld nothing in nature as inanimate. The vegetables, which they saw increase, and covered with new leaves every year, had, they imagined, animal existence. The oak, apparently dead for a period, and yet reviving annually, must, they thought, conceal beneath its bark a supernatural being, who presided over these regular and admirable changes.