- his son, Edward VI. and the kingdom; which executors elected the Earl of Hartford protector.

During the minority of the King of England (says Chamberlayne), whatsoever is enacted in parliament, he may afterwards, at the age of twenty-four years, revoke and utterly null, by his letters patent, under his great seal; and this by statute 28, Henry VIII. c. 17. P. T. W.

The Anecdote Gallery.

THE LATE KING.

So averse was the late King to be seen during his rides in the parks at Windsor for the last two or three years, that outriders were always dispatched while his pony-chaise was preparing, to whichever of the gates he intended to pass, across the Frogmore road, driving from one park into the other; and, if any body was seen loitering near either gate, the course of the ride was instantly altered, to escape even the passing glance of a casual observer. His late Majesty seldom drove across to the Long Walk from the castle, because he was there more likely to be met by the Windsor people. His most private way was through a small gate in the park wall, opposite another small gate in the wall of the grounds at Frogmore, at the Datchet side. He there crossed the road in a moment, and had rides so arranged between Frogmore and Virginia-water, that he had between twenty and thirty miles of neatly planted avenues, from which the public were wholly excluded. At certain points of these rides, which opened towards the public thoroughfares of the park, there were always servants stationed on these occasions to prevent the intrusion of strangers upon the King's privacy. The plantations have been so carefully nourished for seclusion around the Royal Lodge, that only the chimneys of the building can be now seen from the space near the top of the Long Walk. The King caused the same rigid exclusion to be enforced, while engaged in fishing, from his grotesque building at Virginia-water; and also when visiting the various temples which he had erected on the grounds. A great deal of money was laid out on these edifices; but it was only by stealth, and the connivance of servants, these were at any time to be seen. With the exception of the ruined temple, which is ornamented by the casts from the Elgin marbles, these structures are deficient in real taste: they are full of caps and bells, and

At

Chinese frippery, with a great deal of gorgeous and tawdry decoration. His Majesty was so little aware that the fatal result of his indisposition was so near at hand, that, up to a very late period of his sufferings, his Majesty occupied himself a good deal with the progress of some additions which he was making to the Royal Lodge. He was particularly anxious to have a new dining-room finished by his birth-day, on the 12th of August;-not dreaming that a month before that day his remains would be ga thered into their tomb. He was also, up to the same late period, occupied by the improvements in Windsor Castle, and used to have himself rolled through the apartments in a chair, which was constructed for his Majesty's use. Notwithstanding these anticipations, it is known that the late King's health had been for nearly two years declining. His old sufferings from the gout had given way to an occasional "embarrassment of breathing," (the expressive phrase of the bulletins,) and at times great depression of spirits. His Majesty was often found apparently lost in abstraction, and only relieved by shedding tears. other times, however, the King took a great interest in the works which were carrying on in the Lodge and the Castle of Windsor, particularly those which he intended for his private use, and spoke of a long enjoyment of them. It is said that, for some time before Sir Henry Halford and Sir M. Tierney were last called in, his late Majesty was under the domestic medical treatment of two gentlemen who were of his household. His Majesty had for a long time evinced a great indisposition to exercise of any kind-the least exertion was attended with faintness, and his Majesty's usual remedy was a glass of some liqueur. He had a particular kind of cherry brandy, which he thought to be of medical use, when he felt these symptoms of debility, and to which he resorted to a late period of his life. Until the bursting of the blood-vessel on the day before his death, the King did not think his case absolutely hopeless-even then, the slight refreshment of sleep rallied his spirits a little. The decorations of the interior of the late King's suite of apartments were entirely conducted under his own eye. His Majesty would have no pattern of furniture which was to be seen any where else, and he had an utter disregard of expense, either in his original orders, or in their subsequent alteration, which often happened to be indulged at

a

costly rate. The King's suite of apartments occupied the grand front of

the wing of the castle, which faces Datchet; there was a beautiful orangery planted beneath his windows, and a convenient descent into the gardens. Formerly the numerous persons who reside in Windsor Castle and its precincts, the clergy and retired functionaries, had convenient access by keys to the grounds, or slopes, (as they are called,) immediately beneath the castle; but owing to some person having pointed at the Marchioness of Conyngham while she walked within the enclosure, the locks were instantly changed at all the avenues, and from that time all were excluded but the King's private party.

The late King's service of plate is superb: he had a very plain set in common use; but, before his last illness, when the Cabinet Ministers held a Council at Windsor, and dined with him, the rich service was produced, and was an object of great attraction. The Jate King had provided a sumptuous sideboard for its display, which was made of very dark and beautifully po lished mahogany, inlaid with gold, and lined with looking-glass; but when put up, it was found entirely to overpower the effect of the other furniture and de

elaborate comments and definitions: conversations, the result of casual acquaintance, unknown to the multitude, and those occurrences in the career of talent ere it make itself wings wherewith to fly-all these may elude inquiry. To one of the foregoing classes belongs the following interesting and singular incident, which is authenticated by a living witness:-During the captaincy of the fearless Nelson, an individual on board had the honour of frequently conversing with him. The person alluded to was officially engaged in writing, an exercise which he accomplished with the left hand. Captain Nelson, attentively observing him one day, while thus occupied, said, "Parnell, I cannot think how you manage to write with your left hand." The result of this remark was that Nelson was taught to perform the task which had excited his wonder; little deeming that the disastrous loss of his arm at the glorious conflict of the Nile would leave him no other alternative, in committing his ideas to paper, than to write with his left hand! ..H.

ous course to pursue would have been its removal; instead of which, however, the magnificently decorated arch, which the lower part of the sideboard supported, was cut away, and the remainder left for use. The apartments are spacious and well constructed: they have, however, from the nature of the build ing, only one principal light, and there is too much gold panelling in them for real and simple elegance. There is a heap of furniture of his late Majesty's both stored in town and in Windsor; some of it from Carlton-house was very elegant, though now unused.-From the Times Journal.

NELSON.

(For the Mirror.) NOTWITHSTANDING the research and diligence of the most active biographer, even if his exertions have left no stone unturned in collecting information, there are many incidents of importance which entirely escape his cognizance. Anecdotes, the relation of which often illustrate the character better than the most

There must be some mistake here: for we have been assured by a Windsor friend, that the Slopes were shut up above seven years since, in consequence of the shrubs and flowers being destroyed by the public, who were admitted on Sundays. ED. MIRROR.

BURIAL OF CHARLEMAGNE.

"His body (says Strutt) was washed with great solemnity, and carefully prepared for the burial. It was then clothed with a garment of hair-cloth next the skin; which ceremony, it is said, ought always to be secretly performed. He was habited in the imperial vestments; and his face was covered with a sudarium, or napkin, over which a diadem was placed upon his head; and in the diadem was enclosed a portion of the wood which composed the holy cross. His sword, enriched with gold, was girt about him and in this dress he was seated upon a gilt throne. His shoulders were reclined on the back of the throne; and his head was supported in an erect position by a golden chain fastened to the diadem. In his hand he held the Holy Gospels, embellished with gold, which rested upon his knees. He was then placed, together with the throne on which he was seated, within the cavity of the sepulchre. The gilt travelling pouch, which he used to wear when he went to Rome, was laid by him; and the sceptre of gold, with the golden shield which Pope Leo had consecrated, was suspended before him. These ceremonies being performed, the sepulchre

after appearing, inquired into the matter. The officers told him that it was on account of a few blows he had received for his insolence. "No," says the fool," my complainings arise not from the blows: they are caused by my compassion for the Commander of the Faithful; for, if I have received so many bastinadoes for sitting upon that throne but for one minute in my life, how many should he endure, who mounts it every day?"

A real or affected fool, during the reign of this prince, had the presumption to call himself God Almighty. The Khalif, thinking him an impostor, ordered him to be brought before him; and, that he might discover the truth, he said to him, "A fellow, the other day, who assumed the manners of an idiot, pretended to be a Prophet of God: I had him immediately tried, when his imposture appearing evident, I commanded his head to be struck off." "You did right," replied the fool, "and like a faithful servant of mine; for I never gave that fellow a commission to be my prophet." The ready coolness of the answer left the Khalif at a loss how to decide; he inclined therefore to the merciful side, and the fool was dismissed.

When Mahmoud, Sultan of Ghezna conquered India, he had distressed the people greatly by plundering, as well as by the contributions and taxes which he imposed. Whilst he was one day sitting in his divan, in conversation with his nobles, a fool wandered into the hall; and, staring wildly around, spoke much to himself, but took no particular notice of any person. The prince, observing him, desired his officers to ask him what he wanted. He said that he was very hungry, and wished of all things to eat a roasted sheep's tail. The Sultan, in a frolic, ordered them to cause a particular kind of radish to be roasted, much resembling in shape those tails, which in several Eastern countries are very fat, and of extraordinary size. It was accordingly presented to the fool, who devoured it vo→ raciously. The Sultan then asked him how he liked it? to which he answered, "That it was exceedingly well dressed; but he could easily perceive, that, under his government, the sheep's tails had no longer the fatness, nor the excellent flavour, for which they were famous in former times." Mahmoud felt the poignancy of the answer, and gave immediate orders to relieve the people of many burthens under which they groaned. W. G. C.

ON THE TITLE OF MAJESTY.

(For the Mirror.)

HENRY VIII. was the first King of England who assumed the title of Majesty, which is still retained. Before that reign the sovereigns were usually addressed by the style of "My Liege, and "Your Grace," the latter of which epithets was originally conferred on Henry IV.; "Excellent Grace "" was given to Henry VI.; "Most High and Mighty Prince," to Edward IV.; "Highness" to Henry VII.; which last expression was sometimes used to Henry VIII., and sometimes “Grace," until near the end of his reign, when they gave way entirely to the more lofty and appropriate appellation of "Majesty," being the expression with which Francis I. addressed him, at their interview in 1520, at Guisnes, commonly called the Field of the Cloth of Gold. The Emperor, Charles V. had, however, a short period before, taken that novel and high sounding title, and the polished French monarch lost not so favourable an opportunity of complimenting our then youthful Henry: Leo X. conferred the title of "Defender of the Faith" on him, in compliment for his defence against Martin Luther. James I. completed the title to the present, "Sacred" or "Most Excellent Majesty." J. R. S.

ORIGIN OF THE LOG BOOK.

COELBREN Y BEIRRD, or the wooden memorial of the Bards, was used by them as a kind of almanack, or wooden memorandum book, on which they noted such things as they wished to preserve from oblivion. The Staffordshire clog, or log, mentioned in Dr. Plot's history of that county, is the same as the wooden almanack used among the Ancient Britons. From this originated the log book now universally kept by sailors on board ship. There is an instrument similar to it, called a tally, or a piece of wood cut with indentures, or notches, in two

corresponding parts, of which one was kept by the debtor, and one by the creditor; this was formerly the general way of keeping accounts. Hence came the tally office, and tellers (of the Exchequer.) The word tally is supposed to be derived from the Welsh word, talu, to pay, or from the French word, taille. M. B. H.

Select Biography.

DE WITT.

(For the Mirror.)

PERHAPS not one among the many eminent characters recorded in the page of history, but now heard of no more, has

less inerited the oblivion which enshrouds his name, than the subject of this imperfect memoir.

John De Witt was born at Dort in

1625, being the youngest son of Jacob of that name, a Burgomaster of Dort, and a Deputy to the States of Holland.

He was elected a Pensioner of his native town in 1650, and became early distinguished as well for splendid abilities as for a wonderfully clear and impartial judgment, which in the following year pointed him out to his countrymen as one well qualified to fill the high, and as Holland then stood with regard to her neighbours, most important office of Grand Pensioner of the States.

Unshaken integrity, combined with a firmness of purpose almost amounting to obstinacy, carried him through all those secret state intrigues in which he was so deeply involved, and in which, eventually, he became so eminently successful.

It was a spirit of patriotism the most exalted, which supported him under the accumulated wrongs he was called upon to bear; it was that alone which prompted him still to continue at the helm of a shattered vessel in a troubled sea; endangering his own life by directing a mutinous and discontented

crew.

In his own person he bore much, and ere he complained, was doubtless prepared to bear more of the ingratitude and injustice of his countrymen; but when the protector of his youth and the friend of his maturer years, when his own brother was torn from his high command, cast into a dungeon, and put to a cruel torture; then, and not till then, did he give way to the suppressed feelings of his heart; he hastened to offer consolation to the noble-minded Cornelius, and renouncing all his high

employments, prepared to accompany him into banishment.

But it had been wisely decreed by an Almighty power, that Holland should not be deprived of her brightest ornaments, by their being driven from the land of their forefathers. Had it then been ordained that the patriot brothers were again to plead their country's cause, and bear the weight of their country's woes? No! their doom was sealed, they fell, a sacrifice to the blind. fury of a savage mob, they died the victims of a fanatical party zeal.

Thus perished in the prime of life, the hapless John and Cornelius De Witt, who in all their actions acquitted themselves with equal honour to their country and to the name they bore. Their eventful, though short career, terminated in the streets of Rotterdam, on the 20th August, 1672.

Amidst the severe agonies Cornelius De Witt endured, when under the torture, it is said that he frequently repeated that beautiful Ode of Horace,

which contained sentiments so well suited to his deplorable condition :

"Justem et tenacem propositi virum," &c.

John De Witt attained the degree of LLD. at the University of Leyden, and in the early part of his life, published a work entitled, " Elementa Curvarum Linearum," at that time in high repute as a book of deep mathematical research. It was ever one of his chiefest maxims " to do one thing at once," and its value was proved by his being remarkable for the dispatch with which he transacted business.

On the decease of John De Witt, his widow (a daughter of the illustrious De Ruyter) left her distracted country and took refuge in England, bringing with her Elizabeth, her only child; among whose numerous descendants are to be found the late Dr. John Jebb, of Cambridge notoriety, and Sir Richard Jebb, Bart., Dr. Jebb, the present Bishop of Limerick, and the Hon. Mr. Justice Jebb, of the King's Bench, in Ireland. R. G.

SPIRIT OF THE

Public Journals.

THE SCANDINAVIAN BEAR.

A BEAR is a fine fellow-whether white, black, brown, or grizzled-pugnacious, voracious, salacious, and sagacious;at times full of fun and frolic as O'Doherty-next hour grave as the Archbishop of Canterbury ;-to-day feeding