written, would be highly interesting, as embracing some of the finest characters that were ever admired in the world. Should any able writer be engaged to undertake this work, he will explain to us the principles upon which Bossuet, that prodigy of learning, persecuted Fenelon, the most amiable of men, whilst S. Francis, of Sales, was the object of his adoration; and why he poured contempt upon Madame Guion, whilst he had the highest reverence for S. Teresa.

This extraordinary woman, cherished by sovereign princes, universally admired whilst living, and worshipped when dead, had the happiness of leaving behind her sixteen nunneries, and fourteen convents of friars, founded by herself, and subject to the order of Carmelites, which she had reformed.

MAD TOM AND THE SOLDIER.

A Droll affair happened at Penzance, in 1796. A soldier being very much in liquor, and very abusive withall, was taken up and put into the town prison pretty early in the evening, when, he being unable to stand, laid down, and presently fell fast asleep. An ideot, well known by the name of Crazy Tom, happening that night to behave very ill, was late at night sent to the same prison. Tom, who was remarkable for carrying a prayerbook under his arm, knew nothing of the soldier being there ; he placed his prayer-book for a pillow, laid down and slept till the dawn of day, when rising and moving about, he happened to stumble upon the sleeping soldier, and fairly tumbled over

him. Tom rising and discovering the soldier asleep, he said to himself-here is a dead corpse, but I will give it a christian burial. He went, and just behind the prison door, found a parcel of dirt, with which filling his hat, then pulling off his coat and waistcoat, and drawing the flaps of his shirt from his breeches, now says Tom, I am in my surplice, and with his prayer-book in his hand, walking towards the sleeping soldier, calls out, make room for the parson, then began distinctly to read the burial service. When he came to "earth to earth," Tom taking a handful of dirt, strewed it over the soldier, "ashes to ashes," Tom strewed another handful, "dust to dust," Tom took up his hat, and threw the whole in the soldeir's face, which waked him, and seeing and hearing Tom read, he really believed that they thought him dead, and were absolutely burying him.

The soldier immediately cried out, pray reverend sir, don't bury me, I am not dead yet. You lie! says Tom-you are dead enough I warrant you, no living man could come through the keyhole nor the iron -grates; there was no body here but myself last night, and I found this dead corps here this morning! Tom began to read on-Sir, said the soldier, I was put here for being drunk, and am not dead. Then, says Tom, you died while you were drunk, and have forgotten it, that's all; but you must and shall have a christian burial. With this, the soldier jumped up, which so frightened Tom, that he began to roar out, theives! murder! fire! fire! The cry of fire alarmed the inhabitants, who, some dressed,

and others almost naked, for it was still early, crouded about the prison, and the cry of fire being repeated by Tom, they called up the prison-keeper, who, on unlocking the prison door, Tom sprang out in his shirt, and running down the street, informed the gaping multitude, that he had seen the devil in the prison, in the shape of a dead soldier.

WIVES OF LITERARY MEN.

The ladies of Albert Durer, and Berghem, were both shrews, and the former compelled that great genius to the hourly drudgery of his profession, merely to gratify her own sordid passion. At length, in despair, Albert ran away from his Tisiphone; she wheedled him back, and not long afterwards he fell a victim to her furious disposition. He died of a broken heart! It is told of Berghem's wife, that she would not allow that excellent artist to quit his occupation; and she contrived an odd expedient to detect his indolence: the artist worked in a room above her; ever and anon she aroused him by thumping a stick against the ceiling, while the obedient Berghem answered by stamping his foot, to satisfy Mrs. Berghem that he was not napping!

his

The wife of Barclay, author of The Argenis, considered herself as the wife of a demi-god. This appeared glaringly after death; for Cardinal Barberini having erected a monument to the memory of his tutor, next to the tomb of Barclay, Mrs. Barclay was so irritated at it, that she demolished his monument, brought home his bust, and declared that the ashes of so

great a genius as her husband should never be placed beside so villanous a pedagogue.

The wife of Robalt, when her husband gave lectures on the philosophy of Descartes, used to seat herself on those days at the door, and refuse admittance to every one shabbily dressed, or who did not discover a genteel air. So convinced was she that to be worthy of hearing the lectures of her husband, it was proper to appear fashionable. In vain our good lecturer exhausted himself in telling her, that fortune does not always give fine clothes to philosophers.

Salmasius's wife was a termagant; and Christiana said, she admired his patience more than his erudition, married to such a shrew. Mrs. Salmasius, indeed, considered herself as the queen of science, because her husband was acknowledged sovereign among the critics. She boasted she had for her husband the most noble of all the learned. Our good lady always joined the learned conferences which he held in his study. She spoke aloud, and decided with a tone of majesty. Salmasius was mild in his conversation, but the reverse in his writings, as our proud Xantippe considered him as acting beneath himself if he did not pour out his abuse, and call every one names.

Mr. Editor,

The following observations on that surprising insect, the May Fly, may, perhaps, be amusing as well as instructive to many of your readers,-the insertion of it will greatly oblige,

Yours, &c. G.

This insect is called the May Fly, from its annual appearance in that month. It lies all the year, except a few days, at the bottom or sides of rivers, nearly resembling the nymph of the small common libellas; but when it is mature, it rises up to the surface of the water, and splits open its case; then with great agility, up springs the new animal, having a slender body, with four black-veined, transparent, shining wings; the under wings are much smaller than the upper ones; and with three long hairs in the tail.

The husk it leaves behind, floats upon the water. After this creature is discharged from the water, it flies about to find a proper place to fix on, as trees, bushes, &c. to wait for its approaching change, which is effected in two or three days.

The first hint I received of this wonderful operation, was seeing their exuviæ hanging on a hedge. I then collected a great many, and put them into boxes: and by strictly observing them, I could tell when they were ready for this surprising change.

I had the pleasure to shew my friends one, which I held on my finger all the time it performed this great work; it is surprising to see how easily the back part of the fly split open, and produced the new birth, which I could not perceive partakes of any thing from its parent, but leaves head, body, wings, legs, and even its three-haired tail behind, or, at least, the cases of them. After it has reposed itself a while, it flies with great agility to seek its

mate.

In the new fly, a remarkable difference is seen in their sexes,

P

which is not so easily to be perceived in their first state, the male and female being then much of a size; but afterwards the male is much the smallest, and the hairs of their tails much the longest.

When the females are impregnated they leave the company of the males and seek the rivers, keeping constantly playing up and down the water. It is very plainly seen that, every time they dart down, they eject a cluster of eggs, which appears like a little bluish speck, or like a small drop of milk, as it sinks to the bottom of the river; and then, by the elasticity of their tails, they spring up, and then dart down again. Thus they continue until they have spent their strength, being so weak that they can rise no more, but fall a prey to the fish.

But by much the greatest numbers perish on the waters, which are covered with them. This is the end of the females; the males never resort to the river, but after they have done their office, drop down, languish and die, under the trees and bushes.

This species of libella abounds most with females; which is very necessary, considering the many enemies they have in their short appearance; for both birds and fish are very fond of them, and no doubt, under the water, they are food for small aquatic animals.

What is further remarkable in this surprising creature is, that during a life which consists only of three or four days, it eats nothing, and seems to have no apparatus for this purpose; but brings up with it, out of the wa

ter, sufficient support to enable it to shed its skin, and perform the principal ends of life with great vivacity.

A TALE, FROM THE FRENCH, IN THE MANNER OF STERNE.

66

'My friend," said I, “I have nothing to give you." This was addressed to an old man covered with rags, who had approached within a step or two of the coach door, his red night-cap in his hand. His mouth was silent, but his attitude and eyes asked charity. He had a dog, which, as well as his master, kept his eyes fixed upon me, and seemed to solicit relief. "I have nothing," said I, a second time. It was a lie, and betrayed a want of feeling. I blushed at having said it: but, thought I to myself, these people are so troublesome! "God preserve you!" said he, humbly, and retired. "Ho! hey! ho! hey! horses in a moment!" A berlin had just drove up. The beggar and his dog advanced, obtained nothing, and withdrew without a complaint. A man who has just be haved improperly, would be sorry to meet any one, who, in his place, would not have done the same. If the travellers in the berlin had bestowed any thing on the beggar, I believe it would have given me some concern. "After all," said I, "these people are much richer than I am; and since-Good God! (cried I,) is their cruelty an excuse for mine!" This reflection set me at variance with myself. I looked after the poor man, as if I wished to call him back. He was sitting on a stone seat, his dog before him, resting his head

on his master's knees, who continued to stroke him, without paying any attention to me. Upon the same seat I perceived a soldier, whose dusty shoes proclaimed him a traveller. He had laid his knapsack on the seat, between him and the beggar, and upon his knapsack his hat and sword. He was wiping his forehead with his hand, and seemed to be taking breath to continue his journey. His dog (for he had a dog too) was sitting beside him, and cast a haughty look on the passers-by. This second animal made me more attentive to the first, who was black, ugly, and bare of hair. I was astonish→ ed that the old man, reduced to the utmost want, would share with him a scanty and uncertain subsistence: however, the mutual kindness of their looks, soon put an end to my wonder. "Oh thou! the most amiable, and most loving of all animals," said I to myself," thou art a companion, a friend, and a brother to man; thou alone art faithful to him in misfortune; and thou alone disdainest not the poor." At this moment, a window of the berlin was let down, and some remains of cold meat, on which the travellers had breakfasted, fell from the carriage. The two dogs sprang forward. The berlin drove away; one of the dogs was crushed beneath the wheel'twas the beggars. The animal gave a cry-it was his last. His master flew to his assistance, overwhelmed with the deepest despair. He did not weep, Alas! he could not! "My good man," cried I. He looked sorrowfully round. I threw him a crown-piece. He let the crown roll by him, as if unworthy of his

attention. He only thanked me by an affectionate inclination of the head, and took his dog in his arms. "My friend," said the soldier, holding out his hand, with the five shillings he had picked up, the "worthy English gentleman gives you this money: he is very happy he is rich; but all the world is not so. I have nothing but a dog-you have lost yours-mine is at your service." At the same time, he tied round his dog's neck a small cord, which he put into the hand of the old man, and walked away. "O Monsieur le soldat!" cried the good old man, on his knees, and extending his hands towards him. The soldier still went on, leaving the beggar in a transport of gratitude but his blessings and mine will follow him wherever he goes. "Good and gallant fellow," said I," what am I compared with thee! I have only given this unfortunate man money-but thou hast restored to him a friend!"

:

SINGULAR STORY.

A strange circumstance occur, red lately at Brest: A man, in the last stage of a dangerous disorder, sent for a priest to give him extreme unction. The priest, after some conversation with the man, told him that he could not give him extreme unction without he surrendered up the lands that he held, which belonged to the church previous to the R-volution. In vain did the poor man point out that he had purchased them at a fair valuation, and had a large family to bequeath them to: The priest told him, if he did not, he would be d- -d, and go to hell;-the poor man repli

ed, he would not give up the land, but trust in his God. In a few days he died, and was refused the rites of the church, or a christian burial, in consequence of having died without receiving extreme unction; and the priest told his family, that he was certain of going to hell, and that the devil would come that night and take away his body. The wretched family were dreadfully alarmed, and they employed an old soldier to sit up all night and watch the corps, furnishing him with a bottle of wine, bread and cheese, and a sword. At midnight the door flew open, and in stalked three figures, dressed so as to appear like devils; they walked round the room to try to imtimidate the soldier, but the veteran was not to be panicstruck. He attacked the devils, and after a severe struggle forced them to retreat, leaving a large quantity of blood behind them, which shewed they were human. The next day the family waited on the Prefect, and related to him this strange circumstance; when he sent for the priest who had refused to give extreme unction. The priest returned for answer, that he was unwell, and could not attend him; after several messengers had been dispatched, without success, to inform him he must come, a guard of soldiers was sent, who brought him up, and he proved to be the very person whom the soldier had cut across the arm,

APHORISMS.

The way to grow rich is not to neglect small matters; the way to be well served, is to pay well, and examine what you buy; to be re