friends, now a general officer in the and had expressed a great destre tc Austrian service, who has thought be introduced to him, which her fit to record a minute detail of situation rendered impossible with. everything said or done at this out the assistance of a friend; and juncture in a valuable military that, having learned this circum. treatise. Nothing, surely," as the stance by accident, ho had taken gallant author of this narrative the liberty to bring them together. adds, "can be more contemptible, The captain was confused; replied nothing more loudly calls upon that he must be imposed upon, and the police of every wise govern- he doubted whether he ought not to ment to fix the severest brand of resent it. The Duke however soon infamy upon it, than the pretended relieved him from his difficulty by honour of the scoundrel who, introducing him to the dininghaving committed an action con- room, where, to the captain's fessedly base and unworthy of a amazement, his wife and children gentleman, seeks to license the were seated at table, the Duke universal reproach he has incurred, having sent for them from Yorkby murdering the first man that shire. After dinner, the Duke preshall express the judgment all men sented the astonished captain with form of his conduct the deed of an ample annuity, saying, "I assure you it is the last thing I would have done, if I had thought I could have employed my money better." 591. Family Made Happy.-A certain Duke of Montague had often observed a middle-aged man, in something like a military dress, of which 592. Feeding an Enemy. After the lace was tarnished, and the the dispersion and destruction of cloth threadbare, walking at a cer- the Spanish Armada, in 1588, Juan tain hour in the park, with a Comes de Medina, who had been mournful solemnity. He made inquiry respecting him, and found about two hundred and sixty men, General of twenty ships, was, with that he was an unfortunate man, driven in a vessel to Anstruther, who, having laid out his whole in Scotland, after suffering great stock in the purchase of a commission, had behaved with great hunger and cold for six or seven bravery in the war, but at its con- for which this fleet had been sent, days. Notwithstanding the object clusion was reduced to starve on and the oppressive conduct of the half-pay. He learned further that the poor officer had a wife and Spaniards to the Scottish merchants who traded with them, these men three children in Yorkshire, to whom he regularly sent down one James Melvil, the minister, told were most humanely treated. Mr. moiety of his pay, reserving the the Spanish officers first sent on other for his own support in town, shore, that they would find nothing where he was in hopes of obtaining a situation. The Duke determined among them but Christianity and works of mercy. The Laird of to serve this worthy veteran, and Anstruther and a great number of one day sent his servant to invite the neighbouring gentlemen enterhim to dinner. The captain retained the officers, and the inhabitturned thanks, and promised to wait on his Grace. When he came the Duke received him with marks of peculiar civility; and, taking him aside, with an air of secrecy and importance, told him that he had desired the favour of his company to dine chiefly on account of a lady who had long had a particular regard for him, ants gave the soldiers and mariners kail-pottage and fish, the minister having addressed his flock as Elijah the prophet did the King of Israel in Samaria, "Give them bread and water." 593. Generous Patron.-In 1682 Madame Dacier dedicated a book to the King of France, but she could The sick man not find any person at court who even of an enemy. would venture to introduce her to being too much wounded to make his Majesty, in order to present it, use of his legs, the Cossack disenbecause she was at that time a cumbered himself of his arms, Protestant. The Duke de Mon- took him upon his back, and began tausier being informed of this, offered to ascend with his burden. He his service to introduce her to the had not gone far before a piece of King, and, taking her in his coach, rock, which he thought secure, presented the lady and her book to giving way, he rolled down an his Majesty, who told the Duke, immense distance, and cut his leg with an air of resentment, that he very severely, but, regardless of acted wrongly in supporting persons streaming blood, he once more of that lady's religion, and that attempted to mount the ascent, and for his part he would forbid his at length succeeded with infinite name to be prefixed to any book trouble in his generous purpose. written by Huguenots, for which The officer on duty highly compurpose he would give orders to mended this noble action, and took seize all the copies of Madame care of the wounded man, who was Dacier's book. The Duke an-quartered at Hanz, and after his swered, with that singular freedom recovery frequently related this with which he always spoke to the incident with the strongest emoKing, and in which no person else tions of gratitude. would presume to follow him, "Is it thus, Sire, that you favour polite literature? I declare to you frankly a King ought not to be a bigot." His Grace added that he would use the freedom to thank the lady in his Majesty's name, and make her a present of a hundred pistoles, and that he would leave it to the King to repay him or not, as he pleased. The Duke kept his word. 594. Generous Soldier.. After the conclusion of a sanguinary engagement between the French and the Russians under Suwarrow, in Switzerland, one of the Cossacks heard in the stillness of the night a soft moaning that seemed to rise from the immense abyss beneath the Pont de Diable. Stepping to the brink he called, but received no answer, yet the moaning continued. Without deliberation the honest Cossack began to descend from one ledge of the rock to the other, to the depth of above two hundred feet, when he discovered a French officer wounded and almost dying on the ground. The duty of humanity is understood by all men in the remotest corners of the earth without the use of words. The rude inhabitant of the Don or the Dnieper lost no time in relieving the distress 595. Good for Evil. One day several persons saw a young man approach the river Seine, in Paris, with the intention of drowning his dog. Rowing into the centre of the stream, he threw the dog into the water. The poor creature attempted to climb up the side of the boat, but his cruel master always pushed him back with the oars. In doing this, he himself fell into the water, and would certainly have been drowned, had not his faithful dog instantly laid hold of him, and kept him above water till assistance arrived, when his life was saved. 596. Good-hearted General.— During the reign of the Empress Maria Theresa, a great scarcity of provisions prevailed in Bohemia, and multitudes of famishing people flocked to the capital, Prague, imploring relief. The Governor of the city wrote to the Court at Vienna, that the misery of the poor people was at length driving them to acts of turbulence and outrage, which he had not a sufficient force either to prevent or suppress. The EmpressQueen immediately despatched General Count Dalton to take the command Prague, to which several regiments were ordered to repair by forced marches. As soon to what cruel miseries have they as the Count found himself suffi- been exposed, through the ignociently reinforced, he ordered all rance I was in of their deplorable the cannon on the ramparts to be situation! How greatly am I inturned against the city; and having debted to the moderation and so disposed his troops that it was humanity of Count Dalton, who impossible for any of the disaffected has saved me from the guilt of to escape, he walked alone into the being the butcher of my poor midst of some thousands of them starving subjects, and who has who were assembled together, and, painted in such moving colours addressing them with his hat in his those distresses which others, hand, observed that it was not by whose duty it was to make them criminal modes they should seek re-known to me, carefully concealed lief, because by so doing they must from my knowledge, representnecessarily draw on their heads ing the rising of the people as the vengeance of Government; the effect of a seditious disposihe desired, therefore-nay, he tion!" Her Majesty immediately begged that he might not be re- despatched eight hundred waggons duced to the fatal necessity of order- loaded with corn to Prague, and ing his troops to disperse them. The sent a letter of thanks to General people listened to the Count with Dalton, in her own handwriting, great attention, and replied to him on his meritorious behaviour on this with a coolness which surprised trying occasion. him. They said his artillery and his troops had no terrors for them; 597. Henry IV. of France's that what he threatened them with Humanity. When Henry IV. as rigour they would consider as of France was advised to attempt mercy, for a speedy death with a taking Paris by an assault before cannon ball was infinitely prefer- the King of Spain's troops arrived able to the lingering death which to succour the Leaguers, he absothey were suffering by famine. lutely protested against the measure The Count was melted even to on the principle of humanity. "I tears. He then addressed them will not," said he, "expose the again, and told them his heart bled capital to the miseries and horrors for them, but it was his duty to which must follow such an event. preserve the peace of the city, and I am the father of my people, and he would be censured if, by his will follow the example of the true forbearance and compassion, that mother who presented herself bepeace was destroyed. He therefore fore Solomon. I had much rather entreated them, as it were for his not have Paris, than obtain it at sake, to disperse, assuring them the expense of humanity, and by that he would immediately trans- the blood and death of so many mit a faithful representation of their innocent persons." Henry reduced distresses to the Queen, from whose the city to obedience without the goodness they had reason to expect every kind of relief. The people, whom the dread of death could not move, were filled with gratitude for the General's conduct; they instantly began to disperse, every man cheering him as he passed, and exclaiming," Long live Dalton!" The representation which the Count sent to Vienna drew tears from the Empress. "Alas!" exclaimed she, "what have my poor people been suffering without my knowledge! loss of blood, except two or three burgesses who were killed. "If it was in my power," said this humane monarch, "I would give fifty thousand crowns to redeem those citizens, to have the satisfaction of informing posterity that I had subdued Paris without spilling a drop of blood." 598. Heroism and Humanity.In the year 1813, during a dreadful snow storm, a poor sailor and his 189 His servants wife were discovered near Burbage sands of people. ance. 600. Hospitality of a Merchant.Among the peculiar circumstances attending the dreadful wreck of the French vessel Medusa, which took place on the coast of Africa returned, and in the like manner bore the woman, who was unable during the year 1816, the following is not among the least worthy of After passing to walk, to the same dwelling. He had no sooner performed this being recorded. thirteen days on a raft, subject to act of humanity than he found himself again called on for assist- every privation and exposed to madness in all its hideous forms, The coach from Manches- a parching heat which produced ter was overturned and nearly the passengers at length were reburied in the snow; a mother with lieved from their situation, having her child, about two years old, were lost one hundred and thirty-five out amongst the passengers, the whole of whom were females. The child of one hundred and fifty. On shore he bore to Hathersage; the mother they were crowded into a hospital where medicaments, and even the attempted to follow, but was soon An English merchant, unable to proceed. On his return common necessaries of life, were wanting. he found her in a drift of snow, from which all her efforts to extri- who did good by stealth, and perOne of the poor cate herself were unavailing. He haps blushed to find it fame, went restored her to her child, and in the same way he released the two unhappy wretches made the signal of a Freemason in distress; it was remaining ladies from their peril-understood, and the Englishman ous situation. They offered him money as a compensation for his instantly said, "My brother, you The Frenchman services, which he did not decline must come to my house and make it your home." My brother, I accepting, but he immediately nobly replied, transferred it to the poor sailor and thank you, but I cannot leave my Bring his wife, to solace and comfort companions in misfortune." them on their journey. them with you," was the answer; and the hospitable Englishman maintained them all until he could place them beyond the reach of to see them. misfortune. 66 66 Each of these surviVors suffered more or less afterwards from mental derangement as long as he lived. 599. Hospitality of an Archbishop. Henry Wardlaw, Archbishop of St. Andrews, at the beginning of the fifteenth century, was a prelate of such unbounded liberality, that the masters of his household, apprehensive that his 601. Hospitality Rewarded. revenues might be exhausted by the expense of entertaining the A widow at Dort, in Holland, who great numbers who resorted to his was very industrious, was left by palace, solicited him to make out a her husband, an eminent carpenter, list of persons to whom the hospi- with a comfortable house, some tality of his board might be con- land, and two boats for carrying fined. "Well," said the worthy merchandise and passengers on the "take canals. She was also supposed to Archbishop to his secretary, a pen, and begin. First put down be worth about ten thousand Fife and Angus," two large counties, guilders in ready money, which containing several hundred thou-she employed in a hempen and sail-cloth manufactory, for the purpose of increasing her fortune, and instructing her children, a son and two daughters, in useful branches of business. One night, about nine o'clock, in the year 1785, a person dressed in uniform, with a musket and broadsword, came to her house and requested lodging. "I let no lodgings, friend," said the widow; "and, besides, I have no spare bed, unless you sleep with my son, which I think very improper, on account of your being a perfect stranger to us all." The soldier then showed a discharge from Diesbach's regiment, signed by the major, who gave him an excellent character, and a passport from Comte Maillebois, Governor of Breda. The widow, believing the stranger to be an honest man, called her son, and asked him if he would accommodate a veteran, who had served the republic thirty years with reputation, with part of Lis bed. The young man consented; the soldier was accordingly hospitably entertained, and at a seasonable hour withdrew to rest. Some hours afterwards, a loud knocking was heard at the street¦ door, which roused the soldier, who moved softly down stairs, and listened at the hall-door, when the blows were repeated, and the door almost broken through by a sledge, or some heavy instrument. By this time the widow and her daughters were much alarmed by this violent attack, and ran almost frantic through different parts of the house, exclaiming, "Murder! murder!" The son having joined the soldier with a case of loaded pistols, and the latter screwing on his bayonet and fresh priming his piece, which was charged with slugs, requested the women to keep themselves in a back room out of the way of danger. Soon after the door was burst in, two ruffians entered, and were instantly shot by the son, who discharged both of his pistols at once. Two other associates of the dead men immediately returned the fire, but without effect, when the intrepid and veteran stranger, taking immediate advantage of the discharge of their arms, rushed on them like a lion, ran one through the body with his bayonet, and whilst the other was running away, lodged the contents of his piece between his shoulders, and he dropped dead on the spot. The son and the stranger then closed the door as well as they could, reloaded their arms, made a good fire, and watched till day-light, when the weavers and spinners of the manufactory came to resume their employment, and were struck with horror and surprise at seeing four men dead on the dunghill adjoining the house, where the soldier had dragged them before they closed the door. The burgomaster and his syndic attended, and took the depositions of the family relative to this affair. The bodies were buried in a cross road, and a stone erected over the grave, with this inscription: "Here lie the remains of four unknown ruffians, who deservedly lost their lives in an attempt to rob and murder a worthy woman and her family. A stranger who slept in the house, to which Divine Providence undoubtedly directed him, was the principal instrument in preventing the perpetration of such horrid designs, which justly entitles him to a lasting memorial, and the thanks of the public. Jolin Adrian de Gries, a discharged soldier from the regiment of Diesbach, a native of Middleburgh in Zealand, and upwards of seventy years old, was the David who slew two of these Goliaths, the rest being killed by the son of the family." The widow presented the soldier with one hundred guineas, and the city settled a handsome pension on him for the rest of his life. 602. Merchant Prince.-Edward Colston, a native of Bristol, devoted his life and fortune to the noblest acts of Christian benevolence. On his monument there is recorded a list of the public charities and benefactions founded and given by him, |