a boat attending in the river, and from thence on board the Ruby; the captain assisting all this while, and covering his brother with a cloak, in order to deaden the cries of murder, which he repeatedly vociferated during this unnatural assault.

When they had got him into the purser's cabin, the captain, by promises of reward and promotion, prevailed upon two of the ruffians (Matthew Mahony and Charles White,) to strangle him. Poor Sir John begged hard for his life," pleaded his near relationship, his age, his innocence, and his willingness to do every thing agreeable to his brother's inclinations," but all in vain! The captain told the crew "that he was a desperate madman, and must be made away with;" he accordingly cut the cord which tied his escrutoir to the floor of the cabin, and passing it himself round his brother's neck, desired the two ruffians to do their duty, while he stood centinel at the door, with a drawn sword in his hand, to prevent any body passing that way.

Owing to the awkwardness arising from their compunction and the struggles of Sir John, they were above half an hour in accomplishing this horrid murder. At last, when it was over, the captain very deliberately walked into the cabin with a lighted candle in his hand, and after feeling and surveying his brother's dead body for some time, exclaimed, " Aye, this will do, his business is now done!"

The next day, the circumstance of a gentleman

being hurried over College-green in a violent manner by some ruffians, and the cries of murder being repeatedly heard, induced Mr. Smith to make some farther enquiry; when finding the description of the gentleman exactly answer to the person of Sir John Dinely Goodere, &c. he had strong suspicion of some foul play having been shewn him by his brother ; not, as he afterwards said, "that he could suppose any thing like murder in the case, but for some sinister purpose of forcing him into pecuniary arrangements." Under this suspicion, he applied to the mayor of Bristol for a warrant to search the Ruby, which was accordingly granted, and there Sir John was found strangled in the purser's cabin, and the captain already secured by the first-lieutenant and two of the men, who had overheard all the particular conferences relative to the murder.

His two associates, White and Mahony, were soon after taken; when the verdict of the coroner declaring them all guilty of wilful murder, they were tried at the ensuing assizes at Bristol, on the 26th of March, 1741, before Henry Coombe, Esq. mayor, and Sir Michael Foster, recorder, when being convicted, en the fullest and clearest evidence, they soon after suffered the sentence of the law.

STANDING STONES OF STENNIS*.

"Inexorably calm, with silent pace,

Here Time hath pass'd.-What ruin marks his way! This pile, now crumbling o'er its hallow'd base, Turn'd not his step, nor could his course delay."

CUNNINGHAM,

On our way to Stronness, we stopped at the Lake of Stennis (or Stenhouse), to view some truly curious and interesting remains of antiquity, called

* As a comparison between this monument of Druidism and that of Stonehenge, may not be uninteresting, we insert the following short description of the latter:-Stonehenge, the most conspicuous temple for Druidical worship now remaining in Britain, consists of two circular and two oval ranges of rough stones, having one common centre. The outer circle is 108 feet in diameter, and when perfect, consisted of thirty upright stones, many of which are lying on the ground, some whole and others broken. The upright stones are from eighteen to twenty feet high, from six to seven feet broad, and about three feet thick, placed about three feet from each other. At the top they are joined by imposts, with tenons fixed to mortices, for keeping them in due positions. The upright stones are wrought with a chisel, and tapered towards the top, but the imposts are plain, having no sort of decoration. The inner circle is about eight feet from the outer one, and consisted originally of forty stones, many of which are fallen. Between these two circles is a walk of about 300 feet in circumference, and from which the temple being viewed, it has a most surprising and awful effect on the spectator,

the Standing Stones of Stennis.

These standing stones, (or stones set on end,) are arranged in the form of a large circle, and a smaller semicircle. We first viewed the latter, which perhaps had originally been a complete circle: in that case, it must have been 100 feet in diameter, the curvature of the semicircle that remains measuring somewhat more than 150 feet. Some of the stones of this semicircle are truly massive, rising about eighteen feet above the ground. At a little distance stands a solitary stone of great size, having, about two or three feet from the ground, a round perforation in it. This round hole, it has been supposed, was intended for tying the sacrifices offered at this rude, but magnificent temple, in times of Druidism. The common people still attach a good deal of veneration to it; if a lover and his mistress join hands through it, this (we are told) is considered as the sign of a Vow of the most sacred kind: it is called the Promise of Odin. The more superstitious of the natives also are of opinion, that if, when they are young, they pass their head through this hole, they will never shake with the palsy in their old age.The lake of Stennis is here divided into two by a kind of causeway, or range of stepping-stones, which leads to the large circle. This circle had originally consisted of about sixty huge stones; about fourteen of these are still complete, and stand on end; several more lie prostrate on the ground. This circle is exactly geometrical: it is about 300 feet in diameter; consequently about 940 feet in

circumference. It is completely surrounded by a ditch, thirty feet wide, and generally about twelve feet deep. This ditch had formerly been filled with water; and to fill it again would be no very laborious undertaking, the great lake of Stennis being in the immediate vicinity. The whole stones are covered, in the upper part, with the finest specimens of lichen calicaris*, of uncommon length, -giving the liveliest resemblance of hoary locks hanging over their aged shoulders. Many of these specimens were in complete fructification, or full of saucers. The stones are of a sandstone, with numerous small specks of mica. They appear to have been dug from quarries on the south side of the lake.

ACCOUNT OF TRIANON, THE CELEBRATED VILLA OF THE LATE QUEEN OF FRANCE.

"When to gratify a private appetite, it is once resolved upon that an innocent creature shall be sacrificed, 'tis an easy matter to pick up sticks enough from any thicket where it has strayed, to make a fire to offer it up with." STERNE.

How often have I seen her majesty, when yet in the early day of youth, turn from its impetuous pleasures, and dissipated delights, by first substituting

Rock moss,