Jupiter Feretrius, and approached, on one side, by a long, steep flight of steps, which seem incomplete without some group of bearded soothsayers on the top. It is remarkable for the possession of a miraculous Bambino, or wooden doll, representing the infant Saviour; and I first saw this miraculous Bambino, in legal phrase, in manner following, that is to say :

We had strolled into the church one afternoon, and were looking down its long vista of gloomy pillars, (for all these ancient churches, built upon the ruins of old temples, are dark and sad,) when the Brave came running in, with a grin upon his face that stretched it from ear to ear, and implored us to follow him without a moment's delay, as they were going to show the Bambino to a select party. We accordingly hurried off to a sort of chapel or sacristy, hard by the chief altar, but not in the church itself, where the select party, consisting of two or three Catholic gentlemen and ladies (not Italians) were already assembled, and where one hollow-cheeked young Monk was lighting up divers candles, while another was putting on some clerical robes over his coarse brown habit. The candles were on a kind of altar, and above it were two delectable figures, such as you would see at any English fair, representing the holy Virgin and St. Joseph, as I suppose, bending in devotion over a wooden box or coffer, which was shut.

The hollow-cheeked Monk, number one, having finished lighting the candles, went down on his knees in a corner before this set-piece; and the Monk number two, having put on a pair of highly-ornamented and goldbespattered gloves, lifted down the coffer, with great reverence, and set it on the altar. Then, with many genuflexions and muttering certain prayers, he opened it, and let down the front, and took off sundry coverings of satin and lace from the inside. The ladies had been on their knees from the commencement, and the gentlemen now dropped down devoutly, as he exposed to view a little wooden doll, in face very like General Tom Thumb, the American dwarf, gorgeously dressed in satin and gold lace, and actually blazing with rich jewels. There was scarcely a spot upon its little breast, or neck, or stomach, but was sparkling with the costly offerings of the faithful. Presently he lifted it out of the box, and carrying it round among the kneelers, set its face against the

forehead of every one, and tendered its clumsy foot to them to kiss; a ceremony which they all performed, down to a dirty little ragamuffin of a boy, who had walked in from the street. When this was done, he laid it in the box again; and the company, rising, drew near, and commended the jewels in whispers. In good time he replaced the coverings, shut up the box, put it back in its place, locked up the whole concern (holy family and all) behind a pair of folding-doors; took off his priestly vestments, and received the customary "small charge," while his companion, by means of an extinguisher fastened to the end of a long stick, put out the lights one after another. The candles being all extinguished, and the money all collected, they retired, and so did the spec

tators.

I met this same Bambino in the street a short time afterwards, going in great state to the house of some sick person. It is taken to all parts of Rome for this purpose constantly but I understand that it is not always as successful as could be wished; for, making its appearance at the bedside of weak and nervous people in extremity, accompanied by a numerous escort, it not unfrequently frightens them to death. . .

It is a very valuable property, and much confided in; especially by the religious body to whom it belongs.

I am happy to know that it is not considered immaculate, by some who are good Catholics, and who are behind the scenes, from what was told me by the near relation of a Priest, himself a Catholic, and a gentleman of learning and intelligence. This Priest made my informant promise that he would on no account allow the Bambino to be borne into the bed-room of a sick lady, in whom they were both interested. "For," said he, "if they (the Monks) trouble her with it, and intrude themselves into her room, it will certainly kill her." My informant accordingly looked out at the window when it came, and, with many thanks, declined to open the door. He endeavoured, in another case of which he had no other knowledge than such as he gained as a passer-by at the moment, to prevent its being carried into a small unwholesome chamber, where a poor girl was dying. But he strove against it unsuccessfully, and she expired while the crowd were pressing round her bed.-Pictures from Italy.

THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON. No stranger who visits London considers that he has seen all the "lions" if he has not

caught a glimpse of the Duke. In illustration of this remark, I may mention one circumstance. A lady of my acquaintance, on

As

the morning of her intended departure from London, after a short visit, was walking with a friend in Hyde Park, near ApsleyHouse, as early as six o'clock. they walked along, she said, "Well, I have seen everything I wanted to see in London, excepting the Duke of Wellington; and I would rather have seen him than all the rest." She uttered this remark in a loud, sprightly voice, little dreaming that any but her friend heard it. Immediately, however, a gentleman passed her, raised his hat, and smilingly said, "Madam, I am happy to present him to you;" and, again bowing, passed on, followed at a little distance by his groom. There was no mistaking of the personage who spoke. It was the Duke himself; and I need hardly say, that the lady was, in spite of her confusion, not a little gratified by the incident. -Sketches of Poets, Painters, and Politicians.

PEEL AND BYRON AT SCHOOL.

LAST, and not least, Sir Robert Peel was his contemporary; and it is now with very odd feelings that we read the anecdote in Byron's life, that when a great fellow of a boy-tyrant, who claimed little Peel as a fag, was giving him a castigation, Byron came and proposed to share it. "While the stripes were succeeding each other, and poor Peel writhing under them, Byron saw and felt for the misery of his friend; and although he knew that he was not strong enough to fight -with any hope of success, and that it was dangerous even to approach him, he advanced to the scene of action, and with a blush of rage, tears in his eyes, and a voice trembling with terror and indignation, asked very humbly if would be pleased to tell him how many stripes he meant to inflict? • Why,' returned the executioner, 'you little rascal, what is that to you?' 'Because, if you please,' said Byron, holding out his arm, I would take half.'"-Wm. Howitt's Homes and Haunts of British Poets.

61

failing usually imputed to travellers?" Another of the fraternity having baffled his cross-examination, he suddenly remarked, "You were born and bred in Manchester, I perceive?" The witness admitted that it was so. "I knew it," said Erskine carelessly, "from the absurd tie of your neckcloth." The traveller's weak point was touched, for he fancied that his dress had been perfect; and the Counsel gained his object, the man's presence of mind was gone.

When induced to make a personal observation on a witness, Erskine divested it of asperity by a tone of jest and good-humour. In a cause at Guildhall, brought to recover the value of a quantity of whalebone, a witness was called, of impenetrable stupidity. There are two descriptions of whalebone, of different value, the long and the thick. The defence turned on the quality delivered, that an inferior article had been charged at the price of the best. A witness for the defence baffled every attempt at explanation by his dulness. He confounded thick whalebone with long in such a manner, that Erskine was forced to give it up. "Why, man, you don't seem to know the difference between what is thick and what is long. Now, I'll tell you the difference. You are a thickheaded fellow, and you are not a long-headed

one!"

In a cause at Guildhall, Mingay spoke of one Bolt, a wharfinger on the Thames, who loved litigation, and whose name regularly appeared as plaintiff or defendant in the cause-paper of the sittings after term, in very harsh language, for his dishonest and litigious spirit. "Gentlemen," replied Erskine, "the Counsel has taken unwarrantable liberties with my client's good name. He is so remarkably of an opposite character, that he goes by the name of Bolt-upright." This was all invention.

RAVAGES OF THE PLAGUE. THE plague in 1347 destroyed 50,000 of the inhabitants of London; in 1407, 30,000 persons were swept off in the same city by the same scourge; and in 1604, one-fourth of the whole population died of it. In 1665, it again visited London, taking off 68,000 persons. In Bossorah, 1773, 80,030 were destroyed by it. In Smyrna, 1784, 20,000. In Tunis, 1784, 32,000. In Egypt, 1792, 800,000!

An extraordinary affair happened about the year 1740. One of the Directors, a very rich man, had occasion for £30,000, which he was

to pay as the price of an estate he had just bought. To facilitate the matter, he carried the sum with him to the Bank, and obtained for it a bank-note. On his return home, he

62

:

was suddenly called out upon particular business; he threw the note carelessly on the chimney, but when he came back a few minutes afterwards to lock it up, it was not to be found. No one had entered the room: he could not, therefore, suspect any person. At last, after much ineffectual search, he was persuaded that it had fallen from the chimney into the fire. The Director went to acquaint his colleagues with the misfortune that had happened to him, and as he was known to be a perfectly honourable man, he was readily believed. It was only about four-and-twenty hours from the time that he deposited his money they thought, therefore, that it would be hard to refuse his request for a second bill. He received it upon giving an obligation to restore the first bill, if it should ever be found, or to pay the money himself if it should be presented by any stranger. About thirty years afterwards (the Director having been long dead, and his heirs in possession of his fortune) an unknown person presented the lost bill at the Bank, and demanded payment. It was in vain that they mentioned to this person the transaction by which that bill was annulled: he would not listen to it; he maintained that it had come to him from abroad, and insisted upon immediate payment. The note was payable

to bearer, and the £30,000 were paid him. The heirs of the Director would not listen to any demands of restitution, and the Bank was obliged to sustain the loss. It was discovered afterwards that an architect having purchased the Director's house, had taken it down in order to build another upon the same spot, had found the note in a crevice of the chimney, and made his discovery an engine for robbing the Bank.-History of the Bank of England.

CONDESCENSION AND HUMOUR OF GEORGE THE THIRD AND QUEEN CHARLOTTE.

THE following anecdote of George the Third was related by the late venerable Earl of Eldon to a personal friend, a short time before his decease :-" Upon the occasion of the King's recovery from his unhappy illness, I went, accompanied by my brother Stowell, to Buckingham-House, as it was

then called, to pay my respects. On our arrival, and giving our names, we were immediately shown into the drawing-room. In a very short time afterwards the King came to us, and only attended by a male servant to open the door. He immediately, on our rising, shook hands with my brother and self most cordially, saying, 'How do you do, Scott?-how do you do, Stowell? I am indeed most happy to see you here together be seated.' We sat down, His Majesty placing his chair between us, and he kindly responded to our joint congratulations. In a very short time the Queen, unaccompanied, opened a centre door, upon which the King instantly exclaimed, ⚫ Come in, Charlotte, and make one of us here is Judgment sitting between the twin brothers, Law and Equity, and restrained on either hand! We rose, for the double purpose of making our dutiful obeisance to Her Majesty, as well as bowingly to acknowledge the flattering compliment, when the King commanded us to resume our seats; and the Queen sat down with us. I then thanked His Majesty for his most gracious compliment thus offered to my dear brother and self, as the humble representatives of our respective professions; and ventured to reply to His Majesty's point as follows:-' I am indeed grateful to your Majesty for the honour of the association thus conferred; but allow me to observe, in reply, that Law and Equity are properly controlled by Judgment.' Upon which, George the Third seized both our hands, laughed out heartily, and said aloud, Scott, Scott, you have fairly beaten me: I wished to have given you the honours upon this occasion, but you have outwitted me.' It is needless to say the Queen enjoyed the joke heartily. We then entered into some general conversation of more than half an hour's duration. Upon our leaving, the King and Queen again shook hands with us most heartily, His Majesty bidding us God speed.' We re

tired under the same ease and absence of restraint as we had entered; and you may judge that my departed brother and myself were in no small degree satisfied with the circumstances of our visit to BuckinghamHouse."

MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS,
BEHEADED. FEB. 8TH.

THIS beautiful, accomplished, interesting, and unfortunate woman, after being ranked among the most abandoned of her sex for nearly two centuries, owing to the envy and

malice of her rival-cousin and sister-Queen Elizabeth, has at length found champions in Mr. Goodall, Mr. Tytler, and Mr. Whitaker, who have vindicated her character, and shown, that, if, in some respects, she was imprudent, yet that she is more to be pitied than cen

sured, and more pure than her calumniators; and that one of her greatest errors was confiding in her who was seeking her life.

On Tuesday, the 7th of February, the Earls of Shrewsbury and Kent arrived at Fotheringay, and, demanding access to the Queen, read in her presence the warrant for execution, and required her to prepare to die next morning. Mary heard them to the end without emotion, and crossing herself in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, "That soul," said she, "is not worthy of the joys of heaven, which repines because the body must endure the stroke of the executioner; and though I did not expect that the Queen of England would set the first example of violating the sacred person of a sovereign Princess, I willingly submit to that which Providence has decreed to be my lot;" and laying her hand on a Bible, which happened to be near her, she solemnly protested that she was innocent of that conspiracy which Babington had carried on against Elizabeth's life. She then mentioned the requests contained in her letter to Elizabeth, but obtained no satisfactory answer. She entreated, with particular earnestness, that now, in her last moments, her Almoner might be suffered to attend her, and that she might enjoy the consolation of those pious institutions prescribed by her religion. Even this favour, which is usually granted to the vilest criminal, was absolutely denied.

Her attendants, during this conversation, were bathed in tears, and, though overawed by the presence of the two Earls, with difficulty suppressed their anguish; but no sooner did Kent and Shrewsbury withdraw, than they ran to their mistress, and burst out into the most passionate expressions of tenderness and sorrow. Mary, however, not only retained perfect composure of mind, but endeavoured to moderate their excessive grief; and falling on her knees, with all her domestics around her, she thanked Heaven that her sufferings were so near an end, and prayed that she might be enabled to endure what still remained with decency and fortitude. The greater part of the evening she employed in settling her worldly affairs. She wrote her testament with her own hand. Her money, her jewels, and her clothes, she distributed among her servants, according to their rank or merit. She wrote a short letter to the King of France, and another to the Duke of Guise, full of tender but magnanimous sentiments, and recommended her soul to their prayers, and her afflicted servants to their protection. At supper she ate temperately, as usual, and conversed not only with ease, but with cheerfulness: she drank to every one of her servants, and asked their forgiveness if ever she had failed in any part of her duty towards them. At her wonted time she went to bed, and slept calmly a few hours. Early in the morning she retired into her closet, and em

63

ployeda consider able time in devotion. At eight o'clock the High Sheriff and his officers entered her chamber, and found her still kneeling at the altar. She immediately started up, and with a majestic mien, and a countenance undismayed, and even cheerful, advanced towards the place of execution, leaning on two of Paulet's attendants. She was dressed in a mourning habit, but with an elegance and splendour which she had long laid aside, except on a few festival-days. An Agnus Dei hung by a pomander chain at her neck; her beads at her girdle; and in her hand she carried a crucifix of ivory. At the foot of the stairs, the two Earls, attended by several gentlemen from the neighbouring counties, received her; and there Sir Andrew Melvil, the master of her household, who had been secluded for some weeks from her presence, was permitted to take his last farewell. At the sight of a mistress whom he tenderly loved, in such a situation, he melted into tears; and as he was bewailing her condition, and complaining of his own hard fate, in being appointed to carry the account of such a mournful event into Scotland, Mary replied, "Weep not, good Melvil: there is at present great cause for rejoicing. Thou shalt this day see Mary Stuart delivered from all her cares, and such an end put to her tedious sufferings as she has long expected. witness that I die constant in my religion, firm in my fidelity towards Scotland, and unchanged in my affection to France. Commend me to my son. Tell him I have done nothing injurious to his kingdom, to his honour, or to his rights; and God forgive all those who have thirsted, without cause, for my blood."

Bear

With much difficulty, and after many entreaties, she prevailed on the two Earls to allow Melvil, together with three of her menservants and two of her maids, to attend her to the scaffold. It was erected in the same hall where she had been tried, raised a little above the floor, and covered, as well as the chair, the cushion, and block, with black cloth. Mary mounted the steps with alacrity, beheld all this apparatus of death with an unaltered countenance, and, signing herself with the cross, she sat down in the chair. Beale read the warrant for execution with a loud voice, to which she listened with a careless air, and like one occupied in other thoughts. Then the Dean of Peterborough began a devout discourse, suitable to her present condition, and offered up prayers to heaven in her behalf; but she declared that she could not in conscience hearken to the one, nor join with the other, and, falling on her knees, repeated a Latin prayer. When the Dean had finished his devotions, she, with an audible voice, and in the English tongue, recommended unto God the afflicted state of the Church, and prayed for prosperity to her son, and for a long life and peaceable reign to Elizabeth. She declared that she

64

hoped for mercy only through the death of Christ, at the foot of whose image she now willingly shed her blood; and, lifting up and kissing the crucifix, she thus addressed it:

As thy arms, O Jesus, were extended on the cross; so with the outstretched arms of thy mercy receive me, and forgive my sins!"

She then prepared for the block, by taking off her veil and upper garments; and one of the executioners rudely endeavouring to assist, she gently checked him, and said, with a smile, that she had not been accustomed to undress before so many spectators, nor to be served by such valets. With calm but un

daunted fortitude she laid her neck on the block; and while one executioner held her hands, the other, at the second stroke, cut off her head, which, falling out of its attire, discovered her hair already grown quite grey with cares and sorrows. The executioner held it up, still streaming with blood; and the Dean crying out, "So perish all Queen Elizabeth's enemies," the Earl of Kent alone answered, "Amen." The rest of the spectators continued silent, and drowned in tears; being incapable at that moment of any other sentiments but those of pity or admiration.-Time's Telescope.