in his old age, the king was so enraged at the proposal, though so reasonable in itself, that he caused his eldest son to be killed before the eyes of his father; giving the latter to understand, that it was a favour that he spared him and the rest of his children. Yet this is the

same Xerxes who is so much admired for his humane reflection at the head of his numerous army, "That of so many thousand men, in one hundred years' time there would not be one remaining; on which account he could not forbear weeping at the uncertainty and instability of human things." He might have found another subject of reflection, which would have more justly merited his tears and affliction had he turned his thoughts upon himself, and considered the reproaches he deserved for being the instrument of hastening the fatal term to milions of people, whom his cruel ambition was going to sacrifice in an unjust and an unnecessary war.

Basilius Macedo, the Emperor, exercising himself in hunting, a sport he took a great delight in, a great stag, running furiously against him, fastening one of the branches of his horns in the emperor's girdle, and, pulling him from his horse, dragged him a good distance, to the imminent danger of his life; which a gentleman of his retinue perceiving, drew his sword and cut the emperor's girdle asunder, which disengaged him from the beast, with little or no hurt to his person. But observe what reward he had for his pains: "He was sentenced to lose his head, for putting his sword so near the body of the emperor," and suffered death accordingly.

THE UNGRATEFUL GUEST.

A certain soldier in the Macedonian army had, in many instances, distinguished himself by extraordinary acts of valour, and had received many marks of Philip's favour, and approbation. On some occasion, he embarked on board a vessel which was wrecked by a violent storm, and he himself cast on the shore helpless and naked, and scarcely with the appearance of life. A Macedonian, whose lands were contiguous to the sea, came opportunely to be witness of his distress; and, with all humane and charitable tenderness, flew to the relief of the unhappy stranger. He bore him to his house, laid him in his own bed, revived, cherished, comforted, and for forty days supplied him freely with all the necessaries and conveniences which his languishing condition could require. The soldier thus happily rescued from death, was incessant in the warmest expressions of gratitude to his benefactor, assured him of his interest with the king, and of his power and resolution of obtaining for him, from the royal bounty, the noble returns which such extraordinary benevolence had merited. He was now completely recovered, and his kind host supplied him with money to pursue his journey. In some time after, he presented himself before the king; he recounted his misfortunes, magnified his services: and this inhuman wretch, who had looked with an eye of envy on the possessions of the man who had preserved his life, was now abandoned to all sense of gratitude, as to request that the king would bestow upon him the house and lands where he had been so tenderly and kindly en

tertained. Unhappily, Philip, without examination, inconsiderately and precipitately granted his infamous request; and this soldier, now returned to his preserver, repaid his goodness by driving him from his settlement, and taking immediate possession of all the fruits of his honest industry. The poor man, stung with this instance of unparralleled ingratitude and insensibility, boldly determined, instead of submiting to his wrongs, to seek relief; and, in a letter addressed to Philip, represented his own and the soldier's conduct in a lively and af fecting manner. The king was instantly fired with indignation: he ordered that justice should be done without delay; that the possessions should be immediately restored to the man whose charitable offices had been thus horridly repaid; and, having seized this soldier, caused these words to be branded on his forehead,-The ungrateful guest;-a character infamous in every age, and among all nations; but particularly among the Greeks, who, from the earliest times, were most scrupulously observ. ant of the laws of hospitality.

JUSTICE, EQUITY, &c.

"CIVILIANS distinguish justice into two kinds: one they call communicative; and this establishes fair dealing in the mutual commerce between man and man, and includes sincerity in our discourse, and integrity in our dealings. The effect of sincerity is mutual confidence, so necessary among the members of the same community; and this mutual confidence is sustain

ed and preserved by the integrity of our conduct. Distributive justice is that by which the differences of mankind are decided according to the rules of equity: the former is the justice of private individuals; the latter, of princes and magistrates.'

Chancellor Egerton one morning, coming down stairs to go to Westminister Hall, observed these words written upon the wall before him: "Tanquam non reversurus," as if never to return, intimating how impartial he ought to be, supposed to have been written there by some person who had that day an important cause to be tried, and feared oppression.

Sir Thomas More, when Lord Chancellor of England, was remarkable for his justice, and attention to the duties of his station. It is said that the meanest claimant found ready access to him: no private affection could bias his judgment or influence his decree; no opportunity was given for intrigue or interested solicitation; and, after he had presided in the court of chancery for two years, such was his application to business, that one day, calling for the next cause, he was told there was not another then depending. A circumstance which he immediately ordered to be set down on record; and we suppose it will be allowed an unique of the kind.

Lord Bacon, in his essays modern and civil, gives the following anecdote of Sir Thomas. A person who had a suit in chancery sent him two silver flagons, not doubting of the agreeableness of the present. On receiving them, - he called one of his servants, and ordered him to fill those two vessels with the best wine in his cellar; and, turning round to the servant who

had presented them, "Tell your master," said the inflexible magistrate, "that, if he approve my wine, I beg he would not spare it; and returned the cups.

Lord Chief Justice Holt was one of the ablest and most upright Judges that ever presided in a court of justice. Such was the integrity and firmness of his mind, that he could never be brought to swerve in the least from what he esteemed law and justice. He was remarkably strenuous in nobly asserting, and as rigorously supporting, the liberties of the subject, to which he paid the greatest regard; and would not even suffer a reflection, tending to depreciate them, to pass uncensured, or without a severe reprimand. He lost his place, as recorder of London, for refusing to expound the law suitably to the king's designs. He asserted the law with such intrepidity, that he incurred, by turns, the indignation of both houses of parlia

ment.

It is said of Mr. Jonas Hanway, that, in his department of commissioner for victualling the navy, he was uncommonly assiduous and attentive, and kept the contractors and persons who had dealings with the office at a great distance. He would not even accept of a hare or pheasant, or the smallest present, from any of them; and when any were sent him, he always returned them; not in a morose manner, as if he affected the excess of disinterestedness, but with some mild answer; such as, "Mr. Hanway returns many thanks to Mr. for the present he intended him, but he has made it a rule not to accept any thing from any person engaged with the office. A rule which he hopes Mr.'s