A number of gentlemen paid Mr. Green the most polite attention on his descent.

THE BOTTLE-CONJURER.

ABOUT the middle of January, 1749, a humorous incident happened, which greatly diverted the attention of the people, and was ascribed to a contrivance of the facetious Duke of Montagu, to ridicule the public credulity. The following advertisement appeared in the newspapers:

"At the New Theatre in the Haymarket, on Monday next, the 16th inst. to be seen, a person who performs the several most surprising feats, viz. First, he takes a common walking-cane from any of the spectators, and thereon plays the music of every instrument now in use, and likewise sings to surprising perfection.-Secondly, he presents you with a common wine-bottle, which any of the spectators may first examine: this bottle is placed on a table in the middle of the stage, and he (without any equivocation) goes into it in sight of all the spectators, and sings in it; during his stay in the bottle, any person may handle it, and see plainly that it does not exceed a common tavern bottle. Those on the stage, or in the boxes, may come in masked habits, if agreeable to them, and the performer (if desired) will inform them who they are.

"Stage, 7s. 6.--Pit. 3s.-Gallery, 2s.

"To begin at half an hour after six o'clock.-Tickets to be had in the Theatre.

"**The performance continues about two hours and a balf.

"N. B. If any gentlemen or ladies, after the above performances, (either singly or in company, in or out of mask,) are desirous of seeing the representation of any deceased person, such as husband or wife, sister or brother, or any intimate friend of either sex, (upon making a gratuity to the performer,) they shall be gratified by seeing and conversing with them for some minutes, as if alive. Likewise, if desired, he will tell you your most secret thoughts in your past life, and give you a full view of persons who have injured you, whether dead or alive. For those gentlemen or ladies who are desirous of seeing this last part, there is a private room provided. These performances have been seen by most of the crowned heads of Asia, Africa, and Europe, and never appeared public any where but once. He will wait on any persons at their houses, and perform as above, for five pounds each time."

In burlesque to this manifest imposition on the credulity of the public, the next day produced the following advertisement:

"Lately arrived from Italy, Sig. Capitello Jampedo, a surprising dwarf, no taller than a common tobacco-pipe; who can perform many wonderful equilibres on the slack or tight rope; likewise, he'll transform his body into above ten thousand different shapes and postures; and after he has diverted the spectators two hours and a half, he will open his mouth wide, and jump down his own throat. He being the most wonderfullest wonder of wonders that ever the world wondered at, would be willing to join in performance with that surprising musi

cian on Monday next in the Haymarket. He is to be spoken with at the Black Raven, in Golden-lane, every day from seven to twelve, and from twelve all day long."

Although it might be supposed morally impossible that mankind could be so egregiously imposed on, yet the scheme took, and, on the evening of exhibition, the house was crowded with nobility and gentry of both sexes. About seven o'clock the house was lighted, and the audience sat a considerable time without even the amusement of a single fiddle. Their patience being at length exhausted, a chorus of catcalls ensued, hastened by loud vociferations and beating of sticks; when a man came from behind the curtain, and, bowing, said, that if the performer did not appear, the money should be returned. At the same time some person in the pit called out, that "If the ladies and gentlemen would give him double prices, the conjurer would get into a pint bottle." Soon after this, a young gentleman in one of the boxes, took a lighted candle, and threw it on the stage, which alarming the greater part of the audience, they made the best of their way out of the theatre, some losing their cloaks and hats, and others their wigs and swords. A party, however, staid in the house to demolish the inside, when the mob breaking in, they tore up the benches, broke the scenes, pulled down the boxes, and entirely demolished the theatre.

BARBARITY.

A PLANTER in Virginia, who was owner of a considerable number of slaves, instead of regarding them as human creatures, and of the same species with himself, used them with the utmost cruelty, whipping and torturing them for the slightest faults. One of these, thinking any change preferable to slavery under such a barbarian, attempted to make his escape among the mountain Indians, but unfortunately was taken and brought back to his master. Poor Arthur, this being his name, was immediately ordered to receive three hundred lashes. These were to be given him by his fellow slaves, among whom there happened to be a negro which the planter had purchased on the preceding day. This slave, the moment he saw the unhappy wretch destined to the lashes, rushed forward, clasped him in his arms, and embraced him with the greatest tenderness; the other returned his transports, and nothing could be more moving than their mutual bemoaning each other's misfortunes. Their master was soon given to understand that they were countrymen and intimate friends; and that Arthur had formerly, in a battle with a neighbouring nation, saved the life of his friend at the expense of his own. The newly purchased negro threw himself at the planter's feet with tears, beseeching him, in the most moving manner, to spare his friend, or, at least, to let him undergo the punishment in his stead, protesting that he would rather die ten thousand deaths, than lift his hand against him. But the haughty planter, looking on this as an affront to the absolute power he pretended over them, ordered Arthur to be immediately tied to a tree, and his friend to give him the lashes; telling him, that for every lash not well laid on, he should himself receive a score. The negro,

amazed at the barbarity so unbecoming a human creature, with a generous disdain refused to obey him, at the same time upbraiding him with his cruelty; upon which the planter turning all his rage on him, ordered him to be immediately stripped, and commanded Arthur, to whom he promised forgiveness, to give his countryman the lashes which he had been destined to receive. This proposal he heard with scorn, protesting he would rather suffer the most dreadful torture than injure his friend. This generous conflict, which must have raised the strongest feelings in a breast susceptible of pity, did but more inflame the monster, who now determined they should both be made examples of, and, to satiate his revenge, was preparing to begin with Arthur, when the negro drew a knife from his pocket, stabbed the planter to the heart, and at the same time struck it to his own, rejoicing with his last breath, that he had avenged his friend and the world of such a monster.

INSTANCES OF CLEMENCY.

Two patricians having conspired against Titus Vespasian, the Roman emperor, were discovered, convicted, and sentenced to death by the senate; but that excellent prince sent for them, and admonished them that in vain they aspired to the empire, which was given him by destiny, exhorting them to be satisfied with the rank in which by Providence they had been placed, and offering them any thing else which was in his power to graut. At the same time he despatched a messenger to the mother of one of them, who was then at a great distance, and under deep concern about the fate of her son, to assure her that her son was not only alive, but forgiven.-Licinius having raised a numerous army, (Zosimus says, thirteen thousand men,) attempted to wrest the government out of the hands of his brother-in law Constantine the emperor. But his army being defeated, Licinius fled, with what forces he could rally, to Nicomedia, whither Constantine pursued him, and immediately invested the place; but on the second day of the siege, the emperor's sister entreating him to forgive her husband, and grant him at least his life, he granted her request, and the next day Licinius, throwing himself at his feet, delivered up the purple and the other ensigns of sovereignty. Constantine received him in a very friendly manner, entertained him at his table, and afterwards sent him to Thessalonica, assuring him that he should live unmolested, so long as he raised no new disturbances.

Clemency seems to be rather a personal than national virtue; yet Mr. Rollin, after narrating the revolution in Athens by the expulsion of the thirty tyrants, and the general amnesty that took place upon the motion of the excellent Thrasybulus, speaks of it as one of the finest events in ancient history, worthy the Athenian clemency and benevolence, and which has served as a model to successive ages in all good governments.

Never had tyranny been more cruel and bloody, than that which the Athenians had at this time thrown off. Every house was in mourning, every family bewailed the loss of some relation; it had been a series of public robbery and rapine, in which impunity had authorized

all manner of crimes. The people appeared to have a right to demand the blood of all accomplices in such notorious malversations, and even the interest of the state seemed to authorize such a claim, that, by exemplary severities, such enormous crimes might be prevented for the future. But Thrasybulus, rising above those sentiments, from the superiority of his more extensive genius, and the views of a more discerning and profound policy, foresaw, that by punishing the guilty, eternal seeds of discord and enmity would remain, to weaken the public by intestine divisions, when it was necessary to unite against the common enemy; and would also occasion the loss, to the state, of many citizens, which might render important services, from the view of making amends for past misbehaviour.

Cardinal Mazarine observed to Don Lewis de Haro, prime minister of Spain, that "the gentle and humane conduct in the government of France had prevented the troubles and revolts of that kingdom from having any fatal consequences, and that the king had not lost a foot of ground by them to that day; whereas the inflexible severity of the Spaniards was the occasion that the subjects of that monarchy, whenever they threw off the mask, never returned to their obedience but by the force of arms; which sufficiently appears, added he, in the example of the Hollanders, who are in the peaceable possession of many provinces, that not an age ago were the patrimony of the king of Spain."

Leonidas, the heroic king of Sparta, with only three hundred men, disputed the pass of Thermopylae against the whole army of Xerxes; and being killed in the engagement, Xerxes, by the advice of Mardonius, one of his generals, caused his dead body to be hung upon a gallows, making thereby the intended dishonour of his enemy his own immortal shame. But some time after, Xerxes being defeated, and Mardonius slain, one of the principal citizens of Ægina came and addressed himself to Pausanias, desiring him to avenge the indignity that Mardonius and Xerxes had shewn to Leonidas, by treating Mardonius's body after the same manner. He added, that by satisfying the manes of those who were killed at Thermopylæ, he would be sure to immortalize his own name throughout Greece, and make his memory precious to the latest posterity. "Carry thy base counsels elsewhere," replied Pausanias; "thou must have a very wrong notion of true glory, to imagine that the way for me to acquire it is to resemble the barbarians. If the esteem of the people of Egina is not to be purchased but by such a proceeding, I shall be content with preserving that of the Lacedæmonians only, amongst whom the base and ungenerous pleasure of revenge is never put in competition with that of shewing clemency and moderation to their enemies, especially after their death. As for the souls of my departed countrymen, they are sufficiently avenged by the death of many thousands of the Persians slain upon the spot, in the last engagement."

MATERNAL AFFECTION.

(From M. de Humbold's Travels.

IN 1797, the missionary of San Fernando had led his Indians to the banks of the Rio Guaviare, on one of those hostile incursions,

which are prohibited alike by religion and the Spanish laws. They found in an Indian hut a Guahiba mother, with three children, two of whom were still infants. They were occupied in preparing the flour of cassava. Resistance was impossible; the father was gone to fish, and the mother tried in vain to flee with her children. Scarcely had she reached the savanna, when she was seized by the Indians of the mission, who go to hunt men, as the whites hunt the negroes in Africa. The mother and her children were bound, and dragged to the bank of the river. The monk, seated in his boat, waited the issue of an expedition, of which he partook not the danger. Had the mother made too violent a resistance, the Indians would have killed her, for every thing is permitted when they go to the conquest of souls, (à lu conquista espiritual), and it is children in particular they seek to capture, in order to treat them in the mission as poitos, or slaves of the Christians. The prisoners were carried to San Fernando, in the hope that the mother would be unable to find her way back to her home by land. Far from those children who had accompanied their father on the day in which she had been carried off, this unhappy woman shewed signs of the deepest despair. She attempted to take back to her family the children who had been snatched away by the missionary, and fled with them repeatedly from the village of San Fernando: but the Indians never failed to seize her anew; and the missionary, after having caused her to be mercilessly beaten, took the cruel resolution of separating the mother from the two children who had been carried off with her. She was conveyed alone toward the missions of the Rio Negro, going up the Atabapo. Slightly bound, she was seated at the bow of the boat, ignorant of the fate that awaited her; but she judged, by the direction of the sun, that she was removing farther and farther from her hut and her native country. She succeeded in breaking her bonds, threw herself into the water, and swam to the left bank of the Atabapo. The current carried her to a shelf or rock, which bears her name to this day. She landed, and took shelter in the woods, but the president of the missions ordered the Indians to row to the shore, and follow the traces of the Guahiba. In the evening she was brought back. Stretched upon the rock (la Piedra de la Madre, a cruel punishment was inflicted on her with those straps of manatee leather, which serve for whips in that country, and with which the alcades are always furnished. This unhappy woman, her hands tied behind her back with strong stalks of maracure, was then dragged to the mission of Javita.

She was thrown into one of the caravanseras that are called Cassa del Rey. It was the rainy season, and the night was profoundly dark. Forests, till then believed to be impenetrable, separated the mission of Javita from that of San Fernando, which was twenty-five leagues distant in a straight line. No other path is known than that of the rivers; no man ever attempted to go by land from one village to another, were they only a few leagues apart. But such difficulties do not stop a mother who is separated from her children. Guahiba was carelessly guarded in the caravansera; her arms being wounded, the Indians of Javita had loosened her bonds, unknown to the missionary and the alcades: she succeeded, by the help of her

The