rushing from the Commons with an impetuosity, of which, under any other circumstances, I might have been ashamed, threw myself into a coach, and ordered the coachman to gallop to Lord Huntingdon's residence in Montague Place. I flew up stairs to her Ladyship, and claimed a salute, which she' promised the moment I discovered the will of Theophilus, or any other document to prove his extinction without male issue. I was received with' gladness. His Lordship came in immediately after my arrival, and all was congratulation and joy. I then posted off to Sir Samuel Romilly, to whom, in a state of breathless haste, I communicated the fortunate tidings. He most affectionately caught me by the hand, his eyes sparkling with pleasure, and declared his gratification in the warmest terms. He flatteringly told me I was an extraordinary fellow, applauded the lucky thought which led to the discovery, augured future prosperity in my profession; and, in a moment after, became the same reserved formal official being that he generally appeared to be."

Mr. Bell, it is proper to mention, had not at this time been either called to the bar, or sworn in Chancery, and could only, therefore, be considered as an agent; and matters were now so far advanced into form, that both a solicitor and counsel, strictly speaking, were required. This official, or rather unofficial difficulty was overcome, through the recommendation of Sir Samuel Romilly to the Attorney-General, whose honourable and liberal conduct throughout the whole of the case, justly calls forth the warmest commendation. The author himself was allowed to act in either capacity that might be needed, and thus some hundred pounds of expence were saved.

Not the smallest of the vexations to be encountered were the heraldic scruples and discouraging suggestions of Mr. Townsend, who at last, says our author, "began to appear in my eyes a "kind of evil apparition, something as preposterous as a bird "of bad omen, or one of the witches of Macbeth;" to which may be added the prudent advices and admonitory remarks of several of his friends, who had the sagacity to perceive, and the kindness to point out the impossibilities which beset him. "Indeed," says he." the only person who seemed to place, and who really did place, unlimited reliance on my word and exertions in the business, was the Countess of Huntingdon herself; and but for the support and confidence I derived from her, I know not whether I should have found energy enough to persevere. Nothing could alter her belief that I should succeed at last, though she was tormented by every kind soul of her acquaintance, expressing, forsooth, their fears for my reason, and demanding what right she had to place such implicit reliance on the talents of so young and inexperienced a man, with a thousand other insinuations of a similar nature, sufficient to shake the faith of a martyr. But all was in vain. "Let that young man alone," her ladyship would say, "and my life on it he will succeed."

In the course of the investigation of the evidence which now took place on the part of the Attorney-General, sundry embarrassments presented themselves, which we do not think it worth while to specify. But we ought not to omit to mention, that counter-claimants to the number of four sprung up to perplex

and impede the proceedings. The first of these, certainly a Hastings, was a taylor, residing in Cheltenham; the second, a fishmonger, "who formerly resided in a garret in Chancery "Lane," was also a Hastings; the third had only assumed the name about five years ago, a fact, which, being admitted, soon eclipsed his pretensions; and the fourth was Mr. George Hastings of Killaloo, in Ireland, whose claims were the most troublesome, not by any means because they were the best founded, but in reality because they were supported by the solicitors of the Marquis of Hastings, who, however, it seems, repeatedly failed to bring forward their promised evidence in his favour. The individual himself appears to have acted a perfectly honourable part, but it is stated, it was evidently the intention of those who backed him, to defer the time of deciding on the claims of the true representative, and that for a reason which the reader ought to understand, in order to his due acquaintance with the difficulties of the case;" about twenty"nine years had elapsed since the death of the late Earl; and "their object, as we believed, was, by making this diversion, "to prolong the period of abeyance to thirty years, as in that "case certain statutes would have full operation." It would have been quite inconvenient, as will easily be conceived, to have referred the claim to the Committee of Privileges of the House of Lords, where several years might have elapsed before any conclusion would have been arrived at.-So much the more merit in Mr. Bell, it will be generally allowed, and so much the more to the credit of the official personages concerned in it, especially the Attorney General, that a successful issue was so speedily, and yet, beyond a doubt, so justly obtained.

A good deal more there is in the work, which has occupied us so much, to keep up attention a little longer; but we must have done with it. There are, however, three things which we ought not to overlook, and these we shall give chiefly in the author's language. The first quotation will prove gratifying, in the highest degree, to all who are capable of estimating the virtues which adorn a throne.

"Previous to the presentation of our petition, and frequently during the progress of the business, many persons had endeavoured to inculcate a be lief on Lord Huntingdon's mind, that the intimate friendship so long known to exist between the Prince and the Marquis of Hastings, would prepossess his Royal Highness, and operate powerfully, if not fatally, against his Lordship's success. Such officious persons had formed, or seemed to have formed, a most erroneous, and most unworthy estimate of the august personage in question-an estimate, which both Lord Huntingdon, and I myself, al-' ways treated with absolute contempt. These insinuations never gave us a moment's uneasiness, convinced as we were, that in so truly royal a breast,

no personal or private feeling, however dear, could be suffered to mingle itself with the sacred duties of a sovereign, in any other way, than to give greater eclat to an act of public justice. The result fully and nobly realized our confidence. From the commencement, whenever reference was necessary to the Prince in his high capacity, his Royal Highness facilitated the proceedings, as far as in him lay, with a zeal and anxiety for the ends of truth and justice, which excluded all subordinate considerations."—" Previous to the sending in of the (Attorney General's) Report, and after Mr. (George) Hastings' departure for Ireland, it was whispered about, in a particular circle, that a personal application had been made by a Lady of high rank to the Prince Regent, requesting him to issue orders to the Law Officers of the Crown, to postpone the further hearing of the pending claim as to the Huntingdon peerage, until the return of a certain nobleman to this country; or, at least, till such time as that personage should be apprized of the proceedings which had already taken place, and should send his advice and instructions on the subject. To this request his Royal Highness replied with becoming complaisance and dignity, concluding with the following most princely sentiments- But let me assure you, Madam, that the rights of one subject are as sacred in my eyes, and as dear to my heart, as those of another; and if it appears that the claimant in this case has a just right to the title in question, God forbid that any act of mine should prevent his accession to, and enjoyment of it, even for a moment. Were I to act otherwise, I should disgrace the station I fill, and abuse that high trust confided to me for the happiness of my people, and the maintenance of her laws. I stand here, Madam, to direct and impel the pure and impartial administration of public justice, not to obstruct the exercise of it.”

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The second thing we have to notice, is the consummation of the claim by the happy individual taking his place among noble brethren. The Report of the Attorney General received the entire approbation of the Lord Chancellor; and the Prince Regent, accordingly, on the 7th July, signed his royal warrant, empowering that officer to issue a writ of summons to the claimant, commanding his attendance in the then ensuing parliament, to be holden on the 14th of the same month, by the style, titles, and dignity of Earl of the county of Huntingdon. That day at length arrived; and in allusion to what must have appeared the most interesting proceeding which it witnessed, Mr. Bell says, -" I had the satisfaction of seeing my noble client duly sworn a Peer of the Imperial Parliament, and sign the roll as such. Then, indeed, and not till then, could I venture, like another Achates, to exclaim-' Italiam! Italiam! I then had the honour and felicity of congratulating his Lordship as third Earl of the kingdom, in good earnest; and it will ever be a question with me, which was the more pleased of the two, on the fortunate accession to his high ancestorial dignities. The bells of Westminster announced the joyful event; and the happy party who met at his Lordship's hospitable board that evening, celebrated it in something more than sounds." The third point which we proposed to notice, relates to the question of the property, connected, or supposed to be connected with the title. All that we shall say respecting it is, that there is some reason for believing that a certain portion of the alienated estates ought to be given up to the possessor of the

title; and that, as the Marquis of Hastings has in consequence been respectfully written to on the subject, there is ground to hope, that certain legal proceedings, which have been contemplated with a view towards recovery, will be rendered unnecessary. If otherwise, it is pretty plainly intimated, that neither prudence nor courtesy would long prevent a disclosure of some curiosities, in addition to what are already before the public!

The reader, we are sure, will require no opinion from us as to the professional merits of the individual whose extraordinary exertions we have thus followed out to their splendid issue. But he may not be displeased to know the opinion of so competent a judge as that conscientious and able man who now presides with so much honour in the Court of Exchequer of our own country, whither he was promoted from the office of Attorney General. It is contained in these words, applied to the case of this claim. "In the whole course of his legal knowledge, he had never "known a case conducted with more honour, fidelity, ability, "and zeal; and that it reflected the highest credit on Mr. Bell's "character and talents." As to his literary deserts, about which of course, we might think ourselves at liberty to pronounce our opinion, we shall merely say, he has interested and amused us so highly, that we have not the slightest wish or temptation to find fault with him; but, on the contrary, are heartily willing to meet him again, when as good a cause demands the exercise of his talents.

ART. VI.-A Narrative of the Loss of the Winterton East Indiaman, wrecked on the Coast of Madagascar in 1792, and of the Sufferings connected with that Event; to which is subjoined, a Short Account of the Natives of Madagascar, with Suggestions as to their Civilization. By a Passenger in the Ship. Edinburgh: Waugh & Innes. London: Hatchard & Seeley. 1820.

THERE is perhaps no narrative which excites more interest than that of a shipwreck. Its effect is heightened in proportion to the minuteness of the description of the progress of the disaster, and of the feelings of the individuals who are the sufferers. Every moment, under such a calamity, being precious, and big

with fate with life or death-we watch, with almost breathless anxiety, every incident in the description that excites hope or fear for the persons with whose situation we are led irresistibly and deeply to sympathize. Independently, also, of the interest we take in the sufferers, such a scene is curious to the moralist, as affording a test of various characters; for while it exhibits some of the noblest traits of friendship, heroism, and self-denial, it displays often a painful contrast of unfeeling selfishness and violence.

In the variety, however, of such events, while there are peculiar circumstances in each, which tend materially to modify our sympathy, there are certain general considerations under which these may be classed. Among such, we think, may be reckoned the comparative magnitude and equipment of the vessel, the nature and composition of the crew, and the character and rank of the other persons on board. Who, for instance, can read, even at this distance of time, the simple narrative of the loss of that magnificent ship of the line, the Centaur, as given by her commander, and not feel the anxious interest, the overwhelming emotion to which we have alluded, when, after the painful enumeration of the ineffectual attempts to avert the fatal catas trophe, all hope is relinquished; and, as a last chance for life, amidst the violence of a storm, and the gloom of a wintry night, the gallant Inglefield leaps, in a critical moment, while the ship was going down, into the only remaining boat, which rescued him and eleven others, the sole survivors of the noble and numerous ship's company-men, too, be it observed, who had so very recently borne a distinguished part in a victory that put an end to a destructive war, and gave peace to Europe?

Under this impression, we cannot help considering an East India ship as combining, in its general character, more interesting circumstances than perhaps any other description of vessel in the calamity of a shipwreck. The magnitude of these vessels -the wealth which they convey-their importance in a political view as forming a regular link of connection with that wonderful empire, which from small beginnings has increased to such an extent, and has been the source of so much power to this country-the number of their crew, and the regularity of their appointments and discipline, all tend to give them an importance far beyond that of mere traders; while there are other peculiarities which augment the concern for their fate, and create an interest in their welfare of the highest kind. They form not only the medium of commerce, but the regular conveyances by which the numerous individuals connected with our Indian