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THE CUTS BY THE CELEBRATED BEWICK.

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CURIOUS INSCRIPTION

On the Tomb-stone of one Margaret
Scott, who died in the town of Dal-
keith in Scotland, Feb. 19,
1793.

Stop, passenger, until my life you read;
The living may gain knowledge by the dead.
Five times five years 1 liv'd a virgin's life,
Ten times five years I was a virtuous wife,
Ten times five years 1 lived a widow chaste;
Now, weary of this mortal life I rest.

Between my cradle and my grave have been,
Eight mighty kings of Scotland, and a Queen,
Four times five years the Commonwealth 1 saw;
Ten times the subject rose against the law.
Twice did I see old 'relacy pull'd down;
And twice the cloak was humbled by the gown.
An end of Stuart's race I saw nay, more!
My native country sold for English ore;
Such desolations in my life have been,
I have an end of all perfection seen.

T. N. D.

Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live. ISAIAH. xxxviii. 1. SEATED on a throne, and holding in his hand the sword of state, he is attenin a soothing tone, against an unfortunate tively listening to an advocate pleading, peasant, who trembling waits, in the most determine his fate. Death at this mosuppliant posture, the decree that is to ment displays all his power; he proudly takes possession of the bottom of the throne, and is carelessly leaning his arm on the Monarch's crown. The angry aspect with which the Emperor views the advocate and his two clients, who are seen standing with their heads uncovered, is a happy presage for the poor oppressed peasant.

LEECHES.-Great difficulty being ofteu with their mouths a correspondent in experienced in making leeches fasten the Gazette of Health of this month, strongly recommends the following method of applying them.---Dip the mouth of the leech in fresh porter, and apply it to the spot from whence it is deemed advisable to abstract blood, and it will immediately fasten, and begin to suck.

A CAPACITY.-A child belonging to opulent, but ignorant parents, was sent to a boarding school of some celebrity to receive a first rate education, The governess soon found, however, the child wanted capacity, and inentioned her fears on that head to its mother. Oh, pray, said the worthy woman, if little Betsy hasn't a capacity, provide her with one immediately, whatever it may cost.

LAST MOMENTS OF LORD BYRON. "My master" says Mr. Fletcher, (Lord Byron's confidential servant) "continued his usual custom of riding daily when the weather would permit, until the 9th of April. But on that ill-fated day, he got very wet, and on his return home, his lordship changed the whole of his dress, but he had been too long in his wet clothes, and the cold, of which he had complained more or less ever since we left Cephalonia, made this attack be more severely felt. Though rather feverish during the night, his lordship slept pretty well, but complained in the morning of a pain in his bones and a head-ache: this did not, however, prevent him from taking a ride in the afternoon, which I grieve to say was his last. On his return, my master said that the saddle was not perfectly dry, from being so wet the day before, and observed that he thought it had made him worse. His lordship was again visited by the same slow fever, and I was sorry to perceive on the next morning, that his illness appeared to be increasing.

I

He was very low, and complained of not having had any sleep during the night. His lordship's appetite was also quite gone. prepared a little arrow-root, of which he took three or four spoonfuls, saying it was very good, but could take no more. It was not till the third day, the 12th, that I began to be alarmed for my master. In all his former colds, he always slept well and was never affected by this slow fever. I therefore went to Dr. Bruno and Mr. Millingen, the two medical attendants, and inquired minutely into every circumstance connected with my master's present illness: both replied that there was no danger, and I might make myself perfectly easy on the subject, for all would be well in a few days. This was on the 13th; on the following day, I found my master in such a state, that I could not feel happy without supplicating that he would send to Zante, for Dr. Thomas: after expressing my fears lest his lordship should get worse, he desired me to consult the doctors, which I did, and was told there was no occasion for calling in any person, as they hoped all would be well in a few days. Here I should remark, that his lordship repeatedly said in the course of the day, he was sure the doctors did not understand his disease; to which I answered, then my lord, have other advice by all means. "They tell me," said his lordship, "that it is only a common cold, which you know I have had a thousand times." I am sure my lord, said I, that you never had one of so

serious a nature. "I think I never had," was his lordship's answer. I repeated my supplications that Dr. Thomas should be sent for on the 15th, and was again assured that my master would be better in two or three days. After these confident assurances, I did not renew my

entreaties until it was too late. With respect to the medicines that were given to my master, I could not persuade myself that those of a strong purgative nature were best adapted for his com plaint, concluding that, as he had nothing on his stomach, the only effect would be to create pain: indeed this must have been the case with a person in perfect health. The whole nourishment taken by my master for the last eight days, consisted of a small quantity of broth at two or three different times, and two spoonfuls of arrow-root on the 18th, the day before his death. The first time I heard of there being any intention of bleeding his lordship, was on the 15th, when it was proposed by Dr. Bruno, but objected to by my master, who asked Mr. Millingen if there was any very great reason for taking blood: the latter replied that it might be of service, but added that it could be deferred till the next day. And accordingly my master was bled in the right arm, on the evening of the 16th, and a pound of blood was had a most inflamed appearance. Dr. taken. 1 observed at the time, that it Bruno now began to say he had frequently urged my master to be bled, but that he always refused; a long dispute now arose about the time that had been

lost, and the necessity of sending for medical assistance to Zante, upon which I was informed for the first time, that it would be of no use, as my master would be better, or no more, before the arrival of Dr. Thomas. His lordship continued to get worse, but Dr. Bruno said, he his life, and I lost no time in telling my thought letting blood again would save master how necessary it was to comply with the doctor's wishes; to this he replied by saying, he feared they knew nothing about his disorder, and then stretching out his arm said, "here, take my arm and do whatever you like." His lordship continued to get weaker, and on the 17th he was bled twice in the morning, and at two o'clock in the afternoon; the bleeding at both times was followed by fainting fits, and he would have fallen down more than once, had I not caught him in my arms. In order to prevent such an accident, I took care not to let his lordship stir without supporting him. On this day, my master said to me twice-"I cannot sleep, and you well

THE LAST MOMENTS OF LORD BYRON.

299

He then continued, "Oh, my poor dear
child! my dear Ada! my God, could I
but have seen her! give her my blessing
and my dear sister Augusta and her
children; and you will go to lady
Byron, and say-
tell her every
thing-you are friends with her." His
lordship appeared to be greatly affected
at this moment. Here my master's voice
failed him, so that I could only catch a
word at intervals, but he kept muttering
something very seriously for some time,
and would often raise his voice and say,
"Fletcher, now if you do not execute
every order which I have given you, I
will torment you hereafter if possible."
Here I told his lordship in a state of the
greatest perplexity, that I had not under-
stood a word of what he said, to which
he replied, "Oh, my God! then all is
lost! for it is now too late-can it be
possible that you have not understood
me?" "No, my lord," said I, "but I
pray you to try to inform me once more.'
"How can I?" rejoined my master, "it
is now too late and all is over." I said,
"Not our will, but God's be done," and
he answered "Yes, not mine be done
but I will try- -". His lordship did
indeed make several efforts to speak,
but could only repeat two or three words
at a time, such as, "my wife! my child!
my sister! you know all-you must say
all-you know my wishes;" the rest was
quite unintelligible. A consultation was
now held (about noon), when it was de-
termined to administer some Peruvian
bark and wine. My master had now
been nine days without any sustenance
whatever, except what I have already
mentioned. With the exception of a few
words, which can only interest those to
whom they were addressed, and which,
if

know that I have not been able to sleep
for more than a week: I know," added
his lordship, "that a man can only be a
certain time without sleep, and then he
must go mad without any one being able
to save him, and I would ten times rather
shoot myself than be mad, for I am not
afraid of dying, I am more fit to die
than people think." I do not, however,
believe that his lordship had any appre-
hension of his fate till the day after, the
18th, when he said, "I fear you and Tita
will be ill by sitting up constantly night
and day." I answered, "we shall never
leave your lordship till you are better."
As my master had a slight fit of delirium
on the 16th, I took care to remove the
pistols and stiletto which had hitherto
been kept at his bedside in the night.
On the 18th his lordship addressed me
frequently, and seemed to be very much
dissatisfied with his medical treatment.
I then said, "do allow me to send for
Dr. Thomas," to which he answered,
"do so, but be quick. I am only sorry
I did not let you do so before, as I am
sure they have mistaken my disease;
write yourself, for I know they would not
like to see other doctors here." I did
not lose a moment in obeying my
master's orders, and on informing Dr.
Bruno and Mr. Millingen of it, they said
it was very right, as they now began to
be afraid themselves. On returning to
my master's room, his first words were,
"have you sent?" "I have, my lord," was
my answer; upon which he said, "You
have done right, for I should like to
know what is the matter with me." Al-
though his lordship did not appear to
think his dissolution was so near, I could
perceive he was getting weaker every
hour, and he began to have occasional
fits of delirium. He afterwards said,
I now begin to think I am seriously ill,
and in case I should be taken off sud-
denly, I wish to give you several direc-
tions which I hope you will be particular
in seeing executed." I answered I would,
in case such an event came to pass, but
expressed a hope that he would live many
years, to execute them much better him-
self, than I could. To this my master
replied, "No, it is now nearly over".
and then added, "I must tell you all
without losing a moment." I then said,
"Shall I go, my lord, and fetch pen, ink,
and paper?" "Oh! my God, no-you
will lose too much time, and I have it
not to spare, for my time is now short,"
said his lordship, and immediately after,
"Now, pay attention." His lordship
commenced by saying, "You will be pro-
vided for." I begged him, however, to
proceed with things of more consequence.

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required, I shall communicate to themselves, it was impossible to understand any thing his lordship said after taking the bark. He expressed a wish to sleep.

I at one time asked him whether I should call Mr. Parry, to which he replied, "Yes, you may call him." Mr. Parry desired him to compose himself. He shed tears, and, apparently, sunk into a slumber. Mr. Parry went away, expecting to find him refreshed on his returnbut it was the commencement of the lethargy preceding his death. The last words I heard my master utter were at six o'clock on the evening of the 18th, when he said, "I must sleep now;" upon which he laid down never to rise again! for he did not move hand or foot during the following twenty-four hours. lordship appeared, however, in a state of suffocation at intervals, and had a frequent rattling in the throat; on these

His

poccasions, I called Tita to assist me in
raising his head, and I thought he seemed
to get quite stiff. The rattling and
choaking in the throat took place every
half-hour; and we continued to raise
his head whenever the fit came on, till
six o'clock in the evening of the 19th,
when I saw my master open his eyes and
shut them, but without showing any
symptom of pain, or moving hand or foot.
"Oh! my God!" I exclaimed, "I fear
his lordship is gone." The doctors then
felt his pulse, and said, "You are right
-he is gone."

Biographical Sketches.
(Written for the Portfolio.)

EPONINA.

(Concluded from p. 287.)

At length, devoured by mental anxiety, this affectionate pair could no longer endure a separation. By the management of the faithful freedman, Eponina was conducted in the darkness of the night to the retreat of her husband, and brought back with equal secrecy before the dawn, of day to her own house. These visits were repeated with equal precaution, and with great peril for seven months, when it was determined, as a plan that would be

attended with less inconvenience, to remove Sabinus during the night to a remote apartment in his own house. But this project in its execution was found to abound in unforeseen difficulties: Sabinus was therefore again removed to his subterranean apartment, whose darkness love illuminated. The intercourse between the husband and wife thus continued for nine years, during which interval the pregnancy of Eponina afforded them at one time the most cruel alarm. But this interesting and amiable woman, by a painful, though ingenious stratagem, contrived to elude suspicion, and satisfy enquiry.

She prepared an ointment, which by its external application, produced a swelling of the limbs, and other dropsical symptoms, and thus accounted for the enlargement of her shape. As the time of her confinement drew near, under pretence of a visit to a distant province, she retired to the cavern of her husband, and there gave birth to twin sons, whom she nurtured and reared in this gloomy

retreat.

Conjugal and maternal affection thus united, while time and impunity had allayed her fears, drew her more frequently to the place which contained the object of her cares, and her frequent

absences gave rise to suspicion and curiosity. She was traced to the cavern of the ill-fated Sabinus, who being seized and loaded with irons, was with his wife and children conveyed to Rome.

Eponina, distracted at the consequences of her imprudence, rushed into the presence of the emperor Vespasian, and with her children prostrated herself at his feet. With all the eloquence of a wife and mother, she pleaded the cause of her husband, excusing his fault, as proceding from the disorders of the times, rather than from personal ambition. Then presenting her children to the emperor, she thus addressed him : "But, Sire, we have waited till these boys should be able to join their sighs and tears to those of their mother, in the hope of disarming your anger by our united prayers. They come forth as from a sepulchre, to implore your mercy on the first day in which they ever beheld the light of the sun; let our sorrow, our misfortunes, and the sufferings we have undergone, move you to compassion, and obtain from you the life of a husband and father." The spectators melted into pity and tenderness at the sad spectacle, every heart was moved except that of the emperor, who was deaf to the voice of mercy and to political security, the rights of humanity were sacrificed, and the husband and father coldly doomed to death: Eponina, determined to share the fate of her husband, wiped away her tears, and thus addressed the emperor; "Be assured," said she, assuming a firm and dignified manner, that I know how to contemn life. With Sabinus I have existed for nine years in the bowels of the earth, with a delight and tranquillity untasted by tyrants amid the splendour of a throne, and with him I am ready, with no less cheerfulness and fortitude, to unite myself in death.

This act of ill-timed severity threw a stain upon the character and clemency of Vespasian, whose temper in other respects had not been deemed sanguinary. The generous affection and heroism of Eponina was consecrated in the admiration of future ages.

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M.

QUEEN MARIA LUKZINSKA. IN 1730, queen Maria Lukzinska, wife to Louis the 15th, going to mass, met old Marshal Villars, leaning on a wooden crutch not worth fifteen pence; she rallied him about it, and the marshal told her that he had used it ever since he had received a wound, which obliged him to add this article to the equipments

of the army. Her majesty smiling, said, she thought this crutch unworthy of him, and hoped she should induce him to give it up. On returning home she desired M. de Campan to go to Paris, and to purchase at the celebrated Germain's, the handsomest cane with a gold enamelled crutch that he could find, and carry it without delay to Marshal Villars' hotel, and present it to him from her. He fulfilled his commission accordingly the marshal, on attending him to the door, requested him to express his gratitude to the queen; and said, that he had nothing fit to offer to an officer who had the honour to belong to her majesty, but he begged him to accept his old stick, and that his grand-children would probably some day be glad to possess the cane with which marshal Villars commanded at the battles of Marchiennes and Denain. The known character of the marshal appears in this anecdote; but he was not mistaken with respect to the estimation in which his stick would be held. thenceforth kept with veneration by M. de Campan's family. On the 10th of August, 1792, a house which Madame de Campan (the daughter-in-law of the preceding,) occupied on the Carrousel, at the entrance of the Thuilleries, was pil laged, and nearly burnt down; the cane of the marshal de Villars was thrown into the Carousel as of no value, and was picked up by her servant. Madame de Campan observed, "had its old master been living at that period, we should not have witnessed such a deplorable day."

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It was

MARGARET ROPER. MARGARET, eldest daughter of Sir Thomas More, lord high chancellor of England, was born in 1508. She received a learned education, and men of the first literary reputation were procured by her father for her preceptors. Under their care, aided by her own superior talents and genius, she became mistress of the Greek and Latin languages, and made considerable progress in astronomy, philosophy, physics, logic, rhetoric, music, and arithmetic. Sir Thomas, to whom all his children were dear, regarded his eldest daughter, in whose attainments and powers he felt a laudable pride, with peculiar tenderness. She is said to have written Latin in a pure and elegant style, and in some cases to have excelled her father in composition; he delighted in holding with her an epistolary correspondence; some of her letters, which he showed to persons of the most distinguished abilities and learning, received high and just praise. She composed many

Latin epistles, poems, and orations, which were dispersed among the learned of her acquaintance: besides other works, she translated the ecclesiastical history of Eusebius from Greek into Latin; this labour of learning was afterwards translated into English by her daughter Mary, who inherited the talents of her mother. But her great literary attainments did not in the least interfere with her performance of the domestic duties, but were rendered still more attractive by the virtues of the heart. Her disposition was gentle and affectionate; her sentiments were always expressed with diffidence; and her filial love and reverence throws a never-fading lustre over her memory.

During the extrordinary malady called the sweating sickness, which commenced in 1483, and appeared again at intervals five times till 1528; Margaret was seized with this disorder: her father, while her recovery was doubtful, abandoned himself to the most violent sorrow, and when all hope was given up, suggested some simple but efficacious remedy, which had entirely escaped the physicians, but which effected the cure of his daughter.

In 1528 she gave her hand to William Roper, Esq., a man of talents and learn. ing, accomplished, and of an amiable disposition.

Two sons and three daughters were the fruits of this marriage, whose education was superintended by their mother with the most assiduous care. She still prosecuted her studies in conjunction with her husband, and applied to the attainment of philosophy and theology. She was personally acquainted and corresponded with the celebrated Erasmus, by whom she was styled, Brittanniæ decus, and in whose estimation she held a high place, For some time her life glided on serenely in the acquisition of science, and in the bosom of her family; it now became agitated and disturbed by the tragical fate of her father.

The chancellor having disapproved the conduct of Henry VIII. in his divorce from Catherine, and marriage with Anne Boleyn, resigned the seals, and thus incurred the displeasure of the king, On his refusing to take the oath of supre, macy, he was committed to the Tower, where his daughter was, after great importunity, allowed to visit him. essayed every argument, expostulation and entreaty, but all in vain, his constancy was not to be shaken. She had herself, less bigotted or less tenacious, taken the oath, with the reservation of, "As far as would stand with the law of God."

She

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