endeavouring to make his way into the wood, for the same purpose that induced my friend to enter it." On any other occasion, this gentleman would, likely enough, have joined in the laugh against himself; but, in the present case, he feels a holy reverence for his weakness, and claims the privi lege that he gives to others of enjoying their own opinions, without deducing false arguments for their guide. They may also laugh at his folly should it amuse them, while they take a lesson from his romantic but unoffending credulity. The powers of the imagination over the sober senses, are most ingeniously depicted by an author of some celebrity, in the following account given of some shipwrecked travellers. It is quoted for the amusement of those who may not yet have met with it in their literary rambles. "The voyagers were cast away," says the relater of the incident, " upon the Island of Malta, and were led by the inhabitants to a cave, who, after spreading beds of dry leaves, and heaping fresh billets of wood on the fire, withdrew. Judge of their horror. The lighted wood blazed brightly, and illumined the whole cave, which disclosed the most terrific objects. Isabel screamed aloud -We shall be stung !-we shall be devoured by these ugly monsters! The attendants took the alarm, and echoed her exclamations. Jacquelina gazed around with no less terror. Let us leave this place,' said she calmly, danger surrounds us. Let us be gone before these creatures are sufficiently revived by the heat to be able to hurt us.' Adders, vipers, toads, and every venomous reptile were distinctly visible all about the cavern, as the blaze shone upon their sparkling eyes and burnished scales. "How could these people be so cruel as to leave us here?' cried each of the party as they sought in vain for the entrance of the cave. The fire is our best safeguard against these animals,' said Jacquelina, let us keep close to it, as the best means, under Providence, of preservation. As the blaze wavered from the wood fire, she observed with astonishment the pacific disposition of these formidable companions. No hiss no sound whatever betrayed a hostile tendency-each retained its situation unmoved;—— the serpent continued coiled up; and the adder, whose forked tongue darted from its wide-extended jaws in the act to strike, yet made no advance. As use familiarizes the most horrible objects, Jacquelina collected courage to examine this singular phenomenon. She feared that the whole was created by a disturbed imagination, by their late sufferings. She took a lighted brand from the fire and was advancing to ascertain the truth, when Isabel, grasping her violently, entreated that she would not venture to excite the wrath of these ferocious animals. Santa Maria!' exclaimed Louisa at the same time, one of them has just glided by my side.' Isabel clasped Jacquelina in agony. 'But you are not stung Louisa?' demanded Jacquelina. I believe, not-I don't know-my Lady. Holy Mother, preserve us and she fell on her knees. Rouse up the fire," said Jacquelina, that I may have sufficient light, for I am determined to know, if this be reality.. The trembling Louisa obeyed; and Isabel determined, since Jacquelina was resolved to be convinced, to share the danger she could not prevent her from encountering. They proceeded to the investigation. What was their joy and surprise to find it all a petrifaction. Jacquelina immediately recollected that this must be. St. Paul's cave, of whose wonders she had heard, Returning their thanks to God, they resumed their humble bed, and tasted the sweets of uninterrupted repose. “Next morning, when their hospitable hosts returned, bearing a repast of rich fruits and honey, they explained that this was the cave of St. Paul; that it was their custom to bring all whom the tempest should throw on their coasts, to this hallowed retreat, in the firm belief of its recovering them from the ill effects of shipwreck. They pointed triumphantly to the venomous reptile which had fastened on the Apostle's hand. This, with many other noxious creatures, transfixed by his powerful word, which decreed that none should ever after exist on the Island, remains a standing proof of Divine power." We are informed by the historian also, that there is a ridiculous legendary tale in the re 1 gister of the Abbey of Ely, now in the Bodlean library, relative to the powerful, imagination of a certain Monk, respecting W. De Warren ; who was honoured by William Rufus with the Earl, dom of Surrey, and had violently detained in his possession certain lands belonging to the Monks of St. Etheldred in that city. "The Abbot, as the story goes, was one night interrupted in his devotions by the rattling of the Devil's carriage, and heard the poor Earl of Surrey in this infernal vehicle most piteously imploring for mercy, but in vain! frauded the brotherhood of Ely. He had deThe sin was too enormous to be forgiven. Next morning the Abbot related to the Monks what he had heard the preceding night. About four days after, there arrived a messenger from the Lady Gundred, his widow, with one hundred shillings, an immense sum in those days, to obtain the prayers of the Abbey for the repose of the Earl's soul. Upon inquiry it was found he had died exactly at the hour in which the good Abbot heard him posting so reluctantly to the lower regions. It was not to be supposed that pious community would receive the mortuary of a sinner thus clearly doomed to endless torture. The messenger consequently returned with the money, and a most dismal account of his deceased master. 66 Unfortunately for the credit of Monkery, a material error is evident," says the historian, “in this relation. So that both heretics, and modern |