the merit of the story :-The whole circle felt themselves disappointed, which was seldom the case when his Majesty promised them entertainment, and were there. före surprised: The King observed it, but said nothing, till the Prince departed.— "Now, gentlemen," said he, "I'll'make you laugh," and accordingly gave them the anecdote, unmutilated, which produced. in a high degree, the promised effect. "You see," subjoined Louis, "there was an oblique stroke, which would have affected the Prince, and I suppressed it, to prevent his being embarrassed; for I would rather loose the reputation of the best bon mot that ever was uttered, than give a moment's pain to any individual ;" an example, worthy the imitation of all, who aspired to the character of, really fine gentlemen.

ANECDOTE.

King George the First, after the rebellion was over, in a private conference with.

his premier, enquired after Sir CharlesKerneys, with whom he had been moreintimate at the court of the Princess Sophia, than with any person from England.. The premier, according to the usual art of traducing those who vote against the ministry, intending to represent Sir Charles, as an enemy to his Majesty, by saying, "That he voted against the succession, in the house of Hanover; was immediately interrupted by his Majesty-" Voted," says the King, "Voting, is amongst yourselves; I would see the man; go, tell him, I will smoke a pipe with him at St. James's." Sir Robert Walpole, delivering. the message from the King, was told by Sir Charles Kerneys-" I have had the honour to be personally known to the elector of Hanover; and as no man living can have more satisfaction and pleasure in any one's conversation, than I have had in his most agreeable company, should. be extremely proud of the high favour, of smoking again a private pipe with him

But it must be at Hanover." The story is authentic, and it is left to every one to make what reflections he pleases on his Majesty's extraordinary benevolence, and the baronet's political principles.

Anecdote of the Great Duke of Marlborough.

In the war of the confederates with. France, the deputies of the States of Holland were a constant obstruction to the views of Prince Eugene, and the Duke of Marlborough. The duke was one day. asked, "How it happened, that Alexander the Great, and many other heroes of antiquity, had, in one year, made such considerable progress; and that now, all that the greatest, and most accomplished generals could do, was to take two or three towns, in the course of a single campaign."

The reason," he replied, "is sufficiently obvious; Alexander, and the other great heroes of antiquity, had never any deputies, from the states-general in their camps."

ANECDOTE OF SIR THOMAS GRESHAM..

Sir Thomas Gresham, who built the Royal Exchange, was the son of a very poor, woman, who left him in a field, when an infant; but the chirping of a grasshopper, leading a boy to the place where he. lay, his life was preserved : from this circumstance,, the future merchant, took the grasshopper for his crest; and hence the cause of placing the figure of that insect over the Royal Exchange..

Anecdote of Philip the Second, King of Spain..

Philip, walking one day alone in one of the cloisters, belonging to the convent of the escurial, a tradesman,, sceing the door open, went in, transported with admira, tion at the fine paintings with which the house is adorned. "He addressed himself to the King," whom he took for one: of the servants of the convent, and.“ de

sired him to shew him the paintings, and describe the subjects of them."

Philip, with all the humility, and condescension of a lay brother, conducted him through all the apartments, and gave him every satisfaction he could desire; at parting, the stranger took him by the hand, and squeezing it very affectionately, said,

I am much obliged to you, friend, I live at St. Martin's, and my name is Michael Bambis, and if you should come my way, and call on me, you will find a glass of good wine at your servicc !"-" And my name," said the pretended servant, "is Philip the Second, and if you will call on me at Madrid, I will give you a glass of as good."

Prayer of Henry the Fourth of France, immediately before a Battle, in which he obtained a COMPLEAT VICTORY.

O Lord of Hosts, who can see through the thickest veil, and closest disguise; who