ing the manner in which the minister artfully communicated these commands to his secretary--Cromwell, whispering thus: A word with you; Let there be letters writ to every Shire, Of the King's grace and pardon; the grieved commons That through our intercession, this revokement and The King could not help smiling at the craft of the minister, in filching from his master the merit of the good action, though he himself had been the author of the evils complained of; and turning to the Prince, who then stood near him (the play being acted at Hampton Court:) "You see George, what you'd have to expect: an English Minister, will be an English Minister in every age, and in every reign.” Eastern Apologues. A King, had condemned one of his slaves to death; the slave in the anguish of his despair, knew no bounds, but abused the Prince, his master, with the most bitter reproaches" What doth he say?" said the Monarch to his favourite, who stood near the slave; "Sir," answered the favourite," he says, That the golden gate of Paradise, open of themselves to the merciful, and he entreats your forgiveness, with the most prostrate supplication"—" I grant him forgiveness," said the king. A courtier, who had been a long time the enemy of the favourite, had heard the real words of the slave;-" You are grossly deceived, (said he to the monarch) that wretch reviles you, in the most bitter terms." The King answered, "The lie, is the lie of humanity, thy truth, is the truth of cruelty," then turning to his favourite, he said, "Oh! my best friend, thy words shall be the truth." Anecdote of the King of Prussia. When the Duchess of K-gs-tn, some years since, wished to be received at the court of Berlin; she prevailed on the Russian minister, to mention her intentions to his Prussian Majesty, and to tell him, at the same time, that her fortune was at Rome, her bark, at Venice; but that her heart, was at Berlin. The King, on hearing this, sarcastically replied, "I beg you'll make my compli ments to her grace, and inform her, I am very sorry we are only entrusted with the very worst part of her property." The Ingenious Author of De L' Esprit; or, Essays on the Mind; relates the following Anecdote: An English nobleman, being in company with a certain minister of state, the latter was observing, there could be nothing more ridiculous than the manner in which the council of state assembled in some of the negro nations. In the council chamber, are placed twelve large jars, half-full of water; twelve counsellors of state, enter naked; and, stalking along with great gravity, each leaps into his jar, and immerses himself up to his chin; and in this pretty attitude, they deliberate on national affairs;" "You do not smile," continued the mintster of state to the noble lord, who sat next him"Smile, no, answered his lordship, I see every day things more ridiculous than that." "Pray what?" returned the minister"A country, replied the nobleman, where the Jars ALONE, sit in council." A FRAGMENT. ***Sweet pliability of the affections, that take the barb from the dart of misfor.. tune, and shapes the mind to its allotment. I have been master of a palace, said Honorius, and now my only habitation is a cottage. Troops of liveried slaves, then obeyed my nod, and my sheep alone are now obedient. The splendid board is now exchanged for the fruits, that the earth yields to my own labour, and the rarest juice of the vintage is succeeded by the simple beverage of the fountain; but am I less happy in this retirement, where the change of fortune has placed me, then when I passed my youth in the gaudy bowers of prosperity. If I am not soothed by flattery, I am not wounded by ingratitude. If I feel not the conscious pride of superior life, I am not the object of calumniating envy, and I am now too far removed into the shade, for scorn to point its finger at mefears I have none, and hopes-there is my consolation, there is the source of my joys, and the cure of my sorrows-they no longer rest on vain, idle, fallacious objects, on private friendships, or public justices, they have now a more durable foundation—they rest in Heaven. * * * Female Literature. In the thirteenth century, a young lady VOL. II. E |