last scroll seemed to strike a momentary damp on the spirits of the guests, which was soon forgot on the appearance of a most magnificent desert, to which, not only Europe, but all the Indies had contributed, followed by the wine of Tokay, and the water of Barbadoes, and every other delicacy that wealth, without bounds could purchase; after which the hand writing again denounced that luxury is to property what a plague is to health; it is equally contagious, and equally destructive; that it is the disease of which the noblest monarchies, and most flourishing states have died; that when it became epidemical in a country depending on commerce like theirs, a dissolution must inevitably follow; in consequence of which, the rich and renowned city of Amsterdam, would again be reduced to a fishing village, and their posterity become as poor as their ancestors tere, without their continence, industry, or virtue. The wise, seasonable, and ex cellent admonition of this notable Burgomaster, it is more than probable, had just

as much effect at Amsterdom, as the repetition of them would have in London. The rigour of them was, perhaps, ridiculed by a few, acknowledged by the majority, and the application neglected by all:-So powerful is reason in the field, so insignificant are the fruits of her victories.

The following Anecdote may be serviceable to Travellers who are desirous to inspect the Curiosities in barbarous Nations.

The celebrated Aaron Hill, when in Egypt, had the curiosity to examine a Catacomb; he was accompanied in his expedition by two other gentlemen, and conducted by a guide and one of the natives of the country; they at length arrived at the spot, and with out taking notice of some fellows, who were sauntering about the place, they descended by ropes into the vault. No sooner were they 'let down than a spectacle presented itself, which struck them with horror-two gentlemen apparently starved to death, lay before them. One of the unhappy victims had a

tablet in his hand, on which was written in pathetic language, the story of their lamentable fate. They were brothers of rank and family at Venice, and having in the course of their travels, entrusted themselves with one of the natives for the purpose of visiting the inside of the catacomb, the perfidious villain had left them there to perish; the danger to which Mr. Hill and his friends were exposed, instantly alarmed them; they had scarce read the shocking tale, when looking up, the beheld their inhuman guide, assisted by two others whom they had seen near the spot, closing the entrance into the vault. They were now reduced to the utmost distress. However they drew their swords, and were determined to make some desperate effort to rescue themselves from a scene so truly dreadful; with this resolution they were groping about at random in the dark, when they were startled by the groans of some one seemingly in the agonies of death, they attended to the dismal sound, when at length, by the means of a glimmering light from the

top of the Catacomb, they saw a man just murdered, and a little beyond, they discovered his inhuman murderers flying with the ut most precipitation, they pursued them immediately, and though they were not able to come up with them, they had the good fortune to reach the opening through which these wretches escaped out of the cavern, before they had time to roll the stone on the top of it. Thus Mr. Hill and his friends were, by a miracle saved.

Singular Story of a Mr. Stanley.

Captain James Stanley, who had been an officer in the King's armies in the civil wars which began in the year 1641, and had lost, by the sequestration succeeding them, the largest part of his estate, retired to spend the remnant of his days on one of his farms, which he had found means to preserve, in the name of a relation of the contrary party-and which was seated in that part of Gloucester, which borders on

the Severn. He survived but a short time the ruins of his cause; and left his wife, a young widow, with that farm for her jointure, which let for about five hundred

pounds per annum.

nine

years of

age,

She had a son, under whom she took from

school, as a means to divert, or alleviate Robert Stanley, this son, dis

her sorrow.

covered a genius for agriculture, and was never so happy, as when employed in itHe frequently amused himself, and that for several years, in picking up the acorns as they fell from the trees, which grew round his mother's house-which acorns, he would be whole days in making holes for, and planting up and down in the banks of the hedge-row, or enclosure. His mother, however, was advised, when her son reached the age of fifteen, to send him to London to study the law-He was therefore recommended to the care of an attorney, with whom he lived several years, and afterwards, practised as such for himself; but the business not answering, he