day. Mr. Hopkins's cheek was losing its lemon tint insensibly, and acquiring the true couleur de rose; and I fancied that his wife's eyes every moment became blacker and brighter. Alas! it was a sun-gleam before a tempest.Suddenly, he bounded from his seat like a racket-ball, and, with a deep imprecation, declared vengeance against my next neighbour, the wild-looking gentleman.

Up rose the company en masse. They were all married, and therefore made common cause. There was a deceiver in the room-a Giovanni in the presence-for the stranger, not contented with looking "things unutterable," had actually attempted to establish a pedal communication with her of the pink bonnet; and, confound his awkwardness! he pressed the wrong foot.

It was unpardonable in the wild-looking gentleman. I felt for Mr. Hopkins. Had the delinquent trodden upon my toe, he would have been my destroyer; for I was afflicted with tight shoes and angry corns.

Never did a company appear more unanimous in denouncing a deceiver. At the audacious attempt the gentlemen were irate; and at the bungling execution the ladies were indignant-no wonder! If people will press feet, let them tread upon the right ones.

All and every assumed a hostile attitude, and assault and battery appeared to be the order of the day. An irritated drysalter from Tooley-street commenced buttoning his coatand the whole corps seemed to be combining their efforts for a general onslaught.

Nor was the wild-looking gentleman insensible to coming events. I never saw a person more disinclined to submit quietly to martyrdom; and, seizing the poker, he bade a bold defiance to his assailants. The thickest skull has but a sorry chance against "cold iron;" and none of the angry citizens, although doubtless men of approved courage, volunteered to lead the assault. I took advantage of the lull, offered my mediation, and the stranger was permitted to explain. The offence was perfectly accidental-a cramp caused the mischief-Mr. Hopkins was appeased, harmony restored, and a fresh supply of liquids promptly ordered and produced.

How long the armistice would continue unbroken, I did not pretend to guess. The steamer's bell sounded its note of preparation; Cockneys by the dozen flocked on board; the paddles revolved briskly, and I went splashing up to

town, leaving the wild-looking gentleman to "complete his destinies."

Months passed; autumn was over, and a murky atmosphere with drizzling rain told that it was a London November.I was returning from dinner to my lodgings, when, at the corner of a dark mews, I was hustled by several men, who commenced a simultaneous research into my pockets. Unluckily, I had that evening more cash upon my person than I felt inclined to part with, and accordingly offered a sturdy resistance. But it would have been unavailing, had not a stranger suddenly crossed the street and hurried to the rescue. He was indeed a powerful ally; down went a couple of the Philistines-off ran the rest and I escaped spoliation. I turned to thank my deliverer, and in the stout stranger recognized my quondam friend, the wild-looking gentleman!

Nor had I been forgotten: he recognized my voice, tucked me under his arm, and we proceeded to a neighbouring tavern. We supped, and over a midnight glass I recalled to his memory the dinner at Gravesend, and asked him how he had subsequently progressed. He smiled and informed me he had found favour in the sight of Mr. Hopkins, accompanied that party to town, and had been invited to visit them in Bishopsgate-street. In my opinion Mr. Hopkins was wrong. We remained in conversation until a late hour. My friend was leaving London next day, but promised to find me out on his return. We separated, he having presented me with his card, on which was engraven "Captain John Blake."

Spring came, and I had heard nothing of my deliverer, when one morning, in "The Times," I saw his marriage regularly gazetted; and, joyful intelligence! it was declared that the lady of his love was passing fair, and rich as an Israelite. After an elaborate account of the dresses and déjeunér, it was farther intimated, that the happy pair had returned to town, and were now resident at Ibbotson's. And had the wild-looking gentleman actually become a Benedict, and an heiress committed her happiness to his custody? My curiosity was roused-1 longed to learn the history of his good fortune from himself; it would be but civil to offer my congratulations; and, next day, I drove to Vere-street, and sent up my card.

My friend was out, but the servant informed me that his lady was visible. I was paraded to the drawing-room, announced as an old acquaintance, and found myself in the presence of the loveliest girl, that ever vowed obedience at the altar.

I have during my march through life gazed on many a beauty, but never did I view a sweeter expression of artless loveliness, than the bride's face presented when she blushingly received my congratulations. In conversation she was easy and intelligent, and before a quarter of an hour I came to a conclusion, that matrimony may be endured; and that in the lottery of life the wild-looking gentleman possessed, as they say in Connaught, "the luck of thousands."

Our tête-à-tête was so agreeable, that time slipped on unnoticed. I heard the door unclose, and observed the bride's eyes lighten, as she said in a soft voice," It is my husband." I sprang up to welcome my fortunate friend; but in a moment started back in dismay-I had caught a stranger by the hand, and intruded, under false pretences, upon the privacy of a gentleman to whom I was entirely unknown.

I never found myself in a more embarrassing situation, and attempted, of course, a blundering apology, while the stranger politely requested me to sit down. It was, indeed, a ridiculous mistake. In name and rank there was certainly a strange coincidence; while, stranger still, in age and personal appearance, the Benedict of Ibbotson's might pass as twin brother to the admirer of Mrs. Hopkins.

I noticed this singularity.

And may I ask," said the stranger,

this duplicate of mine?"

I told him.

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"where you met

'How might he have been engaged on these occasions?' On the first, in making love; on the second in threshing pickpockets."

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I fancy I know your friend," said the stranger. Would you favour me with the particulars of these adventures ?"

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I consented; and during the recital he laughed immoderately, while the bride appeared to be equally amused. Well, sir," he observed when my narrative was ended, "my acquaintance is in truth my loving cousin ”—one who in name and resemblance is said to be my counterpart, but whom, I suppose either for sake of distinction, or from his superior vivacity, it has pleased his associates to designate as 'Jack the Devil.'

I groaned the identity was proven, and the sobriquet indubitably belonged to my worthy friend, the wild-looking gentleman.

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Good God!" I exclaimed, "how stupid and unpardonable must this intrusion of mine appear!"

-'s

"Far from it," said the bridegroom; "I have heard of you repeatedly from my kinsman; and Colonel name is quite familiar to Emily and me. Will you wave ceremony, and break our matrimonial tête-à-tête ? and after dinner I will give you the last intelligence which has reached me of our excellent countryman, Jack the Devil!'"

Little inducement was requisite to make me accept his invitation; and from that day, I date the commencement of a friendship that promises only to terminate with life. I have been for months together domesticated with my friends, and, during morning rides and evening potations, collected those details of personal adventure, which, mutato nomine, and with slight omissions, the following memoir so faithfully records.

LONDON, MARCH, 1835.

It was a wild and blustrous night in the month of February, in the year of Grace, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-nine-The jail-clock struck one. My father's household had long since retired to their respective dormitories, and a solitary watch-light twinkled in the chamberwindow where my mother slept. All was quiet as a regular sou-wester would permit. Doors creaked, windows rattled, while the wind, eddying in hollow gusts through narrow lanes and gateways, came roaring awfully down the chimneys. There were no passengers abroad, for the foul weather had cleared the streets effectually of their usual gang. of nocturnal wanderers; and the veriest drunkard appeared to have anticipated the storm, and managed to stagger home before the fury of the gale was at its height. The ancient

elms which overhung the road leading from the barracks to the jail, groaned fearfully above the picket, as with great coats buttoned to their noses, they hurried to their guardroom from patrolling-the sentries kept snug within their boxes-and in all Castlebar but one man could be discovered out of doors, and he, as it will appear, was a dead one.

Just then, a figure might have been observed moving hastily across my mother's chamber. Presently the bell rang; the warning peal was repeated; a loud and peremptory voice aroused the sleeping servants; and, without even waiting to bless himself, Mark Haggarty slipped on his red-plush breeches, tumbled over a turf creel, which the housemaid, for better convenience, had judiciously laid across the passage, and as he gathered himself up, in tones which told how desperately he was alarmed, ejaculated, "Blessed Virgin! is the house coming down?"