he had sustained before of thirty thousand pounds.

Five of these young gentlemen were slain the same day, at the fatal battle of Naseby, June 14, 1645 : and it is rather singular that an ancestor of this same Sir William, a Lord of Millain, in Cumberland, was one of the barons who compelled King John-to sign Magna Charta at Runnemede, in the year 1215.

CURIOUS ANECDOTE OF RUTHVEN.

HOUSE.

The ancient house of Ruthven, in the Highlands of Scotland, once the seat of the unfortunate Gowries, consists of two square towers, built at different times, and distinct from each other, but now joined by buildings of later date; the top of one of the towers is called the Maiden's Leap, receiving its name from the following extraordinary fact:-A daughter of the first Gowrie was addressed by a young gentleman of inferior rank in the neighbourhood,

a frequent visitor of the family, who would never give the least countenance to his passion. His lodging was in the tower, separated from that of his mistress. The lady, before the doors were shut, conveyed herself into her lover's apartment. A prying duenna acquainted the countess, who cutting off, as she thought, all possibility of retreat, hastened to surprise them. The young lady's ears were quick, she heard the footsteps of the old countess, ran to the top of the leads, and took the desperate leap of nine feet four inches over a chasm. of sixty feet, and luckily alighting on the battlement of the other tower, crept into her own bed, where the astonished mother found her, and of course apologized for the unjust suspicion. The fair daughter did not choose to repeat the leap, but the next night eloped, and was married..

Epitaph on Lady MARY DASHWOOD, who died August 19, 1710, and lies buried at West Wycomb, in the Church upon the Hill, where the following Inscription does honour to her Memory :

Here rests in hope

of a glorious resurrection of the just, the Right Honorable the Lady MARY DASHWOOD, eldest daughter

to the Right Honorable Vere Fane,
Earl of Westmorland,

and wife to Sir FRANCIS DASHWOOD, Knt. and Baronet.. A Lady, whose high birth

received a greater lustre from her eminent virtues, and whose piety, humility, and prudence, made her life and character truly noble, truly good.

She was

a most loving and obedient wife,

a tender and indulgent parent,

a careful and kind mistress to her family: Cher diffuse charity made her a refuge for the poor; and her devout life an illustrious example

to the best of her sex.

Hence learn,

to imitate her virtues, and

lament her loss.

ANECDOTE OF COLONEL O'KELLY.

As soon as fortune began to smile upon this son of Hibernia, he was visited by a good number of his relations, who resided in that kingdom. Those that he could not provide for were sure to be retained in his family. A nobleman who honoured the colonel one day with his company, was surprised to hear him call his cook by the familiar appellation of cousin, and a few minutes after the footman was addressed

in the same manner:-66 Why," said the haughty peer, "Mr. O'Kelly, I find that all your servants are your relations, what induces you to think of employing them in so mean a capacity? My Lord," replied the other," it is true they are all related to me, and I think it is better to employ my own relations as servants, than to employ your's as such."

ANECDOTE.

For husbands to advertise against giv ing credit to their wives, has been com

mon; but for a man to caution the public against giving credit to himself, is an instance of whimsicality, the history of advertising curiosi ties cannot parallel. From a country paper, the following is literally transcribed "This is to give notice, that if any person, after this public notice trusts me, Thomas Spencer, above One Shilling, I am determined that I will never pay them, or cause them to be paid, for more than the above value.

Jan. 15. 1788.

THOMAS SPENCER, Pensioner of Chelsea."

ANECDOTE OF A WELCH CURATE.

Among the various returns made to the house of commons, in compliance with Mr. Gilbert's bill, was one from a poor Welch curate, who, after delineating the distresses of his poor neighbours, adds, "but their distresses cannot be greater than mine own; I have a wife, who is far advanced in her pregnancy, and nine poor