and fainted. As soon as she recovered, Bonaparte, offering her the letter, said, "Take it; it is the only legal evidence against your husband; there is a fire beside you." Madame de P. eagerly seized the important document, and in an instant committed it to the flames. The life of Polignac was saved; his honor it was beyond the power even of the generosity of an emperor to redeem. LAVALETTE. When Lavalette had been liberated from prison by his wife, and was flying with Sir Robert Wilson to the frontier, the postmaster examined his countenance, and recognized him through his disguise. A postillion was instantly sent off at full speed. M. de Lavalette urged his demand for horses. The postmaster had just quitted the house, and given orders that none should be supplied. The travellers thought themselves discovered, and saw no means of escaping, in a country with which they were unacquainted; they resolved upon defending themselves, and selling their lives dearly. The postmaster at length returned unattended; and then addressing himself to M. de Lavalette, he said, "You have the appearance of a man of honor; you are going to Brussels, where you will see M. de Lavalette; deliver him these two hundred louis d'ors, which I owe him, and which he is no doubt in want of;" and without waiting for an answer, he threw the money into the carriage and withdrew, saying, "You will be drawn by my best horses; a postillion is gone to provide relays for the continuance of your journey." MASSACRE OF THE HUGONOTS. When Catherine of Medicis had persuaded Charles IX. to massacre all the protestants in France, orders were sent to the governors of the different provinces, to put the Hugonots to death in their respective districts. One catholic governor, whose memory will ever be dear to humanity, had the courage to disobey the cruel mandate. "Sire," said he, in a letter to his sovereign, "I have too much respect for your majesty, not to persuade myself that the order I have received must be forged; but if, which God forbid, it should be really the order of your majesty, I have too much respect for the personal characer of my sovereign to obey it." DUKE OF CLARENCE. When his royal highness was on the eve of sailing for the first time as commander from Plymouth, he was accosted in the dock-yard by a poor boy, who did not know who the prince was, and who supplicated that he would give him a birth in his ship, to save him from starving. The prince being pleased with the countenance of the applicant, told him to go on board the Pegasus, and say the captain had sent him. His highness afterwards ordered him to be completely clothed and equipped in the habit of a midshipman, and to be rated as such. 2 When the Pegasus arrived at Newfoundland, the prince met with another equally striking occasion of evincing his benevolence. He accidentally saw a poor widow, who was burthened with a family of fourteen children, with scarcely any means of supporting them. Affected by their situation, the benevolent tar, after surveying the family group, made choice of one boy, whose appearance pleased him, and treated him in the same manner as he had done the other object of his patronage. During the whole of his royal highness' voyages abroad, these two little fortunates received from him all the attention of a parent. They always stood at the prince's back when he dined, and were never permitted to do anything in the least degree servile. When the prince returned to Plymouth, he completed his paternal kindness, by sending both boys to school, and making every necessary provision for rearing them in a manner which might enable them to show themselves worthy of so noble a benefactor. Mr. John Kyrl, so celebrated by Mr. Pope for his active benevolence as the Man of Ross, was a bachelor, possessed of no more than five hundred pounds a-year. "Blush, grandeur, blush; proud courts, withdraw your blaze! Ye little stars, hide your diminished rays. GAINSBOROUGH. One evening when this great genius, and worthy man, was going to the play in Bath, he was shown by a gentleman who accompanied him, a letter received from a female, a stranger to them both, whose sole stay in the world had suddenly died, without leaving her any sort of pension. She depicted her misfortune and misery in moving terms. Mr. Gainsborough appeared agitated, and instead of going to the play, went home, and sent his friend the following letter, enclosing a bank note. note, and beg you will transmit it to the afflicted woman by to-morrow's post. Yours sincerely, T. G." LOUIS XVI. During the mock trial of Louis XVI., he was asked what he had done with a certain sum of money, a few thousand pounds. His voice failed him, and the tears came into his eyes at the question; at length he replied, "J'aimais à faire des heureux. I had a pleasure in making other people happy." He had given the money away in charity. CARDINAL DU BOIS. M. Boudon, an eminent surgeon, was one day sent for by the Cardinal Du Bois, Prime Minister of France, to perform a very serious operation upon him. The Cardinal on seeing him enter the room, said to him, "You must not expect to treat me in the same rough manner, as you treat your poor miserable wretches at your hospital of the Hôtel Dieu." "My lord," replied M. Boudon with great dignity," every one of those miserable wretches, as your eminence is pleased to call them, is a prime minister in my eyes," PETER THE GREAT. Peter the Great made a law in 1722, that if any nobleman beat or ill-treated his slaves, he should be looked upon as insane, and a guardian should be appointed to take care of his person and of his estate. This great monarch once struck his gardener, who being a man of great sensibility, took to his bed, and died in a few days. Peter hearing of this, exclaimed, with tears in his eyes, "Alas! I have civilized my own subjects; I have conquered other nations; yet I have not been able to civilize or to conquer myself." A GOOD SOLDIER NO EXECUTIONER. On the occasion of the infamous massacre of St. Bartholomew's, many of the governors of provinces refused to execute the orders sent to them of destroying all the protestants. The Viscount d'Orthe had in particular the courage to write from Bayonne to Charles IX., that he found many good soldiers in his garrison, but not one executioner; and begged him to command their lives in any service that was possible. BISHOP OF MARSEILLES. "Why drew Marseilles' good bishop purer breath, When nature sickened and each gale was death?" Pope, M. de Belsunce, Bishop of Marseilles, so distinguished himself for his humanity during the plague which raged in that city in 1720, that the Regent of France offered him the richer and more honorable See of Laou in Picardy; but he refused it, saying, he should be unwilling to leave a flock that had been endeared to him by their sufferings. His pious and intrepid labors are commemorated in a picture in the town-hall of Marseilles, in which he is represented in his episcopal habit, attended by his almoners, giving his benediction to the dying and the dead that are at his feet. Father Vanniere, in his Prœdium Rusticum, alludes to the good bishop in these lines: -Vite qui Præsul et auri Prodigus, assiduis animos et corpora curis Sustinuit, mortem visus calcare metumque Intrepido vadens per strata cadavera passu. Profuse of life, and prodigal of gold, But perhaps the most touching picture extant of the bishop's humane labors, is to be found in a letter of his own, written to the Bishop of Soissons, Sept. 27, 1720. "Never," he says, "was desolation greater, nor was ever anything like this. Here have been many cruel plagues,. but none was ever more cruel: to be sick and dead, was almost the same thing. What a melancholy spectacle have we on all sides! We go into the sircets full of dead bodies, half rotten, through which we pass to come to a dying body, to excite him to an act of contrition, and give him absolution. For about forty days together the blessed sacrament was carried every. where, to all the sick, and the extreme unction was given them with a zeal of which we have but few examples. But the churches being infected with the stench of the dead flung at their doors, we were obliged to leave off, and be content with confessing the poor people. At present I have no more confessors. The two communities of the Jesuits are quite disabled, to the reserve of one old man of seventytwo years, who still goes about night and day, and visits the hospitals. My secretary and another lie sick; so that they have obliged me to quit my palace, and retire to the First President, who was so kind as to lend me his house. We are desolate of all succor; we have no meat; and whatsoever I could do, going all about the town, I could not meet with any that would undertake to distribute broth to the poor that were in want. There is a great diminution," he adds, " of the mortality; and those that hold that the moon contributes to all this, are of opinion that we owe this diminution to the decline of the moon. For my part, I am convinced that we owe all this to the mercies of God, from whom alone we must hope for relief in the deplorable condition we have been in so long a while." CRUELTY PUNISHED. At Abo, in Finland, a dog that had been run over by a carriage, crawled to the door of a tanner in the town; the man's son, a lad of fifteen years of age, first stoned, and then poured a vessel of boiling water on the miserable animal. This act of diabolical cruelty was witnessed by one of the Magistrates, who informed his brethren of the fact. They unanimously agreed in condemning the boy to punishment. He was imprisoned till the following market day; then in the presence of the people, he was conducted to the place of execution by an officer of justice, who read to him his sentence. Inhuman young man! because you did not assist the animal that implored your aid by its cries, and who derived its being from the same God who gave you life; because you added to the torments of the agonizing beast, and murdered it, the council of this city has sentenced you to wear on your breast the name which you deserve, and to receive fifty stripes." He then hung a black board about his neck with this inscription: "A savage and inhuman young man "" And after inflicting on him twentyfive stripes, he proceeded: "Inhuman young man! you have now felt a very small degree of the pain with which you tortured a helpless animal in its hour of death. As you wish for mercy from that God who created all that live, learn humanity for the future." He then executed the remainder of the sentence. To LESSON TO CONQUERORS. When Edward the Confessor had entered England from Normandy to recover the kingdom, and was ready to give the Danes battle, one of his captains assured him of victory, adding, "We will not leave one Dane alive." which Edward replied, "God forbid that the kingdom should be recovered for me, who am but one man, by the death of thousands. No: I will rather live a private life, unstained by the blood of my fellow men, than be a king by such a sacrifice." Upon which he broke up his camp, and again retired to Normandy, until he was restored to his throne without blood. FREDERICK THE GREAT. Frederick the Great of Prussia, during his last illness, endured many restless nights, which he endeavored to soothe by conversing with the servant who sat up with him. On one of these occasions, he inquired of an honest young Pomeranian from whence he came? "From a little village in Pomerania." "Are your parents living?" "An aged mother." "How does she maintain herself?" By spinnin "How much does she gain daily by it?" Sixpence." "But she cannot live well on that?" merania it is cheap living." "Did you never send her anything?" "O yes; I have sent her at different times a few dollars." "That was bravely done; you are a good boy. You have a deal of trouble with me. Have patience. I shall endeavor to lay something by for you, if you behave well." The monarch kept his word; for a few nights after, the Pomeranian being again in attendance, received several pieces of gold; and heard to his great joy and suprise, that one "In Po hundred rix dollars had been settled on his mother during her life. FRIENDLESS CANDIDATES. The Prince de Montbarey presented a list of young gentlemen who were candidates for vacant places in the military school of Louis XVI. of France. In this list were a great number who were strongly recommended by persons of the highest rank, along with some who were wholly destitute of such recommendation. The king observing this, gave an instance of that goodness of heart which he exhibited on so many occasions. Pointing to the latter, he said, "Since these have no protectors, I will be their friend;" and instantly gave the preference to them. Ethelwold, Bishop of Winchester, in the time of King Edgar, sold the sacred gold and silver vessels belonging to the church, to relieve the poor people during a famine, saying, "That there was no reason that the senseless temples of God should abound in riches, while his living temples were perishing with hunger." Butler, Bishop of Durham, being applied to on some occasion for a charitable subscription, asked his steward what money he had in the house. The steward informed him there were five hundred pounds. "Five hundred pounds!" said the bishop; "what a shame for a bishop to have such a sum in his possession!" He ordered it all to be immediately given to the poor. DUKE DE GUISE. After the celebrated battle of St. Quentin, a Spanish officer of rank wrote to the Duke de Guise, to request him to deliver up to him one of his slaves, that had fled to the French camp with one of his finest war-horses. The duke immediately sent back the horse, and wrote to the Spanish officer, saying, he would never be the occasion of putting chains again upon a slave, who had become free by putting his foot into the kingdom of France. GENEROUS HIGHWAYMAN. Hawke, the noted highwayman, one evening stopped a gentleman, and bade him deliver his money; the latter protested that he had none, but was flying from his creditors in order to avoid a gaol. Hawke, pitying his unhappy situation, inquired how much would relieve his wants? He was answered, thirty guineas. Hawke then directed the gentleman to go to a house not far distant, and wait until nine o'clock next morning, and he would bring him something that would relieve him. The gentleman went; and before the time expired, Hawke made his appearance, and presented him with fifty guineas, saying, "Sir, I present this to you with all my heart, wishing you well. Hesitate not, for you are welcome to it." The generous highwayman having done this, immediately took his leave. DR. GARTH. While the celebrated Dr. Garth was one day detained in his carriage in a ittle street near Covent Garden, in consequence of a battle between two females, an old woman hobbled out of a cellar, and begged of him for God's sake to take a look at her husband, who was in a mortal bad way, adding, "I know you are a sweettempered gentleman, as well as a cute doctor, and therefore make bold to az your advice, for which I shall be obliged to you as long as I live." The doctor, whose good nature was equal to his medical skill, quitted the carriage immediately, and followed the old woman to her husband; but finding that he wanted food more than physic, sat down, and wrote a checque on his banker for ten pounds, which he presented to the wretched people. FIRST DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND. When the late Duke of Northumberland (then Lord Percy) was with the army at Cork, previous to his departure for America, he saw a fine boy in the ranks as a cadet, on which he asked his name and connexions. The boy answered, "My lord, I am the son of an old officer, who, after many years service, both abroad and at home, is now a captain in the royal household near Dublin: I am his third son, and my two elder brothers are now in the army." His lordship felt so much at seeing such a boy in the ranks, that he instantly wrote to his agent, Sir William Montgomery, to purchase for him an ensigncy in the fifth regiment. The commission was obtained; and at Bunker's hill, Brandywine, &c. his lordship's ensign behaved with a degree of courage that reflected honor alike on the regiment, and on the patron who introduced him to it. LOUIS XI. OF FRANCE. A poor priest came one day to this monarch when he was at his devotions in the church, and told him that the bailiffs were about to arrest him for a sum he was unable to pay. The king immediately ordered him the money, saying, "You have chosen your time to address me very luckily. It is but just that I should show some compassion to the distressed, when I have been entreating God to have compassion upon myself." A poor woman complained one day to the same monarch, that the priests would not inter deceased husband in holy ground, because he had died insolvent. "Good woman," said he, "I did not make the law, I assure you. Here is some money to pay your husband's debts, and I will order the priests to bury him as you wish.” ROYAL EXILE Some When Stanislaus, King of Poland, was driven from his dominions by Charles XII. of Sweden, he took refuge in Paris, where he was supported at the expense of the court of France. person complained to the Duke of Orleans, then Regent, of the great sum of money which this exiled monarch's support cost, and wished that he should be desired to leave France. "Sir," replied the duke, nobly, "France has been, and I trust it ever will be, the refuge of unfortunate princes; and I shall most certainly not permit it to be violated, when so excellent a prince as the King of Poland comes to claim it.” CARDINAL XIMENES. At the siege of Oran, in Africa, Cardinal Ximenes led the Spanish troops to the breach mounted on a charger, dressed in his pontifical robes, and preceded by a monk on horseback, who bore his archiepiscopal cross. "Go on, go on, my children," exclaimed he to the soldiers, "I am at your head. A priest should think it an honor to expose his life for his religion. I have an example in my predecessors in the archbishopric of Toledo. Go on to victory." When his victorious troops took possession of the town, he burst into tears on seeing the number of the dead that were lying on the ground; and was heard to say to himself, "They were indeed infidels, but they might have become Christians. By their death, they have deprived me of the principal advantage of the victory we have gained over them." WEEPING AT A PLAY. But It is a prevailing folly to be ashamed to shed a tear at any part of a tragedy, however affecting. "The reason," says the Spectator, "is, that persons think it makes them look ridiculous, by betraying the weakness of their nature." why may not nature show itself in tragedy, as well as in comedy or farce? We see persons not ashamed to laugh loudly at the humor of a Falstaff, or the tricks of a Harlequin; and why should not the tear be equally allowed to flow for the misfortunes of a Juliet, or the forlornness of an Ophelia? Sir Richard Steele records on this subject a saying of Mr. Wilks the actor, as just as it was polite. Being told in the green room, that there was a general in the boxes weeping for Juliana, he observed with a smile, " And I warrant you, sir, he'll fight ne'er the worse for that." DR. HUGH SMITH. The late benevolent and eccentric Dr. Smith, when established in a practice equal to that of any physician in London, did what few physicians perhaps in great practice would have done. He set apart two days for the poor in each week. From those who were really poor, he never took a fee; and from those who were of the middling ranks in life, he never would take above half a guinea! yet so great was the resort to him, that he has in one day received fifty guineas, at half a guinea only from each patient ! IRISH ORANGE WOMAN. During the last sickness of the late Mr. Trotter, once secretary to Mr. Fox, when deserted by his friends, the victim of actual want, and the pauper patient of a dispensary, he was constantly visited by a poor old woman who sold oranges. She daily and anxiously inquired after his health, and insisted on leaving her best fruit for his use, for which she would not accept of any compensation. Though apparently in good health, she gradually pined away as his malady increased; and when poor Trotter quitted this mortal soil, the strength of this humane Irish woman sunk rapidly, and in six days after she died also, without any visible disease but that of excessive grief. MOLIERE. Moliere was gifted with a generous and compassionate heart. One day Baron, the noted comedian, told him of an actor in extreme indigence and misery, whose name was Mondorge. "I know him," said Moliere; "he was ny school companion at Languedoc. He is a very honest man. How much do you think his necessities require?" "Four pistoles," answered Baron, with some hesitation. "Very well," said Moliere," here are the four pistoles, and give him these twenty in your own name.” MADAME DE MAINTENON. Madame de Maintenon one day asked Louis XIV. for some money to distribute in alms. "Alas! madam," said the king, "what I give in alms, are merely fresh burdens upon my people. The more money I give away, the more I take from them." "This, sire," replied Madame de Maintenon, "is true; but it is right to ease the wants of those, whom your former taxes to supply the expenses of your wars have reduced to misery. It is truly just, that those who have been ruined by you, should be supported by you." COUNT LARGORYSKY. The miserable fate of Poland had a sad and fatal influence on the venerable and lamented Count Largorysky, whose estates, not very considerable, were devoted to making all around him happy. He built on his domains a house for the reception of the old and infirm, who were fed and clothed by his bounty. Schools were also established for the education of the children of the peasants, and for fitting them for the useful employments of life. When Poland was overrun, his estates seized upon, his peasants dragged to serve in the army, and their wives and children left destitute of every friend but him, the noble-hearted Count, unable longer to brook the wrongs of Poland, and witness misery he could not relieve, formed the fatal resolution of putting an end to his valuable life. He previously assembled all his old peasants, and took an affectionate and tender leave of them. The next day the humane Largorysky threw himself on his sword, and expired. ABBE GAGLIANI. This singular character, who distinguished himself when he was in France by writing the celebrated dialogue on the free commerce of corn, sent from Vesuvius to Pope Benedict XIV. a box, containing specimens of its lava, thus inscribed, "Da ut lapides isti panem fiunt.” The good-humored Pontiff replied, by sending him an order for a pension on the apostolic charter for four hundred ducats, with a letter, in which he told him, that as he had never doubted the infallibility of the Pope, he should give him a new proof of it. "It is," added he, "my province to explain texts of scripture; and I assure you that I never explained one with more pleasure than that which you sent me." COWPER. "If there is a good man on earth," Lord Thurlow was wont to say, "it is William Cowper." From his childhood, he possessed a heart of the most exquisite tenderness and sensibility. His life was ennobled by many private acts of beneficence; and his exemplary virtue was such, that the opulent sometimes delighted to make him their almoner. In his sequestered life at Olney, he administered abundantly to the wants of the poor; and before he quitted St. Alban's, he took upon himself the charge of a necessitous child, in order to extricate him from the perils of being educated by very profligate parents; this child he educated, and afterwards had him settled at Oundle, in Northamptonshire. FRENCH GRENADIER. During the assault of Commodore Thurot on the town of Carickfergus, in 1760, an incident took place, reflecting at once the highest lustre on the soldier concerned, and evincing the union of consummate courage with noble humanity. Whilst the combatants were opposed to each other in the streets, and every inch was pertinaciously disputed by the British forces, a child by some accident escaped from a house in the midst of the scene of action, and run, unawed by the danger, into the narrow interval between the hostile fronts. One of the French grenadiers seeing the imminent danger of the child, grounded his piece; left the ranks in the hottest fire; |