"His Majesty, God bless him, allows me £20 a year,' replied my companion, " and I receive it quarterly-but it is not yet due, and the Almoner will not pay one sixpence except on the day and hour appointed,—and before the time comes I may perish from want."

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"But have you no pension for your wounds and services?" demanded I, you grease your heels and forfeit all?"

or did

"I had no legal claim they told me," answered the other, "and I was a long time before I got either my pay or my prize money."

"Indeed! how was that?" questioned I. "But I see you require nourishment, and curiosity must not be gratified at the expense of humanity-there, take this and get food and lodgings; and if you have done nothing to be ashamed of, come down to me on board the frigate, lying off the king's yard, Deptford, and I will see amongst the officers if something more can be done for you.-There can be no fear of your being detained or pressed-your looks will be a safe protection."

"I do not fear it now, sir," returned the grateful individual eyeing the gift-no matter what it was-with pleasure, "and yet I bear a memorial of the Tower Hill gang here that I shall carry to my grave," the tarpaulen hat was removed, and a tremendous cicatrice appeared," it was done by a cutlass.”

"Well then, if you like to come, ask for Mr.

but stop I will give you my card and then you will remember the name," said I.

With many expressions of thanks the card was secured in the jacket pocket, and we parted. I do not know how it was, the pale face and not unhandsome features

of the poor sufferer greatly interested me; and as I continued my walk I could not help condemning myself for having been so hasty in coming away with so slender a prospect of meeting again; and frequently afterwards during the week the feelings of regret recurred, as no one of that description had inquired after me. At last I made up my mind that I had been duped, and thought no more of the matter.

Two years passed away, and circumstances not necessary to mention, again carried me to the metropolis ; and one day, when coming from the Admiralty in James's Park through the Horse Guards, I was accosted by a clean decent looking female-who, however, when she moved, seemed to be very awkward and uncomfortable in her clothes. "God Almighty send his blessing upon you, sir," said she-"you once did me an act of kindness that saved my life."

"Indeed!' responded I, "then I have no recollection of it—or of ever having seen you before."

"But you have seen me before, sir," returned she, "though I am not surprised that you should not remember me in this change of dress --I am Jack Taylor."

"Indeed!" exclaimed I, "then what makes you bend a suit of women's gear?-Jack Taylor! I never heard the name before."

"Perhaps not, sir," returned she, "for it is like I did not mention it. But this, sir, I believe is your card," it was so, "and you gave it, about two years ago, with your bounty, to a poor distressed creature who had just come out of Guy's Hospital

"With a grape shot in the leg received on the first of June in the Brunswick," interrupted I, indignantly calling the occurrence to my mind.

impostor."

"That fellow was an

264256B

The female looked earnestly in my face and smiled, "There was no imposition, sir," said she, "I was the individual whom you so kindly relieved."

"You-you," muttered I, "and now in women's clothes-why, you rascal, it confirms my suspicion-you can be after no good, I will give you into the hands of the police."

"They know me too well to meddle with me, sir," answered she, "but you may learn from any of them that I am a woman."

"No doubt of it," responded I angrily, "if you are a female you must have been dead to shame long before by your rigging yourself out in the gear of a man."

"Do not think too hardly of me, sir," remonstrated she; "I owe you a debt of gratitude-and if my sad history can remove the unfavourable impressions which you appear to have, I shall feel still more grateful.”

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Now, unfortunately, I could never resist the prospect of listening to a tough yarn "-it was the best and most influential bait that could be offered-besides, to speak the truth, the woman was good looking, and now did not appear so old as when I last parted with her in Kent-street; for though I soon recognized the features, yet they were plumper and more cheerful than before. "If what you told me be indeed true," argued I, "your history must be worth hearing.-A strange transformation, from cabin-boy to Captain Harvey to a woman in petticoats. Where do you live?"

It is useless making a long story in this matter-she lodged in very decent apartments near the Archiepiscopal Palace, at Lambeth; and thither I accompanied her to listen to her eventful tale.

The room she occupied looked out upon the Thames

—every part of it was particularly clean, and not without an air of comfort-in fact, it strongly resembled in its furniture and general appearance the cabin of a ship; and numerous articles in minature, connected with nautical matters, were conspicuous- there was a vessel partly rigged-a ship's buoy slung (rather a complicated piece of work)—a thum mat made of worsteds, with the union Jack in the middle, and another with the American flag. A few prints of naval battles, roughly framed, hung upon the walls; and one was the sinking of the Vengeur on the first of June from the tremendous fire of the Brunswick; there was also an etching of the monument erected in Westminster Abbey to the memory of Captains Harvey and Hutt who fell in the glorious victory; the floor was as white as the quarter deck of a man-of-war; a deal table, equally clean, occupied the centre; and round the walls were five or six chairs without backs; sea shells were ranged upon the mantel-piece; and before the grate was a beautiful root of coral. Here then I seated myself; and after some preliminary conversation, she began her story-of which I took notes, and made memorandums as she proceeded. We once more parted. I saw her several times afterwards, and questioned her upon various points, as I fully intended-I was fond of scribbling even then-to publish the whole, but somehow or other various impediments came in my way-my notes and memorandums got lost or mislaid, and my memory was not strong enough to bear the whole burthen. A few weeks since, when at a relation's in London, I was introduced to an old acquaintance in the shape of a sea chest that had been standing at least five and twenty years without ever having been opened. I enjoyed a grand overhaul, and in the half of a cut down fisher

man's boot, I had been accustomed to wear when washing decks, I discovered, all mouldy and the writing scarcely legible, the documents that I had so long missed. The perusal brought the whole affair fresh to my memory-I passed half a night in looking them over-I walked over to Lambeth to refresh my vision-there stood, or rather tottered, the very building in which I had heard the tale which I shall now endeavour to lay before my readers under the title of

JACK TAYLOR.

WHO is there that ever visited London and is yet unacquainted with Lincoln's Inn Fields - where there are no fields at all; but houses, and chambers, and myriads of lawyers? There is however a garden in the centre, where the stunted trees are nearly smoke-dried, and the flowers come forth like patients from a hospital --- sickly and weak. And yet it is pleasant to feast the eyes on green leaves, though they may be scarcely within hail of each other; and it is gratifying to see the children playing on the grass, or enjoying themselves on the

walks.

It was in one of the large houses in Lincoln's Inn Fields, that a woman, of lady-like and fascinating manners, resided; she was the mother of sixteen children, all illegitimate, and the paternity of her offspring was attributed to a nobleman-high at court, and a Colonel of Militia. In February, 1778, the subject of this memoir (Mary Anne) was born, and put to nurse in a village near Shrewsbury, where she continued for five years; but when only two years old her mother died in child-birth of twins. The next nine years were passed