for their eminent services at sea. The grandfather, father, and son, had medals given them at one and the same time, for their gallant behaviour in a general action against the Dutch.

When Admiral Sir Richard Haddock was dying, he called his son, and said to him, “Considering my rank in life, and public services for so many years, I shall leave you but a small fortune; but, my dear boy, it was honestly got, and will wear well; there are no seamen's wages or provisions; not one single penny of dirty money in it."

BEN JOHNSON.

St. John's college, Cambridge, may boast of the honour of part of his education. After he left the university, he passed through many occupations; for he was a bricklayer, a soldier, a player, and amidst them all a poet.

A vintner, to whom he was in debt, invited him to dinner; and told him that if he would give him an immediate answer to the following questions, he would forgive him his debt. The vintner asked him, what God is best pleased with; what the devil is best pleased with; what the world is best pleased with; and what he was best pleased with. Ben, without the least hesitation, gave the following reply; which, as an impromptu, deserves no small share of praise:

"God is best pleas'd when men forsake their sin;

The devil's best pleas'd, when they persist therein; The world's best pleas'd, when thou dost sell good wine.

And you're best pleas'd, when I do pay for mine.” they good or be they

Luther:

"If God's T

If man's

Among the addresses presented to James I. on his accession to the English throne, was one from the town of Shrewsbury, in which the loyal inhabitants expressed a wish, that his majesty might reign as long as the sun, moon, and stars endured" Faith, mon, said the king to the person who presented it, "If I do reign so long, my son must reign by candle light."

Lord Rochester said of Charles II., that "he never said a foolish thing, and never did a wise one." When the king was informed of this tart speech, ich certainly conveyed tolerably just ideas of his aracter, he observed, that the reason of the difence was this, “My conversation is my own, but actions are my ministers."

ys of them, like

re:

This eminent astronomer, during the most perilous times of the French Revolution, confined himself closely to the pursuits of his favourite science. When he was asked to what happy cause he was indebted for escaping the fury of Robespierre, he jocosely answered, "I may thank my stars for my preservation."

SIR GEORGE LISLE.

One of the bravest of the generals of Charles I. He was one of those who so nobly defended Colchester in 1648. The same day the rebel army took the place, he was ordered to be shot. When he was about to be executed, and thinking that the sol

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diers who were to despatch him stood at too great a distance, he desired them to approach nearer. One of them said, "I warrant we shall hit you." He replied with a smile, Friends, 1 have been nearer to you, when you have missed me."

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THE DUKE OF LUXEMBOURGH.

This general resembled the renowned Conde, whose pupil he was. He beat William prince of Orange in several battles, which caused William to express himself with great indignation "Is it impossible for me," said he, "to beat that little hunchback Luxembourgh ?" "How should be know whether I am so or not?" said the duke;" for often as I have seen his back, he never saw mine."

JOHN, DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH.

In the great battle of Blenheim, in which the English and their allies gained one of the most decisive and glorious of all their victories, marshal Tallard, the French commander-in-chief, was taken prisoner. In a conversation he soon after had with the duke of Marlborough, he assured him, that the French army was composed of of the bravest troops in the world. "No doubt they are," said the duke, "with the exception of that army which had the honour to beat them."

Great men are never angry at little things. The duke riding out with commissary Mariot, it began to rain, and the duke called for his cloak. Mariot had his put on by his servant immediately. The duke's servant not bringing the cloak, he called for

it again, but he was still puzzling about the straps and buckles; at last it raining very hard, the duke called again, and asked him what he was about. "You must stay," grumbled the fellow, "if it rains cats and dogs, till I can get at it The duke turned to Mariot, and only quietly said, “ I should be sorry to be of that fellow's temper.”

SIR JOHN MASON.

Sir John Mason was born in the reign of Henry VII. and was privy-counsellor to Henry VIII. Edward VI queen Mary, and queen Elizabeth. He was a man of talents, and displayed great probity in very turbulent times.

On his death-bed he called his family together and thus addressed them:

"Lo, I have lived to see five princes, and have been privy Counsellor to four of them. I have seen the most remarkable things in foreign parts; and have been present in most state transactions for thirty years at home. After so much experience I have learned that seriousness is the greatest wisdom; temperance the best physician; and a good conscience the best estate: and were I to live again, I would change the court for a cloister; my privycounsellor's bustle for the retirement of a hermit; and my whole life in the palace for an hour's enjoyment of God in my closet. All things now forsake me, except my God, my duty, and my prayers."

THE EMPEROR MAXIMILIAN,

An impudent beggar, on the authority of the words

in the 12th chapter of Malachi: "Have we not all one God our common father?" asked alms from Maximilian, addressing him by the title of brother. Not satisfied with the sum given him by the emperor, he continued to importune him for more. “Retire,? said Maximilian to him, in a gentle manner; " for if all your brothers give you as much as I have now, you will soon be richer than I am."

LORENZO DE MEDICIS.

This great and accomplished man, whose Life has been written with considerable ability by Mr. Roscoe, gave proofs in his early years of that quickness of mind which distinguished his mature age.

His father Cosmo one day presented him, when he was a child, to an ambassador, to whom he talked of him with the partiality of a parent; requested the ambassador to put some questions to his son, and to judge by his answers, if he was not a boy of extraordinary talents. The ambassador was soon convinced, by conversing with him, of the truth of what Cosmo had told him; but added, "This child, as he grows up, will most probably become stupid; for it has in general been observed, that those who when young are very clever, degenerate as they grow oldYoung Lorenzo, hearing this remark, waiked gently to the ambassador, and looking him archly in the face, said to him, I am certain, that when you were young, you were a boy of very great geaius."

er

LADY MARY WORTLEY MONTAGUE.

As lady Mary was walking through the gardens