that the defendant "kicked the plaintiff behind three or four times very severely," Mr. Justice Park took the alarm, and interrupted the deponent with the following pointed queries: "Say where he kicked; was it on the breech? if so, it adds greatly to the indignity." There is an earnestness which amounts to eloquence in this anxious enquiry of the Learned Judge; and it would be impossible to alter an expression, or the place of a word, without destroying the effect of the passage. The abruptness of the commencement, "say," is admirably depictive of the Learned Judge's intense curiosity to know the precise venue or locality of the battery-of his anxiety to ascertain whether the sacred territory of honour had been violated. Not a word is lost here. The mind of the speaker hurries at once impetuously to his end, which we take to be in the true spirit of eloquence-"Say where he kicked.”—Again— was it on the breech?"-There is something wonderfully striking in this rushing, as it were, to the extremity. The first query is all vagueness and apprehension; the latter leads at once to the catastrophe. It is thus that those under the influence of fear throw themselves on the objects of their alarm.

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Mr. Justice Park then proceeds to the conclusion-assuming the postulate, which our delicacy forbids us to repeat—“if sổ,' (meo periculo) it adds to the indignity." Thus coming to a most important fact, and establishing a point which we should have despaired of ever seeing decided on the Bench-that of the precise seat of honour; and yet on the English principle of trying by

near neighbours, the Bench seems to be the most natural and competent judge of the delicate subject under discussion. Longinus would have written a book on the precious line and a quarter we have quoted; nay, we do not know but we could write a book on it ourselves, as it conveys not only a most important judicial decision, but also a perfect specimen of the most perfect order of eloquence; and, as we said before, not a word can be altered, omitted, or supplied, without injury to this gem. Perchance, the scrupulous overmuch may urge, that the Learned Judge might have spared their blushes, by substituting a periphrasis for a certain broad word he used; but if we desire to say things well, and as Mr. Justice Park says them, we must not stop to pick and choose; in the passion of eloquence, as in the passion of anger, we take up the first thing that comes to hand, and fling it at the heads of our hearers; and can we then pause to wrap our missiles up in cotton, lest they should hurt any one? As for the legal dictum, touching the seat of honour, and its peculiar tenderness, involved in the subject of our comments, it is now part and parcel of the common law of the land, having been pronounced by one of the Judges; the point is therefore set at rest for ever, and those that presume to question it, or to scoff at it, shall be prosecuted with the utmost rigour of the law.

Chronicle.

"WHY, as for the matter o' that (said old Jem Breeching, knocking the ashes out of his pipe, and preparing to recharge), as for the matter o'that, I've had all sorts of acquaintances, from Bet Blowsey, the bumboat woman, down to the Duke of Wellington; aye, and I've been among Royals too. Why, there was the Duke of C, him as took command in the Downs at the first of the peace, when all the Hemp-he-roars

T

and Kings came to pay our honour'd Majesty a visit under that 'ere thing-um-eye they've got at Woolwich now for a rot-under. There was a

sight! We wouldn't look at your common lords and ladies then. I remember old Blue-cheer landing, and Play-'toff and the Prince of EasyHumbug, for I belonged to the yacht that took old Loo-he-de-sweet to France; and so we saw 'em all for nothing. But, somehow or other, there warn't one to beat our own good old George; and then there was that lovely flower of British growth, our own dear Princess Charlotte, so like her royal grandfather. There, messmates, I won't say another word about it; I sees you're all affected. Some on you remembers the Countess of Elgin hired cutter, commanded by Mich C-ford, when Bobby H- was master. Well, d'ye see, Mich was ashore at Deal, with his jib bowsed chock a block, and turning the corner in Middle-street with fresh way, he come stem on, right into the Duke's hull. Halloo! halloo! (exclaimed his Royal Highness), what ship do you belong to? No ship at all (hiccup), my Lord-your Majesty, I mean.''Do you know this officer?' enquired the Duke, turning to Captain A——. 'Know me (said Mich, making another tack towards him), aye, to be sure he does.' 'Tis the commander of the cutter,' said Captain A—-. 'You're drunk, Sir,' continued the Duke. 'Beg your pardon (hiccup), your Royal Highness, I am as sober (hiccup) as a prince.'-'I say you're abominably drunk, Sir.'-' Well, well, an't please your Royal Highness, I may be (hiccup) about half seas

over.'' Then, Sir, my orders are, that you keep half seas over for the next week to come; so go on board, get under weigh, and cruize at the back of the Goodwin till recalled.'-'Aye, aye, an't please your Royal (hiccup) Highness, I'll be off the Good-un directly;' and away he started. Poor Mich was a jovial fellow, but death grappled him at last. He was a great favourite with all the Captains, and obtained his commission partly through merit, and partly on account of a humorous poem, addressed to the Lords of the Admiralty. I recollect once falling in with his vessel off the Texel. How are you, Mr. C-?' says our commander, hailing him. · More troubled with the wind than the weather, Sir (replied C), for my spirits are terribly low. Can you spare me a few nervous drops?'-'Aye, aye; let's have something to put 'em in.'— "Thank you, Sir, thank ye; I'll send my Joey (a three gallon bottle to which he gave that name)-I'll send my Joey.' The boat was lowered down, and Joey came on board. The Captain, without noticing its size, ordered the steward to fill it. What are you about there below, steward? (said the commander). What makes you so long?'- I harn't half filled the bottle yet, Sir.'-' Not half filled it! why, how much does it hold?'-' Three or four gallons, Sir. Confound the fellow! Countess, a-hoy!' -Halloo!'-'I say, C-ford, if ever you send your Joey aboard of me again, and I don't break his neck, there's no snakes in Vir-ginny. Why, he's nearly swallow'd all my grog!"

"Ah, (says old Ben Marlin,) them there were