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prised at her affording a temporary asylum "to poor Kate Chadleigh, whom the old dame had bilked in her will." He was surprised, however,' that the lady's visit drew to such length, and so were the gossips of Chatham, that the lover's ardour permited such a length of visitation upon poor dear Mrs. Walpole.

After the election disappointment, the Governor found Miss Chadleigh the sole inmate of Mrs. Walpole's cottage, the mistress of the house, as a civil way of getting rid of her guest, having abandoned the garrison—and, on recovering from the delirium of fever, acting in the capacity of his own self-appointed, guardian angel. She retreated almost immediately to the Cottage, to prevent a discharge on the spot, and thus retained the right of making daily visits of inquiry and condolence, and latterly of spending whole mornings and afternoons, in nursing and amusing the invalid, who once more began to take interest in the perpetual train of public coaches and private equipages passing on this great thoroughfare.

A sick-bed had probably reminded Governor Fox of his mortality; and his enormous electioneering bill, of the good which half the sum, divided into small, refreshing streams of bounty, might have done among his Northamptonshire herd of female cousins, and nieces by the half blood. My brother James's confidential clerk, Mr. George Roberts, was sent down to Rochester, accordingly, to take the Governor's directions in drawing out his last will and testament. It was, I believe, upon the whole, a sensible, just, and discreet settlement, which accordingly pleased nobody. I was, myself, a legatee to the extent of one hundred guineas. Mrs. Walpole and her son were dismissed, at their own request, with affectionate expressions and some complimentary bequest. Black Sam was provided for; and the Governor, completely anti-feudal in all his notions, divided the residue of his fortune principally among his needy, female relatives, far as kin could count, in life annuities, while the principal was finally devoted to building, and slenderly endowing some alms-houses or other, to be named the Fox Alms-houses, for the widows and unmarried daughters of marines, women above sixty, who had led virtuous and unblemished lives, and were members of the Church of England, the names of Fox and Walpole to have a preference. This is tedious information. The clause really important to my story, was that which bequeathed to Miss Chadleigh and her mother, the same life-annuity the Governor had left to his half-nieces and poor cousins. I forget whether it was L.30 or L.40 a-year. The lady who was almost constantly in the house, while the attorney's deputy was receiving his instructions, soon learnt the extent of her legacy, and the complete failure of her ultimate expectations. Where the testator expected thanks and gratitude, he found indignation and well-affected surprise. The wronged lady at last withdrew from Mrs. Walpole's to her old mother's residence; and her attorney forthwith waited,

"in a friendly way," upon the Governor, to re

monstrate.

Though the Governor had been for some time convalescent, he had scarcely gone beyond his garden wall at this time; but this was not an affair with which to dally; and the rate at which he drove to London, gave the newsmongers of the next morning some colour for a Revolution in Paris, and important despatches from our ambassador at St. Petersburg, via Berlin. Before his smoking coursers were reined up at the head of our lane, it was time for ghosts, absent from the churchyard on a three hours' leave, to be returning within the rules. My Irish neighbour and friend, Mrs. Plunkett, was also returning home. She had lately obtained the privilege of attending one of the most minor of the minor theatres, as a vender of oranges,-which, to Peg, by the way, from the irregular hours it compelled her to keep, proved a demoralizing occupation, to the extent of several quarterns of gin daily, beyond her old fixed allowance when a barrow-woman.-So all her profits were not gains,-nor the theatre wholly a school of virtue. It was Peg, herself, ever friendly and obliging, if not quite correct, who rung the alarum at our door on the Governor's arrival ; but we were too well used to nocturnal disturbances to rouse ourselves at once. I daresay the Governor and Peg, as common friends of mine, might have been acquainted before this time, for neither were difficult of access; but if not, the free masonry of the military spirit had familiarized them at once.

"They're sleeping as sound as cintinels," I overheard Peg say, as she beat another 'larum. "And you have seen service, good woman?" was returned by the Governor.

"It's myself believes I have seen some thrifle of hot work in my day, plase your Honour,-in Indiy and Flanders, ay, and in Portingal and Spain. Your honour may have heard of a place called Seringopatam. Had a certain famale known the vally of certain pretty things were found there, I need not be carrying an orange basket this night, or rather this blessed dawn, for it's near sun-riz.-Sure Mr. Richard got on his nightcap sweetly last night,—which is rare to him, the cratur,-that he sleeps so sound." "So you

Another thundering peal followed. threw away your plunder in ignorance, poor woman," rejoined the Governor, in a compassionate tone." Sold your plunder to some of those sutlers, or Jew fellows, for they an't Christians, -on the commisariat ?"

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lieutenant got a bit of what for all the world looked like red glass,-I have seen as good sold at a Donnybrook booth for a tin-penny, either as brooch or are-rings, which he parted with to the wife of one of the sutlers, Molly Pantague by name, (whose son is now a topping man in this big town,) for ten rupees-for these were our Indiy moneya pair of shoes, and a pound of tay, which she afterwards sould to a Jew jeweller here in London, for what thinks your Honour now?-But sure there is ould Lady Wilkes stirring her stumps at long last.-Open, Ma'am! Mr. Richard is wanted in mighty haste, Ma'am."

My old nurse, if she heard the speakers below at all, had not that confidence in Peg's steadiness, and general propriety and respectability of conduct which warranted leaving a comfortable bed upon her midnight summons. I was now dressing myself, and peeping through the blind: Peg became impatient.

"Diauol!—saw you ever such churlish baistes as them Lon'oners to a jintleman and a stranger." And now setting down her basket, she thundered what is called the devil's tattoo upon the door, with both her closed fists.

"To shout murder! murder! now would help us no more than calling the watch on top of Knoc Phadrig; while they lie in a sound skin themselves, you may be kilt on their dure-stone, and the cockney jintlewomen would not turn over to the 'tother side of them, for fare of ruffling their nice night-cap borders. If it were not the house is part Mr. Richard's, who is a good-hearted, simple, poor soul, and a jintleman every inch of him besides, its little myself would think now to smash the ould woman in a dozen of her peens-handsome, with them rotten China oranges."

The implied threat, notwithstanding the saving clause, redoubled my diligence in dressing myself. With Peg I knew it was at this hour but a word and a blow. I was about the last button when Peg, with a vociferous triumphant laugh, exclaimed to her growling companion, who had at last assailed the door himself,—“Stop, your Honour! I have it now." And she screamed, "Fire! fire! fire!" The plan was effectual. On the instant that old familiar London-cry came home to every man's bosom : windows flew up, doors opened, and nightcaps of both sexes poured out into the alley, while the watchmen gathered in. Peg was in ecstacies of laughter at the commotion she had created. She introduced the Governor to my landlady as a jintleman who shurely had some good news for Mr. Richard; and, positively declining his shilling, went her way, declaring the trifling piece of service was no more than she would perform by day or night for any cratur ever beat a drum for his Majesty, much more for his Honour, Mr. Richard's friend, who she hoped brought good news."

I was now in the hall. What could that news be? Had any harm befallen Walpole :—was it some dreadful accident, to be broken to my niece through me?

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It was with difficulty I refrained from laughing aloud. I was certain it was all a hoax.

"Here is what comes of elderly gentlemen flirting for years, at no allowance, with semi-aged young ladies !"

"Don't provoke me, man :—I have sometimes more than a mind to marry the jade,-keep her on bread and water,-and baste her ribs every day she rises. Don't the law of England permit a man to thrash his wife?"

"To correct his wife in reason, I believe, is allowable; for so has said some of our most learned judges."

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Judge Buller for one, who was a sound lawyer, laid down at a western assize, I'm told, that a man might baste his wife with a switch the thickness of one's thumb."

"And the ladies of Exeter, at the next circuit, sent, respectfully soliciting the exact measurement of Judge Buller's thumb, that they might have no more nor less of the rod matrimonial than they were by law entitled to."

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By Jove, mine should be a miller's thumb if I married Kate Chadleigh. I cannot quite bring my mind up to it,-though the devil is continually putting it into my head, as the best way of having my revenge on the bold jade."

"You must resist the devil, Governor, and he will flee. I question if even Judge Buller himself would approve of a man marrying for the mere purpose of being allowed to beat his wife, under sanction of the common law, for I don't suppose there is any statute to found upon. But sit down,-tell me the rights of this wild affair.”

While the Governor swallowed the cup of hot coffee, hastily prepared, and smoked a sedative pipe, I perused his correspondence with the attorney of Miss Chadleigh. It was on his part sufficiently energetic and laconic. I had no doubt that the whole was an infamous conspiracy to extort money, instigated by the attorney, who was the nephew of the late Lady Louisa's mercer, the principal creditor of Miss Chadleigh. Compassion for the unfortunate, miscalculating, and, I must confess, the unprincipled beauty of past days, was with me as powerful a feeling, as anxiety to spare my old friend the ridicule of the exposure a trial must inevitably produce.

Though there was, in reality, not a particle of

sound evidence to sustain the case of the lady, it is astonishing how much plausible oral testimony was raked together from the gossiping chronicles of Chatham. Break down it must, if it ever came into a court; but it was certainly dexterously piled up. At every new disclosure, the perfidy and treachery of the faithless octogenarian lover became more evident and more atrocious. The long course of "true love' assiduously persevered in during the latter years of Lady Louisa, was ready to be distinctly sworn to by different chambermaids, and by lady visiters innumerable; as well as her ladyship's confident expectation that "her dear domestic companion" was to be provided for at her death in an honourable marriage, which made other provision quite superfluous. True, there was the auto-dafe; but this deed did not invalidate the stronger testimony borne to the Governor's intentions. Had he not exulted in her spirit in that deed? Had he not placed her under the protection of Mrs. Walpole?

The Governor's general defence was denied wholly. The bold baggage had forced herself into the widow Walpole's cottage, the better to deceive the world, and conceal her plot to extort money:-never could she believe that he, Stephen Fox, knowing all of her and her connexions which he knew, would ever dream of marrying such a hussy.

The

Affirmed, that even by the evidence of his man, Samuel Dixon, a negro, it could be shown that, for many months, Miss Chadleigh had, while the health of her betrothed required her tender care, almost lived in his house,-and on every Sunday occupied his pew in church. Governor was at last almost distracted. was like a man accused of witchcraft, or some impossible crime, who, seeing evidence accumulating so powerfully against him, begins at last to suspect himself of being the guilty creature charged. But his spirit rose and cleared.

He

I must do the lawyers, on both sides, the justice to say that they had no doubts whatever. Miss Chadleigh's counsel saw the case even more clearly than Mr. Frankland, who was retained for the Governor, as he was in closer contact with the other parties. It may be presumed that the affair afforded a great deal of conversation and amusement. Walpole believed that it never could come to trial,-the case, he said, had not a leg to stand upon; but Miss Chadleigh's lawyer, on the other hand, placed great faith in an English Jury. A rich old defendant, -a handsome woman, destitute and in distress: -he must be a poor orator, indeed, who could not make some few thousands out of such a case. He advised compromise,-paying a handsome sum down at once,-the defendant could well afford it. I was also almost inclined to some trimming course. The Governor, vexed as he was, possessed a better spirit. His strength lay in his obstinacy. "Suffer the vixen to browbeat me, and diddle me !-No, by Jupiter!-if my last sixpence go for it.'

The important day arrived.

The case was

tried in London. The Court was crowded to suffocation. Plaintiff and defendant both appeared, attended by their respective attorneys and private friends. Miss Chadleigh, well rouged, looked resplendent through her veil. Her still fine person was, to her counsel, like the dead body of Cæsar, in the Capitol, to Brutus. With pride and confidence he referred "The intelligent Gentlemen of the Jury-fathers and brothers-to this accomplished, this lovely woman—the orphan child of one who had fought and bled in the battles of his country-wounded in woman's dearest and most tender affections,-there where she had garnered up her heart, by the caprice, the fickleness, the unaccountable, the unprovoked and cruel desertion of the gallant and wealthy defendant.

If there were any truth in the Highland and Hibernian Evil Eye, or the Jettatura of the Continent, this eloquent gentleman had assuredly not escaped unscathed from this exhibition. Anon the Governor would dart a fiery glance at him in his mid career of professional falsehood; then wipe his brows, rise, and suddenly plunge down in his seat, as I plucked him backwards, muttering, "D-d lie-by Jupiter Ammon ! Let me contradict the fellow, Mr. Taylor, or I shall burst!" I was not much more at ease myself. True, Frankland had still to speak; but the "intelligent Gentlemen of the Jury," began so seriously to incline to the harangue of the orator -a popular favourite at the time-that I became strangely apprehensive. The day looked ill for us. I wished to my heart that we had had some older, more cunning, and "used hand" than Frankland, who could pay back our opponent in his own false coin. To heighten the effect—and I can also believe that she was not wholly unmoved-Miss Chadleigh's suppressed hysterical sobs were followed by a fainting fit—which, however, did not take from her all sense and feeling; as I perceived that, when she was about to be removed, at a very critical minute, she saw and heard as acutely as she had ever done in her life. She raised herself at once, and saw the Governor's old enemy, the Baptist druggist, and a most respectable lady of Rochester, one of the Governor's enemies, the She-Saints, enter the Court, and the former deliver a small silk-bag, such as ladies usually carry about, to my brother James, the anxious agent in this case. Governor Fox leant back on the bench, and whispered to

me,

"We are dished now, by Jupiter, Mr. Richard! The crop-ear and the quean will swear I am the Devil, and wear horns,-if it can serve Kate Chadleigh, and make against that rampant sinner, Stephen Fox."

"Don't believe that, Governor. If that lady's friends went into a Court to protect your Negro servant from what they believed your cruelty and oppression, they will as readily step forward to defend you from this abominable conspiracy. cannot tell what brings them forward; but it must be for good."

I

Frankland, to whom my brother made some

hasty communication, immediately whispered the orator, who reluctantly paused in the full flight of his tropes, and received letters or papers from the mysterious embroidered bag. Our eloquent opponent-whom the Governor had already given to all the devils, for a brazen-faced lying rascal-examined them with a rapid, keen, professional eye. I watched his face with intense anxiety; for I knew that-though quite likely to feel great professional pride in making much of a very bad case-he would not lend himself to a client so foolish or simple as to let his knavery be found out. No matter for his own opinion, or his own conviction. While the world-the "intelligent Gentlemen of the Jury,"―could be gulled, the case was good and defensible. To look at the morale of any case was entirely out of the question. He looked to his brief, his fee, and his fame in the profession.

While he hastily examined the documents, Miss Chadleigh's attorney interfered; but the barrister, despite the breach of professional etiquette, waved him off. He looked at the signatures to two different letters, and at the post-marks, once and again; returned the papers to Frankland; and, throwing his brief, or his notes, with some violence upon the table, bowed to the bench, and said aloud and emphatically, that he abandoned this case. He flung away, the fluttering of his gown fanning the now really fainting plaintiff, and familiarly nodded to the Governor as he passed, saying, in a loud whisper, "I congratulate you, Governor Fox. Had I known of this case what I know now, I would never have opened my lips in it."

"Small thanks to you, sir," returned the Governor, with a stiff bow. "You don't like to be found out, I see." But Frankland was addressing the Bench,—and I begged silence.

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the levee of George the Third, in 1805; and, with the Baptist druggist he shook hands with cordial frankness, hoping that, as old neighbours, they might yet be better acquainted: had he known what a d—d good fellow he was, they should have settled their old affair about the pump, without those rascally attorneys. But here his conscience suggested the horrible word he had just employed in presence of a SheSaint-that most excellent lady. I enjoyed his perplexity not a little; and so, perhaps, did she, though she looked quite unconscious.

"You must pardon me, madam. We military men of the old school are not quite so proper in our language as we ought to be, but if the heart be right"

"That is all in all," returned the lady, with her habitual benevolent and cheerful smile. Her carriage drove off for Rochester.

"And that jade, Kate Chadleigh, mimicked, ridiculed, and taught me to despise that good woman, Mr. Taylor."

"And you have lived to learn that there may be worse women in the world than the She-Saints," I rejoined.

"Little did I merit such kindness at her hands,

though I can't abide women going about to Meetings, Tracts, and Societies, and all that stuff-bold hussies, and so quiet and shy all the while."

"Nor yet their coming boldly into a court of law, and exposing, without hope or fear, a conspiracy against the purse and character of an old bachelor, who had suffered himself to be bamboozled

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Hang it man! say no more about it ;-catch any gipsy taking me in again. You are grinning now at the protection of fourscore ;—but a man is never too old to learn wisdom."

Whether it be increase of wisdom, better society, or the sedative effects of an old age pass

In brief, the jury were discharged. The attorney of the enemy, who was himself deeply implicated, attempted to bustle and bluster; but, at the sighted without pain, fear, or anxiety, I cannot say ;

of his own letters, he turned pale, and darted a look of fury at the wretched plaintiff, whom, in defiance of the Governor's anger, I conducted out of court, and placed in a coach at the nearest stand. Neither of us spoke one word, but my fair companion trembled exceedingly. She attempted no vindication, no palliation of her conduet; nor shall I, farther than to state, that it afterwards appeared she had entered upon the prosecution with reluctance, and under the threatened horrors of a jail. This much was disclosed by the correspondence so opportunely picked up by one of the girls of a poor widow, patronised by Mrs. and carried to that lady.

The carriage and horses of this lady, who proved the deliverer of the Governor at his need, waited near the court. I found him making warmly grateful and polite speeches, to which she listened with placid dignity and a benevolent smile. Sometimes I could fancy that a slight fugitive ray of humour played about her lips. Una had subdued the lion.

To the lady at parting, the Governor made the lowest bow he had attempted since he attended

but the improvement, the kindly ripening and mellowing of the Governor's temper, is the subject of remark and congratulation to all his friends, and particularly to the Walpoles and myself. Sometimes a whole week will elapse, during which he and his man Sam will duly read the Prayer Book, and, over the blinds, watch the transit of the Dover coaches,-now the Governor's chief occupation,-without his once launching his crutch after the long heels of the offending Black. He has been prevailed with by Mrs. Walpole, and his now esteemed friend, the former She-Saint, to reinstate Mrs. and Miss Chadleigh in his will, exactly as they stood before the trial; and, of his own impulse, he went the length of presenting the latter, who was known to be in extreme want, with twenty guineas, at last Christmas,-which largesse was to remain a dead secret between himself and the bearer, Sam. With him it ever will do Perhaps I have said too much about my old friend :-but there are many worse people talked of in the world and in books than GOVERNOR FOX.

SO.

EXPECT not in mine eye a tear,

Nor wonder that no more I weep! The storm hath spent its passion here, That tore my bosom's inmost deep, And now hath raged itself to sleep.

They tell me that my mind is calm,

And praise me for its strife subdued; They bid me bless religion's balm,

THE DEATH-BED.

Whose healings have such peace imbued;
Then call my silence-Fortitude.

Once I could weep, like you, and feel
The flowing coolness of a tear:
But anguish came with burning seal,
And closed that natural fountain, ere
I stood beside my MARY'S bier.

I watched around her dying bed :—

Days, weeks, months-like a dream-went on: No health the star of evening shed,

No hope illumed the wing of dawn,

Till health, and hope, and life, were gone.

And through those heavy hours she kept
On me her pale and altered eye:
Then, had I paused, or sighed, or wept-
She would have smiled, and told me why;
And calmly turned her round-to die.

She bade me kneel beside her bed,

And pray in accents loud and clear:
But, as the holy page I read,

My loudest voice she could not hear:
Yet dared I not betray a tear.

Such was my prisoned anguish, when

Nor time, nor place had I to weep:
But, when she sank in slumber, then
I cast aside my stranger sleep,
The vigil of my tears to keep.

Amid the dark and lonely night,

They in their bitter freedom flowed;

Till seemed in my seared eyes a light,

As if it sparkled, flashed, and glowed :-
It was my misery's burning load.

How smarted then the matin beam,
Upon my tortured vision flung;
As from mine eyes I stayed the stream,
And o'er the couch awakening hung
Of her my beautiful-my young!
Three nights on that dread couch she lay :
Sight, sense, and feeling-all-were fled:

I called with cries I bade her stay

That might have pierced the grave's deep bed,
And startled up its slumbering dead.

Then, when she could nor see, nor hear-
Then poured my grief its gushing tide;
Nor hope was with me, then, nor fears:
I knew that she must die-SHE DIED !
And then, the burning stream was dried.

I thought those tears were torture: now
They would be bliss:-the last I shed
Were on the death-damp of her brow.
I saw her on her funeral bed,
And moisture from mine eyes had fled.
Her first-born to her grave I led;

His orphan eye in tears was drowned:
I saw them fall-but none I shed;

While friends and strangers stood around,
And wept upon the new-dug ground.

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Subdued, not softened, is my mind:

The spirit broke, which could not bend
And still, resentful, not resigned,
"Twere hard to teach me, that a friend
Such suffering did in mercy send.

I mingle with the world-I laugh-
I join the free and festive throng—
Of pleasure's cup I deeply quaff—
And bear my cold dead heart among
The scenes, which do her memory wrong.
Then seek not in mine eye a tear,

Nor wonder that no more I weep!

The storm hath spent its passion here,
That tore my bosom's inmost deep,
And now hath raged itself to sleep.
E. L. L. S.

TRAVELS IN GERMANY; BY MRS. TROLLOPE, MRS. JAMESON, AND SIMEON SOUTH, ESQ.

OUR beau ideal of a continental travelling | social, in-door condition of any European people party, who should produce a valuable and pleasant work, and a useful guide-book at the same time, would consist of a citizen of the world, who had read men as well as books, and a well-informed, agreeable woman,-not quite so fastidious or vehemently Tory as Mrs. Trollope, nor yet so exalted and enthusiastic as Mrs. Jameson. Their staff might be a French valet who had previously traversed and knew the ground, and a clever Irish or Scotch waitingmaid ;—or a French girl might do,-an English one would be put too far out of her way, either to make impartial observations or reports in her own department. Byron found it much more difficult to accommodate his English servant, Fletcher, who could not live without his tea, than to supply his own wants. So far as the

is concerned, the waiting-maid's contribution, if she were possessed of the requisite qualifications, would be the most important portion of the vade mecum. Our travellers should have introductions to merchants, shopkeepers, and mechanics, as well as to consuls, artists, and men of letters and science. Before setting out, they should all know something of the history and present condition of the various States through which they were to pass, and be acquainted with the results of the observations of the most enlightened of their recent predecessors. They should journey leisurely, remaining for weeks and months at one station, and, avoiding the the travelling English as much as possible, they should endeavour to mingle freely in the domestic circles and amusements of the middle and lower

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