tice and execution. They reviled him with the most bitter reproaches. Amongst other insults, one miscreant presumed to spit in the face of his sovereign. He patiently bore their insults. "Poor souls," cried he, "they would treat their generals in the same manner for sixpence." Those of the populace who still retained the feelings of humanity, expressed their sorrow in sighs and tears. A soldier, more compassionate than the rest, could not help imploring a blessing upon his royal head. An officer, overhearing him, struck the honest sentinel to the ground before the king, who could not help saying, that the punishment exceeded

the offence.

6. At his return to Whitehall, he desired the permission of the house to see his children, and to be attended in his private devotions by doctor Juxon, late bishop of London. These requests were granted, and also three days to prepare for the execution of the sentence. All that remained of his family, now in England, were the princess Elizabeth, and the duke of Gloucester, a child of about three years of age. After many seasonable and sensible exhortations to his daughter, he took his little son into his arms, and embracing him, "My child," said he," they will cut off thy father's head-yes, they will cut off my head, and make thee a king. But mark what I say, thou must not be a king as long as thy brothers, Charles and James, are alive. They will cut off their heads when they can take them, and thy head too, at last; and therefore, I charge thee, do not be made a king by them." The child, bursting into tears, replied, "I will be torn in pieces first."

7. Every night, during the interval between his sentence and execution, the king slept sound as usual; though the noise of the workmen employed in framing the scaffold, continually resounded in his ears. The fatal morning being at last arrived, he rose early, and calling one of his attendants, he bade him employ more than usual care in dressing him, and preparing him for so great and joyful a solemnity. The street before Whitehall was the place destined for his execution; for it was supposed that this would increase the severity

of his punishment. He was led through the banqueting house to the scaffold, adjoining that edifice, attended by his friend and servant, bishop Juxon, a man endowed with the same mild and steady virtues with his master. The scaffold which was covered with black, was guarded by a regiment of soldiers, under the command of (colonel Tomlinson; and on it were to be seen the block and axe, and two executioners in masks. The people, in great crowds, stood at a great distance, in dreadful expectation of the event.

8. The king, however, remained calm amidst all these awful preparations; and, as he could not expect to be heard by the people at a distance, he addressed himself to the few who stood round him. He there justified his innocence in the late fatal war; and observed, that he had not taken arms till after the parliament had shown him the example. That he had no other object in his warlike preparations, than to preserve that authority entire, which had been transmitted to him by his ancestors; but, though innocent towards his people, he acknowledged the equity of his execution in the eyes of his Maker. He owned that he was justly punished for having consented to the execution of an unjust sentence upon the earl of Strafford. He forgave all his enemies; exhorted the people to return to their obedience, and acknowledge his son as his successor; and signified his attachment to the protestant religion, as professed in the church of England. So strong was the impression his dying words made upon the few who could hear him, that colonel Tomlinson himself, into whose care he had been committed, acknowledged himself a convert.

9. While he was thus preparing himself for the block, bishop Juxon called out to him, "There is, sir, but one stage more; which, though turbulent and troublesome, is yet a very short one. It will soon carry you a great way. It will soon carry you from earth to heaven; and there you shall find, to your great joy, the prize to which you hasten; a crown of glory." "I go," replied the king, "from a corruptible to an incorruptible crown, where no disturbance can have place." "You

exchange," the bishop added, "a temporal for an eternal crown; a good exchange." Charles having taken off his cloak, he delivered his George to the prelate, pronouncing the word "remember." Then he laid his head upon the block, and stretching out his hands as a signal, one of the executioners severed his head from his body at a blow; while the other, holding it up, exclaimed, "This is the head of a traitor." The spectators testified their horror at that sad spectacle, in sighs, tears, and lamentations; the tide of their duty and affection began to return, and each blamed himself either with active disloyalty to his king, or a passive compliance with his destroyers.

10. Charles was executed January 30, 1649, in the forty-ninth year of his age, and the twenty-fourth of his reign. He was of middling stature, robust, and well proportioned. His visage was pleasing, but melancholy; and it is probable that the continual troubles in which he was involved might have made that impression on his countenance. As for his character, the reader will deduce it with more precision and satisfaction to himself from the detail of his conduct, than from any summary given of it by the historian.

QUESTIONS.

1. How many persons constituted the court that tried king Charles?--2. What description of persons chiefly composed this court?-3. Who was appointed president?-4. On what ground did the king decline making his defence?—5. On what ground did Bradshaw maintain the legal jurisdiction of the court-6. What was proved against the king in his trial?—7. What was the treatment which he received from the soldiers? 8. What was the conduct of the king under this treatment!—9. By whom was he attended in his devotions, after being condemned?-10. Who commanded the regiment that guarded the scaffold on which he was executed?-11. Was he apparently resigned to his fate?-12. Did he acknowledge the justice of the sentence which condemned him to death?-13. At what time was king Charles executed?-14. How old was he then?— 15. How long had he reigned?

THE RUINS.

I've seen, in twilight's pensive hour,
The moss-clad dome, the mouldering tower,
In awful ruin stand;

That dome, where grateful voices sung,
That tower, whose chiming music rung
Majestically grand!

I've seen, 'mid sculptur'd pride, the tomb
Where heroes slept, in silent gloom,
Unconscious of their fame;

Those who, with laurell'd honours crown'd,
Among their foes spread terror round,
And gain'd-an empty name!

I've seen, in death's dark palace laid,
The ruins of a beauteous maid,
Cadaverous and pale!

That maiden who, while life remain'd,
O'er rival charms in triumph reign'd
The mistress of the vale.

I've seen, where dungeon damps abide,
A youth, admir'd in manhood's pride,
In morbid fancy rave;
He, who, in reason's happier day,
Was virtuous, witty, nobly gay,
Learn'd, generous and brave.

Nor dome, nor tower, in twilight shade,
Nor hero fallen, nor beauteous maid,
To ruin all consign'd-

Can with such pathos touch my breast,
As (on the maniac's form impress'd)
The ruins of the MIND!

GUN-POWDER TREASON.

1. THE Roman catholics had expected great favour and indulgence on the accession of James I., both as a

descendant of Mary, a rigid catholic, and also as having shewn some partiality to that religion in his youth. But they soon discovered their mistake; and were at once suprised and enraged to find James, on all occasions, express his resolution of strictly executing the laws enacted against them, and of persevering in the conduct of his predecessor. This declaration determined them upon more desperate measures; and they at length formed the resolution of destroying the king and both houses of parliament at a blow. The scheme was first broached by Robert Catesby, a gentleman of good parts and ancient family, who conceived that a train of gun-powder might be so placed under the parliament house, as to blow up the king and all the members at once.

2. How horrid soever this contrivance might appear, yet every member seemed faithful and secret in the league; and about two months before the sitting of parliament, they hired a house in Percy's name, adjoining to that in which the parliament was to assemble. Their first intention was to bore a way under the parliament-house, from that which they occupied; and they set themselves laboriously to the task; but when they had pierced the wall, which was three yards in thickness, on approaching the other side, they were surprised to find that the house was vaulted underneath, and that a quantity of coals was usually deposited there. From their disappointment on this account, they were soon relieved by information that the coals were then selling off, and that the vaults would then be let to the highest bidder. They, therefore, seized the opportunity of hiring the place, and bought the remaining quantity of coals with which it was stored, as if for their own use.

3. The next thing done was to convey thither thirtysix barrels of gun-powder, which had been purchased in Holland, and the whole was s covered with the coals, and with faggots, brought for that purpose.

Then the

doors of the cellar were boldly flung open, and every body admitted as if it contained nothing dangerous. Confident of success, they proceeded to plan the re