court sitting) there whipped; after his whipping, to be set in the pillory for some convenient space; to have his ears cut off, his nose slit, and to be brandished in the face with S. S. for a sower of sedition; then to be carried to the Fleet prison; and at some convenient time afterwards to be carried to the pillory at Cheapside upon a market day, to be there likewise whipped, then set in the pillory, have his other ear cut off, and then be carried back to the prison of the Fleet, there to remain during life, unless his majesty be graciously pleased to enlarge him."

On Friday, November the 16th, part of his sentence was put in execution in this manner: in the New Palace-Yard atWestminster, in term time, he was severely whipped, then put in the pillory, where he had one of his ears cut off, one side of his nose slit, brandished on the cheek with a red-hot iron, with the letters S. S. and afterwards carried back to the Fleet, to be kept in close custody. On that day seven-night, his sores upon his back, ears, nose, and face, not being cured, he was whipped again at the pillory, in Cheapside, and there had the remainder of his sentence executed upon him, by cutting off the other ear, slitting the other side of the nose, and brandishing the other cheek.

Dr.

Dr. Leighton, in his own account of this horrid execution, adds, that the hangman was made half drunk, and enjoined to perform his office with ferocity; that he stood, after receiving the punishment of the lash, almost two hours in the pillory, exposed to frost and snow, and there suffered the rest: that being with these miseries disabled from walking, he was denied the benefit of a coach, and carried back to prison by water, to the farther endangering his life.

WHE

ANECDOTE

OF

VOLTAIRE.

HEN Voltaire was in England, some years ago, Lord Chesterfield (who was extremely fond of his company, and who corresponded with that bard till his death) invited him to dinner, which invitation he accepted, but finding the vails he was obliged to give the servants much more than would have paid for a dinner at a tavern, he declined the second, and even the third invitation, being always previously engaged; when Lord Chesterfield meet

Upon my

ing him one day in the Park, he pressed him strongly to come and eat soup with him, but Voltaire still declined it, saying, word, my Lord, I cannot afford it." His lordship was astonished at first, but an explanation taking place, Lord Chesterfield ordered, on pain of losing their places, all his servants to refuse taking of vails. This was the first example given for reforming this evil, which has been followed by most of the nobility, who make a proper allowance to their domestics in lieu of this perquisite.

DRUSILLA;

OR, THE FATE OF HAROLD.

A TALE OF FORMER TIMES.

HILE yet the hardy sons of Britain

WH

groaned beneath the Danish yoke; long ere the immortal Alfred rose, like the resplen-dent God of Day, to animate this drooping nation, and warm each patriotic bosom with ardour, to seek the emancipation of it's country; on an elevated and advantageous spot, near which the majestick Frome now winds its way through

the

the fertile Dorsetian meadows, Harold, a potent and ambitious Dane, held a strong and well-fortified castle; and stretched over all the adjacent country the iron rod of unfeeling despotism.In the plenitude of unopposed power, he became notorious for those acts of violence and oppression, which rendered his unhappy vassals ever uneasy and insecure, even in possession of the simple rights of nature.

On the verge of his ample dominions, in the most distant and intricate recess of an extensive and gloomy forest, the oppressed Edmund, though descended from a long race of worthy Britons, fixed his humble residence, removed as far as possible from the vicinage of his imperious Lord, to whom he failed not to pay due homage, and customary tribute. But tyranny is ever the same; restless and insatiable; not content with wresting from its victims their rightful possessions, and dearest privileges, it is ever ill at ease, while they enjoy the least, the meanest domestick comfort, or consolation!

Among the peasants, who preferred this retirement with Edmund, was his only brother Edgar, a youth of the most manly figure, and engaging deportment. Harold had selected all

the

the finest youth of his domains, of whom were composed the guards of his castle. Edgar, therefore was enrolled in the number; and, with the greatest reluctance, doomed to wast his prime, confined within the fortress, subservient to the mandates of the wretch he despised. The aroused indignation of the honest plebeians was scarcely restrained from bursting forth into action, by the whispers of caution, or the admonitions of prudence. Yet cruel destiny waited to inflict a deeper wound on the peace of Edmund! Drusilla, the adorned partner of his bed, was confessedly one of the most lovely women of her day; in her, to a beautiful face, an intelligent mind, and a sweet disposition, were united a superiority of figure, and most exact symme try of features.

"Grace was in all her steps, Heav'n in her eye, In every gesture, dignity and love!"

The fame of this accomplished female could not fail to reach and interest the ear of such a

voluptuary as Harold. By his authoritative command, the fair victim was torn from the arms of her distracted husband, in order to gratify the lawless appetite of that tyrant. On her arrival at the castle, the beauties of her person,

and