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bunted down and put to death. They may talk of the greatness of this King, but I, for my part, can never talk of his goodness, when I think of this wicked and bloody deed. I can hardly help joining in those words of one of our English poets, who supposes the last of these Bards to vent his anger against the cruel King in these words:

Ruin seize thee, ruthless King!
Confusion on thy banners wait!

Though fann'd by conquest's crimson wing,
They mock the air with idle state.
Helin, nor hauberk's twisted mail,

Nor c'en thy virtues, Tyrant, will avail
To save thy secret soul from nightly fears,
From Cambria's* curse, from Cambria's tears.

GRAY.

The Welsh, notwithstanding, all the attacks of Edward, still persevered in their defence, refusing him for their King, and desiring to have one of their own countrymen, born and bred amongst themselves, and who should be able to speak no language but their own. It is said, that Edward assembled many of their principal leaders, and told them, he would give them such a King.. To this, they agreed, and then Edward produced his own little son, who was only. a few days old, and who had been born at Caernarvon, and could speak no language at all to offend them. In this manner, Edward is said to have united the two kingdoms; and the King of England's eldest son has, ever since that time, been Prince of Wales. And it must be allowed; that this union was much to the advantage of both nations.

. Soon after this, there was a dispute about who was the right heir to the crown of Scotland. This dispute was referred to Edward, and this ambitious King began to think that he should like to have the kingdom for himself. Accordingly, he made himself

* Cambria is another name for Wales.

King, and put in John Baliol, one of the claimants, as his deputy. This sort of subjection was not, however, at all agreeable to the Scottish nation; and there was a very celebrated man, called William Wallace, who determined to try all means of delivering his country. The King of England found himself obliged to march into Scotland, for the sake of resisting the attempts of Wallace, and he did indeed, gain a great victory over him, in the famous fight of Falkirk. The Scots, however, were not yet subdued: Wallace still persevered in his endeavours to deliver his country. The King of England again took the field, and gained several victories, and at length took Wallace prisoner, had him brought in chains to London, where he was hanged, drawn, and quartered another proof of the cruel disposition of Edward the First.

The Scots still resisted, under Robert Bruce, drove the English out of Scotland, and crowned Robert Bruce their King.

Edward saw that, after all his fighting, and conquering, he had little or no power remaining in Scotland. He seemed, in his anger, resolved to leave nothing untried for recovering it, and he accordingly sent an army which gained a complete victory over Bruce. Then he marched into Scotland himself, where he found the people more humbled than he expected. Soon after this, he died at Carlisle, (1307) requiring his son, with his dying breath, never to stop till he had made a complete conquest of Scotland.:

Historians generally give a good character of Edward the First, and he certainly did many things which were of great advantage to his country, but, notwithstanding all this, I cannot bring myself to have the least respect for the memory of a man who did so many cruel and dreadful acts. His person, they tell us, was very fine and comely, and he was very tall, but his legs were too long for his body, and they called him Longshanks. But, as I sup

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pose you have had enough of this King, I shall

conclude,

I am, &c.

T. S.

ON DRUNKENNESS.

SIR,

In reading some time ago, a very excellent discourse upon drinking to excess, in which the sin and shame of a Christian's making that body which should be considered as a temple of the Holy Ghost, an instrument of vice and wickedness, are pointed out. I was struck with the following story, by which the author illustrates and enforces his argument, and which may perhaps be acceptable to your readers :

"In the reign of Alexander Severus, a dispute arose at Rome, between some Christians and a company of Vintners, about a piece of waste ground upon which the Christians wanted to build a church, and the others a tavern. The title was doubtful; the parties obstinate. The cause came on at length before the Emperor, who, when the grounds of justice could not be ascertained, decided it upon a religious consideration. Though little acquainted with Christianity, he judged in favour of the Christians. It is better (said he) that the ground be employed for the worship of God in any manner, than for luxary and excess."

So did a heathen determine, even of an unhallowed place. And surely a Christian will think it

"What! know ye not (indignantly exclaims St. Paul) that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? for ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's." 1 Cor. vi. 19, 20.

an impious profanation to make that body a recep tacle for drink which was chosen for a temple for the living God.

I am, Sir,

Your obedient servant,

R. B

AFFLICTION.

To thee! O Lord, in grief I fly,
And pray to thee to bend
A look of pity from on high,

And thy good spirit send.

That Patience, gentle as the dove,

Faith-resignation-hope-and

love,

Through Christ their influence may impart,

And whisper comfort to my heart.

Thou knowest best, Lord, how to try

Thy servants here below;

For whether sickness dim the eye,

Or the tear shed by woe.

Thy ministers they are, and sent
With kind and merciful intent,
To lead us nearer unto thee,
Farther from sin and vanity,

Then let my heart be purer made,
My will be more resigned,

My hopes on thee more firmly stay'd,
And more from earth refin'd.
That thus with grateful lip, O God,
I may be taught to kiss the rod,
And blest exclaim, 'tis good for me
That I have known adversity.

R. B.

NATURAL HISTORY.

The Cuttle Fish.

THIS fish has a very curious and mysterious property. Though it appears a mass of colourless jelly; the

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moment it is rudely touched, or forcibly handled, it emits large quantities of a perfectly black liquor. It doubtless has this power, that it may darken the surrounding water, and thereby, escape from the pursuit of its enemies in the darkness it has caused. But the question that arises, is where can the little creature conceal the dark liquor it so profusely scatters. No part of its small and transparent body seems capable of the deposit. How wonderful are all the works of our benevolent Creator in wisdom and in goodness hath he made them all! FROM ONE WHO WISHES TO BE USEFUL.

Curious Case of Fly-Catchers and Moor Hens. SIR,

I HAVE been very much pleased with two anecdotes which I have lately heard, of the affection of birds: for their young; and, supposing that you may not think them unworthy of a place in your " Visitor," I shall take the liberty of sending them to you. The first is taken from White's History of Selbourne, the other was related by a gentleman, on whose veracity I can depend.

"A pair of Fly-Catchers had built every year in the vines that grew on the walls of my house. They, one year, built their nest on a naked bough, not seeming to expect the inconvenience that followed. A hot, sunny season came on, before the brood was half fledged; the heat of the wall became insupportable, and must inevitably have destroyed the tender young ones, had not affection taught the parent birds a means of preserving them.

They hovered over the nest during all the hotter hours; while, with wings extended, and mouths gaping for breath, they screened off the heat from their suffering offspring."-A similar instance of in

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