young woman and won her heart, obtained alfo the confent of her father, to whom she was an only child. The old man had a fancy that they should be married in the fame church where he himself was, in a village in Weftmoreland, and made them fet out while he was laid up with the gout at London. The bridegroom took only his man and the bride her maid: they had the moft agreeable journey imaginable to the place of marriage, from whence the bridegroom wrote the following letter to his wife's father :

"SIR,

"March 18, 1672.

"After a very pleasant journey hither, we are preparing for the happy hour in which I am to be your fon. I affure you the bride carries it, in the eye of the vicar who married you, much beyond her mother, though he fays your open sleeves, pantaloons, and fhoulder-knot made a much better show than the finical drefs I am in. However, I am contented to be the second fine man this village ever faw, and shall make it very merry before night, because I shall write myself from thence, "Your most dutiful fon,

"T. D. "The bride gives her duty, and is as handsome as an angel I am the happiest man breathing."

The villagers were affembling about the church, and the happy couple took a walk in a private garden. The bridegroom's man knew his master would leave the place on a sudden after the wedding, and seeing him draw his pistols the night before, took this opportunity to go into his chamber and charge them. Upon their return from the garden they went into that room; and after a little fond raillery on the subject of their courtship, the lover took up a pistol, which he knew he had unloaded the night before, and, presenting it to her, said, with the most graceful air, whilst she looked pleafed at his agreeable flattery, "Now, madam, repent of all thofe cruelties you have been guilty of to me; confider before you die, how often you have made a poor wretch freeze under your cafement; you fhall die, you tyrant, you shall die, with

all thofe instruments of death and destruction about you. with that enchanting fmile, thofe killing ringlets of your hair." "Give fire," faid fhe, laughing. He did fo, and shot her dead. Who can speak his condition? but he bore it fo patiently as to call up his man. The poor wretch entered, and his mafter locked the door upon him. "Will," faid he, "did you charge these pistols ?" He anfwered, "Yes." After this, amidst a thousand broken fobs, piercing groans, and distracted motions, he wrote the following letter to the father of his dead mistress :

"SIR,

"I, who, two hours ago, told you truly I was the happiest man alive, am now the most miferable. Your daughter lies dead at my feet, killed by my hand, through a mistake of my man's charging my pistols unknown to me. Such is my wedding-day. I will immediately follow my wife to her grave; but before I throw myself upon my fword, I command my diftraction fo far as to explain my story to you. I fear my heart will not keep together till I have stabbed it. Poor good old man! Remember he that killed your daughter died for it. In the article of death I give you my thanks, and pray for you, though I dare not for myself. If it be poffible, do not curfe me.'

"

MR. BICKERSTAFF ASSUMES THE OFFICE OF A PUBLIC CENSOR -ITS NATURE AMONG THE ROMANS-ITS USE AND MR. BICKERSTAFF'S MODE OF DISCHARGING ITS DUTIES.

Juv. SAT. ii, 40.

A third Cato is dropped from the Heavens.

N my younger years I used many endeavours to get a place at court, and indeed continued my purfuits till I arrived at my grand climacterick. But at length altogether despairing of fuccefs, whether it were for

want of capacity, friends, or due application, I at last refolved to erect a new office, and for my encouragement, to place myself in it. For this reafon I took upon me the title and dignity of cenfor of Great Britain, referving to myself all fuch perquifites, profits, and emoluments, as fhould arife out of the discharge of the faid office. Thefe in truth have not been inconfiderable, for, befides thofe weekly contributions which I receive from John Morphew, and thofe annual fubscriptions which I propose to myself from the most elegant part of this great island, I daily live in a very comfortable affluence of wine, ftale beer, Hungary water, beef, books, and marrow bones, which I receive from many well-difpofed citizens, not to mention the forfeitures which accrue to me from the feveral offenders that appear before me on court days.

Having now enjoyed this office for the space of a twelvemonth, I fhall do what all good officers ought to do, take a