same parish, to carry on a similar business, wholesale. His daughter was nursed in the lap of luxury-her every wish was gratified-and no expence spared to render her happy. Her father, in the spring of 1818, purchased an estate in Bedfordshire, and Mrs. B. and her daughter went to reside there in consequence of the mother's health being very precarious.

She received and paid visits among the neighbouring farmers and gentry, and a young man of property, of the name of G-, was attracted by the charms of the daughter, and solicited permission to pay his addresses. There could be no possible objection, and they were married, by special licence, on the 25th of November, 1818, Mr. G. receiving 8,000l. with his wife, as her marriage portion. Eleven months after, she was brought to bed with a fine girl, to the great joy of the husband, who was extremely fond of his wife. In the course of a little time, Mrs. G. began to exhibit a very free and flighty conduct, in the presence of her servants, and the labourers, which Mr. G. observed, and remonstrated with her about it. Frequent bickerings took place on this head, until Christmas, 1821, when Mr. G., who was a very hospitable man, gave all his labourers a feast. The bailiff, or superintendant of the farm, who presided on this occasion, in the course of the evening became so elevated with liquor, that he forgot all the dictates of prudence, gratitude, or decorum, and began to boast to those near him, that he was as good a man as his master, and should soon be independent; that he could do as much for his mistress, &c. &c., and various inuendos which the joskins would not believe. He told one of them, that if he would come to the barn at a certain hour the next night, he should judge for himself, if he would be cautious.

The lout, to whom the muddled bailiff had imparted this confidential communication, instead of waiting to. gratify his own curiosity, informed his master the next day, who, though not crediting it, thought there would be no harm in stealing softly into the barn at

the appointed hour, to ascertain the fact. He did so: when, shocking to tell! he beheld his brawny and athletic bailiff prostrate, and closely locked in the rapturous embraces of his beautiful, but faithless and wanton wife

"And embodied souls can mingle!"

The happy pair, thus balked in the midst of their transports, jumped up, and stood transfixed with shame and confusion. The injured husband did not meet her with summary vengeance, but, in the greatest agony, retraced his steps homeward, went to bed, and locked his room door. Mrs. G., early the next morning, packed up every article of convenience on which she could raise money, and started for Brighton, where her mother was staying for the benefit of her health. She pretended she came to see a friend of Mr. G's, and said nothing of her accident.

Mr. G. wrote to her father an account of what had happened, who, when he received the letter, left London for Brighton, and was greatly astonished to find his daughter there. The mother's health was so precarious, that Mr. B. did not think it safe to communicate the affair to her, but treated his daughter with great coolness. Mrs. G. by this, guessed that he knew all, and made off for London by the Brighton stage. her arrival in town, a coach was called for her, and she ordered it to drive to a well known bagnio in the neighbourhood of Covent Garden, where she took up her quarters under a feigned name. Her father followed her to town.

On

The Brighton coachman knew the Jarvey who took her from the stage, and from him they learned where she was sat down. The husband also arrived in London about this time, and, accompanied by the father, went to enquire after Mrs. G. at this Paphian Temple. On arriving at the door, a hackney-coach was just starting with half a dozen Cyprians, bound for one of the theatres, when Mr. G., thinking he heard his wife's Ram. Mag.-No. II.

I

voice among them, opened the door, but found his mistake. He told them he was looking for a lady lately arrived in town, and described her; one of them said there was such a lady in doors, and that she had been waiting at home for him three quarters of an hour, (imagining it was Mrs. G.'s gallant, for she had already commenced business.)

The father scratched a hasty note, and sent up to the first floor by the porter, who took it to her while they waited in the passage. They heard the door open, and after a pause, while she read the note, she exclaimed, "Oh! 'tis my father!---just tell him he may be dd, and not to come bothering me."

The husband wanted to rush up stairs, and sacrifice her on the spot; but the father pulled him out of the house, and drove home. There is no doubt but it will prove the death of her mother, who has long been in a very precarious state of health. Mrs. Ghas, within these few days, left her old quarters, and taken lodgings in Carburton-street, under the name of Smith.

"Were you, ye fair! but cautious whom ye trust:
"Did ye but think how seldom fools are just;

"So many of your sex would not, in vain,
"Of broken vows and faithless men complain."

Anecdotes, Jeux d'Esprits, Bon Mots, &c.

JUPITER AND LEDA.

(Vide Frontispiece.)

Leda was daughter of King Thespins and Eurythemis, who married Tyndarus, king of Sparta. She was seen bathing in the river Eurotas by Jupiter, when she was some few days advanced in her pregnancy; and the god, struck with her beauty, resolved to deceive her, He persuaded Venus to transform herself into an eagle, while he assumed the shape of a swan: and, after this metamorphosis, Jupiter, as if fearful of the cruelty of the bird o

prey, fled through the air into the arms of Leda, who willingly sheltered the trembling swan from the assault of his superior enemy. The caresses with which the naked Leda received the swan, enabled Jupiter to avail himself of his situation; and, nine months after this adventure, the wife of Tyndarus brought forth two eggs-from one of which sprung Castor and Helena, and from the other Pollux and Clytemnestra. The two former were deemed the offspring of Jupiter, and the others claimed Tyndarus as their father. Ovid, in his " Metamorphosis," where he alludes to a person relating the amours of Jupiter with Danaë, with Io, Europa, &c. says:—

"And shew'd how Leda lay supinely press'd,

"Whilst the soft snowy swan sat hovering o'er her breast."

A very curious and valuable library some time since, being on sale, among the rest, a manuscript law book was put up, the performance of a late eminent pleader. To enhance the price, and stimulate the company to purchase it, Mr. M――, the auctioneer, told them that, besides its originality, it had the additional advantage of an opinion concerning it, written in a blank leaf, by one of the most distinguished sages of the law; but he must beg to be excused the producing it, till after it should be sold. This took so well with the literati, that they advanced on one another at each bidding, till it was knocked down at a very considerable price, to one who was determined to have it at any rate; who, when it was delivered to him, so eager was the expectation and impatience of the company to read the opinion, that the purchaser, for fear of being crowded to death, to his great mortification read these words " Mem. I have carefully perused this book, and do pronounce it not worthy one farthing." H.

THE STOOL OF REPENTANCE.

Some years ago, the Presbyterian church discipline in Scotland, was so rigid, that the incontinent of all ranks were compelled to public penance, or incur the most serious consequences of excommunication. An officer in the army, who resided at Stonehaven, in these times, was ordered, for an affair of gallantry, to sit on what is called the Stool of Re

pentance for two successive Sundays; he was obedient to the sentence the first time, but found the seat, being a detached part of the church, so cold and uncomfortable, that he had little inclination to sit there again; however, there was no remedy; and he was proceeding the next Sunday towards church, when he met a brother officer of the same regiment, an Englishman, who was just arrived. "Ah, Jack! (exclaimed he) what brought you to Stonehaven? Come you shall go to church with me, and after that go home with me to dinner!" Induced by the latter part of the invitation, his friend consented; but (resumed the former) I must go and make some little addition to what is ordered, go on to the church and I will follow you, the door-keeper will shew you to my seat. The captain was obedient, and as his friend had foreseen, the door-keeper mistaking him by his regimentals for the penitent, con ducted him to the stool.

Here he immediately attracted the eyes of the congregation, but vanity easily imputed that to the gentility of his appearance. He wondered at his friend's delay, but concluded some accident had detained him; at length, the parson having finished his sermon, began to rebuke the supposed offender, as the custom was, in very harsh terms. The captain, finding himself addressed, rose and listened with astonishment; but, as his face wore no marks of contrition, the lecturer still increased in severity. "You hardened wretch, (cried the minister,) you are no doubt still going on in your lasciviousness; I dare say no longer ago than the last night you have sinned again in the same way." Here our officer, unable to contain himself longer, replied aloud," by my soul, sir, that may be very true, but how the devil came you to know it?" Much confusion here ensued; but at length, after the parson had tired himself with reprehension, the service ended, and the penitent quite confounded at so strange an attack, enquired for his friend's house. When they met, "Why, George, (said he,)" what became of you, and what strange fellow of a parson have you got here? Last night I got to bed with the chambermaid of the inn I slept at, and he has told me of it before all the congregation !"

A gentleman whose name was Coal, finding a neighhour of his in too amorous a situation with his wife, threatened to sue him for damages. The man who was thus detected, very coolly an