bony hand of the athletic noble marquis that almost annihilated the vertebræ of poor nervous Snoole, who sat wincing with horror for the precise moment of the expected blow.

now betted Captain

The Hon. T. that their visitor, the prisoner, could not stand on his head on the table without breaking any of the wine-glasses. The captain took the bet, and swore that Snoole could perform such a feat with great dexterity and credit to himself. It was in vain that the author expostulated, and declared that his abilites did not lie that way. Up he was lifted by these madheaded convivialists, and placed with his head on the table, there Snoole was duly poised and balanced, and then, by signal, was left to his fate; the consequence of which was a tumble over backwards, in which the prisoner's heels kicked and smashed the chandelier all to pieces, and then he fell heavily on the floor. Then the jovial party began to throw their drinking vessels and decanters at the mirrors and lookingglasses that were ranged on the walls, and all for the good of the house, as the damage was to be charged to the Hon. T. -'s bill; and as that young gentleman was already considerably more in debt than he could ever hope to pay, it was a matter of no consequence whatever.

The cabriolets were now ordered; and the pale and sleepy tigers aroused, and went to the horses' heads, while the revellers got into their carriages in the best manner they were able. The prisoner Snoole was replaced in Captain's vehicle, when the respective high-born drivers manoeuvred to see which could take the lead in a race towards their homes.

It was at the grey hour of morn, when London is silent, and its gaslights glimmering, and its many thousands of inhabitants were reclining in slumber in every variety of attitude, that the jovial party commenced their charioteering competition, in imitation of the ancients, and regardless of the remonstrances of the police. The Hon. T. bawled to the marquis, that if he attempted to pass him on the wrong side he would smash him. And his was a new cabriolet, of a strong build, though it was not paid for.

Away they dashed through Bond Street, and trotted, cantered, and galloped round Berkeley Square, cutting at each other's horses and tigers. Snoole got a most malicious lash across the forehead.

Captain now politely asked the prisoner where he would like to be set down.

Mr. Snoole told the captain, wherever it would best suit the captain's convenience; as he himself was not at all particular.

The captain now unfortunately took it into his head to put his horse on his mettle, and endeavour to pass the cabriolet of the Hon. T. He was quickly observed by the dashing and inebriated sprig of fashion, who jerked his rein suddenly, and brought the two vehicles into collision with a crash, that, though Snoole had stated that he was not at all particular, he found himself set down on the pavement by the side of a post in the most unceremonious manner.

Off again went the cabriolets, jostling, and their drivers all trying to upset each other, until Snoole lost sight of them. With his head aching, and every bone in his body tortured by the severe punishment

he had undergone, the poor author determined never again to write in praise of the sporting aristocracy.

Hugh Dobbles, Esq., of Dobbles Hall, a country gentleman of retired primitive manners, and who had rarely quitted his native county, was indicted, and found guilty of manslaughter, under mitigating circumstances, in having shot Darby Irons, while in the act of breaking into the plate-room of Dobbles Hall.

The learned judge sentenced Hugh Dobbles to be sent over to the neighbouring borough, to stand a contested election there, and to be returned member of parliament.

This was the heaviest punishment that could be inflicted on Mr. Dobbles, and filled him with the most painful sensations, as he was aware that he stuttered very much, which would prove an impediment not only to his maiden, but any other speech he might attempt to make. Beyond this, he had seldom or ever meddled with politics, or left his home-a mansion of red brick, with large casemented bowwindows, a porch, with seats in it, the eaves of the house well inhabited by swallows, and the forecourt set round with hollyhocks. A journey to London was reckoned by Hugh Dobbles, Esq. as great an undertaking as other people would consider a voyage to the East Indies; and now he had to make reparation to the offended laws of his country -to undergo all the horrors of canvassing voters, addressing riotous mobs-to be pelted with pollcats, and rotten eggs-to be abused, hooted at-and ultimately to be returned a member of the British House of Commons-a place he never even had visited during his lifetime— where he was compelled to listen to long wearisome speeches, and give himself up to late hours and bad company. Mr. Dobbles almost thought it would be the wisest course to petition for a commutation, and pray that he might be hanged; but he was told that the indulgence would be refused, as no one, in these days, can be hanged, unless, indeed, he has very powerful interest.

We could, had we space, enumerate a great many more cases, and the summary sentences on them, according to the offences committed. Such as condemning a Wesleyan methodist preacher to superintend the getting-up of the ballets at the opera; to ordering gay, pleasureseeking young fellows to attend a series of morning lectures, on that most dry of all subjects, "Political Economy;" to sentencing two fat old female offenders to a Barclay pedestrian match; or of committing a rheumatic prisoner, suffering under hopochondria, to a pic-nic party on one of the muddy islets of the Thames.

But what are the pleasures of the philosophers in this state of society? Little pleasure trips to Botany Bay by high-pressure steam.

In lieu of barouches, landaulets, Broughams, or other carriages for exercise, three hours daily on the treadmill.

Demagogues and members of spouting clubs, for wholesale relaxation, surrender themselves to solitary confinement.

Previous to boys and girls running away together, and making imprudent matches, or old widows marrying young fellows in the LifeGuards, two months sojourn in the Millbank penitentiary—certainly

better before than after.

Saint James's:

OR

THE COURT OF QUEEN ANNE.

BY THE EDITOR.

BOOK THE THIRD.

CHAPTER THE SIXTEENTH.

SHEWING HOW THE GREATEST GENERAL OF HIS AGE WAS DRIVEN FROM

HIS COUNTRY.

THE removal of the Duchess of Marlborough being effected, the Tories next directed their machinations against the duke. Assailed with the grossest and most unjustifiable abuse; lampooned and libelled by petty scribblers; attacked in the most rancorous manner by Swift, Prior, and Saint-John; accused of fraud, avarice, extortion-of arrogance, cruelty, and ungovernable ambition-a sensible decline was effected in his popularity.

During his absence from England, in 1711, these attacks were continued with unabating virulence-his successes were decried -his services depreciated-his moral character calumniatedhis military skill questioned-even his courage was disputed. Preparation was thus made for the final blow intended to be levelled against him on his return. Though despising these infamous attacks, Marlborough could not be insensible of the strong prejudice they created against him, and he complained to Oxford, who thus characteristically endeavoured to vindicate himself from any share in the libels. "I do assure your grace," he wrote, "that I abhor the practice, as mean and disingenuous. I have made it so familiar to myself, by some years' experience, that as I know I am every week, if not every day, in some libel or other, so I would willingly compound that all the ill-natured scribblers should have licence to write ten times more against me, upon condition they would write against nobody else." Oxford was the more anxious to excuse himself, because, at this particular juncture, he wished to effect a coalition with Marlborough.

A charge was subsequently brought against the duke, which more deeply affected him. He was accused of receiving a large per centage from Sir Solomon Medina, the contractor for supplying the army with bread; and though he immediately exculpated himself by a letter, declaring that what he had received was "no more than what had been allowed as a perquisite to the general as commander-in-chief of the army in the Low Countries, even

before the revolution and since," yet still the charge was persisted in, and inquiries directed to be instituted.

By these means, the public mind was prepared for Marlborough's downfall. On his return, at the latter end of the year, he experienced insults and indignities from the populace whose idol he had formerly been, while by the queen and her court he was treated with coldness and neglect.

On the opening of Parliament, in the debate upon the address, the Earl of Anglesey remarked, that "the country might have enjoyed the blessing of peace soon after the Battle of Ramilies, if it had not been put off by some persons whose interest it was to prolong the war."

To this unjust aspersion, the Duke of Marlborough made a dignified and touching reply, which, as the queen herself was present, though merely in the character of a private individual, had the greater weight.

"I can declare, with a good conscience," he said, "in the presence of her majesty, of this illustrious assembly, and of God himself, who is infinitely superior to all the powers of earth, and before whom, in the ordinary course of nature, I shall soon appear, to render an account of my actions, that I was very desirous of a safe, lasting, and honourable peace, and was always very far from prolonging the war for my own private advantage, as several libels and slanders have most falsely insinuated. My great age, and my numerous fatigues in war, make me ardently wish for the power to enjoy a quiet repose, in order to think of eternity. As to other matters, I had not the least inducement, on any account, to desire the continuance of war for my own particular interest, since my services have been so generously rewarded by her majesty and her parliament."

The amendment on the address moved by Lord Nottingham, and supported by Marlborough, being carried in the House of Lords, occasioned great alarm to the Tories, and rumours began to be raised that a new ministry was to be formed, of which Lord Somers was to be the head, and Walpole secretary of state. Mrs. Masham owned that the queen's sentiments were changed. Saint-John appeared disconcerted, and even Oxford could scarcely conceal his apprehensions. The Tory party was disunited, and the knowledge of this circumstance gave additional encouragement to the Whigs. Fresh advances were secretly made by the treasurer to the duke, but they were repelled like the first.

Finding that his salvation depended upon the most vigorous measures, Oxford bestirred himself zealously, and by his artful representations frightened the queen from recalling the Whigs. He convinced her, that if they returned to office, she must necessarily reinstate the Duchess of Marlborough, and submit to the domination of a tyrannical woman whose temper had been aggravated by the treatment she had experienced. The latter argument prevailed.

The storm weathered, Marlborough's immediate disgrace was resolved upon. The commissioners of public accounts were ordered to examine the depositions of the bread-contractor Medina, and to lay their report before the house. In answer to these accusations, the duke published the letter, to which allusion has been previously made, and which afforded a complete answer to the charge. Notwithstanding this, and without waiting the result of the investigation, the queen, at the instance of Oxford, dismissed him from all his employments.

Thus, unheard and unconsidered, was the greatest general England had then ever possessed, dishonoured and degraded. His disgrace occasioned the liveliest satisfaction throughout France; and on hearing it, Louis the Fourteenth exclaimed, in a transport of joy, "The dismissal of Marlborough will do all we can desire !" His minister, De Torcy, declared-"What we lose in Flanders we shall gain in England;" and Frederick the Great of Prussia broke out indignantly, thus: "What! could not Blenheim, Ramilies, Oudenarde, nor Malplaquet, defend the name of that great man? nor even Victory itself shield him against envy and detraction? What part would England have acted without that true hero? He supported and raised her, and would have exalted her to the pinnacle of greatness, but for those wretched female intrigues, of which France took advantage to occasion his disgrace. Louis the Fourteenth was lost, if Marlborough had retained his power two years more."

Such were the sentiments entertained by the different potentates of Europe. It is grievous, indeed, to think that so great a man should have been destroyed by faction. It is still more grievous, to think that some of the obloquy which the bitter and unprincipled writers of his own time endeavoured to fasten to his name, should still cling to it.

In the latter part of the same year, the duke voluntarily exiled himself from an ungrateful country. He embarked from Dover on the 28th November, and sailed to Ostend, where he was received with every demonstration of honour and respect. Proceeding to Aix-la-Chapelle, he afterwards retired to Maestricht, to await the duchess, who was not able to join him till the middle of February.

Marlborough never saw his royal mistress again. Apprised of her dangerous illness, at Ostend, he reached England the day of her decease. As he approached the capital, along the Dover road, he was met by Sir Charles Cox, at the head of two hundred mounted gentleman, and on the way the cavalcade was increased by a long train of carriages. On entering the city, a company of volunteer grenadiers joined them, and firing a salute, headed the procession, raising a cry which found a thousand responses-Long live King George! Long live the Duke of Marlborough!"