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HOW TO LIVE.

In the year 1695, a Piedmontese, who styled himself Count Caraffa, came to Vienna, and privately waited on the prime minister, pretending he was sent by the duke of Savoy on a very important affair, which they two were to negociate without the privacy of the French court. At the same time

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he produced his credentials, in which the duke's seal and signature were exactly imitated. He met with a very favourable reception, and, without affecting any privacy, took upon him the title of Envoy extraordinary from the Court of Savoy. He had several conferences with the imperial council, and made so great a figure in the most distinguished assemblies, that once at a private concert at court, the captain of the guard denying him admittance, he demanded satisfaction in his master's name, and the officer was obliged to ask his pardon. His first care was to ingratiate himself with the Jesuits, who, at that time, bore a great sway at court; and in order to this, he went to visit their church, which remaining unfinished, as they pretended from the low circumstances of the society, he asked them, how much would complete it? estimate to the amount of two thousand louis d'ors being laid before him, Caraffa assured them of his constant attachment to their order; that he had gladly embraced such a public opportunity of shewing his esteem for them, and that they might immediately proceed to finishing their church. In consequence of his promise, he sent, that very day, the two thousand louis-d'ors, at which sum the charge had been computed. He was very sensible that this was a part he could not act long without being detected; and that this piece of generosity might not be at his own expense, he invited a great number of ladies of the first rank to supper and a ball. Every one of the guests had promised to be there; but he complained to them all of the ill-returns made to his civilities, adding, that he had been often disappointed, as the ladies made no scruple of breaking their words on such occasions, and, in a jocular way, insisted on a pledge from every lady for their appearance at the time appointed. One gave him a ring, another a pearl necklace,, a third a pair of earrings, a fourth a gold watch, and several such trinkets, to the amount of twelve thousand dollars. On the evening appoint

ed, not one of the guests was missing; but it may easily be conceived what a damp it struck upon the whole assembly, when it was at last found, that the gay Piedmontese was a sharper, and had disappeared. Nor had the Jesuits any great reason to applaud themselves on the success of their dissimulation; for, a few days before his departure, the pretended count, putting on an air of deep concern, placed himself in the way of the emperor's confessor, who enquired into the cause of his apparent melancholy. He intrusted him with an important secret, that he was short of money at a juncture when eight thousand louis-d'ors were immediately wanted for his master's affairs, to be distributed at the imperial court. The Jesuits, to whom he had given a recent instance of his liberality by so large a donation, immediately furnished him with the sum he wanted, and, with this acquisition, and the ladies' pledges, he thought he had carried his jests far enough, and very prudently withdrew from Vienna.

SIEGE OF TORTONA.

AT the siege of Tortona, the last war in Italy, the commander of the army which lay before the town, ordered Carew, an Irish officer in the service of Naples, to advance with a detachment to a particular post. Having given his orders, he whispered to Carew, Sir, I know you to be a gallant man: I have therefore put you upon this duty. I tell you, in confidence, it is certain death for you all. I place you there to make the enemy spring a mine below you.' Carew made a bow to the general, and led on his men in silence to the dreadful post. He there stood with an undaunted courage; and, having called to one of his soldiers for a draught of wine, ' here,' said he, 'I drink to all those who bravely fall in battle.' Fortunately at this instant Tortona capitulated, and Carew escaped. But he had thus a full opportunity of displaying a rare instance of determined intrepidity. It is with pleasure that we record an anecdote so much to the honour of a gentleman of that nation, on which illiberal reflections are too often thrown, by those of whom it little deserves them. Whatever may be the rough jokes of wealthy insolence, or the envious sarcasms of needy jealousy, the Irish have ever been, and will continue to be, highly regarded upon the continent.

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A HINT TO A KING.

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THERE was one Ferguson, an intimate of King James I. who, being about the same age, had been a play-fellow with him when they were young, came with him into England, and, extending the rights of friendship too far, frequently took the liberty of advising, and sometimes admonishing, or rather reproving his sovereign. He was a man truly honest: his counsels were disinterested, with a view for himself; having a decent patrimony of his own. The king was, however, often vexed by his freedoms, and at length said to him, between jest and earnest, You are perpetually censuring my conduct: I'll make you a king some time or other, and try.' Accordingly one day, the court being very jovial, it came into his majesty's head to execute this project; and so calling Ferguson, he ordered him into the chair of state, bidding him, there play the king; while, for his part, he would sonate Johnny Ferguson. This farce was in the beginning, very agreeable to the whole company. The mock-sovereign put on the airs of royalty, and talked to those about him in a strain like that of the real one, only with less pedantry. They were infinitely pleased with the joke; and it was a perfect comedy, till the unlucky knave turned the tables, and came all of a sudden to moralize.on the vanity of honour, wealth, and pleasure; to talk of the insincerity, venality, and corruption of courtiers, and servants of the crown; how entirely they had their own interests at heart, and how generally their pretended zeal and assiduity were the disguise of falsehood and flattery. This discourse made a change in some of their countenances; and even the real monarch did not relish it altogether. He was afraid it might have some effect upon his minions, and lessen the tribute of adulation they were used to offer with great profusion, when they found how this wag observed and animadverted on it. But the monitor did not stop here: he levelled a particular satire at the king, which put an end to the entertainment, and made his majesty repent of his introducing it; some foreigners of distinction being present; for it painted him in his true colours, as one that never loved a wise man, nor rewarded an honest one, unless they sacrificed to his vanity; while he loaded those, who prostituted themselves to his will, with wealth and honour. For the mimic, pointing directly to

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James (who was to personate Ferguson) raising his voice, There,' said he, stands a man whom I would have you imitate the honest creature was the comrade of my childhood, and regards me with a cordial affection to this very moment he has testified his friendship by all the means in his power; studying my welfare, guarding me from evil counsellors, prompting me to princely actions, and warning me of every danger; for all which, he never asked me any thing and, by Jove, though I have squandered thousands on several of you, yet, in the whole course of my life, I never gave him a farthing. The king, nettled by this sarcasm, cried out to Ferguson, augh! you pauky loun, what wad you be at? awa aff my thrane, and let's hae na mair o' your nainsance.'

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JUSTICE FIGHTING AGAINST MERCY.

A YOUNG gentleman of family and fortune, but of abandoned principles, having long distinguished himself, in the reign of Charles II. by highway-robberies, and other desperate acts against society, was often apprehended, and sometimes convicted; but, through the interest of his friends, had always been pardoned. He was, at length, tried for murder, and condemned. Many of the nobility interceded in his favour; but to no effect the king was inexorable. He had the pen in his hand to sign the order for his execution, when some of the nobility threw a copy of a pardon upon the table before him. The Duchess of Portsmouth, his chief favourite, standing at his right shoulder, took his hand gently with her own, and conducting it to the paper which had the pardon written on it, led his hand while he subscribed his name, the king not making the least resistance. Shaking his head, and smiling, threw the pardon to the noblemen who had interposed in the young man's behalf, adding, 'Take care you keep the rascal out of my reach for the future.' When this pardon was shewn to the Lord Chancellor Hyde, observing how badly the letters of the king's name were formed, he wittily remarked, that, when his majesty signed the pardon, 'justice had been fighting against mercy.'

TEARS OF GRATITUDE.

THE late Mr. Shenstone was one day walking through his romantic retreats, in company with his Delia (her real name

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was Wilmot :) they were going towards the bower which he made sacred to the ashes of Thomson. Would to heaven,' said Shenstone, pointing to the trees, that Delia could be happy in the midst of these rustic avenues!' He would have gone on, but was interrupted. A person rushed out of a thicket, and, presented a pistol to his breast, and demanded his money. Shenstone was surprised, and Delia fainted. 'Money,' said he, 'is not worth struggling for: you cannot be poorer than I am. Unhappy man!' said he, throwing him his purse, take it and fly as quick as possible.' The man did so. He threw his pistol into the water and in a moment disappeared. Shenstone ordered the foot-boy, who followed behind them, to pursue the robber at a distance, and observe whither he went. In two hours time the boy returned, and informed his master, that he followed him to Hales-Owen, where he lived; that he went to the very door of his house, and peeped through the key-hole; that, as soon as the man entered, he threw the purse on the ground, and, addressing himself to his wife, take,' said he, the dearbought price of my honesty,' then placing two of his children, one on each knee, he said to them, I have ruined my soul to keep you from starving' and immediately burst into a flood of tears. This tale of distress greatly affected Shenstone. He enquired after the man's character, and found that he was a labourer, honest and industrious, but oppressed by want and a numerous family. He went to his house, where the man kneeled down at his feet, and implored mercy. Shenstone carried him home to assist at the buildings, and other improvements, which made himself so poor; and, when Shenstone died, this labourer bedewed his grave with true tears of gratitude.

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(To be Resumed.)

THE LIFE OF EDWARD LORD HERBERT OF CHERBURY;

WRITTEN BY HIMSELF.

(Resumed from page 404.)

It will become a gentleman to have some knowledge in Medicine, especially the diagnostick part, whereby he may take timely notice of a disease, and by that means timely prevent it; as also the prognostic part, whereby he may judge of the sympthomes either increasing or decreasing in the disease, as also

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