much freedom and ease as any one would write it down and attend to the coherence and grammar of what he dictated. This practice was recommended to Goldsmith, who engaged a Swiss for that purpose. The man being seated, he walked about his chamber preparing to dictate. Observ. ing the man waiting for his thoughts, not a thought would come. "Friend," said he, putting a guinea into his hand, "it won't do 1 perceive you will be of no use to me," and dismissed him. ANECDOTE OF GOLDSMITH. THE very first time Goldsmith was introduced to Lord Shelburne, the conversation in a very mixed company after supper, began to turn upon politics; when the Doctor (who was at times the most absent man upon earth) very gravely called across the table; "Pray, my Lord, what is the reason the public call you Malagrida?"—"Indeed, Doctor," said the other, rather confused, “I do not know."— Why, really," continued the Doctor, 'Malagrida, your Lordship knows, was a very honest man.” ANECDOTE OF LORD HARCOURT. LORD HARCOURT, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, arriving late in the evening in Dublin harbour, and meeting no fit accommodation for himself and his suite at his landing-place, set off, after refreshing themselves, for the Castle, where they did not arrive till midnight. Lord Townshend, who only stayed in Ireland to receive him, was, at this period, with half a dozen convivial friends, over a bottle, which Lord Harcourt being informed of, without any ceremony walked up stairs. His sudden appearance threw the whole company into some little confusion, except Lord Townshend, who, after congratulating him ་་ on his safe arrival, bid him sit down, and do as they did, observing at the same time, that though he did come at the twelfth hour, he had not found him apping. MUSCOVITE HUSBANDS. Ir is generally agreed that the Muscovite husbauds are barbarous, even to a proverb; they not only administer frequent and severe correction to their wives, but sometimes even torture them to death, without being subject to any punishment for the murder. If a woman dies in conse-. quence of the correction she has received from her husband, the law of Russia interprets it not an offence but an accident. A tradesman of Moscow has been known to buru his wife to death, by setting fire to her under-garment, which had been soaked in spirits of wine, and no cognizance was taken of the murder. A man sometimes would tie up his wife to a beam, by the hair of the head, and scourge her to death: but such punishments have been reserved for those who were guilty of adultery or drunkenness, were seldom inflicted, and now wholly set aside. Indeed precautions are commonly taken against such barbarous practices by the marriage articles, in which the bridegroom obliges himself, under certain peualties, to treat his wife according to her quality, supply her with good and wholesome provision, and refrain from manual chastisement, either by whipping, boxing, kicking, or scratching. If a woman, provoked by bad usage, takes away the life of her husband, a case that sometimes happens, she is fixed alive in the earth, up to her neck, and in this posture suffered to die of hunger; a punishment incredibly shocking, under which some of those wretched objects languish for several days in the most dreadful misery. SKETCHES OF PUBLIC CHARACTERS. BERNARDIN DE ST. PIERRE (AUTHOR OF the widow of this celebrated author had not taken pains to collect them together, we have extracted the most important, and which will let our readers at once into the character of this amiable and extraordinary man. This intelligent female had become, at the age of eighteen, the companion of his, thematics seemed to indicate the bent of choice, and Providence gave her the two-his genius. He next entered the school of fold mission of rendering him happy during || Ponts-et-Chaussées; but soon after econohis life, and of contributing to his renown mical measures compelled him to quit that after his death. To her we are indebted situation. for some of the most affecting circumstances attending his earthly career; for she was the depositary of his every thought; and he seems to have breathed into her his spirit, in her manner of expressing the occurrences of his life. We will begin the particulars concerning Bernardin de Saint Pierre with an incident that occurred during his infancy, and which formed a striking trait of that humanity and feeling that marked his character. One day he found an unfortunate cat just expiring in a gutter; it was wounded by a spit, and it sent forth the most piteous cries. Moved with compassion, he hid the cat under his coat, took her slily up into a garret, made her a bed of hay, and gave her the half of his breakfast and supper. Do not let this be thought a puerile or insignificant anecdote. What in the childhood of Bernardiu de Saint Pierre was only a feeling of tender pity for any thing that suffered, became afterwards a sentiment of love for the whole human race. In society he was always known to court the friendship of the most timid and thre most unhappy. Born at Havre, Bernardin de St. Pierre had a godmother named Bayard, who, on the loss of her husband, found herself reduced, according to the law of Normandy, to a very scanty income. On the first of January this godmother, when in opulence, used to accompany her caresses with a little present. One day, however, it happened that, after having looked all round her apartment, she could find nothing more to spare; she burst into tears, and pressed the hand of her godson. The child, affected at seeing her in trouble, and recollecting that he had that morning received a piece of money as a new year's gift, thought if he could slip it under the chaircushion of this excellent woman, that he should make her fortune! || His services in the military line were also but of short duration; his talents gave umbrage, his frankness offended, and to work him out they took upon them to say that he did not belong to the corps in which he held a place. Malta was in want of Engineers; Bernardin de St. Pierre was sent there; but the siege which was dreaded did not take place, and every one thought only of returning to France. Bernardin de St. Pierre dwelt at Paris in a small furnished house in the rue des Maçons, and he hastened to pay a visit to those persons who, before his departure, had seemed to take some interest about him. The bailli of Froulay spoke to him of his own vexations, and deplored the lot of the nobles, who had no longer any credit in the courts of law. M. de Mirabeau, the friend of mankind, had written a huge volume on the happiness of humankind in general, and that would not give him time to occupy himself with the interest of one individual, who was lost in the crowd. M. Dubois, the chief secretary, received him with the airs of a prime minister; and told him that he must wait, that they would think of him, that they saw scarce any one but what asked after him; and so saying, he politely showed him the door. Bernardin de St. Pierre having no assistance to expect from his own family, gave lessons in mathematics to some youths who were intended for a military life; but this resource was but temporary. Never did he feel so much bitter vexation as when obliged to seek the assistance of his fellow men. Already he began to feel the pangs of indigence; he had no longer any credit with his baker, and his landlady threatened to turn him out of doors. An old schoolfellow lent him twenty francs, the Marquis de Rollet two louis, another person thirty francs, another three louis, and he went to try his fortune in Holland. At the college of Caen, and afterwards at that of Rouen, Bernardin de St. Pierre obtained the most brilliant success; he was We shall not take upon ourselves to twenty years of age when he quitted the conceal the faults of Bernardin: - had he latter cottage. A prize he gained in ma-known how to keep within bounds, he 103 Behold him then at St. Petersburgh, with his hat under his arm. He admired those men with long beards, who were walking with such a grave and occupied air; and as he turned his thoughts towards himself, he felt, with sorrow, how very desolate he was. He alone was without an asylum, where no one expected him, no one loved him; solitary in the midst of a crowd, he should die without one to regret him, without one that would drop a tear over him. Ah! if we wish to feel how dear is one's native country, we must wander through a foreign land. found at Amsterdam, while with Mr. Mas- | in following his own fancy, and not to be tel, a journalist, a fine opportunity of being subject to the fancies of others. Having happy; that is to say, after the conduct of borrowed money of Mr. Mastel, he quitted a wise man of the good old times; and Amsterdam to go to Russia. Catharine such was that of Mr. Mastel. He passed had just then ascended the throne. the summer at a little cottage and garden in the environs of Amsterdam, with one of the best of wives and a few choice friends. There, as he smoked his pipe, he composed his journal, seated in a pleasant green arbour, and in the bosom of solitude and repose, he drew each day the picture of the different scenes that agitated Europe. Endowed with strong political talents, he had strength of mind sufficient to prefer honour to glory. Nature, and nature's God, his wife and his pen, occupied all his thoughts; and though he often had to deplore the vicissitudes which both Kings and their subjects experienced, he beheld them at such a distance, that his passions were never excited by these changes. All the tumults of a vain world were hushed before the door of his retirement, and the history of present times was to him like those that have passed away. Bernardin de St. Pierre refused an engagement of a thousand crowns; and he was often known to cast away fortune when she smiled upon him; that was one of the peculiar traits of his character: he wished to attain the height of good fortune Obliged to exist on a very little, Bernardin de St. Pierre passed whole days in his chamber, seeking to lose thought in the study of mathematics. One Sunday, after mass, a nobleman addressed him, and after a long conversation with him, he offered to present him to the Marshal de Munich, Governor of Petersburgh: he recommended him to the Commander in Chief of the Artillery, and the young Engineer travelled to Moscow free of all expence. (To be concluded in our next.) TO THE EDITOR OF LA BELLE ASSEMBLEE. does not bring round a scarcity in the prime necessary of life. SIR,-A royal voluptuary offered a pecuniary recompence, in ancient times, for the invention of a new pleasure, and well The best grain is to be selected fresh it beseems an elegant medium of amuse- from the stubble; but, if the weather perment and instruction, gratuitously, to pre-mit, let it be well hardened on the field. sent the fair with sources of benevolent Thrashing-mills afford every facility for gratification, and liberal economy. This expedition, which is a very essential adsubject has been already indicated in La vantage. The nutritive qualities are then Belle Assemblée, and as its purport is now to be fixed by a gradual application of matured, we shall detail the process by artificial heat to exhale all the remaining which private families, and all consumers moisture. Receptacles for the store must of bread, that can afford to advance some be in readiness, and there has never been cash, to be repaid with twenty per cent. a juncture when all the requisites could be interest, may secure themselves from the obtained at less cost: the price of grain is inconveniences which even the wealthy very low, and timber and human labour undergo after a deficient harvest; and our at a moderate rate. The chests are to be climate must undergo a marvellous, not to formed of very thick well-seasoned undress. say an impossible change, if a few years boards, firmly grooved in-all the joinings, The fair who make this provision for emergency, will have extended power for deeds of charity, when the improvident must pay an exorbitant price for wholesome bread for their own household. Perennial residents in town may employ trusty agents to purchase grain, and have it dressed, them to be deposited in chests. It will not occupy a great space, and a few years will evince that the room allowed for it and coated inside and outside with fine lime plaster, which must be thoroughly dry before the chests are filled with grain.Families that remove to the country to pass the summer and autumn, can employ a judicious domestic to procure fresh grain, and to get it properly kiln-dried, cooled, and cleansed from dust and all impurities previ-kiln-dried, and cooled before it is sent to ous to its being deposited in the prepared chests. Observe that the lids of the chests must be plastered inside and outside, and completely dry. When the chests are fill-was well bestowed. When the chests are ed, and shut up, they must be carefully examined, and every crevice secured with lime-plaster. This inspection should be very often repeated, and the same meaus resorted to, that the chests may be imper-will be exempted from the pressure of vious to the air, and impregnable to rats, mice, and other enemies of the granary. Our process is founded upon the method by which grain was preserved at Metz one hundred and thirty-seven years; but it is much less troublesome, and ultimately less expensive, as the chests will last half a century, and the most ordinary workman will be fully competent to manage the whole operations. emptied after use, they must be fumigated, exposed to a current of air, and every defect in the plaster repaired. By such simple means all that lay in stores of grain scarcity; they will be enabled to extend their benefactious to the poor, and the interest of landed proprietors, the credit of the farmers, the home consumption for our merchandize and manufactures, and the subsistence of our population will be fo longer dependant upon the event of a few variable seasons. B. G. ACCOUNT OF THE BRIGANDS NEAR GUADNAGOLA, IN ITALY. There was, some of which were of silver. THEIR dress is picturesque, yet military; that of some was a good deal tatter ed, but all had blue velveteen short jackets and breeches, linen shirts, drawers, and stockings; the latter bound round with leathern thongs, which fastened on a kind of sandal; their shirts open at the neck, Every robber had a silver heart, conwith the collar turned back. The waist-taining a picture of the Madona and child, coat was fastened with bunches of the little suspended by a red ribbon to his neck, and silver fiilagree buttons common at Naples: fastened with another of the same colour Two rows of the same buttons adorned the to his left side. Their hats had highly jacket, which was cut in the military style, pointed crowns, like those of Salvator and had several pockets on each side. Rosa's banditti, surrounded with bands of. Many of them had two coloured silk hand- alternate red and white, near the top, and kerchiefs fastened to their button holes by a black band and buckle near the brim. one corner, the rest being tucked into the pockets. Round the waist they wore an ammunition belt, called a padroncina, made of stout leather, having slips for cartridges, and fastened in front with a silver or plated clasp. Across the left shoulder another leathern belt was slung, in which there was a case for a knife, a fork, and a spoon, They all wore large gold ear-rings with drops; and two of the youngest had each two long ringlets on each side of the face, the rest of the hair being short. Many of them had gold watches, seals, chains, rings, and other trinkets, which they boasted of having taken from English travellers. |