out of his bed, though in a fit of the ague, and brought to the King's Bench. He attempted to make a defence, by explaining the justness of his conduct in the expedition, but was interrupted by the Court, who told him that the matter of the voyage had nothing to do in the present case, and that treason could not be pardoned by implication, after sentence was pronounced. He addressed the Court in very pathetic terms for a respite of execution for a few days, that he might settle his private affairs, and vindicate his reputation; but an order was produced, ready signed by the King, though at that time in Hertfordshire, for his execution the next morning. Barbarous as was this haste, it had no effect on the composed mind of the illustrious prisoner. His manly and philosophical deportment, during the interval of his sentence and execution, was admirable; as was also his behaviour on the scaffold.

To some who deplored his misfortunes, he observed, that "the world itself is but a larger prison, out of which some are daily selected for execution." When brought up for sentence, he had an ague fit, to which he alluded when on the scaffold, informing the spectators,

that as he was, the day before, taken out of his bed in a strong fit of a fever, which much weakened him, if any disability of voice or dejection of countenance should appear in him, they would impute it rather to the disorder of his body than any dismayedness of mind.

The mode of his execution is thus related : "Proclamation being made, that all men should depart the scaffold, he prepared himself for death, giving away his hat, and cap, and money to some attendants, who stood near him. When he took leave of the lords and other gentlemen, he intreated the Lord Arundel to desire the King that no scandalous writings to defame him might be published after his death; concluding, I have a long journey to go; therefore must take leave.' Then, having put off his gown and doublet, he called to the headsman to shew him the axe; which not being suddenly done, he said, 'I pr'ythee, let me see it: dost thou think that I am afraid of it?' Having fingered the edge of it a little, he returned it, and said smiling, to the sheriff, This is a sharp medicine, but it is a sound cure for all diseases ;' and having intreated the company to pray to God to assist him and strengthen him, the exe

cutioner kneeled down and asked him forgiveness, which Raleigh, laying his hand upon his shoulder, granted. Then being asked, which way he would lay himself on the block, he answered, 'So the heart be right, it is no matter which way the head lies.' As he stooped to lay himself along, and reclined his head, his face being towards the east, the executioner spread his own cloak under him. After a little pause, he gave the sign, that he was ready for the stroke, by lifting up his hand, and his head was struck off at two blows, his body never shrinking nor moving.

FRENCH-ENGLISH.

"It is curious," remarks Southey, "to observe how the English Catholics of the 17th century wrote English like men who habitually spoke French. Corps is sometimes used for the living body, and when they attempt to versify, their rhymes are only rhymes according to a French pronunciation.

This path most fair I walking winde

By shadow of my pilgrimage,

Wherein at every step I find

An heavenly draught and image

Of my fraile mortality,

Tending to eternity.

*

The tree that bringeth nothing else
But leaves and breathing verdure

Is fit for fire, and not for fruit,

And doth great wrong to Nature,

But the finest specimen of French-English verse is certainly the inscription which M. Girardin placed at Ermenonville to the memory of Shenstone.

VOL. I.

E

This plain stone,

To William Shenstone.
In his writings he display'd

A mind natural.

At Leasowes he laid

Arcadian Greens rural.

Shenstone used to thank God that his name was not liable to a pun. He little thought that it was liable to such a rhyme as this.

SHAKSPEARE'S BIRTH-DAY.

THE birth-days of such men as Shakspeare ought to be kept, in common gratitude and affection, like those of relations whom we love. He has said, in a line full of him, that.

"One touch of nature makes the whole world kin." How near does he become to us with his thousand touches! The lustre and utility of intellectual power is so increasing in the eyes of the world, that we do not despair of seeing the time when his birth-day will be a subject of public rejoicing; when the regular feast will be served up in tavern and dwelling-house, the bust be crowned with laurel, and the theatres sparkle with illumination.