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chance I may have lightened an hour of your solitude, you, my friends, have made happy whole weeks of mine. And if happily I have called up a passing smile upon your lip, your favour has spoken joy and gladness to many a heart around my board. Is it, then, strange that I should be grateful for the pastbe sorrowful for the present?

To one and all, then, a happy Christmas; and if

before the New Year, you have not forgotten me, I shall be delighted to have your company at OUR MESS. Meanwhile, believe me most respectfully and faithfully yours,

Brussels, November, 1841.

HARRY LORREquer.

LAST MOMENTS OF LORD SYDENHAM.

THE following account of the death-bed of this lamented nobleman, professes to be extracted from the letter of an eye-witness. We take it from the Morning Chronicle, and, of course, guard against its being supposed that we adopt the sentiments expressed :

"For about a week after the accident (a fall on horseback, by which his leg was broken, and, at the same time, a deep and painful wound inflicted just above the knee,) he appeared to be going on tolerably well, and, although he himself repeatedly expressed doubts as to his recovery, there was nothing to lead us to suppose, nor did the medical men give us to understand, that his presentiment was more than the natural consequence of the lowness produced by weakness.

"On Monday, however, the 13th, spasms came on, first in the leg, and afterwards in the stomach and throat; yet still we had no idea that a fatal result would ensue. The prorogation had at first been fixed for Wednesday, and subsequently, at the request of the Assembly, postponed till Friday; and so little prepared were we then for what was to follow, that during Thursday the governor-general was employed in giving his decision on the several bills

which had been passed, and in revising the drafts of the speech which, at his desire, had been prepared

for him.

"On Friday morning his illness increased so much that he was obliged to put off the prorogation, and after consultation with his medical advisers, he determined to prorogue the Parliament by deputation. General Clitherow, being the senior military officer at present at Kingston, was selected for the purpose, and prorogued the Parliament on Saturday morning, at twelve o'clock, giving at the same time the royal assent or reservation to the bills, which had all previously received Lord Sydenham's decision, and almost all of them his signature. In the night of Friday occurred that great change which made it evident that Lord Sydenham's illness was rapidly approaching to a fatal termination. Every one of his symptoms was fearfully aggravated, and even those who had before hoped most, were forced to confess that hope was now vain. He was perfectly conscious of his own state; and about two o'clock on Saturday afternoon, he, together with all his establishment, received the sacrament. He then dictated to Mr. Dowling his will. To all his establishment he left some token of kis regard. He desired to be remembered to Lord J. Russell, to whom he bequeathed a memorial of his friendship; and when that part of his will was read over to him, he exerted himself to say, with emphasis, though interrupted by violent spasms in the throat, Dowling, Lord John is the noblest man it has ever been my good

fortune to know.' He then took leave of us all individually, saying something kind to each. To Mr. Murdoch, civil secretary, he expressed a wish that he should write the history of his administration in Canada. He repeatedly mentioned his continued interest in this country, and his satisfaction that the Parliament was prorogued, the great institutional measures he had devised and proposed to Parliament passed into law, and the purposes of his mission accomplished. To his private secretary he said 'Good by, Grey, you will defend my memory-mind, Grey, you will defend my memory! He then spoke kindly to Major Campbell and Mr. Baring, adding (motioning with his hand to all,) Now leave me alone with Adamson (his chaplain) to die.'

"The rest of that day and the whole night were spent by him in prayer and conversation with his but his mind never for an instant failed, nor appeared chaplain. During this period he suffered very much, twice his spasms were so severe that we were afraid to be clouded by his approaching death. Once or he was gone; but it was not until seven o'clock on Sunday morning that we were summoned into his room to see him breathe his last. At this moment all pain seemed to have ceased; his countenance had steady look upon us all around the bed, and expired resumed its usual expression; he gave one long at five minutes past seven o'clock.

belief that in Canada Lord Sydenham has not left "I cannot conclude without adding my confident one personal enemy, and that his death in the service died a martyr (since there can be no doubt that the of his Queen and this colony, for whose welfare he severity of the two winters he passed here, acting on a constitution not over strong, alone rendered him unequal to bear the effects of an injury, not otherwise of a fatal character,) will be hallowed to its good, that over his untimely grave past differences will be forgotten, a spirit of charity grow up and flourish, and all parties unite cordially to carry out the policy and administer the laws which his master mind devised, and his master hand enacted.

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In compliance with his own request, he is to be buried at Kingston. His reinains will find a fit resting place among the inhabitants of that town which owes to him its selection as the capital of United Canada; and his best monument will be the future prosperity of the colony itself, destined, no doubt, to become a mighty and magnificent empire-a prospe rity founded on that union and those institutions to perfect which he devoted every faculty for the last two years of his life, and which he died in the very act of completing.”—Britannia.

*Lord Sydenham had accomplished his forty-second year a few days only before his death.

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been alone," was the reply. " As it is, we're cramp-
ed for room, and you'll have company."
"Well," returned Dennis, "I don't object to com-
pany, brother, I rather like company. I was formed
for society, I was.'

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"That's rather a pity, an't it?" said the man. "No," answered Dennis, "I'm not aware that it is. Why should it be a pity, brother?"

"Oh! I don't know," said the man carelessly, "I thought that was what you meant. Being formed for society, and being cut off in your flower, you

`MR. DENNIS, having been made prisoner late in the evening, was removed to a neighbouring roundhouse for that night, and carried before a justice for examination on the next day, Saturday. The charges against him being numerous and weighty, and it being in particular proved by the testimony of John Willet and Gabriel Varden, that he had shown a special desire to take their lives, he was committed for trial. Moreover, he was honoured with the dis-know-” tinction of being considered a chief among the insurgents, and received from the magistrate's lips the complimentary assurance that he was in a position of imminent danger, and would do well to prepare himself for the worst.

"I say," interposed the other quickly, "what are you talking of? Don't! Who's a going to be cut off in their flowers ?"

"Oh, nobody particular.-I thought you was, perhaps," said the man.

"This is my quarters, is it?" he asked, facetiously.

To say that Mr. Dennis's modesty was not some- Mr. Dennis wiped his face, which had suddenly what startled by these honours, or that he was alto- grown very hot, and remarking in a tremulous voice gether prepared for so flattering a reception, would to his conductor, that he had always been fond of his be to claim for him a greater amount of stoical phi-¦ joke, followed him in silence until he stopped at a losophy than even he possessed. Indeed this gen- door. tleman's stoicism was of that, not uncommon kind, which enables a man to bear with exemplary fortitode the afflictions of his friends, but renders him, by way of counterpoise, rather selfish and sensitive in respect of any that happen to befall himself. It is therefore no disparagement to the great officer in question, to state without disguise or concealment, that he was at first very much alarmed, and that he betrayed divers emotions of fear, until his reasoning powers came to his relief, and set before him a more hopeful prospect.

In proportion as Mr. Dennis exercised these intellectual qualities with which he was gifted, reviewing his best chances of coming off handsomely, and with small personal inconvenience, his spirits rose, and his confidence increased. When he remembered the great estimation in which his office was held, and the constant demand for his services; when he bethought himself how the Statute Book regarded him as a kind of universal medicine applicable to men, women, and children, of every age and variety of criminal constitution; and how high he stood in his official capacity, in the favour of the crown, and both Houses of Parliament, the Mint, the Bank of England, and the judges of the land; when he recollected that whatever ministry was in or out, he remained their peculiar pet and panacea, and that for his sake England stood single and conspicuous among the civilized nations of the earth-when he called these things to mind and dwelt upon them, he felt certain that the national gratitude must relieve him from the consequences of his late proceedings, and would certainly restore him to his old place in the happy so

cial system.

With these crumbs, or as one may say, with these whole loaves of comfort to regale upon, Mr. Dennis took his place among the escort that awaited him, and repaired to jail with a manly indifference. Arriving at Newgate, where some of the ruined cells had been hastily fitted up for the safe keeping of rioters, he was warmly received by the turnkeys, as an unusual and interesting case, which agreeably relieved their monotonous duties. In this spirit, he was fettered with great care and conveyed into the interior of the prison.

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Brother," cried the hangman, as, following an officer, he traversed under these novel circumstances the remains of passages with which he was well acquainted," am I going to be along with any body?" "If you had left more walls standing, you'd have

"This is the shop, sir," replied his friend. He was walking in, but not with the best possible grace, when he suddenly stopped, and started back. "Halloa!" said the officer. "You're nervous.' "Nervous!" whispered Dennis, in great alarm. "Well I may be. Shut the door."

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"I will, when you're in," returned the man. "But I can't go in there," whispered Dennis. "I can't be shut up with that man. Do you want me to be throttled, brother?"

The officer seemed to entertain no particular desire on the subject one way or other, but briefly remark ing that he had his orders, and intended to obey them, pushed him in, turned the key, and retired.

Dennis stood trembling with his back against the door, and involuntarily raising his arm to defend himself, stared at a man, the only other tenant of the cell, who lay, stretched at his full length, upon a stone bench, and who paused in his deep breathing as if he were about to wake. But he rolled over on one side, let his arm fall negligently down, drew a long sigh, and murmuring indistinctly, fell fast asleep again.

Relieved in some degree by this, the hangman took his eyes for an instant from the slumbering figure, and glanced round the cell in search of some 'vantage-ground or weapon of defence. There was nothing moveable within it, but a clumsy table which could not be displaced without noise, and a heavy chair. Stealing on tiptoe towards this latter piece of furniture, he retired with it into the remotest corner, and intrenching himself behind it, watched the enemy with the utmost vigilance and caution.

The sleeping man was Hugh; and perhaps it was not unnatural for Dennis to feel in a state of very uncomfortable suspense, and to wish with his whole soul that he might never wake again. Tired of standing, he crouched down in his corner after some time, and rested on the cold pavement; but although Hugh's breathing still proclaimed that he was sleeping soundly, he could not trust him out of his sight for an instant. He was so afraid of him, and of some sudden onslaught, that he was not content to see his closed eyes through the chair-back, but every now and then, rose stealthily to his feet, and peered at him with outstretched neck, to assure himself that he really was still asleep, and was not about to spring upon him when he was off his guard.

He slept so long and so soundly, that Mr. Dennis | have done, or the most abject submission. began to think he might sleep on until the turnkey visited them. He was congratulating himself upon these promising appearances, and blessing his stars with much fervour, when one or two unpleasant symptoms manifested themselves; such as another motion of the arm, another sigh, a restless tossing of the head. Then, just as it seemed that he was about to fall heavily to the ground from his narrow bed, Hugh's eyes opened.

He rested his arms upon his knees, and stooping forward, looked from beneath his shaggy hair at Dennis, with something of a smile upon his face.

It happened that his face was turned directly towards his unexpected visiter. He looked lazily at him for some half-dozen seconds without any aspect of surprise or recognition; then suddenly jumped up, and with a great oath, pronounced his name.

"Keep off, brother, keep off!" cried Dennis, dodging behind the chair. Don't do me a mischief. I'm a prisoner like you. I haven't the free use of my limbs. I'm quite an old man. Don't hurt me!"

He whined out the last three words in such piteous accents, that Hugh, who had dragged away the chair, and aimed a blow at him with it, checked himself, and bade him get up.

"I'll get up, certainly, brother," cried Dennis, anxious to propitiate him by any means in his power. "I'll comply with any request of yours, I'm sure. There-I'm up now. What can I do for you? Only say the word, and I'll do it."

"What can you do for me!" cried Hugh, clutching him by the collar with both hands, and shaking him as though he were bent on stopping his breath by that means. "What have you done for me?" "The best. The best that could be done," returned the hangman.

Hugh made him no answer, but shaking him in his strong gripe until his teeth chattered in his head, cast him down upon the floor, and flung himself on the bench again.

"If it wasn't for the comfort it is to me, to see you here," he muttered, "I'd have crushed your head against it; I would."

It was some time before Dennis had breath enough to speak, but as soon as he could resume his propitiatory strain, he did so.

"I did the best that could be done, brother," he whined; "I did indeed. I was forced with two bayonets, and I don't know how many bullets, on each side of me, to point you out. If you hadn't been taken, you'd have been shot; and what a sight that would have been-a fine young man like you!"

"Will it be a better sight now?" asked Hugh, raising his head with such a fierce expression, that the other durst not answer him just then.

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"A deal better," said Dennis meekly, after a pause. First, there's all the chances of the law, and they're five hundred strong. We may get off scot-free. Unlikelier things than that have come to pass. Even if we shouldn't, and the chances fail, we can but be worked off once, and when it's well done, it's so neat, so skilful, so captivating, if that don't seem too strong a word, that you'd hardly believe it could be brought to sich perfection. Kill one's fellow-creeters off with muskets!-Pah!" and

his nature so revolted at the idea, that he spat upon the dungeon pavement.

His warming on this topic, which to one unacquainted with his pursuits and tastes, appeared like courage, together with his artful suppression of his own secret hopes, and mention of himself as being in the same condition with Hugh, did more to soothe that ruffian than the most elaborate arguments could

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"The fact is, brother," said the hangman, in a tone of greater confidence, "that you got into bad company. The man that was with you was looked after more than you, and it was him I wanted. As to me, what have I got by it? Here we are, in one and the same plight.'

"Lookee, rascal," said Hugh, contracting his brows, "I'm not altogether such a shallow blade but I know you expected to get something by it, or you would not have done it. But it's done, and you're here, and it will soon be all over with you and me; and I'd as soon die as live, or live as die. Why should I trouble myself to have revenge on you? To eat, and drink, and go to sleep, as long as I stay here, is all I care for. If there was but a little more sun to bask in, than can find its way into this cursed place, I'd lie in it all day, and not trouble myself to sit or stand up once. That's all the care I have for myself. Why should I care for you?"

Finishing this speech with a growl like the yawn of a wild beast, he stretched himself upon the bench again, and closed his eyes once more.

After looking at him in silence for some moments, Dennis, who was greatly relieved to find him in this mood, drew the chair towards his rough couch and sat down near him-taking the precaution, however, to keep out of the range of his brawny arm.

"Well said, brother; nothing could be better said," he ventured to observe. "We'll eat and drink of the best, and sleep our best, and make the best of it every way. Any thing can be got for money. Let's spend it merrily."

"Ay," said Hugh, coiling himself into a new position." Where is it?"

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Why, they took mine from me at the lodge," said Mr. Dennis; "but mine's a peculiar case." "Is it? They took mine, too."

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Why, then, I tell you what, brother," Dennis began, "you must look up your friends-" "My friends!" cried Hugh, starting up, and resting on his hands, "where are my friends?" "Your relations, then," said Dennis.

"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed Hugh, waving one arm above his head. "He talks of friends to me-talks of relations to a man whose mother died the death in store for her son, and left him a hungry brat, without a face he knew in all the world! He talks of this to me!"

"Brother," cried the hangman, whose features underwent a sudden change, "You don't mean to say-"

"I mean to say," Hugh interposed, "that they hung her up at Tyburn: what was good enough for her is good enough for me. Let them do the like by me as soon as they please the sooner the better. Say no more to me. I'm going to sleep."

"But I want to speak to you; I want to hear more about that," said Dennis, changing colour.

"If you're a wise man," growled Hugh, raising his head to look at him with a savage frown, "you'll hold your tongue. I tell you I'm going to sleep."

Dennis venturing to say something more in spite of this caution, the desperate fellow struck at him with all his force, and missing him, lay down again with many muttered oaths and imprecations, and turned his face towards the wall. After two or three ineffectual twitches at his dress, which he was hardy

enough to venture upon, notwithstanding his dangerous humour, Mr. Dennis, who burnt, for reasons of his own, to pursue the conversation, had no alternative but to sit as patiently as he could, waiting his further pleasure.

CHAPTER THE SEVENTY-FIFTH.

A MONTH has elapsed, and we stand in the bedchamber of Sir John Chester. Through the half opened window, the Temple Garden looks green and pleasant; the placid river, gay with boat and barge, and dimpled with the plash of many an oar, sparkles in the distance; the sky is blue and clear; and the summer air steals gently in, filling the room with perfume. The very town, the smoky town, is radiant. High roofs and steeple tops, wont to look black and sullen, smile a cheerful gray; every old gilded vane, and ball, and cross, glitters anew in the bright morning sun; and high among them all, Saint Paul's towers up, showing its lofty crest in burnished gold.

for volunteering that evidence. These insane creatures make such very odd and embarrassing remarks, that they really ought to be hanged, for the comfort of society."

The country justice had indeed turned the wavering scale against poor Barnaby, and solved the doubt that trembled in his favour. Grip little thought how much he had to answer for.

"They will be a singular party," said Sir John, leaning his head upon his hand, and sipping his chocolate; "a very curious party. The hangman himself; the centaur; and the madman. The centaur would make a very handsome preparation in Surgeons' Hall, and would benefit science extremely. I hope they have taken care to bespeak him.-Peak, I am not at home, of course, to any body but the hairdresser."

This reminder to his servant was called forth by a knock at the door, which the man hastened to open. After a prolonged murmer of question and answer, he returned; and as he cautiously closed the roomdoor behind him, a man was heard to cough in the passage.

"Now, it is of no use, Peak," said Sir John, raising his hand in deprecation of his delivering any Sir John was breakfasting in bed. His chocolate message; "I am not at home. I cannot possibly and toast stood upon a little table at his elbow; books hear you. I told you I was not at home, and my and newspapers lay ready to his hand, upon the co-word is sacred. Will you never do as you are deverlet; and, sometimes pausing to glance with an sired?" air of tranquil satisfaction round the well-ordered room, and sometimes to gaze indolently at the summer sky, he ate, and drank, and read the news, luxuriously.

The cheerful influence of the morning seemed to have some effect, even upon his equable temper. His manner was unusually gay; his smile more placid and agreeable than usual; his voice more clear and pleasant. He laid down the newspaper he had been reading; leaned back upon his pillow with the air of one who resigned himself to a train of charming recollections; and after a pause, soliloquized as follows:

"And my friend the centaur, goes the way of his mamma! I am not surprized. And his mysterious friend, Mr. Dennis, likewise! I am not surprized. And my old postman, the exceedingly free-and-easy young madman of Chigwell! I am quite rejoiced. It's the very best thing that could possibly happen to him."

After delivering himself of these remarks, he fell again into his smiling train of reflection; from which he roused himself at length to finish his chocolate, which was getting cold, and ring the bell for more. The new supply arriving, he took the cup from his servant's hand; and saying with a charming affability, "I am obliged to you, Peak," dismissed him.

"It is a remarkable circumstance," he said, dallying lazily with the teaspoon, "that my friend the madman should have been within an ace of escaping, on his trial; and it was a good stroke of chance (or, as the world would say, a providential occurrence,) that the brother of my Lord Mayor should have been in court, with other country justices, into whose very dense heads curiosity had penetrated. For though the brother of my Lord Mayor was decidedly wrong; and established his near relationship to that amusing person beyond all doubt, in stating that my friend was sane, and had, to his knowledge, wandered about the country, with a vagabond parent, avowing revolutionary and rebellious sentiments; I am not the less obliged to him FEBRUARY, 1842,-MUSEUM.

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Having nothing to oppose to this reproof, the man was about to withdraw, when the visiter who had given occasion to it, probably rendered impatient by delay, knocked with his knuckles at the chamberdoor, and called out that he had urgent business with Sir John Chester, which admitted of no delay.

"Let him in," said Sir John. "My good fellow," he added, when the door was opened, "how came you to intrude yourself in this extraordinary manner upon the privacy of a gentleman? How can you be so wholly destitute of self-respect as to be guilty of such remarkable ill-breeding?"

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My business, Sir John, is not of a common kind, I do assure you," returned the person he addressed. "If I have taken any uncommon course to get admission to you, I hope I shall be pardoned on that account."

"Well! we shall see; we shall see;" returned Sir John, whose face cleared up when he saw who it was, and whose prepossessing smile was now restored. "I am sure we have met before," he added in his winning tone, "but really I forget your name."

"My name is Gabriel Varden, sir."
"Varden, of course,
tapping his forehead.
my memory becomes!
Varden, the locksmith.
Mr. Varden, and a most
are well?"

Mr.

Varden," returned Sir John,
"Dear me, how defective
Varden to be sure.
You have a charming wife,
beautiful daughter. They

"Com

Gabriel thanked him, and said they were. "I rejoice to hear it," said Sir John. mend me to them when you return, and say that I wished I were fortunate enough to convey, myself, the salute which I entrust you to deliver. And what," he asked very sweetly after a moment's pause, can I do for you? You may command me, freely."

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"I thank you, Sir John," said Gabriel, with some pride in his manner," but I have come to ask no favour of you, though I come on business.—Private,”

SP. OF MAG.

he added, with a glance at the man who stood looking on," and very pressing business."

"I cannot say you are the more welcome for being independent, and having nothing to ask of me, returned Sir John, graciously, "for I should have been happy to render you a service; still, you are welcome on any terms. Oblige me with some more chocolate, Peak-and don't wait."

The man retired, and left them alone. "Sir John," said Gabriel, “I am a working-man, and have been all my life. If I don't prepare you enough for what I have to tell; if I come to the point too abruptly; and give you a shock, which a gentleman could have spared you, or at all events lessened very much, I hope you will give me credit for meaning well. I wish to be careful and considerate, and I trust that in a straight-forward person like me, you'll take the will for the deed."

"Mr. Varden," returned the other, perfectly composed under this exordium; "I beg you'll take a chair. Chocolate, perhaps, you don't relish? Well! it is an acquired taste, no doubt."

"Sir John," said Gabriel, who had acknowledged with a bow the invitation to be seated, but had not availed himself of it; "Sir John"-he dropped his voice and drew nearer to the bed-"I am just now come from Newgate-"

"Good Gad!" cried Sir John, hastily sitting up in bed;" from Newgate, Mr. Varden! How could you be so very imprudent as to come from Newgate! Newgate, where there are jail-fevers, and ragged people, and barefooted men and women, and a thousand horrors! Peak, bring the camphor, quick! Heaven and earth, Mr. Varden, my dear good soul, how could you come from Newgate?"

But this answer occasioned him a degree of astonishment, which for the moment he could not, with all his command of feature, prevent his face from expressing. He quickly subdued it, however, and said in the same light tone:

"And what does the gentleman require of me? My memory may be at fault again, but I don't recollect that I ever had the pleasure of an introduction to him, or that I ever numbered him among my personal friends, I do assure you, Mr. Varden.”

"Sir John," returned the locksmith, gravely, "I will tell you, as nearly as I can, in the words he used to me, what he desires that you should know, and what you ought to know without a moment's loss of time."

Sir John Chester settled himself in a position of greater repose, and looked at his visiter with an expression of face which seemed to say, "This is an amusing fellow! I'll hear him out."

"You may have seen in the newspapers, Sir," said Gabriel, pointing to the one which lay by his side, "that I was a witness against this man upon his trial some days since; and that it was not his fault I was alive, and able to speak to what I knew."

"May have seen!" cried Sir John. "My dear Mr. Varden, you are quite a public character, and live in all men's thoughts most deservedly. Nothing can exceed the interest with which I read your testimony, and remembered that I had the pleasure of a slight acquaintance with you. I hope we shall have your portrait published?"

"This morning, Sir," said the locksmith, taking no notice of these compliments, "early this morning, a message was brought to me from Newgate, at this man's request, desiring that I would go and see him, for he had something particular to communicate. I needn't tell you that he is no friend of mine, that I had never seen him, until the rioters beset my

Gabriel returned no answer, but looked on in silence, while Peak (who had entered opportunely with the hot chocolate) ran to a drawer, and returning with a bottle, sprinkled his master's dressing-house." gown and the bedding; and besides moistening the locksmith himself, plentifully, described a circle round about him on the carpet. When he had done this, he again retired; and Sir John reclining in an easy attitude upon his pillow, once more turned a smiling face towards his visiter.

"You will forgive me, Mr. Varden, I am sure, for being at first, a little sensitive, both on your account and my own. I confess I was startled, notwithstanding your delicate preparation. Might I ask you to do me the favour not to approach any nearer? You have really come from Newgate!"

The locksmith inclined his head. "In-deed! And now, Mr. Varden, all exaggeration and embellishment apart," said Sir John Chester, confidentially, as he sipped his chocolate, "what kind of place is Newgate ?"

Sir John fanned himself gently with the newspaper, and nodded.

"I knew, however, from the general report," resumed Gabriel," that the order for his execution to-morrow, went down to the prison last night; and looking upon him as a dying man, I complied with his request."

"You are quite a Christian, Mr. Varden," said Sir John; "and in that amiable capacity, you increase my desire that you should take a chair."

"He said," continued Gabriel, looking steadily at the knight, "that he had sent to me, because he had no friend or companion in the whole world, (being the common hangman,) and because he believed, from the way in which I had given my evidence, that I was an honest man, and would act truly by him. He said that, being shunned by every one "A strange place, Sir John," returned the lock-who knew his calling, even by people of the lowest smith, "of a sad and doleful kind. A strange place, where many strange things are heard and seen; but few more strange than that I come to tell you of. The case is urgent. I am sent here."

"Not-no,-no-not from the jail?" "Yes, Sir John; from the jail."

"And my good, credulous, open-hearted friend," said Sir John, setting down his cup, and laughing,by whom?"

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"By a man called Dennis-for many years the hangman, and to-morrow morning the hanged," returned the locksmith.

Sir John had expected-had been quite certain from the first-that he would say he had come from Hugh, and was prepared to meet him on that point.

and most wretched grade; and finding, when he joined the rioters, that the men he acted with had no suspicion of it (which I believe is true enough, for a poor fool of an old 'prentice of mine was one of them;) he had kept his own counsel, up to the time of his being taken and put in jail."

"Very discreet of Mr. Dennis," observed Sir John with a slight yawn, though still with the utmost affability; "but-except for your admirable and lucid manner of telling it, which is perfect-not very interesting to me."

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"When," pursued the locksmith, quite unabashed and wholly regardless of these interruptions," when he was taken to jail, he found that his fellow-prisoner, in the same room, was a young man, Hugh by

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