For several months past, repeated complaints have been received at the Depository, to the effect that Bills and Prospectuses of works of a highly objectionable character have been inserted within the folds of the weekly numbers of the "Leisure Hour." Some of our correspondents, while expressing their conviction that such an offence has been committed without the concurrence or knowledge of the editor or publisher, entertain the idea that it may have been practised by some of the subordinate hands employed in the folding or issue of the publication. We beg to state to our friends that such is not the case. The bills, it is presumed, are inserted by some of the cheap publication vendors, while passing through their hands to the public; and the most effectual mode of repressing the evil would perhaps be, for each subscriber to communicate with the bookseller supplying his numbers, and request him to withdraw any such offensive papers. Similar complaints have been made by the conductors of other respectable periodicals. NEW PUBLICATIONS. THE HISTORY OF ENGLAND: from the Invasions of Julius Cæsar to the year 1852. With early Notices of the British Archipelago; Summaries of the State of the People at differ ent Periods; their Maritime Operations, Commerce, Literature, and Political Progress. For Schools and Families. By the Rev. THOMAS MILNER, A.M., F.B.G,S. 12mo. With two Maps. 5s. cloth boards. **This valuable work belongs to the Educational Series. By CHRISTIAN PROGRESS: a Sequel to the A A COMPLETE CONCORDANCE to the THE LIGHTS of the WORLD; or, Illus- WATER FROM THE WELLSPRING, LONDON: 56, PATERNOSTER ROW, AND 164, PICCADILLY. for me to work my way in any part of civilized Europe. The kindness and unaffected dignity of this brave and open-hearted old sailor are too well known to demand any comment from me. There are many of his own countrymen, and not a few English, who have directly or indirectly been brought in contact with him on business matters, or in the more agreeable capacity of guests, pas been possessed of the very best certificates from gentlemen holding high rank in the French naval service, as also from the British consul-general on the coast of Barbary, testifying to his general good conduct, sobriety, and truthfulness, I might have been inclined to consider the whole affair as a fabrication designed to excite sympathy and compassion for his sufferings. But when, in addition to these certificates, I watched the face of the sun-sengers, or subordinate officers; and I may safely burnt Athenian as it glowed with the feelings of indignation at the recital of the treatment he had received at the hands of his cowardly assailants; when I marked his strong frame quiver and wide chest heave with the various emotions of fear, pain, and anger; when I reflected that, in recounting this sad page from his adventurous life, he was afresh opening deep heart-wounds; and when, finally, I remembered that he could not possibly hope to reap any benefit by exciting my interest and sympathy; all these circumstances combined served to convince me of the veracity of the tale. It was a fine moonlight night when first this narrative of adventure was poured into my attentive ears, and never shall I forget the effect it produced upon the group of voyagers that were lingering on deck until long past the hour of midnight, loth, like myself, to quit the cool and pleasant deck, and all the glories of a Mediterranean moon-lit sea, for the close and uncongenial berths allotted to us in the cabin. We could just see Malta light-house far away on the larboard bow, and the vessel was dashing through the water at a rate that gave us fair hopes of a quick and pleasant passage to dear old England, from whose shores some of us had been absent for many long years. We were sitting upon the hen-coops, or upon the best available seat that offered itself, recounting such adventures and describing such scenes as our long residence in the East had subjected us to; or else, taking happy mental glimpses of home and long absent friends, with whom we hoped speedily again to hold familiar converse. Gradually the conversation began to flag, when it was put to the vote and unanimously carried, that each one of our party should relate some incident of his life and travels. In course of time it came to the turn of the Greek, who, after considerable hesitation, recounted to us the following passage in his history, which appeared to me to present a striking illustration of the disorganized state of society in many parts of the East. I am, he commenced, a native of Greece. Whilst yet a child, my parents emigrated to France, and, thanks to their kind care and a good education, I was at the age of eighteen a civilized European in manners and morals, and a Christian by creed. I could distinctly discern the many foibles of my poor, illiterate, but crafty countrymen. At the same time that I could not but pity their defects and errors, I shunned their society, considering them too often devoid of principle, and so wily in their every undertaking, thought, word, and deed, as to prove dangerous companions or associates, and seldom to be trusted with a secret or a dollar. In 1835 I entered the French service, and joined a war steamer, commanded by a post-captain in the French navy, with whom I remained during a period of ten years, and whose testimonials as to my services and character are a sufficient passport assert, that none ever quitted his presence without a conviction of their having been in the society of a perfect gentleman, a gallant and lenient yet strict officer, and a most sincere friend. In the month of December, 18-, the steamer chanced to be lying at anchor in a port in the Levant, and having at that time a sister living at the city adjacent, who was married to a lieutenant in the Greek artillery, to her house it was my custom to repair on all liberty days, or on other occasions when the day's work was over and I could obtain permission to leave the vessel for a few hours in the evening. I seldom slept on shore, for somehow or other I never fancied myself at home or felt at ease except when I was in my own snug little cabin on board, and my night's repose was never sounder than when lulled to sleep by the gentle lullaby of the rippling waves and the music of the Mediterranean zephyrs. No man could have felt happier than I did at the time I am now speaking of, none being apparently so secure from trouble or misfortune. I had amassed a small sum of money, which I felt a satisfaction in knowing had been accumulated honestly, by dint of perseverance and indefatigable labour. My father had been many years dead, and my poor mother and a younger brother and sister were entirely dependent upon my exertions for support. Happily I was in a position to place these two latter under the care of a worthy Protestant divine, my mother being unwilling to intrust them to the teachers of a Roman Catholic seminary. Such were the comfortable circumstances by which I was surrounded when the incident I am about to relate occurred. How terrible its effects have been may be clearly traced by the symbols of premature old age which I carry about my person! (Here the narrator paused, and, lifting his hat off his head, displayed to view the many grey hairs that were thickly mingling with his originally raven locks.) I consider (he continued, resuming the thread of his narrative) that to the terrible incident in question I owe the abbreviation of my life by full fifteen years; for I have never since, in health or strength, been the man I was before the eventful night of which I am about to speak-a night which taught me the uncertainty of the best arranged human plans and the contingencies to which they are constantly exposed. It was late one evening in December that I obtained leave of absence from the officer of the watch, purposing to visit the shore for a few hours, and promising to be on board again before midnight at the latest. I little thought, on quitting the ship's side, that I should be compelled that night, for the first time in my life, to break my word. It happened to be the eve of St. Nicholasa day celebrated as a festival by the members of the Greek church, and more particularly by such amongst her inhabitants as chanced to be named panions; what little I saw at once convinced me after that saint, and that claimed him as their that I had fallen into very suspicious company; patron. Amongst these latter was my brother-in- and if the slightest doubt remained as to their real law; and as I knew that on the morrow I could not character, this was speedily removed by their unwith any propriety ask leave to spend the day on blushing demands to be recompensed for the shore, I thought I would go up to his house for a trouble they would incur in keeping me company, few hours that evening, carrying with me a sou-while at the same time they kept edging up and venir, in the shape of a richly-mounted Turkish hemming me in on all sides, either with the intenpipe that I had purposely brought with me from tion of rifling my person, or of unexpectedly inConstantinople. This I knew would prove an flicting a mortal stab, which might enable them to acceptable gift, as he was unhappily an inveterate collect such few valuables as I had about me at their leisure, with the certainty of no clue remaining that might lead to their ultimate detection; for" dead men tell no tales." smoker. I may here state that the town to which I was bound was situated at a distance of nearly an hour's walk from the landing-place, and the road leads over a desolate country, with no houses or other buildings save two coffee-shops, which serve as miserable and unsafe half-way houses for the traveller besides these, there is a still more miserable shed allotted to the sentry, who is nominally placed there to protect the highway, and be a safeguard to the stranger from the assaults and maltreatment of robbers and assassins-a class of men always more or less abundant in these semi-civilized regions. I remained later than usual at my sister's house that evening, for the weather had suddenly set in boisterous and chilly, with frequent squalls of hail, thunder, and lightning, so that I had deferred my departure to the very last moment, hoping that the weather might clear up again. It was not till some minutes past eleven that I quitted my sister's house, despite her tears and remonstrances; for I was determined, if possible, to be punctual to my promise. Well wrapped up in great-coats and comforters, with nothing but a small rattan switch in my hand, I accordingly started for the sea-side, and walked as briskly as I could towards the point of embarkation. The night was intensely dark, so much so that I could barely see a yard before me, and the wind howled mournfully over the waste; but the pathway having long been familiar to my footsteps, I could have almost picked my way blindfolded. The cold, bleak, cutting blast came in fitful gusts over the deserted country; but the very inclemency of the weather was a source of consolation to me, for I imagined that no banditti would expose themselves to that night's wet and cold, when the chances of booty must have been small indeed, few liking to quit the protection of their comfortable roofs and warm firesides. I neither met nor saw any one until I had arrived almost within hail of the half-way houses before alluded to: then, for the first time, through the gloom that surrounded me I discerned the forms of several closely-muffled figures, moving apparently in the same direction as myself, and whom I supposed to be captains or mates of some of the merchant vessels in the harbour, who for the sake of better security were keeping together till they should reach their respective boats. I immediately availed myself of such a favourable convoy, and, quickening my pace, was soon alongside of the strangers. After exchanging saluta tions and commenting on the wretched state of the weather, I inquired if their destination was the same as mine, and was answered in the affirmative. Ás ve proceeded onwards, I had time to take a casual glance at the features and dress of my com I could see that they were well armed, and knew that my only hope for succour was the close vicinity of the guard-house. Watching my opportunity, I made a rush for this place with such impetuosity as nearly to upset the alarmed sentry, who was hanging indolently over a wood fire lit in a hole dug in the centre of the hovel. "How now!" shouted the fierce Albanian, on recovering his self-possession: "what means all this noise and hubbub ?" A few words sufficed to acquaint the soldier with the real state of affairs, and as my suspicious companions had passed on, he readily agreed to my sharing the pleasant warmth of the fire with him. As the heat gradually penetrated my many overcoats, I was glad to strip off my great-coat and hang it on a nail in the wall. The Albanian spoke Greek as fluently as myself, and entered into conversation freely; he had a sorry tale of want and trouble to recount. The government never paid, though it subjected him, he said, to all the arduous duties of a serf. The rations of himself and companions were insufficient, and what a dog would barely deign to partake of; and as for the meagre cup of wine served out to them, it was more fit to be classed as exceedingly bad vinegar than anything he could compare it to; and then the Albanian threw out unmistakable hints as to the excellence of the wine sold at the coffee-shops hard by, lamenting his poverty, which prevented his enabling me to taste and judge for myself. Upon hearing this, I indiscreetly offered to treat him; and, leaving his musket to take care of itself, he conducted me into the nearest of the two cafés, on entering which I discovered that there were a non-commissioned officer and three privates seated there, drinking and gambling. All were Albanians, save the officer, who, however, seemed well versed in their language, and they all spoke Turkish fluently. Unhappily for myself, I was utterly ignorant of both the Albanian and Turkish tongues. In treating the soldier to wine, according to Levantine etiquette I ordered cups to be served all round to his friends and acquaintances. I drank none myself, but merely sipped it out of compliment to those present. The change of atmosphere from the stifling little hovel I had just quitted became very soon perceptible, and then, for the first time, I remembered having forgotten my great-coat. I ran over to fetch it, and on my way back hailed a species of van that was passing, and begged the driver to wait a few moments whilst I just stepped in and paid my reckoning. After settling, and pocketing the change, I turned with the intention of hastening out to the van, when to my astonishment and indignation the officer arrested my progress, and with drawn sabre in hand stood in the door-way and ordered the van to drive off immediately. I was perfectly paralyzed. He told me, with assumed sternness, that I had been recognised as a notorious robber and brigand, who had long baffled pursuit, and that I only exchanged that coffee-shop for a dungeon and the galleys for life. It was in vain for me to expostulate; menaces and entreaties were equally futile, as were the many references I gave to some of the best known and most respected residents of the adjacent town. His only reply was, that such was always the language of bad characters. He now ordered two of his men to secure me, by tying my hands together with a bit of strong cordage. I was forced to submit tamely to this painful operation; and the moment that I was rendered inoffensive, the miscreant seized the scabbard of his sword, and beat me about the head and shoulders in a most unmerciful manner. The soldier I had first met with interfered on my behalf, but he was speedily silenced by his chief, and sent back to his duty in the guard-house. How my brain did reel, and my whole frame quiver with anguish, as I retreated into a corner of the room, and strained every muscle in my efforts to disentangle my hands. Sick and faint at heart, I thought of the long weary hours of night, the cold damp of the prison, and the frost and sleet of the season, but I made secret resolutions to keep up my circulation by incessant movement; while the thoughts of the morrow, and the pleasant faces of friends coming to the rescue, cheered me even in this misery. At the same time I lifted up my heart in prayer to Him whose mercy never faileth, whose all-seeing eye was my only witness, and whose guardianship could save me when no man was nigh to help me. The officer and his guards, assisted by the inhuman coffee-shop keeper, held long and earnest counsel together in a language of which I was utterly ignorant. Meanwhile, as they kept on drinking, hard words and harder blows were aimed at my unoffending person, and my pockets were ransacked of watch and money. Time crept on slowly and heavily, while I stood there, one mass of bruises and blood, with the frosty wind chilling my veins, till I longed for the arrival of the hour when I should be marched off to prison and be at least free of the loathsome proximity of my tormentors. At length the word of command was given. One Albanian preceded us with a lantern; the officer and an armed soldier marched on each side of me; and close behind me was the third Albanian, with a ready-cocked musket to fire at me if I offered the slightest resistance. To my surprise, instead of marching towards the town, the party made a détour and came to the back of the larger of the coffee-houses; and there, at that still hour of the night, I watched one of them as with the lantern he groped about, evidently in search of something. At length he stopped, and beckoned us to approach; as we advanced he unlocked a sort of concealed door, which when opened disclosed to my dismayed eyes a flight of steps descending into the bowels of the earth. Down these they forced me; and, as the last man descended, I heard the door close (as I then thought) upon me and the world for ever. I counted eight steps, and then we came to another door, which swung heavily on its hinges as the Albanian forced it open. This led into a stone vault, of about 12 feet square by 8 feet high. Opposite to the entrance-door there was a second one, against which the man with the loaded musket was stationed, while the lanternbearer guarded the door of entrance. I could no longer have any doubt as to my fate; but the love of life was never so dear to me as at that moment. Mastering my emotions as well as I could, I warned my assailants to be aware of what the consequences must be, so soon as I should be missed by my messmates and friends; I implored them to remember that I was the sole support of my family; in short, I used every description of entreaty and exhortation; but I might as well have spoken to the winds. The chief fell upon me, armed with a cudgel; and, had it not been for the protruding angles of the corner into which I had retreated, and the lowness of the room, both of which aided in warding off the blows, the conse quences must have been fatal. Tired and exhausted at length he let fall the club, and, seizing on the sentry's musket, took deliberate aim at my unprotected breast, and pulled the trigger. I heard the steel click, and then, for a few seconds, which appeared hours to me, all was darkness and delirium. There was no report; the gun had missed fire; the last expiring spark of hope was rekindled. I glanced anxiously at the musket, and the flint was gone. Eagerly did they seek and grope about for it on the ground. At this moment I heard the vault open, and saw a fifth figure descend into the vault; he had evidently been watching against surprise, and, hearing the turmoil below cease, had imagined all over, and now came to claim his share of booty. The strength of Samson was upon me; with one mighty effort I disentangled my hands; with a bound I had gained the steps and dashed the lantern into atoms; another bound and I was in the open air. I stopped not to think or look behind, but fled on the wings of terror over that dark country in the darkest hour of night. I scaled garden walls, fell and was maimed, yet ran on still for my life, for my enemies were on the track. It was four o'clock next morning when I reached the house of a friend; and no sooner had I passed the threshold than I sank down and swooned away. The rest is soon told. Bruised and maimed as I was, I early next day repaired to the French consul. He at first refused me an interview; I persisted, however, and was at length shown into his bed-room. He chose to doubt my word. I told him that the French war-steamer would soon settle that point. On this he thought better of it, and wrote to the commandant. The subterranean vault was examined, the guilty parties imprisoned, and the whole of my statements, together with the medical certificates given me, are to this day to be seen in the archives of the French embassy. Such was the Greek's tale. In countries where officials are underpaid, there is a continual temptation to resort to secret or open plunder as a means of increasing their emoluments. I have given the |