little door, into the garden. Mrs. Wesley could not reach the garden-door, and was not in a condition to climb to the window: after three times attempting to face the flames, and shrinking as often from their force, she besought Christ to preserve her, if it was his will, from that dreadful death: she then, to use her own expression, "waded" through the fire, and escaped into the street naked as she was, with some slight scorching of the hands and face. At this time John, who had not been remembered 'till that moment, was heard crying in the nursery. The father ran to the stairs, but they were so nearly consumed, that they could not bear his weight, and being utterly in despair, he fell upon his knees in the hall, and in agony commended the soul of the child to God. John had been awakened by the light, and thinking it was day, called to the maid to take him up; but as no one answered, he opened the curtains, and saw streaks of fire upon the top of the room. He ran to the door, and finding it impossible to escape that way, climbed upon a chest which stood near the window, and he was then seen from the yard, There was no time for procuring a ladder, but it was happily a low house; one man was hoisted upon the shoulders of another, and could then reach the window, so as to take him out: a moment later and it would have been too late the whole roof fell in, and had it not fell inward, they must all have been crushed together. When the child was carried out to the house where his parents were, the father cried out, Come, neighbours, let us kneel down; let us give thanks to God! he has given me all my eight children; let the house go, I am rich enough.' John Wesley remembered this providential deliverance through life with the deepest gratitude. In reference to it he had a house in flames engraved as an emblem under one of his portraits, with these words for the motto, " Is not this a brand plucked out of the burning?"

RECOVERY OF A WOMAN WHO WAS HANGED FOR MURDER. The following singular circumstance is recorded by Dr. Plot in his Natural History of Oxfordshire.

In the year 1650, Anne Green, a servant of Sir Thomas Read, was tried for the murder of her new-born child, and found guilty. She was executed in the castle-yard at Oxford, where she hung about half an hour, being pulled by the legs, and struck on the breast (as she herself desired) by divers of her friends; and, after all, had several strokes given her upon the stomach with the but-end of a soldier's musket. Being cut down, she was put into a coffin, and brought away to a house to be dissected; where, when they opened it, notwithstanding the rope still remained unloosed, and straight about her neck, they perceived her breast to rise; whereupon one Mason, a taylor, intending only an act of charity, set his foot upon her breast and belly; and, as some say, one Orum, a soldier, struck her again with the butt-end of his musket. Notwithstanding all which, when the learned and ingenious Sir William Petty, (who was the son of a clothier at Rumsey, Hants; his son was made Lord Shelbourne; and his lineal descendant is now Marquis of Lansdown), then anatomy professor of the University, Dr. Wallis, and Dr. Clarke, then president of Magdalen College, and Vice-chancellor of the University, came to prepare the body for dissection, they perceived some small rattling in her throat; hereupon desisting from their former purpose, they presently used means for her recovery by opening a vein, laying her in a warm bed, and caused another to go into bed to her; also using divers remedies respecting

her senselessness, head, throat, and breast, insomuch, that within fourteen hours she began to speak, and the next day talked and prayed very heartily. During the time of this her recovering, the officers concerned in her execution would needs have had her away again to have completed it on her: but by the mediation of the worthy doctors, and some other friends with the then governor of the city, Colonel Kelsey, there was a guard put upon her to hinder all further disturbance 'till he had sued out her pardon from the powers then in being; thousands of people in the mean time coming to see her, and magnifying the just providence of God in thus asserting her innocence.

After some time, Dr. Petty hearing she had discoursed with those about her, and suspecting that the women might suggest unto her to relate something of strange visions and apparitions she had seen during the time she seemed to be dead (which they already had begun to do, telling about that she said, she had been in a fine green meadow, having a river running round it, and that all things there glittered like silver and gold) he caused all to depart the room but the gentlemen of the faculty who were to have been at the dissection, and asked her concerning her sense and apprehensions during the time she was hanged. To which she answered at first somewhat impertinently, talking as if she had been then to suffer. And when they spake unto her concerning her miraculous deliverance, she answered that she hoped God would give her patience, and the like: afterwards, when she was better recovered, she affirmed, that she neither remembered how the fetters were knocked off; how she went out of the prison; when she was turned off the ladder; whether any psalm was sung or not; nor was she sensible of any pains that she could remember. She came to herself as if she had awakened out of sleep, not recovering the use of her speech by slow degrees, but in a manner altogether, beginning to speak just where she left off on the gallows.

Being thus at length perfectly recovered, after thanks given to God and the persons instrumental in it, she retired into the country to her friends at Steeple Barton, where she was afterwards married and lived in good repute amongst her neighbours, having three children afterwards, and not dying till 1659.

THE RUSTY NAIL.

When Dr. Donne, took possession of his first living, he took a walk into the church-yard, where the sexton was digging a grave, and throwing up a skull, the doctor took it up and found a rusty headless nail sticking in the temple, which he drew out secretly, and wrapt it up in the corner of his handkerchief. He then demanded of the grave-digger whether he knew whose skull that was. He said it was a man's who kept a brandy shop; an honest, drunken fellow; who one night having taken two quarts, was found dead in his bed next morning. Had he a wife? Yes. What character does she bear? A very good one: only the neighbours reflect on her because she married the day after her husband was buried. This was enough for the doctor, who, under the pretence of visiting his parishioners, called on her he asked her several questions, and among others what sickness her husband died of. She giving him the same account he had before received, he suddenly opened the handkerchief, and cried in an authoritative voice, "Woman do you know this nail?" She was struck with horror at the unexpected demand, instantly owned the fact, was tried, and executed.

In the latter part of Queen Anne's reign, the sailors on board the YorkMerchant, a collier, having disembarked the last part of their lading, at Barbadoes, those who had been employed in that dirty work, ventured into the sea to wash themselves, but had not been long there before a person on board observed a large shark making towards them, and gave them notice of their danger; upon which they swam back, and all but one reached the boat; him the shark overtook almost within reach of the oars, and griping him by the small of the back, his devouring jaws soon cut him asunder, and as soon as he had swallowed the lower part of his body, the remaining part was taken up, and carried on board, where his comrade was. The friendship between him and the deceased had long been distinguished by a reciprocal discharge of all such endearing offices as implied a union and sympathy of souls. On his seeing the severed trunk of his friend, he was filled with horror and emotion, too great to be expressed by words. During this affecting scene, the insatiable shark was observed traversing the bloody surface, searching after the remainder of his prey. The rest of the crew thought themselves happy in being on board; he alone was unhappy, at his not being within reach of the destroyer. Fired at the sight, and vowing that he would make the devourer disgorge, or be swallowed himself, he plunged into the deep, armed with a sharp pointed knife. The shark no sooner saw him, but he made furiously towards him; both equally eager, the one for his prey, the other for revenge. The moment the shark opened his rapacious jaws, his adversary dexterously diving and grasping him with his left hand, somewhat below the upper fins, successfully employed his knife in his right hand, giving him repeated stabs in the belly. The enraged shark, after many unavailing efforts, finding himself overmatched in his own element, endeavoured to disengage himself, sometimes plunging to the bottom, then mad with pain,

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rearing his uncouth form above the foaming waves, stained with his own streaming blood. The shark, much weakened by the loss of blood, made towards the shore, and with him his conqueror, who, flushed with an assurance of victory, pushed his foe with redoubled ardour, and by the help of an ebbing tide, dragged him on shore, ripped up his bowels, and united, and buried the severed body of his friend in one grave.

ANCIENT PUNISHMENT OF CUTTING OFF THE HAND.

The following is extracted from an old record :—

"On the 13th June, A. D. 1541, Trin. Term, 33 Hen. VIII. Sir Edmund Knevet was arraigned before the King's Justices sitting in the great Hall at Greenwich, for striking of one Master Clerk of Norfolk, servant to the Earl of Surrey, within the King's house in the Tennis-court. Sir Edmund 'being found guilty, had judgment to lose his right hand, whereupon were called to do the execution,

"1. The sergeant chirurgion, with his instrument appertaining to his office, 2. The sergeant of the wood-yard, with the mallet and a blocke, whereupon the hand should lie. 3. The master cooke of the king, with the knife. 4. The sergeant of the larder, to set the knife right on the joint. 5. The sergeant farrier, with his searing-irons to sear the veines. 6. The sergeant of the poultry, with a cocke, which cocke should have his head smitten off upon the same blocke, and with the same knife. 7. The yeoman of the chandry, with seare clothes. 8. The yeomen of the scullery, with a pan of fire to heate the yrons, a chafer of water to cool the ends of the yrons, and two fourmes for all officers to set their stuffe on. 9. The sergeant of the cellar, with wine, ale, and beere. 10. The yeomen of the eury, in the sergeant's stead, who was absent, with bason, eure, and towels. Thus every man in his office ready to doe the execution; there was called forth Sir William Pickering, marshall, to bring in the said Sir Edmund; and when he was brought to the barre, the chief justice declared to him his offence, and the said Knevet confessing himself to be guilty, humbly submitted himself to the King's mercy; then Sir Edmund desired that the King of his benigne favor would pardon him of his right hand, and take the left; for (quoth he), if my right hand be spared, I may hearafter doe such good service to his Grace as shall please him to appoint; of this submission and request, the Justices informing the King, he of his great goodness granted him a free pardon."

The next instance of note seems that of Wilkins Flower, a monk and priest, in the reign of Queen Mary; who, on Easter Sunday, in the second year of Queen Mary, struck and wounded John Cheltam, a priest, administering the sacrament at the altar of St. Margaret's Church, Westminster, with a wood knife, whereby the chalice was sprinkled with blood; whereupon he was, on St. Mark's Eve, brought to the place of martyrdom, which was in St. Margaret's Church Yard, Westminster, where the fact was committed: there coming to the stake, where he should be burned, his right hand being held up against it, was struck off, his left hand being fastened behind him. At which striking off his hand, some that were present and purposely observing the same, credibly declared, that he in no part of his body did once shrink.

Peter Burchet, a prisoner in the Tower, struck within that fortress, John Longworth, his keeper, with a billet on the head behind, whereby blood was

shed, and death instantly ensued, for which he was attainted; and before his execution, opposite Somerset House, Strand, his right hand was stricken off by virtue of stat. 33 Hen. VIII chap. 12.

In the reign of Queen Elizabeth, a felon at the bar was indicted for flinging a stone at a judge, who was sitting upon the bench; and sentenced, upon his conviction, to have his hand cut off, which was accordingly done.

The following seem rather remarkable cases in point.

John Stubbs, a barrister of Lincoln's-Inn, the author of a book written and published against the marriage of Queen Elizabeth with the Duke of Anjou. in a most satirical style, entitled, "The Gulph wherein England will be swallowed by the French marriage ;" and William Page, the publisher, were both sentenced that their right hands should be cut off, which was accordingly done by a cleaver driven through the wrist by means of a mallet, upon a scaffold in the market place at Westminster. Stubbs, the lawyer, after his right hand was cut off, put off his hat with the left, and said with a loud voice, "God save the Queen." The multitude standing about (says the historian) was profoundly silent, either out of horror at this new and unwonted kind of punishment, or else out of hatred to the marriage, which most men presaged would be the overthrow of religion.

Charles and his prime minister Laud were both for having the hand of Felton cut off, with which he murdered George Villiers, the Duke of Buckingham, but the Court, as became them, and much to their honour, unanimously answered, it could not be legally done.

A condemned felon flung a brickbat at Sir Thomas Richardson, Chief Justice of the Bench, at Salisbury, 31st Aug. 1631, Summer Assizes, 7 Car. I. for which he was immediately indicted, and being convicted, his right hand was cut off and fixed to the gibbet, on which the felon himself was immediately hanged, in the presence of the Court.

James Mitchell was punished with the loss of his right hand, for barely attempting to shoot Sharp, Archbishop of St. Andrew's, in Scotland (such attempt at assassination being so punished by the law of that kingdom), in the reign of Charles the Second.

It seems rather remarkable, that though eight persons only suffered this cruel punishment from the time of King Alfred, about the year 875, down to Charles H., A.D. 1677, containing a period of about eight centuries and a half, one half of them suffered in the happy reign of our Queen Elizabeth ; and two of them were brother lawyers.

AN INFANT RESTORED TO LIFE AFTER APPARENT DEATH.

The following case was communicated in a letter to the directors of the Royal Humane Society, from Mr. Brown, surgeon, of Camberwell.

"It being my intention to avoid prolixity, and confine myself to a concise statement of the direct fact, I shall begin with informing you, gentlemen, that the uncle of the child, after a servitude of nine years at Bath, was discharged from the family, in consequence of his mind being deranged (the effect of a severe illness); upon which he came up to his brother, John Faulker, No. 15, Adam Street, Mary-le-bone, for protection and support, which were kindly afforded him. On Monday afternoon, the 10th instant, he quitted the house, taking with him his brother's son, a child of six years old, and strayed