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fellow, having neither money nor friends, was in a sad situation.

3. He went round the parish making complaints, and, at last, to a lawyer, who, when he had heard the poor man's story, replied, "You have nothing to give me. If I under. take your cause and lose it, it will bring me into disgrace, as all the wealth and evidence are on your brother's side. However, I will undertake your cause on this condition ; you shall enter into an obligation to pay me one thousand guineas, if I gain the estate for you. If I lose it, I know and I venture with my eyes open." consequences; Ac. cordingly, he entered an action against the younger brother, which was to be tried at the next general assizes at Chelmsford, in Essex.

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4. The lawyer, having engaged in the cause of the young man, and being stimulated by the prospect of a thousand guineas, set his wits at work to contrive the best methods to gain his end. At last, he hit upon this happy thought, that he would consult the first judge of his age, Lord Chief Justice Hale Accordingly, he hastened to London, and laid open the cause, and all its circumstances before him. The judge, who was a great lover of justice, heard the case attentively, and promised him all the assistance in his power.

5. The lawyer having taken leave, the judge contrived matters so as to finish all his business at the King's Bench, before the assizes began at Chelmsford. When within a short distance of the place, he dismissed his servant and horses, and sought a single house. He found one occupied by a miller. After some conversation, and making himself quite agreeable, he proposed to the miller to change clothes with him. As the judge had on a very good suit, the man had no reason to object.

6. Accordingly, the judge shifted himself from top to toe, and put on a complete suit of the miller's clothes. Equipped with a miller's hat, and shoes, and staff, he walked to Chelmsbrd, and procured good lodging, suitable for the assizes, that should come on next day. When the trials came on, he walked, like an ignorant country fellow, backward and forward along the county hall. He observed narrowly what passed around him; and when the court began to fill, he found out the poor fellow who was the plaintiff.

7. As soon as he came into the hall, the miller approached him, and said, "Honest friend, how is your cause likely to go

to-day?", "Why," replied the plaintiff, "my cause is in a very precarious situation, and, if I lose it, I am ruined for sife." "Well, honest friend," replied the miller, "will you take my advice? I will let you into a secret, which perhaps you do not know; every Englishman has the right and privilege to except against any one juryman through the whole twelve; now do you insist upon your privilege, without giving a reason why, and, if possible, get me chosen in his room, and I will do you all the service in my power."

8. Accordingly, when the clerk had called over the names of the jurymen, the plaintiff excepted to one of them. The judge on the bench was highly offended with this liberty. "What do you mean," said he, "by excepting against that gentleman?" "I mean, my lord, to assert my privilege as an Englishman, without giving a reason why."

9. The judge, who had been highly bribed, in order to conceal it by a show of candor, and having a confidence in the superiority of his party, said, "Well, sir, as you claim your privilege in one instance, I will grant it. Whom would you wish to have in the room of that man excepted ?" After a short time, taken in consideration, "My lord," says he, "I wish to have an honest man chosen ;" and looking round the court- — My lord, there is that miller in the court; we will have him, if you please." Accordingly the miller was chosen.

10. As soon as the clerk of the court had given them all their oaths, a little dextrous fellow came into the apartment, and slipped ten golden guineas into the hands of each of eleven jurymen, and gave the miller but five. He observed that they were all bribed as well as himself, and said to his next neighbor, in a soft whisper, "How much have you got?" "Ten pieces," said he. But he concealed what he had got himself. The cause was opened by the plaintiff's counsel; and all the scraps of evidence they could pick up were adduced in his favor.

11. The younger brother was provided with a great number of witnesses, and pleaders, all plentifully bribed, as well as the judge. The witnesses deposed, that they were in the self-same country when the brother died, and saw him buried. The counselors pleaded upon this accumulated evidence; and every thing went with a full tide in favor of the younger brother. The judge summed up the evidence with great gravity and deliberation;-" and now, gentlemen

of the jury," said he, "lay your heads together, and bring in your verdict as you shall deem most just."

12. They waited but a few minutes, before they deter mined in favor of the younger brother. The judge said, "Géntlemen, are you agréed? and who shall speak for yoù ?" -"We are all agreed, my lord," replied one; "our foreman shall speak for us." "Hold, my lord," replied the miller; "we are not all agreed." "Why?" said the judge, in a very surly manner, "what's the matter with yoù? What reasons have you for disagrècing?"

13. "I have several reasons, my lord," replied the miller; "the first is, they have given to all these gentlemen of the jury ten broad pieces of gold, and to me but five; which, you know, is not fair. Besides, I have many objections to make to the false reasonings of the pleaders, and the contradictory evidence of the witnesses." Upon this, the miller began a discourse, which discovered such vast penetration of judgment, such extensive knowledge of law, and was expressed with such energetic and manly eloquence, that it astonished the judge and the whole court.

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14. As he was going on with his powerful demonstrations, the judge, in great surprise, stopped him. "Where did you come from, and who are you?" "I came from Westminster Hall," replied the miller; my name is Matthew Hale; I am Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench. I have observed the iniquity of your proceedings this day; therefore, come down from a seat which you are nowise worthy to hold. You are one of the corrupt parties in this iniquitous business. I will come up this moment and try the cause over again."

15. Accordingly, Sir Matthew went up, with his miller's dress and hat on, began the trial from its very commencement, and searched every circumstance of truth and falsehood. He evinced the elder brother's title to the estate, from the contradictory evidence of the witnesses, and the false reasoning of the pleaders; unraveled all the sophistry to the very bottom, and gained a complete victory in favor of truth and justice.

QUESTIONS.-1. How many dollars are there in five hundred English pounds? 2. What was the character of the elder son? 3. What did the younger son do on the death of his father? 4. Relate what occurred on the return of the elder son. 5. To whom did his lawyer apply for assistance? 6. At what house did the Judge call, and with whom did he ex

change clothes? 7. How did he appear on reaching Chelmsford? 8 What did he say to the plaintiff? 9. What did the plaintiff do to get him chosen juryman? 10. What were the proceedings of the court? 11. What ob jections did the supposed miller make to the verdict of the jury? 12. Wha did he do after informing the court who he was?

How should the first quotation in the tenth verse be read? Give the Rules for the inflections as they are marked in the twelfth verse. Should there be any inflection before a quotation? What example of absolute emphasis, twelfth verse? With what different tones of voice should the quotations at the end of the eighth verse be read?

LESSON LII.

SPELL AND DEFINE-1. Vigorous, strong; quick of action. 2. In'trcacy, something difficult to understand; perplexity. 3. Train, a com pany of people walking in procession. 4. Sable, dark-dressed in black. 5. Animated, full of life. 6. Ivory, the tusk of an elephant. 7. Reclines, droops down; leans to one side. 8. Stateliness, grandeur; majestic in appearance.

"I have seen an End of all Perfection."-SIGOURNEY.

1. I HAVE seen a man in the glory of his days, and the pride of his strength. He was built like the tall cedar that lifts its head above the forest trées,-like the strong oak that strikes its root deeply into the earth. He feared no dànger; he felt no síckness; he wondered that any should groan or sigh at pain. His mind was vigorous like his bòdy; he was perplexed at no intricacy; he was daunted at no difficulty; into hidden things he séarched, and what was crooked he made plàin.

2. He went forth fearlessly upon the face of the mighty deep; he surveyed the nations of the earth; he measured the distances of the stars, and called them by their names; he gloried in the extent of his knowledge-in the vigor of his understanding, and strove to search even into what the Almighty had concealed. And when I looked on him, I said, "What a piece of work is man! how noble in reason ! how infinite in faculties! in form and moving, how express and admirable! in action, how like an angel! in apprehension, how like a God!"

3. I returned, his look was no more lofty, nor his step proud; his broken frame was like some ruined tower; his hairs were white and scattered; and his eyes gazed vacantly upon what was passing around him. The vigor of his intellect was wasted, and of all that he had gained by study

nothing remained. He feared when there was no danger, and when there was no sorrow he wept. His memory was decayed and treacherous, and showed him only broken images of the glory that was departed.

4. His house was to him like a strange land, and his friends were counted as his enemies; and he thought himself strong and healthful, while his foot tottered on the verge of the grave. He said of his son-" He is my brother;" of his daughter" I know her not ;" and he inquired what was his own name. And one who supported his last steps, and ministered to his many wants, said to me as I looked on the melancholy scene, "Let thine heart receive instruction, for thou hast seen an end of all earthly perfection."

5. I have seen a beautiful female treading the first stages of youth, and entering joyfully into the pleasures of life. The glance of her eye was variable and sweet, and on her cheek trembled something like the first blush of the morning; her lips moved, and there was harmony; and when she floated in the dance, her light form, like the aspen, seemed to move with every breeze. I returned,—but she was not in the dance; I sought her in the gay circle of her companions, but I found her not. Her eyes sparkled not there-the music of her voice was silent-she rejoiced on earth no more.

6. I saw a train, sable and slow-paced, who bore sadly to an opened grave what once was animated and beautiful. They paused as they approached, and a voice broke the awful silence: " Mingle ashes with ashes, and dust with its original dust. To the earth, whence it was taken, consign we the body of our sister." They covered her with the damp soil, and the cold clods of the valley; and the worms crowded into her silent abode. Yet one sad mourner lingered to cast himself upon her grave; and as he wept, he said, "There is no beauty, nor grace, nor loveliness, that continueth in man; for this is the end of all his glory and perfection."

7. I have seen an infant with a fair brow, and a frame like polished ivory. Its limbs were pliant in its sports, it rejoiced, and again it wept; but whether its glowing cheek dimpled with smiles, or its blue eye was brilliant with tears, still I said to my heart, "It is beautiful." It was like the first pure blossom, which some cherished plant has shot forth, whose cup is filled with a dew-drop, and whose head reclines upon its parent stem.

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