where, tormented me when awake, lay down with me upon my couch, and created frightful dreams, when my weary eyes were now and then clofed by the hand of flumber. My confcience which had been lulled afleep, recovered its power by degrees, and the fleeping viper of remorfe was roufed by the general tempeft which was raging within my breaft; the hatred I bore the human race turned its dagger against my felf-I was reconciled to human kind, and curfed nobody but myself: the dreadful confequences of vice ftared me grifly in the face, and my natural good fenfe difpelled at length the delufions which had led me aftray from the bleffed path of virtue; I felt how deep I had fallen, and gloomy melancholy ftepped in the place of gnashing def pair: I wished, with weeping eyes, to have it in my power to recall the times paft, and was convinced that I would make a better ufe of the hours I had dedicated to the vile fervice of guilt; I began to hope that I yet would reform, being fenfible that I fhould be able to effect a reform. On the higheft fummit of depravity I was more inclined to tread in the fteps of virtue, than before I had committed the firft lawlefs deed.' A war had broken out in Germany at that time, and recruits were raifing every where, which gave me fome hopes to retreat in an honourable manner from my affociates, and turn a useful member of human fociety: I wrote a letter to my prince, the copy of which you will find in my pocket book.' The letter was produced and read by the clerk, the purport of it ran, as much as I can remember as follows:' If your highnefs does not think it beneath your dignity to condefcend to a villain like myself, if a criminal of my atrocity is not entirely excluded from your mercy, O then do not reject the humble petition of a repenting finner-I am a murderer and robber, have forfeited my life, and am pursued by the avenging hand of juftice, I will deliver myself into the hand of the executive power-but I, at the fame time, am going to lay a very ftrange prayer at the feet of your throne: I deteft life and do not fear to die,, it would however be dreadful to me to die, without having lived. I wish to live, in order to repair my crimes paft, and to make my peace with human fociety, which I have offended. My execution will be a warning example to the world, but not atone for my wicked deeds; I hate vice, and have a ftrong defire to try the path of honefty and virtue; I have fhewn great capacities to become a terror to the state, and I flatter myself that I yet have fome abilities to render fervices to the country which I have injured." 'I am well aware that I fupplicate for fomething quite uncommon: my life being forfeited, it does not become me to propofe conditions to punishing juftice; however, I am not yet chained in fetters, am yet at liberty, and fear has the leaft fhare in my prayer." It is mercy that I crave, and if I had fome claim to juftice I would not attempt now to enforce it; yet there is one circumftance which I have reafon to recall to the recollection of my judges. The period of my crimes commences with that rigorous fentence which has deprived me of my honour. If my judges had not been too fevere, if they had liftened to the voice of equity and humanity, I fhould perhaps not have been reduced to the neceffity of craving the mercy of your highness-their want of feeling has plunged me in the fatal gulph of guilt.' Let mercy fupply the place of juftice and fpare my life, if it is in your power to intercede with the law in my behalf, the remainder of my life fhall be entirely devoted to your fervice: if you can grant my humble prayer let me know it by way of the public prints, and I will throw myself at your feet, confiding in your princely word; if not, then juftice may proceed as it fhall be deemed proper, and I must act as neceffity thall require.' This petition, thus refumed the delinquent, was not taken notice of, as well as a fecond and third, and having not the leaft glimmering of hope lett, to be pardoned, I took the refolu tion tion to leave the country, and to die in the fervice of the king of Pruffia as a brave foldier.' The iron-hand of punishing vengeance feemed ready to grafp me, my life was at stake, and I redoubled the swiftness of my flight, goading the fides of my horfe without mercy." I gave my gang the flip, and began my journey. My road led me through a fmall country town, where I intend- My purfuers were foon far behind ed to stay the night: a few weeks me, panting for breath, and liberty ago a proclamation had been pub- promifed to gladden my heart again, lifhed through the whole country, when the fleetnefs of my flight was commanding a ftrict examination of fuddenly ftopped by a dead wall. My. every traveller, because the prince had taken a party in the war, as a member of the German empire. The gate keeper of the town which I was going to enter was fitting upon a bench before his house as I rode by; my forbidding countenance and motley drefs raised his fufpicion, and as foon as I had entered the gate he fhut it and demanded my paffport, after he had firft fecured the bridle of my horfe. I was prepared for accidents of that fort, having provided myself with a paffport, which I had taken from a merchant whom I had robbed. However this teftimony would not fatisfy the eagle-eyed gate. keeper, my phyfiognomy being in contradiction with it, and I was obliged to follow him to the bailiff's houfe: he ordered me to await his return at the door.' purfuers gave a loud fhout when they faw me entrapt, and I had given over every hope of effecting my efcape, when a fudden thought ftruck me, that the wall might be the city wall, and that perhaps I would regain my liberty through a window of one of the houses on the bottom of the ftreet. The door of that on the left fide was open, I jumped from my horfe, and entered it with a piftol in each hand, bolting the door after me, and haftening up ftairs without being feen by any one of the inhabitants. My purfuers were close at my heels, and thundered at the door when I was rushing into a room where nobody was but an old woman: feeing a man with a brace of piftols, terror fettered her tongue, and fhe fell in a fwoon. I opened the window, and, imagine my joy, when the open field hailed my anxious looks; I bolted the door, placed chairs and tables against it, threw the bed out of the window, and concealed myself in the chimney to await there the setting in of night.' The paffport was examined, and meanwhile a rabble began to affemble around me, attracted by my ftrange figure; a whispering arofe among the multitude and fome of the crowd were pointing alternately at me and my This was the work of a few mohorfe; the latter having been ftolen by ments, and I was fafely housed in my one of my former affociates, my con- hiding place when the door was forced science gave the alarm. The gate open with a thundering noife. My keeper returned with the paffport, and calculations had not deceived me, and told me, that the bailiff understanding my plan fucceeded as well as I could that I came from the feat of the war, expect it. My purfuers feeing the winwould be glad to have half an hour's dow open, and the feather-bed lying in conversation with me, and to get fome the field, believed firmly I had effected information of the fituation of our ar- my efcape: fome young men jumped my. This meffage increased my ap- boldly down, and others went to purfue prehenfion of being known, and fear- me on horfeback; the old woman who ing the invitation of the bailiff to be a could tell no tales, was carried to anofnare to get me in his power without ther part of the house, and I was refiftance, I clapt fpurs to my horfe left alone to muse on my awkward fituwithout returning an answer.' ation.' My fudden flight gave the fignal to an uni verfal hue and cry; a thief! a thief! exclaimed the whole multitude, pursuing me with all poflible speed. • Soon after the owner of the house came into the room with fome of his neighbours, and confirmed by his difcourfes my hope, that nobody suspected PP 2 my hiding place. One of the company thought I might be concealed under the bed, but this idea of my ftill being in the house was, to my inexpreffible fatisfaction treated with ridicule. At length my fituation became extremely painful to me, and I wifhed fervently my unwelcome visitors might be gone.' After two tedious hours I was at length releafed of my fear to be detect ed by fome unforeseen accident, when the landlord and his friends left alfo the room where I was hidden. As foon as the coaft was clear, and the tranquility of the houfe restored, I climbed higher up into the chimney with the intention to get upon the roof; however, on maturer deliberation I thought it fafer to remain where I was, hearing many voices in the field, which made me afraid of being detected.' The time crept flowly on, and I thought the wifhed-for hour of midnight would never fet in: hunger and thirft increased the horrors of my fituation, and that ever watchful remembrancer of the mortal race, confcience, began to remind me of my wickedness, and the punishments of never fleeping juftice, which fooner or later would overtake me: my refolution of leaving the path of vice acquired new ftrength, and I vowed fervently never to fin again if I fhould efcape once more.' Amidft thefe falutary meditations and refolutions night began to fet in, and I breathed freer. At length the feather bed was brought back, but nobody came to fleep in it that night, and the room remained unoccupied.' As foon as midnight filence announced to me that every body was gone to reft, I flided foftly down the chim ney, tore one of the bed fheets and twisted it in a line to make use of it in getting into the field. No fooner had I touched the ground than I took to my heels to reach, before day-break, the Black Foreft, which I knew was only two miles diftant, being well aware that the whole country would be in a hue and cry after ne as foon as my nocturnal efcape fhould be known. Fear gave me firength and winged my : feet fatigued and entirely fpent I reached the fkirts of the Black Foreft, and threw myself into the first thicket to reft my weary limbs.' Fatigued by the long journey I had made and the anxiety and fear which continually had haraffed my mind, I fell afleep: I had not flept two hours, as I could guess by the fun, when I was fuddenly roufed by the diftant barking of dogs; I ftarted up and liftened, when the hallowing of two huntsmen vibrated in my ear: they seemed to direct their courfe towards the spot where I was concealed, and no other means of efcape were left me, but to climb up an adjoining oak tree, and to hide my felf amid its thickest branches, where I fancied to find fecurity.' However all my fears and apprehenfions returned with redoubled force, when the dogs came to the tree which fheltered me and began to bark in a terrible manner; the hunters were clofe at their heels, but feeing no game, they recalled my new perfecutors and purfued their way. Fear of falling into the hands of my enemies obliged me to remain where I was until the dark manthe of night should cover once more my flight.' Hunger and thirft had hardly left me fufficient ftrength to keep my fituation any longer, when I, to my inexpreffible joy, efpied the neft of a raven in the top of a tree, and fix eggs in it. This unexpected relief gave me new ftrength, new life, new hope, and I awaited with patience the fetting in of night, when I got down, purfuing my way through the foreft.' The night was dark, and a rifing tempeft fhook the tops of the lofty oaks: the diftant lightning and the hollow voice of the thunder announced a dreadful night. The thunder foon began to shake the firmament, flashes of lightning illuminated, by intervals, the dark and dreary foreft, and to increafe the miferies of my fituation, a storm of rain gushed down with fuch violence as if all the flood-gates of heaven had been opened at once. (To be continued.) Bafem; Bafem; or, the Blacksmith. (Concluded from page 331 of our Ma gazine for October laft). WERE the vizir interpofing, propo in whofe cuftody the prifoners were) fhould be ordered to produce them; to which the Khalif gave his affent. In a very fhort while the waly (governor) made his appearance, with the four criminals, their arms pinioned, and their heads bare. They were banditti, who not only had robbed on the highway, but had added murder to robbery, in defiance to the laws of God. When brought before the Khalif, he afked them, "Whether they belonged to that gang which had been guilty of fuch atrocities?" They anfwered, "We are, O Emeer al Moumaneen, abandoned by God, and inftigated by the devil; we have been affociates in their crimes; but we now appear in humility and repentance before the Emeer of the true believers." "You are delinquents of that kind,” said the Khalif, "for whom there is no remedy but the fword." He then ordered the three bildars felected by Bafem, each to feize one of the prifoners, to cut open his veft, and blindfold him, then to unfheath the fword and wait for further orders. The three bildars, firft bending their bodies, replied, "We are ready and obedient to God and you;" and each in order, feizing a criminal, placed him at a distance on the ground, according to cuftom, fitting on his knees and hams, his arms pinioned, and his eyes covered. The bildar, with his fword drawn, ftood a little behind the criminal, and faid, "O Emeer al Moumaneen, have I your leave to strike ?" While the three bildars, with each a criminal, ftood thus arranged, Bafem ftood loft in dreadful reflections. "This crowns all "faid he to himfelf, "every new misfortune is more curft than its prior fifter. By Ullah! to efcape from death is now impoffible." At this inftant, the Khalif called to him, "You there, are you not one of my established bildars? Why do you not lead out your criminal, as your companions have done?" Bafem being now obliged to obey,, laid hands on the fourth prifoner tied his hands behind, cut open his veft, and tied a handkerchief over his eyes; then took his ftand behind him, but without moving his fword. "I am the fword? In a few minutes it will be found to be a piece of date tree: I fhall be the the public jeft, and lofe my head by the Khalif's order. In what a wretched fcrape am I involved!" He then took his fword from the belt, and grafping the hilt in his right hand, he refted the fword on the left arm. The Khalif was highly diverted at this manoeuvre; but called out to him. "You bildar, why do you not unsheath your fword, as your comrades have done?" "My lord," replied Bafem, "it is not good that a naked fword fhould dazzle the eyes of the Emeer al Moumaneen." The Khalif, feeraingly acquiefcing in this answer, turned to the firft bildar, and commanded him to ftrike; when in a moment the head was fevered from the body, Well done, Achmed," faid the Khalif and at the fame time ordered him a prefent, and an increafe of falary. "And do you, Otman," fpeaking to the fecond bildar, "execute your criminal." "I am prepared and obedient," replied he; then raifing his arm aloft, fo as to expofe his armpit, he at one ftroke made the head leap to fome distance from the fhoulders. The Khalif, after commending his dexterity, ordered him the fame reward as the former. The third criminal was next decapitated, and the executioner received the fame commendation and gratuity that his companions had done. The Khalif then turning to Bafem, "You, my established bildar," faid he, "cut of the head of your criminal, as your comrades have done, and be ent led to the like reward." But Bafe was loft in thought, or rather in a late of ftupefaction, till Mefrour stepping up to him, and touching him on the fide, whispered in his ear, "Anfwer the Emeer al Moumaneen, and obey his commands, or elfe your head thall inftantly fly from your fhoulders, like thofe of the banditti." Bafem aroufed from from his reverie, lifting up his head, faid, "Yes, yes, Emeer al Moumaneen.", "Strike off the head of your prifoner, faid the Khalif. Upon my head and eyes be it," replied Bafem; then draw ing near the furviving culprit," It is the Khalif's command," faid he, "that your head should be fevered from your body. If you are prepared to pronounce the confeffion of your faith, pronounce it, for this is the laft hour that God has permitted you to breathe." The culprit diftin&tly recited the Moflem creed. permiffion O hadgi Khalif."" Smite the neck of the criminal," said the Khalif. Bafem now unheathed his wooden fword, exclaiming with an air of tri umph," innocent! my lord;" to the admiration and diverfion of all who were prefent in the divan. When the laughter he had occafioned ceafed, Bafem addreffing the Khalif, "O hadgi Khalif," said he," this man was unjustly condemned, let him be fet free." The Khalif after having ordered the criminal to be liberated, called the head bildar, and pointing to Bafem, While Balem bared his right arm" let that man," said he, "be immedi to the elbow, and fiercely rolling his eyes, walked thrice round the prifoner, defiring he might declare his firm belief, that this was the ordinances of God, and the day appointed by providence for his leaving the world. "If you are thirfty," added he, "I will give you to drink; if hungry, I will feed you: and if innocent, fay with a loud voice, I am an innocent man." ately enrolled in your corps, with the Memoirs of the Life and Writings of the and S. A. (Concluded from page 20f».) The Khalif was very attentive to all that paffed, and highly diverted by Bafem's ingenuity. The criminal now exclaimed, in a loud voice, "I am an innocent man." "You lie;" replied Bafem, but I have a fecret, which I will not discover but to the Khalif himself:" he then approached, and kiffing the ground, faid, "O Emeer al Moumaneen, hear me only two words; I have along with me a treasure, which has THE intimate connexion which had been long in our family. My grand- fubfifted between Dr. Kippis and father inherited it from his grandfather, fir John Pringle, bart, at that time a and my father from his father; my mo- very refpectable and ufeful prefident of ther inherited it from my father, and the royal fociety, and who united in from my mother it defcended to me. public worship with the congregation It is this fword," laying it before the in Prince's-ftreet, induced the doctor Khalif, "which poffeffes a talifman. after the decease of that great phyfi The power of this talifman is moft cian, to republifh his Six Difcourfes wonderful, O hadgi Khalif, continued delivered on occafion of the fix annual be; if this man is innocent, the fword, affignments of fir Godfrey Copley's when unheathed, will appear to be medal. To thefe he has prefixed a wood; but if he is guilty, it will emit a valuable life of the author, who, from #lafh of fire, which will confume his his high rank and reputation in the liBeck, as if it were a reed." Let us have terary world, was undoubtedly a proa proof of this prodigy," faid the per object for the researches of biogra Khalif, "ftrike the neck of the crimi- phy. The fervice which fir John nal." I am prepared and obedient," Pringle rendered to philofophy, appear replied Bafem; then returning to the to be very accurately ftated in this nar criminal, and placing himself in a pof- rative; but our biographer's profeffion, pare to exccute the final order, "your perhaps, did not qualify him to difcufs ་ bis |