contemplating the melancholy end of all his "gibes and quips, and cranks and jeering;" and, when contemplating such a wreck, it is perhaps well for society, and the dignity of literature itself, that the like exists no longer. The Athenæum is an exceedingly handsome structure, elegantly ornamented on the exterior, and surmounted by an imposing statue of Minerva. In the interior, the chief feature is the staircase, which is on a scale of splendour unexpected for the size of the building, and may be adduced as an instance that such a feature is not necessarily fatal to beauty and magnificence in architecture. One of its great attractions is an extensive and well-chosen library, exceeding, it is understood, twenty thousand volumes in number, and continually increased by donations, as well as the dedication of £500 a year from its funds for the purchase of new works of distinction in literature and art. The names of Sir Thomas Lawrence, Sir Humphrey Davy, Sir James Mackintosh, Sir Walter Scott, and Mr. John Wilson Croker, may all be mentioned in union with the Athenæum; and the numerous candidates for admission-extending at one time, it is believed, to the hopeless number of sixteen hundred-led to the establishment of several similar clubs; conspicuous among which are THE OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE, in Pall Mall, midway on the shady side, and THE UNIVERSITY, at the extremity of Suffolk-street, Pall Mall East. These clubs may both be mentioned together as peculiar, we believe, to University men, and such only as are members of the two great colleges of England. The former is a handsome structure; and, before the recent erections of the Conservative, the Army and Navy, and Charlton, was, in its exterior, amongst the most conspicuous in London. The other is a somewhat dull and heavy-looking affair, but possessing, it is said, the best cellar of wine in London. The Oxford and Cambridge, which is the more recent in its origin, consists chiefly of the younger spirits of the Universities, and is less select. The other is, for the most part, composed of the old and graver members; and in these ranks some of the most experienced bibbers in the metropolis are to be found—men more learned in all the varieties of foreign wine than Roberts himself in the shocking mysteries of the composition of British, and whom even the sagest and most expert" tasters" of the London Docks are disposed to regard with envy. All the serious Members of Parliament, who have received university education, are invariably to be found in the latter. It also contains a considerable number of the judges, and no small portion of beneficed clergymen. When admission to the Athenæum, and perhaps these clubs tooespecially the last-named-became an anticipation almost hopeless, a new club, THE ERECTHEUM was established for the purpose of receiving the despairing members; but is by no means of the same high order with the others. It is situated in St. James's-square,-a quiet, unassuming mansion, hired for the purpose, and entering from an adjoining street. An institution of a similar order, the CLARENCE, originally named the Literary Union, was established a few years ago, but failed from want of resources; Hood, the noted punster, though capable of higher things, declaring that its members were republicans in literature, because they had not a sovereign amongst them. A new club of this order, named the MUSEUM, of humbler pretensions, and more economic terms of admission, has lately been established in Northumberland-street, Strand; but it is doubtful whether it will obtain success, the ordinary places of public entertainment being more accessible to the majority of those likely to become its members, and the various literary institutions of the metropolis affording them reading accommodation at a price still more equitable. Still, it is a movement not to be discouraged; and the extension of the advantages of the clubsystem to a still humbler grade, as in the instance of a vast city institution, known by the somewhat puerile name of the WHITTINGTON, may be mentioned as another praiseworthy attempt of a similar description. But, connected somewhat with literature, somewhat with politics, and somewhat with commerce of the highest order, is another THE UNION, one of the oldest, and, until of late years, one of the most recherché of all. This club was established in Cockspur-street, Trafalgar-square, shortly after the institution of the Senior United Service and Athenæum ; and, for years celebrated, has almost ever since maintained its ascendancy. At one time almost equally exclusive with the Athenæum itself, it has of late years become more accessible, chiefly in consequence of the increased number of similar establishments diminishing the aggregate of candidates. But it is still select; and the fame of its cuisine is second to that of none in London. A small hotel, bearing a like designation, was established on this reputation in the immediate neighbourhood; and we know not whether there was any connexion with the management or not, but it speedily became so renowned for turtle, that the fortune of the proprietor was secure: old Lord Panmure, a connoiseur of the highest order in all culinary matters, regularly taking up his quarters in it every year, and attending his parliamentary duties with exemplary assiduity for the sake of the soup; although the whole of his eloquence, during a course of a quarter of a century, consisted of the exclamation "What a sheam!" in 1815, when some of the refractory populace endeavoured to break the windows of St. Stephen's chapel, during the discussion of the corn-law bill of that day. The Union, as already mentioned, consists of politicians, and the higher order of professional and commercial men, without reference to party opinions; and the ALFRED, the WYNDHAM, and the PARTHENON, are clubs of similar nature; tourists, however, predominating in the first of these three institutions, and literateurs in the last. The Wyndham is rather a place of resort with country gentlemen, like Arthur's and Boodle's; but tourists on a grand scale, or those whose excursions have extended to a distance of not less than five hundred miles from London, or the bounds of Britain, have a club of their own THE TRAVELlers'. : For admission to which this last-named condition is a qualification indispensable, unless the candidate chance to be a foreign ambassador, or to occupy high diplomatic station, when he is eligible for an honorary member, as a matter of course. This club is exceedingly select, numbering the highest branches of the peerage, and the most distinguished of the lower house of parliament, in its ranks. It consists of only seven hundred members, but they are amongst the elite of the land and Talleyrand, with some of the most eminent representatives of foreign powers, have been enrolled in the list of its honorary members. When ambassador to this country from the French court, the veteran diplomatist was wont to pass his leisure hours at this favorite retreat in Pall Mall, and steered his way as triumphantly throughout all the mazes of whist and ecarte, as he had done amid the intricacies of the thirteen different forms of governments-each of which he had sworn to observe. Numerous bon mots and repartees are here recorded of him, though his innate sense of politeness kept, when amongst foreigners, his keen-cutting satire in restraint: but space, and the length to which the article has already extended, at present preclude us from noting them. Another club, devoted to travellers from a far-distant land, is THE ORIENTAL, on the shady side of Hanover Square, established for the commerce of affairs in the service of the East India Company, civil as well as military and naval. In its recesses, these gentlemen find a retreat when at home on furlough, or a re-union, with all the hot spices and fiery cookery of the East, when they have finally retired from service, and returned faded, crippled, and jaundiced, to repose on their handsome yet health-earned pensions, and narrate their adventures, or fight (in talk) their fields again, We have no space, at present, for any anecdotes connected with themwhich, sooth to say, are somewhat of a saturnine complexion, and relate for the most part to persons or affairs "two thousand miles up the country," in whom, or in which, few of our countrymen at home would feel an interest. In the City there are one or two clubs of distinction, the CITY par excellence, and the GRESHAM; but they present no peculiarities for notice. Farther west, in Chancery Lane, is a LAW Club, the aim of which is obvious; and intermediate between this and the West End establishments stands the GARRICK, the smallest, we believe, of any such institutions, devoted mainly, though not entirely, to writers and members in the dramatic school. J.* CURIOUS TRIALS CONNECTED WITH THE ARISTOCRACY. No. XVI. THE MANSLAUGHTER OF SIR CHARLES PYM. THE Pyms, of Brymmore, in Somersetshire, were a very ancient and honorable house: their existence, as a family of condition, is recorded as far back as the reign of Edward IV., and their name is one of note in English history. It was made so by the famous representative of the race, in the seventeenth century-John Pym, the stern parliamentarian, who acted so great a part in the eventful drama, which ended with the overthrow of the monarchy, and the murder of the King. John Pym's son was created a Baronet by Charles II. in 1663; and his grandson, the second Baronet, was the unfortunate Sir Charles Pym, the subject of this trial, with whose death in this painful squabble, terminated the male line of the Pym's of Brymmore. This investigation presents merely the narrative of a fatal tavern brawl; but it is curious as giving an insight into the turbulent manners of the day, in London, just previous to the Revolution. The trial took place at the Old Bailey, on the 1st of June, 1688, and, as will be seen, King James's faithful supporter, Mr. Justice Allibone, was one of the presiding judges. The prisoners, Rowland Walters, Wearing Bradshaw, and Ambrose Cave, gentlemen, were indicted for the murder of Sir Charles Pym, Baronet, by killing him with the thrust of a rapier. The parties accused, as well as the other gentlemen engaged in the melancholy transaction, were persons of station and family: one of them, Ambrose Cave, was the third son of Sir Thomas Cave, Knt., the representative of a house still in existence, and one of the oldest in the realm. This Ambrose Cave eventually perished by violence, being assassinated by one Biron, an officer in the The case was thus opened: army. Counsel for the King. My lords, and you gentlemen of the jury, I am here retained a counsel for the King, against the prisoners at the bar, who all three stand indicted for the murder of Sir Charles Pym, bart. in the parish of St. Nicholas Cole-abbey, by thrusting him through the body near the right pap, giving him a mortal wound, of which he then and there instantly died. The other two prisoners stand indicted for aiding, abetting, and assisting him the said Walters in the said murder. Another Counsel for the King. My lords, this murder fell out on the fourth day of May last, after this manner, viz. Sir Charles Pym, one Mr. Mirriday, Mr. Neale, and Sir Thomas Middleton, and others dined at the Swan Tavern upon Fish-street Hill; after they were CURIOUS TRIALS CONNECTED WITH THE ARISTOCRACY. 525 come into the house they went up-stairs; after which the prisoners at the bar came into the house and took another room to dine of beef and other things. But one of Sir Charles's company desired to have a plate of it; upon which Mr. Cloudsley told them some gentlemen had bespoke it for dinner; but he said he would get them a plate of it, which was sent up and ordered to be reckoned into Mr. Walters the prisoner's bill. After dinner they drank their healths, and returned them thanks for their beef; and towards the evening, Sir Charles Pym and his friends came downstairs, and met the prisoners at the bottom, and Mr. Cave asked them how they liked the beef that was sent up? Upon which, one in the company answered, and told them, they did not send it, for they had paid for. it. Upon which, farther words arose, and Mr. Bradshaw drew his sword and fell upon Sir Charles Pym, but he got out into the street. After which, Mr. Walters came forth and plucked Sir Charles Pym by the arms, and forced him to fight with him, saying, here is my hand, and here is my sword; and as soon as he was in the street he received this mortal wound, and so fell down dead. After this, Mr. Walters took him by the nape of the neck, and dashed his head upon the ground, and cried out, damn you, you are dead and said farther, let the sword alone in his body. My lord, this shall be proved to be done without any manner of provocation; and if so, I hope you, gentlemen of the jury, will find him guilty of wilful murder. Clerk. Call Mr, Mirriday, Mr. Neale, Mr. Palms, and Mr. Bridges. (Who were sworn.) Mr. Mirriday. My lord, on the 4th day of May last, on a Friday, Sir Charles Pym, myself, and these gentlemen here in court, came to dine at the Swan Tavern, in Old Fish-street. We asked for meat, and Mr. Cloudsley, the man of the house, told us we might have fish, for he had no meat but what was bespoke by Mr. Walters and his company. We desired him to help us to a plate of it, if it might be got, which we had brought up-stairs; after dinner we drank the gentlemen's healths that sent it, and returned them thanks for it. A while after, Sir Thomas Middleton went away, and about an hour after that or thereabouts, Sir Charles Pym and the rest of us came down to go away; and when we were in the entry, Mr. Cave met us and asked Sir Charles how he liked the beef that was sent up; who answered, we did not know you sent it, for we have paid for it. Then the boy that kept the bar told us that he did not reckon it in the bill; upon which Mr. Cave seemed to take it ill: but, my lord, I cannot be positive whether Mr. Bradshaw and Mr. Palms were at any words. Then I took Mr. Cave to one side, into the entry, and he thought that I had a mind to fight him, but I did what I could to make an end of the quarrel. [Upon which the Court highly commended Mr. Mirriday.] Court. This was in the entry, but where was Sir Charles Pym? Court. Where was Mr. Walters? Mirriday. He was at the door, my lord; but I cannot swear positively to any particular passage as to the murder; but Mr. Walters called Sir Charles Pym rogue, and gave him very ill words, and I saw him take him by the neck and force his head downwards, and said, with an oath, he is dead, to the best of my remembrance, my lord, Then I took Sir Charles up in my arms and pulled the sword out of his body; and then Mr. |