ANECDOTES.

During the Protectorship of Oliver Cromwell, he proposed the re-establishment of the Jews in England, with the liberty of carrying on their trade and enjoying the exercise of their religion. This scheme met with great opposition from the leaders of the different sectaries. Cromwell, however, carried the point, and procured the settling of a small body of Jews in an old quarter of London, under the direction of Menasses-Ben-Israel, á famous Rabbin, who set about building, and soon finished, a synagogue. The correspondence and unalterable friendship maintained between the dispersed Jews, in the different countries of the earth, were of singular advantage to the Protector. He was often indebted to them for important pieces of news and intelligence, which not a little contributed to the success of the enterprises he had from time to time formed against foreigners. And this is a very probable reason, why, preferable to any consideration of commerce, or other utillity to the State, the Jews are still countenanced by our Government, the most acute of them being employed as spies in the Courts of Europe, and elsewere on sundry other occasions; whence the greatest part of the money granted for secret services goes to the Jews. But to return to Cromwell, among a number of examples that may be cited, we shall produce but one to corroborate what is here asserted. One day as Cromwell was walking with Lord Broghill in one of the galleries of Whitehall, a man very meanly clad presented himself before them. Cromwell immediately quitted company with his Lordship, and, taking that man by the hand, shewed him into his closet. Here he learned from him that the Spaniards were sending a considerable sum of money to pay their army in Flanders; that sum was aboard a Dutch vessel, and the Jew was so exact in circumstances as to describe the very part of the ship were the money was stowed. Cromwell sent Jermy Smith, who was cruising in the channel, orders not to fail in seizing the Spanish treasure as soon as the Dutch ship should enter the strait. When it appeared, Smith sent a message demanding to visit it; but, the Dutch Captain answering that he would suffer none but his master to come aboard his ship, Smith threatened to sink him to the bottom. The Dutchman, too weak for defending himself, at length submitted; the money was found, and sent to London; Cromwell received it, and, soon after seeing Lord

Broghill, told him, that were it not for the poor Jew they had seen a few days before, that good fortune would have slipped out of his hands.

Henry Carey, Queen Elizabeth's cousin, enjoyed for some years her Majesty's favour, till he had lost it by the following adventure. One day, as he was walking in a meditative mood in the Palace-gardens under the Queen's windows, she perceived him, and said to him joking: "What does a man think of when he thinks of nothing?" "The promises of a woman," answered Carey. "You may have hit the nail on the head, and it may be so," replied Elizabeth. She withdrew, but did not forget Carey's answer. Some time after he solicited a peerage, and put the Queen in mind that she had made such a promise to him. Well, and what then," said she," it was only the promise of a woman." She constantly afterwards refused to hear him, which he took so much at heart, that he died with grief.

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"If so,

A Countess of Eglington, one of the most beautiful women in Scotland, lost the affection of her husband, because she had brought him seven daughters and never a son. The Earl proceeded so far as to assure her that he was resolved to separate. I am ready to consent to it," said the Countess," and you have only to restore to me what I brought you in marriage." you shall be well satisfied, your maintenance shall be settled, and your fortune repaid to you."-"No" no, my Lord, this is not all I want, restore to me my youth, my beauty, my virginity, and I will this instant leave you." This restitution was not in the Lord's power; the demand silenced him, and he spoke no more of separation. Before the end of the year, the Countess was delivered of a son, which reinstated her in her hnsband's tender

ness.

Lord Waldegrave, having abjured the Roman Catholic religion, was sent into France were he remained several years in the quality of Ambassdor. Being once at a house, were there was a numerous assembly, his cousin, the Duke of Berwick, with whom he was not upon very good terms, and who sought opportunities to mortify him, turned the conversation to religion, and prayed the Ambassdor to confess sincerely, which it was, the Ministers of State, or the Ministers of the Gospel, that had reason to glorify themselves for his conversion. "Indeed, my Lord, replied Waldegrave smartly, I cannot give you a satisfactory answer, as. by quitting the Roman Catholic religion, I have renounced confession."

DREADFUL EARTHQUAKE.

Extract of a letter from Mr. Benjamin Barker, Agent to the British and Foreign Bible Society, at Aleppo, dated Garden of Ibrahim Aga, near the Ruins of Aleppo, August 23, 1822 :

"With a heavy heart I take up my pen, to trace anew in my dejected mind the most dreadful of events. The wounds of affliction must bleed afresh, when I recall to my memory the lamentations of fathers for their children, of children for their fathers, of husbands for their wives, and of wives for their husbands, running naked from place to place, imploring the protection of the Almighty, or with their feeble hands, amidst the falling ruins, to extricate themselves and their relations.

"On the night of the 13th of August, about half past nine o'clock, Aleppo, third city of the Ottoman empire, built entirely of stone, was, in the space of a few seconds, brought down to its foundation. I was at that time asleep on the terrace of my particular friend Mr. Maseyk, who, by the help of the Almighty, was mercifully saved with all his family.

"About half an hour previous to the great shock, a light one was felt, when I took the precaution to draw my bed from under a very high wall, where it was placed. I was soon awakened by the fall of that wall, on the very spot where my bed had stood. I sprang from my couch, and, without waiting to dress myself, fled into the house, which I found falling on all sides.

"To remain in the house, or to take to flight through the streets, amidst falling houses, appeared to be equally dangerous. "I recommended my soul to God, and embraced the latter resolution, In cosequence, I descended the back stairs of Mr Maseyk's house, by the Almighty's guidance, for the great staircase fell at the same time.

"The darkness of the night and the clouds of dust that covered the atmosphere, prevented me from perceiving the stones and rubbish on the stairs, which had fallen from a part of the house, and I was precipitated into the court-yard on a dead body.

"How can I express my feelings at that moment, ignorant on what body I had fallen! I was half dead with fright and horror. I afterwards learnt that it was a faithful servant, who a second before had descended those stairs, when some stones of an adjoining Turkish house fell and killed him.

"I quitted that melancholy spot, and like a man deprived of his senses, ran amidst the falling walls to the gate of the town, which is situated at some distance from my friend's house. It was on my road, among narrow streets, that I was destined to witness the most horrible of all scenes. The lights of the houses whose sides had fallen, exposed to my view men and women clinging to the ruined walls of their houses, holding their children in their trembling arms; mangled bodies lying under my feet; and piercing cries of half buried people assailing my ears; Christians, Jews, and Turks, were imploring the Almighty's mercy in their respective tongues, who a minute before did not perhaps acknowledge him.

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"After a great deal of trouble and fatigue, running among the ruins, I arrived exhausted at the gate of the city, called Babelfaniage, the earthquake 'still, continuing. Cold and dreadfully bruised, and cut in my body and feet, I fell on my knees among concourse of people to thank the Almighty for my deliverance from the jaws of death. But the gate of the city was shut and no one dared to risk his life under its arch, to open it. After recommending my soul again to my Creator, I threw myself on the goy to gate. I felt in the dark, and perceived that it was not locked, but the great iron bars that went across the folding-doors were bent by the earthquake, and the little strength I retained was not sufficient to force them. I went in quest of the guards, but they dino gode were no more!

I fell again on my knees before the Almighty, who alone could save me from the immediate peril of being crushed to death. I did not forget in my prayers the miserable creatures around me. While I was in that attitude, four or five Turks came near me, and joined hands to pray in their accustomed way, calling out," Alla! Alla! Having in sight my safety, and that of thousands of individuals who crowded to the gate escape, I made no more reflections, but began to entreat them, in the name of God, to help me open the gate, in order to save our lives and those of so many individuals who were continually perishing before us.

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The Lord inspired them with courage; and, providing themselves with large stones, according to my instructions, in a little time they forced the bars and opened the gate. No sooner had I quitted it, than a strong shock of an earthquake crumbled it to pieces, and several Jews were killed by its fall.

A new and affecting scene was now exhibited. A great concourse of people rushed out, and with one accord fell on their knees to render thanks to the Almighty for their preservation; but when the first transports of joy were over, the thought of having left buried, in the city, their friends and relations, made them pour such piercing lamentations, that the most hard-hearted person would have been penetrated with grief. I'crept, as

well as I could, about twenty yards, to a place where I saw a group of people, who had saved themselves from the suburbs, where no gates prevented their issuing out of the town; there I fell, half dead with cold, and with the pain from my sores.

"Two or three people who recognised me in that miserable condition, immediately gave me a cloak, and brought me a little water. When I recovered a little my senses, I began to feel new sufferings, of a nature too poignant to be described.

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The thoughts of what might have befallen my brother and his family, who were at Antioch, and the fate of my friends in the city, besides the melancholy objects around me, some wounded, others lamenting the death of their relations, many having before them their dying children taken from under the ruins, preyed so strongly on my mind, that the pen of the ablest writer cannot give an adequate idea of my feelings. I spent the whole night in prayer and anxiety.

"Early the next morning I was conveyed by some charitable people on an ass to the nearest garden, to 'profit by the shade of the trees. I did not remain long before Mr. Derhé, the French dragoman, joined me, and gave me the agreeable news that all the European Christians, excepting a little boy, had been saved ; but many, like myself, were greatly bruised.

" Of the European Jews, the Austrian consul Mr. Esdra de Picciateo, and a few others, were crushed to death; and many thousands of native Christians, Jews; and Turks, perished with them. I have now the satisfaction to know, that my brother and family have escaped from a similar danger at Antioch; which place has likewise been destroyed, as well as Latakia, Gisser Shogre, Idlib, Menduu Killis, Scanderoon, and all the rest of the towns and villages in the Pachalick of Aleppo.⠀ ⠀

"Of the interior, as yet, we have had no news. All those who have made their escape out of the city are encamped in the gardens. Iremained four days without being able to move, from -my bruises and sores, having only a sheet to screen me from the -scorching rays of the sun. I am now, thank God, much better, and begin to walk a little, but with great pain.

When I joined the rest of the Europeans in the garden of Ibrahim Aga, I was most kindly received by the French consul, Mr. Lesseps, who afforded every possible assistance.

I cannot too greatly admire the conduct of this worthy gentleman, in the critical and afflicting position he is in. A father could not shew more affection to his children than Mr. Lesseps manifests to his countrymen, as well as to all those who are in want of his advice or assistance.

The next day, my friend Mr. Maseyk came to live among us ; in the bosom of whose family I begin again to enjoy life, although deprived of all its comforts.

"My heart bleeds for the poor Europeans; who, without the