that "he would never betray a friend's life, nor ever deny a guilt in defence of his own." At the same time, he told the king, that he knew these confessions had laid him open to the utmost rigour of the law; but that there were hundreds of his friends, yet undiscovered, who were all bound "by the indispensable oaths of conspirators, to revenge each other's deaths upon those who should bring them to justice;" which "would expose his majesty and all his ministers, to the daily fear and expectation of a massacre. But, on the other side, if his majesty would spare the lives of a few, he might oblige the hearts of many; who, as they had been seen to do daring mischief, would be as bold, if received into pardon and favour. to perform eminent services for the crown."

After this examination, Blood and his accomplices were remanded to the Tower, there to be kept as close prisoners; but to the surprise of the nation, they were all subsequently pardoned and released. Blood himself had landed property granted to him, in Ireland, to the amount of 500l. per annum; and was likewise admitted into "all the privacy and intimacy of the court," in which he industriously employed his influence, and became a most "successful solicitor" in others' behalf; but "many gentlemen courted his acquaintance as the Indians pray to the devils, that they may not hurt them."

When it had been determined to pardon Blood, who, both by his own confession, and on strong evidence, was guilty of the attempt upon the Duke of Ormond's life, Lord Arlington was sent to inform his grace, that it was his majesty's pleasure that Blood should not be prosecuted "for reasons" which he (his lordship) was "commanded to give him ;" but the Duke interrupted him with the shrewd remark, that "his majesty's command was the only reason that could be given, and therefore he might spare the rest."

Whilst the principal ruffian was thus favoured, old Edwards, after much intercession, could obtain only a grant on

the exchequer of 2001. for himself, and 100l. for his son; but the payment even of these sums was so long delayed, and the expense of curing the old man's wounds so considerable, that they were obliged to sell their orders for half the amount in ready money.

In the latter part of his life, Blood appears to have professed quakerism: he died on the 29th of August, 1680. Some years ago, there was an old mansion at the corner of Peter and Tufton streets, Westminster, which he is traditionally said to have inhabited, after his daring exploit in the Tower had raised him to the dignity of a court pensioner.

THE MAN WITHOUT A SOUL.

THE Comte de Caylus was considered in France as a great oddity, chiefly because he wore worsted stockings and thick shoes, with a plain coat, and spent most of his fortune in patronising the arts. His death, however was very singular. Having been suspected of want of orthodoxy, his near relations and among the rest a pious bishop, were anxiously waiting during his last illness for some opening for suggesting the propriety of some spiritual attention: when he suddenly relieved them by saying, "I see perfectly that you wish to converse with me on the state of my soul:" and when they were all delighted with this happy opening, he proceeded: "I am very sorry, however, to be obliged to inform you that I actually have none." And, notwithstanding the fervent admonitions of the attendants, he persisted in this statement; and maintained with great seriousness that it was a matter of which he was certainly better entitled to judge than any one else. When reduced almost to the last extremity, he still persisted in going out in his carriage, and eating and drinking all sorts of things as usual,

and ended his life with a pun on the name of his parishpriest. This worthy person, who was called M. Chapeau, having come to see him the day before he died, the Comte told him, with great politeness that he need not come again till he was sent for, which, however, would be very soon; for, as the weather was beginning to be bad, he rather thought he should not go out again "sans chapeau;" and next day, accordingly, the good vicar was sent for to bury him!(Grimm.)

THE DAGGER OF MERCY.

FROISSART'S pages furnish us with an interesting tale, descriptive of the general chivalric custom, regarding the dagger of mercy. About the year 1390, the lord of Languarante in Gascony, rode forth with forty spears, and approached the English fortress, called Cadilhac. He placed his company in ambush, and said to them, "Sirs, tarry you still here, and I will go and ride to yonder fortress alone, and see if any will issue out against us." He then rode to the barriers of the castle, and desired the keeper to show to Bernard Courant, their captain, how that the lord Langurante was there, and desired to joust with him a course. "If he be so good a man, and so valiant in arms as it is said,” continued the challenger, "he will not refuse it for his ladies' sake; if he do, it shall turn him to much blame, for I shall report it wheresoever I go, that for cowardice he hath refused to run with me one course with a spear."

A squire of Bernard reported this message to his master, whose heart beginning to swell with ire, he cried, "Get me my harness, and saddle my horse; he shall not go refused." Incontinently he was armed, and mounted on his war steed, and taking his shield and spear, he rode through the gate and the barriers into the open field. The lord Langurante seeing

him coming was rejoiced, and couched his spear like a true knight, and so did Bernard. Their good horses dashed at each other, and their lances struck with such equal fierceness that their shields fell in pieces, and as they crossed, Bernard shouldered sir Langurante's horse in such a manner that the lord fell out of the saddle; Bernard turned his steed shortly round, and as the lord Langurante was rising, his foe, who was a strong as well as a valiant squire, took his bacinet with both his hands, and wrenching it from his head, cast it under his horse's feet. On seeing all this, the lord of Langurante's men quitted their ambush, and were coming to the rescue of their master, when Bernard drew his dagger, and said to the lord, "Sir, yield you my prisoner, rescue or no rescue; or else you are but dead." The lord, who trusted to the rescue of his men, spoke not a word; and Bernard then gave him a death-blow on his bare head, and dashing spurs into his horse, he fled within the barriers.

COLOSSAL BONES.

ST. AUGUSTINE tells us, that he found on the sea-shore, near Utica, a fossil human tooth, which was a hundred times the size of the tooth of any person living. Pliny says, that by an earthquake in Crete, a part of a mountain was opened, which discovered a skeleton sixteen cubits, or twenty-four feet long, supposed to be that of Orion. At a much later period, Kircher tells us of a skeleton dug up near Rome, which, by an inscription attached to it, was known to be that of Pallas, (slain by Turnus,) and was higher than the walls of the city. The same author tells us, that another skeleton was found near Palermo, that must have belonged to a man four hundred feet high! Another Polyphemus, we suppose.

WILL SOMMERS, the buffoon, or jester, to King Henry the Eighth, is one of the most renowned of his class, although very little is known of his actual biography. Though a reputed fool, he was highly celebrated for his sarcastic wit and sparkling talents at repartee, and that unaccompanied by the scurrility and grossness which profaned the conversation of his fellow jesters.

It appears from a scarce tract, entitled "A pleasant History of the Life and Death of Will Sommers," &c. (which was