looking earnestly at his companion. Vell! vell! I see you are out in your calculations, Gentle Billy, and newer shall it be tould that I insulted a wartuous woman in distress. Starving did you say? Here, my precious, send for some grub ;' and he threw a handful of silver into her lap.

"I would not touch it for worlds. No, not to save me from a lingering death,' exclaimed Susan, shuddering. It is perhaps stained with blood;' and she shook it on the floor.

"As you please, my precious,' acquiesced the man, picking up the money; but it has been honestly come by for all that, seeing as I got it for a watch that we found the other night.'

"But what of my husband-of Robert?' inquired she, in a state of strong excitement. I supposed you were come from him. Wherewhere is he?'

"Double-ironed in Newgate,' returned Gentle Billy, and sentenced to be transported for life.'

"Susan clasped her hands-she gasped for breath-every thing swam round her; and with a deep groan she sunk senseless on the floor. Look at the picture, ye sons and daughters of frivolity, and what will ye do? Be warned? No! You will still pursue the mazes of what you misname pleasure! You will still indulge the dictates of self-will! You will still drink of the poisoned waters, though reality in a thousand horrid shapes should intervene to check your mad career! You will do, as Gentle Billy' did, try to pump up a tear, and wonder what it all could mean.

"The robber, however, did not want for humanity. He called for the woman of the house, and went himself to fetch the only restorative he knew of a pint of brandy. He gave the mistress money to purchase victuals, and took his departure, promising to call again in the evening to inquire if she was better.

"A small portion of the spirits moistened Susan's lips. A much larger quantity went down the throat of the woman of the house, who probably thought that her lodger might be revived by sympathy. But she did revive-food was placed before her-she both ate and drank; and finding herself somewhat recovered in strength, she quitted the comfortless hovel; and the grand-daughter of an Earl-the late respectable schoolmistress-almost barefooted and bareheaded, inquired the way to

Newgate.

"It would be a tedious and a disgusting task to repeat all the attempts at low wit which were called forth by the question. Some told her to pick-pockets'-others, to star the glaze'-one advised, ' running away with a silversmith's shop'-another, to rob a church.' But the poor woman still continued asking, with the same success, till she added the word street' to Newgate, and was directed on her way.

"It was at the close of a dark dreary afternoon, at the latter end of November, that this once proud daughter of affluence, poorly clad and shivering with the cold, passed through the crowded streets, and reached Cheapside. There the busy throng were hurrying along, and who could read their hearts? I have often thought, whilst standing at the corner of St. Paul's Churchyard, and looking in the many faces that have passed within the compass of a few minutes, what various passions, feelings, energies, and sentiments they expressed; and yet in all, particularly at the gloomy season of the year, there was a look of anxious

solicitude and care. Oh! who could tell the mass of human misery contained within those breasts?

"Susan moved on: the dim lamps, just lighted, shone feebly through the foggy atmosphere and drizzling rain-the shops, with their glimmering candles, scarcely threw the illuminated rays across the footway. At the corner of Bow Churchyard she beheld a pale and sickly-looking female, with an infant in each arm, and she was imploring charity. Yet none of that busy crowd addressed a word of Christian consolation, or extended the hand of benevolence to relieve. The babies cried-the mother tried to soothe them, and Susan, heart-sick and sorrowful, was swept onward by the stream. Did she feel for that perishing mother? No! Amidst all her calamities, pride had steeled her heart against the wretchedness of her fellow-creatures. She looked with contempt upon the beggar, for she herself had never known the pangs of childbirth. She could not enter into the feelings of a destitute mother.

"At length she reached the dark and frowning mass of blackened stone that aspires to the title of His Majesty's Gaol of Newgate.' The lamps threw a sort of dubious gloom upon the spectacle, for midway between them was utter darkness. There were but few moving on the pavement before that characteristic building, and Susan was there for the first time in her life. Who was she to address, and how gain admittance, were questions that she never thought of till that moment; and yet her husband, the man to whom she had sworn allegiance, was fettered within those massive walls, a felon, a convicted felon, about to suffer the penalty of his crime. She tried the doors, but they were all fast. She was about to knock at the Governor's, when a soft harmonious voice whispered in her ear, No manner of use in life, Ma'am; it's arter hours; and, turning round, she saw "Gentle Billy' close at her elbow.

"There are seasons when the heart is so sad, and the spirit is so utterly depressed, that even the society of those we most despise becomes acceptable, to save us from ourselves; and so it was with Susan. This man had disgusted her he had owned himself to be a professed thiefhe had offered to take a freedom which no one before had attemptedshe feared and loathed him, yet now a thrill of joy passed through her heart when she recognised her companion of the afternoon. Oh, how glad I am to see you!' was the first spontaneous exclamation, and it was strictly true; she was rejoiced to behold one who could solve her difficulties.

"I thought I could track your course, my precious,' said the man; but come, come away-you'll catch cowld near these hard-hearted stones. You cannot see him to-night.'

"But are you not alarmed for yourself?' inquired Susan, with a stronger expression of disquietude than she really felt. You cannot be safe here.'

"Hush! hush! not so loud, if you please,' replied her companion. You know the ould saying, that walls have ears,' and I'm d-d but there's plenty of ear-rings about,' pointing to the chains above the door, and the ears are not far off; but,' and he whispered, chaps of our kidney are more securer here than in many other places, 'cause they'd hardly come to saarch for us in sight of iron bars and handcuffs; yet, atwixt you and me, there's more business in our way planned in

this here neighbourvood than anywhere else in town. In fact, all the genteel line is done at no great distance from this spot.'

"Susan listened, but it was with impatience, though she did not show it outwardly. And when,' inquired she, shall I be allowed the painful privilege of seeing my husband?'

"To-morrow morning, if you've luck,' returned, the man.

You

must be at the gate by six o'clock, and then you'll see him toddle off in the wan.'

"I do not understand you,' said she; 'pray be more explicit in what you say.'

"As for being 'splicit,' returned Gentle Billy, I scorns it; but I tell you plainly, Ma'am-and, after what you have said, I wouldn't open my mouth ounly for the love of Bob-that to-morrow morning the Governor will take 'em out a hairing, and a long excarsion they'll have on it afore they gets back.'

"Do I understand right?' inquired she, kindly and anxiously. "Does Robert, Robert Waxwell, quit this place to-morrow?'

"As true as gospel,' replied Billy; he goes to the hulks in the morning, and off to Portsmouth directly, where his Majesty has provided a ship to carry him out to cultivate more flowers than you'll find in Common Garden. He's going to study botany, Ma'am.'

"Oh, God!' groaned Susan, as she staggered, from the blow, and would have fallen but for the support of her companion, this-this is indeed heavy. I will remain here, then,' added she, for the night, and then I shall be certain not to miss a last farewell.'

6

·

"Here! stop here! and such a night as this 'll be!' exclaimed the man, in astonishment; then I'm d-d if you do. I honours your dewotion, and it never shall be said that Gentle Billy wanted humanity or gallantry. Come, come, my precious, let me see you safe home; and though I don't much like your daylight traps, yet, with a little management, I thinks I can do 'em a few. But you seems faint and veary. No gammon, but honour bright-trust to me, and ve'll have some refreshment afore you starts.'

"Susan would have excused herself, but she was exhausted, and had not wherewithal to purchase a mouthful of bread; it was therefore her necessity, and not her will, that induced her to accompany Gentle Billy, and even lean upon his arm as they passed through one or two blind alleys, that excited apprehensions in her mind, till they suddenly darted into a passage uncheered by a single ray of light, and knocking on a door, Billy gave the countersign. Susan heard, with something like dismay, the clanking of heavy chains and the rattling of massive bolts; but she had gone too far to recede, and a feeling of feverish curiosity sustained her in the trial. A small portal was opened, and bidding her have no fear, her companion drew her within the porch. It was immediately closed, the chains and bolts were replaced, and an inner door being opened, there was a sudden blaze of light from a powerful lamp that quite dazzled the sight. Passing through the passage, they came to another door equally well secured as the first, which having entered, they were ushered into a large and comfortable apartment, in which were several men drinking, and smoking, and gambling.

ANECDOTES AND ORIGINAL LETTERS OF SIR THOMAS PICTON.

As every incident connected with the career of Sir Thomas Picton is dear to the memory of his country, and especially to military readers, the following documents will perhaps be considered worthy of a place in the pages of the United Service Journal. The gentleman to whom the writer is indebted for these MSS. has been long resident in Trinidad : he knew Picton intimately; and was in correspondence with him until he finished his glorious career on the red field of Waterloo. In addition to the MSS. of the gallant General, the gentleman alluded to, from his own recollection, and with the assistance of others, collected a few anecdotes of Picton, when Governor of Trinidad, which, as they are connected with his earlier life, I shall first place in these extracts.

When Governor Picton raised the Militia of Trinidad, he was desirous of having, amongst others, a regiment to consist of six companies; and ordered the inhabitants of Port of Spain to assemble and select their officers, from a Field-Officer downwards. They did so; and twenty-two names were sent to Government House for commissions. Commissions were filled up for that number, as chosen, in the handwriting of Major Collins (who afterwards lost a leg at Albuera). The gentlemen appointed sent the secretary twenty doubloons for the trouble he had taken; which was returned with an answer stating that he was much obliged to them, but that General Picton's secretary never took fees.

Governor Picton, observing the patron of a Spanish launch, who had very recently arrived with mules from the Main, lounging about Port of Spain, called to him from his house, and inquired what deterred him from bringing more? He answered-" Señor, I have not been paid for those I have already brought." "Did you sell them for cash, and to whom?" "Si, Señor;" and named a respectable merchant. The latter was requested, by a note from his secretary, to call at Government House: he did so; the fact was acknowledged; and some casualty was alleged in defence. Picton asked-"When can you pay the patron?" A short period was named: upon which the money was immediately paid by his Excellency, to the equal astonishment of seller and purchaser. Turning to the latter, he said-" Now, Sir, you are my debtor."

An old lady, Madame W, being ordered by the Alcalde de Barrio to have her lot fenced, and the front of it paved, answered that she was unable, being but a poor vender of Guinea-grass. Upon the the circumstances being made known to the Governor, he immediately sent Madame W— eighty dollars to enable her to comply with the regulations.

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A conceited prig of a planter arrived from one of the old islands, and was, of course, ushered up by the harbour-master to Picton. Pray, Sir," inquired the General," what is your object in visiting Trinidadare you a merchant ?" "No, Sir." "Are you a lawyer?" No, Sir," he drawled out; "I have come to continue my profession of a sugar-planter, and I flatter myself, from my long experience, I am eminently qualified for the employment." "What is your name?"

"Ah!" ejaculated Picton, "a most

sugar-cane."

"My name, Sir, is Hogg." destructive animal to the Many worthless German mercenaries, shortly after the conquest of Trinidad, deserted with their arms to the Spanish Main, Spain being then in hostilities with England. Picton, suspecting a Spanish resident of suborning these soldiers, directed a shrewd black serjeant to throw himself in his way, to ascertain if his suspicions were just. This man executed his mission well, and the Governor was right in his conjecture. An old friend, a Member of Council, to whom he related this circumstance, inquiring what he meant to do with the delinquent, he answered "Nothing, for I tempted him; but for the future I shall have an eye upon him."

Patrick Casey, a rough, untamed Hibernian-one with whom you would be ashamed to be seen in the day, and afraid to be with at night -was in the constant habit of retailing rum to the soldiers. This source of annoyance caused frequent admonitions and threats, but they were unheeded; some measures more severe were found necessary, and on several cases of delinquency the culprit was incarcerated. One day when the list of prisoners committed to the Royal Gaol was submitted to his Excellency, he exclaimed-"What! Patrick Casey again! Who the devil committed that fellow?-what has he been now doing?" No satisfactory information was obtained; the Governor visited the gaol where Patrick Casey was caged. He was asked-"Who sent you here, Sir?" "By my soul, I came here myself, to save you trouble, as I knew you would have sent me." "Get out, you blackguard, and never come here again without orders!' He was immediately discharged.

The same respectable character was one day seen by the narrator in one of the most public streets of Port of Spain, laboriously cudgelling an associate equally respectable, each whack being preceded by the exclamation-"Don't interfere; I have General Picton's permission!" The cudgellation finished when the cudgellor was satisfied. The fact is, Picton was so much pestered by both these worthies, from complaints by the inhabitants, that he thought the argumentum baculinum was the best way of closing them. Permission was asked by Casey, and readily granted. The experiment succeeded, and the belligerents became neutrals as far as regarded one another.

A Mr. H, of St. Vincent, desirous of procuring mules from Trinidad, arrived with a letter of introduction from the then acting Attorney-General, the Hon. Archibald Gloster, to Governor Picton, and was introduced, as usual, by the harbour-master, Jacobs. On hearing his name, to the utter astonishment and dismay of Mr. H he was instantly ordered on board again, and the vessel sent off. In vain was the letter tendered-in vain was remonstrance tried-Picton was inflexible. Great was the surprise of the banished traveller when he received, in his own island, by a brig-of-war (colonial vessel), sent off express from his hasty Excellency, an apology in the handsomest manner for what had occurred, and explaining its cause-viz. that he mistook him for an individual of the same name (a notoriously bad character), and containing an invitation to return. The invitation was accepted, Government House became his sojourn, and his views were promptly and successfully forwarded.