they would not feed for the remainder of the day; it struck a colt blind which was in an adjoining field, set fire to a hay rick, killed three pigs, and otherwise done much damage."

ORIGIN OF TARRING AND FEATHERING.,

As tarring and feathering has been much used by way of punishment among the inhabitants of North America, many are ignorant of its original, and think it a new mode of chastisement,

King Richard I, called from his great courage Coeur de Lion, or Lion's Heart, kept strict discipline both in army and navy. Having made a vow to fight against the Saracens for the recovery of the Holy Land, in 1190, he sailed over to France, had an interview with Philip, and entered into an allance with him for that purpose; and the two armies of France and England · joined at Vezelai. King Richard, during his stay in France, standing on the river Vienne, made the following remarkable orders for peace in the navy," during this expedition to the Holy Land: ....

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1. If any one killed a man in a ship, he was bound to the dead man, and thrown into the sea. 2. If any one was convicted to have drawn his dagger, or knife, to hurt another, or fetch blood he was to lose his hand. 3. If any one struck another with his open hand, without effusion of blood, he was to be ducked thrice over head and ears in the sea. 4. If any one gave his com panión opprobrious language, so often as he did it, he was to give him so many ounces of silver. 5. If any man stole any thing, his head was to be shaved, and melted pitch poured upon it, and feathers stuck therein, that so he might be known; and the first land the ship touched at, he was to be set on shore.

This is probably the original from whence tarring and feathering arose, the former being substituted instead of pitch; the custom after having been disused for so many centuries, was revived amongst the Americans.

Chinon, the place where these orders were first made, is also remarkable for being the place where Joan of Arc, the famous Maid of Orleans, who so often defeated the English, and was at last taken and burnt for a witch, first offered her service to Charles the Seventh of France, in the year 1429.

ECCLESIASTICAL CRUELTY.

In a monastery, near Ailworth, a monk being tired of his confinement, endeavoured to get released, but finding he could not, was exasperated to such a degree, as to threaten to burn the place down; of which the prior being informed, confined him in a cell, so small, that he could scarce lie down or turn himself round, where he was fed on bread and water for 36 years; and when he grew weak or sick, they took him out and administered nourishment and cordials, until he was recovered, when he was sent back to his former habitation. A lady, who lived near, hearing the groans of some human being, sent to the monastery to inquire the reason, and was told the above, she then interceded for his releasement, but the relentless father would not comply: upon which she sent to the parliament at Paris, representing his case, who sent an order for his being released. The time appeared so long, that on being asked how long he had been confined, he replied, "A hundred years."

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LIFE, TRAVELS, AND DANGEROUS ADVENTURES OF fod

I was born in Hirnlay, in the parish of Aboyne, and county of Aberdeen, North Britain, of reputable parents, who supported me in the best manner they could, as long as they had the happiness of having me under their inspection: but fatally for me, and to the great grief, as it afterwards proved, I was sent to live with an aunt at Aberdeen, where, playing on the quay, with others of my companions, being of a stout robust constitution, I was taken notice of by two fellows belonging to a vessel in the harbour, employed (as the trade then was) by some of the worthy merchants of the town, in that villainous and execrable practice of stealing young children from their parents, and selling them as slaves in the plantations abroad. Being marked out by those monsters of impiety as their prey, I was cajoled on board the ship by them; where I was no sooner got, than they conducted me between the decks, to some others they had kidnapped in the same manner. At that time I had no sense of the fate that was destined for me, and spent the time in childish amusements with my fellow-sufferers in the steerage, being never suffered to go upon deck whilst the vessel lay in the harbour; which was until such a time as they had got in their loading, with a complement of unhappy youths for carrying on their wicked commerce.--In about a month's time the ship set sail for America. The treatment we met with, and trifling incidents which happened during the voyage, I hope I may be excused from relating, as not being, at that time, of an age sufficient to remark any thing more than what must occur to every one on such an occasion. However, I cannot forget, that, when we arrived on the coast we were destined for, a hard gale of wind sprung up from the south-east, and, to the captain's great surprise, he not thinking he was near land, although having been eleven weeks on his passage, about twelve o'clock at night the ship struck on a sand bank, off Cape May, near the Capes of Delaware, and, to the great terror and affright of the ship's company, in a short time was almost full of water. The

boat was then hoisted out, into which the captain and his fellow-villains, the crew, got with some difficulty, leaving me and my deluded companions to perish; as they then naturally concluded inevitable death to be our fate. Often in my distresses and miseries since, have I wished that such had been the consequence, when in a state of innocence. But providence thought proper to reserve me for future trials of its goodness. Thus abandoned and deserted, without the least prospect of relief, but threatened every moment with death, did these villains leave us. The cries, the shrieks, and tears of a parcel of infants, had no effect on, or caused the least remorse in the breasts of these merciless wretches. The ship being on a sand-bank, which did not give way to let her deeper, we lay in the same deplorable condition until morning, when, though we saw the land of Cape May at about a mile's distance, we knew not what would be our fate. The wind at length abated, and the captain, unwilling to lose all the cargo, about ten o'clock sent some of his crew in a boat to the ship's side to bring us on shore, where we lay in a sort of a camp, made of the sails of the vessel and such other things as they could get. The provisions lasted us until we were taken in by the vessel bound to Philadelphia, lying on this island, as well as I can recollect, near three weeks. Very little of the cargo was saved undamaged, and the vessel was intirely lost. When arrived and landed at Philadelphia, the capital of Pennsylvania, the captain had soon people enough who came to buy us. He, making the most of his villainous loading, after his disaster, sold us at about sixteen pounds per head. What became of my unhappy companions I never knew; but it was my lot to be sold to one of my countrymen, whose name was Hugh Wilson, a North Briton, for the term of seven years, who had in his youth undergone the same fate as myself; having been kidnapped from St. Johnstown, in Scotland. He proved a very good master to me, and we lived together in good harmony nine years and ten months, when he died, leaving me his best horse which he rode, and as many other articles as I afterwards sold for twenty pounds sterling. This was a great sum to one in my condition of life, and so I thought of the best way to improve it, which I did by living savingly and discretely, and working for any one that would employ me. Thus I went on until it came into my head I wanted something I had not got, and that was a wife. On this occasion I made use of my old master's advice, and looked for a girl who had friends and a good prospect of a settlement, for such are the fortunes an industrious man should seek in a wife. About this time I married a wealthy planter's daughter, though not quite with his consent at first, but in a short time we came to good terms; and, in order to establish us in the world in a decent manner, he made me a deed of settlement of a tract of land, that, unhappily for me as it afterwards proved, lay on the frontiers of the province of Pennsylvania, near the forks of Delaware, in Berks county, containing about two hundred acres, thirty of which were well cleared and fit for immediate use; whereon was a good house and barn. The place pleasing me well, I settled on it; and though it cost me the major part of my money in buying stock, household furniture, and implements for out-door work; and happy as I was in a good wife, yet did my felicity last me not long: for, twelve months after, the Indians in the French interest, who had for a long time before ravaged and destroyed other parts of America, began to be very troublesome on the frontiers of our province, where they generally appeared in small skulking parties, with yellings, shoutings, and antic postures, instead of trumpets and drums, committing great devastations. The Pennsylvanians little imagined at first that the Indians, guilty of such outrages and violences, were some of those who pretended to be in the English interest; which, alas! proved to be too true to many of us: for like

the French in Europe, without regard to faith or treaties, they suddenly broke out into furious rapid outrages and devestations, but soon retired precipitately, having no stores or provisions but what they met with in their incursions; some, indeed, carried a bag with biscuit, or Indian corn therein, but not unless they had a long march to their destined place of action. And those French who were sent to dispossess us in that part of the world, being indefatigable in their duty, and continually contriving all manner of ways and means to win the Indians to their interest, many of whom had been too negligent, and sometimes, I may say, cruelly treated by those who pretend to be their protectors and friends, found it to be no difficult matter to get over to their interest, many who belonged to those nations in friendship with us, especially as the rewards they gave them were considerable, fifteen pounds sterling for every scalp. This was a fatal evening for me; I was alone in the house, my wife was from home, gone to visit some of her relations, when I was all on a sudden surprised with the fearful warwhoop, and a tremendous attack on the door and palisade round; I flew to the chamber window with my firelock, for though I had obtained my discharge from the service I had retained my arms, and had purchased more; but what chance had I with twelve savages armed with muskets and tomahawkes? Knowing their cruelty and merciless disposition, and wishing to obtain some favour, I desisted firing; but how vain and fruitless are the efforts of one man against the united force of so many! and of such merciless monsters as I had here to deal with. One of them that could speak a little English, threatened me in return, " That if I did not come out, they would burn me alive in the house;" telling me farther, what I unhappily perceived," That they were no friends to the English, but if I would come out and surrender myself prisoner, they would not kill me.' My terror and distraction at hearing this is not to be expressed by words, nor easily imagined by any person, unless in the same condition. Little could I depend on the promises of such creatures; and yet, if I do not, inevitable death, by being burnt alive, must be my lot. Distracted as I was in such deplorable circumstances, I chose to rely on the uncertainty of their promises, rather than meet with certain death by rejecting them; and accordingly went out of my house with my gun in my hand, not knowing what I did, or that I had it. Immediately on my approach, they rushed on me like so many tigers, and instantly disarmed me. Having me thus in their power, the merciless villains bound me to a tree near the door: they then went into the house, plundered and destroyed every thing there was in it, carrying off what they could; the rest together with the house, which they set fire to, was consumed before my eyes. The barbarians, not satisfied with this, set fire to my barn, stable, and outhouses, wherein were about two hundred bushels of wheat, six cows, four horses, and five sheep, which underwent the same fate, being all entirely consumed to ashes. During the conflagration, to describe the thoughts, the fears, and misery that I felt, is utterly impossible, as it is even now to mention what I feel as the remembrance thereof.

After this, an Indian with a tomahawk, fiercer than the rest, came up and threatened me with instant death if I would not go with them and help to carry away the things they had stolen out of my house. I was willing to comply on account of my wife, whom I feared would return in the midst of this confusion, and become another prey to their fury, and thus farther distress me. They set off about midnight, a party before and another after me. I was heavily loaded with my own provisions, and the gang carried my arms, hatchets, and every tool they could find about the place. My miseries were

great this night, therefore, to recount them to the reader I hope will be excusable; for, to the unfortunate and distressed, relating their miseries is in some sort an alleviation of them.-We travelled on in this manner till morning 'when they stopped; and, after unloading me, fastened me with cords to a tree while they kindled a fire. This being done, they, for some time, danced round me after their manner, with various odd motions and antic gestures, whooping, hallooing, and crying in a frightful manner as is their custom. Having satisfied themselves in this sort, they proceeded in a more tragical manner; taking the burning coals and sticks, flaming with fire at the ends, holding them near my face, head, hands and feet, with a deal of monstrous pleasure and satisfaction; and, at the same time, threatening to burn me entirely if I cried out. Thus tortured as I was, almost to death. I suffered their brutal pleasure without being allowed to vent my inexpressible anguish, otherwise than by shedding silent tears: even which, when these inhuman tormentors observed, with a shocking pleasure and alacrity, they would take fresh coals and apply near my eyes, telling me my face was wet, and that they would dry it for me, which indeed they cruelly did. How I underwent these tortures

I have here faintly described, has been matter of wonder to me many times; but God enabled me to wait with more than common patience for a deliverance I daily prayed for. Having at length satisfied their brutal pleasure, they sat down round the fire, and roasted their meat, of which they had robbed my dwelling. When they had satisfied their voracious appetites, they offered me some; which, though I had not much appetite to eat, considering how I suffer ́ed, I dared not refuse, and what I could not use, I endeavoured to hide between the bark and the tree I was bound to, till they thought I had ate it all. During the whole of this time I was compelled to put up with their taunts and reproaches, though, had they known my previous actions, as before related, they would not have spared me; and, hard as it may appear, was nothing to what I was afterwards eye-witness to. When the sun set they put out the fire, and covered the ashes with leaves, as is customary with them, that the white people might not discover any traces of their having been there.

After this shocking repast, loaded as before they drove me past the Apalachian Mountains, or Blue Hills, where they halted, and hid their plunder under heaps of brush wood. After regaling once more on my provisions, and repeating the same scene as before, they took me, tied as I was, to witness another scene of cruelty at the house of one Jacob Snider, a German planter, whose unhappy family, consisting of his wife and five small children, they scalped and robbed without remorse. Nor did their cruelty end here. After robbing the house they bound the seven unfortunates to each other and to the timbers of the house, which they then set fire to, where the poor creatures met their final doom amidst the flames of their own property, while these hellish miscreants rejoicing echoed back in their diabolical manner, the piercing cries and groans of these dying innocents! The horrid fact being completed, they kept on their course near the mountains, where they lay skulking four or five days, rejoicing at the plunder and store they had got. When provisions became scarce, they made their way towards Susquehana river, where, to add 'to the many barbarities they had already committed, passing near another house inhabited by an old man, whose name was John Adams, with his wife and four small children: and, meeting with no resistance, they scalped the unhappy wife and her four children, before the good old man's eyes. Inhuman and horrid as this was, it did not satiate them; for when they had murdered the poor woman, they acted with her in such a brutal manner as de