motive was unfufpected. After his death a large pair of nippers was found in his pocket, with which, it is fuppofed, he endeavoured to remove by degrees all tokens of manhood from his face. It may be observed, that supposing him to be the younger fon of John Ruffell, he would have been 100 years of age: if we suppose him to have been the elder, his age would have been 104. He himself used to aver that he was 108. He had a mixture of the habits and employments of both fexes; for though he would drink hard with men, whofe company indeed he chiefly affected, yet he was an excellent Sempftrefs, and celebrated for making a good shirt. There was a wildness and eccentricity in his general conduct, which frequently bordered on infanity'; and at least we may fairly conclude, to use a favourite expreffion of Anthony Wood, the Oxford biographer, that he had "a rambling head, and a crazy pate." Queen-Street. W. R. A SINGULAR ACTION of a GREat Man. A Young man, named Robert, fat alone in his boat, in the harbour of Marfeilles. A ftranger had ftept in and taken his feat near him, but quickly rofe again; observing, that fince the Mafter had disappeared he would take another boat. "This, Sir, is mine, (said Robert,)—would you fail without the harbour?" I meant only to move about in the bafon, and enjoy the coolness of this fine evening: but I cannot believe you are a failor.'-" Nor am I; yet on Sundays and holidays, I act the bargeman, with a view to make up a fum."- What? covetous at your age! your looks had almoft prepoffeffed me in your favour.'-" Alas! Sir, did you know my fituation, you would not blame me."Well, perhaps I am miftaken; let us take our little cruife of pleasure, and acquaint me with your history.' The The ftranger having refumed his feat, the dialogue, after a fhort pause, proceeded thus- I perceive, young man, you are fad-what grieves you thus?'" My father, Sir, groans in fetters, and I cannot ranfom him. He earned a livelihood by petty brokerage, but, in an evil hour, embarked for Smyrna, to fuperintend in person the delivery of a cargo, in which he had a concern. The veffel was cap tured by a Barbary corfair, and my father was conducted to Tetuan, where he is now a flave. They refufe to let him go for lefs than 2000 crowns, a fum which far exceeds our fcanty means. However, we do our best-my mother and fifters work day and night-I ply hard at my stated occupation of a journeyman jeweller, and, as you perceive, make the most I can of Sundays and holidays. I had refolved to put myself in my father's ftead; but my mother, apprifed of my design, and dreading the double privation of a husband and only fon, requested the Levant captains to refuse me a paffage." Pray, do you ever hear from your father? Under what name does he pafs? Or what is his master's addrefs?" His mafter is overfeer of the royal gardens at Fez; and my father's name is Robert at Tetuan, as at Marfeilles." Robert - overfeer of the royal gardens?'-"Yes, Sir."I am touched with your misfortunes, but venture to predict their termination.' Night drew on apace. The unknown, upon landing, thrust into young Robert's hand a purfe containing eight double louis d'ors, with ten crowns in filver, and inftantly disappeared. Six weeks had paffed fince this adventure, and each returning fun bore witnefs to the unremitting exertions of the good family. As they fat one day at their unfavoury meal of bread and dried almonds, old Robert entered the apartment, in a garb little fuited to a fugitive prifoner, tenderly embraced his wife and children, and thanked them with tears of gratitude for the fifty louis they had remitted to him on his failing failing from Tetuan, his free paffage, and a comfortablé fupply of wearing apparel. His aftonished relatives eyed one another in filence. At length, Madame Robert, fufpecting her fon had fecretly concerted the whole plan, recounted the various inftances of his zeal. "Six thousand livres, continued fhe) is the sum we wanted-and we had already procured fomewhat more than the half, owing chiefly to his industry. Some friends, no doubt; have affifted him upon an emergency like the prefent." A gloomy fuggeftion paffed the father's mind. Turning suddenly to his fon, and eyeing him with the sternness of diftraction, "Unfortunate boy, (exclaimed he) what have you done? How can I be indebted to you for my freedom, and not regret it? How could you effect my ranfom, without your mother's knowledge, unless at the expence of virtue? I tremble at the thought of filial affection having betrayed you into guilt. Tell the truth at once and let us all die, if you have forfeited your integrity." Calin your apprehenfions, my deareft father, (cried the fon, embracing him)-no, I am not unworthy of fuch a parent, though Fortune has denied me the fatisfaction of proving the full strength of my attachment. I am not your deliverer--but I know who is. Recollect, mother, the unknown gentleman, who gave me the purfe. He was particular in his enquiries. Should I pafs my life in the purfuit, I must endeavour to meet with him, and invite him to contemplate the fruits of his beneficence. He then re. lated to his father all that paffed in the pleasure-boat, and removed every diftreffing fufpicion. Reftored to the bofom of his family, Robert again par took of their joys, profpered in his dealings, and faw his children comfortably eftablifhed. At last, on a Sunday morning, as his fon fauntered on the quay, he recognized his benefactor, clafped his knees, and entreated him as his guardian |