construction, they excited against thee the fury of the mob. The Consul Nasica, in the attitude in which you saw him, cried out, He who would save his country follow me!" The Patricians immediately flocked round him, and then did we see the gown, the emblem of eloquence and peace, heading destruction, and demanding blood. Thou, prostrated by the waving crowd, wast struck upon the temples by thy colleagues Rufus and Satirejus, with the fragments of a bench, an action of which Rufus used afterwards to boast. In that tumult, no less than three hundred citizens were left dead in the Comitium. Desirous of honoring thy remains with funeral pomp, I begged them of the Patricians, but I begged in vain; cast into the Tiber, they were made the sport of the winds and sea. Nor with these slaughters were the Senate satisfied; many were afterwards driven into exile, and many subjected to the axe, for delivering their opinions as the advocates of a just cause; among the sufferers, C. Billius, shut up in a box with serpents, satiated the anger of the gown, by whom that horrid punishment was then, for the first time, invented. But neither thy death nor their's could shake my constancy, which thence derived additional support. and stimulated my resolves.

That day on which should have been finally conceded to the people the reward acquired by their valour, my wife, presaging I should never return to her embraces more, pressing our little son to her timid breast, threw herself suppliant at my feet on our domestic threshold; but I, inflamed by my glorious purpose only, kept my heart cold to those affections which subdue the savage beast. I left in stern silence that gate which I never entered more; and saw fall within it, fainting or dead, my wretched wife. But neither pity for her, nor for my child, could retain me; that for my country alone prevailed, and led me to the Comitium. The firmness of Brutus, who put his sons to death for the safety of Rome, was admirable; still he had but condemned those who had betrayed her-I saw my wife fall, not only innocent, but beautiful in mind and person, and whose manners corresponded in elegance and attraction.

ERRATUM.-In last Dialogue, page 390, line 12, for obtruded, read extruded. (To be continued.)

A SKETCH OF THE LIFE AND CHARACTER OF

JOHN REEVES, Esq.

FOUNDER AND PROMOTER OF ASSOCIATIONS FOR PRESERVING LIBERTY AND PROPERTY AGAINST REPUBLICANS AND LEVELLERS.

IF

(Concluded from page 414.)

F Mr. R. gave to the public any pamphlet upon the transactions of the time, it was mostly where there was some legal topic, that had been passed over, or not sufficiently regarded, as he thought, by the political parties engaged in the contest. In the king's first illness in 1789, he published a pamphlet of this sort, intituled, Legal Considerations on the Regency, as far as it regards Ireland. Again in March 1801, he published one, intituled, Considerations on the Coronation Oath ta maintain the Protestant Religion, and the Settlement of the Church of England, as prescribed by Stat 1. W. and M. ch. 6. and Stat. 5. Ann, ch. 8. A third was in the year 1807, intituled, Observations on (what is called) the Catholic Bill. The first and last of these are without his name, and the second was intended to be so; but, in compliance with a very particular request, he consented to put his name to it. A fourth was published in 1816. It is intituled, Two Tracts, shewing that Americans born before the Independence, are, by the Law of England, not Aliens. First, A Discussion, &c. Second, A Reply, &c.

The First Tract is, A Discussion on the Question, whether Inhabil.ints of the United States, born there before the Independence, are, on coming to this kingdom, to be considered as naturalborn subjects? The Second Tract is, Reply to the Re-statement of Mr. Chalmer's Opinion on the Legal Ffect resulting from the acknowledged Independence of the United States.

The discussion was first printed in Mr. Chalmers's collection of Law Opinions, in two volumes octavo. It was without any name of authorship, except that of A Barrister. But the editor subjoined, at the end of the volume, the following notification: Postscript. The Discussion by the Barrister, before inserted, was written by John Reeves, Esq. the Author of The History of the English Law; and of other works, legal and political. After such an advertisement, Mr. R. thought it useless for him any longer to disown the authorship; and he felt himself now at liberty to indulge openly his desire

to make the truth and the law on this question more generally known and observed; he had also experienced from the editor another provocation to publicity for the editor had actually inserted in his collection, an Answer to The Discussion, intitling it, A Re-statement of Mr. Chalmers's Opinion. Mr. Reeves, accordingly, allowed himself to print an edition of The Discussion, and The Reply, for circulation among persons holding offices under government, to whom he made it a present for their private information in official service. This was in September 1814. It was not till July 1816, when the Alien Bill had been before Parliament, and when those two tracts had been mentioned in debate, and many persons had thence expressed a desire to have them, that our author ventured upon the resolution of letting them be reprinted for sale, with his name in the title-page. By such steps was it, that a matter intended originally only for official, or private discussion, was brought before the public; and our author was made to bear witness in print, that ante nati Americans are, by law, not aliens, while the government offices treat them as aliens, and nine tenths of the public, learned and unlearned, acquiesce in the opinion, that they are aliens.

It has been a special application of our author's labours, to combat vulgar errors in matters of law. All the trouble caused him by the prosecution of the supposed libellous pamphlet, arose from the vulgar error of ours being a government in King, Lords, and Commons; and from the misapplication of the terms, Three Estates, Three Branches of the Legislature. Persons with these combinations (as they understood them) in their minds, could not comprehend how our government should be a Monarchy; and yet they all know, that what is usually called government, is what the Lords and Commons have nothing to do with; for, Government, usually means the Executive, as contradistinguished from the Legislative. So in the American question; nothing in the law is plainer and more settled, than the definition of an Alien; it is a person born out of the King's allegiance; but ante nati Americans were born within the king's allegiance, and therefore are not aliens. This decision of law, the generality of the public will not admit, they allege reasons which

may be very good argument for passing a new law to make them aliens, and they rely upon that, as argument for making them aliens under the old law, as it stands at present; thus mistaking political reasoning, for juridical reasoning.

Our author's first publication in 1779, was to bring some of his cotemporary young students of the law to understand and distinguish rightly, between the terms, real, personal, chattel, and inheritance; the title of it is, An Inquiry into the Nature of Property and Estates, as defined by the English Law. He has put in the title page an extract from Lord Coke, which applies to what we are now upon :-" How excellent a thing it is to decide rightly, especially in the law, the learned do know."

In March 1794, a pamphlet was published, intitled, "The Malecontent. A Letter from an Associator, to Francis Plowden, Esq." This has ever past for one of Mr. Reeves's animadversions on the democratical proceedings of the time. This opinion was strengthened by the name of J. Sewell of Cornhill, as publisher, who was known as a very hearty Associator, and who had, at the opening of The Association, contributed greatly to the circulation of the small pamphlets, which were provided by the Committee at The Crown and Anchor.

This brings us to recollect another publication of Mr. Reeves, which, though last mentioned, and least in size, exceeds in importance and effect all the others; I mean the single sheet of printed paper, in which Mr. R. called upon the people of England to associate for preserving liberty and property against Republicans and Levellers. This Paper is to be seen among "The Association Papers," collected into an octavo volume, and published by the same J. Sewell, Cornhill. The preface to that collection has also been ascribed to the chairman, Mr. Reeves, under whose direction the papers were collected into a volume, and who must be supposed best qualified to convey some of the intimations contained in that preface.

We have before noticed Mr. R.'s official situations; it should now be observed, that on his name being inserted in the new grant of king's printer; he was called upon by the Duke of Portland to resign his office of Reciever of the Police, which was immediately

given to Mr. Baldwin. In August 1803, Mr. Yorke, then appointed Secretary of State for the Home Department, proposed to him to take charge of the Alien Office, which situa tion he accepted, and held till July 1814, when that establishment was reduced. Mr. R. still retains his Law Office at the Board of Trade, which is the only official employment he has at Whitehall. His situation of Commissioner of Bankrupts he still continues, now in the thirty-ninth year since his first appointment.

In the year 1804, it was rumoured, that he was actually named by the proper authority, to succeed Sir Charles Morgan, as Judge Advocate; the appoint ment, however, did not take place, and the reason for altering the destination is not generally known. Mr. R. is supposed to be satisfied with every thing, that it has been thought proper to do, in regard to him, in official matIf he has shewn solicitude about office, it was not for the possession of it, but for discharging the duties of it agreeably with the principles of English law, an instance of which we have been noticing above.

ters.

Such are some of the incidents in the life of the Person, who was author of a measure, that was openly pronounced to have been, in its consequences, the saving of the country. His object in all his pursuits, whether literary or political, has ever been to maintain truth, and the law of the land. These did not suffice to protect him against the resentment of certain politicians, who, we have seen, united in persecuting the votary of truth and of law, partly for what he had done, and partly for what he had written. Thus, while honors and distinctions were conferred on many, who had been instrumental in serving the country, they joined to defame and humble one, who had been instrumental in saving the country. The people, however, to whom he had always looked, and who associated, upon his invitation, to defend the government and constitution, they continued to preserve the good opinion, they had of their leader. Even now, at the distance of twenty-six years from his first address to them, they keep in remembrance-John Reeves, and the Loyal Associations, the cheap defence of the British Constitution.

S. E.

EXCURSION TO BRIGHTON, DURING THE MONTH OF JULY 1818: In Four Letters to a Friend in Wales. BY JOHN EVANS, A.M.

LETTER IV. CONCLUDED.

UITTING Lewes, we pass through several little insignificant villages, the country having a diversified appear ance not unlike the other parts of Sussex already pourtrayed. In the parish of Fletching, about half way between EAST GRINSTEAD and LEWES, is Sheffieldplace, the residence of Lord Sheffield. This nobleman has distinguished him self in the agricultural annals of his country. The mansion is a gothic structure with a beautiful chapel window, and the whole is decorated with appropriate embellishments. His lordship has for these many years past kept about 1400 acres of land in his own possession! He has tried every mode and every instrument of agriculture, but the rearing of cattle and improving the fleece of sheep, have been the main objects of his attention. His farmyard is very commodious-whilst some regard has been paid to its appearance and symmetry. Lord Sheffield was the friend of Edward Gibbon, Esq. and the remains of the celebrated historian are interred in the parish church. A long classical inscription from the pen of Dr. Samuel Parr, is here to be seen conse crating his memory. His lordship pub lished in two quarto volumes, the posthumous works of Gibbon, including a singular life written by himself; and in the octavo edition, there is a view of this parish church. Under the article Putney (where Gibbon was born) in my excursion to ¡Vindsor, his memoirs are fully detailed.

We at length reach East Grinstead. This town is small and straggling, but of considerable antiquity. It consists of about 400 houses, and upwards of 2000 inhabitants, 250 of whom were returned as being employed in trade and manufacture. It sends two members to Parliament. In 1785, the tower of THE CHURCH fell, having stood only 100 years-damaging the whole struc ture so much that it was rebuilt. In 1683, indeed, the tower was destroyed by lightning, but though the bells were melted, yet the body of the church was preserved from injury. And what is also remarkable in the latter accident

was, that the master and his scholars had just left the adjoining school-room, which was buried in ruins!

Here is a handsome stone building called Sackville College, with accommodations for twenty-four poor persons of either sex. It was built by SACKVILLE, Earl of Dorset, in the reign of James Ist, and is a munificent memorial of his liberality! In this building the Judges have chambers during the Lent assizes, but the county goal of solitary aspect and large dimensions, is at Horsham.

On the 17th March, 1684, the second day of the assizes, a jury being sworn, consisting mostly of knights and gentlemen, on a trial between Lord Howard and another person of distinction, the floor of the Nisi Prius Court fell down, and with it all the jury, gentlemen counsel, and lawyers, into a cellar! no person however received any considerable harm except one witness, who was cut across the forehead. The bench where the judges sat fell not-but hung jaloft almost to a miracle! The rest of the trials were heard in the Crown Court, and the Sessions House was soon after demolished.

East Grinstead is surrounded by rustic scenery. In its vicinity is the ancient seat of Lord Colchester, well known by the name of ABBOTT, for many years Speaker of the House of Commons. There are other mansions also which improve the general appearance of the country.

In the summer of 1810, I passed a week pleasantly with a friend, at his pretty little box in the vicinity of East Grinstead. Situated at the extremity of a field clothed with verdure; it had a small garden in a tasteful state of cultivation. For several evenings running an Owl came sailing along from a neighbouring wood, to rob a nest of young pigeons, one of which he bore away in his talons, hooting and flapping his wings with success! Coming, however, for the last of his prey, my friend's son watched for his appearance, and, levelling his piece, brought him to the ground. He was presented to me when closing his eyes in death. A more beautiful bird I never beheld. I carried him home with me, had him stuffed, and ever since this bird of Minerva, famed for wisdom amongst the polished Athenians, has, stuck upon a perch, adorned my library! Would that every

unprincipled plunderer had met with a similar destiny-the WORLD would then repose in a profounder peace!

The Owl is the chief of the nocturnal birds of prey, and Buffon remarks— The organs of vision in the nocturnal birds, are so much over-powered by the brightness of the day, that they are obliged to remain in the same spot without stirring, and when they are forced to leave their retreat, their flight is tardy and uninterrupted, being afraid of striking against the intervening obstacles. The other birds perceiving their fear or their constrained situation, delight to insult them; the Tit-mouse, the Finch, the Red-breast, the Blackbird, the Jay, the Thrush, all assemble to enjoy the sport! The bird of night remains perched upon a branch motionless and confounded, hears their movements and their cries which are incessantly repeated because it answers them only with insignificant gestures, turning round its head, its eyes, and its body, with a foolish air! It even suffers itself to be assaulted without making resistance; the smallest and the weakest of its enemies are the most eager to torment it, the most determined to turn it into ridicule!!" After all there is something venerable in the look of an Owl. A range of Owls seen in Arundel Castle, excites risible emotions, were it allowable to laugh in the presence of so much wisdom and solemnityCan grave and formal pass for wise, When men THE SOLEMN OWL despise ? GRAY.

But let no man despise gravity, it is the most powerful recommendation of LAW, PHYSIC, and DIVINITY, throughout the world.

The church-yard of Binslow, near East Grinstead, contains the remains of JOHN FLAMSTEAD, founder of the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, usually known by the name of Flamstead House. He laid the foundation stone Aug. 10, 1675, and took possession of it 1676, being the first astronomer royal of England. His great work which will secure him immortal fame, was his Historia Cœlestis Britannica, in three folio volumes. He would sometimes unbend from his profound studies, by inviting to his house a convivial party. The facetious Thomas Brown was once his guest, who produced on the occasion the following extempore verses, fraught with an astronomical pleasantry

We here are invited to a ZODIAC of mirth, Where Aries and Scorpio do give it a birth; Here Leo ne'er roars, nor Taurus e'er bellows,

But Gemini like we commence merry fellows;

Here Cancer and Pisces agree with our wishes,

Whilst all round the table we drink here like fishes;

Let Libra fill wine without old Aquarius, Whilst quivers of wit fly from Sagittarius; And to crown all our mirth we will revel in Virgo,

And Capricorn he shall supply us with cargo !

Flamstead was rector of Binstow, dying here Dec. 1719, in the 73d year of his age. After a diligent search no tomb can be found, nor can any one ascertain the spot where he was buried in this church-yard. His name stands inscribed amongst the constellations of heaven!

An interesting account of FLAXSTEADHOUSE will be found in the 4th edition of my Juvenile Tourist, communicated by my worthy and much respected relative the late Thomas Simpson Evans, L.L.D. and F. L.S. who died Oct. 28, 1818, in the forty-first year of his age, lamented by a wide circle of friends as well as deplored by his widow and numerous family. He was Mathematical Master at CHRIST-CHURCH HOS

PITAL, and once belonged to the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich. For some time he resided under the roof of the late Astronomer Royal Dr. Maskelyne, and conducted the operations of the Greenwich Observatory. Indeed his attainments were of a superior order, and wherever he was known attracted admiration. He had a clear head, a kind disposition, and a generous heart. How precarious and evanescent the condition of humanity! By his decease an intelligent and valuable member hath been withdrawn from society. His relatives and friends who knew him best, will not fail to bear in mind the many virtues which embalm his memory

HOPE Sweetly wipes the eye that wets thy

tomb!

From East Grinstead to CROYDON is twenty miles, along which is nothing worthy of observation. The road from Croydon already pourtrayed, terminates at Kennington, in the Borough of SOUTHWARK. AS LONDONERS going to

and from Brighton, must pass across this bustling spot, a few particulars may be acceptable.-SOUTHWARK has six parishes, St. George's, Christ-Church, St. John's, St. Olaves, St. Saviours, and St. Thomas, containing 10,000 houses, and 70,000 inhabitants. It is called Bridge Ward Without, and governed by a high bailiff. ST. SAVIOURS is a noble gothic structure, and the largest parish church in the kingdom. Here are also several dissenting places of worship. Numerous are its charitable Institutions-Thomas' and Guy's HospitalsAsylum-Magdalen-Mansion of the Indigent Blind-Philanthropic Society -Lancasterian School-and Free Grammar School-together with NEW BETE LEHEM, a building honourable to humanity! On Bauk-side, used to be the Globe Theatre, where the inimitable plays of Shakspeare were first represented; and here is still to be seen the Talbot Inn, whence Chaucer with his pilgrims issued forth to Canterbury. The Surrey Institution is entitled to special notice, and conducted with liberality. Here is one PALACE, that of Lambeth, belonging to the Archbishop of Canterbury, nearly opposite to the recently built and far-famed Penitentiary. Thus it is that grandeur and meanness, happiness and misery, are to be found not far a-part, in this chequered condition of mortality!

Astley's Amphitheatre and the Royal Circus, are, with Vauxhall-gardens, its places of amusement. The Police s held at Union Hall, and the Tows HALL is the seat of magistracy. In front of the latter edifice, its two members of Parliament are chosen, not unfrequently with obstreperous noise and indeser bable confusion. It has a large and plentiful market. At one end this MENSE BOROUGH is connected with the metropolis, by London, Blackfriars, Waterloo, and Westminster Bridges, not forgetting the beautiful Iron-bridge, soon to be thrown open, leading through Queen-street to Guildhall; whilst at the other end, are two capacions prisons, the King's-Bench, and Horsemongerlane Goal, for the County of Surrey, Such is the Borough of SOUTHWARK, nor is it its least praise, that it yields to that excellent Institution THE BIBLE! SOCIETY, the largest contribution in the United Kingdom! Religion and morality are the two Corinthian patars of society.