best and the most candid judge of art in Europe, it was one of the most perfect heads that painting ever produced.

THE EARL OF ESSEX.

His lordship was the most accomplished nobleman this country ever produced. He was polished in his manners, had a fine person, was extremely humane and generous, an excellent man of business, learned himself, and an encourager of learning in others, and an excellent writer in prose and verse.

This nobleman was tried for conspiracy against Queen Elizabeth, and found guilty. It is alledged upon this occasion that he had strong hopes of pardon from the irresolution which the queen seemed to discover, before she signed the warrant for his execution. She had given him formerly a ring, which she desired him to send her in any emergency of this nature, and that it should procure his safety and protection. This ring was actually sent her by the Countess of Nottingham, who being a concealed enemy to the unfortunate Earl, never delivered it; while Elizabeth was secretly fired at his obstinacy in making no application for mercy and forgiveness. She signed the warrant for his execution, she countermanded it, she again resolved on his death, and again felt a new return of tenderness. At last she gave her consent to his execution, and was never seen to enjoy one happy day

more.

CATHARINE I. EMPRESS OF RUSSIA.

It is well known that the birth of this celebrated woman was so obscure, that she did not even know the authors of her existence. She remembered only that she had a brother; but was ignorant where, or in what situation he was. She became the wife of

Peter the Great, after having been his mistress for a long time; but scarcely was she raised to this supreme dignity, when a remarkable circumstance happened, the relation of which will no doubt afford considerable entertainment.

An envoy extraordinary from Poland to the court of Russia, returning to Dresden, stopped at an inn in Courland, where he was witness to an interesting quarrel between one of the hostlers and several of his comrades, who were inebriated. One of them swore much, and threatened, in a low tone of voice, to make his antagonists repent of their insolence, having relations sufficiently powerful, he said, to punish them.

The minister, surprised at the decisive manner in which the domestic spoke, enquired his name and past condition; and was told, that he was an unfortunate Polander, named Charles Scorowski, whose father, supposed to have been a gentleman of Lithuania, dying early, had left his son in a miserable situation, with a daughter, who had been for some time lost.

This answer excited curiosity in the minister, who imagined he perceived, in the rustic features of this hostler, some resemblance to those of the Empress Catharine, which were nobly formed, according to universal report.

This adventure struck the Polish minister so forcibly, that he jocularly wrote an account of it to a friend who resided at the Russian court.

It is not known how this letter fell into the hands of the Czar; but it is certain that he took a memorandum of it in a small book, which he always carried to assist his memory. He sent an order to Prince Repnin, governor of Riga, to discover Charles Scorowski; to entice him to Riga under some fair pretence; to seize him, without offering the smallest insult; and to send him, under a strong guard, to

the Chamber of Police, which he had ordered to revise a decree passed against this imaginary prisoner.

This order, which appeared like an enigma to the governor, was punctually executed; Charles was brought prisoner, and the Chamber pretended to proceed against him, with all the forms of law, as against a quarreller and a promoter of strife. He was afterwards sent to court, under a guard, with the supposed informations which substantiated the offence of which he had been accused.

Scorowski, under great apprehension for his fate, though he believed himself to be perfectly innocent, was presented to the judge, who lengthened out the process, in order that he might more easily examine the prisoner, whom he had orders to sound thoroughly. The better to succeed in this design, he kept spies around him, to catch any marked word that might escape; and private enquiries were made in Courland, which proved most clearly that this domestic was the brother of the Empress Catharine.

The Czar, convinced of the truth of this circumstance, caused it to be intimated to Scorowski, that, as the judge was not disposed to treat him with much indulgence, he could do nothing better than present a petition to his Sovereign; and that the means of doing this would be rendered easy, as not only access to the throne would be procured for him, but also protectors sufficiently powerful to ensure the success of his requests. Peter, who had artfully contrived every thing for a scene amusing to himself, but humiliating to the pride and haughtiness of Catharine, sent word, that on a certain day he would go incognito to dine with Chapelow, the steward of his household, and that after dinner he would give an audience to Scorowski.

When the appointed time arrived this rustic did

He

not appear intimidated at the majesty of the monarch; he boldly presented his petition; but the Czar paid most attention to his figure and appearance. asked him a number of questions, to which the rustic replied with so much precision, that it appeared Catharine was really his sister. Nevertheless, to remove all suspicion, the Czar left him abruptly, desiring that he would return next morning at the same hour; and this order was accompanied with a promise, that in all probability he would have no cause to be displeased with his expected sentence. The Czar, supping with the Empress that evening, said to her, “I dined to-day with Chapelow, and made a most excellent repast; I must take you thither some day." Why not to-morrow?" she replied. "But," rejoined the Czar, "we must do as I did to-day; surprise him when he is about to sit down to dinner, and dispense with our attendants." Next day Peter and Catharine being accordingly at dinner with Chapelow, the petitioner was introduced, who approached with more timidity than he had shewn before. The Czar affected not to recollect the subject of his prayer, repeating the questions of the preceding day; but Scorowski returned the like answers.

Catharine, reclining on a sopha, listened with the greatest attention; every phrase of Scorowski vibrated on her ears; and the Czar still more aroused her, by saying, in a tone which indicated that he was interested in the conversation, " Catharine, attend to that! do not you comprehend?" Catharine on this changed colour, her voice faultered, she could scarcely reply. "But," added the Czar with emotion, "if you do not comprehend, I do. In a word, this man is your brother!-Come," said he to Charles, "kiss the border of her robe, and her hand in quality of Empress; after which, embrace her as your sister!"

At these words, Catharine grew quite pale; the power of speech forsook her; she remained for some time in a state of insensibility. When she recovered, Peter affectionately said, "What great harm, then, is there in this adventure? Well, I have found a brotherin-law! If he is a man of merit, and has any abilities, we shall make something of him. Console yourself, then, I beg of you; for I see nothing in all this that ought to give you a moment's uneasiness. We are now informed of an affair which has cost us many enquiries. Let us depart."

Catharine rising up, requested to embrace her brother; and begged the Czar to continue his kindness both to him and to his sister.

It is not known by what accident Scorowski discovered that his sister had risen to the throne. The emperor assigned him a house and a pension; he was required to keep himself quiet, and to enjoy his fortune in private. Catharine was not much pleased, however, with the circumstances that conduced to this developement. She felt herself internally humbled, by a discovery which pride and self-love considered as a degradation to the exalted dignity of her station.

LE CHEVALIER DE JARS.

When Châteauneuf, the Keeper of the Seals of France, was arrested for treason, Chevalier de Jars, his intimate friend, was sent to the Bastille. Threats, promises, every thing was employed by the vindictive Richelieu to get from him the secrets of Châteauneuf. He was tried and condemned to death by his judges, on a promise that he should not suffer. He was conducted to the scaffold, where he was again solicited in vain to betray his friend. He had no sooner laid his head on the block, than a voice was heard crying