dure to look at her. In short, he cannot tell what he wants, who he is, nor what he is to do. There is not a greater misery in the world, than to have to do with such a man; in dealing with whom you cannot form any plan whatever, but must depend wholly upon his caprice. Wife, children, friends, relations, servants, all are bewildered. I imagine I see one of those little women, who, in order that her admirers may be constantly thinking of her, finds herself, at one time indisposed, at another frolicsome, now scolds, now laughs, next asks you for a thing, and when you reach it, throws it away, abusing you, moreover, for your attention, so that you have always two hearts in your breast, of which one bids you do, and the other refrain; you are in constant dread of doing amiss; you have a vulture continually gnawing you. The same practice, I believe, is followed by the more artful of these men, whom I call the inconstants. These partly are, and partly appear to be, lunatics, in order that their domestics, and their friends, studying how to divine them amid such a diversity, may be always intent on their motions, and may have a continual dependence on the actions which they do, the looks which they cast, the first word which issues in the morning from their mouth. In short the person, who has lived for a year or two with such men, may set up for a professor in the science of divination.

The Talkative Man.

A few evenings ago, a man argued in a company with so much fury and with such a torrent of words, that the tongues of all who were there present, became wholly useless; and if there was any one, who contrived to articulate a syllable, it only gave a new impulse to our talker, to pour forth with greater vio

lence. It was a laughable thing for me to see constraint and vexation painted in the eyes of all, while he went on as if his words had been eagerly imbibed by the whole company. From time to time, he called out to the bystanders: what do you think of it; do I say well?' and as no answer was ever given, hẹ took the silence for an assent, and addressing his talk to the person he had interrogated, pursued his argument as briskly, and as eagerly, as if he had just begun. I do not believe, that there was any one, except myself, that had lent him an ear. But I, at the time of his speech, had seated myself in a corner, and pretending to think something else, was investigating as much as I could, the nature of this brain. The man had really an imagination of fire, and so rapid, that he passed, by springs, or bounds, from one subject to another, without perceiving it. He was also well provided with memory, which enabled him to enforce whatever he said, with erudition of various kinds, whence he threw down by bundles or fragments, bits of stories, philosophical opinions, sayings of writers, little regarding whether they were to the purpose, or not. At length it pleased God, that this Universal Dictionary should terminate his reading, and should take his departure; upon which every one drew his breath; and the countenances which before were turbid and melancholy, resumed their gaiety. The company then returning to sports and jests, such as are usualwhere men meet to spend the time;

What do you think, said some to me, of that noble stream of eloquence.-I can only say, replied I, that I should be unwilling, after so long a dissertation, to begin a new one, and drive so agreeable a company to despair.-Make a paper of it said another. Is it not an admir

able

able character for you? Do you think, that all this harangue which he has held, will not make out an article. He has said as much as would fill your pages for three months-A fine work it would make, replied I, to print that, the speaking of which has so tired you all.- Come, said one of the boldest, you must either say it now, or promise, that the first paper published by you shall be upon our speaker. He must be charitably warned of his propensity.' Then, to get out of the scrape I was obliged to promise to write something upon the subject, and have now done so.

Chronological Account of Remarkable Occurrences during the year

1811.

off Falmouth, and 230 persons drowned.

24. A remarkably high tide at Leith. It rose to 18 feet 11 inches. March 5. Battle of Barrosa, in which the French, under Marshal Victor, were defeated by the British and Spaniards, under Lieutenant-General Graham.

10. Badajos surrendered to the French, under Marshal Soult. -.

13. A French squadron, of five frigates, one corvette, one gun-boat, and one xebec, defeated in the Adriatic, by four British frigates, viz. the Amphion, Captain Hoste; the Cerberus, Active, and Volage. The Corona and Bellona, of 32 guns each, were taken, and the Favorite, of 44 guns, burnt.

14. The Foundation stone of the second wet dock at Leith laid, by William Calder, Esq. Lord Provost

of Parlia

ment waited upon the Prince of Wales, with the resolutions conferring on him the office of Regent, of which he was pleased to accept.

-A similar deputation waited on the Queen at Windsor.

15. Parliament opened by commission, and the regency bill brought in.

17. Great opposition made to various restricting clauses in the regency bill, but it was carried in favour of Ministers by narrow majorities. The debate continued till the bill finally passed both Hou

15. The French, under Massena, commenced their retreat, on the 5th, from their position at Santarem, and were closely pursued by the British army, under Lord Welling

ton.

Several partial actions took place, from the 5th to the 15th, in which the British were uniformly successful.

20. Maria Louisa, Empress ot France, delivered of a son, who was afterwards created King of Rome.

21. Campo Major taken by the French, after a short siege.

25. Marshal Beresford's cavalry defeated a superior body of French horse. The enemy lost above five hundred men; the British one hundred and seventy.

27. The Duke of Gloucester elected, Chancellor of the University of Cambridge.

The island of Anholt attacked by a Danish flotilla, with four thousand men on board. They were totally defeated by the garrison, consisting of only three hundred and fifty men, under Captain Mau

rice. The Danes lost a great number in killed and wounded, and five hundred and fifty were taken pri

soners,

Great storms in Cadiz Bay, which lasted till the 29th, when upwards of fifty vessels were driven ashore and wrecked.

29. Gustavus Adolphus, late King of Sweden, leaves England for the continent.

April 10. Parliament voted 100,000l. towards relieving the Portuguese who had suffered during the retreat of the French army.

15. Olivenza surrendered to Marshal Beresford.

23 and 27. The French attacked the piquets of the British on the Azava, but were repulsed with loss. May 1. A meeting held at London, and a subscription entered into for the relief of the suffering Portuguese, when 40001. were subscribed in less than two hours.

5. A desperate battle at Fuentes de Honor, in Portugal, in which the French were defeated.

8. A meeting held at Edinburgh, for relief of the Portuguese, when a considerable sum was raised,

-Arthur William Hodge, Esq. executed at Tortola, for the murder of one of his slaves.

11. Almeida evacuated by the French. The garrison effected their escape through the blockading army.

14. A remarkable storm of thunder and lightning, which did considerable damage in the neighbourhood of Glasgow, Stirling. Dumfries, Carlisle, Newcastle, Sheffield, &c. and in which several people lost their lives.

-The foundation-stone of St George's Church, Charlotte Square, Edinburgh, laid.

16. Battle of Albuera, in Portugal, between the allies, under Marshal Beresford, and the French, under Marshal Soult, in which the

Another great thunder storm in the neighbourhood of Dumfries, &c.

-

Lord Sidmouth's bill for amending and explaining the acts relative to dissenters rejected in the House of Lords.

25. A large body of French cavalry defeated near Usagre, in Portugal, by the honourable Major-General Lumley.

-The Duke of York reappointed Commander in Chief.

27. A violent storm of hail, which was felt severely in the counties of Worcester, Hereford, and Gloucester, and did great damage, particularly in the city of Worcester and its neighbourhood.

28. Lord Viscount Melville died suddenly, at the house of his nephew, George's Square, Edinburgh.

Lord President Blair interred