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 great er 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

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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 usual where 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 admirable

latter were repulsed, after a most sanguinary contest. Major General Houghton was killed, leading on his brigade.

Action between the American frigate President and the British sloop of war Little Belt, in which the latter had a number of men killed and wounded.

20. A severe engagement, off Madagascar, between his Majesty's ships Astrea, Phoebe, Galatea, Racehorse, and three large French frigates, of 44 guns each. Two of the latter, La Renommee and La Nereide, were taken; but the third, La Clorinde, made her escape,

The right honourable Robert Blair, Lord President of the Court of Session, died suddenly at his house in George's Square, Edinburgh.

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The budget opened by Mr Perceval, in the House of Commons. The hat duty was repealed, and no new taxes imposed.

21. The Faculty of Advocates voted a statue to the memory of President Blair.

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 diel suddenly, at the house of his nephew, George's Square, Edinburgh.

Lord President Blair interred

in the Greyfriars burial ground, the Magistrates, Professors of the University, a deputation of the Clergy of the Church of Scotland, with those belonging to the city, the Judges of the Courts of Session and Justiciary, the Barons of Exchequer, the Faculty of Advocates, Writers to the signet, and Solicitors before these Courts, accompanying the procession, in their robes.

51. An extraordinary flux and reflux of the sea at Plymouth.

June 2. Christophe crowned King of Hayti, by the title of Henry the First.

7. An earthquake felt at the Cape of Good Hope.

7. A severe thunder storm at Edinburgh, during which the lightning struck the house of Dr Henderson, at Fountainbridge, which was considerably damaged, and so severely burnt a servant-maid that she died in a short time after.

11. The siege of Badajos raised by the allies, after two attempts to take it by storm.

14. A great fire at Konigsberg, in Prussia, which burnt almost the half of the suburbs; 134 granaries were burnt, and the damage computed at a million of rixdollars.

18. A volcanic island, which arose from the bottom of the sea, off the west end of St Michael's, one of the Azores, discovered and taken possession of by the Sabrina sloop of war, in the name of his Britannic Majesty.

19. In the Court of King's Bench, a verdict was given for the defendant, in the action of Sir Francis Burdett against the Serjeant at Arms of the House of Commons.

- A grand fete given by the Prince Regent, at Carleton-house, in honour of the King's birth-day, when upwards of 2000 of the nobility and gentry sat down to dinner.

28. Tarragona taken by storm by the French. Four thousand Span

12. Mr Saddler ascended in a balloon, from the Mermaid, Hack ney, accompanied by Lieutenant Paget, royal navy, and, after a pleasant aerial voyage, descended near Tilbury Fort, in Essex.

13. The city of New Valencia, in South America, taken by storm, by General Miranda, formerly in the service of the French republic, the commander of the revolutionary forces.

19. The fortress of Figueras surrendered to the French, after a blockade of four months.

26. A severe battle between the British and French, near Batavia, in which the latter were completely defeated, with the loss of 2000 killed and 5000 made prisoners, including three Generals. The loss of the British, above 800 in killed and wounded.

October 1. Several gentlemen appointed by the British Government as Commissioners to mediate between Spain and her American colonies.

29. A comet appeared, not foretold by the astronomers, and was still visible in December, though much diminished in splendour..

Sep. 17. A revolt of the free people of colour and negroes broke out in the island of Martinique, and continued till the 21st, when it was suppressed without much bloodshed.

21. Bonaparte, while on a tour to the coast of Holland, witnessed the capture of a praam at Boulogne, by the Naiad frigate, Captain Carteret, Rinaldo, Redpole, and Castilian brigs, and Viper cutter, after an engagement with seven praams. and 15 smaller vessels.

25 and 27. Some smart skirmishes between the allied and French armies in Portugal, in which the latter, after having succeeded in throwing supplies into Ciudad Rodrigo, retreated to Salamanca.

28. A boxing match took place at Thisleton Gap, Rutlandshire, between Crib and Molineaux, in which the former was victor. Upwards of 50,000l. were betted on the occasion.

4. A Newhaven boat lost on the passage from Kinghorn; three of the crew drowned, and the fourth saved with great difficulty.

13. A violent gale of wind from the S. W. which did considerable damage to the shipping, &c.

14. The Pomone frigate lost, by striking on the Needle rocks.

19. The honourable Charles Hay, Lord Newton, died suddenly in Forfarshire.

22. The right honourable Charles Hope appointed President of the College of Justice, in room of President Blair, deceased.

25. General Blake defeated by the French army under Suchet, when attempting to relieve Saguntum, near Valencia, in consequence of which the place surrendered.

23. A division of the French army of Portugal, under General Girard, surprised by General Hill; 300 killed, upwards of 1000 taken prisoners, including two Generals and 40 officers, with all their artillery and baggage.

29. The right honourable David Boyle appointed Justice Clerk, in the room of President Hope.

on

30. The sloop Fame, of Carron, captured by a French privateer, brought up to the North Queensferry, with six Frenchmen board, during a storm, under the direction of a boy of 13 years of age.