April 24 frustrate the intentions they think in their consciences ought to be carried into effect. In doing otherwise every juryman may be considered as guilty of whatever crime may take place in consequence of his relinquishing that honourable post his country has for the time placed him in. It is not many years since a poor ignorant fellow of a recruit was enticed by two artful villains to go with them from the castle of Edinburgh, and after making him nearly drunk, they conducted him into the Meadows, where the two fellows that were with him robbed a gentleman of his watch and some money, and gave to him the watch as his fhare of the booty. The poor fellow no sooner became sober, and found the watch upon him next morning, but having a confused recollection of what had pafsed in the evening, and being opprefsed with anxiety about it, he went and revealed what he knew of it to his officer. One of the culprits made his escape, and the other became king's evidence. It was clearly proven that the poor recruit had been present at the robbery, and that part of the goods taken had been found in his custody. The jury were unanimously of opinion that the man had been inadvertently brought into that distressing situation, and had no evil intention whatever; yet, from some remains of that cruel doctrine operating in their minds, That if the fact were proven, this was all the jury had to do, they very unguardedly brought in a verdict. GUILTY; but unanimously recommended the man to mercy, which they were then persuaded would as effectually save him as if they had brought in a verdict NoT GUILTY. The fact showed they were in this case mistaken; for in spite of every possible endeavour on their part afterwards, tire man was actually hanged. One who was on that jury, since then afsured the Editor, that he would have considered himself as accessory to the murder of that in

nocent person, if he had not all along contended that they ought to acquit him. Let no jury after this put it in the power of any one to prevent that justice from taking place which it is their province on all occasions impartially to administer.

The constitution of this universe, however, is so happily formed, that every evil tends to lead towards its own, cure. A desire to grasp at power, as necefsarily produces a counter desire in others to prevent that power from becoming immoderate, as a substance produces a fhadow. Hence it happens that all the valuable privileges which we in this country so fortunately boast of, have been gradually conferred upon us by attempts to extend authority beyond its due bounds. We have every reason to believe, that should attempts of this kind be made in future, similar happy effects will result from it; so that should a temporary inconvenience be at any time experienced from. things of this nature, these ought not to excite extreme uneasiness; they ought only to be marked with care, and a steady eye be kept on that point in future. Whenever an attempt shall be made, in consequence of any accidental inadvertency, to wrest the power from a jury, let that pass over as a thing of small moment, but let succeeding juries be more careful to guard their just and acknowledged privileges, by giving no handle for any one to interfere with their decrees. Thus fhall the tranquillity of the state be preserved, and the personal security that every man ought to prize as the most valuable of his prerogatives, be guarded by his fellow citizens, in whose hands only it can be entrusted with safety.

THE SELF RIVAL, A NOUVELLETTE FROM THE FRENCH. Concluded from p. 258.

THIS gentleman, who had never been known to trespass against sincerity, as he had given his word to his future bride, determined not to conceal from her a passion so very unexpected. He laid open to her the bottom of his heart, while the only feigned as much jealousy as sufficed to let him know that she loved him; and afterwards exprefsed such resignation and indulgence, and so much confidence in his fidelity, that he could not but execrate himself for having been capable of harbouring any sentiment to her injury. She endeavoured to remove his concern, by high commendations of his extraordinary prudence and resolution, in refusing to see the Espagnoletta unmasked, at the same time advising him that he should see her so. "That, (said fhe,) is the only way of curing you. To be sure fhe is another creature under the mask than what your inflamed imagination represents her; and should she prove to want beauty, you would soon forget her wit." 'No, no, (replied he,) there is nothing like fhunning her; and this very evening will I beg of my father to put off our marriage for a few days, while I go into the country, where I make no doubt but I fhall get the better of this freak; my esteem for will not allow me to give my self to you in my present distracted state." "No, no, (says fhe,) I will put you in the surest way to forget the charms of your Espagnoletta; for unquestionably your passion will be cured on seeing her without a mask. You may depend on it; for to tell you the truth, it is no longer ago than yesterday, that one, who knows her perfectly well, was talking of her, and said that except her eyes, she had not a single good feature in her face. Still the lover in

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sisted on a fhort rustication; but the father, who had got intelligence of these transactions, laid his command on his son to bring matters to an issue the very next day.

The contract was signed, and after the solemnization, the splendid company returned to the mother's house. Scarce was supper over, when in came a troop of masks preceded by fiddles. The bride, who had feigned a slight indisposition at supper, requested her husband to perform the honours of the masquerade, while the withdrew to rest a while. With such dispatch did the equip herself in her former habit, that the entered the dancing room with another group of masks, which followed soon after the first they both consisted of some intimate friends who had been desired to form a masquerade for facilitating the execution of the bride's artifice. The faithful bridegroom, at the sight of that dreaded object, was for hastening out of the room; but the mother, catching hold of him, informed him fhe had designedly invited the Espagnoletta, who was at a ball in the neighbourhood, to favour them with her company. "My daughter, (added fhe,) cannot be easy until you see her unmasked; as that will absolutely cure you for fhe is said to be even frightfully ugly," 'Ah! madam, (replied he,) all the faults of her face will never cure me of a detestable passion, which so many other charms have kindled; I have already imagined her more hideous than it is well pofsible for her to be, and am not a whit easier. Ah! madam, no longer

stop me.'

While he was speaking, the Espagnoletta, animated by this scene, which gave her inconceivable delight, exerted the utmost of her skill and vivacity in all the motions of the dance. He turned aside his looks from the irresistible temptation; but he wantonly swept along close by him, which at once expelled his reason and duty, and he

April 24. forgot the presence of his mother-in-law. To complete his confusion, the Espagnoletta took him by the hand. This so overpowered his senses, that his mother-in-law taking him under the arm, he suffered himself to be drawn aside into the recefs of a window, without knowing whither he was going; and the mother set herself by them The Espagnoletta then sent forth a deep sigh; and no more than natural for by unmasking herself the feared that she fhould totally lose the pleasure of seeing her husband so very fond. She loved him as much as he loved the Espagnoletta; her languishing looks answered those of her transported lover. They looked at each other for some time, without uttering a word, or taking notice of the rest of the company retiring to another apartment, whilst the anxious mother's fluent tongue was giving her son-inlaw an idea of the most distasteful uglinefs; that by this contrast, when her daughter fhould come to unmask, she might appear to lefs disadvantage. The fond bride availed herself as long as he could of her husband's mistake but as he could not prevail on herself to terminate this scene, the mother at length took the mafk from the daughter's face.

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The powerful effect that this surprise produced in the happy bridegroom, is one of those things the force of which is diminished by any description. Imagine the situation of a man of honour, conflicting with love and beauty, infinitely esteeming one person, and pafsionately in love with another, and who at length finds them both united in one complete object.

As to the bride, what must have been her ecstacy, that in so little time he had transformed an indifferent lover into an enamoured husband, and brought the struggle between esteem and love to a favourable issue, which established her felicity, and equal honour to both.