denote a love of liberty. I therefore asked him (and this question brought me to a piece of the sheerest wit I ever uttered) "whether he approved of a man's being deprived of liberty?", With great mathematical precision, defining terms as he proceeded, he inquired what liberty was?-Now though I had often thought, and made a great clamour about liberty, yet I was never more puzzled than by this question. However my wit served me, and thus I spoke:

"Would you be pleased, instead of being a turnkey, to have the key turned on yourself?" Hey, reader! well, you see I can if I like.*

To this the negro answered with his usual acuteness, "that he should not;" but finding this a round-about way of coming to the point, I cut short all further preliminaries, and offered him a sum of money to connive at my escape. This, with a philosophy much above my comprehension, he positively refused, saying, he would remain faithful to his master. I now perceived that he was affected with the whim of integrity; (indeed we philosophers look upon in

* Many who are not judges of refined and deep wit, will, perhaps, on the first blush, call this a poor and worthless pun. Its similitude may mislead some; but even such will be taught to estimate my talent at a higher rate, when they read the argument I have to advance in favour of puns, which is certainly better than any ever yet offered in their defence. In the Indian Antiquities, by MR. MAURICE, an author whose works do honour to his country, I find this note.

"Eighty cowris are called a pun, and from fifty to sixty puns amount in value to a rupee." Vol. I. p. 252.

I know many who coin this specie so fast, that in the East they would soon be nabobs.

tegrity and every thing of that sort as all whim); but before I could attack him in any other way, he quitted me.

Kings and potentates might have confessed their inferiority to this man, as indeed, they should to any man, who in so humble a sphere could resist the powerful temptation of argument and gold. It seemed to me unaccountable, why he, being so poor, should persist in his stubborn adherence to the interest and views of his employers. Had he not evinced by his answers, a deep skill in the principles of modern philosophy, I should not have been puzzled to see him resist with admirable hardihood and presence of mind, not only the liberality of my gift, but the promise of future protection and favour. It did not occur to me that he was probably ignorant of the extent of my reputed means of rewarding him beyond the measure of his hopes. As it was, neither flattery, nor gold, (the neverfailing avenues to the object of the ambitious and aspiring adventurer) could assist me in the present case. I said before, this man is superior to kings; but, being such, in the present instance, is he to be regarded only as the model of human exellence? O, no!

I was not long left at leisure for these reflections. In a few minutes the master of the prison entered my apartment. He was a little, grey-eyed, shrewd looking fellow, with whom I saw at once there was a much better chance of driving a successful bargain than with the negro, who, it appeared had disclosed to him

our conversation. He began by reproaching me, saying, "So, master, it appears you are not satisfied with your accommodations; not only that, but you must endeavour to corrupt my faithful servant. I am sorry you are dissatisfied here, but you know we must do our duty. I don't think it becomes such a gentleman as you appear to be, using such endeavours to procure your enlargement, in the way you have done."

"The love of liberty," I answered, "is natural to all men, and all means at all times are lawful to promote so desirable an object. It is true, in this instance I have failed; yet it does not follow that any blame or odium should fall on me for the want of success. I can only say, that I am not so much vexed at myself for having made the attempt and failed, as in having mistaken my man.

"Aye, master," said he, "you say truly, you did mistake your man. It was not quite so clever of you as might be, to attempt to corrupt that faithful fellow, and I don't much wonder that you have missed your mark. The next time you attempt the like, be more sure of your man." "I certainly will;" said I, for I now began to see there was a chance of renewing the negociation with the principal, with much better hopes of success. But, surely," said I, after a pause, "there was after all, but little to blame me for, in my attempt upon the integrity of a person of his character; so poor, that few arguments must needs be necessary to convince

him of the propriety of effecting my escape by his assistance."

"Perfectly true, master," said he; "and I do not much wonder that you preferred applying to one of my servants. Their honesty might reasonably be expected at the cheapest rate: all right and fair, master,-but you see it won't do. You might have spared yourself the trouble, ́ seeing the ill success of your scheme. For my part, I am determined that no man shall ever pass these walls without my being the richer for it. If then, you wish to escape, let us come to the point at once; let me see what you can afford to give me, and your wishes shall be accomplished."

This was coming to the point with a vengeance to it-I could not mistake his meaning: I left him to name his price, and our bargain was consequently soon concluded, and the time fixed for my escape, when I was to take the philosophical negro along with me, that his flight might cause all the blame to fall upon him.

Time was far from moving indeed with the rapidity my impatience required; but the hour of appointment at last was near. The cathedral bell sounded twelve. 'Twas awful! any thing but the cathedral bell would have had no effect. Presently (as the most natural way of geting in) a key was applied to the door of my apartment, and, wonderful to tell! it opened.

Three persons, whom I knew to be servants of the prison, entered, and, to my great disappointment and astonishment led me to a filthy

dungeon. In my rage I knocked down two of them, but they at length secured me; and, loading me with fetters, chained me to the wall. There being no light, I was then left in utter darkness.

"So," said I, after the first ebullitions of my wrath had subsided, "a precious pair of scoundrels I have trusted to: the one is too honest or too ignorant to risk himself for my sake or all my tempting offers, and the other, too avaricious to resist the bait, yet withal too cunning to omit this opportunity of practising on my credulity. It may be, perhaps, that, as he obtained the money with so little difficulty, he imagines me not to be niggardly with my wealth, and has invented some new contrivance to extort a greater sum, and practise to the utmost the accomplishment of his purpose."

I had remained in this situation about twelve hours, full of angry and disconsolate thoughts, when the principal jailor entered my dungeon.

"Execrable and detested villian!" cried I, "is this your faith? What further device have you in store to prolong my captivity? How do you mean to dispose of me?"

"Keep you in close custody, master," he replied with a leer of self-satisfaction at having outwitted me; and enjoying my mortification and disappointment, he proceeded, "I have got your thousand gold pieces, safe enough. You had better be calm; and who knows what good luck may turn up for you.

"

"Leave me," said I, "for it appears you