Barker, in the Silk-trade at Macclesfield; he served as a common soldier in the Peninsular War under the Duke of Wellington prior to 1810. He spoke of the cruelties exercised by the Spanish Generals. Even in the French Army orders were given to shoot the wounded British, and those of the British Army, who were left behind as in any way unable to march. Poor Barker, who was servant to one of the Officers, notwithstanding this order, found himself unable to proceed, and lay down resigned to his fate. An Officer in his Regiment, whose name was Barker, came up, and having recognised his namesake, whom he had employed in some way on some occasion, asked him if he could not manage to proceed? He said that he could not. He was reminded of the peremptory orders given by the French General, who was advancing: he replied that, let the consequence be what it would, he could not possibly march. Well, then, said the Officer, can you ride? He thought that he could, but would not be able to mount a horse without aid. The officer immediately dismounted, called two soldiers to help Barker on the horse, and employed one to lead it. The officer walked 8 or 9 miles in this way, was afterwards taken prisoner, and died in France. Barker wanted to get his discharge from the army in 1810, had a letter addressed by the officer of his regiment to LORD CHARLES FITZROY at Ampton in Suffolk, was most hospitably received by Lord Charles, had a supper given, a bed and breakfast in the morning ordered, was sent for into the parlour, was told that Lord Charles was only on half-pay, but would give a letter to a retired officer at Northampton, which would effect his object, was asked what coach-fare he paid from Exeter, and when his Lordship learnt that it was £1. 7s. Od., he generously gave to him £2. 14s. Od.

CIII. SPOTS ON THE SUN.

April 29, 1837. For several weeks past a considerable num

ber of spots have appeared on the sun's disc, some of which were very large, with a penumbral shade around them; others were much smaller, and have been in curved or circular groups, and sometimes arranged in a line nearly straight. There are at present two or three large ones near the eastern limb, and others not so large nearer the west, which may easily be seen with a telescope of small magnifying power, and a colored glass to prevent the strong light from injuring the eye.

CIV. THE ARMY.

Ap. 29, 1837. Colonel Thompson thus notices the late debate in a letter to his constituents, dated 19th instant :- As I sat behind O'Connell yesterday (I never Mister' him), I took occasion to pour into the portals of his ears some old military stories about Buenos Ayres; and when he rose, he bolted them plain out. This was great luck, in a place where no man has a chance of being heard when he wants it, if he stands any where between O'Connell and the regular bores of the House; which last are a class of men who can speak when they like, being always called in preference, on the ground of being necessary evils. Of course I stood by my tackle, and mean to do. As there is no knowing where an old soldier nestles, is there nobody in your neighbourhood, who about nine of the clock in the morning of Sunday, the 5th of July, 1807, heard Major Trotter, of the 83d regiment, carry the order down the column in which was the right wing of the 95th or Riflemen, in the following words, "Spare the old men, the women, and the children, but every man able to bear arms, put him to the bayonet." By (I never swore above twice in my life,) I thought of Cottingham. And with this before us, (and what is worse, as I shall be able to prove, not repented of,) our unfortunate countrymen are to have nice conclusions put on them, for not making a war of rosewater against men who have

printed themselves assassins, and in the purity of royalist and religious exultation cultivate the amiable habit of putting their prisoners to death by torture. Thanks to the Tories and their friends for all their mercies.

CV. Wellington and Soult.

The Oudinanza, a sort of Portuguese Militia, were treated by the French as civilians, and put to death, when they were taken with arms in their hands. The D. of Wellington maintained that they ought to be treated as soldiers, and wrote to Marshal Soult on the subject; but to the best of his belief and knowledge, and he thought he had a perfect recollection of the matter, - his Grace never threatened retaliation.

LORD MAHON'S Speech, April 19, 1837.

CVI. Dr Desaguliers, &c. May 3, 1837.

1. The celebrated DR DESAGULIERS at a large party, met an Officer, who particularly addressed himself to the DOCTOR, and confirmed whatever he said, with an oath. At length the Doctor gave this fine rebuke to him :- Sir, you have taken every pains to make me ridiculous, if possible, by your pointed apologies; if God Almighty does not hear you, I assure you that I never will tell him.'

2. Sir WY was remarkable for the keenness of his wit, and the foulness of his breath. He had been out riding one very severe day, and meeting Col. Cutwell at the Smyrna-Coffee-House, was telling to him, standing right in front of him, how roughly he had been dealt with by the wind, which blew right in his face, when the Colonel coolly said, Then, by God, the north-wind had the worst of it!'

I saw these anecdotes in the Weekly Amusement or EDINBURGH-Magazine, 1772. 8vo.

3. At the KING'S BENCH PRISON, I met with a MR. THOS GILLILAND, who was well acquainted with WM MEREDITH ESQ. of HARLEY-PLACE, who had the paving of MARYLE-BONE PARISH, and died worth £70,000. His brother, GEO. MEREDITH, WAS SURVEYOR of ISLINGTON; the Nephew GEORGE died in EGYPT, and wrote the Life of GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS; the widow of the brother enjoys the property worth £100,000. He says that TH. TAYLOR was a dram-drinker latterly. MR. GILLILAND met Dr PARR at HORNE TOOKE'S. He says H. TOOKE had a pension of £700 a year from a gentleman of large fortune, who lived in WIMPOLE OF DEVONSHIRE-STREET, and whom he considers to have been HENRY CONSTANTINE JENNINGS. When TooKE was asked by the Commissioners of the Income-TAX at Brentford about his Income, his reply was, that there were three modes of raising an income, You may beg, borrow, and steal: I get my income by none of the three,'what I have, is given to me.

Mr GILLILAND met Dr Parr at the house of a sculptor, called GAGER, who was making a bust of CHARLES JAMES FOx; PARR took off his wig, and asked if his head was not like Fox's, the only head which he wished his to resemble. Mr G. told him that his own head was a good one, and he need not look for any resemblance.

When PARR was at COLCHESTER-SCHOOL, a Lady who lived in the neighbourhood, had a spoiled son, about 14, who was under PARR and who chose to play truant, lying in bed, etc. He apologised to his mother for his conduct by saying that he had a fistula; his mother did not know what that meant, but the medical man should see him. The boy was sent to School. PARR gave to him a flogging; when he came back, his mother asked him if he had not been flogged? The boy hung down

his head, and looked sheepish; the medical man came in, and asked him about the fistula, when the boy very cleverly said, 'Oh! I have been cut for it!'

PARR once asked Mr Gilliland to shew Mr Mainwaring to him; he was pointed out,-Parr eyed him, and said, 'What poverty of intellect !'

Mr Gilliland was the author of a pamphlet called Diamond cut diamond (in reply to a Letter of Mr Jefferies the Silversmith addressed to the Prince Regent,) in vindication of the Prince Regent, who gave to him 500 guineas for it.

It should seem that he has also a pension of £400 a year from the Prince Regent secured by a crown-grant.

Mary Ann Clarke wrote a book called The Rival Princes, which bore her name indeed, but was written by Mr Gilliland d; there was, afterwards, another book put forth by her, and Mr G., who however did not write it, was employed to buy up the work; he was commissioned and gave to her £10,000 with a Pension of £400 a year to herself, to be continued to two daughters in succession; he received 3000 copies, was directed to burn them, and read one of them through, while the fire was at work.

He had an original Letter from LADY DOUGLAS, or LADY ELGIN, and has a copy of it now, in which she says that GEO. III thrice had connection with QUEEN CAROLINE.

CVII. Ellenborough, Porson, &c.

KING'S BENCH PRISON, May 7, 1837. MR GILLILAND says that, when the late Lord Ellenborough, who was a severe Judge, was dining with the Marquis of Lansdowne, he said to the Marquis that he would try another slice of beef; If you do, my Lord, whispered Tom Moore, it will be Hung Beef!