THE TRAVEllers'. For admission to which this last-named condition is a qualification indispensable, unless the candidate chance to be a foreign ambassador, or to occupy high diplomatic station, when he is eligible for an honorary member, as a matter of course. This club is exceedingly select, numbering the highest branches of the peerage, and the most distinguished of the lower house of parliament, in its ranks. It consists of only seven hundred members, but they are amongst the élite of the land: and Talleyrand, with some of the most eminent representatives of foreign powers, have been enrolled in the list of its honorary members. When ambassador to this country from the French court, the veteran diplomatist was wont to pass his leisure hours at this favorite retreat in Pall Mall, and steered his way as triumphantly throughout all the mazes of whist and ecarte, as he had done amid the intricacies of the thirteen different forms of governments—each of which he had sworn to observe. Numerous bon mots and repartees are here recorded of him, though his innate sense of politeness kept, when amongst foreigners, his keen-cutting satire in restraint: but space, and the length to which the article has already extended, at present preclude us from noting them. Another club, devoted to travellers from a far-distant land, is THE ORIENTAL on the shady side of Hanover Square, established for the commerce of affairs in the service of the East India Company, civil as well as military and naval. In its recesses, these gentlemen find a retreat when at home on furlough, or a re-union, with all the hot spices and fiery cookery of the East, when they have finally retired from service, and returned faded, crippled, and jaundiced, to repose on their handsome yet health-earned pensions, and narrate their adventures, or fight (in talk) their fields again. We have no space, at present, for any anecdotes connected with themwhich, sooth to say, are somewhat of a saturnine complexion, and relate for the most part to persons or affairs "two thousand miles up the country," in whom, or in which, few of our countrymen at home would feel an interest. In the City there are one or two clubs of distinction, the CITY par excellence, and the GRESHAM; but they present no peculiarities for notice. Farther west, in Chancery Lane, is a LAW Club, the aim of which is obvious; and intermediate between this and the West End establishments stands the GARRICK, the smallest, we believe, of any such institutions, devoted mainly, though not entirely, to writers and members in the dramatic school. J.* CURIOUS TRIALS CONNECTED WITH THE ARISTOCRACY. No. XVI. THE MANSLAUGHTER OF SIR CHARLES PYM. THE Pyms, of Brymmore, in Somersetshire, were a very ancient and honorable house: their existence, as a family of condition, is recorded as far back as the reign of Edward IV., and their name is one of note in English history. It was made so by the famous representative of the race, in the seventeenth century-John Pym, the stern parliamentarian, who acted so great a part in the eventful drama, which ended with the overthrow of the monarchy, and the murder of the King. John Pym's son was created a Baronet by Charles II. in 1663; and his grandson, the second Baronet, was the unfortunate Sir Charles Pym, the subject of this trial, with whose death in this painful squabble, terminated the male line of the Pym's of Brymmore. This investigation presents merely the narrative of a fatal tavern brawl; but it is curious as giving an insight into the turbulent manners of the day, in London, just previous to the Revolution. The trial took place at the Old Bailey, on the 1st of June, 1688, and, as will be seen, King James's faithful supporter, Mr. Justice Allibone, was one of the presiding judges. The prisoners, Rowland Walters, Wearing Bradshaw, and Ambrose Cave, gentlemen, were indicted for the murder of Sir Charles Pym, Baronet, by killing him with the thrust of a rapier. The parties accused, as well as the other gentlemen engaged in the melancholy transaction, were persons of station and family: one of them, Ambrose Cave, was the third son of Sir Thomas Cave, Knt., the representative of a house still in existence, and one of the oldest in the realm. This Ambrose Cave eventually perished by violence, being assassinated by one Biron, an officer in the army. The case was thus opened : Counsel for the King. My lords, and you gentlemen of the jury, I am here retained a counsel for the King, against the prisoners at the bar, who all three stand indicted for the murder of Sir Charles Pym, bart. in the parish of St. Nicholas Cole-abbey, by thrusting him through the body near the right pap, giving him a mortal wound, of which he then and there instantly died. The other two prisoners stand indicted for aiding, abetting, and assisting him the said Walters in the said murder. Another Counsel for the King. My lords, this murder fell out on the fourth day of May last, after this manner, viz. Sir Charles Pym, one Mr. Mirriday, Mr. Neale, and Sir Thomas Middleton, and others dined at the Swan Tavern upon Fish-street Hill; after they were CURIOUS TRIALS CONNECTED WITH THE ARISTOCRACY. 525 come into the house they went up-stairs; after which the prisoners at the bar came into the house and took another room to dine of beef and other things. But one of Sir Charles's company desired to have a plate of it; upon which Mr. Cloudsley told them some gentlemen had bespoke it for dinner; but he said he would get them a plate of it, which was sent up and ordered to be reckoned into Mr. Walters the prisoner's bill. After dinner they drank their healths, and returned them thanks for their beef; and towards the evening, Sir Charles Pym and his friends came downstairs, and met the prisoners at the bottom, and Mr. Cave asked them how they liked the beef that was sent up? Upon which, one in the company answered, and told them, they did not send it, for they had paid for it. Upon which, farther words arose, and Mr. Bradshaw drew his sword and fell upon Sir Charles Pym, but he got out into the street. After which, Mr. Walters came forth and plucked Sir Charles Pym by the arms, and forced him to fight with him, saying, here is my hand, and here is my sword; and as soon as he was in the street he received this mortal wound, and so fell down dead. After this, Mr. Walters took him by the nape of the neck, and dashed his head upon the ground, and cried out, damn you, you are dead and said farther, let the sword alone in his body. My lord, this shall be proved to be done without any manner of provocation; and if so, I hope you, gentlemen of the jury, will find him guilty of wilful murder. We Clerk. Call Mr, Mirriday, Mr. Neale, Mr. Palms, and Mr. Bridges. (Who were sworn.) Mr. Mirriday. My lord, on the 4th day of May last, on a Friday, Sir Charles Pym, myself, and these gentlemen here in court, came to dine at the Swan Tavern, in Old Fish-street. We asked for meat, and Mr. Cloudsley, the man of the house, told us we might have fish, for he had no meat but what was bespoke by Mr. Walters and his company. desired him to help us to a plate of it, if it might be got, which we had brought up-stairs; after dinner we drank the gentlemen's healths that sent it, and returned them thanks for it. A while after, Sir Thomas Middleton went away, and about an hour after that or thereabouts, Sir Charles Pym and the rest of us came down to go away; and when we were in the entry, Mr. Cave met us and asked Sir Charles how he liked the beef that was sent up; who answered, we did not know you sent it, for we have paid for it. Then the boy that kept the bar told us that he did not reckon it in the bill; upon which Mr. Cave seemed to take it ill: but, my lord, I cannot be positive whether Mr. Bradshaw and Mr. Palms were at any words. Then I took Mr. Cave to one side, into the entry, and he thought that I had a mind to fight him, but I did what I could to make an end of the quarrel. [Upon which the Court highly commended Mr. Mirriday.] Court. This was in the entry, but where was Sir Charles Pym? Court. Where was Mr. Walters ? Mirriday. He was at the door, my lord; but I cannot swear positively to any particular passage as to the murder; but Mr. Walters called Sir Charles Pym rogue, and gave him very ill words, and I saw him take him by the neck and force his head downwards, and said, with an oath, he is dead, to the best of my remembrance, my lord, Then I took Sir Charles up in my arms and pulled the sword out of his body; and then Mr. Walters said, with an oath, let it stay in his body, or words to that effect. Court. Was Mr. Cave or Mr. Bradshaw at the place where Sir Charles fell? Mirriday. My lord, he stayed a little, till I had pulled the sword out of his body, and then he ran away. Court. Did they draw their swords in the entry? Mirriday. I cannot tell that. Court. Did you see them draw their swords? Mirriday. I cannot say Sir Charles Pym's sword was drawn, but I saw Mr. Walters draw his sword in the street. Court. Do you know whether Mr. Walters was wounded or no? Walters. Yes, my lord: Mr. Mirriday, what did you say to Sir Charles Pym in the fishmonger's shop? Did you not say, go and fight him, and I will be your second? Mirriday. My lord, I do not remember one word of that. Court. Mr. Mirriday, were you in any fishmonger's shop? Mirriday. Yes, my lord, I was there; but I do not remember one word between Mr. Walters and Sir Charles, and, as I hope for salvation, I said no such thing; and that 's all I have to say. Clerk. Cryer, call Mr. Neale. Mr. Neale. My lord, I went and met with these gentlemen that dined with us at the aforesaid tavern, and we had fish and two beef marrowbones and a plate of beef for dinner; and when we came down to go away, these gentlemen met us, and said, with an oath, how did you like the beef? which raised a quarrel among us; but immediately, after I thought it was all over, I saw Mr. Walters run Sir Charles Pym through. Court. Was his sword drawn? Neale. Yes, both of their swords were drawn. Court. Where was Mr. Bradshaw ? Neale. I cannot tell where he was directly: but, my lord, I heard Sir Charles Pym say nothing to Mr. Walters. Clerk. Cryer, call Mr. Palms. Palms. My lord, after the reckoning was paid, we came down-stairs and called for a coach, and because it rained there was none to be had, and these gentlemen followed us into the entry, and so words to the same purpose as aforesaid passed between them; after which I met Mr. Bradshaw, and we fell out in the fishmonger's shop. Court. Who began? Palms. I know not, I cannot remember that. Court. Were you not in drink? Palms. My lord, we drank nine or ten bottles among six of us; after which Mr. Bradshaw and I drew our swords, and then Mr. Mirriday came and took him away from me, into the entry, and in the mean time, while we were talking in the entry, the business was done. Court. Were your swords put up again? Palms. I had put up mine. Counsel for the King. Did you take notice of what passed between Mr. Walters and Sir Charles Pym? Palms. I heard nothing of high words. Clerk. Cryer, call for Mr. Presland, the bar-keeper. Court. Did you put the beef into the bill? Presland. No, I did not; when they came down-stairs, the coach was fetched for them, viz., for Sir Charles Pym and his company, and the reckoning was paid. When Sir Charles Pym and the rest of his company came down into the entry, Mr. Walters came out of the room, &c., and I heard them argue about their dinner, and they came to me, and asked me what was to pay for beef, and I told them nothing. Court. Did you see the man killed? Presland. My lord, I did not see him killed, not I. Court. Who was it that quarrelled with the coachman? Presland. My lord, Mr. Neale quarrelled with the coachman about his staying the coachman refused going with him, because his horses were hot. : Clerk. Cryer, call Mr. Brummidge. Brummidge. My lord, between eleven and twelve o'clock in the morning, on the 4th of May last, Sir Charles Pym came to Mr. Cloudsley's house in a coach, and asked him what he might have for dinner; who told him that he might have a mullet and some smelts, and I sold a mul. let to Mr. Cloudsley; so Sir Charles went to the Exchange, and I saw no more of him till I saw him killed. While I was in the house, came in one Mr. Allen and others, to inquire for Sir Charles Pym, and Mr. Cloudsley told them that he had bespoke a dinner, viz., a mullet and some smelts, and was gone to the Exchange; but one of the gentlemen desired a bit of the beef that was at the fire, so Mr. Cloudsley said he would get a plate for him. So I went to the door and the coachman came, and his horses being hot, he desired to go away because it rained; but Mr. Neale put his foot-boy into the coach, and the coachman after pulled his boy out of the coach and drove away. And after that, I saw Mr. Cave and others come to the door, and jostled each other into the next shop, and were at very high words; and so afterwards they went into the entry again, and Sir Charles Pym and Mr. Walters came out without the door, the latter of which said, "Here is my hand, and here is my sword;" but they returned both in again into the tavern, and within two minutes came out again, and I saw Mr. Walters thrust Sir Charles Pym through his back. Court. Did you see him do anything to him after he was down? Brummidge. No, my lord, I did not. Court. Did you not say that Walters went over the kennel, and drew his sword, and stood upon his guard; and then you say, that you saw Sir Charles Pym come out with his sword drawn; was his sword drawn? Brummidge. I did not see him draw it; but it was drawn. Court. Where did he receive his wound? Brummidge. Within a foot of the kennel; I was but a little way off, but I did not see him beat his head against the ground. Clerk. Cryer, call Mr. Fletcher. Fletcher. My lord, on Friday, in the evening on the 4th of May, I was going by the tavern door about seven o'clock at night, and I heard a noise and a talking of going to the other end of the town to be merry and turning myself back to hearken further, I saw Mr. Walters come out of |