Feet. I hate to think of what is past-I hate to talk of what is past;-I always like to look forward.

Hands. So far you are a philosopher.

Feet. Yes, I'm descended from a celebrated sect; the Peripatetics were all pedestrians.

Hands. Buta little conversation can do us no harm.

Feet. Proceed.

Hands. You recollect that I once stole a pair of shoes for you.

Feet. What then?

Hands. You walked off with them."

Feet. Or rather, ran off; for, if I had not, you would have been caught in muner, as the lawyers

say.

Hands. But you never stole a pair of gloves for me.

Feet. But I was fettered for the gloves you stole for yourself.

Hands. And I was handcuffed for the shoes I stole for you. Feet. Didn't I kick the fellow that handcuffed you?

Hands. And didn't I cuff the fellow that fettered you?

Feet. So far we acted like sworn brothers. I

hope you don't forget that I was put in the stocks for the bottle of brandy you stole.

Hands.

Hands. That bottle was for our throat-our common friend.

Feet. I am afraid our poor throat will pay for all at last.

Hands. Away with your predictions! You say you like to look forward; you should sometimes look behind

you.

Feet. No, I leave that to my heels.

Hands. In all our transactions, I never betrayed you.

Feet. Do you mean to say that I betrayed you?

Hands. Remember the great snow.

Feet, True; I was traced, and we were caught.-Didn't I assist you, however, to scale the wall?

Hands. You did-and to swim the river.
Feet. Yes-and to climb the tree.

Hands. Don't talk of trees-trees have been

fatal to gentlemen of our professions.

Feet. And will be so, I fear. Since you have touched on old sores, it has not escaped your memory, I believe, that before you entered on your present line of life, you signed a warrant of attorney, by which you got us all, back, belly, and bones, into a stone doublet.

Hands. It was in that very stone doublet I learned all my tricks,

Feet. I wish you could unlearn them, but that I see is impossible; let me advise you now,

in future, to avoid all attorneys, and warrants of attorney; and if ever you are called upon to put your mark to any bond, bill, or note, let it appear on the left side; though it may not be so honourable a post as on the right, yet you'll find it a less dangerous one.

Hands. True, but I am surprised you should presume to give advice to your betters!

Feet. Betters! I am descended, Mr. Hands, from the ancient family of the Legs: you are, it is true, descended from the proud family of the Arms: both have bled in the cause of their country, and when yours could no longer sustain the fight, mine have borne them off the tented field in safety. I know the Spindleshanks claim kindred as a branch of my ancestors, and they are a disgrace to it; we are proud, however, to acknowledge our obligations to Mr. Deputy Oak, a sound race, the pride of Old England, and the glory of Chelsea College.

Hands. Come, come, our ancestors are equally illustrious. But, in point of education-I can write.

Feet. And I can leave my mark. Has n't forgery brought many a man to the gallows?

Hands, And has n't one false step often done the same?-A truce, a truce!-let us forget all that is past let us act in concert in future. Feet. With all my heart: I'll engage that you'll

you

'll never attempt to put any plan into execu→ tion that you won't find me at the bottom of it: if you have a horse, arm my heels, and you'll outstrip the wind; or if you trust to me, you'll find that I'll leave our pursuers far behind.

DUKE OF MEDINA CELI.

IN consequence of the defeat at Saragossa, and the very low state to which France was reduced, Philip* apprehended he should be obliged to relinquish his pretensions to the throne of Spain. Amongst others, it was suspected, that the Duke of Medina Celi was in the interest of his competitor, Charles. To render so powerful a prince inactive, would be almost equal to a victory; but the method to effect it seemed difficult, especially in the exhausted state to which Philip was reduced. Sir Patrick Lawless, an Irish gentleman, then a colonel in the French service, charged himself singly to secure the person of the Duke. Having previously concerted all his measures, he repaired to the ducal palace, as charged with a special commission from Philip. He invited the Duke to take a walk on a fine terrace, in order to converse the more freely. As the conversation was interesting,

* Philip V.

interesting, they insensibly rambled to a considerable distance from the suite of the Duke, until they came to a passage which led to the high road, where the Colonel had a carriage in waiting. Lawless in a few words told his Highness, that he must directly, and without the least appearance of constraint, take a seat in the coach; as he had engaged, at the hazard of his head, to bring him to Madrid, where he would find Philip ready to receive him with open arms. The determined tone with which these words were uttered, the appearance of the man, and above all, his character for resolution and bravery, induced the Duke to resort to the only alternative. They soon arrived at Madrid, where he met with a most gracious reception. The battle of Almanza, which happened some time after, made the Duke deem his visitor, his preserver, as well as that of his immense estate. Lawless was raised in a short time to the rank of Lieutenantgeneral, and governor of Majorca, and in the course of a few years, Philip appointed him his ambassador to the court of Versailles.

THE