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beyond the ordinary chances in a hot climate, was scarcely in any one's estimate of a twelvemonth's value. Why should Topping, a man of the world, and with no temptation or inducement to a superfluous falsehood, breathe such an intention but in perfect sincerity? In short, Whitwell considered the promise as so much wealth, in the shape of a security payable at no distant period, though for the present unavailable.

Whitwell, however, did make it available. To corroborate his intention, Topping had given him, according to custom on these occasions,-for there were many residuary legatees into whom he had infused the same expectations,-a copy of his will. When Whitwell wanted money for his own use or for the exigencies of the government, the Nabob's exchequer being by this time squeezed to a husk, he found no difficulty in obtaining large sums from rich natives like Paupiah or Jyah Pillay, by the production, in strict confidence, of this document. But confidential communications contrive now and then to escape; and it happened, awkwardly enough, that Jacob Arathoon's residuary legacy and Whitwell's crossed each other, as it were, to the great perplexity of both. The same happened to the other persons who were looking forward to the same imaginary wealth. As every one, how

ever, is a firm believer in his own good fortune, that perplexity soon ceased to disturb them, and the gates of Topping's compound were day by day besieged with the most affectionate inquiries after his health from those who were eagerly praying for his death.

If Topping received payment in kind from Whitwell, it was in the shape of patronage. To many persons patronage is wealth, bringing with it the highest enjoyments which wealth can procure. Through Whitwell's instrumentality, Topping provided for many young men who had come out recommended to him from England. He was enabled to cement by marriage many hopeless attachments cherished by young civilians, who had fallen in love with certain Madras beauties before they were enabled to support them. Wealth is power. In this instance, imaginary wealth was power; and, to his credit be it said, Topping exerted its influence kindly and benevolently. He never wanted money. A slight hint or inuendo that a loan for an occasional purpose would be of use to him, for a season, became almost instantly a round sum of ready money in his hands.

Jack Topping, however, at last, paid the debt of nature. But who shall paint the meeting of the legatees, each frantic with hope, that rushed into

his hall the instant his remains had been deposited in the grave-the grave of many a hope too fondly nursed, too rudely crossed, that lay buried with him! Smollett's admirable pencil, that sketched the posthumous scene of Roderick Random's grandfather, would scarcely be equal to it. For myself, I shrink from the attempt. "The will, the will, the authentic will itself!" exclaimed Whit

well. "Here is my copy." "And here is mine," exclaimed half-a-dozen other residuary legatees. Last (for the Armenians, though not dead to the impulses of avarice, are a modest unobtrusive people) was heard poor Jacob Arathoon's voice," and here is mine!" producing from his under-cassock a piece of paper greasier than his own face. "And here, also," continued Jacob, is the clause bequeathing funds for our new Armenian church, for which I have paid by anticipation eighteen thousand star pagodas." All was despair. Not that the opinion of Jack Topping's immense wealth was at all shaken; but each found a competitor in each for its enjoyment. The only refuge from despair was the date of each will, for counterparts, regularly sealed and executed, were found to each of the copies he had put into the hands of the several parties to whom he had bequeathed his property. "Mine is of the latest date!" said one; "mine! said ano

ther;"-the same key-note ran through the whole circle. What were the astonishment and dismay of each, when they all turned out to be dated the same day! It was clear they had been all duped; more clear still, when they found that Topping had no wealth, but died, leaving behind him debts to an immense amount.

The Armenians were the only gainers; they gained a new church. Nor did they refund a fanam to poor Jacob, who sued them by a bill in the Mayor's Court for a joint-contribution towards its construction, and in addition to the costs of the building,—which to this day is called "Jacob's folly," and enregistered in the archives of the church, immemorially kept in Greek, H AMOPIA ΤΟΥ ΙΑΚΟΒΟΥ,—had to pay the costs of the suit.

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THE SWORD OF ANTAR.

AN EPISODE OF THE ARABIAN ROMANCE OF ANTAR.

AFTER many brilliant enterprizes, which had brought peace and abundance amongst them, the warriors of the tribe of Abs were assembled, by the invitation of their king, Zaer, in a delightful valley near the spring called Zat al Arsad. After a sumptuous repast, slaves passed round goblets of wine, whilst the young damsels danced upon the flowery turf to the sound of the tamborine and the songs of their mothers. Encircled by the princes, his sons, and by the chiefs of the tribe, King Zaer, who presided with patriarchal hospitality over the pleasures of the day, called upon Antar to indulge the assembly with a song of his composition. All

This celebrated romance, which is highly popular in all countries where the Arabian language is spoken, extends to no less than twenty-six volumes. The above episode is translated in an article in the Journal Asiatique for March 1834, by M. A. CARDIN DE CARDONNE.

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