life of him they adored was at stake; and the sound of mirth at such a moment fell more gratingly on their ears than the fierce manner of the bullying prosecutor. But the witness was encouraged, for he saw his examiner was annoyed, and he took a hint from the result, and lay in wait for another opportunity of turning the laugh against his tormentor. He was not long in getting such an opening; and the more he was examined, in hope of shaking his testimony, the less the prosecutor gained by it.

At length the counsel received a whisper from Sweeny, that the fellow was drunk. "He has his wits most d-nably about him for all that," said the lawyer. "He has been drinking all the morning-I can prove it," said Sweeny; "and you may upset his testimony, if you like, on that score.' "I'll have a touch at him then," said the lawyer. When the jury perceived the same witness still kept on the table, and a re-examination for the prosecution entered upon, they became wearied, and, indeed, no wonder; for the silk-gowned gentleman became excessively dull, and had he possessed any tact, must have perceived from the demeanor of the jury that the present course of proceeding was ill-timed. Yet he continued; and, in violation of all custom, sought to invalidate his testimony of the man he himself had called as a witness: but Larry's cross-examination having favored the prisoner, the crown counsel became incensed, and abandoned all ceremony and discretion, which at length was noticed by the bench. "I beg your pardon, my lord, but I am anxious to sift this witness." 'By gor," said Finnegan," "if you wor to sift me from this till to-morrow, the devil a grain more you'll get out o' me!-and indeed you've been gettin' nothin' but chaff for the last half-hour." The answer had so much of truth in it, that the counsel became doubly annoyed at the suppressed laugh he heard around him; and then he determined to bring up his heavy artillery, and knock Larry to atoms. Counsel: Now, sir, I've just a question or two that you'll answer by virtue of your oath. The Bench: Really Mr. ---Counsel: I beg your lordship's pardon-but it is absolutely important. Now, by virtue of your oath, havn't you been drinking this morning?-Witness: To be sure I have.-Counsel: How much did you drink?-Witness: 'Faith, I don't know, I never throuble myself keepin' count, barrin' I'm sarvin' the customers at home.-Counsel: You took a glass of whiskey before breakfast of course?-Witness: And glad to get it!-Counsel: And another after?-Witness: Av coorse-when it was to be had.-Counsel: When you came into the town, you went to a public house, I hear, and were drinking there, too, before you came into court?-Witness: Oh, jist a thrifle among some friends. -Counsel: What do you call a trifle ?-Witness: Four pots o' porther and a quart o' spirts.-Counsel: Good God! Gentlemen of the jury, listen to this:-a gallon of porter and a quart of whiskey !-Witness: Oh, but that was betune six iv uz!-Counsel: Then, sir, by your own account, you're drunk at this moment.-Witness: Not a bit.-Counsel: On your oath-remember, on your oath, sir-do you think, after drinking all you yourself have owned to, you are in a state to give evidence in a court of justice?-Witness: 'Faith, I think a few glasses only helps to brighten a man !—and betune ourselves, Counsellor - I think you'd be a grate dale the better ov a glass yourself this minit." The laugh which this rejoinder produced, finished "the counsellor," and he sat down without roaring, as usual, at the witness, "Go down, sir." But Larry kept his seat until the laugh was over; and, not receiving the ordinary mandate to retire, he looked at the discomfited barrister with the most provoking affectation of humility, and said, "Do you want me any more, sir?" This renewed the laugh, and Finnegan retired from the table under the shadow of his laurels."

A few such blunt witnesses as Larry Finnegan, are much wanted in our English courts. The brutal insolence of our barristers can only be checked by such characters. Mr. Lover's Larry Finnegan, and Boz's Sam Weller, are well matched; so far, at least, as regards" queering" the counsellors. We have ourselves heard such questions asked, in a court of law, as would have disgraced any but a lawyer even to have conceived.

De Porquet's Tresor de l'Ecolier Francais.-De Porquet's First French Reading-Book.-De Porquet's Petit Secretaire Parisien.- Key to Petit Secretaire.-De Porquet's Italian Phrase Book.-London, 1837. F. de Porquet and Cooper.

The announcement of our New Paper having attracted the notice of Messrs. F. de Porquet and Cooper, we have received from them a number of their publications,—we conclude for the purpose of their being reviewed. Having had several days' leisure during the past week, we have looked over them with a very critical eye; and are happy to have it in our power to recommend them as admirable works, either for adoption in schools, or for self-tuition. With these books, a man may learn more in one week, than, by the usual mode of teaching, in several months of severe study. How essential, then, must be their universal reception in public seminaries! It gives us pleasure to perceive, that they have all passed into new and greatly improved editions. One of them, Le Tresor (a most invaluable book) has on its title page "17th Edition." This simple fact prevents us entering more fully into the merits of M. de Porquet's works,

we must, however, cordially thank that gentleman for the personal benefit we have derived, from a perusal of his very clever and intelligent books.

Observations on the Preservation of Health in Infancy, Youth, Manhood, and Age; with the best means of improving the Moral and Physical Condition of Man. By John Harrison Curtis, Esq., 12mo. H. Renshaw.

Having received this book at the "eleventh hour,' we were about to lay it on one side, till a glance at the title-page arrested our attention. We find, on a hasty perusal, that we cannot do adequate justice to its merits this week. It appears one of the most practically useful and necessary books for constant reference in the nursery, drawing-room, and chamber of the Invalid, that we remember to have seen. must find room for two random extracts,-the first addressed to seven-eighths of the population of London, the latter to those numberless dirty animals, who luxuriate in the horrid custom of taking snuff:

MONEY-GETTING.

We

"Thousands-I might say millions-of our countrymen devote all their energies, bodily and mental, to the one concern of money-getting. Early and late they pursue their object; they engage in endless schemes for the increase of their wealth; their minds are perpetually on the rack; not a day passes without intense mental labor and excitement: their health is neglected, and their present comfort despised, that they may the more uninterruptedly pursue their plans of aggrandisement. The innumerable speculations that are daily starting up, and the avidity, the blind eagerness, with which they are entered into, are abundant evidence that this picture is not overdrawn. Who can enumerate the various associations for the carrying on of all imaginable objects, which occupy so large a portion of the attention of the legislature, and each of which promises to its promoters the speedy realisation of that, after which all men seem