and industry, of virtue and sobriety, we shall find ourselves well prepared to act our future parts in life; and what, above all things, ought to be our care, by gaining this command over ourselves, we shall be more able, as we get forward in the world, to resist every new temptation, as soon as it appears.

Execution of Cranmer.

1. QUEEN MARY determined to bring Cranmer, whom she had long detained in prison, to punishment; and in order more fully to satiate her vengeance, she resolved to punish him for heresy, rather than for treason. He was cited by the Pope to stand his trial at Rome; and, though he was known to be kept in close custody at Oxford, he was, upon his not appearing, condemned as contumacious. Bonner, bishop of London, and Thirleby, bishop of Ely, were sent to degrade him; and the former executed the melancholy ceremony, with all the joy and exultation which suited his savage nature. The implacable spirit of the Queen, not satisfied with the future misery of Cranmer, which she believed inevitable, and with the execution of that dreadful sentence to which he was condemned, prompted her also to seek the ruin of his honour, and the infamy of his name. Persons were employed to attack him, not in the way of disputation, against which he was sufficiently armed, but by flattery, insinuation, and address: by representing the dignities to entitled him, if he would merit

which his character still giving him hopes of long en

them by a recantation

joying those powerful friends, whom his beneficent disposition had attached to him, during the course of his prosperity.

2. Overcome by the fond love of life; terrified by the prospect of those tortures which awaited him; he allowed in an unguarded hour, the sentiments of nature to prevail over his resolution, and agreed to subscribe the doctrines of the papal supremacy, and of real presence. The court, equally perfidious and cruel, was determined that this recantation should avail him nothing; and sent orders that he should be required to acknowledge his error in church, before the whole people; and that he should thence be immediately carried to execution.

3. Cranmer, whether he had received a secret intimation of their design, or had repented of his weakness, surprised

the audience by a contrary declaration. He said that he was well apprized of the obedience which he owed to his sovereign and the laws; but that his duty extended no farther than to submit patiently to their commands; and to bear, without resistance, whatever hardships they should impose upon him that a superior duty, the duty which he owed to his Maker, obliged him to speak truth on all occasions; and not to relinquish by a base denial, the holy doctrine which the Supreme Being had revealed to mankind: that there was one miscarriage in his life, of which, above all others, he severely repented; the insincere declaration of faith, to which he had the weakness to consent, and which the fear of death alone had extorted from him that he took this opportunity of atoning for his error, by a sincere and open recantation; and was willing to seal with his blood, that doctrine which he firmly believed to be communicated from heaven: and that, as his hand had erred by betraying his heart, it should first be punished by a severe but just doom, and should first pay the forfeit of its offences.

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4. He was then led to the stake, amidst the insults of his enemies; and having now summoned up all the force of his mind be bore their scorn, as well as the torture of his punishment, with singular fortitude. He stretched out his hand, and without betraying, either by his countenance or motions, the least sign of weakness, or even of feeling, he held it in the flames till it was entirely consumed. His thoughts seemed wholly occupied with reflections on his former fault, and he called aloud several times," This hand has offended." Satisfied with that atonement, he then discovered a serenity in his countenance; and when the fire attacked his body, he seemed to be quite insensible of his outward sufferings, and by the force of hope and resolution, to have collected his mind altogether within itself, and to repel the fury of the flames. He was undoubtedly a man of merit ; possessed of learning and capacity, and adorned with candour, sincerity, and beneficence, and all those virtues which were fitted to render him useful and amiable in society.

The Spaniard and Peruvian.

1. DON PEDRO MENDEZ was a Spaniard of noble extraction; but the extravagance of his progenitor had rendered him incapable of supporting himself in the rank to which he

was entitled by birth. Whether it be from pride or senti timent, it is certainly mortifying for a man to walk as stranger through those estates which formerly belonged to his family, and which he himself might or ought to have possessed.

2. This, with other causes of chagrin, which he daily experienced, determined him to leave Spain. The resource, in those cases, is generally to repair to America; and his remaining friends procured him an establishment at Lima, that was not only lucrative in itself, but afforded him great opportunities of trading to the Manillas from Acapulco, and to Europe by means of the galleons, which sailed between Lima and Old Spain.

3. In a few years after his arrival in Peru, he found himself in a very affluent and desirable situation. The income which arose from his office and mercantile pursuits, was quite sufficient to defray the charges of living in a sumptuous and magnificent style, and by which he enjoyed all the pleasures that a country, favoured by the most powerful influences of the sun, can afford.

4. For this purpose, he bought an elegant villa near the city of Cusco, about 580 miles from Lima, to which he frequently retired. It was situated on a plain, that, by a gentle descent to the westward, terminated on the banks of the lake Titicaca. To the eastward, at five miles distance, was seen part of the chain of lofty mountains which is called the Andes; and the intervening space was filled by lofty woods, with plains between, so disposed as to make a very picturesque appearance. This district was perfectly adapted, either to the diversion of shooting, or other pleasures of contemplation; and here Mendez usually amused himself with one or the other, as inclination prompted him.

5. An illiberal prejudice has, in too many instances, fixed upon nations the odium which the crimes of individuals have merited. The Spaniards are said to be cruel, because a set of wretches, whose vices had rendered their fortunes desperate in Europe, were banished upon a kind of forlorn expedition, to make discoveries upon a new continent.

6. The event surpassed expectation; and those men, whom the fear of punishment had not kept within bounds when in Europe, did not scruple in America to commit the most hor

id crimes. But they perpetrated these crimes not more or less because they were Spaniards, but because they were bad men. Had they been Englishmen, who is there so hardy as to pretend that they would have been more humane? It is a degradation to human nature to say, that a cruel, perfidious, or an unprincipled nation exists; and the case is sufliciently deplorable, when we are obliged to confess, that in s all nations there are too many individuals who deserve those epithets.

7. The seeds of humanity and good sense were so strongly implanted in the mind of Mendez, that neither example nor argument could prevail on him to look upon slaves in any other light than as men; and, as men in misfortune, he concluded they had a right to his attention and regard. Sentiments like these could not fail of producing their effect. With pleasure he saw that those poor people, whom fortune had placed under his command, were possessed of hearts capable of glowing with the sincerest gratitude for the smallest indulgence-indulgences which their hard lot had taught them how to value; and they, on the contrary, inured to and expecting severe usage, almost adored the man who treated them in so different a manner, and whose benevolence seemed to be interested in all their little concerns.

8. Love and gratitude wrought more powerfully among his slaves, than the fear of punishment ever does among those who are subjected to masters less intelligent and humane. No punishment was ever heard of amongst them but one, and that appeared so dreadful, that it was more than sufficient to keep the most refractory in awe. This was no less than a dismission from his service; and they who were incapable of judging of any thing else, could yet readily perceive the disadvantage of exchanging his service for that of another.

9. Mendez had occasion to increase the number of his slaves; he repaired to the usual market at Lima, purchased as many as he intended, and was passing by the rest, when he heard the strokes of a whip at a small distance. He turned, and observed a Spaniard, who was severely lashing a Peruvian, who seemed to be between fifty and sixty years of age. This sight, though afflicting to Mendez, was too common to have engaged his particular attention, if the

behaviour of the sufferer had not been too remarkable be overlooked.

10. He regarded his tormentor with a kind of fixed co tempt, that seemed to absorb his other ideas, and, at least appearance, rendered him insensible even of pain. M friend," said Mendez to the Spaniard, "what has the ma done, that you must punish him in the market-place? "He will not acknowledge me his master," replied th Spaniard, overheated with rage, and the diabolical exercis he had been at: "he does not deserve to live. I will le you know," continued he, turning to the slave, whose cal intrepidity added fuel to his passion, "I will let you know that all men were not born free, and that dogs like yo ought to rejoice to serve."

11. The slave took no other notice than by a smile, s sarcastic, that the Spaniard could not but feel his inferi ority to the very man whom he was loading with injuries

Is he to be sold?" demanded Mendez. "6 Yes, if any body will buy him," replied the other; "but he so con trives to give such saucy and impertinent answers to al who speak to him, that though I have brought him here three successive market-days, I stand no more chance of selling him than at first." "What are his faults," demanded Mendez, "that you are so particularly intent upon selling him?" Why, to tell you the truth," answered the Span iard, "he is a very good slave, and can do very well if he will but he is not broken to servitude and slavery yet, and 1 do not like the trouble, that is all; so if you like him, you shall have him a bargain.'

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12. Mendez then accosted the slave, and asked him if he was willing to serve him. "To serve you!" replied the slave, in a tone in which surprise and derision were united; are you willing to serve me? God and nature have made us equal: why should I become your slave? I must submit to force; but never, never will I consent to serve the detested race of those who overthrew the Incas, my progenitors. Oh, Atabalipa! and ye immortal shades, who now reside in bliss with the sun your father, hear me, ye renowned spirits! I pant to be with you, that I may see in the Book of Fate the plagues, the tenfold curses, that are preparing for the perfidious and blood-thirsty Spaniards!