the world, expressed not the least regret for his fate, but lamented that his misfortunes should cloud the prospects of his family, and shed an indelible disgrace on his memory. Thus through the weakness of the law, was an interesting young man and a worthy citizen, hurried from the world, and doomed to expiate on the gallows that crime commit ted by the hands of a villain and assassin.

THE GREEK MARTYR.

THE following event occurred at Smyrna, April, 1819. Athanasius, a Greek christian, twenty-four years of age, was the son of a boatman, who carried on a small trade in the Archipelago. The gains of the father being unable to support the son, and the business not sufficiently great to require his assistance, he was obliged to look out for employment in some other way. He engaged in the service of a Turk, who, being pleased with his conduct, considered him as a proper object for exercising his influence in converting him to the Mahometan faith. After holding out great offers, he ultimately prevailed on him to renounce Christianity, in presence of the Meccamay, who is the Turkish Judge and Bishop. He continued in the service for about a year after, when he quitted it, and having experienced severe reproofs of conscience for his apostacy, he made a pilgrimage to Mount Achas, where there are many converts, from which he returned some months after.

On his arrival at Smyrna, in the costume of a Greek monk, he proceeded instantly to the Meccamay, expressed his repentance at renouncing the Christian faith, and his resolution to abjure the tenets of the Mahometan. On this he was confined in a dungeon, and endured the torture with the greatest fortitude, persisting in his resolution to die a Christian. A day was then appointed for his execution, in the most public part of Smyrna, and opposite one of the principal mosques; and he was led to the scaffold bound, attended by the Turkish guards. Here he was offered his life, nay, houses, money, in short, riches, if he

would still continue in the Mahometan creed; but no temptation could induce Athanasius again to apostatize.

On this occasion a Turkish blacksmith was employed to decapitate him. As a last attempt, however, to effect, if practicable, a change of opinion, the executioner was directed to cut part of the skin of his neck, that he might feel the edge of the sword. Even this, however, failed of success. He was then ordered to kneel on the ground, when he declared, with a calm and resigned countenance, that "he was born with Jesus, and would die with Jesus." At one blow the head was struck off. The guards then instantly threw buckets of water on the neck and head of the corpse, to prevent the multitude of surrounding Greek spectators from dipping their handkerchiefs in his blood, to keep as a memorial of an event so remarkable. The body was publicly exposed for three days, the head was placed between the legs, on the anus, and afterwards given up to the Greeks, by whom it was decently interred, in the principal church-yard of Smyrna. This is the third instance of the kind which has occurred at Smyrna during the last twenty years.

THE PARRICIDE PUNISHED.

THE following very singular adventure is related as a fact in a French work, entitled La Nouvelle Bibliotheque de Societe; and is said to have happened in one of the provinces of France. It is related in a letter to a friend. The adventure which I am going to relate to you, my dear friend, is of so strange and dreadful a nature, that you are the only person to whom I must ever disclose the secret.

The nuptials of Mademoiselle de Vildac were celebrated yesterday; at which, as a neighbor, custom and good manners required my attendance. You are acquainted with M. de Vildaç: he has a countenance which never pleased me; his eyes have often a wild and suspicious glare, a something which has always given me disagreeable sensations for which I could in no way account. I could not help observing yesterday, that, in the midst of joy and re

velry, he partook not of pleasure: far from being penetrated with the happiness of his new son and daughter, the delight of others seemed to him a secret torment.

The feast was held at his ancient castle; and, when the hour of rest arrived, I was conducted to a chamber immediately under the Old Tower at the north end. I had just fallen into my first sleep, when I was awakened and alarmed by a heavy kind of noise over head. I listened, and heard very distinctly the footsteps of some one slowly descending, and dragging chains that clanked upon the stairs, the noise approached, and presently the chamber door was opened, the clanking of the chains redoubled, and he who bore them went towards the chimney. There were a few embers half extinguished; these he scraped together, and said, in a sepulchral voice:-"Alas! how long it is since I have seen a fire!" I own, my friend, I was terrified: I seized my sword, looked between my curtains, and saw by the glimmering of the embers, a withered old man half naked, with a bald head, and a white beard. He put his trembling hands to the wood, which began to blaze, and soon afterwards turned towards the door by which he entered, fixed his eyes with horror upon the floor, as if he beheld something most dreadful, and exclaimed with agony, "My God! my God!"

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My emotion caused my curtains to make a noise, and he turned affrighted. Who is there?" said he. 66 Is there any one in that bed ?"—"Yes," I replied; "and who are you?'-Contending passions would not for awhile suffer him to speak, at last he answered, "I am the most miserable of men. This, perhaps, is more than I ought to say; but it is so long, so many years, since I have seen or spoken to a human being, that I cannot resist. Fear nothing; come towards the fire; listen to my sorrows and for a moment soften my sufferings !"

My fear gave place to pity; I sat down by him. My condescension and my feelings moved him; he took my hand, bathed it with his tears, and said-Generous man! let me desire you first to satisfy my curiosity. Tell me why you lodge in this chamber, where no man has lodged before for so many years; and what mean the rejoicings I