ance, he is very ready to pardon every other crime. He resolved, therefore, to commit murder, that he might be deprived of life by the hands of justice; and, mingling a sentiment of benevolence with the cruelty of his intention, he reflected that if he murdered a grown person, he might possibly send a soul to hell. To avoid this, he determined to murder a child, who could not have committed any sin, which deserved damnation, but, dying in innocence, would go immediately to heaven. In consequence of these ideas, he actually murdered an infant of his master's, for whom he had always shown an uncommon degree of fondness. Such was the strange account which this infatuated creature gave on his trial, and thus the random prophecy proved, as in many other cases, the cause of its own completion. He was executed about two miles from Berlin. As soon as he ascended the scaffold, he took off his coat and waistcoat; his shirt was rolled down below his shoulders; his night-cap was pulled over his eyes: he was placed on his knees, and the executioner, with a single stroke of the broad-sword, severed his head from his body. It was the first time this executioner had performed: there were two others of the same trade on the scaffold, who exhibited an instance of insensibility, more shocking than the execution. While the man's head rolled on the scaffold, and the arteries of the trunk poured out their blood, these men, with the gayest air you can imagine, shook their brother by the hand, wished him joy, clapped him on the back, congratulating him on the dexterous and effectual manner in which he had performed his office.

ACCOUNT OF TOPHAM, THE FAMOUS STRONG MAN.

We learn from private accounts, well attested, that Thomas Topham, a man who kept a public house at Islington, performed surprising feats of strength; as breaking a broom-stick of the first magnitude, by striking it against his bare arm, lifting two hogsheads of water, heaving his horse over the turnpike gate, carrying the beam of a house as a soldier his firelock, &c. But however belief might

stagger, she soon recovered herself, when this second Sampson appeared at Derby as a performer in public at a shilling each. Upon application to Alderman Cooper for leave to exhibit, the magistrate was surprised at the feats he proposed, and as his appearance was like that of other men, he requested him to strip, that he might examine whether he was made like them; but he was found to be extremely muscular. What were hollows under the arms and hams of others, were filled up with ligaments in him.

He appeared near five feet ten, turned of thirty, well made but nothing singular; he walked with a small limp. He had formerly laid a wager, the usual decider of disputes, that three horses could not draw him from a post which he should clasp with his feet; but the driver giving them a sudden lash, turned them aside, and the unexpected jerk had broke his thigh.

The performances of this wonderful man, in whom were united the strength of twelve, were rolling up a pewter dish of seven pounds as a man rolls up a sheet of paper; holding a pewter quart at arm's length, and squeezing the sides together like an egg-shell; lifting two hundred weight with his little finger, and moving it gently over his head. The bodies he touched seemed to have lost their powers of gravitation. He also broke a rope fastened to the floor, that would sustain twenty hundred weight; lifted an oak table six feet long with his teeth though half a hundred weight was hung to the extremity; a piece of leather was fixed to one end for his teeth to hold, two of the feet stood upon his knees, and he raised the end with the weight higher than that in his mouth. He took Mr. Chambers, Vicar of All Saints, who weighted 27 stone, and raised him with one hand. His head laid on one chair and his feet on another, four people (14 stone cach) sat upon his body, which he heaved at pleasure. He struck a round bar of iron, one inch in diameter, against his naked arm, and at one stroke bent it like a bow. Weakness and feeling seemed fled together.

Being a master of music, he entertained the company with Mad Tom. I heard him sing a solo to the organ in St. Warburgh's church, then the only one in Derby; but though he might perform with judgment, yet the voice, more terrible than sweet, scarcely seemed human. Though

of a pacific temper and with the appearance of a gentleman, yet he was liable to the insults of the rude. The ostler at the Virgin's Inn, where he resided, having given him disgust, he took one of the kitchen spits from the mantel-piece, and bent it round his neck like a handkerchief; but as he did not choose to tuck the ends in the ostler's bosom, the cumbrous ornament excited the laugh of the company till he condescended to untie his iron cravat. Had he not abounded with good nature, the men might have been in fear for the safety of their persons, and the women for that of their pewter shelves, as he could instantly roll up both. One blow with his fist would for ever have silenced those heroes of the Bear garden, Johnson and Mendoza.

At the time of his death, which happened 10th of August, 1769, he kept a public house in Hog-lane, Shoreditch. Having two days before a quarrel with his wife, he stabbed her in the breast, and immediately gave himself several wounds which proved fatal to him. His wife, however, recovered. European Magazine.

PATRIOTIC FANATICISM.

FATIGUED and exhausted by forced marches, a regiment of the infantry of the guard of Jerome, the ex-king of Westphalia, arrived before the monastery of Figueiras in Spain. The colonel of the regiment, a Frenchman, sent in an officer, to demand of the prior the necessary refreshment for the men, as well as for the staff, consisting of about twenty officers. The prior, with some of the monks, came out to meet the general, assured him that the inhabitants of Figueiras, would provide for the soldiers, but that he himself would prepare a frugal meal for the staff. The prior's offer was accepted. Captain Korff received from the general some commissions for the regiment, and about an hour afterwards it was announced to the prior, that the dinner was served up in the refectory of the monastery. The general, who was aware that the French in Spain, had reason to be on their guard in eating and drinking what was offered by the natives, invited the prior to dine with them: he and two other

monks accepted the invitation, in such a manner, as to leave no doubt that he felt himself much flattered by it. After the officers had taken their seats, the prior said grace, carved, eat of every dish first, and with his two brethren, who poured out the wine, drank plentifully with his guests. The general expressed his satisfaction to the prior, whose kind reception had surpassed all expectation. Suddenly, however the cheerfulness of the prior was changed into profound seriousness; he rose from his seat, thanked the company for the honor they had done him, and concluded by asking if any of them had affairs to settle in this world? adding with emphasis, "this, gentlemen, is the last meal you and I shall take on earth: in an hour we shall all be before the judgment seat of God!" Cold and trembling horror seized the amazed guests; for the prior and his two monks had poisoned the wine in which they had pledged the French officers. All the antidotes given by the French physicians were in vain; in less than an hour every man of them had ceased to live.

SINGULAR ESTABLISHMENT OF AN AMERICAN COLONY.

AT a fine settlement, called Nuthush, from a creek of that name, I fell into company, says Mr. Smith, with one of the most singular persons, anu eccentric geniuses in America, and perhaps in the world.

His name is Nathaniel Henderson: his father, who was then alive, resided in this settlement, where the son was at this time on a visit.

The latter had grown up to maturity, without having been taught to read or write; but he acquired the rudiments of education, and arithmetic also, by his own indefatigable. industry.

From

He then obtained the inferior office of constable. that he was promoted to the office of under sheriff. After this, he procured a license to plead as a lawyer, in the inferior or county courts, and soon after in the superior or highest courts of judicature.

Even there, where oratory is brilliant as in Westminster

Hall, he soon became eminent: his superior genius shone forth with great splendor and universal applause.

He was, at the same time, a man of pleasure, gay, facetious and pliant; nor did his amazing talents, and general praise, excite against him a single enemy.

In short, while yet a very young man, he was promoted from the bar to the bench, and appointed Associate Chief Justice of the province of North Carolina.

Even in this elevated station his reputation continued to increase.

But having made several large purchases, and having fallen into a train of expense, that his finances could not support, his extensive genius struck out a bolder track to fortune and fame, than any one had ever attempted before him.

Under pretence of viewing some back lands, he privately went out to the Cherokee nation of Indians, and for an insignificant consideration, (only ten wagons, loaded with cheap goods, such as coarse woollens, trinkets, some firearms, and spirituous liquors,) made a purchase from the chiefs of that nation, of a vast tract of territory, equal in extent to a kingdom; and, in the excellence of climate and soil, extent of its rivers, and beauty of its situations, inferior to none in the world. A domain of no less than 100 miles square, situated on the back or interior part of Virginia, and of North and South Carolina; comprehending the rivers Kentucky, Cherokee, and Ohio, with a variety of inferior rivulets.

This transaction he kept a profound secret, till he had obtained the final ratification of the whole nation in form. He then immediately invited settlers from all the provinces, offering them land on the most advantageous terms, and proposing to them likewise to form a legislature and government of their own; such as might be most convenient to their particular circumstances of settlement. And he instantly vacated his scat on the bench. 1

Mr. Henderson by this means established a new colony, numerous and respectable, of which he himself was actually proprietor as well as governor, and indeed legislator also; having formed a code of laws, particularly adapted to their singular situation and local circumstances.