Metropolitan-Police Courts Bill Perjured Evidence-Instance nearly fatal to the victim Statistics of Capital Punishment BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE LATE J. SYDNEY TAYLOR, A. M. JOHN SYDNEY TAYLOR was born in the city of Dublin, in the year 1795. He was descended, on his father's side, from that Captain David M'Kinley who led the advance of King William's army across a deep and rapid river, at the memorable "battle of the Boyne;" and, on his mother's, from the distinguished chief, General Sarsfield (Earl of Lucan and Baron of Kilmalloc), the most faithful and intrepid of the adherents of James the Second, and whose chivalrous devotion to the fallen monarch had won for him the respect even of his enemies. The surname of Taylor was assumed by his father upon succeeding to the property of a maternal grandfather so named, a clergyman of the established church,-property that would have enabled him to make ample provision for his children, had it been husbanded with care; but which his profuse hospitality served in time to dissipate added to this, a heavy and vexatious law-suit, which was determined against him, completed his embarrassments and reduced the once wealthy man from comparative affluence, to that state of anxious dependence in which his own daily exertions were necessary for procuring the means of a comfortable subsistence. But in his talents and attainments the elder Mr. Taylor had a resources which helped to supply his lack of worldly means. He now found a source of livelihood in the art of lineengraving, which in his better, or, as we should rather say, his more prosperous days, he had cultivated for his amusement; and the map of Dublin with its environs, undertaken and completed by him from actual survey, constitutes a highly creditable specimen both of the abilities and the energy of this excellent old man, when the claims of a growing family called upon him to exert himself for their subsistence. His eldest son, William Benjamin Sarsfield,+ was several years senior to his second son, John Sydney, the subject of this memoir, and proved in all respects, to him as well as to his other youthful brothers, a second father. In devoting himself to their advancement, he seemed to find an equivalent for sacrifices which are seldom made, except for some engrossing personal object. This young man laboured assiduously in his vocation as an artist, and all his early earnings, which might have been advantageously hoarded had he considered himself alone, were expended, with a cordial cheerfulness that immeasurably heightened the obligation, upon those to whom he stood in the relation of a brother, until he saw their education, both through school and the university, so far advanced, that they might be regarded as self-dependent. Of the brothers who were thus indebted to him for their early advantages, three, in succession, died just as they had arrived at an age to profit by them; and the fourth, John Sydney Taylor, it has been his sad lot also to follow to the grave, after every difficulty had been surmounted which could have obstructed his rapid professional advancement. Without proposing to dwell minutely upon the early life of + Translator of M. M. De Beaumont and De Tocqueville's official report on the Penitentiary System in the United States: and of Mérimée's "Peinture à l'huile et en fresque." Also author of the "History of the University of Dublin," and of the "Origin, progress and present condition of the Fine Arts in Great Britain and Ireland." trot. Mr. J. Sydney Taylor, the writer of this sketch can hardly omit one or two little incidents by which his childhood was marked, and in which the germs may be seen of the manly and the generous spirit that distinguished him through after-life.-In his immediate neighbourhood, there lived a friend in whose house he frequently passed an evening. The access to it was through a large bleaching-ground, which, for the better security of the owner's property, was guarded at night by a ferocious dog. Young Taylor happening to remain later than usual one night, before his return the dog was enlarged, and was prowling about on his round of duty. Of this he was unaware, until, in proceeding on his way homeward, he perceived the formidable animal advancing towards him at a What was he to do?-cry out for help? There was none at hand. Fly from him?-vain expedient! He would have been overtaken in an instant, and his destruction inevitable. No. The boy quietly stood his ground, without evincing the least alarm. The dog by this time had placed his great paws upon his shoulders, and the slightest shrinking would have caused his ruin. With a collectedness and a courage which cannot be thought of at his age without astonishment, he spoke soothingly to the animal, and patted him on the head. The dog, whose rage would have been enkindled to the utmost by any attempt at resistance, or symptom of fear, was thus completely subdued. He dropped down and walked with young Taylor quietly to the porter's lodge. The porter, hearing the sound of footsteps, came out to meet him; and when he saw the dog, he shuddered and grew pale. "Sir," he said, "I would not have given a pin for your lifeto meet that creature upon the ground at this hour of night, is almost certain death." This little anecdote will serve to show the presence of mind with which, at a very early period, he could brave most formidable danger. His first schoolmaster was a man of somewhat unruly temper, and in a fit of passion struck him, when a mere child, a hasty blow with a ruler upon the head. The effects were such as he did not contemplate. Blood flowed copiously from the wound which he had inflicted, and the man of birch became alarmed. He expressed deep contrition for what he had done, and evinced so much sincere and lively sorrow, as completely extinguished in the mind of his youthful charge all sense of resentment. Some days after, the master, happening to meet his father, the elder Mr. Taylor, in the street, inquired anxiously for his son, and apologized for the hasty temper which led to his so severe punishment. What was his surprise when the old gentleman told him he had never heard of it before-so carefully did the child conceal the injury from all at home, lest it should draw down some blame upon him by whom it had been inflicted. Well might the latter exclaim, "He is indeed a noble boy; you have reason to be proud of him." Such were the qualities of mind and heart which furnished the substructure for that noble character evinced by Sydney Taylor in after-life. Most truly in his case might it be said, "The boy is father of the man." His love of study, and his relish for intellectual pleasures were also very early manifested. One of his school-fellows was the son of a tradesman whose business required a consumption of large quantities of waste paper. Of this there was always a considerable quantity in store, ready for use when it might be required. The printed sheets, which were often found amongst the heaps there laid up, attracted young Taylor's longing eyes, and he would often give his companion sweetmeats to suffer him to mount upon the shelves where such treasures were deposited, that he might enjoy, |