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four window-men; four inspectors of franks; three clerks to the superintending president; superintendant of letters, bill clerk, clerks, and messengers; and his deputy and assistants; one hundred and forty-four letter-carriers; besides officers and clerks for bye and cross-road, ship, and foreign letters.

On this grand office depend also a great number of post-masters in England and Scotland, who keep regular offices in their several stages, and sub-postmasters in their branches. A new plan is now in course of trial, on a certain line of road, for conveying the mails to and from the distant parts of the island, and the capital, by light carriages without passengers, at the rate of eleven miles an hour. Letters sent by this conveyance are to pay an additional postage for expedition. By this arrangement, a day will be saved in the transmission of letters between London and Scotland.

5.-SAINT BONIFACE.

Boniface was a Saxon presbyter, born in England, and at first called Winfrid. He was sent as a missionary by Pope Gregory II into Germany, where he made so many converts, that he was distinguished by the title of the German Apostle. He was created Bishop of Mentz in the year 145. Boniface was one of the first priests of his day, and was also a great friend and admirer of the Venerable Bede. He was murdered in a barbarous manner by the populace near Utrecht, while preaching the Christian religion. *8. 1758.-FRENCH FLEET BURNT AT ST. MALO. On the 5th, the English landed some troops in Cancale Bay, with the intention of investing the town of St. Malo, but, finding the place too strongly situated, on the 8th they proceeded to set fire to about a hundred sail of ships, many of them privateers, which lay under the cannon of the town, and to several magazines filled with naval stores. The damage was very considerable; yet the enemy did not fire a single shot on the detachment employed in the service.

Having nothing more to do, they retired to Cancale, and re-imbarked with as little opposition as they experienced in landing.

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*8. 1809.-THOMAS PAINE DIED, ET. 72.

During the latter part of his life, though his conversation was equivocal, his conduct was singular. He would not be left alone night nor day. He not only required to have some person with him, but he must see that he or she was there, and would not allow his curtain to be closed at any time; and if, as it would sometimes unavoidably happen, he was left alone, he would scream and holla until some person came to him. When relief from pain would admit, he seemed thoughtful and contemplative, his eyes being generally closed, and his hands folded upon his breast, although he never slept without the assistance of an anodyne. There was something remarkable in his conduct at this period (comprising about two weeks immediately preceding his decease), particularly when we reflect that Thomas Paine was author of the Age of Reason.' He would call out during his paroxysms of distress, without intermission, O Lord help me! God help me! Jesus Christ help me! O Lord help me!' &c., repeating the same expression, without the least variation, in a tone of voice that would alarm the house. It was this conduct which induced me to think (observes Dr. Manley) that he had abandoned his former opinions; and I was more inclined to that belief, when I understood from his nurse (who is a very serious, and, I believe, pious woman) that he would occasionally inquire, when he saw her engaged with a book, what she was reading, and being answered, and at the same time asked whether she should read aloud', he assented, and would appear to give particular attention.

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The book she usually read was Mr. Hobart's Companion for the Altar.

'I took occasion, during the night of the 5th and 6th of June, to test the strength of his opinions respecting revelation. I purposely made him a very late visit; it was a time which seemed to sort exactly with my errand; it was midnight: he was in great distress, constantly exclaiming in the words above mentioned; when, after a considerable preface, I addressed him in the following manner, the nurse being present:

'Mr. Paine, your opinions, by a large portion of the community, have been treated with deference: you have never been in the habit of mixing in your conversation words of course; you have never indulged in the practice of profane swearing; you must be sensible that we are acquainted with your religious opinions as they are given to the world. What must we think of your present conduct? Why do you call upon Jesus Christ to help you? Do you believe that he can help you? Do you believe in the divinity of Jesus Christ? Come now, answer me honestly: I want an answer as from the lips of a dying man, for I verily believe that you will not live twenty-four hours. I waited some time at the end of every question; he did not answer, but ceased to exclaim in the above manner. Again I addressed him: Mr. Paine, you have not answered my questions; will you answer them? Allow me to ask again-Do you believe? or let me qualify the question-do you wish to believe, that Jesus Christ is the son of God?' After a pause of some minutes, he answered, I have no wish to believe on that subject.' I then left him, and know not whether he afterwards spoke to any person, on any subject, though he lived till the morning of the 8th.

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'Such conduct, under usual circumstances, I conceive absolutely unaccountable, though with diffidence I would remark, not so much so in the present instance; for though the first necessary and general result of conviction be a sincere wish to atone for

evil committed, yet it may be a question worthy of able consideration, whether excessive pride of opinion, consummate vanity, and inordinate self-love, might not prevent or retard that otherwise natural consequence?'-See an interesting letter written by Dr. Manley, who attended the subject of these remarks in his last illness, in Cheetham's Life of Paine.

11.-SAINT BARNABAS.

Our saint's proper name was Joses; he was descended of the tribe of Levi, and born at Cyprus. His parents being rich, had him educated at Jerusalem, under the care of Gamaliel, a learned Jew; and, after his conversion, he preached the Gospel with Paul, in various countries, for fourteen years. Barnabas suffered martyrdom at Salamis, in his native island:-being shut up all night in the synagogue by some Jews, he was, the next morning, cruelly tortured, and afterwards stoned to death. The Epistle which he wrote is considered genuine, though not admitted into the canon of the church.

*15. 1752.-DR. JOSEPH BUTLER DIED.

His work on the Analogy of Religion, Natural and Revealed, to the Constitution and Course of Nature, if well studied, affords a satisfactory answer to every objection which fatal ingenuity can bring against the scriptures.

16. 1722.-DUKE OF MARrlborough died.

A stroke of the palsy, in May 1716, was the first symptom of that malady which, after many severe illnesses, proved fatal to him. During these years he, nevertheless, entered into public affairs, was zealous for the capital conviction of Lord Oxford (Harley), gained £100,000 by the South-Sea scheme, attended Parliament to within six months of his decease, and was engaged in law-suits and contracts for the building of Blenheim, towards which he ultimately contributed £60,000 out of his immense private fortune, in addition to £260,000 paid by the country,

In domestic life this great warrior was kind and affectionate. In his latter days he was much amused with the education and plays of his grandchildren, and devoted to his favourite game of whist. On the night preceding his death, prayers being read to him as usual, the Duchess asked him if he had heard them, he replied, "Yes, and joined in them.' At four the next morning, he expired without a sigh, at the age of 72. His remains were attended to the grave by a royally magnificent funeral procession, and deposited in Westminster Abbey, whence they were soon after removed to the chapel at Blenheim.

17.-ST. ALBAN.

St. Alban, the first Christian martyr in this island, suffered in 303. He was converted to Christianity by Amphialus, a priest of Caerleon in Monmouthshire, who, flying from persecution, was hospitably entertained by St. Alban, at Verulam, in Hertfordshire, now called, from him, St. Albans. Amphialus being closely pursued, made his escape, dressed in St. Alban's clothes. This, however, being soon discovered, exposed St. Alban to the fury of the Pagans; and our saint refusing to perform the sacrifice to their gods, was first miserably tortured, and then put to death.

*17. 1719.-ADDISON Died.

Dr. Johnson's delineation of the character of Addison concludes by observing with Tickell, that he employed wit on the side of virtue and religion. He not only made the proper use of wit himself, but taught it to others: he dissipated the prejudice that had long connected gaiety with vice, and easiness of manners with laxity of principles. He restored virtue to its dignity, and taught innocence not to be ashamed. This is an elevation of literary character, ' above all Greek, above all Roman fame.' Cowper, in his Table Talk, speaking of the writers who suc

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