dodging behind the blacksmith's shop, I summon you on the jury;" ah, luckless wight! he is caught and obliged to succumb. In vain he begs to be let off,--"you must apply to the magistrates," is the surly reply. And if, reader, you could listen to what passes afterwards in the court house, you might hear something like the following colloquy--Judge. "What is your excuse, sir?" Juror. "I am a lawyer, sir." Judge. "Do you follow the law now, sir?" Juror. "No, sir, the law follows me." Judge. "Swear him, Mr. Clerk." Ah, there is a battle!!! see how the crowd rushes to the spot--"who fights?"--"part 'em"--"stand off"--"fair play"--"let no man touch"--"hurrah, Dick"--"at him, Tom." An Englishman thinking himself in England, bawls out, "sheriff, read the riot act"--a Justice comes up and commands the peace; _inter arma silent leges_; he is unceremoniously knocked down, and Justice is blind as ought to be the case. Two of the rioters now attempt to ride in at the tavern door, and for awhile all Pandemonium seems broke loose. To complete this picture, I must, like Asmodeus, unroof the court house, and show you a trial which I had the good fortune to witness. It was during the last war, when the vessels of Admiral Gordon were making their way up the Potomac to Alexandria, that a negro woman was arraigned for killing one of her own sex and color; she had been committed for murder, but the evidence went clearly to establish the deed to be manslaughter, inasmuch as it was done in sudden heat, and without malice aforethought. The Attorney for the commonwealth waived the prosecution for murder, but quoted _British authorities_ to show that she might be convicted of manslaughter, though committed for murder. The counsel for the accused arose, and in the most solemn manner, asked the court if it was a thing ever heard of, that an individual accused of one crime and acquitted, should be arraigned immediately for another, under the same prosecution? At intervals--boom--boom--boom went the _British cannon_--_British authorities!_ exclaimed the counsel; _British authorities_, gentlemen!! Is there any one upon that bench so dead to the feelings of patriotism as at such a moment to listen to _British authorities_, when the British cannon is shaking the very walls of your court house to their {304} foundation? This appeal was too cogent to be resisted. Up jumped one of the Justices and protested that it was not to be borne; let the prisoner go; away with your British authorities! The counsel for the accused, rubbed his hands and winked at the attorney; the attorney stood aghast; his astonishment was too great for utterance, and the negro was half way home before he recovered from his amazement. NUGATOR. THE DEATH OF ROBESPIERRE. SCENE I. ROBESPIERRE'S HOUSE. _Robespierre and St. Just meeting._ _St. Just._--Danton is gone! _Robespierre._--Then can I hope for all things, Since he is dead whose shadow darken'd me; Did the crowd cheer or hiss him?