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Antonio fled howling from the chamber of death; and Milton sunk upon the bosom of the murdered beauty. We have but little to add. The feelings of the unhappy Adriana may be better conceived than expressed. She survived her daughter but twelve months, and ended her days in a Convent. Milton, when the first paroxysm of grief had subsided, resolved to travel into Italy and Greece, in order to divert his melancholy. The troubles, however, which just then broke out in England, made him abandon this design and return to his native country; "For I esteemed it," said he, "dishonourable for me to be lingering abroad, even for the improvement of my mind, when my fellow citizens were contending for their liberty at home."

The death of Leonora made a deep impression on the minds of all classes; and the superstitious used to dwell with awe upon the extraordinary fulfilment of the prophecy contained in the verses which she had inscribed upon the scroll. Those "stelli mortali" had literally proved the cause of all her ills, and ultimately of her death; and the eyes of Milton were for a long time compared to the heel of Achilles; as the only part neglected, and the part which was destined to prove fatal.

"HOMMAGE AUX DAMES," 1825.

TOTTERIDGE PRIORY.

A REVERIE IN HERTFORDSHIRE.

WERE you ever, my dear Reader, at the village of Totteridge? If not, put your horse to your gig this moment; drive past the pleasant villages of Holloway, Finchley, and Whetstone; and, turning sharp round to the left, you will find a green lane, so quiet, so rural, so solitary, and such a declivity, that you will stand as fair a chance as any man in the world of breaking your neck, or getting your throat cut, before you get to the end of it. Supposing neither of those interesting incidents were to occur, you will find at the end, a long straggling Village, scarcely containing a dozen houses, but extending perhaps over a couple of miles of ground. There are several houses here of rare antiquity; but the spirit of modern innovation and improvement has found it's way among them, and a parcel of trim dapper brick and stone fronts, in the modern style of building, have made

their appearance, and stare the ancient denizens of the place out of countenance. The most interesting of the old houses is the Priory; said by the inhabitants to be of an age which I dare not mention to my incredulous Readers. However, it is certainly of no modern date, but a gothic ecclesiastical structure, built in the style which was most prevalent in this Island in the reign of Elizabeth. The cowled Monks, the bare-foot Friars, the chaunted Mass, the solemn Vespers, alas! alas! all these have disappeared; and, instead of them, melancholy change! you meet with nothing but happy countenances, pleasant conversation, cheerfulness, and hospitality.

But, this is rambling from the main object of my Paper. My indulgent Readers, however, know my way, and will pardon it. I had not been long under this roof, before I learned that the house had formerly been occupied by the celebrated Lord Chesterfield, the prince of diplomatists and dancing-masters. This information I acquired from my worthy Host, with whom I was sitting, tête-à-tête, after dinner. Strangely enough, it's effect, aided, I suppose, by the wine which I had drunk, was to set my body at rest, and my mind at work. My corporeal eyelids closed over the organs of vision suddenly, as if they had a

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weight of lead upon them, but instantly "my mind's eyes" opened, and I found myself still occupying the same chair, at the same table, in the same room; but my Host was gone; and instead of him, I found standing near me an aristocraticallooking gentleman, of fifty years of age, perhaps, or, "by'r lady, some threescore." I instantly knew this person to be no other than my Lord Chesterfield. He was dressed most fastidiously, in the fashion of the period to which he belonged. He wore a long flowing peruque, most elaborately powdered; a blue coat, with a velvet collar, and enormous buttons; a waistcoat which, in our degenerate age, would be assigned only to persons of the dimensions of Daniel Lambert; and a frilled shirt, with lace ruffles; round his left leg was tied the riband of the Garter, while he held a cocked hat in his right hand, and a gold-headed cane under his left arm.

This courteous, but antiquated figure saluted me civilly, but coldly; and I returned his attentions in the same manner. He, however, continued bowing so long, bowing, as our friend Richard Martin, M.P. would say, like a Master in Chancery, that I plainly perceived his intention was to bow me out.

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Pardon me, my Lord," said I; my domicile for to-night."

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Exceedingly happy to see you, Sir," he replied; "but you must be aware that this mansion is not your property."

"Nor yours, either, my Lord, I apprehend, now, whatever it may have been a century ago. I take the liberty of presuming that it at present appertains to my friend, Mr. Dashville."

"And pray, Sir, who is Mr. Dashville?" said the Spirit, peevishly.

"Will you taste his wine?" said I, handing him a glass, "and then you may give something of a guess at him."

"With all my heart," returned his Lordship. "It is a hundred years since I tasted wine, and therefore it is no wonder that I feel rather thirsty. -Excellent! excellent!" he added, after emptying his glass. "I have no doubt that Mr. Dashville is a most worthy gentleman; and, if you please, we'll drink his health."

We now got very sociable, and I could not help informing his Lordship of my late interview with Ben Jonson; but it had not the effect which I anticipated.

"Ben Jonson," he said, 66 was a clever man, but he was a bear; and besides that, he frequented taverns, and kept low company."

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My Lord!" exclaimed I, in a tone of sur

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