From this gay scene of grandeur I passed to one of gloom and depression; for, wishing to show some civility and affection to a relation who had been confined in the Marshalsea for nearly two years, I walked up Thomas-street, turned down the narrow lane, at the bottom of which that prisonpile stands, and soon found myself stopped at its massy entrance by a shabby-looking turnkey, who seemed to say with his sharp stare-" Are you an attorney, that you dash forward with such independence?" "O!" said I, stopping, to be sure, when I was forced to do so, " perhaps you can tell me where the gentleman is I want to see?" "Not till you have told me what his name is," answered the gruff-looking fellow, with a sly look, and a laugh, as though he had been witty at my expense. Forward I went, as directed, and passing through the first yard, in which a great many prisoners, of different appearances, were sitting on forms, enjoying the same fine December day, which had brought the ladies into College-green like butterflies, I met my relation. His changed manner, dress, and whole display nearly brought a tear to my eye. He had been a gay young man, lived too

fast, endeavoured to appropriate some of his attached property; and as every act of knavery punishes itself, he had not only been confined for a long time, but it had sunk him in his own estimation ; so that he exhibited the marks of neglect in his person, and of depression in his mind. His beard was unshaven, his voice was infirm, and in his whole deportment he was without hope or excitement. I pitied and cheered him as much as I could; but he soon turned to a better consolation than I had ventured to impart: this he found in comparing his case with others in prison far worse off than himself. As many of them, however, were much better circumstanced than he was, I saw it was only an effort of vanity to impress me with the best form of his case.

He pointed with his finger to several of the prisoners, who were amusing themselves in different ways, and gave me anecdotes of them, which were interesting enough to reward me for my brief visit. "That," said he, "is Captain H., who spent twenty-four thousand pounds, and now lives here on fifty per annum; smokes his segar; and swears he never was happier.-There, you see that old

gentleman with the cane, in the blue surtout? He

is a colonel I

who is worth twenty thousand pounds. He lives here that his family may enjoy it; for, were he to regain his liberty, which of course he has the power of doing, his honesty would subject them to the loss of fortune, and himself to starve." How the colonel managed this I do not clearly understand; but it is certain that a system of fraud takes place under the present insolvent enactments, which cannot be prevented. "But who is that respectable-looking tall gentleman in black, now talking to the colonel ?" asked I."That,” replied my relation," is the Reverend G. G., the great extemporary Presbyterian preacher of the North, whose seduction of a young creature made so much noise, a short time ago, in the papers. He was sentenced to pay a large sum as damages; but, being either unable or unwilling, he resorted to the Insolvent Act; and, in consequence of some mismanagement, he has been punished with fifteen months' imprisonment. We live in a wonderful world! I remember having heard that man, who has been disgraced as a clergyman, hold forth to a crowded congregation as though he felt the con

fidence of a saint. His language was the most inspiring that you can conceive; and such was his spirited delineation of the attributes of God and man, that you would have thought it impossible for him not to feel his own sermons. Why, I remember he told us, ludicrous as it may seem, that at the last day the arms, legs, and members which had been lost in different parts of the world, would be seen flying through the air to join their bodies; lest any part of the flesh should escape the punishment that awaited sin, or lose the felicity which was laid up in store for the righteous. Yet this man fell-not like Adam Blair-no, he added all that is unmanly to vicious gratification, and sought to make the woman appear a strumpet and a liar, whose weakness and credulity had reposed upon his honour, and fallen a victim to his insinuating address and flowery language."

Enough, however, of the Marshalsea of Dublin. In the evening another contrast awaited me; for on passing the theatre I found that Miss Harvey and Mr. Phillips were to appear in the Barber of Seville; so in I went, and being early, occupied my favourite seat in the front row of the pit. It

is impossible to look upon Miss Harvey without emotion. Her youth, the beautiful oval of her countenance, her wild blue eyes, and jet black hair, the symmetry of her form, the sweetness of her voice, the luscious ripeness of her lips, the transparent whiteness of her teeth and forehead, with the charming curve of her graceful arm and taper fingers, all made me tremble with apprehension for her safety. Exposed as she is to the snares of a theatrical life, which has long been the minister to aristocratical cupidity, I could not enjoy the fascinating charm of her beauty without a feeling of alarm for her virtue, and lamenting that one so lovely and innocent as she appears should be placed in the way of temptation. Fair young creature, should thy beaming eye rest upon this page, take warning-triumph, like Miss O'Neil, over example, and gain the prize of honour!

The singularly impressive face of Mr. Phillips can never be forgotten. I know not whether it be natural or artificial; but his extraordinary variety of gesture, and his long hooked nose, with the prodigious difference made in his aspect by furling of