frightened their contemporaries with their thieving feats, now serve for a diversion to children, like the Blue Beards, the Ezzelino da Romanos, the Bernabs Viscontis, and the rest of the tyrants, once abominable and always ridiculous. Cows, cattle, horses, feed through almost all the nights of the year loose in the fields, without even so much as a child to guard them.

It might be thought the golden age of innocence; but this security is the effect of the law, which punishes horse and cattle stealing with inevitable death. In other cases the sentence of death is often commuted for that of transportation, but for offences of this nature this favour is seldom obtained.

Another pleasure for one with a mind a little exalted by poetry or romance, is to

be able to abandon the high road, and tread the paths through the midst of the soft and verdant meadows,-perhaps the only and most ancient right of landed property which has remained to the lower classes of the people. Finally, another pleasure, not less valuable to one overcome with fatigue, is to get home, and find in a little lodging consisting of a bed-room and a parlour, all the comforts and the quiet that in their times neither the Marquis of Carabas enjoyed in his fief, nor the good King of Yuetot* in his palace.

* Vide the "Songs" of Berenger.

THE SPRING ASSIZES.

The Circuit-Integrity of Juries-A Seat on the BenchContrast.

THOSE Who have never read the fine observations of Filangieri on the English modes of procedure, or, better still, the valuable work of M. Cottu on the institution of juries, and the publicity of the courts in England, may do well to read the few lines which follow.

It was the 10th of March, and the very eve of the arrival of two of the twelve judges, who, twice a year, in March and

August, travel from London, followed by a numerous band of the most celebrated barristers, to the circuit assigned them, to judge all the criminal causes pending, and the civil causes which come within their jurisdiction. That lively interest, those lessons of wisdom, that useful amusement, which the Romans extracted from their forum, are also drawn by the English from these courts, called the assizes. It is an era of motion, of merriment, and, at the same time, of intense and painful anxiety. The gentlemen of the country betake themselves on these days to the assizetown, either to be jurymen or mere spectators of the trials,-to meet their friends from London, or to enjoy those diversions the town always presents on these occasions. On every side arrive the witnesses and parties interested; from London come