The twilights in this part of the world are unparalleled-but I have described twilights and sunsets in Greece and Italy, till I am ashamed to write the words. Each one comes as if there never had been, and never were to be another, and the adventures of the day, however stirring, are half forgotten in its glory, and seem, in comparison, unworthy of description; but one look at the terms that might describe it, written on paper, uncharms even the remembrance. You must come to Asia and feel sunsets. You cannot get them by paying postage. Call At anchor, waiting for a wind. ed to-day on the Bey Effendi, commander of the two castles, "Europe" and "Asia," between which we lie. A pokerish-looking dwarf, with ragged beard and high turban, and a tall Turk, who I am sure never smiled since he was born, kicked off their slippers at the threshold, and ushered us into a chamber on the second story. It was a luxurious little room lined completely with cushions, the muslin-covered pillars of down, leaving only a place for the door. The divan was as broad as a bed, and, save the difficulty of rising from it, it was perfect as a lounge. A ceiling of inlaid woods, embrowned with smoke, windows of small panes fantastically set, and a place lower than the floor for the attendants to stand and leave their slippers, were all that was peculiar else. The bey entered in a few minutes, with a pipe-bearer, an interpreter, and three or four attendants. He was a young man about twenty, and excessively handsome. A clear, olive complexion, a moustache of silky black, a thin, aquiline nose with almost transparent nostrils, cheeks and chin rounded into a perfect oval, and mouth and eyes expressive of the most resolute firmness, and at the same time girlishly beautiful, completed the picture of the finest looking fellow I have seen within my recollection. His person was very slight, and his feet and hands small, and particularly wellshaped. Like most of his countrymen of latter years, his dress was half European, and much less becoming, of course, than the turban and trowser. Pantaloons, rather loose, a light fawn coloured short jacket, a red cap with a blue tassel, and stockings, without shoes, were enough to give him the appearance of a dandy half through his toilet. He entered with an indolent step, bowed, without smiling, and, throwing one of his feet under him, sunk down upon the divan, and beckoned for his pipe. The Turk in attendance, kicked off his slippers, and gave him the long tube with its amber mouth-piece, setting the bowl into a basin in the centre of the room. The bey put it to his handsome lips, and drew till the smoke mounted to the ceiling, and then handed it, with a graceful gesture, to the commodore. The conversation went on through two interpretations. The bey's interpreter spoke Greek and Turkish, and the ship's pilot, who accompanied us, spoke Greek and English, and the usual expressions of good feeling, and offers of mutual service were thus passed between the puffs of the pipe with sufficient facility. The dwarf soon entered with coffee. The small gilded cups had about the capacity of a goodwife's thimble, and were covered with gold tops to retain the aroma. The fragrance of the rich berry filled the room. We acknowledged, at once, the superiority of the Turkish manner of preparing it. It is excessively strong, and drunk without milk. I looked into every corner while the attendants were removing the cups, but could see no trace of a book. Ten or twelve guns, with stocks inlaid with pearl and silver, two or three pair of gold-handled pistols, and a superb Turkish cimeter and belt, hung upon the walls, but there was no other furniture. We rose, after a half-hour's visit, and were bowed out, by the handsome effendi, coldly and politely. As we passed under the walls of the castle, on the way to the boat, we saw six or seven women, probably a part of his harem, peeping from the embrasures of one of the bastions. Their heads were wrapped in white; one eye only left visible. It was easy to imagine them Zuleikas after having seen their master. Went ashore at Castle Europe, with one or two of the officers, to take a bath. An old Turk, sitting upon his hams at the entrance, pointed to the low door at his side, without looking at us, and we descended, by a step or two, into a vaulted hall, with a large circular ottoman in the centre, and a very broad divan all around. Two tall young mussulmen, with only turbans and waistcloths to conceal their natural proportions, assisted us to undress, and led us into a stone room, several degrees warmer than the first. We walked about here for a few minutes, and, as we began to perspire, were taken into another, filled with hot vapour, and, for the first mo ment or two, almost intolerable. It was shaped like a dome, with twenty or thirty small windows at the top, several basins at the sides into which hot water was pouring, and a raised stone platform in the centre, upon which we were all requested, by gestures, to lie upon our backs. The perspiration, by this time, was pouring from us like rain. I lay down with the others, and a Turk, a dark-skinned, fine-looking fellow, drew on a mitten of rough grass cloth, and, laying one hand upon my breast to hold me steady, commenced rubbing, me, without water, violently. The skin peeled off under the friction, and I thought he must have rubbed into the flesh repeatedly.. Nothing but curiosity to go through the regular operation of a Turkish bath, prevented my crying out "enough!" He rubbed away, turning me from side to side, till the rough glove passed smoothly all over my body and limbs, and then handing me a pair of wooden slippers, suffered me to rise, I walked about for a few minutes, looking with surprise at the rolls of skin he had taken from me, and feeling almost transparent as the hot air blew upon me, In a few minutes my mussulman beckoned to me to follow him to a smaller room, where he seated me on a stone beside a font of hot water. He then made some thick soap-suds in a basin, and with a handful of fine flax soaped and rubbed me all over again, and a few dashes of the hot water from a wooden saucer, completed the bath. The next room, which had seemed so warm on our entrance, was now quite chilly. We remained here until we were dry, and then returned to the hall in which our clothes were left, where beds were prepared on the divans, and we were covered in warm cloths, and left to our repose. The disposition to sleep was almost irresistible. We rose in a short time, and went to the coffee-house opposite, when a cup of strong coffee, and a hookah smoked through a highlyornamented glass bubbling with water, refreshed us deliciously. I have had ever since a feeling of suppleness and lightness, which is like wings growing at my feet. It is certainly a very great luxury, though, unquestionably, most enervating as a habit. CURIOUS FACTS IN NATURAL HISTORY. THE rattlesnake finds a superior foe in the deer and the black snake. Whenever a buck discovers a rattlesnake in a situation which invites attack, he loses no time in preparing for battle. He makes up to within ten or twelve feet of the snake-then leaps forward and aims to sever the body of the snake with his The first sharp and bifurcated hoofs. onset is most commonly successful, but till he cuts the snake in twain. The if otherwise, the buck repeats the trial rapidity and fatality of his skilful manoeuvre, leave but a slight chance for its victim either to escape or to inject poison into his more alert antagonist. The black snake is also more than an equal competitor against the rattlesnake. Such is its celerity of motion, not only in running, but in entwining itself round its victim, that the rattlesnake has no way of escaping from its fatal embrace. When the black and rattle snakes are about to meet for battle, the former darts forward at the height of his speed, and strikes at the neck of the latter with unerring certainty, leaving a foot or two of the upper part of his own body at liberty. In an instant he encircles him within five or six folds; he then stops and looks the strangled and gasping foe in the face, to ascertain the effect produced upon his corseted body. If he shews signs of life, the coils are multiplied, and the screws tightened — the operator all the while narrowly watching the countenance of the helpless victim. Thus the two remain thirty or forty minutes-the executioner then slackens one coil, noticing at the same time whether any signs of life appear; if so, the coil is resumed and retained until the incarcerated wretch is completely dead. The moccasin snake is destroyed in the same way. DOUBT AND FEAR. ONCE on a time it happened that a poor wight married a shrew, who led him a piteous life; she fell ill, the doctor was called in, and the anxious, affectionate husband inquired of him how his dear spouse was? Galen shook his head, and told him to prepare for the worst. "What," said he, "is she likely to get over it"! THE JUSTICE. A NARRATIVE. (For the Parterre). The fates offer To your free choice, either to live examples Of piety or wickedness. Beaumont and Fletcher. It is doubtful if any city in Europe has undergone so many transformations as the metropolis of England. The "great fire," as it is not inaptly termed, destroyed its most celebrated public buildings, and a new city soon arose from the ruins. At this period the change must have been great indeed; but it has undergone many mutations during the last century, and seems destined to undergo many more; indeed, had not a judicious stop been put to the work of the destructionists, it is doubtful whether we should have had a dozen churches left standing in London. The works of Wren would have been toppled down by the improvement-mongers, and elegant gin-shops, with imitation marble pillars and stained glass in the windows, would have occupied their sites! Pity that the citizens should not see the ground, on which their forefathers knelt in prayer, occupied on Sunday mornings by groups of drunken wretches, turned out of their dens for the sake of the form of closing them during divine service! Vice has now changed its aspect. The most loathsome debauchery may be witnessed in our streets at all hours of the day; but you may walk from Cumberland-gate to Mile-end at midnight without personal molestation. This state of personal security did not exist at the period to which our narrative refers; well-paved footpaths and brilliant gas-lights were luxuries then unknown to the Londoners, and highway robberies were frequent in the heart of the city. Within the last thirty years, many parts of the suburbs of London were haunted by desperate characters, who frequently attacked and plundered individuals; but these places are now so well lighted and watched, that highway robberies are of very unfrequent occurrence within the limits of the metropolis.* One dull foggy October evening, in the year 175-, just as the clock of Westminster Abbey had tolled nine, a sedan chair entered St. James's Park, and proceeded along Birdcage-walk towards Pimlico. Suddenly two men started from behind one of the large trees, and advanced towards the chair. "Set down your load, and be d--d to you!" cried one of the ruffians, presenting a pistol at the head of the foremost chairman. The man hesitated, when the ruffian swearing horribly, threatened to shoot him through the head. At that moment the other thief fired a pistol, which shattered the window of the chair, and wounded the gentleman inside. A cry of "murder !" and "thieves!" was now raised, and alarmed a sentinel stationed near the spot, who running to the scene of action, levelled his musket, and called upon the robbers to surrender. He was answered by the snapping of a pistol, which luckily for him only burnt priming-when the soldier fired, the man fell, and his companion fled precipitately from the Park pursued by the chairmen, who, however, soon found that his speed was much greater than theirs, and they returned to the wounded fare. In the meantime the fugitive thief continued his flight, and soon arrived at the waterside. Entering a wherry, which seemed to have been waiting for him at the stairs, he was soon landed near Lambeth Palace, and being now quite out of the reach of his pursuers, he proceeded at an easy pace to a house in the neighbourhood. It was a gloomy looking tenement, well adapted for the residence of one who lived by evil means. Its mistress, who was attired in the gaudy finery of that period, and decorated with a profusion of paint and patches, came herself to the door, at the well known signal, "Well, Tom," said she, as she closed the door, and led the way to her room— The "brave old runner Townsend," one day observed to a gentleman, with whom he was conversing on the subject of highway robberies, that these things were always much exaggerated. "Gentlemen," said he, "will dine out, and after drinking freely, attempt to walk home by themselves. They fall into the company of loose fish of both sexes, get their pockets emptied, and, perhaps, after tumbling about in the mud for a couple of hours, become sobered, and then reel home with a story of their having been knocked down and plundered!" "And what, then; you did it in selfdefence, I suppose-but you have got nothing, eh?" "The devil a shilling!" "You are a fool, Tom, and a bungler," resumed the virago--“ Where's Richards? he went out with you, didn't he?" "He's in all probability with the gentleman whose name I mentioned just now- -he's shot through the head, I believe." "Shot!-dead!-you don't mean to say, that you have suffered them to murder him. Jack was a brave fellow, and wouldn't desert his friends at a pinch. You haven't left him, surely?" "But I have, though;" said the young man sharply. "What the devil was I to do against three or four men? I am lucky in getting off with a whole skin." "You are a coward—a rank coward! Tyburn's too good for you, you skulking son of a ," cried the fury, red"I have an ac dening with passion. count to settle with you." "What the devil do you mean by that, Moll!" said the thief, jumping up from his seat, and using a menacing gesture: I tell you plainly, I'll put up with it no longer-we must part.' "Part, and be d-d," replied his amiable companion; "if Jack escapes, he will cudgel thee soundly." "He is safe enough, mother Brimstone; and as to your threats, I have had too many not to be well used to themyou dare not 'peach, and you can do me no harm in any other way." "I shall live to see thee hung, gallows-bird!" "You may swing, yourself, mistress Moll." "If I do, I pray that it may not be in the company of a chicken hearted wretch like thee." "You may die a worse death, my sweet little Jezebel;" continued the young man, who had by this time worked up his companion into a paroxysm of rage and mortification. Her well rouged face assumed a deeper tinge of red, her eyes seemed about to start from their sockets, and she flew at the speaker with the intention of inscribing her resentment on his countenance; while he, very coolly seizing her arms, forced her back into a chair, and laughed at her impotent rage. She spat in his face, and kicked his shins; but he took both very quietly, and held her down until her passion had subsided. This was indicated by a shower of tears, which had more effect upon her companion than kicking and spitting; but he was a young man, and though deeply plunged in vice, was ignorant of the fact that females were always prepared with such an appeal to the sterner sex. Hostilities now ceased by mutual consent, and the belligerents commenced a conversation of a less violent description. "Tom Walters," said the lady, smiling through her tears, which had streaked her rouged face in a ludicrous manner, "you don't use me well-What have you met with to-night, and what has become of poor Jack? You don't mean to say that he has been killed?" 66 Ay, but I do. Harkee; we tried the crowd at my lady's concert, and got nothing but an old dowager's tortoiseshell snuff-box; we then went on to the Park. A chair came up; we stopped it; there was an old fellow inside, and as I looked through the glass, I saw him lug out a small pistol; but before he had time to fire, I nicked him. Just at the moment up ran a sentinel. Jack's pistol missed fire, and the soldier instantly shot him. I was then one against four, and I had a hard run to escape the chairmen, who followed me at full cry, out of the Park." 66 "It's a bad job, Tom," remarked the lady: poor fellow! I hope he died easily, and didn't linger.' "I hope so, too," said Walters; for the same reason, no doubt, namely, that the wounded thief might not have time to make a confession implicating his accomplices. The conversation was here suddenly interrupted by a loud knocking at the door, which caused Walters to turn pale with affright; but women are seldom at a loss for expedients in time of danger, and having directed her paramour to escape by the top of the house, she proceeded to the door, which, after a good deal of well feigned difficulty in withdrawing the bolts, &c. was opened to the knockers (three officers), who immediately commenced a strict but fruitless search. Their game had got clear off, over the roofs of the adjoining houses, and had contrived to drop into the street just as his pursuers entered. * One frosty morning, while the snow was on the ground, and the wind blew in keen gusts, a wretched looking man stood shivering in a dark alley near Charing Cross. His attenuated frame, and wo-begone aspect; his once showy, but now soiled and tattered apparel, bespoke utter destitution; he looked more than half starved, as indeed he was. The alley led into the Strand, and on the opposite side of the way was a baker's shop teeming with hot bread. The eyes of the wretched man glared like those of a hungry wolf, on the smoking provender, and first looking about him to see that he was not watched, he suddenly darted across the road, and snatching a loaf from the window, fled from the spot with all the speed that his feeble frame allowed. But the act was witnessed by several persons, and a hue and cry commenced, the thief was hotly pursued, and of course soon taken with the proofs of his guilt upon him. With tears in his eyes the miserable man protested he was starving; but it availed him not, and he was dragged to the police office, and two hours afterwards placed at the bar. Evidence of the theft having been given, the thief was asked what he had to say in his defence. His defence was hunger, biting hunger, and his appearance testified that he spoke the truth; his misery was such as could not fail to make an impression, even in a police office. The baker, from whom he had stolen the loaf, was not without bowels, and although he had often suffered from similar depredations, his heart yearned towards the poor wretch, who received his discharge. The magistrate, too, "albeit unused to the melting mood," put his hand into his pocket to relieve the prisoner, when suddenly, to the surprise of all present, he withheld the intended donation, and fixing his eyes intently on the prisoner, he cried, "Ha! what do I see! good heaven! 'tis the very man who attacked and wounded me in the Park-put on his hat, gaoler." This was immediately done, and all doubt in the mind of the magistrate was removed -Tom Walters, the footpad, stood before him. Dreading to return to his old haunts, and suspicious of his abandoned associates, he had skulked in obscure corners from the period of his escape from the officers, and suffered the |