residence of the individual is so near the borders of the county as to render it probable his services may be occasionally useful, and more especially when, by being a magistrate of both counties, he may be enabled to exercise the powers given by statute to justices of the peace in such cases.

"These are the general principles which, without implying any reference to the personal merit of individuals, or meaning in the slightest degree to question their general propriety of conduct, his Excellency conceives should be adopted in making the present revision; but his Excellency desires me to add, that in some few cases it has appeared to him that circumstances in the conduct or character of particular magistrates render it desirable, for the better administration of justice, that they should not be re-appointed to an office of such trust and importance.

Acting on these principles, with the few exceptions occasioned by considerations such as I have just adverted to, his Excellency has caused lists to be prepared of those noblemen and gentlemen now holding the office who, in his judgment, upon the information submitted to him, should be continued in the new commission-those lists have been transmitted to the Lord Chancellor, and I enclose a copy of that prepared for the county of which you are the Lieutenant.

"It is his Excellency's wish that you should, in conformity to the principles above detailed, examine the list now transmitted, comparing it with the general list of the present magistracy of your county, and that you should, with as little delay as possible, communicate to the Lord Chancellor such observations as you may deem it to be of importance that his lordship should be in possession of in regard to any individuals retained in the list, or omitted therefrom, as to whom you may think it should be further corrected. His Excellency thinks it proper to add, that any communication made by you with respect to individuals will be considered as confidential.

"His Excellency does not doubt that he will receive your cordial cooperation in his endeavours on the present occasion, in a work of so much importance to the administration of justice, the maintenance of peace and good order, and the insuring to the magistracy of Ireland that public confidence and respect which are so indispensible to their utility.

"I have the honor to be, my lord, (or sir,) your most obedient humble servant, "T. DRUMMOND."

The morn in awful grandeur broke;
And with the earliest daylight woke,
Clad in the dark Tornado's form,
The terrors of the western storm.
The thick mist, on the mountain's height,
Mantles the landscape's opening light;
And, rolling in unwonted shades,
The heaven's fair cheek with night in-
vades.

But where the gathering tempest shrouds The threatening East, a wreath of clouds 10

Towering and huge is seen to come,
From its intensity of gloom
Distinct amid the gloomy rack, `
And with surpassing blackness black.
Slowly it mounts: and slowly spread
In arch stupendous overhead,
The limbs with ample girth expand,
And in gigantic stature stand,
Vaulted in heaven, and based on land.
As when the clouds of summer pour 20
On Britain's fields the balmy shower,

The rainbow spans the skies;
Like that the belt of storm extends,
But not like that in beauty blends
Its sevenfold tissued dies:
THAT the eternal pledge design'd,
Of faith and mercy to mankind,

THIS dark with fury grows :

}

For, roaring round the deep black arch, The thunders track its wondrous march;

30

And the engirdled space between, Sheeted with lightning's glancing sheen, In livid lustre glows.

II.

The cruizers, with experienced eyes,
Had mark'd the early symptoms rise,
Prepared the dreaded shock to foil,
With active and divided toil.
VOL. XII.

While these aloft their duties ply,
And strike the top weights from the sky:
While these below, with strength com-
bined,
40
Point the dark yards to meet the wind:
The rest with seamen's caution gave
A second anchor to the wave.

Who never bow'd to mercy yet, Were in the gloomy conclave met. All stood in silence deep, profound, And form'd in scatter'd circle round.

280

These on their chief their glances bent;
Those listless o'er the gunwale leant;
Some stretch'd upon the deck were laid,
Or rested on the naked blade;
And seem'd to grudge the scanty time
Between the judgment and the crime:
But none or dared or sought to break
The laws, themselves had join'd to make.
Strange, that the wildest of mankind, 290
Whom every law had failed to bind,
Of structure human or divine,
Should of their own dark hearts resign
Their will to regulations rude,
Written in characters of blood!
One clause alone confined their range,
And that by an old custom, strange
E'en as themselves: "If of the band
The least and lowest in command
Should pledge his honour and his
word,
300

And swear upon his naked sword
The prisoner guiltless, he should be
Cleared of the charge and penalty."
'Twas an old law, and seldom met
A claimant, but it bound them yet.

XIV.

LATHARO knew the custom's power,
And, waiting for a fitting hour,
Still bade the mimic court proceed,
Prepared to save in time of need.
But more he hoped LA GATA's fear 310
Might triumph o'er his cunning here,
And plead the unwonted law to free
The associate of his treachery.

XV.

He gave the word: the spy was bound
Before the assembled host;
The chains, that past his wrists around,
His naked bosom crost;
Weak and defenceless to await
The issue of his doubtful fate;
While in his ear dark words of hate 320

Rose from the excited throng;
And execrations, fierce and high,
And the indignant vengeance-cry,
Calling for justice on a spy,

330

In murmurs deep and long. BEZZETTI paused, till all was hushed, Then calmly looked around: Many a stern cheek was passion-flush'd, And many a dark eye frown'd. On all he gazed with cold disdain, Then downward turn'd his looks again, For well he knew the threats were vain To work their malice here: While their own laws their power confined,

The leader stept before the rest, And artfully the band addrest: "A moment's pause is come at last, 'Twere needless to recall the past. Behold your prisoner! Not alone To me his treacherous flight was known; All knew the moment that he fled, And most believed the traitor dead. All, too, have heard how long he stay'd

350

Amidst our foemen, and betray'd
His comrades' secret lurking place,
And led the RAVEN on our trace.
Such are his crimes: it is for you
To point the guilt and vengeance due.
His right now claims he to be tried
By the same laws he has defied.
What! does he think that one is nigh
To plead for mercy on a spy?
Or, as in GLASBY'S case, to stand
His champion with the injured band?
For me, his only hope remains
To barter death for endless chains,
If he, while yet endures the time,
Give up the associate of his crime."

XVII.

360

370

He paused, and keenly look'd around,
Then cast his dark eyes on the ground,
Within their orbs to hide apart
The triumph of victorious art;
As in LA GATA's conscious face
The experienced leader saw the trace
Of fraud and fear, of guilt and shame,
Whose fitful flashes o'er it came.
Fear conquer'd all. Did he delay,
His comrade might his cause betray.
Better, if such must be his fate,
To live suspected, than to wait
The vengeance, which he saw with dread
LATHARO threatened on his head,
Expecting but a fitting time

380

To tax him with his treachery's crime.
Slowly he rose, with cheek that bore
Subdued the signs which late it wore,
And calm, stern look, that might en-
gage

The deference due to rank and age.
Then bowing to the wondering crew,
His cutlass from his belt he drew,
And kiss'd the weapon's naked blade,
Then briefly thus his sentence said:

XVIII.

"He shall not die! Amongst our host 390
Enough already have we lost;
Nor can we from our band afford
So firm a heart, so true a sword.