of being introduced on any reasons, moral or political, but only by positive law, which preserves its force long after the reasons, occasion, and time itself from whence it was created, is erased from memory. It is so odious, that nothing can be suffered to support it but positive law. Whatever inconveniences, therefore, may follow from the decision, I cannot say this case is allowed or approved by the law of England; and therefore the black must be discharged."

The result of this was imminently important. It not only delivered from bondage the immediate object of Sharp's courageous benevolence, but it set the question of slavery here at rest for ever. The words of the eloquent and able counsel in the cause, Mr. Sergeant Davy, were verified beyond all further cavil-" As soon as any slave sets his foot on English ground, he becomes that instant free." Granville Sharp thus saw his long labours, and his intrepid, unflinching perseverance signally victorious. What to such a man was the world's acclaim compared with his own satisfaction? Commendation was as of little moment to himself as was a monument to his memory. Chantrey's marble record of him at Westminster is indeed almost superfluous. Whenever inquiries are made into Britain's dearest and most boasted qualification, so often must be recalled the fame

of Granville Sharp-of him who laid the truth for the memorable eloquence of Curran, and proved his country to be, what the illustrious author of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" has called it, "the blessed English shore-shores charmed by a mighty spell with one touch to dissolve every incantation of slavery." Granville Sharp died on the 6th July, 1813, having lived long enough to see England aroused to the great work he had inaugurated, and prepared to take the lead in that movement which is not to end until slavery be annihilated throughout the world.

THE LOVER TURNED HIGHWAYMAN, AND HANGED FOR HIS FIRST ROBBERY.

THE following was a strangely lamentable case. The unfortunate culprit, the subject of it, one Thomas Barkwith, was the scion of a respectable family in the Isle of Ely. At a very early period of life he was observed to possess a strength of understanding greatly beyond what could be expected at his years; and this determined his father to add to such gifts of nature the advantages of a liberal education.

Before Barkwith had arrived at his fourteenth year, he obtained great proficiency in the Greek, Latin, French, and Italian languages; and afforded indisputable proof of his possessing both genius and fancy, in the production of a variety of pleasing poetical and prose essays.

Soon after he had passed his fourteenth year, Barkwith received an invitation to visit an aunt residing in the metropolis. He had not been many days at this lady's house before he became equally conspicuous, throughout the whole circle of her acquaintance, on the score of his mental powers and personal qualifications; and he was dissuaded by his friends from returning into the country, it being their unanimous opinion that London was, of all others, the place where opportunities, which the youth might improve to the advancement of his fortune, would be most likely to occur.

A short time after his arrival in the metropolis, he procured a recommendation to a solicitor in chancery of high reputation and extensive practice. This gentleman appointed him to the superintendence of that department of his business which related to money matters, and in this office he acquitted himself entirely to the satisfaction of his employer, who considered him as a youth in whom he might safely repose an unlimited confidence. Barkwith possessed the particular esteem of all those who had his acquaintance; and it was their common opinion that his talents, and his capacity for business, could not fail to introduce him to some considerable station in life.

Love, however, came in the shape of a hopeless passion to destroy all these fair prospects.

The solicitor in whose service Barkwith had engaged, being under the necessity of going into Wales on business, commissioned Barkwith to receive, in his absence, the rents of a number of houses in London. Barkwith had for some time been passionately enamoured of a young lady of respectable family and position in the neighbourhood of his master's office; and immediately upon the departure of his employer for Wales, he determined to avail himself of the first opportunity to improve his acquaintance with her, and to make her an offer of marriage. This offer was not altogether refused, for, though the young lady did not mean to unite herself with Mr. Barkwith, she encouraged his addresses; and to her disingenuous conduct is to be attributed the fatal reverse of his fortune.

So entirely was his attention engrossed by the object of his love, that his master's most important business was wholly neglected, and he appeared to have no object in view but that of ingratiating himself into the esteem of his mistress; to gratify whose extravagance and vanity he engaged in expenses greatly disproportioned to his income, by making her valuable presents, and accompanying her and her family to theatres,