to state; for, during several months after his arrival in that country, no one knew what had become of him. The next year he appeared at Paris, but, being instantly ordered out of France, he journeyed to Amsterdam, and was there enabled, by the assistance of some merchants, to equip a frigate of thirty-two guns and 150 men. But an

evil destiny seems to have thwarted all his plans. Arrested by the Neapolitan government, he was detained a prisoner in the Fortress of Cueta; and though eventually liberated, he does not seem ever to have made way afterwards. His exertions to assist his Island subjects were unremitting: but disappointment and ruin were the only results. At last, broken down by fate, he retired to England-then, as now, the refuge of fallen politicians-but here too, suffering and misery awaited him. Day by day his situation became more deplorable, and the closing years of his unhappy life were passed in the King's Bench prison, from which a general Act of Insolvency, only released him to die. He left one son, known by the name of Colonel Frederick, and much esteemed for his accomplished mind and gentlemanly feeling. He accompanied his father to England, and soon after obtained a commission in foreign service; but the star of ill omen, which appears to have been inseparable from his race, blighted his hopes, and at

last reduced him to so low a condition that, unable to support the pressure of want and depression of a broken spirit, he put an end to his existence near the gate of Westminster Abbey, 1st February, 1797. He possessed some literary acquirements, and was the author of a "History of Corsica."

THE FALSE TESTIMONY.

JAMES STIRLING, of Keir, great-grandfather of the present member of Parliament for the county of Perth, married the eldest daughter of the fifth Lord Blantyre. He was a Jacobite, compromised in the rising of 1715. Though he is said to have taken an active share in that unfortunate enterprise, yet, when brought to trial, it happened that the indictment against him was limited to one point, his appearance at a certain treasonable meeting. The charge only amounted to this, but still this was sufficient to entail on him, if convicted, the full penalty of treason. His life and fortune depended, consequently, upon this one fact. If he could prove an alibi, he was safe; but, otherwise, he was sure to be condemned, with little hope of mercy. The principal evidence was an

old and attached servant who had attended his master to the treasonable meeting. This man was an extremely reluctant witness, but there was no remedy. He had been with Mr. Stirling at the Jacobite gathering and he was brought forward to give his unwilling testimony. The Laird of Keir well knew that this man's evidence must be conclusive against him, and he resigned himself to his fate. His surprise was, therefore, great, and only equalled by the disappointment of the Judge-Advocate, when the old servant, being put on oath, solemnly swore that his master was not at the Jacobite meeting, but was at the time in a place so far distant that his presence there was quite impossible on the day set forth in the indictment. The witness, questioned and cross-questioned, maintained his statement with the most unblushing effrontery, and told his story with such wonderful consistency that nothing more could be said. Keir was acquitted, and, instead of being shut up in a condemned cell, was permitted to mount his horse and depart in peace for Perthshire. When fairly on the road with his faithful servant riding behind him, he reined in his steed, and the following dialogue took place between master and man:

KEIR "I, no doubt, owe my life to your testimony, John; but, Lord preserve me, how could you tell such an awful lie? How could you for

swear yourself in that barefaced manner? You knew very well that I was at that meeting, for you were riding behind me as you are doing this day."

JOHN-"Weel do I ken that your honour was at the meeting, and frankly do I confess that I did forswear myself; but, then, I thought it far safer for me to trust my soul to the mercy of God, than your honour's life in the hands of your

enemies."