unfortunate young creature resisted their attacks as long as
she could, but was soon felled to the ground by Michel, who
with a thick stick fractured her skull, whilst Debeyst trod
upon the prostrate victim of their horrid crime. These wretches
were shortly afterwards arrested and committed to prison. On
the 5th of April, 1825, they were condemned to death by the
Court of Assize at Brussels, but implored of the royal clemency
a commutation of punishment. This was granted to the woman,
whose sentence was changed to perpetual imprisonment. Michel's
petition was rejected.

* * * * *


THE HEIR PRESUMPTIVE.


Of all the miseries of human life, and God knows they are manifold
enough, there are few more utterly heart-sickening and overwhelming than
those endured by the unlucky Heir Presumptive; when, after having
submitted to the whims and caprices of some rich relation, and endured a
state of worse than Egyptian bondage, for a long series of years, he
finds himself cut off with a shilling, or a mourning ring; and the El
Dorado of his tedious term of probation and expectancy devoted to the
endowment of methodist chapels and Sunday schools; or bequeathed to some
six months' friend (usually a female housekeeper, or spiritual adviser)
who, entering the vineyard at the eleventh hour, (the precise moment at
which his patience and humility become exhausted,) carries off the
golden prize, and adds another melancholy confirmation, to those already
upon record, of the fallacy of all human anticipations. It matters