Philip II. He received many fine presents from that
prince. Having the misfortune to be taken by the corsairs, and to see
himself reduced to slavery, he found means to make those Turkish and
savage men tractable, by his skill at chess. They admired him for it,
treated him civilly, and exacted no other ransom from him than the
lessons he gave them for some time in that game.

Two Persians had engaged in such deep play, that the whole fortune of
one was gained by his opponent. He who played the white was the ruined
man, and, made desperate by his loss, offered his favourite wife as his
last stake. The game was carried on until he would have been check-mated
by his adversary's next move. The lady, who had observed the game from
the window above, cried out to her husband, "_to sacrifice his castle
and save his wife_."

_Situation of the Game._

_White._ _Black._

W. King at its Rook, B. King at the B. Queen's
4th square. Knight's square.

W. Bishop at W. King's, B. Queen at the King's
4th square. Knight's 2nd square.

W. Rook at W. Queen's Rook, B. Rook at King's Knight's square.
2nd square.

Two White Pawns, one at B. Rook at the W. Queen's Knight's
B. Queen's Bishop's 2nd square.
3rd square,
the other at its
Knight's 3rd square.

_White_. _Black._

1st Rook to the B. Queen's 1. B. King takes the Rook.
Rook's square checking.

2nd The Pawn at the B. Queen's
Bishop's 3rd square,
which discovers check-mate.

J.H.L.

* * * * *

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

* * * * *

EARLY RISING.

I had the pleasure of spending the last Christmas holidays, very
agreeably, with a family at Bristol. I am aware that those who have
heard nothing of the Bristolians, save through George Frederick Cooke's
satire on them,[1] will be amazed at any one's venturing to bring
together, in the same sentence, three such words as "agreeably,"
"Bristol," and "pleasure;" but I declare it, on my own knowledge, that
there is in that city one family, which for good sense, good humour,
pleasantry, and kindness, is not to be out-done by any in Great Britain.
"The blood of an African," indeed! There is not one amongst them, not
excepting the ladies--no, nor even excepting Mis