The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1825-11-23

was favorite retreat. The cabinet O
Jewels, which we were permitted Il
inspect, contains a great variety Of or
naments, which belonged To the Virgin
Queen, and 10 other distinguished per
sonages. Among the rest is beautiful
little sword. worn as an ornament by
Mary, Queen of Scots, which excited
more interest than the gems OF her jea-
lous and persecuting rival.
Burleigh House is enriched with an
extensive collection of paintings, some
OF them by great masters Of every age
but they are scattered amidst multi
tude ofotbers, of an inferior kind, which
hardly repay an examination. The show
of statuary is meagre.
Finding little else in the vicinity Of
Stamford deserving attention, we took
seats in the coach for Leicester, distant
thirty miles, on our way to this place.
Our exit led over the bridge ofihe Wal
land, above which on a level meadow
forming the borders of the river, is a
rGcs-course for bulls. The novel amuse-
ment Of buli-runiug, which is peculiar to
this town, arose from an accidental Cir
cumstance. A nobleman by chance
gave chace TO one of these animals, and
was so much delighted with the high
sport, that he introduced the custom. as
a festival to be observed on the anniyer-
sary of bis own adventure.
The ride from Stamford to Leicester
extends through pleasant and fertile
agricultural district. exhibiting many
beautiful fields of tillage and pasture.
In the latter, numerous flocks of sheep
were observed, of a larger size than we
had ever seen. Some of them were as
tall as doDkles, and appear to be of a
peculiar breed. The cattle also were
remarkable handsome and fat. furnish
ing the strongest evidence of rich graz
ing country. 1t abounds with extensive
diaries, and the treasures of the fleece.
The FATE OF CoNQUERoRs. Since the
reign OF Augustus, The world has sell
dom been SO flee from war and blood
shed as at the present moment. The
Turks and Greeks, in small spot on
the confines of Europe and Asia, are
carrying on a petty warfare; but ex-
ceptlng in that quarter, Europe may be
said 10 enjoy the most profound repose
ALI the great states, that in their turn
have commended for the mastery, are al
peace with one another, and most Of
them are free from internal broils. Asia
Africa, and America, with the exception
of few occasional skirmishes, seem tc
follow the example of Europe, which
indeed for ages has not only been the
great theatre of war, but the origina
cause of most Of those commotions thai
have devastated the world. At the pre-
sent day, when the blessings of peace
are so justly appreciated, one is aston
ished at the madness of the people 10 fol
lowing ambitious leaders TO war anC
death, and disposed to ask, what benef
these leaders themselves derive from
l the miseries of which their Unsuitable
ambition was SO frequently the cause
History, "the great mistress of wis
dom," points out two remarkable cir
cumstances in their fate, which canno
fail to strike the most careless observer
! OF all the mighty conquerors that hsv,
a been praised by poets, admired by thei
followers, apd adored for moment b,
their countrymen--thst have made babe
tatheriess, wives widows, and carrie,
ruin and devastation in their tIain--hoy
few have fallen in battle, and yet hov
few have come TO timely end Perhap
not one in ten has died natural death
They made themselves conspicuous 70
a time-they marked the age in whicl
they lived; but they seemed to ris,
above the stream Of time rather as bea
cons to deter, than as guides to be fol
lowed. Poison, assassination, or disap
pointed ambition, commonly put an en'
to their dazzling career. Witness tn,
fate of those, who, in ancient times
: we're surnamed the Great, and deeme,
the first warriors of their age. Cyru
the Great, after conquering Media, Lyb
| ia, and Assyria, had his head cut off b,
a woman, who threw it into a vesse
filled with blood, and addressed it ii
these words, "Go, quench there tina
thirst which seemed insatiable." Milf
AIDES, who commanded the Athenians a
Marathon, and was reckoned the mos
celebrated general of his age, was &C
cused of treason by the Athenians, an,
J condemned TO death. The sentence wa
commuted for fine, which he was IN
able TO pay, and he died in prison
Pausanias, who conquered at Platea
and slew about 100000 Persians, wa
starved to death in the temple Of Miner
va, whittier he had fed to save him
self from the fury of his counirymeu
! Themistocles, who was called the mos
warlike and courageous Of all the Greek
|, | xui,., Ioot-ouol Al.