Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1829-01-07
MR.. BROUGHAM's WILD OATS.

during the summer Of 1900. BrouGham, ac-
companisd by Campbell Of I.la, and a fashion,
able party. Waited the Western Isles Of Scot
land. Afr Brougham and his companions were
all in the Aowor Of jocund youth wild. reck-
less and impetuous, as youth generally Is won't
to be. They sailed in a vessel generally known
in this Highland harbors by the name Of Mad
Brig. 1t is a grave question, whether the brig
or tho pavigators deserved the terrific epithet;
but true il TO-, that she Was at the TINA, o good
deal under the inf ience Of sport. fun and troll
ic. known to all the world as The near relatives
10 madness. These mad-cap agencies weighed
her anchOrs. directed her course add mocred
her again in port. In ono Of her excursions,
says The chronicles OF the times, the Mad Brig
tourhsd at the por, Of Stornaway. dubbed by
way Of eminence, tho capital Of The Hebrides.
Amusement was Of course rather fiat in the
"city Of the Isles" though the expedition took
up their quarters at the best inn which the
place afforded. The steady Bonita CO seemed
to supply a glorious subject Of diversion; and
our travellers resolved to make an experiment,
on his powers for comedy. Aiming himself
ono evening with a good brace Of enormous
pistols. at the dosd hour Of night. Brougham
stalked Like a grimly ghost into his hosts bed
chamber. After awakening the soinnolsnt nm
keeper, the horrid apparrtion secured the door.
The moon shone brightly through the window.
and this spectre observed q flock Of fowls COM
lortably re2osing themselves. The petrified
inn keeper observed him raising a lank, bony
arm, garnished with q horss-bi stoI; discharg
ing which. a miserable ducklin was sent, with
a piteous quack, TO the shades below. In q
hollow tone. the spirit charged Boniface OH his
life to be silent. He started from his bed in
conformation. "Uiter one syllable'' said the
incarpaI yisifnnf in a vnica like tho N nj a
volcano, sand l ~shalllay your unsodly csrcase
as fiat as yondcr FOWL" The poor host found
that quietncss was the best poIicy--reasonably
judging, from the portonious decision Of his
tormenior's manner, that his luckless life was
in eminent peril; and that a refusal Mould mos
Likely occasion the threotener 10 800 ihc &C
iion with the word. Poor Bonita &c, Therefore,
continued as still AZ q mouse. Drougham then
addressing him., charged him With treason 10
his detachable spousc-the poisoning of whis-
key-wiih a long catalogue Of enormities-
and ordered him immediately TO fall upon his
knees. make confession Of his sins, and pre-
pare for bis final exit Believing and trent.
ling, tho terrified inn-keeper dropped upon his
knees, pro; his innocence, and craved his
life with all the eloquence terror could inspire.
fIe pleaded, preached and prayed, while the
appari,ion held q loaded pistol To his treast,
intoxicating the necessity Of a fill confession,
ever and anon insisting that the culprt had
perpetrated crimes yet undivulged. The cul-
prit answered with pious remorse all the Inter
rogaiories which this inqnisilor was pleased to
propose, and afterwards praying with greater
~fervsncy than he had ever done before. THIS
finished, tho ghost.y Bfougham warned and
solemnly exhorted him to lorsake the path Of
iniquIiy. assuring him that his con'ritioo was
the sole cause Of the fnrbearance Of hea ven.- =
This saying, aspoor Bonnace believed, he van
ished in a blaza Of sulphur. This -ndventure
we may suppose, furnished no small amuse-
ment to the party. At this day, when our host
hears tho name of B%rougham, he never fails to
couple it with a pertinent epilhet. remember
when the late Queens affair Brought her great
orator so much before 'he public, our host on
hearing some person read a portion Of the tri-
al, cried out, "Brougham her ndvicat! No
wonder if che should lose the cause! That's
the scamp fellow that garth my teeth clatter."
-Edinburgh Paper.