Leicester, the fame of his uncommon corpulence had spread over the adjacent country to such a degree, that he frequently found himself not u little incommoded by the curiosity of the people, which it was impossible to repress, and which they were continually devising means of gratifying, in spite of his reluctance.

A gentleman travelling through Leicester conceived a strong desire to see this extraordinary phenomenon, but being at a loss for a pretext to introduce himself to Mr. Lambert, he first took care to inquire what were his particular propensities. Being informed that he was a great cocker, the traveller thought himself sure of success. He accordingly went to his house, knocked at the door, and inquired for Mr. Lambert. The servant answered that he was at home, but that he never saw strangers. "Let him know," replied the curious traveller, "that I called about some cocks." Lambert, who chanced to be in a situation to overhear what passed, immediately rejoined, "Tell the gentleman that I am a shy cock."

On another occasion, a gentleman from Nottingham was extremely importunate to see him, pretending that he had a particular favour to ask. After considerable hesitation, Mr. Lambert directed him to be admitted. On being introduced, he said he wished to inquire the pedigree of a certain mare. "Oh! if that's all," replied Mr. Lambert, perceiving from his manner the real nature of his errand, "she was got by impertinence out of curiosity."

Finding, at length, that he must either submit to be a close prisoner in his own house, or endure all the inconveniencies without receiving any of the profits of an exhibition, Mr. Lambert wisely strove to overcome his repugnance, and determined to visit the metropolis for that purpose. As it was impossible to procure a carriage large enough to admit him, he had a vehicle constructed expressly to convey him to London, where he arrived, for the twenty-second time, in the spring of 1806, and fixed his residence in Piccadilly.

His apartments there had more the air of a place of fashionable resort than of an exhibition; and as long as the town continued full, he was visited by a great deal of the best company. The dread he felt on coming to London, lest he should be exposed to indignity and insult from the curiosity of some of his visitors, was soon removed by the politeness and attention which he received.

The spirit of politeness which always prevailed in the presence of Mr. Lambert, was such as was, perhaps, never observed on a similar occasion. The very Quakers by whom he was visited, felt themselves moved to take off their hats. It is but natural to suppose that among the numbers who chose to gratify their curiosity, some few exceptions should occur. Thus, one day, a person perceiving, previous to entering the room, that the com

pany were uncovered, observed to Mr. Lambert's attendant, that he would not take off his hat, even if the king were present. This rude remark being uttered in the hearing of Mr. Lambert, he immediately replied, as the stranger entered,-"Then, by G, sir, you must instantly quit this rcom, as I do not consider it as a mark of respect due to myself, but to the ladies and gentlemen who honour me with their company."

Many of the visitors seemed incapable of gratifying their curiosity to its full extent, and called again and again to behold to what an immense magnitude the human figure is capable of attaining; nay, one gentleman, a banker in the city, jocosely observed, that he had fairly had a pound's worth.

Mr. Lambert had the pleasure of receiving persons of all descriptions and of all nations. He was one day visited by a party of fourteen, eight ladies and six gentlemen, who expressed their joy at not being too late, as it was near the time of closing the door for the day. They assured him that they had come from Guernsey on purpose to convince themselves of the existence of such a prodigy as Mr. Lambert had been described to be by one of their neighbours, who had seen him; adding, that they had not even one single friend or acquaintance in London, so that they had no other motive whatever for their voyage. A striking illustration of the power of curiosity over the human mind.

Among the many visitors of Mr. Lambert, the celebrated Polish Dwarf, Count Boruwlaski, was not the least interesting. Mr. Lambert, during his apprenticeship at Birmingham, went several times to see the count, and such was the strength of the little man's memory, that he had scarcely fixed his eyes upon Lambert, in Piccadilly, before he recollected his face. After reflecting a moment, he exclaimed that he had seen the face twenty years ago in Birmingham, but it was not surely the same body. This unexpected meeting of the largest and smallest man seemed to realize the fabled history of the inhabitants of Lilliput and Brobdignag, particularly when Lambert rose for the purpose of affording the diminutive count a full view of his prodigious dimensions. In the course of conversation, Mr. Lambert asked what quantity of cloth the count required for a coat, and how many he thought his would make him. "Not many," answered Boruwlaski. "I take good large piece cloth myself-almost tree quarters of a yard." At this rate, one of Lambert's sleeves would have been abundantly sufficient for the purpose. The count felt one of Mr. Lambert's legs. "Ah, mine Got!" he exclaimed, "pure flesh and blood. I feel de warm. No deception! I am pleased, for I did hear it was deception." Mr. Lambert asked if his lady was alive; on which he replied, "No, she is dead, and," putting his finger significantly to his nose, “I am not very sorry, for when I affront her, she put me on the mantel-shelf for punishment."

The many characters that introduced themselves to Mr. Lambert's observation in the metropolis, furnished him with a great number of anecdotes, which a retentive memory enabled him to relate with good effect.

One day, the room being rather crowded with company, a young man in the front, almost close to Mr. Lambert, made incessant use of one of those indispensable appendages of a modern beau, called a quizzing-glass. The conversation turned on the changes of the weather, and in what manner Mr. Lambert felt himself affected by them. "What do you dislike most?" asked the beau. "To be bored with a quizzing-glass,” was the reply.

A person asking him, in a very rude way, the cost of one of his coats, he returned him no answer. The man repeated the question with the observation, that he thought he had a right to demand any information, having contributed his shilling, which would help to pay for Mr. Lambert's coat as well as the rest. "Sir," rejoined Lambert, "If I knew what part of my next coat your shilling would pay for, I can assure you I would cut out the piece."

On another occasion, a lady was particularly solicitous to have the same question resolved. "Indeed, Madam," answered Mr. Lambert, "I cannot pretend to charge my memory with the price, but I can put you into a method of obtaining the information you want. If you think proper to make me a present of a new coat, you will then know exactly what it cost."

A person who had the appearance of a gentleman, one day took the liberty of asking several grossly impertinent questions. Irritated at these repeated violations of decency, which bespoke a deficiency of good sense as well as good manners, Mr. Lambert fixed his eyes full upon the stranger: "You came into this room, sir, by the door, but" "You mean to say," continued the other, looking at the window, "that I may possibly make my exit by some other way." "Begone this moment," thundered Lambert, or by G-d I'll throw you into Piccadilly." No second injunction was necessary to rid him of this obnoxious guest.

In September, 1806, Mr. Lambert returned to Leicester, but repeated his visit to London the following year, and fixed his abode in Leicester square. Here, for the first time, he felt inconvenienced by the air of the metropolis, and accordingly, by the advice of Dr. Heaviside, his physician, he returned to his native place.

Till within a short time of his death, this wonderful man enjoyed an excellent state of health, and felt perfectly at ease, either while sitting up or lying in bed. His diet was plain, and the quantity very moderate, for he did not eat more than the generality of men. For many years he never drank any thing stronger than water. He slept well, but scarcely so much as other people, and his respiration was as free as that of any moderate-sized person. His countenance was manly and intelligent; he possessed great infor

mation, much ready politeness, and conversed with ease and facility. What was more extraordinary, however, in a man of his bulk, he sung melodiously, his voice being a strong tenor, and his articulation perfectly clear and unembarrassed.

Mr. Lambert now took a tour through the principal cities and towns, and for two or three years was as great a wonder in the provinces as he had formerly been in London, retaining his health and spirits till within a day of his death, which took place at Stamford, in Lincolnshire, on the 21st of June, 1809. In the morning he gave orders to his printer to prepare handbills announcing his arrival and exhibition; in the evening he was a corpse! He had been weighed a few days before at Huntingdon, and by the Caledonian balance was found to be 52 stone 11 lb. (14 lb. to the stone ;) or 10 stone 11 lb. heavier than the celebrated Mr. Bright of Essex. His measure round the body was three yards four inches, and one yard one inch round the leg. A suit of clothes for him cost £20. His sporting propensities never left him. Cocks and dogs were his special favourites, and he made the Racing Calendar his particular study.

TALLEYRAND, PRINCE OF BENEVENTO.

F to have sounded all the depths and shoals of the great French revolution, and to have represented, in his own person, all the various phases of that stupendous event, be sufficient to found a claim to the highest celebrity, then to no one is that distinction more justly due than to this extraordinary man. The following brief summary of his career will amply justify this observation.

Charles Maurice Talleyrand de Perigord, created Prince of Benevento by Napoleon, belonged to one of the noblest families in France. He was born at Paris in 1754, but being lame from his birth, he was early destined for the church, and educated agreeably to that destination. The influence of his family procured him rapid promotion. In 1780 he was representative or agent for the clergy, and in 1789 he was Bishop of Autun. His clerical rank, however, did not prevent his embarking actively in the very first stages of the revolution.

He joined in all the measures for the suppression of ecclesiastical privileges, and was among the first to accept the civil constitution of the clergy. He carried his devotion even so far as to officiate, he a bishop, as priest before the altar of the country, erected in the Champ de Mars, on the day of the Federation. For this he was excommunicated, and of course he broke off, and apparently for ever, from the church.

Even at this early period Talleyrand displayed his peculiar talent, which