t of the troubles in Poland, raised a considerable party by
the influence of his rank and vast fortune. During a temporary absence
from the Court of Poland, he made a tour through Italy, and on his
return, he met the Count and Countess de Witt at Hamburgh, when he fell
deeply in love with Sophia. Not to weary you with the details of the
romance, I will come to the _denouement_ at once.

Nothing is so easy as to obtain a divorce in Poland. The law extends
so far on this point, that I knew a gentleman, M. Wortrel, who had no
less than four wives, all living, and bearing his name. Count Patocka,
therefore, availing himself of this advantage, and having previously
made every necessary arrangement, one morning called on Count de Witt,
and, without further ceremony, said--"Count, I love your wife, and
cannot live without her. I know that I am not indifferent to her;
and I might immediately carry her off; but I wish to owe my happiness
to you, and to retain for ever a grateful sense of your generosity.
Here are two papers: one is an act of divorce, which only wants your
signature, for you see the Countess has already affixed hers to it;--the
other is a bond for two millions of florins, payable at my banker's, in
this city. We may, therefore, settle the business amicably or otherwise,
just as you please." The husband doubtless thought of his adventure at
the fortress of Kaminieck, and, like the French ambassador, he resigned
himself to his fate, and signed the paper. The fair Sophia became, the
same day, Countess Patocka; and to the charms of beauty and talent, were
now added the attractions of a fortune, the extent of which was at that
time unequalled in Europe.--_Court Journal_.

* * * * *

Retrospective Gleanings.

* * * *

JOHN LOCKE.

Lord King has just done the state of literature some service, by the
publication of the _Life of John Locke_: with Extracts from his
Journals, &c. In this task his lordship has drawn largely on some
valuable papers of Locke, preserved by their having gone into the
possession of Sir Peter King, the ancestor of Lord King, his near
relation and sole executor. Among these treasures are Locke's
correspondence, a journal of his travels in France and Holland, his
common-place book, and many miscellaneous papers; all of which have been
preserved in the same scrutoire in which they had been deposited by
their author, and which wa