fifty
years of age, who, from his dress, appeared to be a helper in the
stable. In his right hand he grasped a carving-knife; and, while his
face appeared convulsed with the fury of a maniac, he uttered the most
fearful, though incoherent denunciations of vengeance, against any one
who should approach him. At this instant a young woman belonging to the
establishment came tripping down the stairs, whom the maniac perceiving,
he repeated the same fearful cry which had so startled the company in
the parlour, and, raising the knife, rushed at her. Shipp bounded after
him like the lion from his lair, seized his uplifted arm, and, jamming
the madman against the stairs with his knees, wrenched the weapon from
his grasp. The terrified waiter now stepped forward, and assisted in
securing the lunatic, who was immediately conveyed to Bridewell, and
from thence to a proper asylum. He was an old servant of the
establishment, who had on several occasions exhibited symptoms of mental
derangement, which ultimately became confirmed by habits of
intemperance. At length, on the evening in question, his malady had
broken out into decided madness.

Shipp used himself to relate an incident, which has so much the
character of romance, that it must not be omitted. He was seated one
afternoon in an alcove on the green of the hotel at Birkenhead, when, in
the adjoining recess, he overheard a deep masculine voice urging some
tender proposal to a female: and he was about to depart, when he was
struck by the extremely tremulous tones in which the girl refused
compliance. "I cannot consent to go," said she; "it would not be
proper."--"Well, but," replied the man, "I tell you your brother Tom is
to go with us; he has consented to the whole arrangement; the sloop is
in the river now, and we sail with the morning tide at five o'clock.
We're all ready. Tom'll go on board this night; and, as he is fully
expecting you, it will look foolish not to go. We can be married at
Guernsey immediately, you know; and I shall have such a nice cottage for
you; and we shall be as happy as possible."--"And why cannot I go on
board when Tom does?" asked the girl. "Why, you know, dear," replied the
man, with some hesitation, "the agents might board us this evening; and
I should not like them to see us with a woman in the sloop. But come--I
know you are not comfortable with that old aunt of yours; so just steal
out of the house, and be on the watch for us at the slip, at h