THE MOST WRETCHED. 27 



however the result of conformation, and it is vain to 

 attempt to account for them, without first studying 

 in detail the structure of all their parts, the differences 

 which distinguish this structure from that of other 

 animals, and the modifications it receives in the 

 various families, genera, and species which consti- 

 tute this class of vertebrated creatures. But the 

 inquiry belongs entirely to the science of comparative 

 anatomy, not sufficiently attractive to interest the 

 general reader. To those who feel desirous of pur- 

 suing it further, we beg to recommend the perusal 

 of the several articles on the organization and ana- 

 tomy of fishes in the forty-first part of Mr. Griffith's 

 translation of Cuvier's " Regne animal,'' where the 

 whole question is reviewed, and, though greatly 

 condensed, complete instruction will be found by an 

 attentive reader. 



C. H. S. 



THE MOST WRETCHED. 



A TALE. 

 BY MISS DIXON. 



Akbar, sovereign of the East, amid the profusion of 

 all that power and splendour could bestow, experi- 

 enced the satiety of excess ; weary of delight, he 

 resolved to contrast his own pleasures with the suf- 

 ferings of others ; and that he might the better judge 

 of mankind, to find out in what consisted the greatest 

 misery. 



On occasion of a festival which had brought to his 

 capital, strangers from every kingdom of his mighty 

 empire, he sent forth a proclamation commanding 

 every one who had known any severe or over- 

 whelming grief, to appear instantly at his palace. 

 Many were the sons of misery, who crowded the 

 gates of Akbar — but three, who seemed afflicted 

 with the deepest woe, were first admitted into his 

 presence, and were ordered to relate to his ear the 

 source of their afflictions. 



