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Alphonso, without quitting Marina, and ever solicitous to expose his life in her defence, attacks the barbarians at the head of his brave Spaniards, and dealing destruction to all who make resistance, drives the fugitives before him, retakes the plunder and the prisoners, and only quits the pursuit of the enemy to return and extinguish the flames.

The day begin to break, when a body of troops, who had received information of the descent of the infidels, arrived from a neighbouring town. The governor had put himself at their head and found Don Alphonso surrounded by women, children, and old men; who, weeping, kissed his hands, with unfeigned gratitude, for having preserved their husbands, their fathers, or their sons.

The governor, informed of the exploits of Don Alphonso, loaded him with praises and caresses; but Marina, requesting to be heard, declared to the governor in presence of the whole village, her sex; giving, at the same time, a relation of her adventures, the death of the bravo by Don Alphonso, and the circumstances which rendered him excusable.

All the inhabitants, greatly affected with her story, fell at the feet of the governor, intreating pardon for the man to whom they were indebted for their preservation. Their request was granted, and the happy Alphonso, thus restored to his dear Marina, embraced the governor, and blessed the good inhabitants. One of the old men then advanced: ‘Brave stranger,’ said he, ‘you are our deliverer, but you take from us our Alcaid; this loss perhaps outweighs your benefit. Double our blessings; instead of depriving us of our greatest, remain in this village; condescend to become our Alcaid, our master, our friend. Honour us so far, as to permit nothing to abate our love for you. In a great city, the cowardly and the wicked, who maintain the same rank with yourself, will think themselves your equals; while, here, every virtuous inhabitant will look on you as his father; next to the Deity himself, you will receive, from us, the highest honour; and, while life remains, on the anniversary of this day, the fathers of our families will present their children before you, saying, ‘behold the man who preserved the lives of your mothers.’

Alphonso was enchanted while he listened to the old man. ‘Yes,’ cried he, ‘my children, yes, my brethren, I will remain here. My life shall be devoted to Marina and to you. But my wife has considerable possessions in Granada. Our excellent governor will add his interest to ours that we may recover them, and they shall be employed to rebuild the houses which the Infidels have burnt. On this condition alone, will I accept the office of Alcaid; and though I should expend in your service, both my riches and my life, I should still be your debtor; for it is you who have restored to me my Marina!’

Imagine the transports of the villagers while Alphonso spoke. The governor was a person of power, and undertook to arrange every thing to his wish; and, two days afterwards, the marriage was celebrated between Marina and her lover.

Notwithstanding their late misfortunes, nothing could exceed the joy of the inhabitants. The two lovers long lived in unexampled felicity; and made the whole district as virtuous and happy as themselves.

HISTORICAL EXAMPLES OF HUMANITY.

On the day of the battle of Dettingen, a musketeer, named Girardeau, dangerously wounded, was carried near the Duke of Cumberland’s tent. They could find no surgeon, all of them being sufficiently employed elsewhere. They were going to dress the duke, the calf of whose leg had been pierced by a ball: “Begin,” said that generous prince, “with relieving that French officer, he is more wounded than I; he may fail of succour, and I shall not.”

Alphonso V. king of Sicily and Arragon, was besieging the city of Gayette. That place beginning to fail of provisions, the inhabitants were obliged to turn out the women, children, and old men, who were so many useless mouths.—These poor people found themselves reduced to the most direful extremity. If they approached the city, the besieged fired on them; if they advanced towards the enemy’s camp they there met the same danger. In this sad condition, those wretches implored sometimes the compassion of their countrymen, not to suffer them to die with hunger. Alphonso was moved with pity at this spectacle, and forbid his soldiers to use them ill. He then assembled his council, and asked the advice of the principal officers, respecting the manner he ought to act with these unfortunate people. They all gave their opinion that they ought not to receive them, and said, that if they perished by hunger, or by the sword, none could be blamed but the inhabitants, who had driven them out of the city. Alphonso was offended at their hardness of heart: he protested he would rather renounce the taking of Gayette than resolve to let so many wretches die of hunger. He also added, that a victory purchased at that price would be less worthy of a magnanimous king than a barbarian and a tyrant. ‘I am not come,’ said he, ‘to make war on women, children, and feeble old men, but on enemies capable of defending themselves.’ He immediately gave orders that they should receive all those unfortunate people into the camp, and caused provisions, and whatever was necessary, to be distributed amongst them.

A violent tempest, which Alphonso V. king of Arragon, was exposed to at sea, obliged him to put up into an island. Being there in perfect security, he perceived one of his gallies on the point of being swallowed up in the waves, with the equipage and troops that were on board.——The spectacle excited his compassion, and he immediately gave orders that they should go and succour those unhappy people. Hereupon his people terrified at the danger, represented to him, that it was better to let one ship perish, than expose all the rest to the danger of ship-wreck. Alphonso did not listen to this advice: but, without deliberating, embarked on board the admiral’s ship, and immediately departed to give them timely succour; the rest, seeing the king expose himself with so much resolution, were animated by his example, and every one hastened to follow him. The enterprize at length succeeded; but he likewise ran great risk of perishing, it being so very dangerous. The generous Alphonso said, ‘I would have preferred being buried in the sea with all my fleet, rather than have seen those wretches perish full in my view without helping them.’

THE CRIMINAL.

O moment for reflection! O innocence forever fled!—My children are satisfied, and—I am miserable. O God of nature, hear my cries! I would ask of thee forgiveness, for oh! the deed of yesterday hangs heavy on my soul. What have I done?—I stopped the stranger, and asked his purse: he refused. I clapt the murderous weapon to his breast and demanded it—he hesitated.——In imagination I viewed my family perishing for food. I could not wait—The flint struck—the stranger fell—and—O earth hide me in thy bosom!—Wretch! how do the words escape my lips—I beheld my father.——

When reason had regained its seat, I found myself in company with my children, relieving their wants from out my father’s purse.

My wife questioned me as to the manner of my procuring the unexpected boon. The truth I did not evade; but I related to her every circumstance, except that the murdered person was the author of my being. She shuddered at the tale. “O my husband!” she uttered, “why did you not inform me of your intention? Sooner would I have perished of hunger, than the crime should have been committed.” “Alas!” I returned, “while yet conscious innocence held thine eyelids closed, the deed was perpetrated.

“O my Euphemia! thou knowest not the extent of my villainy! If thou didst, thou wouldest shun my sight, and think me a devil that had assumed the form of man. What crime is worse than——But stop, thy feeble frame cannot now stand the shock.—Summon all thy fortitude; soon will the awful tidings sound dreadful in thine ears.”

SELECTED OBSERVATIONS of a LATE WORTHY DIVINE.

Adrian, the coadjutor of Ximenes in the government of Castile, was much disturbed at the libels which flew about against them. Ximenes was perfectly easy. “If,” said he, “we take the liberty to act, others will take the liberty to talk and write: when they charge us falsely, we may laugh; when truly, we must mend.”

Dr. Green of St. John’s college, trying to skate, got a terrible fall backwards—“Why, Doctor,” said a friend who was with him, “I thought you had understood the business better.”—“O,” replied the Doctor, “I have the theory perfectly; I want nothing but the practice.”—How many of us, in matters of a much higher and more important nature, come under the Doctor’s predicament!

MARRIED,

On Saturday: evening the 29th ult. by the Right Rev. Bishop Provost, Colonel Deveaux, well known for his military atchievments and social virtues, to Miss Verplank, of Dutches Country.

Same evening, by the Rev. Dr. Moore, Mr. Edward Prior, to Miss Fanny Fisher, both of this city.

Same evening, by the Rev. Dr. Linn, Mr. Benjamin Ferris, to Miss Ann Post, daughter of Mr. Henry Post.

AN ACROSTIC.

	Thermometor observed at	Prevailing winds.	OBSERVATIONS on the WEATHER.
	6, A.M. 3, P.M.	6.	3.	6.	3.
	deg.	100	deg.	100
April 23	46		48		se.	e.	rain do.	l. wd.
24	44		49		e.	do.	cloudy rain	l. wd.
25	48		60		s.	do.	rain fog. cle.	calm l. w.
26	49		63		sw.	do.	clear do.	calm l. wd.
27	42		56		ne.	se.	clear do.	lt. wd. do.
28	44		61		e.	s.	clear do.	l. wd. h. wd.
29	50		71		e.	do.	clear do.	lt. do.

Mean temperature	of the	thermometer	at sun-rise (Far. Sc.)	43	6
Do.	do.	of the	do.	at 3 P.M.	53	7
Do.	do.	for the whole month	48	65
Greatest monthly range between the 5th. and 14th.	47	0
Do.	do.	in 24 hours,	the 5th	28	0
Warmest day the	5th	82	0
Coldest do. the	14th	35	0

12	days it rained, and an uncommon quantity has fallen.
1	do. it snowed, about 6 in. deep, it all disappeared by the following day.
14	do. the wind was at the westward of north and south, at the ob. h.
16	do. the do. was at the eastward of do. and do. do.
17	do. the do. was light	at both observations.
4	do. the do. was high	at do. do.
13	do. it was clear	at do. do.
11	do. it was cloudy	at do. do.
3	times it Thundered and Lightened, in considerable abundance.

G reat is the work—the cause a glorious one,

E ’en to proclaim God’s everlasting son:

O h may he all your faithful labours bless,

R eward your toils, and give you great success;

G uard you from harm, your useful life prolong,

E ver inspire and animate your song.

R eligion to promote is your delight,

O h worthy champion of the Prince of Light:

B old in the glorious cause of righteousness,

E ach word, each action does your zeal express:—

R ever’d by all—when this frail life is o’er

T o joys immortal shall your spirit soar,

S hall sing Redeeming love for evermore.

REBECCA.

New-York, April 28th, 1797.

LINES,

O may God’s hand still hover o’er my head,

’Twixt me and earthquakes may thy fingers spread;

When ocean rises, and when mountains fall,

Still shield my temples with that five-fold wall.

Then when huge tons of bursting hills are hurl’d,

My feet may stand amidst a reeling world;

In hours unguarded, when I slumber most,

Be thou my keeper and protect the post:

So shall thy servant like Elijah stand,

Beneath the palm of thy Almighty hand.

THE APPROACH OF SPRING.

Come, lovely Flora, aid me to pourtray

The rising beauties of the vernal day,

The grateful season that fresh life inspires,

Wakes the dull spirits, and resumes their fires;

That bids dead nature gaudy colours wear,

And paints with every hue th’ unfolding year!

As when from sombre shades, and gloomy night,

Joyous we rise, and hail the new born light,

Shake off the chains of lethargy to hear

Harmonious music charm the ravish’d ear,

By sleep refresh’d, by rest again made strong,

Mix in the scene, and join the busy throng;

Thus view Creation’s wide-extended plain,

Where sullen Winter held in dreary reign,

Where frost and snow deform’d each fertile vale,

The driving tempest, and the rattling hail.

Now spring the flowers, now teems the verdant ground,

And the gay landscape brightens all around;

Each plant resumes its native form and dye,

Some ting’d with red, some emulate the sky:

All in their native elegance of dress,

Welcome the Spring, its power benign confess!

The morn how sweet, how fair the rising dawn!

Gay shines the sun athwart the enamell’d lawn,

The new cloath’d earth drinks bibulous his ray,

And Nature glories in his equal sway.

Creation’s hymns ascend the source of light,

Whose golden splendors chase the brumal night;

Whose genial warmth o’erpowers the frigid north,

Pours plenty down, and calls fresh beauties forth.

Deep, deep, I hear each object swell the strain,

Exulting in auspicious Phœbus’ reign;

E’en things inanimate their incense raise,

And what was mute, grows vocal in his praise;

While ancient deities are all forgot,

Sleep in contempt, and unmolested rot.

When Jupiter enrag’d can storm no more,

Nor Neptune roll his billows to the shore;

When Egypt’s dogs no linen-priests surround,

And leeks unhonour’d cloath her fertile ground*;

Wise Persia’s god majestic keeps his sphere†,

Whom rolling worlds with all their tribes revere.

Be calm, ye storms; ye tempests, rage no more,

Nor waste your fury on the rugged shore;

Mild flow, ye waves; ye winds, no longer sweep,

With awful madness, o’er th’ expanded deep,

Nor dare to lift the towering surges high,

Foaming resistless to the lofty sky:

Avaunt, nor cloud the lustre of the day;

A milder reign succeeds, a gentler sway!

Come, beauteous Spring! come, hasten with my train,

Gentle and lovely, to assume thy reign;

The fairest flowers that early Nature yields,

That rise spontaneous in the fertile fields,

Or grace the banks of pure meand’ring rills,

Or love the sunshine on the sloping hills;

With richest gems shall thy bright crown adorn,

Empearl’d with dew-drops from the pointed thorn;

Though eastern monarchs boast their regal state,

On whom unnumber’d slaves obsequious wait,

Though deck’d with all that fills the flaming mine,

How mean their splendor, when compar’d with thine!

For thee again the birds resume their song,

Raise high their notes, and the glad strains prolong;

Their soft descant they teach the neighbouring grove,

And each close shade bears witness to their love.

Nor these alone; through wide Creation’s space,

From the low insect to the human race,

All hail thy influence, bless thy genial power,

Thou best enlivener of each chearful hour!

While aromatic plants perfume the air,

And flowers and shrubs are deck’d supremely fair.

As o’er their heads the balmy zephyrs play,

And gently fan them all the live-long day,

The sons of age feet happier days return,

With joys renew’d and fresh emotions burn;

Shake off the gloom contracted by their years,

As round their temples wave their hoary hairs.

Soon as the bird of morn proclaims the dawn,

And quits, on fluttering wings, the dewy lawn,

Forth rush the swains, regardless of the toil,

To break the glebe, and fertilize the soil;

With chearful hearts their constant labour ply,

Till Sol’s bright beams desert the western sky;

Then homeward bending, taste unbroken rest,

For seldom anguish racks the guiltless breast;

Save where fond love attacks the feeling heart,

And the soft passions generous warmth impart;

Save where the lover, pensive and alone,

Makes woods and caves re-echo to his moan;

And every thought intent on some coy fair,

With bitter wailing fills the ambient air.

Almighty Love! say whence those melting fires,

Those glowing transports, and those soft desires,

That warm the soul; and, every sense refin’d,

That humanize the fierce, obdurate mind?

From Nature all—from Nature’s God they flow,

Who bade the breast with pure emotions glow:

When heaven-born Virtue binds with sacred ties,

And smiling beauty fascinates the eyes,

He, source of all, adorns the laughing day,

And bids the flowers their gaudy tints display;

With vernal gales dispenses life around,

While love and music through each grove resound.

* Alluding to the ancient Egyptian form of worship.

† The sun was adored by the Persians.

NEW-YORK: Printed by JOHN TIEBOUT, No. 358, Pearl-Street, for THOMAS BURLING, Jun. & Co. Subscriptions for this Magazine (at 6s. per quarter) are taken in at the Printing-Office, and at the Circulating Library of Mr. J. FELLOWS, No. 60, Wall-Street.

THE AFRICAN’s COMPLAINT.

Phœbus had immersed his flaming forehead in the Western main—smoothly glided the wild zephyrs, gently murmuring amongst the resounding foliage—Cynthia in blushing majesty began faintly to gild with silver tints the distant hills—a thousand glittering gems sparkled through the circumambient hemisphere—Nature seemed smiling to invite to nocturnal contemplation the sons of philosophy:—courted by the enchanting scenes, and enveloped in a pleasing reverie, I walked forth amongst the surrounding shades.——“Happy, ye freeborn sons of Columbia,” exclaimed I, “liberty and plenty bless your domestic retirements; war, devastation, and wide-wasting rapine have fled from your peaceful shores—no murderous assassin, or night prowling incendiary, carries the hidden dagger of slaughter, or dread torch of destruction to disturb your uninterrupted tranquility; no hostile armies to snatch from your tender embrace the son, the husband, the father, or brother—No.” I would have proceeded, but a voice that seemed to pierce through my inmost soul issued from the adjacent shades; despair and anguish vibrated on the fleeting sounds—my soliloquy was broken.—“Farewell every pleasure,” it exclaimed in a voice rendered almost inarticulate by grief. “Adieu, ye native skies! No more shall the unhappy Corymbo rest beneath the spreading arbors of Congo—No more shall the charms of the lovely Yonka give pleasure and delight to a bosom racked with the most excruciating pains; Oh, ye aged parents! what were your feelings, how did your bosoms heave, when your child, your Corymbo, was torn from you by the cruel unfeeling Christian—forced into a floating dungeon more terrible than death itself—bartered as a slave—exposed to contempt and scorn—unjustly marked with the whip of tyranny—his labour unjustly extorted from him—denied the common necessaries of life—trampled on by a monster, whose avaricious heart outvies the adamant, unsusceptible of the tender feelings of lost humanity! Oh! thou invisible being, who sustains the universe! why dost thou suffer thy votaries to perpetrate such barbarity under the sanction of thy venerable name?—Hold. Why do I upbraid heaven? Death will ere long liberate my distracted soul. Oh! how ineffable glows my breast—the delectable view showers some drops of comfort into my tortured mind. Flow swift ye intervening moments! come thou welcome hour! when my spirit shall quit this sinking frame, and wafted on the wings of wind, shall fearless dart across the Atlantic and again embrace those tender, once dear, but now distant companions of my youth.—But why do I linger. My master is now waiting to receive an account of my labour—perhaps the torturing lash.” Here came back, like an inundation, the remembrance of his slavery, which only for a moment fled to give room for a beam of comfort, which soon subsided and left more acute sensations than before. Sobs and inarticulate expressions were all that he could utter, whilst in hasty steps he wandered from my hearing. For some moments I remained stupid, petrified to the spot; still, methought, I heard the sounds of misery echoing amongst the lonely shades. “Ungrateful countrymen,” I exclaimed, “why do ye deny those inestimable blessings, to your fellow men that heaven has so eminently dignified you with? Or, why so callous to tender pity as to lacerate the flesh of the innocent? Oh, ye votaries of christianity! how can ye reconcile your execrable conduct with the precepts of the divine, the exalted and elevated maxims of the great founder of your system.”

MIXED COMPANY.

The mind of each sex has some natural kind of bias, which constitutes a distinction of character, and the happiness of both depends, in a great measure, on the preservation and observance of this distinction. For where would be the superior pleasure and satisfaction resulting from mixed conversation, if this difference was abolished?

If the qualities of both were invariably and exactly the same, no benefit or entertainment would arise from the tedious and insipid uniformity of such an intercourse; whereas considerable are the advantages reaped from a select society of both sexes.

The rough angles and asperities of male manners are imperceptibly filed and gradually worn smooth, by the polishing of female conversation, and the refining of female taste: while the ideas of women acquire strength and solidity by their associating with sensible, intelligent, and judicious men.

WANDERINGS

OF THE
IMAGINATION.

Captain S—— had married in early youth the woman of his heart. Her fortune was very small; nor did he possess any other independance than that which arose from his commission. He was allied to many noble families, and had received an education more suitable to his connections than his expectations. His Lady was not in any respect his equal; she was the only child of a poor, but honest, curate in Wales, where she became acquainted with the Captain, at that time an Ensign in a marching regiment, quartered at Glamorgan: he saw, became enamoured, and married her. They lived with economy and comfort about five years, in which time she bore him a son. This event seemed to operate in their favour, as a distant relation of his mother’s, whom he had hitherto known only by name, wrote to him on hearing of it, and in consequence of the good character which had answered his enquiries, he had deposited in the hands of Mess. Cox and Greenwood a sufficient sum of money, to enable him to purchase a company on the first occasion that might offer.

Our young adventurer no sooner received this unexpected letter, than he solicited and obtained leave of absence, and hastened to London, when he immediately waited on the gentlemen above-mentioned; and hearing that the commission was prepared for him, and that the money deposited in their hands exceeded by some hundreds it’s purchase, he resolved on joining his company without delay. Little time was required to settle his affairs: he wrote to Mrs. S——, and to his father, strongly recommending to the latter those dear relatives he committed to his protection; and inclosing bills to nearly the whole amount of the money which remained in his hands, he soon after embarked in the first ship to join the new regiment to which he belonged, and which was at that time stationed in Jamaica.

Imagine not, gentle reader, that Captain S—— thus quitted all he held dear without a pang. His heart was the receptacle of the surest feelings of humanity; and if he avoided taking a long, perhaps a last, farewell, it was order to avoid the too powerful temptation of a change in his resolution. He figured to himself the tears and intreaties of an affectionate wife, the winning smiles of an infant boy: and to their future welfare he gladly sacrificed every selfish idea of present felicity. These reflections accompanied him throughout a long and perilous voyage, which was at last completed without any material occurrence.

It was during his short stay in London that I met with him. The recent kindness of his kinsman had proved a sure passport into the houses of his other relations. He procured from them all not only a general invitation during his stay there, but many flattering letters of recommendation to the principal families and military men whither he was going. His person was uncommonly graceful, and the bright glow of prosperity beaming on his fine open countenance, indicated the native honesty that warmed his heart. I was at that time not more than fifteen; Captain S—— about four-and-twenty. Such an object was well calculated to awaken the feelings of artless sensibility. Young and romantic as I then was, I could imagine no higher delight than that of marrying Captain S——, and following his fate “beyond unknown seas.” Alas! I knew not that he was already the betrothed partner of a more fortunate fair; and when, on his discovering what I found it difficult to conceal, he candidly revealed to me his situation, I could only offer up sighs and tears at his departure, which wore away almost soon after the object which had created them disappeared.

THIRD WANDERING.

The next morning I was punctual to my appointment; but waited above an hour before I perceived Captain S——. At length he came, and made no secret to me of what had detained him. He informed me, that having gone on the preceding day to Lord G————’s he could with difficulty gain admission into the hall; where, after having been for some time insulted by the enquiring looks, and questions, of several impertinent footmen, he seemed likely to remain; not one of them, though assured he waited on his Lordship by his own appointment, appearing willing to stir from their chairs to announce him. He continued there some time; during which he had the mortification to see several of his old acquaintance alight from their carriages, and pass, without deigning to look towards him. He patiently waited the return of these great people, and then repeated his request of a moment’s audience, which was answered by a desire that he would call again the next morning, at the same hour.

He went, and found orders to admit him. Lord G——, with that tone of authority which superior fortune always gives so the supercilious, however polished, and to the ungenerous, however courtly, reproached him in very acrimonious terms with having suddenly thrown up his commission, at a time when promotion was becoming general, and his country particularly demanded his services.

Stung to the heart at a reproof, which while he knew to be severe, he felt to be just, he alledged, in excuse, what to a delicate mind would have been an all-powerful one. His wife—her situation: Lord G—— interrupted him, by telling him that all such feelings should be sacrificed to self-interest. He then rang his bell, called for his carriage, and putting a solitary guinea into the hands of Captain S——, cast reflections on this conduct, that were as galling as unmerited, and wishing him good morning, rid himself of a visitor, whose reduced circumstances were his only mark of inferiority.

I was less surprised than Captain S—— at the conduct of Lord G——; and after making some comments, naturally arising from the transaction, I prevailed on him to accompany me home, and to relate to me his narrative, which he did in the following words.

“I was received in Jamaica with much kindness by my brother officers; and my letters procured me many distinguished attentions from the principal families there. My intercourse with many gay young men, and the life of amusement (not to say dissipation) which I led, might, in a heart less tender than mine, have dispelled the gloom that had hung over me since my departure from England. But I did not find it so; my mind perpetually wandered over the past scenes of domestic delight; and my heart inwardly sighed, as I reflected on the expanse of ocean that divided me far from them. My wife was young, and ignorant of the world; and though the letters which she wrote me were filled with love, and regret, I suffered myself to dread a change in her affections, and gave way to the most dismal forebodings, which, instead of being diminished, were augmented by time.

“A captain in our regiment, whose name was Nesbitt, was on the point of returning on leave of absence to England. The death of his mother had put him in possession of considerable property, and it was necessary that he should settle his affairs. My heart prompted me to make particular overtures of intimacy to Captain Nesbitt, that I might influence him to see, and give me a particular account of my family. At that time too, I had unfortunately lost to him a sum of money at play; which, though not very considerable, was more than I could command, previous to his departure. On my mentioning it to him, he treated it lightly, and assured me he had not at that time any occasion for it. I received from him the most consolatory promises, and we parted with all the reciprocal good wishes that can be supposed to arise from a concluded friendship, and an assurance that I should hear from him frequently on the subject which alone interested my heart.

“Captain Nesbitt was punctual to his word; he wrote me an account of his safe arrival in London, and that he was going to pass five or six weeks with a party of his friends at Swansea, from whence he should make it his first business to wait on Mrs. S——. The next ship brought me a packet from herself, in which she mentioned having seen him, and at a time when a visit from a friend of mine was particularly welcome, as she had just lost her father, and retired to a small farm-house near Glamorgan, till she should hear from me in what manner she should dispose of herself. She solicited my permission to join me in Jamaica, and that I would negociate her voyage with one of the first returning Captains, that he might settle in my name for every suitable accommodation. This was the project I ardently sighed for, but I wished it to come from herself; and the silence I had observed on it during her father’s lifetime, being no longer necessary, I answered her in the effusions of a heart filled with love and gratitude, and gave, as she desired, all proper directions to forward her approaching departure.

“Nothing but witnessing her safe arrival, could convey such transport to my mind, as seeing the ship get under weigh, that bore my letter, and was charged with the commission to bring her once more to my arms. I watched the wind and weather with anxiety, and in idea followed the vessel to her destined port. I passed the intervening time in fondly anticipating the arrival of the welcome stranger, and in preparing every thing for her reception.

“I had particularly attached myself to a Black, of the name of Scipio. He was the servant of a gentleman whom I visited, who bought him in his infancy, and treated him more as a favoured inmate, than a slave. Scipio was possessed of a noble mind, and a heart susceptible of affection, and gratitude. He loved his master, and lamented the destiny of those of his countrymen who were less fortunate than himself. Often would he wonder why they were so; comparing their labours with his own, and acknowledging their superiority. I frequently observed him to follow me at a distance in those hours when, oppressed by thought, I sought the plantain’s friendly shade, and shunned the converse of mankind; and oft would sorrow overspread his sable countenance while he watched me, as if fearful of my destruction.

“I was one day ruminating on my situation, anticipating the pleasure, yet at the same time dreading the frustration of all my hopes, when Scipio ran eagerly towards me, and announced the approach of a ship from England. I climbed the highest point, as if to bring her nearer to me. It was too soon for me to expect my wife; all I could hope was a letter from her, and to that I looked with eager joy, as from the shore I espied the gaily painted vessel, gliding gently over the smooth surface of the deep, as the welcome harbinger of peace. With a palpitating heart I hailed her, as she majestically came towards us, but the flattering dream soon vanished, as I heard her pronounced to be from Bristol.

“The keen edge of expectation was quickly blunted by the stroke of disappointment; yet was the selfish idea soon restrained by the surrounding multitude, as I observed the busy countenances near me, and reflected that the disappointment of my hopes might be the completion of theirs. I was inwardly vexed that I had suffered myself, like a child, to be hurried away by my passions, the ardour of which had proved so constantly fatal to my peace.

“In a few weeks, several ships from different ports arrived, but none that brought tidings to me. The only account I heard from England, in which I could be interested, was a letter received by Lord G—— from Captain Nesbitt, inclosing the resignation of his commission, for reasons which he did not assign.”

ANECDOTE.

An Hon. Member of the Senate, some years past, inquired of a brother Statesman, if they had made a House? No, sir, says he, there are but nine; we want one to make a quorum. Aye, (replies the other) I knew you could do nothing till I arrived. Very true, retorts the wit, a cypher completes the ten.

THE FARRAGO.

Every grave author, who apothegmatizes for the advancement of learning, vehemently insists on the propriety of superadding application to genius. Much has been written to invigorate the lassitude of indolence, to expose the inefficacy of desultory studies, to lash the absurdity of procrastination, and to journalize the wanderings of the mind. But, deaf to the warning voice, there still exists a class of students respectable for talents and taste, who, whenever fickleness waves her wand, fly mercurially from a stated task, glance on many subjects, and improve none. Their judgment, pronouncing sentence against themselves, acknowledges the utility of fixation of thought, and marks, with mathematical precision, the point on which attention should rest; but their wayward imagination is eternally making curves. These literary, like other hypochondriacs, have their lucid intervals; and, at times, are fully apprized of the flitting nature of their application. They write many a penitential annotation upon the chapter of their conduct, and frame many a goodly plan to be executed—to-morrow. The paroxysm soon returns; and every shackle, which sturdy resolution has imposed, their ingenious indolence will undo.

It is unpleasant to see those, whom nature and fortune have conspired to befriend, unqualified to gain the eminence of distinction, by a habit of turning out of the path. With this censurable volatility are commonly united, brilliant talents, a feeling heart, and a social temper. If their possessors would even occasionally adopt and practice those plodding precepts, which dissipation prompts them to deride, they would discharge with applause every honorable duty of business and of life. But, instead of turning the meanders of fancy into a regular channel, they are perpetually roaming, in quest of pleasure. They employ morning moments, not over learned tomes, but at ladies’ toilets. After a night of revelry, amid the votaries of wine and loo, they will tell you of Charles Fox, who, like a man of spunk, at brothels and at Brookes’s, wenches, gambles, and drinks all night, and, like a man of genius, harrangues in the house all day. They talk of their privileges, and swear by the tails of the comets, which are the greatest ramblers in the universe, that they will be eccentric. The, style of their legislation is, “be it enacted, by Fancy and her favourites, that whenever Genius chooses to cut capers, they be, and hereby are, allowable.”

As I have a cordial aversion to the abstract modes of speculation, and choose, with Dr. Johnson, to embody opinions, I proceed to illustrate by two examples; one from the annals of literature, and one from real life.

HISTORICAL EXAMPLES OF HUMANITY.

THE CRIMINAL.

SELECTED OBSERVATIONS of a LATE WORTHY DIVINE.

MARRIED,

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS.

RESULTS OF METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS.

AN ACROSTIC.

LINES,

THE APPROACH OF SPRING.