Where loved ones meet again with those they prized so from the trying situation in which he left me at the fondly here;

drels ripped open the bed with a jack-knife (I believe | opportunity offered, and I distinctly recollected that in they never use their swords) and strewed its knotted all cases where the heroes, however innocent, got into contents over the floor, while the other ransacked every hole and corner of the room. Poor Araminta stood in a sort of stupor-" speechless agony," I believe, is the most approved term-but when they next turned towards her and threatened to search her person for some jewels (which I had satisfactory private reasons for believing she did not possess), I thought she would have sunk to the earth, like a true heroine of romance, as she was, "overcome with the variety of her emotions." I was, however, mistaken; the fortitude of the sex in trying occasions is wonderful, and hers seemed to rise with the emergency. In the height of her virtuous defiance, she actually threw off one article of her clothing after another, bidding the scoundrels search them, until but a single garment remained to shield her delicacy from Indeed, her situation "may be more easily imagined than described."

the clutches of the law, the very strongest proof of guilt was instantly brought against them, by mistake. They, however, are always discovered to be innocent in time, to save their necks and patch up their reputation-no easy task for me to undertake-and, indeed, their escapes are almost invariably effected by the deathbed confession of some criminal, whose conscience began to disgorge the iniquities with which it had become surfeited, in the very nick of time. In fact, there was some such thing in my own novel, and although that production was true to nature throughout, yet, upon the whole, I hardly thought it advisable to trust implicitly to such a contingency in my own case: an author being a person entirely separate and distinct from his hero, though most people confound them.

In the present instance, I could not for the life of me think who was concerned that would probably confess and be imprisoned or die for me. Othello says, he "loved not wisely but too well"-and hence his diffi

lected that at this juncture I was nettled at Araminta's last remark-it is probable I loved wisely. Such, at any rate, was my hasty conclusion; and with a lightened mind, I emerged from the blind alley, and turning every corner I came to (a curious way I have), was soon lost in the mazes of that strange city into which my destiny had so singularly cast me.

found, and for that matter picked up. I believe I had turned too many corners; for just as I had arrived at a street which I had determined to cross, I saw those sworded wretches whom I had left in Araminta's chamber coming directly towards me, though, as I thought, endeavoring to avoid being observed by me.

I must say I had by this time become very much excited, and what added to the intensity of my feelings, was to see the low bred rascals coolly pick up the vest-culties. As I loved none too well-for it will be recolments so indignantly hurled at their feet, and cut open the hems and seams, without appearing in the least struck with the unmatchable charms which their hurried and agitated rejection by their owner had partially exposed. "I should like to know," said I, mentally, "how much farther this foolery is to proceed, and screwing my courage to the sticking point, I was just about to "enter in a rage," when one of the fellows. But I was scarcely lost ere I came very near being happening to espy me, gave a yell, which had the most curious and indescribable effect imaginable upon my nerves. Possibly this would not have deterred me, had it not been for the fact, that his savage ejaculation, and the accompanying jumps which he made for the door, caused his companion and Araminta to look at me; when a very unkind remark extorted by the discovery from the latter, which impugned my wisdom in a brief, off-hand sort of manner, (and unless I very much mistake, contained the slightest touch of profanity, although the whole speech consisted of only three or four words,) temporarily diverted my anger at the indignity she had suffered, against herself. Stung with this, I sprang from my position, over the steps into the yard, forgetting to unhook the door, wildly clasped my temples, dashed through the gateway and rushed adown the aforesaid blind alley with "headlong precipitation." Coleridge says truly,

"To be wroth with one we love,

Doth work like madness on the brain."

It is very likely I may be censured for this course, but upon mature reflection I do not think I ought to be. It is true, that toward the close of the scene above described, Araminta had bestowed some pretty severe epithets upon the officers, and with great spirit; but for all that I was by no means certain whether she would fight; and for me to engage, armed with nothing but "mine honesty," against two swordsmen, must certainly appear in the estimation of all reasonable men a proof rather of quixotic fool-hardiness, than of true courage. But another consideration struck me at the time, which had its effect in determining me. I was, it is true, incited by my education (reading romances) to put my life or liberty in jeopardy whenever an

Fortunately for the peace of the city there were intervening objects, or I might have come into direct contact with those fellows, and it is scarcely necessary to repeat that my feelings toward them were somewhat inimical. Some person's funeral was coming up the cross street at the moment, and along side of it a dray. At right angles with it, and along my path, came a huge umbrella, under, or rather behind, which was an unfortunate little urchin-the factotum of a merchant tailor-carrying home some fashionable gentleman's new circular cloak; himself, and his burthen dragged along by his unmanageable parachute, which was flying full before the stormy breeze.

By this time one of the swordsmen was at the opposite corner, and his companion was "streaking it" down the street to semi-circumnavigate, as it were, the funeral train, and probably with some malicious ultimate object. At that instant, the juvenile snip was blown up against the dray and completely capsized, parachute, Spanish cloak and all. My impression is, the child was badly hurt, but as three or four humane persons immediately surrounded him, who were no doubt more proficient in the healing art than I was at that time, though I have studied physic since, I did not feel specially called upon to do any thing except to extricate the cloak from the disaster. This, in the confusion of the moment, and being suddenly beset with my old infirmity, absence of mind, I threw around me, and at the same instant took the arm and part of the umbrella of VOL. III.-29

a solitary gentleman who walked next the mourners in | streets were "alive with groups of gay pedestrians,” the passing procession, and who I have no doubt was and the windows of the various shops, splendid with an intimate acquaintance of the bereaved family. I the effect of gas, and gorgeous with their display of have never decidedly regretted this step, as from subsequent circumstances I was satisfied that the deceased was a highly respectable person.

rich goods, "gave the whole scene an air of fairy enchantment." Those of the jewellers particularly interested me, insomuch that I stepped into several, and examined various articles. The exorbitant prices of these, however, were, as my much respected ci-devant employer, Mr. Boundincalf, used to say, "above my mark." On my remarking upon their high rate in proportion to the same articles in the north, the vendors gave me such an account of their tremendous expenses, that I had good cause, considering the "consuption of purse" which then seriously affected me, to felicitate

Upon our arrival at the church, the procession passed into the centre aisle; but thinking I should have a better view from the gallery, I ascended the stairs. Strange as it may appear, I sat there but a few moments, in a inconspicuous situation, when I distinctly saw the two swordsmen enter and seat themselves in different pews, though, it is true, at a respectful distance from the company. As I was well satisfied that these sworded wretches took no real interest in the service, their hy-myself upon my resolution to seek a colder, though pocrisy so disgusted me that I could not bear the sight; and leaving my seat (observing such silence as not to disturb the congregation), I retreated, in remarkably high displeasure, to that part of the steeple usually called the belfry. Whether this name be correct or not, the place was such to me, both in the more ancient and the modern acceptation.

From this elevated situation, a small circular window gave me so commanding a view of the city, that I instantly forgot every thing beside. When I recollected myself, I found the shades of evening fast settling around me—the church was deserted and dark, and the doors locked. I positively felt quite gloomy.

'more genial clime." The circumstance, however, operated so powerfully upon my propensity to study human nature practically, that in very mischief, I tried the converse of the proposition, by ascertaining how much the same men would be willing to give (supposing for a moment I would sell) for the jewels of my Araminta. The manner in which they, in this case, changed their tune, and harangued upon the low rate at which "those sort of things" were at present furnished, convinced me that to dispose of them was not for the interest of my principal, and moreover gave a general result sufficiently indicative of human frailty. I am not malicious: let us draw a veil over it.

I love a precise punctuality. I hate to be beforehand with an appointment, as much as being too late; and after the shops were shut, I found much difficulty in amusing myself until the hour set for the starting of the coach. I was much tempted to visit one of the theatres, at the door of which I stood ruminating a few mi

In the course of the afternoon I had been much amused with the various specimens of human nature who had visited a coach office opposite the church, and reflecting upon the various destinations of the applicants for seats, their probably widely different motives for travelling, etc. I became so much enlisted in the spirit of "our locomotive countrymen," that I re-nutes; and had any gentleman been polite enough to solved forthwith to resume my own travels.

I do not recollect precisely how I got out of the church. Suffice it to say, it was with some difficulty, though not with so much as attended my egress from the yard in front of it. In the latter, I was fully convinced that a Spanish cloak, although a very rich and graceful article of apparel, is not the proper costume for those who have much to do in the way of surmounting such difficulties of life as involve climbing iron railings at night. Indeed, I tore the one I wore so badly, that I really could not think of returning it in that plight to its owner-an idea that had previously flitted confusedly through my imagination.

In pursuance of my new-formed resolution, I proceeded to make the requisite inquiries at the coach of fice, when, finding that the first conveyance going the way I wished would not start until one o'clock next morning, I resolved to ramble about and view the city by gas-light, by way of employing the interim. As I left the office, I passed a very respectable looking lady in deep black, who was just entering, and I thought examined me minutely, though I could not be certain, for she wore a long crape veil. Loitering a moment, 1 found she was in search of a seat in the same coach about which I had myself been inquiring. Being now satisfied that part of the company at least would be respectable, I made up my mind fully to go with it, though I did not think it worth while to engage a seat until my return from my proposed stroll.

tender me his check, a theatrical critique (a thing at which I consider myself pretty good,) might have wound up this chapter; but the poet is right:

"Destiny preserves its due relations."

I really had not a cent in my pocket.

At length "the wee short hour ayont the twal" arrived. The empty coach was at the door of the office, and so was I: the passengers (including the lady in black), the sleepy agent and the coachman were inside of it (the office), jabbering about "the gentlemen's trunks," the "widder lady's bandbox," the way-bill, the mail, "and so on," by the light of a flaring candle. I have an unconquerable antipathy to this sort of vulgar bustle, and the door of the coach being open, I stepped into it, and unobtrusively ensconced myself in a corner of the back seat. After some further parley, the "widder lady," as the agent called her, was handed in, and took her seat beside me. The remaining passengers-a big man and a little one-followed, each taking a seat to himself, the door slammed, coachee mounted the box, cracked his whip, and we were off in a jiffy.

The two male passengers had each his peculiar snore. As is often the case, the smaller man was by far the most noisy, asleep as well as awake; nor was it long ere both were "going it in full chorus." At this time I ventured to make a common-place remark or two to the lady; but, exhibiting a dignified reserve, she disregarded I was extremely mortified, but I was no less fa

The weather had by this time become clear-theme.

tigued; and finding nothing to keep me awake, I followed the example of my male companions. In a short time I awoke uncomfortably cold. My cloak had in some way or other got awry, leaving me exposed to the fresh night breeze, which was rather too familiarly searching me to the heart. I shivered, again wrapped my spaniard about me, and once more essayed to imitate the gentlemen in front, who were still uninterruptedly playing their bag-pipes. Judge of my surprise when, at this juncture, the lady laid her fair fingers lightly, but impressively, upon my arm!

SULLY:

A TALE OF THE BLUE RIDGE.
LETTER VI.

From scenes of strife the statesman comes; For what?-To look on rural sights; On boats and nets and fishing-hooks; On deer and fawn; on sheep and crook; On mountain tops and Blue Ridge glens; But not on Gertrude's charms.-Note Book. "You were an hour too late, dearest," said she, in a He was a member of the Amphyctionic Council, and, like a whisper; "but it was admirably managed neverthe-king, he opened the door of the Union, going in and out to see less-was it not love?" after the terms of the compact.-Note Book.

"Elopement! Ah, this absence of mind will be the ruin of me yet. Really, Araminta, for I now recognize your dear voice, I owe you an apology. I should have returned your casket at twelve"-and I was about to feel in my pocket for it when she considerately saved

me that trouble.

“I have it, love,” she said sweetly. "Knowing the danger of stage coach travelling, and fearing you might be robbed while you slept, I extracted it. By the way, more ami, you have raised in the world since this morning. That is a very splendid cloak.”

Were not Blackstone and Mansfield wedded to the Muses? But people are in earnest when they sue out a divorce.

Note Book.

MANNSFIELD, September 25th.

My Dear L.-I have been several days at this seat. Phil Parker sent me here by the news, that John Randolph, Esq. had come to this house on a visit. He was on his way to spend a week with Judge T. By the way, Judge T. is a man whose demeanor is very elegant. There is a chasteness about his manners that we have rarely observed in any other person. His prejudices, however, are considerably strong; and it is a task to win his confidence; but when won, his attachment is immoveable. He is a man of genuine modesty; This singular insinuation demanded immediate reply. and for this reason has rather declined than hunted It was due to my feelings as a gentleman, which it is after preferment. He ought, indeed, to be on the bench unkind in any lady to wound merely for the sake of a of our Supreme Court, and, perhaps, at no distant day, pun, but at that moment the coach plunged into a deep he may experience that promotion. He is exceedingly rut-the big gentleman's hat was crunched into a jelly, sensitive on the score of injuries, especially if those inand he muttered between his teeth-the little one re-juries be inflicted by a person who has been favored ceived no injury that I could perceive, but " embraced with his regard. He is restive under liberties taken the opportunity" to swear a huge mongrel oath, partly with him, if those liberties have not been invited by French and partly English. Both were, however, wide himself; fond of conversation after he becomes well awake, and remained so, and consequently the very acquainted; rather devoted to retirement, but active in interesting conversation in which I had become engaged public life; and remarkably patriotic. Intellectually with my extremely faithful inamorata, was "irremedi- it is difficult for me to appreciate this gentleman, having ably consumated." passed but three hours in his company-and as to his Lectures on Law, Sully cannot read law. We should conjecture, however, that there is an absence of ideality from his mind, so that, like Blackstone, he never wrote a farewell to the Muses. This is the more remarkable, because his father did chant an ode occasionally among the winding stairs of the Temple of Jurisprudence. It is not my intention to subvert the claims of Judge T. to taste, for a severe taste he unquestionably possesses. With the best English classics he is familiar; but his knowledge of polite literature cannot be said to be redundant. This is as it should be; for few departments are separated by stronger barriers than law and polite literature. In the one, we live in the vale of Tempe; but in the other, we live in a desert of oaks too stately to accept the wreaths of the poet. Judge T. is ratiocinative-fond of thought-with a considerable power of calculating bulk, weight and distance. Mathematical precision pleases him better than a full-orbed eloquence. He has fallen into one error beyond all question, and that is, that rapidity of utterance is indispensable to the orator. It is admitted that parts of a discourse ought to be pronounced in this way; but uniform swiftness of speech always reminds one of the babbling torrent more than of the majestic river. But the design of this letter

NOTE.-It was one of those singular instances which show how much more curious are the chances of real life than those of fiction, that led me in a fit of absence of mind to the very spot appointed by Araminta for our meeting, when all her pressing injunctions in relation to that meeting, had entirely escaped my memory.

STANZAS.

My love was like a flower of Spring,
As charming to mine eye;
The rose of Beauty, flourishing;
But soon alas to die!

And now my love is like a star,
The gem of Evening, bright;
That shines upon me from afar,

And cheers me with its light.

I would not have my flower again,
Altho' it was so dear;

But I would seek my star, to reign
For ever in its sphere.

is to say something of the statesman whose presence at this seat brought me from Mountain View. To trace his character will require a pencil of mercurial powers; and for this reason I would instantly relinquish mine, if any thing like justice had ever been done to this remarkable man. It has surprised me more than once, that the British Spy, whilst engaged in sketching public characters, did not think of this individual; for though the fame of a statesman never can be as lasting as that of the poet, it is certainly more durable than that of barristers.

nect events with the literature of the period in which the events took place. The Persians invaded Greece, but he who would see this event in its true lights, must become familiar with the tragedians who have thrown around it a dramatic interest. In them we see the barbaric splendor of the east-the haughtiness of the invader, and his signal repulse." "You are right, Squire Sully," said the statesman. "How tame," continued I, "are some events in the hands of the English historians, compared with the uses made of the same events by the bard of Avon, who traces villainy from its buddings to its cornucopian luxuriance. In like manner, historians generally do not come up in their feelings to the age of chivalry. The age was too mercurial to be represented by any but imaginative men; for what was chivalry but poetry putting on the drapery of action?” "Perfectly right, Squire Sully," said my polite auditor.

Randolph, runs parallel with the current of history, till the channels bend to each other, and the currents fall into the cistern of transparent truth. He that would understand the reign of James the First, must understand the mind of Lord Bacon. Thus the map of England may be replete with knowledge. Every ruin, cairn-castle and hill, may be redolent in life." "Alto

pose you give us a history of Virginia." "You do me too much honor, Squire Randolph," said I.

In approaching Mannsfield we had to pass some avenues of aspen trees, and their tremulous leaves made me think of going into the presence of a man whose fame was so extensive. Indeed, he has often been spoken of as a man of unlimited pride and of aristocratical principles. It was then a question whether he would notice one who was a kind of hanger-on to the illustri-"The current of mind in other departments, Squire ous families that live in this settlement-and my reception would have been sufficiently cold, had the states man suspected me of an intention to get his portrait. He would justly have considered me as an intruder who had come to watch him in his unguarded moments, when he had exchanged the arena of politics for the fragrant cells of rural life. But upon being introduced, the statesman arose and observed-"Squire Sully, if re-gether right, Squire Sully," said the statesman; "support be true, it is my good fortune to see one guileless man." "In this, Squire Randolph," said I, "the public have deceived you; but it would be inexpedient to regret the mistake." "Are you," continued he, "a descendant of Sully, the minister of Henry IV. King of France?" "My descent," rejoined I, “is neither regal nor aristocratical; but filial veneration prompts me to call it patriarchal, my father being the patriarch of the town in which he lived." At this he resumed his chair-and there sat before me a tall meager man, of spare visage, but keen penetrating eye-with his hair parted before like Milton's, whilst behind it was tied with a black ribbon, and fell in folds on his shoulders. He wore a green coat, and boots of fair tops, and in all his attitudes he appeared to aim at erectness. "Squire Sully," said the statesman, "have you given much attention to historical writings?" "Somewhat," said I, "to the history of Greece." "Those republics," rejoined he, “were independent of each other, and the Amphyctionic Council was to keep steady the balance of power." "It would give me pleasure,” said I, “Squire Randolph, that our conversation should flow in the channel of literature rather than of politics." "Who then," said he, "do you deem the best writer of English history?" To that question my reply is, "that En-isfaction. gland has never yet produced a good historian." "It We were now approaching the bank of the Shenanwould gratify me then," said he, “to hear in detail your | doah in a direct line. "My objection to politics, Squire objections to the writers now in vogue." After stating Randolph," said I, "lies here-that the science seems my objections at length to Rapin, Clarendon and Henry, and when about to analyze others-"But, Squire Sully," said the statesman, "how then do you manage to get a knowledge of events in English history? Were you a legislator, you would find a constant demand for facts." "Then," said I, "Squire Randolph, if you would shew the same politeness you exhibited just now, it would gratify me to point out the way of managing the desideratum.” “Very cheerfully," said he; “very cheerfully." "He then, Squire Randolph, does not deserve the credit of being well read in history, who has failed to con

The next morning the statesman ordered his horses. One of them was a dark bay and the other a bright sorrel, and they looked something like Arabians. "Will you permit me, Squire Randolph,” said I, “to order my pony?" and accordingly, attended by Juba, we set out for a ride. We passed a building, of which the statesman remarked that it put him in mind of Cansbrook Castle, in the Isle of Wight. "Well, Squire Randolph," said I, "would you have brought Charles First to the block?" "The king," replied he, "did violate his coronation oath; but the times required a Satirist. It was right to watch the king. All public men need watching." "Let us not glide into politics, Squire Randolph," said I; "and to change the subject, did you ever shoot an eagle?" "Never," replied he, "but to bring down aspiring men is essential to the safety of the government." "I am no politician, Squire Randolph, but it is to me a pleasing reflection that neither eagle nor sparrow has ever fallen by this hand.” At this, the statesman, without dismounting, fired at some woodcocks, and it pleased me that the birds escaped; but Juba winked at me not to express my sat

to take away our taste for natural scenery." "You are right, Squire Sully," said the statesman. "We have no time to watch mountains-we must watch men." "Well," said I, "that house belongs to an Angler, and perhaps you would like to hear some particulars of his life;" but upon reaching the establishment the statesman remarked-"This is just such a house as James V. of Scotland would have given to the Angler. You remember the anecdote of his making the poor man happy." "Perfectly well," rejoined I; "and it is the only anecdote that ever gave me a moment's wish to