promising than that of tillers of the ground, to which, as the sons of small farmers, they were brought up. This is going back better than seventy years. They were blameless young men, with a common parochial education, but, as you may suppose, of somewhat aspiring notions. Yet their fancies or fates had different courses; for, just about the date that Frederick Farquhar enlisted for a soldier, Jamie Sinclair started on a voyage to India, in a ship whereof an uncle of his was second mate. It may be as well to add, that Jamie was a dumpy, bandy-legged, yet active creature; while Fred was as handsome and strapping a fellow as you would wish to see, or likely to meet in a day's march.

"Well, Fred Farquhar went a soldiering,-did good service on the Continent, in the colonies, was steady, and a clever penman, rising before he left the service, to the rank of a captain in the infantry; having a family of two daughters, and one son, his youngest, whom he named after himself. But if Fredie's rise was so progessive and respectable, what might not Jamie Sinclair's be, seeing that he returned not with his uncle, but remained in India, on account of a clever thing he had done to the advantage of the Company, and this seventy years back? Why, he first found a very subordinate post in the civil department, where he was gradually promoted, but all the while dabbling in trade and various speculations, which, without an exception, turned out fortunately for him. In short, he became opulent, and had even the repute of being richer than he was. Nay, he took unto himself for wife the daughter of a still more wealthy Anglo-Indian, who soon afterwards found herself to be the heiress of all her father's hoarding. Upon this Mr. Sinclair determined on returning to his native country; but had hardly set foot on Scottish soil, when Captain Farquhar's quitting the army also took place. Happy, you may be sure, was the meeting of the two, and most cordial it continued to be. If Sinclair was, however, the richer, Farquhar was the more accomplished man. But there was no jealousy between them; their natural good sense, and large experience, were too much for allowing the harbouring of that. I must not omit to tell you that Mr. Sinclair returned with an only child, a son, who, in accordance with the christian name of his mother's father, was christened Lancelot.

"Now Lancelot and the younger Frederick were boys in their twelfth years, when the fathers, men still but of a middle age, planted themselves permanently in Perthshire. They planted, or were planted, and it was in this way;-Mr. Sinclair purchased a noble estate, while the captain was offered one of its handsomest farms, at any rent he himself might set on it,the pride of the soldier dictating a reasonable price. Accordingly, while Mr. Sinclair took up his residence at Drummond Hall, the retired officer

farmed Drummond Mains, situate in the close vicinity of the lordly mausion. And to the end of their joint days they lived on the most friendly and companionable terms. It might rather be designated a high-seasoned cordiality; for there were certain such debated points between them, not only of a political nature, but as to views taken of life, men, and manners, as that theirs was not a mere milk-and-water intercourse,-a feast in which nothing but insipid sweetnesses met, but one of opposite qualities, which, when properly understood, produce the most exquisite relish. Their united society was courted by many, young as well as old, on account of its rationally entertaining character; and what was still more gratifying, each one of them was constantly in the habit, when the other was absent, of citing his opinions with unbounded respect, and paying deference to his authority. If such was the manly sort of unity which existed between the fathers, it was not very likely, seeing the similarity by descent of each son to his own'parent, that the boys would give the elder comrades pain by jealousies and quarrels, or by any differences incompatible with the strongest possible youthful cement. Other circumstances concurred to lend force and refinement to the bonds that at an early age yielded such sweet promise of permanent fixity. They were educated for years under the same domestic tutor, whose residence was at Drummond Hall, and in exactly the same course of studies, until indeed they were pronounced to be prepared for entering upon a college course. Now it was that some amount of severance first took place; for while Lancelot Sinclair was sent to Oxford, accompanied by the tutor, Frederick Farquhar was located in the close vicinity of the University of Edinburgh. The elder Sinclair was much grieved at this, and generously insisted on being at all the expense of the other's training at the grand aristocratic seat. However, besides the considerations of a becoming independence, it was quite in accordance with the captain's general views of the world, that his son should now earn to lean upon himself, and in the matter of study to have no resource, except what the college itself afforded, but his own talent, industry, and diligence. "Besides," said the soldier," I shall have frequent opportunities of paying him a visit, and of discovering of what sort of stuff he is made. He has his fortune to shape and make; your Launcelot, Sinclair, has a splendid fortune already prepared for him. Then as to companionship, they shall have the vacation-seasons for its invigorated enjoyment ; and I rather like the idea of the one lad profiting by what the other has most distinguished himself in, during those summer months of home-abiding a wholesome rivalship, I hope, will be the result, and a higher individual improvement." Had the captain fully spoken out, it would have been confessed that his great admiration of presbytery and the Kirk of Scotland, over episcopacy and the

Church of England, had considerable influence with him, his hope being that his son, from circumstances alone, would outstrip the youth of Oxford breeding. If I cannot assist Fred,' he would repeat to himself, 'in the study of the Classics, in Logic and the Mathematics, as the tutor will do my friend's son, I will try to do better,—I shall lose no opportunity to stimulate him, by proper countenance and encouragement, or by sharp lecturing if needed.'

"The captain had calculated and predicted pretty correctly. The youths met at vacation seasons with a degree of cordiality and warmth proportioned to the time in which they had been sundered; although most regular and particular was their correspondence while separated. Doubtless each one was session after session acquiring new friends, strengthening intimacies in his particular sphere, and experiencing enlarged ideas of the world and of himself. But when it is considered that all the new lights and enlargements were made the themes of mutual disclosure during their rusticating monthsthese things, instead of alienating, served to unite them by more encompas, sing and matured ties than can be looked for in the period of mere boyhood and home-abiding. They could, for example, congratulate one another, if not in language, at least in real esteem, for possessing and exhibiting much that is good and honourable, which multitudes of their acquaintances wanted; and they could also confide to one another the consciousness of those deficiencies which observation and comparison had taught them. With regard to studies and progress, Farquhar had, by the end of three years, taken by far the widest sweep, although he had in some departments not gone so closely and minutely to work as his friend. But had the merits of the ecclesiastical establishments of the two countries been doomed to be measured by the advancement in learning and practical knowledge evinced by the two striplings, the captain's hopes would have been found to have been fulfilled. Truth to tell, however, Frederick Farquhar was far more richly endowed by nature than Lancelot Sinclair, and to this let us accord much of the superiority.

C

"A great share of the self and inter-communings of the young men, by the time they entered their nineteenth years, related to the future; and especially with Farquhar was the subject one of engrossing importance. My father,' said he, 'would make one believe that he is strenuously bent on having me take to one of the learned professions, though he forgets that from my infancy till now all the chivalry of his nature has exhibited itself whenever he speaks of the army. How often have you heard him assert that the military service is of a nature so noble that it will make a gentleman out of a clodpole. Why then should he urge me to any other choice than that towards which he knows he has nurtured my highest ambition? Let

Oer, 1848,

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me do him justice, though: he leaves me entirely to my own free will in the matter, and only requires of me a definitive answer as soon as possible. Now, my feelings and preference have long been definite enough; and so I told him this morning. His answer was, 'Well, lad, seeing that your sisters are tolerably well suited in the way of marriage, I think I shall be able to purchase a commission for you, and fit you out tidily to the bargain. After that you must not look for much more home-assistance, and, in fact, it will be the better for you in the long run, if ever you are to be good for any thing as a soldier.'

“As for me, Farquhar,' said Sinclair, ‘you know I might content myself with the ease and non-responsibilities which many of our country squires seem to be so proud of; but the army too is my choice, and I have only to say the word, and the old man at home will approve.'

Such was the import, in much plainer words than passed, of the last conversation by the young men on the subject of professional choice, pre vious to the serious and final adjustment of the matter in presence of their fathers. True, Lancelot had not much enthusiasm in his nature, and as usual, rather fell in with the views of a higher mind, than followed any strong impulse of his own, reasoning for himself only in this way :-' Many of my college friends are taking to the service,-the noblest in the land prefer it -it brings one amongst them, and I can quit when I get tired.' How otherwise was Frederick's self-communing: There are those,' said he to himself, "who look upon the military service as one of idleness, foppery, and profligacy; others, as a school avowedly formed to prepare men for the most skilful art of butchery; while others again say, that at best it can only be pronounced a non-productive and burthensome establishment for pampering the pride of rulers and kings. Away with such unjust and utilitarian doctrines! No doubt, there are drivellers and bad men in every profession. What then? They are a disgrace to the human family, rather than to the particular class. Then again, would you have none trained to defend your country,-to protect your firesides and altars? Look at my father! Where will you find a man with more enlarged notions and humane feelings, or one, who individually has more truly benefitted Great Britain than he, by shedding his blood to maintain her rights and her renown? And oh ! if it was given to the poor ploughman's lad to bring honour to the British name —and to the house of his peor Scottish fathers, may it be mine, with all my unwonted advantages, to add by constancy and bravery-by a thorough knowledge of my profession, and a dignified exhibition of its spirit, to the glory that encircles this land, the seat of industry, the shrine of liberty, and the fairest abode of virtue.'

Not many days after the definite resolutions had been come to just now mentioned, the worthy captain was suddenly taken ill,-with an illness that betokened early death. He scarcely ever rallied, so as to be able to articulate, and perhaps seldom was conscious of the presence of those who sur rounded him. Of this number, was his old friend, Mr. Sinclair, who never left his bed-side till the final struggle was over. Twice or thrice the dying man recognized his friend, keeping his eyes upon the generous and faithful watcher for a considerable space. It was a sight for the tears, ay, and the envy of full-grown persons, to see these two excellent men thus combined and confronted. The effort of the dying man to speak-that of the watcher to catch a syllable or to interpret a look. But it was the eye and the visage's expression to which he was almost exclusively limited. And oh! how the good and patient watcher strove to do the office. When the captain smiled, Mr. Sinclair wept; when the orbs of the one's eyes dilated, evidently inspired with the largest gratitude, the other pressed the nerveless hand to his bosom, and would actually kiss it: and when the sufferer's brow knit with anxiety and unutterable longings, followed by the gaze travelling and retra velling from Frederick to the friend, Mr. Sinclair would clasp the youth to his breast with all the emotion of a father at the most solemn hours. Once when the captain managed to articulate these words, Will you-,' Mr. Sinclair with a passionate alacrity exclaimed,-" He shall be as my own-he shall be my second-horn.' It was on hearing this strong assurance that the captain closed his eye-lids, and resigned himself soul and body, soon after ceasing to breathe.

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"But," continued the pedlar, after a sigh responsive to the sympathies he had been so approvingly describing, "I am tarrying too long, leaving too little time for the ordeal. I therefore hurry over, and come to the period when both the young men had entered upon their military course; and it so happened that Mr. Sinclair's influence or weight of purse procured them cornetcies in one and the same regiment, the priority being given to Farquhar. In less, however, than six weeks afterwards, Lancelot was planted in those English barracks, with which, by this time, his comrade had become in some degree familiar. It is manifest that Mr. Sinclair was conscious of Frederick's superiority of mind, firmness of principle, "and fore-looking prudence. He knew his deceased friend's son, he thought, so well, that he would feel the force and tenderness of the appeal, which a letter put to him in these few familiar words, Frederick, you will look after Lancelot, he has not now the good tutor at his elbow.' To a mind such as that of the captain's son, no injunction could have been more binding, no trust more sacred; in fact, it seemed to have added five or six years to his manhood.

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