Lieutenant McIntosh thanked him for his consideration and politeness; took leave, and regained the Lynx as night set in ; but some considerable danger attended his progress, for a brisk breeze springing up from the South, there was a bad sea on the bar and outside of it. He had been on board but a very short time, before the wind and sea increased so much as to make it necessary to get underweigh and 'claw off' from the land. The wind continued to increase, and before morning had risen to a perfect gale. It was a night of much anxiety, for the schooner was on a lee-shore and had to be severely pressed to gain an offing. The weather for some five or six days prevented a return to Galveston; it finally moderated, however, and on a fine afternoon she made the harbor and stood in for her former anchorage. On looking with spy-glasses, something like a gallows was seen on the low sandy point which forms the entrance to the port, with something suspended from it. This certainly was not there when the schooner left, and whether intended for a mark, or what else, could not be decided, even after she had gained her anchorage. The schooner again at anchor, Lieutenant McIntosh was once more directed to take the largest of the boats, proceed in, and bring out the men, if they had been caught.

As the boat neared the low sandy point, it was discovered that what had attracted so much attention on first making the land, was a gallows with a body suspended from it. Again the Lieutenant was received with courtesy, and was informed that the men were all ready to be given up, with the exception of the leader, who was hanging on the gallows on the point. Tell your commander,' said Lafitte, I found the principal of this gang so old an offender, and so very bad a man, that I have saved him the trouble of taking him to the United States, and hung him myself!' He now read to Lieutenant McIntosh his communication to the commander of the Lynx, who politely asked, before it was sealed, if he might see the letter of Captain Madison to Lafitte, to which this was a reply. The request was acceded to: after reading it the Lieutenant stated that he regretted, after the kindness and courtesy which he had received from Captain Lafitte, and his exertions to procure the men, to decline being the bearer of such a letter to his commander. There were expressions which he deemed discourteous, and threats which would be offensive to that officer. Lafitte quickly replied, that nothing of the kind was intended; that it might arise from his imperfect knowledge of the language; and that if Lieutenant McIntosh would be so kind as to point out the exceptionable parts, he would with pleasure erase them. This was done, the letter copied, read aloud and sealed, and Lieutenant McIntosh received it, and parted with Mr. Lafitte; not however until he had advised him by no means to attempt to cross the bar with his boat so deep as she then was with the additional men, if there was the slightest increase of wind, or if night should overtake him before he reached it.

It was getting late in the afternoon, and the weather was threatening; yet being anxious to get on board his vessel, the attempt was made; but night coming on, and finding a rough sea on the bar,

it was abandoned, and the boat put about and again headed for the lights of Galveston. Lafitte had anticipated it, and had placed a look-out to report the return of the boat; and on meeting Lieutenant McIntosh, expressed his great pleasure at his return; for he said, 'Your boat would have been lost had you attempted to cross the bar with this wind. I hope you will feel perfectly at home with me; your men shall be taken good care of, and your prisoners secured until you can make another attempt to get on board.' The utmost hospitality was extended to the Lieutenant, and a free and easy conversation took place. Lafitte was asked if he did not sometimes feel himself embarrassed in his position, having around him men of every nation and of all varieties of character, and as it were alone in case of mutiny. He replied: Never in the least. I understand the management of such men perfectly, and I keep them under good control, as you have just seen, from the prompt manner in which your prisoners have again been ironed, and a sentinel placed over them, by my order. I know precisely how far to go, and I would have saved your commander all trouble in relation to these men if I had dared, for I would have hung every man of them. But I saw, Sir, that to have hung up another would have been the moment to have questioned my power. I made it appear that I considered the example sufficient, and retained my control.'

The next morning nothing could be seen of the Lynx. She had during the night been again driven to sea, and one week elapsed before she was again in sight. During this period every thing was done to make Lieutenant McIntosh's time pass most pleasantly. A fowling-piece with ammunition was at his command; the various pleasant games which are usually resorted to were introduced; and when the hour arrived for his departure, the officer felt that he had passed a pleasant week with no common man; with one who, if he had his vices had also his virtues, and who possessed a courteous and gentlemanly deportment, seldom equalled and not to be sur passed.

I HEARD a voice from Heaven, saying, to the troubled world, Be still!'
Day and night, forever praying, supplicating, Peace! be still!'

Lo! ye pass away like shadows, and no print upon the hill
Shall tell that ye have come and gone, but the grave -

and that, how still!

But seek ye for that Life more blest, Life that passeth not away,
And the blessing of His love shall rest and abide with you alway.'
And wondering at those words, behold! all things grew bright and fair,
And the glories which that voice foretold seemed painted on the air:
As the earth were lingering on it's way, within some charméd space,
Where the bright sunshine warmer lay; some angel's resting-place.
Beautiful beyond all picturing, the days that were to be!
Each rounded like a golden ring of wedded symmetry.

Oh! the golden, rounded day so long! the night so wonderful!
The iron will so firm and strong; the bounding heart, so full!

Up and away with the roving cloud, was the mountain-top on high,
But not as our strong hearts so proud; not so near the starry sky.

But all the great and wondrous things that God each day had given,
The sleeping-thought, with purer wings, at night took home to Heaven.

And we took no thought what moment GoD might change our pleasant home,
Striving only for a joyous greeting when the hour should come.

Thus with high resolves and holy came we to the crowded strand,
Doubtless many a warm companion there would join our pilgrim band.

But the tumult and the clashing of wild voices in uproar
Closed around us like the dashing breakers on the hollow shore.

On the world went with its groaning, falling up and down the stairs,
Cursing, howling and bemoaning, in the hurrying crowd of cares.
Then I said, My comrades listen to the words we heard of old,
And forget not all the wonders which that angel-voice foretold.'
'Let us join this grand procession, leading downward to the grave,
With firm step, and words of welcome to the generous and brave.
But with lofty gesture, scorning backward to his realm of Night,
As a lie upon the morning, a black lie upon the light;

That butt and mock and laughing-stock, the damnable and damning curse,
The fool, the knave, the pimp, the slave, the humbug of the Universe!'

Thenceforth we shall lightly borrow trouble from the great world-crowd,
And all weariness, all sorrow, be but shadows of a cloud.

Like that wondrous cloud o'er ISRAEL, stormless held by God's own hand,
Under which the mighty hosts marched onward to the promised land.

Thus like music wafted slowly landward from the tossing sea,
Shall our life, though poor and lowly, shall our homeward journey be.

LITERARY NOTICES.

TWENTY-SIX YEARS OF THE LIFE OF AN ACTOR AND MANAGER. BY FRANCIS COURTNEY WEMYSS. In two volumes. pp. 618. New-York: BURGESS, STRINGER AND COMPANY.

A WORK which intersperses with a varied personal narrative, sketches, anecdotes and opinions of celebrated actors, could hardly fail to prove of interest; and we must concede to Mr. WEMYSS the credit of having furnished us with a lively, gossipping book, which although somewhat carelessly written, affords matter for instruction as well as amusement. We look, for example, upon the early history of the author, the stern repulses and the little sympathy which he met with, as replete with wholesome warning to parents and guardians. A blow from a fraternal hand drove him to seek at first the precarious fortunes of an actor; and untimely ridicule and ribaldry prevented his resuming the mercantile pursuit to which he had early been educated, and to which he had been tempted to return, from the privations and disappointments of a young actor's career. It seems a just retribution, that the man who led him to hope the most, but who did all he could to prevent the fruition of that hope, in his profession, should twenty years after have been compelled, in his helpless senility and superannuation, to apply, and in vain, for permission to act under Mr. WEMYSS's management in an American theatre. Thus did the whirligig of time bring round the manager's revenges. We have often thought what the tension of an actor's feelings must be on a first appearance; but Mr. WEMYSS gives us the best impression of the sensation which we remember to have encountered. Never shall I forget,' he says, the dreadful sensation I experienced, as I heard the prompter's bell ring to begin the play. My mouth became perfectly parched, my tongue refused its office, and, dressed as I was, one word would have prevented my attempt. Stage-fright! I will not attempt to describe it; actors know too well what it is; and auditors, who see no difficulty in acting, should be placed but once before the lamps, in a crowded theatre, to make them silent critics forever. Like WILLIAM the Conqueror, I made a stumbling entrance to my future throne. Wishing to appear erect, and not to lose an inch of my height, I was carrying my head with martial precision, when my toe caught in the stage-carpet, bringing me to a kneeling position before the mighty BARBAROSSA, not in the most graceful manner. This added to my fright, and induced a facetious member of the company to declare, at the end of the performance, that if I wanted my voice again, it would be found in the folds of the green curtain, beyond which not a sound had penetrated!' We are glad to perceive that Mr. WEMYSS pays a deserved tribute to BOOTH, as the

only actor who could success

fully measure strength with the great KEAN;' and this too without imitation, or servile mannerism. Here is a scene worth recording. It occurred at the York Theatre, in 1815:

THE play was 'The Fortune of War,' the after-piece 'The Wandering Boys,' in which MANSEL, famous for a well-written 'Defence of the Stage,' was acting Count de Croissy,' when a gentleman in the dress-circle of boxes suddenly placed his feet upon the cushion of the hand-rail, and holding himself in that position by the pillar of the boxes, with scarcely breath enough to make himself distinctly heard, demanded that the performance should cease, until he addressed the audience. This was met by hisses and cries of Turn him out!' until amid the uproar the name of BONAPARTE' was heard, followed by a cry of Hear him! hear him!' He proceeded nearly thus, his agitation choking his utterance: Gentlemen: I have the pleasure to inform you that NAPOLEON BONAPARTE has surrendered himself a prisoner of war (dead silence, every one intent upon catching the next word,) to Captain MAITLAND, of HIS MAJESTY's ship Bellerophon!' The whole audience rose; cheer followed cheer; the men waved their hats, the ladies their handkerchiefs; God Save the King' was called for; the whole company, male and female, appeared upon the stage and sung the national anthem, the audience joining in the chorus. At the conclusion three cheers were given; 'Rule Britannia' was played by the band, and three-fourths of the audience immediately left the theatre, to talk of the wonderful news, and to ask each other if it could be possibly true.'

We have this very characteristic anecdote of Mr. MACREADY, which will be recognized as unquestionably authentic by any one who has ever heard that eminent tragedian repeat the three words in BYRON's play of 'Werner,' which occur in the simple exclamation of the unhappy father, Good GOD, ULRICK!' In Philadelphia 'there lies the scene: In rehearsing the play of Virginius,' an occurrence took place which caused a hearty laugh at the expense of Mr. WILLIAM FORREST, (brother to the tragedian,) who was the Icilius.' Caught by the natural tone and manner of MACREADY, who, turning suddenly, said: 'Will you lead VIRGINIA in, or do you wait for me to do it?' 'Whichever you please, Mr. MACREADY!' was the ready answer, followed by such a laugh as only actors can enjoy. He even deceived the acting manager, Mr. CowELL, old and experienced as he was, in a similar manner, in WILLIAM TELL. When speaking to young WHEATLEY about his shoe being untied, COWELL said, rather pettishly, 'Do n't keep us here all day, Mr. MACREADY, about the boy's shoe; go on with the rehearsal.' These are compliments to the colloquial skill of MACREADY as great as was ever paid to any actor by his professional brethren.' Mr. COURTNEY, an estimable uncle of our author, in one of his letters to him, at an early period of his dramatic career, gave him the good advice to keep his temper always before an audience. That this advice was followed, appears from a little incident which occurred to him while assuming the part of a light-comedy hero at a provincial theatre:

THERE is an expression of the author's, frequently used in this character during the dialogue, of In for it again! which proved a source of much annoyance to me on this occasion, but is too good a joke not to be recorded. A gentleman in the boxes, who did not appear to relish my acting, and who must have been something of a wit, having his patience worn out, repeated the words of 'In for it again' after me, thus: Yes, by Heaven! you are IN for it only, for I will be hanged if you can play it! I wish you good-night!' and he immediately left the boxes. This produced a roar of laughter, not only from the audience but from the actors, which must have ruined the whole play had I not good-naturedly added at the first pause, Well, NOW I AM IN for it, sure enough! which was received by a round of applause, and the play passed off without farther interruption.'

We may gossip' hereafter touching many pencilled passages in the volumes before us; but at present we are compelled to pass the Life of an Actor and Manager' to our readers, without farther extracts. It is a pleasant, readable work; for in it figure prominently all the most celebrated actors, English and American, of the last forty years; and actors are always an interesting class of the community; whether successfully winning their way to fortune and renown, or struggling with the adversity which seems most easily to beset them. They are the abstract and brief chronicles of the time,' and could n't be spared from the world on no account.'