The peculiar circumstances of his domestic circle, his crushed affections and utter loneliness, cast a deep shade over his mind, and left an indelible impression upon his soul; but to his credit, let it be noted, that in the course of a long and successful public career, no moral dereliction stained his purity, and his exertions in the cause of his country were untiring; and when death had laid upon him her iron hand, he raised his voice to guard the Union.

The work is written in an easy and beautiful style, and is replete with striking passages. The author is intimately acquainted with American literature, and the great men who at different times have played a distinguished part in the drama of the Republic. It froms a valuable addition to our national history.

A COUNTING-HOUSE SCENE.

THOSE who have visited the ancient city of Hamburgh, have doubtless been attracted by the surpassing beauty of the view commanded from the Jungfernstieg, a broad and well-built street occupying the southern side of the basin of the Alster, which, flowing from the plains of Holstein, spreads here into a lovely garden-begirt lake, alive with the sports of skaters in winter, and covered with swans and swan-like yachts in summer, and overlooked by the best hotels of the city. English nabobs and German princes here display alternately their wealth and their arrogance amidst an humbler class of travelers who, like myself, owe their presence more to business than to pleasure. The temptations of so gay a place as this renowned city, had made desperate inroads into my not over well supplied purse, which the delay of remittances had doubly affected, and the necessity of departure manifested itself; and it was not six o'clock, when in this view I was already pacing my room with hasty and anxious strides, and making myself obnoxious to my fellow-lodgers by thus being the indiscreet disturber of their morning repose. Was ever poor author, through unforeseen circumstances, betrayed into a more vexatious dilemma than I was at that moment, in the free Hanse Town of Hamburgh? My exchequer was exhausted, and my departure yet to be effected, with not a cent left in my pocket. Mr. Marr, my friendly host, is good and kind-hearted, and not the man to cut an unpaid account immediately from one's skin; but the Prussian Schellpost takes no passengers on credit, and on the next day, without fail, I must forth to Berlin. For the twentieth time had I rummaged through my lettercase, in the hope that some timid acceptance, some modest letter of credit, might have shrunk into a corner-but in vain! Stop! what paper is that? It is a letter which a well-wishing patron has given me, and which I have negligently omitted to present. The address is quite simple-"Herr Mohrfeld, Deich-strause." I breathed aloud: "Perhaps this is the man from whom help is to reach me." I remembered that my patron had described him as the head of a very eminent mercantile house, whose acquaintance might be of great advantage to me.

With eager haste I completed my toilet, and with the stroke of eight left the hotel for Deich-street, where I expected to encounter my rescuing angel. Stop! here, at the hop-market, I must pause a moment. It is market day, and the busy scene has many attractions. Yonder, among the clamorous fish-women, stands a short, thick-set man, in a blue overcoat; the blunt and taciturn expression of his ruddy face, is heightened by a profusion of badly combed hair. He pays for a well-selected fish, which his attendant porter takes away. He moves with peculiar decision of manner, and with downcast look, humming a low note, his hands behind him, turnsin to the Deich-street. Without his taking any notice of me, we strode together, and both at last paused before the same house. There he recovered from his thoughtful manner, and looking steadily at me, asked in a suppressed tone, "Do you wish to speak with

any one here?" Vexed that one whose appearance was so ordinary, should address me with so little ceremony, I answered with some haughtiness, "I have business with the house of Mohrfeld." He smiled, and then said earnestly, "I am Mohrfeld !" What! is, then, my dependence on one who buys his own fish, and appears in a threadbare coat? Is this mean-looking personage the last pecuniary resource of his literary guest? But he was the only anchor of hope to which I could cling. With lightning haste I removed my hat, and said, with a most respectful air, " Pardon me! I had till now not the honor-I have"-here I drew the letter from my pocket-" a commission to deliver this letter." Herr Mohrfeld interrupted me, "Not now; by and by I will speak with you in the counting-room; you must, however, wait awhile. Come"-he stepped into the house, and I followed. In the great hall, all was activity. There were two great scales, on which workmen were weighing coffee, of which an attendant clerk, with his memorandum book, kept account. Mr. Mohrfeld looked on silently for a few moments, and was passing on, when a laborer threw down a bag of coffee in a manner to burst it, scattering the berries upon the floor. "What gross carelessness!" tartly exclaimed the merchant; and stooping to collect the scattered coffee, continued, "Gather it all up, and put it again in the sack. Then have it properly mended, and you, Mr. Moller, see that the bag is then weighed; and if there is a loss, charge the amount to this improvident man. It shall be deducted from his week's pay."

"That is hard," said the man. "Only a little coffee"

"Only a little coffee!" answered the merchant, quickly. "He who despises trifles, is not worthy of great things; out of eight and forty shillings is composed a thaler; and to one good vintage many warm days are necessary. So! not worth the trouble? Negligence is a great failing, and ruinous to ordinary business. Mr. Moller, when this man again, even in the smallest particular, displays his carelessness, discharge him on the spot. I make you answerable."

"Great God!" thought I, "for a handful of coffee, will he deprive a man of his bread? How hard! how cruel! how will it go with me?"

At this moment, a young man, dressed with great elegance, came out of the office, bowed to the merchant, and was about to pass out of the door, but a look from his employer caused him to pause.

"Your appearance is fashionable," said Mohrfeld, disdainfully. "Is there to be a ball in my counting-house? and where were you yesterday evening? If I am not in error, you were curvetting on a palfrey out at the Damn Door, too much occupied to observe your employer, who passed you on foot."

"I beg a thousand pardons," answered the young man, turning bloodred in his face. "I"

"It is well!" interrupted Mohrfeld. "I have nothing to do with that which my people do out of business hours, if they perform their duties punctually. But with you it is different. You have a poor mother who suffers for necessaries; three uneducated brothers, two of whom I met yesterday barefoot, and that at a time of life when they should be in school. It would be more honor to you to attend to that, and to take care of your brothers, than to dress in the latest fashion, and prance upon a saddle horse. Go to your business, sir."

The young man became purple in the face, withdrew himself with a

crab-like motion, and vanished through the door. The merchant strode through the store, and entered the counting-room, where I followed him. What a sight! a long and rather gloomy hall presented itself, with numerous desks, of which I counted thirty, behind each of which stood a person busily writing or reckoning. In an adjoining room sat many more. Not far from the door sat a rather elderly man at a counter surrounded by several iron chests, and the association drew from me a deep sigh.

"Well, Mr. Casten," said the merchant, as he approached his cashier, "what news?" "But little," answered he quietly. "There is a demand for bills. We have, however, nothing to spare. In Livonia we have nothing, and on Genoa and Venice we have not more than our three ships loading for those ports require. Two value on New York, and one on Havana, that will be wanted, and I have notified them. "Can you use any Copenhagen or Swedish paper at the current rates?" "No! here must be as little funds as possible locked up in paper. I shall need a large cash balance. Remember that." He passed on, and stood before a desk. "Were the goods sent yesterday on board the Artemisia, Mr. Kohler ?" he asked. "Are the policies for the Pfeil taken out, and has Captain Heysen got his papers?" "It is all attended to," said the clerk. "Here is the bill of lading; here the policy, and the receipt of the captain." "Good; your punctuality pleases me. Go on, method is the soul of business. Take care of that sand, however. It has a slovenly appearance when it is so scattered as on your desk."

Mr. Mohrfeld had now arrived at his own desk, which was secluded from the main hall by a rail. He pointed me to a chair, and began to examine some letters that had waited his coming. A deep silence now pervaded the room, which was broken only by the monotonous scratching of many quills. No loud word was spoken, and it was seldom that a suppressed whisper was heard. My presence was unnoticed; not a word was addressed to me, nor was a curious glance directed towards me. The merchant read through his letters, and called several young men to him, giving directions, but receiving no answers. "At one o'clock, all must be ready for signature. You, Mr. Becker, must take care that no more errors creep into your French letters. You are too quick, too hasty. Take example of Mr. Hart-his English letters are a model correspondence. Above all, I observe lately in your letters a worthless innovation. You use a pompous, verbose style, and employ three lines where three words are sufficient. Abandon that. A flowery style is always a folly, and especially so in mercantile letters; but it comes from the senseless novels and romances that you are eternally reading, and which will yet incapacitate you for every useful employment. I have warned you take care for the future.”

This was a brilliant prospect! What reception could a novel-writer expect from a man possessed of such views? At this moment Mohrfeld turned to me, and said, rather short: "Well, sir, about our business!" "At your service," I stammered, and reached him my letter; but he had not opened it ere we were again interrupted. "See there! good morning, Captain Heysen," said the merchant, with animation. "You come, probably, to take leave; a lucky voyage to you, and bring yourself and crew back in good health. Pay good attention to ship and cargo, and make me 'no general average.' Your wife, say you? why, in any circumstances let her apply to me at once. If you have a good opportunity, 3

VOL. XXVIII.-NO. III.

and avail yourself skilfully of it, you may be back by Christmas. Well, adieu, captain, you have"-here he glanced at the almanac-"no time to lose. It is now high water, you may lose the tide, and I am not pleased to have the ship anchored at Blankenese. Lucky voyage." The captain vanished, and another man took his place. "Good morning, Mr. Fluggs; what have you to say?" asked the merchant. "I am well pleased with that last purchase of wood. You earned your commission with honor. When you have such another lot on the same terms, let me know. My ships must be employed. There are already three lying idle. As soon as the new stock arrives, let me know. Adieu." "I beg your pardon, sir"—this was directed to me-" that I keep you so long waiting; but the current business takes precedence." "Good morning, Pilot! Already back? Is my 'Hope' gone to sea safely?" "All as you wish, Mr. Mohrfeld," answered a robust Elbe pilot. "The ship is a fast sailer, and not afraid of a breeze. Here is a letter from the captain. But I must to-day on board another vessel. Perhaps I can take my pilotage with "That's of course, Pilot; and ten dollars in addition for the quick pilotage. Go to my cashier, he will make it all right." do you want?" This was addressed to a meagre-looking little man,with a bald head and snuffy nose, who, in a threadbare black coat, and stooping posture, stood before the wealthy merchant.

me?"

"What

"I beg a thousand pardons," he answered; "I am Dr. Eck, from Frankfort. I have for a long time had in consideration the peculiar procreation of mankind, and at last have succeeded in the formation of a brilliant theory, that I intend to promulgate in a series of lectures; and I would therefore solicit"

"I am sorry," interrupted the merchant; "but I am opposed to all theories that cannot be promptly applied to the concerns of life. Away with your air-castles, fog-projects and chimeras! I am very sorry."

The poor doctor perspired with anxiety; and scarcely able to speak, he looked pitiably at the subscription list in his hand, stammering out something of patrons and the down-trodden sons of Minerva; but his voice faded into an indistinguishable murmur. The merchant regarded him for a moment with a sarcastic smile, then took the list and wrote a line. It must have been a very important line, for the face of the doctor brightened with a heartfelt laugh, as he busied himself to lay more papers upon the desk. The merchant motioned him away, saying, "No matter. is a pleasure to me when my signature can be of use to a meritorious and learned man, even if, personally, I derive no profit from his talents. Your theory and my practice are very different; an interchange of ideas that are so directly opposed, leads only to endless confusion. Farewell!"

It

The doctor retired, and made room for a man, who pressed close up, and, without further ceremony, began: "Mr. Mohrfeld, your 'Fortuna' is quite ready, and can be launched at any moment. I wish to know what time you will appoint?"

"I am well

Monday morning, Mr. Reich," answered the merchant. pleased with your prompt and efficient mode of business. Now, as young beginners should be encouraged, you may lay the keel of a new vessel on my account. Try yourself at that. I passed your yard yes terday, and observed the order and industry with which it is conducted.