not strike one blow, for my country-for the home of my parents? Heaven forefend! Mother, you would not have me so base—you must not, cannot wish it! Though my arm is weak, God can nerve it with strength. Look there, mother, look there," (continued the youth, approaching the window, and throwing up the sash; his eyes beaming with the enthusiasm of his sentiments) "see that hoary headed old man supported by his daughter; behold that feeble mother, bearing an infant, with the little ones following her-look on all around, see what agony and wo is depicted on every face-hear their exclamations: The British!"" The British!" "Havre de Grace!" "Hampton!" "My Children!" "My Father!" "Daughter!" "Husband!" "Brother!"-Mother, mark these objects and hear their cries, then ask yourself if thou canst bid me stay? Justice! Heaven! the dearest ties that bind us. must all say, no--I go to preserve to those decrepit and infirm ones their homes and families-to those parents their children-to those children their parents--Nay, dearest mother, look not so on me."-When she said,-" Go, my son, and may God prosper and protect you!" she might have been likened to a Spartan Matron.

On Wednesday, the 24th August, 1814, Randolph was with the troops at Bladensburg-where deadly danger, and frightful hazard, seemed to take their stations, he was seen striving by his exhortations, entreaties, example and prowess to stimulate his countrymen to greater deeds of valor. Though lately risen from the bed of sickness, weak and tender, in the fight he seemed to have been nerved with super-human strength; onwards he pressed when others fell back. But when he saw the American troops discomfited, retreating before the enemy, he paused for a moment, and trembling, leaning on his sword gasped for breath; but it was for a moment only. The next, with indignation in his countenance, he flew to the 5th Baltimore Regiment, (headed by Lt. Col. Smith,) which still stood firm. "God, God be praised! they still stand firm"-cried he, while his cheeks glowed with the vehemence of feeling; and the energy with which he spoke filled his eyes with tears-"Keep them to it-soldiers as ye regard your country's honour, your friend's safety, stand, nor basely retreat,-yield not your family property to the tyrants, fight bravely, courageously, strongly, and God will yield you an invincible support-on, on, now for God and Liberty!" And he threw himself successively into every part of the field in the hotest moments of the battle. Annimated by his example, for a while the soldiers stood firmly to it, but through the cowardice of some, they, in despite of the youth's noble bearing, gave way before the enemy. Randolph wondered; he could not believe his senses was it his countrymen, descendants of revolutionary he

ANNALS OF THE LATE WAR.

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roes that now fled?-It was too true; and the young soldier, most heart-broken, wished for death to close his eyes upon a scene of such dishonor :--But his countenance lit up, and hope once more revisited him, when he saw Commodore Barney with his gallant men, stoutly disputing every foot of ground; musket to musket, almost foot to foot and breast to breast, they fought. "My country yet may triumph (said he springing towards them, and his eyes gleaming with the patriotic ardor of his soul) "Fight on-fight on-for God's sake, sir, (addressing Commodore Barney) hold to it, and let the world see how much a few well nerved arms, contending for liberty, can do against myriads of foes." "They shall not give way (returned the gallant Barney) while I have an arm to strike a blow." Stoutly did they fight, and dreadful was the havoc. But when the never-to-be forgotten Barney fell, covered with wounds and almost hacked to pieces, into the hands of the enemy, hope sunk in the heart of Randolph. Led on by such a man, what could they not achieve; but now that he was lost to them, the few brave men that remained, despairing of success, weak and wounded began to retreat. Randolph flew to the standard, he waved it on high, he called on the retreating soldiers to return, he reproached, he urged, he begged and entreated. Touched by the agonizing earnestness of his manner, some did return. "Now on, on brave men, fight on till you have not left a running vein, till you are hewed and hacked to pieces-oh! it will be glorious for us few to preserve our City from these fell plunderers." They renewed the attack-but overpowered by numbers, they a second time retreated. "Oh! coward, coward hearts!" (exclaimed the wretched Randolph) My country, thou art disgraced forever!" The agony of wounded sensibility, was too much for him, and he fell apparently dead on the ground, and for a time was blessed with the oblivion of forgetfulness. When he recovered, the starry mantle of night covered the firmament. "Oh my Country! my Country!" burst from the breaking heart of Randolph-To basely retreat, coward souls, why did they not in the face of glorious death. form a horrid obstacle to the enemy's entrance to the City, ere they vilely sought for safety in flight!" "My friend, how is it with you!" said the voice of a person approaching and kneeling beside Randolph. "Ha! Wharton, is it you? and do you outlive this days disgrace!shall not long, I shall not long--but how came you here?" He had been stunned by a blow. and left for dead upon the field. "Oh, my friend, (issued from the swoolen heart of Randolph) that men who have enjoyed freedom in its fullness, should have thus disgraced themselves. Wharton, 'tis a stain upon our country that ages will not obliterate. Would to God I had fallen at Queenstown-Heights, ere I had lived to behold my degenerated country

men act as they have done this day! I had thought they would have died before they would yield to such despoilers. O! Washington! parent of our liberty; if spirits of the other worlds are permited to"At this moment a loud report was heard, "Ha! Wharton, what signal is that? what means it" He needed no answer, the next a dreadful glare of light shone in the air. “I see-I know it all, eternal providence, the British have fired the city -they have commenced their devastation and plunder-Oh God! perhaps (starting wildly on his feet)-perhaps it is the light of my parent's house. They would not flec, they thought the citizens would protect their homes. Ere this their habitation may be incinerated, and their bones among the ashes-my brain will burst with the thought of it-I'll fly, and if alive, protect them from the insults and invidious designs of the soldiery, or die in the attempt!" "Are you not mad!" (cried Wharton, as Randolph was rushing from him) Do you know what you are about to do? The city is full of soldiers to attempt to stop them in their designs will be your death-They will not harm your parents.". Will not harm them, how can you assure me of that? -Think of Hampton, and Havre de Grace, and then bid me stay, if you can? I'm gone-nay stop me not-Wharton stop me notsee, see the flames how they arise! Father, dear mother, I come, I come!" "Since you are so rash, we will together brave the indignation of the soldiers"-" Wharton no-this must not be-it will probably cost me my life; but let me only see my parents safe from the ruthless depredators, and I care not. I shall have done my duty. You have a wife and child safe from harm; live for them, follow me not, death treads upon my heels." And ere his friend could reply, he had darted from his grasp, and was almost instantly out of sight.

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Randolph abated not his speed-he reached the city. He dashed through the crowd; the wildness of his appearance (for he was without hat, his bosom bare, and his face pale as monumental marble, while he held a naked sword in his hand) made place for him each way he trod. With an exulting shout he sprang upon the steps of his parent's dwelling house, just as a party of soldiers were approaching it with fire brands. "Back from this house, ye insatiable gang, back I say!" A loud rude laugh was all the answer he received! "Aye, aye, pass as you please the fulsome jest; but you enter not this house, but across my lifeless body." "I tell you what it is, my dung-hill cock, enter that house we shall. So stand out of the way, or a leaden bullet or two shall pass through your body in less time than I can prime." "You enter this house, I repeat, but over me"-" Don't, don't talk so" (said an inebriated soldier approaching the house with a torch in his hand)" His honour, our brave commander, told us to plun

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der and burn what we please-get out of the way! I am very dry, and must have somat to whet my whistle, being as how I haven't tasted a drop this half hour."Back. or, by the Great Being that made me! I'll strike at you." The soldier disregarded himThe youth struck, and the next moment the soldiers discharged their muskets at him, and Randolph staggered pierced by their balls. "What means this disturbance demanded a British officer. "My parents dwell in this house (cried Randolph) I was preventing the soldiers from entering." "The inhabitants of this house, (interrupted the officer) I saw depart from it but a few moments back." "Which way-which way" (breathless enquired Randolph.) the officer informed him-and before the soldiers could obey the command of the officer, to "seize upon him, he is our prisoner," he was far off.

At an inn, where they had just alighted, Randolph beheld his parents. "Mother!" he exclaimed-and overcome by the loss of blood, and the fatigue he had undergone, he fell beside her. "Randolph, dear Randolph!" (cried his mother, leaning over her dear boy, and looking on his pale countenance.) The young soldier opened his eyes, rested them for a moment on the face of his agonized parent, and with the last hollow accents of death, faintly articulating, "my country," closed them on the world forever. R. r.

FOR THE AMERICAN MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

DUNCAN'S TRAVELS.

OUR shores have been visited, and revisited, by foreign tourists of every description-we have had shoals of English commoners, and French noblesse, together with a due proportion of German visionaries, and Irish melodists; who have, for the most part, strung their harps to the same tune of European superiority, and transatlantic refinement. But here at length comes an honest unpretending Scot, who, without making invidious comparisons with older and more costly establishments, beholds things in the New World, pretty much as they are, or were likely to be; and finds, in our recent institutions, and untutured habits,

like a friend,

Something to blame, and something to commend.

"On the seventeenth day after leaving Fayal, (says our author, who had touched at that port, after sailing from Grenock, VOL. I.-No. III.

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in the month of March, 1818,) we made Sandy Hook, and had the pleasure of taking an American pilot on board. The boat in which he came out, particularly attracted my notice, by its neatness of appearance, and great rapidity of sailing. It was a small decked vessel, schooner rigged, and very sharp in the bows. At a great distance we observed its peaked sails skimming over the water, and bearing down upon us, with the utmost precision and velocity. When a short way off, its foresail was backed for a moment, and a small two oared yawl lowered over the side, which brought the pilot to our vessel, and returning was instantly hoisted on board. The sails were again trimmed, and it darted away, as if to display its superior speed, and mock our tardy motion. It stretched across our bows, and dashed alternately to windward and leeward, sweeping round our vessel, like a sea gull round a rock.”

"The harbour of New York is one of the best in the country, and is capable of almost unlimited extension. The wharves skirt both sides of the island, and piers project at right angles into the stream, leaving intermediate slips, which have many of the advantages of wet docks, and are free from several of their inconveniencies. The tides rise and fall about six feet, but there is always water enough abreast of the piers, to float the largest merchantmen. They do not however enjoy the advantage of dry docks; for the tide does not ebb sufficiently to empty them, and mechanical means have not yet been resorted to; but vessels which need repair, are hove down, in shallow water, first upon one side, and then upon the other. With such accumulated advantages in possession, and in prospect, it is not surprising that New-York has become the commercial captital of the United States, and the principal point of communication between North America and Europe. It is probable indeed that it will long retain this pre-eminence. Masts surround the city, like reeds on the margin of a pool; and when one passes along the wharves, and witnesses the never ceasing operations of loading and discharging, warping out, and hauling in vessels of every description, arriving and sailing with every wind that blows, together with the bustling of shippers, Custom-house officers, sailors and car-men, he can not but be impressed with the great extent of the commerce, which can supply such extensive means, with such unceasing employment."

"The Custom-house regulations of the United States, relative to passengers are very liberal. All their personal luggage, and even implements of trade or husbandry, for their own use, being exempted from duty; and I found the officer who was put on board the vessel to examine our trunks, perfectly civil and accommodating. His appearance bespoke him a man of habits and task, very