not locked, and in a short time we were in possession; which proved a seasonable relief to the poor children, whose tender joints, had barely escaped dislocation by the jolting over rocks aud stump of trees which had impeded our progress. Fortunately we arrived in the forenoon, But we were covered all over with dust. Having changed my clothes, and refreshed myself with the remfant of our travelling stock of proVisions, I went to the dancing-school. The gravity of my friend, contracted from the study of theology; for he had been educated for the church, Would alone have caused his declin ing to accompany me to such a place. I was agreeably surprised at the order and the systematic mode with which this part of polite cducation was conducted, amid the woods, and on the rising ground of the vast mountains called the Blue Ridge. There were upwards of fifty scholars, though, from the view of the country, I could not have supposed the existence of fifty houses within the circumference of as many miles. Some of the pupils I was informed came from a great disfance, and the carriages used for their conveyance formed the strangest and most uncouth collection of travelling vehicles perhaps ever colRected together. A number bore such strong marks of antiquity, and so, coarsely were they put together, that I could compare them only to my ideas of antediluvian machines. They, however, conveyed a number of pretty little modern-dressed misses, dressed and ornamented to a fidiculous pitch of extravagance. They had made great progress, performing the minuet, country-dance,

*

These mountains begin almost at the exHemity of the northern boundary, and exfand, with little variation, to Georgia, nearly through the middle of the United States.

and reel, correctly; though this weekly school had been opened only four or five times. After the les sons were finished, a number of grown masters and misses joined in six-handed reels, the favourite dance in the southern states, and, as though I had not already undergone of late sufficient fatigue, I could not resist the desire of joining them, upon an invitation, given with Parisian politeness, by the master. Thus, in the heat of summer, and not a month out of the yellow fever, was I capering among the girls; an act of imprudence, which, happily for me, was not attended with any ill consequences.

On my return to the court-house, I found that Mr. Gilpin had been making provision for retaining the slender title we had acquired to it. He had made up one bed in the. jury-box, and another on the table, round which the counsel sit, and had composedly seated himself, reading a Greek author, in the chair of justice. On my entrance, he was compelled to relax a little of his serious mood, and to brighten his features with a smile-the first I had observed. The loss of his wife, and disappointments resulting from the failure of his plans, had plunged him in a state of mind little better than that of settled melancholy. A partition which ran across the courthouse formed a jury-room. Americán jurymen seldom fail to retire from the court, be the case ever so plain, to agree upon their verdict. This room had been reserved for my occupation, and accordingly I spread my mattress on the floor, upon which, being greatly fatigued, I soon fell asleep. In the morning I endeavoured to procure waggons to convey us to Madison court-house, distant between sixteen and eighteen miles, without success. I wondered what caused my friends in Frede

ricksburg to advise us to proceed to this dreary place; but I afterwards found little choice in any part of the country, as to accommodation. We were favoured if any of the neighbours would sell us a fowl, or a dozen eggs. I had attended to the whistling of the quails all around me the day after our arrival, and being always provided with an excellent English fowling-piece, I went out in the afternoon, attended by two youths, who appeared anxious to see an Englishman pursuing game, I had no dog, and the luxuriant but coarse herbage of the cleared land was unfavourable to my pursuit. The young Virginians, conversant with the haunts, soon sprung the game, and were surprised at my success, two or three birds falling at each shot, The coveys had not been broken, and they took flight together at the same instant. Americans do not accustom themselves to shoot game upon the wing; but they are the best marksmen in the world with a rifle gun at a fixed object. The produce of my gun was very acceptable in the court-house; the girls soon prepared the game for cooking, and having with us every necessary material, without which no traveller must attempt to penetrate into the interior of this immense country, we made a delicious repast. Here we were obliged to remain mine days, and, fortunately, during that time, our habitation was not wanted for the dispensation of law; but the gospel was twice expounded in it during our occupancy. At length we procured one waggon, which was appropriated to Mr. Gilpin, and a part of his family, while I remained with his nephew, waiting the uncertainty of another conveyance. This presented at the expira tion of the second day, and on the third, I arrived at Madison court

house. My friend had already hired an unfurnished house, and to my surprise, for the long term of six months, though the contemplated extent of the tour was not to exceed six or eight weeks. I soon found that he had determined to remain during the winter among the rocks and woods; a situation, at all events, well suited to the contemplative mind.

In this small place we found some society. There was a doctor and a lawyer; but neither parson nor parsonage-house. A jolly justice of the peace, however, supplied the place extremely well; being a moral up. right man, whose advice often re claimed the offender, when the in forcement of the law might have rendered him incorrigible. In such company occasionally, and with my gun, being in a fine sporting couns try, I had passed three weeks with much advantage to my health.

ANECDOTES of BOILEAU, the French Poet..

BOILEAU, being asked by a friend, not long before his death, whether he had changed his opinion of Tasso*- So very far from it,' replied the satirist, that I am sorry I did not express myself more fully on this subject in my translation of Longinus. I would have begun with allowing that the Italian poet had & sublime genius, and very eminent talents for poetry; but, speaking of the use which he has made of them, I should have said, and proved, that good sense is not the predominant

Virgile, Sat. IX. (There are those who Le clinquant du Tasse tout l'or de prefer the tinsel of Tasso to all the gold of Virgil).

quality of his poem, and that, in his narrations, he prefers what is pleasing to what is necessary to be told; that his descriptions are disfigured by superfluous ornaments; that in the delineation of the strongest passions, and amidst the saddest events which they occasion, Tasso destroys the pathos by untimely attempts at be ing brilliant, that his thoughts are frivolous, and more adapted to his Aminta than to his Jerusalem De livered. Now, exclaimed Boileau, all these faults being granted, and the wisdom, majesty, and gravity of Virgil introduced in opposition to them, the contrast is as great between the Latin and Italian poet, as between gold and 'tinsel.'

A man of very good sense, but to tally unacquainted with literature, said once before Boileau, that he would rather be able to make a wig than to make a poem ; adding, What is the use of poetry, and what end does it answer? This very circumstance,' replied Boileau, raises my admiration of poetry; that having nothing useful in it, it should never theless be the delight of all men of talents and reputation."

Boileau used to relate, that when he read to Moliere his satire which began with these lines,

4 Mais ilchlest point de fou qui pat bones

ciety considers as venial, and for which they do not shut up the delinquents; but treat them as fools and simpletons.'

Boileau was not superior to uneainesses occasioned by the abuse pubFished against him, but was the first person to applaud any ingenious satire levelled at him.I look on mys self,' said he, like an enchanted hero, whom the blows of his enemies either do not reach or wound very slightly. With all their malice,' he would add, they have not found out the vulnerable part of Achilles.

6

"Where does it lie?' said a friend.

That I shall not tell you,' replied the satirist, you must find out that,'

It is probable that he alluded to the sameness of his writings, particularly in his prefaces, the character of which is too monotonous.

Boileau never dined with any of his most intimate friends, without being invited in particular; observing, on this caution, that a certain pride of mind was the characteristic of men of honour, but that a pride of air and manner was the mark of fools and blockheads.

When Boileau launched any work into the world, he heard the attacks of the critics however severe with great attention and patience; ob serving, shrewdly,Well, those are the trorst works, of which nobody 'speaks at all."

Racine used to relate a very singu lar instance of the powers of Boi'leau for mimicry. He once,' says Racine, undertook to imitate the steps of an extraordinary dancer, whom he had seen in the exhibition of his skill. Boileau executed all the difficult steps and attitudes of the performer with great success, though he had never been taught to dance, and never practised the art at any time before."

HARRIET VERNON;

OR,

CHARACTERS FROM REAL LIFE.

A NOVEL,

In a Series of Letters,

BY A LADY.

(Continued from p. 131.)

LETTER XI.

Miss Harriet Vernon to Miss West.

I ALWAYS thought, dear Susan, there was a magical power in your mother's eye, but I now find her pen is possessed of the same quality her letter has fixed the wavering Maria, and she has consented in due form to make, as they say, the colonel happy. But she will not be hurried; it must not take place this twelve months. I should be in the best spirits in the world on this occasion, were it not that I perceive a melancholy on her counte nance, which indicates that her heart is not so much in the purposed union as might be wished. Dear girl! I would not for the world have her unhappy; but I think she cannot be so with the colonel. I must say a word or two of Charles Wentworth: indeed, I don't know what to make of him. Let me see: a lover ought to look pale, to be absent in company, now and then to sigh profoundly; he ought never to look in his mistress's face but when he cannot possibly help it, to tremble like an aspen leaf when he drinks her health at table, and if by accident he touches her soft hand, Heavens! what an agitation! I have tried VOL. XXXVIII.

Then let me hear nothing about it: bad news comes soon enough.'

<

You will not think it bad, I believe,' said Maria, blushing up to her ears.

Now as brother seldom looks in our faces, Maria might have blushed for an hour unobserved.

'I think any thing bad that taken money out of my pocket.'

Now, brother,' said I, 'suppose I should tell you one of us had a lover.'

That would surprise me: but it would not take money out of my pocket; it would save it.'

But you would give us our wedding clothes?'

Not I, truly; if you are not worth clothing, you are not worth having.' въ

But suppose she can't like him, brother.'

Suppose, a fiddlestick-like him, indeed! Stuff! nonsense! If she refuse him, I have only this to say you depart my house. I hope you don't suppose me such an ass as to forgive a refusal.'

This boorish speech was too much. I should have been in a pas sion; but she burst into tears.'

I then see what I have to expect, Oh! brother, you would discard me if I was to refuse the first offer of marriage I ever received: how fortunate then for me is it that it is such an offer.'

He was somewhat softened. Why, look ye,' said he, I don't want to part with either of you, while you behave well; but you must not stand in your own light, as I sée half the world do. If the colonel has taken a fancy to you, I would have the matter finished as soon as possible.'

Oh!' said Maria, frightened out of her wits, if you have any regard for me, don't let me be hurried: it must be many months before I can marry. Consider how short an acquaintance.'

gained a promise that he would not be in a hurry, but permit her to manage it as she thought fit.

He appeared much pleased, and the next morning it was no secret in the family. I persuade myself his pleasure proceeds from his love to Maria. I am not willing to ascribe good actions to bad motives.

The colonel is a constant visitor; I suppose he woos in Othello's style. Don't you pity me, Susan? a poor forlorn damsel! Now if I had but a lover too, how charming would it be! Well, all in good time. I bave nothing left for it now, but to sit up stairs scribbling to you, or talking to Dorcas. I will relate a conversation I had with the good creature this morning.

'Well, Dorcas,' said I, what do you think of this alteration that is going to take place in our affairs?

Think, miss, why I knows not what to think: I am all over as if I were in a dream. Why, to be sure, I am all over joy. This colonel is the most charmingest gentleman that ever my eyes beheld.'

Well now, but, Dorcas, don't you think he is too old?"

'Oh no, not a bit; he is worth a hundred of your young flish-flash chaps. I always prophesied miss Maria would be a lady, she always carried herself so lady-like; and not proud neither; indeed, a true lady is never prond, and above speaking to poor people; and the colonel, I am sure, is a true gentleman, and talked with me yesterday near half an hour.'

After a good deal more conversation tedious to relate, we at length

Why, lack-a-day, miss, I am always dreaming about you, and you