who is now seated at your side. As he could | nents. The women, especially, always fond not renounce his art, he has arranged for of the marvellous, warmly defended him himself a studio in my castle; my daughter against the attacks of Captain Fiaramonti, often repairs thither, and seems to take the who represented him as a contemptible adgreatest pleasure in examining, one by one, venturer. the productions of his chisel. Chief of all, there is a vase of bronze there, for which she has shown such decided partiality, that my young friend has consented to have it placed in her chamber, and she often passes long hours in admiring it, conversing with it, and sometimes kissing it, or bathing it with her tears."

"And is there any person here for whom she seems to display a marked attachment?" "Yes; she manifests an evident predilection for Captain Fiaramonti."

"Very well; all this suits admirably with my plan. I need but one thing, and your daughter's recovery is certain. It is necessary that one of these charming Signoras should consent to consider me, for an hour only, as a favored lover. Beautiful Signorina," said Fiorentino, turning to a pretty maiden, who was seated a few paces from him, "will you refuse to assist me in this little comedy?"

"On the contrary, I will do so very willingly, Signor."

The sacrifice that I have to demand of Signor Gabuzzi and the Captain Fiaramonti is somewhat more difficult, but I do not doubt that both will be sufficiently generous to accord it to me."

"What can I do to serve you?" said the

artist.

"I need your vase of bronze." "And I?" said the Captain. "I need your life. When I shall have broken both, the Princess will no longer be a maniac, and in three days, Captain Hector Fiaramonti, she will have recovered her reason."

CHAPTER II.

THE FIRST TRIAL.

On the following morning, at break of day, all the guests of the villa Juliana, except Fiorentino, were assembled around the fountain. They were discoursing of this strange personage, and the conversation was very animated, for in, the bold engagement which he had taken upon himself, and the first trial of which he was now about to make, he found as many partisans as oppo

"If he were a man of courage," said the Captain, "would he have coldly borne, as he did yesterday, the most deadly insult that a man can suffer?"

"But did you not remark, Captain," observed the sculptor Gabuzzi, "the rage that sparkled in the glance that he cast at you on rising, and the rapidity with which he placed his hand upon his poignard to avenge the affront?"

"Most certainly," replied the Captain. "I remarked all that very plainly; but I saw also, and you saw it as well as I, that this great rage disappeared as soon as he saw with whom he had to deal."

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It may be So, but I cannot believe that this man is a coward. There is that about him which too completely contradicts this opinion."

"You think, then, that he will not try to escape, in order to avoid the combat?" "I believe so, firmly."

"And have you the same confidence in his science as in his courage?"

"No; and still I do not deny that he possesses it. I cannot resolve to pass judgment upon this matter before the issue of the first trial, which we are about to witness." "If he ventures to attempt it, indeed; for I do not see him approach."

"Here he is, Captain."

Fiorentino, in truth, now joined those who expected him so impatiently, and with sentiments so diverse. His air was firm and decided, but grave and thoughtful.

'Prince, and you, Signorina," he said, addressing Vivaldi and the young maiden who was to aid him in his attempt, "the Princess Vanina is at this moment in this meadow, on the borders of the large sheet of water. Be so good as to accompany me."

The three went, and the rest followed them at some distance, as far as the middle of the meadow.

When there, Fiorentino begged them to pause, the Prince Vivaldi with the rest, and advancing alone with the young Signorina, they took their seats upon the grass, at a few steps' distance from the poor maniac, who was gazing at the water that murmured at her feet.

She passed her hand across her brow, as if to recall her remembrances.

"The Signor Fiorentino?" said Giulia. "No, no, it was the Captain-the Captain Hector Fiaramonti; you were married, and you were very unhappy-yes, very unhappy!" she murmured in a dreamy tone. And she sank into a profound revery. "Let us leave her," said Fiorentino, dressing Giulia.

happy father with joy, who, from this moment, looked upon his daughter as restored to him.

"Do not yield to joy so prematurely," said the Signor Pezzolini; "hope too early cherished adds cruel stings to disappointment."

"But have you not yourself told me," read-plied the Prince, " that on the day when my daughter should pronounce her name, and recall past remembrances, her cure would be almost certain?"

They rose and walked away, but the young girl did not perceive their departure. She remained seated in the same spot, motionles, with her eyes fixed upon the ground. "Well!" said the Prince to Fiorentino. "Inquire of Signorina Giulia," replied the young man; "she will inform you that I have made more progress in one hour than the Signor Pezzolini has made in a year."

"I know not what to think of it," said the beautiful Giulia, "but your daughter has pronounced her name, and although her words were incoherent, as usual, yet her mind has succeeded in seizing some remembrance of the past."

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Yes, Prince, but in the case that I alone guided the progress of her cure, because then

I should have been convinced that this result was due to my cares, and not to chance. But let us wait, and witness Signor Fiorentino's second trial, which he has promised on the morrow, I believe."

"Yes, Signor, on the morrow; and I can answer for it in advance, that to-morrow, as to-day, chance will ever be favorable to me."

"Ever?" said Captain Fiaramonti, casting a glance of irony upon Fiorentino.

"I hope so," replied the latter, measuring

This slight success transported the un-him with a calm, cold gaze.

[CONCLUDED IN OUR NEXT.]

UNWRITTEN

We hear its low and dreamy tone,
Like some sweet angel-spell,
Among the wood-haunts, wild and lone,
Where the young violets dwell;

Where the deep sunset-flush hath thrown
Its glory on the sea,

We linger for its ceaseless moan,
That wordless minstrelsy!

The primal world its echoes woke
When first the ardent Sun,

In all his fresh'ning day-spring, broke,
His regal race to run:

It floated through those lonely skies,
Each immemorial hill,

Where now such countless cities rise,
The might of human will!

The cavern'd depths of the wild sea,
That gather in their lair
Such shrieks of mortal agony,
Such pleadings of despair!
Upon their turgid billows wreathed,
Such lulling strains have sped,
As if their charnel-waters breathed
No requiem for the dead!

Oh! earth hath not a lonely plain
Unblest by mystic song;

The diapason of the main,
Its anthem to prolong!

Brooklyn, July 8th, 1851.

DAVID A. BOKEE.

His paternal ancestors, ABRAHAM Bockee. and WOLFERT WEBBER, were among the earliest settlers in New-York, and were among the nine grantees of a large tract of land in Dutchess and the adjoining counties, called the " Nine Partners' Grant." WOLFERT WEBBER was an alderman of the outer ward of New-York as early as 1668, and was considered one of the most substantial and useful citizens of his time.

ONE of the most glorious results of a free [ and patriotism, to need any eulogium here Government is the kindly influence it exerts in the development of Intellect. Under its institutions the want of rank, fortune, or early scholastic training, opposes no insurmountable obstacles to advancement. The ardent soul and the energetic mind may gaze upward, and move onward in the pathway of hope and honorable ambition, unfettered by prejudices, and unimpeded by social distinctions. Man, with virtuous purposes, may avail himself of all his faculties to become great, honored, and useful, with every thing to excite his action, and no conventional barriers to check him in his noble career! The blessings of living under such a Government cannot be too deeply impressed upon those who enjoy them; more particularly the rising generation, into whose hands its guardianship must fall, and whose sacred duty it will become to transmit the institutions of their country unimpaired to their successors-an inviolalable legacy.

The subject of this sketch had the misfortune to lose his father before he was five years old, and the care of him devolving upon relatives, he obtained only the advantages of a common school education. While at school he was distinguished for his aptness, especially in mathematics, in which science his attainments soon reached the extent of his teacher's capacity to instruct him. At the early age of twelve years he left school to battle with the world alone, without the aid of friends or fortune. Entirely We know of no means better calculated through his own exertions he obtained a to enhance the respect and affection of a situation in a counting-house, and, sustained citizen for his Government than by pointing by the indomitable perseverence of his charout the incentives to virtuous ambition which acter, and a proud spirit of independence, its institutions offer, especially as illustrated he was soon enabled, by his industry, inin the career of those who have attained antegrity, and intelligence, to win the confihonorable distinction, under disadvantages which in a less favored country would be deemed insurmountable. It is the biography of SELF-MADE MEN which affords the most useful lessons to the youth of a country like ours. They are thus taught the rewards of perseverance and merit, and the vanity of mere social position and adventitious aids in the struggle for honor and distinction. It is, therefore, with undisguised pleasure that we present to our readers the subject of this brief memoir, as emphatically a SELF-MADE MAN, and one who is destined, we hope, to a long career of public usefulness. DAVID A. BOKEE was born in the city of New-York, in October, 1805. He is descended from the old Knickerbockers, a race too well known for their deep energy of character, their strong minds, their honesty

dence and esteem of his employers. Since the time of entering their service, a period of about thirty-three years, Mr. Bokee has been connected with the mercantile interests of New-York, and has been universally known and respected among that honorable and important class of citizens who are engaged in commercial pursuits.

At eighteen years old Mr. Bokee's mercantile acquirements were of a nature to fit him for a better position than it was in the power of his employers to afford him; and an opportuuity offering to establish himself in business, he removed to Georgetown, South Carolina, where his mercantile knowledge, his integrity of character, and habits of industry, won him popularity and esteem, so that he was early elected, and frequently served, as an alderman of the town. During

his residence in Georgetown, Mr. Bokee en- | he won enviable applause for his honesty and joyed the first opportunity of distinguishing independence. himself for patriotic attachment to the Union. The sheriff of the county being in ill-health, it devolved upon Mr. Bokee as deputy to fill his place, during the hottest of the nullification strife in South Carolina; and his prompt, fearless, and considerate discharge of his duties made such an impression upon the friends of the Union, that he was nominated as their candidate for the office of sheriff at the ensuing election, and, notwithstanding the excitement which existed, and the prejudices arrayed against him as a Northern man, he was only beaten by some fifty votes!