volcanic origin, and called the Mountain of Sulphur; and there are hot-springs in the neighbourhood. When discovered by Columbus, it was inhabited, as were several of the smaller West India islands, by the Caribs, or Charaibs, a warlike race of cannibals. Columbus saw the remains of human bodies in several cottages, and released some prisoners whom the Caribs had brought from Porto Rico. The inhabitants of Cuba, Hayti, Jamaica, Porto Rico, and Trinidad, were Arrowawks, a milder race of men, and often exposed to invasion from the ferocious Caribs. In the year 1635, French colonists, sent by the merchants of Dieppe, took possession of Guadaloupe, under two leaders, M. d'Olive, and M. du Plessis. The colonists were chiefly Protestants, about four hundred in number, but there were Dominican Monks sent to accompany them. They were greatly reduced in numbers by famine. M. du Plessis died; and M. d'Olive having massacred the Caribs, revenge induced others of the

same tribe to come from other islands and attack the French colonists. The colony had nearly sunk under the effects of war, hurricanes, and famine, when the King of France's Government, in 1674, undertook the management, and raised the island to a very high degree of prosperity, especially in the abundant produce of the sugar cane. The chief town is named Basseterre.

An island of such value as Guadaloupe became naturally an object of attention in the successive wars between England and France. It was taken by the British troops in 1759, in 1794, and in 1810; but it was restored to its ancient proprietors, the French, from time to time, whenever a peace was concluded.

The humble subject of this brief Memoir, Adelaide Zaire, was a native of of Guadaloupe. She was born, probably in the year 1770, in the parish of Cabesterre, where her father and mother were Negro slaves; the father a house-carpenter, and her mother also a domestic, in

an opulent French family. Zaire, their daughter, was baptized, according to the rites of the Church of Rome, on the same day as the young lady the daughter of their master and mistress, the latter being one year older than Zaire. She was considered as the female slave of this young lady who was afterwards Mme du Buc. She accompanied her, when, in the expectation of civil discord in the island, that lady was sent to Philadelphia. In that city Zaire obtained her freedom; it being the particular wish of the uncle of that lady, who had stood sponsor to both the young mistress and Zaire her slave, when brought as infants to the font. Amongst Adelaide Zaire's papers, I found the following document relative to her emancipation:

THIS INDENTURE Witnesseth, That ZAYRE, a Negro wench, aged about twentythree years, who was a slave to Mons. Du Buc de Marentille of the City of Philadelphia, and by him emancipated from slavery the day preceding the date hereof, in consideration of her

said emancipation as for other good causes, she, the said Zayre, hath bound and put herself, and by these presents doth bind and put herself servant to the said Mons. Du Buc de Marentille to serve him, his executors and assigns, from the day of the date hereof, for and during the full term of one year and four months from thence next ensuing. During all which term, the said servant, her said master, executors or assigns, faithfully shall serve, and that honestly and obediently in all things, as a good and dutiful servant ought to do. And the said Mons. Du Buc de Marentille, his executors and assigns, during the same term shall find and provide for the said Zayre sufficient meat, drink, clothing, washing, and lodging during the said term. And for the true performance hereof, both the said parties. bind themselves firmly unto each other by these presents. In Witness whereof, they have hereunto interchangeably set their hands and seals. Dated the 17th day of January, Annoque Domini 1793.

DU BUC MARENTILLE.

City of Philadelphia,

Done before

MATTHEW CLARKSON, Mayor.

From the remarks that she made occasionally, when speaking of her early life, it is evident that Zaire had been a very faithful attendant on her young mistress. That lady had given her a pair of large gold ear-rings, in token of her gratitude, for her patient attention at a time when the lady herself had been afflicted with an illness accompanied, for a time, by very alarming symptoms.

-IN THE Duke of KENT'S HOUSEHOLD-LEAVES

HALIFAX FOR ENGLAND-AT GIBRALTAR-RETURNS TO ENGLAND.

WHEN tranquillity was restored, Adelaide Zaire's mistress, Mme du Buc, returned to Guadaloupe; but Adelaide went from Philadelphia to Halifax in Nova Scotia. I presume that she was advised or induced to go there, in consequence