groes would operate as a bounty on the importation of female slaves, and in a few years the defect would be supplied. Mr. Dundas's proposition, Mr. Addington said, appeared to him to be such as could not be opposed by any rational objeetion; he agreed with him in the whole of it, one point excepted, viz. the making of those negro children free who were born slaves. He thought rather, that they should have their freedom after a period of service of ten or fifteen years, to pay their masters for the expence of rearing and educating them. A bounty for such as should rear more children, bearing a proportion to the sexes, payable to such negro fathers, might, he conceived, produce the most salutary effects, and greatly tend to increase the population of the negroes.

He de

clared he did not think his right honourable friend would have submitted his ideas to the house, if he had not meant to state them afterwards in the form of a substantial proposition: he therefore hoped that his honourable friend's motion (Mr. Wilber'force's) would not be adopted, but that his end would be answered by other means."

For the Monthly Visitor.

THOUGHTS ON SPRING.

H! what a scene of beauty bursts upon the sight in this gay season, when every bud gives up its leafy, prisoner; at first the tender green peeps cautious, as fearful of the northern blast, till warmed by thee, bright orb, whose vivifying touch is felt, and then the little folded captive expands its young soft leaf, till all the grove is deepened into shade, where birds melodious, warbling from the first dawn of morn till the grey eve.j

whose slow advance obscures the lovely scene, nor then, scarce mute the winged tribe, whose ever chearful note is tuned to hail reanimated nature. Who can indifferent pass the flowery tribe which Flora spreads, and with no niggard hand, as through the shady lane we pass; or meadow gay, with cowslips bending their modest heads. To me, more dear, her wild sweet scented children, who want not slender elegance of form, than all the gay and formal garden yields. Interesting this makes the rural ramble; Oh! may my heart never be dead unto this pure soft pleasure, though some times care, corroding care, may damp its glownor ever insensible of the great forming hand that spread the towering cedar, and scented the sweet lilly of the vale.-But what balmy fragrance comes floating on the breeze from yon gay appled orchard, where white and lovely rosy red streaks the fair blossom; the expecting swain fondly anticipates the cooling beverage. Oh, may no adverse winds, nor cankering worm blight his gay hopes, but autumn pour them in his open lap, matured by summer sun and shower.

For the Monthly Visitor.

THE BEGGAR'S TALE.

DURING

(Continued from Page 169.)

URING the course of Henry's frequent visits, several subjects were started, and several in cidents related by Richard and Amelia, (which was the lady's name) with a view to sound his disposi tion, and to make trial whether he would be an easy convert to vice; but the method in which these were introduced was always so artful and cunning, as to leave their own opinions entirely Vol. 14, No. 59.

R

ambiguous. Sometimes too, the sharper would rally him on his narrow circumscribed ideas of ine and things, and sometimes he would endeavour to laugh him out of what he called his antiquated country notions. But Henry's behaviour upon these occasions was so determined, and his conclusions so decidedly in favour of virtue, that it only remained for them to join their assent; which they never failed to do in the most animated language, accompanied with the warmest encomiums.

It was now found expedient for Richard to pretend a jaunt into the country, to spend a few weeks at the house of a distant relation; that he might be more at liberty to recruit his exhausted finances, without which it would be impossible to keep up appearances. For the gang began already to be distrustful of the happy issue of an affair which was so tedious in its progress, and to grumble at the expence of so much time and labour in support of a project, the success of which was at best uncertain. Recommending, therefore, the care of his sister to Henry; and adding many friendly cautions with regard to the artifices of the town, and the danger of too implicit credulity, he took his leave.

Henry had now frequent opportunities of being alone with Amelia, and these were improved by her to the best advantage. Whatever she thought would have the effect to dazzle his faney, or to captivate his heart, was exhibited in the most enchanting point of view; and the compliments, which admiration and love produced on his part, were received by her with such bewitching modesty, as greatly enhanced the value of the whole. Sometimes she would assume the sprightly air: and then she seemed to rival Thalia, or even Venus herself, encircled by the graces. Then would she relate the affecting story, in all the simplicity of

artless truth; but the speaking feature well supplied the place of rhetoric, for eloquence darted from her eyes, and pity quivered on her lip. Often, at a lucky moment, would she introduce her native country, and bestow on it those encomiums which she knew were so grateful to Henry's soul. Every spot which patriotism or infancy rendered dear, every name which dignified the annals of war, or the muses, received its appropriate eulogy from her persuasive tongue. Amid all these, would the praises of the Scottish fair ones be forgot? No; this was Henry's theme a theme upon which he never failed to expatiate with peculiar animation and delight; but more particularly on these occasions, as he had now a distinguished example before his eyes, and the idea of a still brighter one ever present in his mind. To diversify the scene, Amelia was wont to play a few favourite airs on the guitar, and accompany it with her charming voice. He was a passionate admirer of music, and when the strings were touched to Rosline Castle, Gilderoy, he was transported again to the wild hills and romantic vales of Scotland.

Henry was not so blind to espy faults in others as he was mild to overlook them. He was really possessed of that charity which thinketh no evil; and loath to discover the deformities of the human character, he attributed every action to the best motive which plausibility would admit. Thus the wanton forwardness with which Amelia sometimes endeavoured to inflame his passions, he considered as the effect of that extreme sensibility which occasionally overleaps the narrow bounds of frigid decorum; and the suspicious persons, whom he observed to frequent the house, he thought, were allured to it

*The Birks of Invermay, or the Yellow haired Laddie.

by the singular indulgence of its owner, who always pitied and relieved misery; though evidently the offspring of vice, and the attendant of infamy. In this manner his own upright intentions rendered bim the dupe of the artifices of others. His principles, however, remained secure, and his morals uncontaminated: regular and affecting was his correspondence with Maria; and my opinions were always attended to with deference and respect.

From the whole tenor of his conduct, the sharpers now perceived that one engine alone could be employed with success, to entice Henry to the paths of vice; and though it may appear paradoxical, this engine was no other than the power of virtuous love.

Richard's theory led him to believe, that love is omnipotent: and that it either renders the lover blind to failings, or converts those failings into virtues, and, if firmly established, constitutes the beloved object sole arbitress, both of his opinions and actions. To cherish and promote such a passion, therefore, he enjoined as the main object of Amelia's care. But before that scheme could be perfected to maturity, an accident happened, attended by all the consequences of which time and her arts could have been productive.

As our regiment was soon to embark for America, some necessary duties required my attendance for a few days at Portsmouth. During this absence, Henry and Amelia, for the sake of amusement, went regularly to the theatre. One evening as he handed her into a box, he was surprised by the supercilious looks, busy whispers, and contemptuous titterings of some young gentlemen, who were already seated there. These were so often repeated, with additional circumstances of affront, and Henry so easily perceived himself to be the ob