RADZIVIL. The CONVERSION of PRINCE | him, he declared fecretly to the prince, that," in their return from Rome, he had loft the box of re (From Robinson's Ecclefiaftical Relics, which had been given him to THIS fearches.) keep, and that, not daring to divulge this for fear of punishment, he had found means to get one like it, which he had filled with the little bones of beafts, and fuch trifles as refembled the relics he had loft: that feeing fo much honour was paid to that vile heap of. filth, and that they even afcribed to it the virtue of driving away devils, he had juft caufe to wonder at it." The prince believed this to be true, and nevertheless being defirous of getting further light into this impofture, he fent for the monks the very next day, and defired them to inquire, whether there were any more demoniacs, who wanted the affiftance of his relics. HIS prince having made a vifit to Rome, the pope, defirous of gratifying him in a peculiar manner, gave him, at his departure, a box filled with relics. Being returned to his houfe, and the news of thefe relics being fpread abroad, certain friars, fome months after, came and told this prince, that a man was poffeffed with the devil, who had been exorcifed to no purpofe: they therefore befought him, for the fake of the unhappy wretch, to lend them the precious relics which he had brought from Rome. The prince granted them very readily upon which they were carried to church in folemn pomp; the A few days after, they brought monks all going in proceffion on him another man poffeffed with an that occafion. At laft they were evil fpirit, who acted the fame laid on the altar; and, on the day part with him who had appeared appointed, a numberlefs multitude before. before. The prince commanded of people flocked to this fhow. Af-him to be exorcifed in his prefence; ter the ufual exorcifms, the relics but, as all the exorcifms which are were applied. At that very inftant, ufually employed on thofe occafions. the pretended evil fpirit came out proved ineffectual, he ordered that of the body of the man, with the man to stay in his palace till next ufual poftures and grimaces. Every day, and bade the monks withdraw., one cried out, "A miracle!" and After they were gone he put the the prince lifted up his hands and demoniac among his Tartarian eyes to heaven, to return thanks grooms, who, purfuant to the orfor bringing home fo holy a thing, der that had been given them, first which performed fuch miracles. exhorted him to confers the cheat; But fome days after, as he was in but, as he perfifted obftinately in that tranfport of admiration and it, ftill making his furious and joy, and was beftowing the higheft dreadful geftures, fix of them chafeulogiums on the virtue of thefe tifed him fo feverely with rods and relies, he obferved that a young scourges, that he was obliged to im gentleman of his household, who plore the prince's mercy, who parhad the keeping of that rich treadoned him the inftant he had confure, began to fmile and make cer- feffed the truth. The next morning tain geftures, which showed he on- the king fent for the friars, when ly laughed at his words. The the wretch in queftion throwing prince flew into a paffion, and would himfelf at his feet, protefted that know the reafon of his derifion. he was not poffeffed, and had never A promife being made to the gentle- been fo. man that no harm hould be done VOL. XXVII. The monks, at fift, befought The the prince not to believe this, fay- | ing that it was an artifice of the devil, who fpake through that man's mouth: but the prince anfwered, that if the Tartarians had been able to force the devil to tell truth, they would alfo be able to extort it from the mouth of thefe friars. Now thefe monks, feeing themselves put to it in this manner, confeffed the impofture, faying, that they had done all this with a good intention, and to check the progrefs of herefy. The SHIPWRECK, or The COTTAGE of BENEVOLENCE. A A TALE. By T. LACEY. extremely graceful and elegant; he was bleffed with the most valuable enjoyments that this world can afford,-health, youth, and an unimpaired conftitution :-fuch were the outlines of a gentleman whose character reflects the highest luftre on the age he lived in. Mr. Walmsley had not refided in the village above two years before a meffenger was difpatched from the Eaft Indies, acquainting him with the melancholy tidings of his brother's death, who was a captain in a regiment ftationed in Bengal. His feelings on the receipt of the letter may be better conceived than defcribed the they were deeply wounded: but his perfonal attendance in that quarter of the globe could not be difpenfed with, as the whole of his brother's fortune, which was very confiderable, devolved to himRomantic village, fituated in Accordingly, Mr. Walmsley prethe Peak of Derbyshire, and pared himfelf with all poffible dicelebrated for its rural beauties, at fpatch to undertake a voyage to the fame time not lefs admired for India, purpofely to fettle the wonderful and pleafing curiofi- affairs of his brother.-A month ties which the bountiful hand of had only elapfed after he had renature has pleafed to beftow, was ceived the unpleafant intelligence, the refidence of a Mr. Walmfley, a before he fet fail :-a black fervant, gentleman of immenfe riches; his who was his particular favourite, coftly and fuperb manfion was not was the only perfon that accompamore diftinguished for the elegance nied him on the expedition :—a of the conftruction, than the bene- paffage of fix months fafely landed volence and generofity of the wor-him at the place of his deftination; thy and noble inhabitant that graced the internal apartments. The philanthropy of Mr. Walmfley's difpoition was not merely confined to his own domeftic concerns: his charitable contributions were unlimited.feek his native fhore (England); but, Hs mind was ftored with all thofe amiable virtues which fo much honour human nature. Mr.-Walmfley conceived himself peculiarly happy when diftributing comfort and affftance to the ruftic and in. digent cottagers. His greatcft pride was in relieving the unfortanate in dillies." And it will be needlefs to oblerve, that his name was adored throughout the village. The figure of Mr. Walmsley was and after remaining about four months in that diftant country, having executed his bufinefs perfectly to his fatisfaction, he embarked with a profperous gale to alas! they had fcarcely entered the English channel when a violent and dreadful storm arose, which drove the ungovernable veffel on a fatal rock, on the coaft of Cornwall. The hip was unable to ride out the tempeft, and was dafhed to pieces in the prefence of a number of fpectators who could not afford the mallest relief to the miferable victims in diftrefs. The fea runting mountains high, most of the unfor runate tunate crew perished in the wreck. Mr. Walmsley, however, had the good fortune to elcape with his life, by floating on one of the fhip's planks. LETTERS which pafed between From CHARLES WALLER 10 FRANCES CROMWELL. LETTER II. MADAM, Hether it be, that a man, who The ftorm gradually abating, Mr. Walmiley was, by a fudden wave, washed on fhore, almoft exhaufted with fatigue. At this inftant, a fifherman's daughter, who was witness to the melancholy fcene, and who was as lovely as he was innocent and virtuous, took compaffion on the diftreffed ftranger, and having procured affiftance, had him conveyed to her father's cot-although I have offended you be tage. W has once confeffed his error,, acquires boldnefs from it; or that deperation gives a courage unknown to nature, I know not; but yond the poffibility of forgiveness, I cannot help aggravating your difpleafure by another mark of my rafinefs and folly. Under their humble yet benevolent roof, Patty Woodley (for fuch was her name) administered all the kind relief that it was in her Your filence has plunged me into power to afford. After two or a ftate of torture, not to be conthree days tender care and proper reived but by a demon. I am contreatment, Mr. Walmfley was hap-fident my letter came to your hands, pily restored. Gratitude was not loft on his humane and fufceptible mind: he addreffed the aged, honeft, and induftrious parent of Patty Woodley nearly to this effect; "My dear protector and preferver of my life, I am ever bound to pray for you, and your matchlefs daughter what recompenfe can I offer you, or what can I do to re pay you for fuch unfeigned humaDity" He concluded with remarking, that his fair daughter fhould not only be made the beloved partner of his prefent and future fortunes, but her venerable parent happy for life. Mr. Walmsley's nuptials were fhortly confummated at his elegant and richly furnished feat in Derbyfhire; and the father of the lovely Patty Woodley was removed from the precarious purfuits of a fisherman's life, to enjoy the hofpitable liberality of Mr. Walmfley's magnificence, tafte, and goodnels of heart. Chiment's-Inn. for I am convinced of the faithfulnefs of the perfon, who delivered it ; yet fufpenfe rends my heart ten thoufand different ways; and I am really loft with fear, misery and ter гог. Sometimes, I fuppofe that upon receiving my billet, you inftantly unfolded its contents to your father, who, flocked at fuch an inftance of ingratitude, hefitates in. what ma ner he fhall punish me in proportion to my offence; and yet I wonder the effects of his wrath have not overtaken me. At other times, I conceive my punishment is delay-d merely to make it the more tremendous. When called to do the duties of my function before the I rotector, I fcarcely know what I do. Now I acquire greater courage, and venture to fcrutinize his looks, and watch every motion of his eye with the moft painful folicitude; but this too well know is vain. His looks never betray the fecret of his heart ; and his councils can be compared to nothing but the ftillness before a tem, and his execution to the inX 2, tantaneous ftantaneous effects of a thunder-bolt, always happening when leaft expected. mur a bleffing on your name. I can endure your reproaches, let' them be ever so keen, but do not hold me in contempt :-the firft will, indeed, confirm my wretchedness; but the latter will roufe me to madnefs. Let not my memory be ever hate When alone in my rooms, I am a prey to the most difmal apprehenfion, ever expecting I know not what. Now I imagine the angry protector entering my apartment and fealing my mifery by tome ter-ful to you if 1 fay I should not have rible vengeance, and tremble when betrayed myself, had I not conceived I hear a footstep croffing the gallery. I was not indifferent to you. This very morning, as I was walking with my eyes fixed upon the ground, your father called me unexpectedly.--Had the earth yawned before my feet, I could not have fhewn greater furprife and difmay. Scarcely could I mufter up refolution to anfwer him in the tremulous tone that I did. He took notice of my confufion. I attempted to get What fhall I fay? In what lanover it by entering into our ufual guage fhall I implore you to fatisfy trifling chat; but I could not make me? Alas! I am compelled to use fo fudden a tranfition from appre-repetitions -Write-O write but henfion to tranquillity; and he left one word, and may the father of all me in the most agonizing doubt, charity reward you for it. I had almoft prevailed upon myfelf to have fufficient fortitude to fpeak to you yefterday in the great chamber, when we were for a moment left alone by your attendants; but my voice died away upon my tongue. You witneffed my diftrefs and faw my fufferings;-learn to pity and forgive them. My intellects are certainly impaired. Heaven knows what I may ejaculate.-O! for the fake of mércy, put an end to my fufpenfe, left Ihould betray both you and myfelf-Save me and yourself from fuch a terrible difcovery.-I may rave; for my brain is on fire.-I do not hope, all I ask for is certainty. LETTER III. From FRANCES CROMWELL to YOU have alarmed me beyond measure by your last letter: indeed the agitation into which it threw`me was fo great, that I have not yet recovered it; nor do I perfectly know what I am now writing, fuch is the hurry of my fpirits. I am confcious I ought not to have an I do not hope for any thing but pity; juftice I know must condemn' me: yet recollect, that though juftice may thine in all the fevere pomp of majefty, that mercy, in what ever garb it may be beheld, never fails to captivate the good. O! tor-fwered either of your letters; but I ture me not thus: indeed, indeed, were I to attempt to paint my fufferings, you would think me guilty of exaggeration. A certainty of evil is a trifle, compared to the horrors of doubt. Deign to write me but one line to exprefs your disapprobation of my conduct, and fay that you do not defpife me, and I will defcend to the cold mansion of peace, while my dying breath fhall mur choose to do fo for two reasons : -firft, because I think it a queftion of humanity, to afk you from what action of mine, you first thought I could return your paffion; for this you seem to hint atAnd I entreat you to anfwer me candidly; for by doing fo, you may, perhaps, not only clear up a myftery to me at present; but alle, when you find it was a trifle, from which no poffible inference could be, but what has been already thought drawn, except by a perfon who wifhed to be deceived, you may be enabled the better to combat with your love, fince you find that it was never returned. Write me, then, the circumftance that hath caufed fuch a misfortune to you, and which has been the fource of fuch terror to me. I cannot help requeffing you to gratify my curiofity thus far, although I am well acquainted with the dangers of fuch a correfpondence. My fecond motive is this, your faying you were just going to fpeak to me in the great chamber. My God! how could fuch an idea enter into your imagination? Sure fome malicious demon must have infpired you to do an action, likely to be attended with fuch tremendous confequences to us both! You lay you I love me :-have, then, at leait; the difcretion and charity not to utterly destroy me. I have not had a moment's relaxation from fear, fince I perufed your letter let not defperation carry you fo far as to make fuch another refolution; and calm the tranfports of your madness. Be cautious not to impute any thing I have faid to a return of affection. I would wifh, however, to relieve you, and therefore I cannot finish this token of my impru. dence without adding fome efforts to advise you; yet how fhail I attempt it, when you have declared, that you have ftruggled, and in vain-that you have combated with your unhappy diforder, and have at laft tranquilly refigned your felf to fate? How can a weak female hope to fay any thing to move you to another effort, when your fuperior understanding has fo often eflayed it without fuccefs? And yet I have often heard my father fay that the mind is fometimes perfuaded by another's reafoning, although it advances no argument, of and rejected. Nevertheless I hope not to convince, I only with to actuate your conduct by my most earneft prayer. Roufe, fir, from the fatal lethargy which has fo benumbed your better reason, nor think to find an excufe by railing at deftiny; for I have frequently heard you tell me, that no fuch thing exifted; and that we ourfelves are the deifyers of a principle that hath no exiflence but in the minds of the weak and idle.— You owe this attempt to God, honour and morality, to yourself, and to me. From LETTER IV. CHARLES WALLER fo FRANCES CROMWELL. I AM ignorant in what terms to exprefs my gratitude for your kindnefs, in taking notice of my request. Your letter brought me fo much confolation, that I have now calmnefs enough to appear with fome degree of compofure in doing my duty; yet have you impofed a task upon me that I would willingly have avoided. Indeed I hoped to carry the fecret, you demand, buried in my bofom, till I had been in no condition to have uttered it :-but as you have made the request, I cannot, without ingratitude, withhold a relation, which may poffibly make you defpife me; but should any part of it appear too vain and prefumptuous, have the candour, at leaft, to recollect, that you yourfelf commanded me. I have read over your billet an hundred times, without being able to difcover any thing in it that would give me the leaft glimpfe of hope: and though I am in the fame uncertainty that I was in before I ventured to write to you, yet it hath raifed me to a comparative ftate of happinefs, I intended |