character as the went to it. But on her application for vacant places, fhe found her former fears had been too well grounded; for when, on being afked for a character, she referred them to the laft mentioned place, the always met with a repulfe, and fometimes with a fharp and cruel one, viz. I wonder at the impudence of any fervant coming after this place, who has lived laft at a public houfe." This young woman now remains out of place, and defpairs of getting into any creditable private family, as all whom he has applied to, make the fame objection. This is a diftreffing, though not perhaps a new cafe; and is an example of the delicacy of a perfon's character, and fhows with what tenderness- it ought to be treated, fince this trifling occurrence is attended with fuch inconvenience. Yet, at the fame time, we may observe what a pity it is that people cannot, or rather will not, overcome their little and mean prejudices which are only eftablished by cuftom, and learn to difcover worth through the maze of any apparent difgnife. The different fpecies of calumny are as various as deftructive in the feveral proportions, and the calumniator is ever bufy to find out a fomething wherewith to traduce the character of his neighbour and if the fairness of the man's character, whom he has marked out for his victim, be fuch as to render a very foul calumny liable to be detected, be will begin with fome trifling report, till he by degrees accom. plishes his diabolical purpose. But I cannot better exprefs myfelf upon this topic than in the words of the celebrated Dr. Johnson-" As there are to be found in the fervice of envy, men of every diverfity of temper and degree of undertanding, calumny is diffused by all arts and methods of propagation; nothing is too grofs or too refined, too cruel or too trifling, to be practifed: very little regard is had to the rules of honourable hoftility, but every weapon is accounted lawful; and those who cannot make a thrust at life, are content to keep themselves in play with petty malevolence, to teafe with feeble blows, and impotent difturbance. Thofe who cannot strike with force, can however poifon their weapon, and, weak as they are, give mortal wounds, and bring a hero to the grave: fo true is that obfervation, that many are able to do burt, but few to do good," ATHER of light!--Almigh "FAT F God Supreme, who, with ty an all-feeing eye, furveyeft the tranfactions of thy creatures here on earth, look down on one unworthy of thy goodness, though humbly foliciting thy aid,-who craves thy fupport to fee thofe myfteries explained, the elucidation of which may ftrike her foul with horror; but let thy heavenly affiftance infpire her with fortitude and refignation, to listen to the dictates of thy will." Such was the conclusion of Matilda's prayer, as fhe retired to her pillow. Y 2 She She enjoyed a calm and ferene re- | pofe till a late hour in the morning, and found herfelf much refreshed. Having defcended to the parlour, neither Leonard, Agnes, nor her brother, had breakfasted. "I am forry," faid fhe, "to have made you wait; but this morning I have been uncommonly lazy." "We have not waited for you alone," answered Alfred cheerfully: "there is another perfon our gueft to day. In short, you no doubt recollect, that, when you mentioned leaving the abbey, I told you a ftranger would foon appear, to make you alter your refolution. The time is now arrived that my prophecy is to be fulfilled, and the myfterious behaviour I have been guilty of, I hope, in fome measure excufed. Look at thofe folding doors, Matilda: the fight of them has at a former time occafioned fenfations of the utmost terror; do not therefore expect the entrance of a ghoft, but a being of flesh and blood. Come forth," exclaimed difcourage either his lordship's hopes or addreffes; and, after fome little time spent in mutual inquiries, they feated themselves at the breakfast table. Leonard and Agnes withed to have taken their meal afterwards, out of refpect to lord Millverne; but his noble foul fcorned the empty title he poffeffed, and confidered it of no other confequence, than a more than ufual call upon him to act through life with honour and integrity, as an example to thofe in a lower fphere, who had never received the advantages of a good education, or the rudiments of virtue from honeft and respectable parents. He infifted that no unusual ceremony fhould be observed on his account; and his requeft was complied with. Matilda received the pleafing intelligence that count d'Ollifont was yet living, and that the news they had received of his death, was merely of his own contrivance, executed by his creatures in France; and that there was not a doubt but the cruel proceeding of proving Alfred Maferini a deferter, was alfo effected by fchemes of villany from the fame quarter. Lord Millverne acquainted them that the last intelligence he received of the count, was that he had been fome little time at Paris, but that his; popularity in that city was greatly decreased, on the difcovery of an affaffination he was proved to be the author of, and muft certainly have fuffered for the crime, had he not been fcreened by royal power. "Do not believe him, charming mifs Msferini," answered the ftranger. "I deny the title; let me "i fhall now," continued his only be known to you under the lordship, acquaint you with my plain name of Millverne,-happy adventures fince you left England, appellation, under which 1-firft be-till a certain event happened which came acquainted with the moft will clofe my narrative, and give charming of her fex." room for one to be related by my friend here (pointing to Alfred), who will then have an opportunity of clearing up his own conduct fo Matilda was above the little arts of female coquetry, practifed by her fex in general; he did not as as entirely to obliterate every fufpicion of unkindness to a fifter, who has fhown the most noble heart, and affection for her brother, in her fortitude and generous behaviour through his misfortune.” Here he bowed to Matilda. "On the night of the mafquerade, I had not long forced Mr. Maferini into the coach, when a crowd of people began to affemble, collected by the repeated cries of murder from the count's fervants, who kept me in hold. I was immediately delivered into the hands of the watchmen, and two conftables, who had by this time arrived, charged with having favoured the efcape of the murderer. I was directly taken to a watch-houfe near, but was foon admitted to find bail for my appearance, when they were informed who I was. "The next morning I appeared before a magistrate; my perfon and name were foon recognised by that gentleman, who had been acquainted with my family. To him and the perfons affembled, I related the whole affair; and made it clear that the fecond piftol was fired for defence, as the count firft difcharged his. In fhort, d'Ollifont's conduct appeared in the most black and, infamous colours, and I was honourably discharged. He continued for fome time in a dangerous ftate: at times he was infane; and when those fits came on, it was his defire, in his lucid intervals, that no one fhould attend him but his confidential fervant and steward, Rabourn. "The news of this fhameful, ungenerous tranfaction of the count's was the general talk of the town, and moft people allowed that pu nishment had fallen on the right perfon. "As foon as I had fettled fome bufinefs of confequence in London, I immediately fet off for France, on my way towards Italy; two ftrong reafons urging me to take the journey, one to fee a dying father, who, by letters I understood, laboured under a fevere indifpofition, which increafed upon him daily, the other, the hopes of feeing fome exiled friends, whofe fituation I greatly pitied and lamented. "The first news I heard when I arrived at Paris, was the death of my parent, and that Mr. Maferini was declared a deferter, for not attending to an order, left at his lodgings the very night he departed from London. I made it my bufinefs to obtain an audience with two of his majesty's minifters; and though I clearly explained the mistake, was unable to procure any redrefs. It was an order, (they faid) by the royal command, and could not be refcinded. "Finding it was in vain to take any more trouble at court, I proceeded directly towards the Alps, and stopped at the very house where lady Caroline Albourn had been faved from the fire, as I fuppofed, by you. I immediately croffed the mountains, and foon found myself in this country. I directly proceeded to the refidence of my late father, which was now inhabited by a friend who had accompanied him hither, and his domeftics. His will was produced, and I found myself poffeffed of eight thousand a year, except a few legacies, a genteel annuity fettled on the perfon before mentioned, and handsome prefents to all his fervants. "All my affairs being fettled in a fhort fpace of time, I made every cautious inquiry concerning you; but all proved abortive; and I waş ftill more perplexed, as you mentioned no particular place you intended to travel to, in anfwer to the letter I fent to Dover, though. it was my earnest request. This however I confidered as the effect of the hurry and diftrefs you were then then in. An idea at laft ftruck me, that I had heard fay Grafville Abbey was the refidence of your ancestors. I had often heard talk of the venerable pile, when in Italy before, and now determined to vifit it, conceiving that you might be there concealed. I immediately fet out for Montferrat, taking with me only one fervant; and, after two days' journey, we found ourselves near this gothic mangon. It grew dark; but I refolved to fee the external part before I flept; we at length entered. the thick wood on the left fide of the building. Its lofty towers began to appear above the gloomy black foliage, and the rifing moon fhone in full fplendour on its gray, decayed walls. I food ftill fome time to admire the awful and beautiful fcene before me; after which I refolved to have a nearer view of the abbey. My fervant now attempted to diffuade me from my refolution. "My lord," faid he, "we were told at the inn we laft ftopped at, that this wood was infefted by banditti;for heaven's fake do not venture further." "I laughed at the poor fellow's fears, and confidered the report as merely the confequence of no perfon daring to go near the abbey. I therefore infifted on riding forward; and we proceeded into the very heart of the wood, when I began to be rather alarmed myfelf; for the moon being obfcured by heavy clouds, its intricacies became fo great, that I could not find the path we had first followed. "We had not continued in this fituation above a quarter of an hour, when we perceived two men approach, whofe appearance gave fome reafons for apprehenfion. .They were armed, and we also had weapons of defence. At length they accofted us; and by the manner of their addrefs, we found they were robbers. Having afked a few fri, volous queftions, they began to ufe rough language, and told us we must go no further, for that we were their prifoners.-But our number being equal, I resolved not tamely to fubmit; and giving my man the hint, he engaged with one, while I undertook the other. | Each of the party fired a piftol, but nor one fell; when one of the men whistled aloud, and in lefs than three minutes, we were furrounded by a party of the banditti. Having difarmed us and taken all our mo ney, they led us in a kind of triumph ftill further into the wood, till we arrived at the opening of a large cave.. The robbers having knocked at a heavy door almost concealed by trees, it was opened by a youth feemingly not above fourteen, who conducted us, by the light of a lamp, down a steep defcent, which gradually became wider, and terminated in a large fpace, partitioned into feveral apartments. In one of the largest a cloth was fpread for fupper, and an elderly man ftood cooking of it in another room. "Jofcelin," faid the leader of the party," fecure thefe prifoners; but mind that they are used well, and give them a hot fupper." "Signor," continued he, turning to me, 66 your fituation is not fo bad as you may fuppofe : if you are not refractory, we fhall be moderate." Jofcelin conducted us to the further part of the cave, and placed us in a small but clean chamber, in which was a good bed. Felix, my fervant, now began to rub his hands with pleafure, and ftrove to communicate that comfort to me, which he derived from the idea of having a good lodging and fupper, inftead of a fpeedy death.. But my diftrefs was not fo easily to be alleviated. I was now confined, I knew not for how long, from the fight of all I held most dear;" (His lordflip here looked most tenderly tenderly at Matilda). "and I, We never chule to enter any one confidered that death itself would actually against his will, as treachehave been more welcome than ry may be the refult of fuch a fuch an untimely delay. I could how-choice. If it is therefore found that ever blame nothing but my own your inclinations are not agreeable rafhnefs, and confequently endea- to our wishes, you are both certain voured to fupport my mifchance to fall victims. Do not difcover with as much philofophy as poffi- the information I have given you ble. of our proceedings, as in that cafe L "Supper was brought us, and al-muft, as I before told you, become though I had no appetite, I tafted of it; but Felix took care to make up for my deficiency in point of eating. "I had but little fleep that night, and rofe in the morning very unwell. Breakfaft was brought us early; and while I was expecting what would be the iffue of this ftrange treatment from men whofe behaviour I expected to find quite different, our attendant after a few hems thus addreffed us : "As you are two persons whose a facrifice to my good will to you. Be cautious therefore; maturely deliberate on your fituation ;-profit by the intelligence I have communicated; nor idly throw away your lives, when you have it in your power to preserve them." (To be continued.) FASHIONABLE HYPOCRISY. courage and manners I much ad- (From Mrs. Robinson's Novel of mire,-I fhall entirely deviate from the regular rules of our fociety, and even put myself in your power, by acquainting you with circumftances, which were it known I related, death must be my reward." "Having thanked him as well as my furprife would let me, he continued: "One moon has nearly paffed, fince we loft two brothers of our order, which accordingly now wants that number to make it complete. It is our ufual cuftom, after fuch events, to seize on the first travellers who fall in our way; and that lot has happened to you; and you are in confequence now treated in our customary manner, which I am fure you have no reafon to complain of. An offer is always made to the per. fons thus taken, to accept the vacant places of our fociety, and live with us after the ufual method of the brotherhood. You will both of you fhortly receive fuch proposals: and though no compulfion may appear in them, yet, mark me, certain death is the confequence of a refufal. I I Angelina.) CONSIDER even the frailty of our fex lefs reprehenfible, if avowed, than the who practises that fraud, that defpicable fraud, which would impofe upon the world by a falfe affectation of chastity. Every hour of fuch a being's existence muft appear an age of trembling apprehenfion; every whifper muft alarm her foul, left it fhould proceed from the voice of truth and when the meannefs of her diffimulation is expofed to the prying world, when the cloak of affumed reputation is fnatched from her bofom, the ridicule and contempt that follow, are only augmented by the falfehood that provoked them. : It is this fort of hypocrify that encourages the libertine, that betrays the innocent, and ftigmatifes the very name of chafity; and there cannot be the smallest doubt, that the woman who counterfeits a reputation which fhe feels confcious of not deferving, is a more dangerous member of fociety than |