"Hanging, my lord, our histo-, and with the moft natural and de ry, or fome tradition fays, was formerly adopted as a mild punithment in place of ftarving." "I am fure," cried lady Bendham (who feldom fpoke directly to the argument before her) I am fure they ought to think themfelves much, obliged to us." "That is the greatest hardship of all," cried Henry. "What, fir?" exclaimed the earl. "I beg your pardon-my uncle licate touches; but I fhall, with your permiffion, communicate the remainder of my remarks on this pleafing tale, in another letter, for the enfuing month. Yours, &c. Euiz- L The INQUISITIVE FRENCHMAN. looks difpleafed-1 am very igno A YOUNG Parifian, travelling to Amfterdam, was attract rant-I did not receive my firft edu-ed by the remarkable beauty of a houfe near the canal. He addressed a Dutchman, in French, who flood near him in the vessel, with, "Pray. fir, may i ask who that houfe be cation in this country-and I find I ali." "It was, my lord, that what the poor receive to keep them from perifhing, fhould pafs under the name of gifts and bounty. Health, ftrength, and the will to earn a moderate fubfiftence, ought to be every man's fecurity from obligation." "I think a hundred pounds a great deal of money," cried lady Bendham," and I hope my lord will never give it again." "And to do I," cried Henry, "for if my lord would only be fo good as to speak a few words for the poor as a fenator, he might poffibly for the future keep his hundred pounds, and yet they ne ver want it." The Hollander anfwered him in his own language, “Ik kan niet verstaan -I do not understand you." The Parifian, not doubting but that he was understood, took the Dutchman's anfwer for the name of the proprietor. "Oh! oh!" faid he, "it belongs to Mr. Kaniferftan. Well, I am fure he must be very agreeably fituated; the house is most charming, and the garden appears delicious. I don't know that I ever faw a better. A friend of mine has one much like it, near the river Loire; but I certainly give this the preference." He added many other obfervations of the fame kind, to which the Dutchman made no reply. When he arrived at Amsterdam, he faw a moft beautiful woman on the quay, walking arm in arm with a gentleman; he asked a person who paffed him, who that charming lady was? But the man, not understand"Hising French, replied, "Ik kan niet verstaan." "Lord Bendham had the good nature only to fmile at Henry's fimplicity, whispering to himself, "I had rather keep my laft word was loft in the whisper." The characters of the two vil- "What! fir," replied our tralage girls, Hannah and Rebecca, veller," is that Mr Kaniferstan's are likewife excellently pourtrayed, wife, whofe houfe is near the canal? Indeed this gentleman's lot is en viable,-to pofless so noble a house and fo lovely a companion." lieve. This morning, before Mrs. Merioneth had made her appearance, I ftrolled into her dreffing The next day when he was walk-room, and foon perceived the good ing out, he faw fome trumpeters foul was dying with a fecret, which playing at a gentleman's door, who fhe did not know how in the world had got the largest prize in the to be delivered of; and, well knowDutch lottery. Our Parifian with- ing that there was no way of coming to be informed of the gentle- ing at it fo eafily as appearing inman's name, he was ftill anfwered, attentive to it, I fat down, took up a "Ik kan niet verstaan." book, and afked if I fhould read while fhe dreffed. a fine house, husband to fuch a beautiful woman, and to get the largeft prize in the lottery! It must be allowed that there are fome fortunate men in the world." "I "Oh!" faid he, "this is too great an acceffion of good fortune! "No, my dear," the replied: Mr. Kaniferftan proprietor of fuch" I have fomething of confequence to impart, and will not drefs yet." Then difmiffing her attendant, the informed me that lord Derwent had made propofals fo flattering and ge nerons, on behalf of his fon, to your friend, that the hoped I would acquiefce in their united wishes, and confent to receive his addreffes. About a week after this, our traveller walking about, faw a very fuperb burying. He afked whofe it was? "Ik kan niet verftaan," replied the perfon of whom he inquired. 65 Oh, my God!" exclaimed he, "poor Mr. Kaniferftan, who had fuch a noble house, fuch an angelic wife, and the largest prize in the lottery! He muft have quitted this world with great regret; but I thought his happiness was too complete to be of long duration." He then went home, reflecting all the way on the instability of human affairs. DERWENT PRIORY; In a Series of Letters. Lady Laura to Mifs Lumly. Wpared to applaud my netration ?-if not-liften and be "Are you quite certain, madam, that Merioneth wishes his addreffes to be received ?” part of the family who are left to please themselves. 1 believe Mrs. Merioneth, had acquainted lord Derwent with the nature of my reply to their propofals; for, when we met at dinner, his lordship was rather more stately to me than ufual. "Ah!” thought Í, "you will not awe me into compli rioneth!" cried I. "Really, madam,ance;" and I knew he had been lec turing his fon, for he looked ferious and uneafy. Clifford to walk with him into the I do not comprehend you." "Why, Laura, I have obferved, and I think you must have observed After dinner, when the whole it too, that lord Merioneth is family was affembled in the drawufually very attentive to mifs Rut-ing-room, lord Derwent àfked land; and not knowing how that young lady might interpret his affi-park, and infpect fome timber he duities, I frankly mentioned the matter to lady Derwent, who, affared me that Albert knew better what was due to his family, than to think of mifs Rutland in any other light than that of a friend; "and mifs Rutland," faid her ladyship, "has too much delicacy, too high a fenfe of honour, to wound, through my fon, the peace of his family." Now, to oblige me, Laura, confider of this, and impower me to give a favourable answer to lord Der went." "Indeed, I cannot, and muft fay I am very forry you should have been at the trouble of examining lord Merioneth's fentiments on my account." Here we were interrupted, and the converfation ended. No wonder there was a spare place for my picture. Love is preparing a pretty game at cross purpofes for us; and it seems as if there would be adventurés enough in our Priory, to furnifh out macerials for a modern novel. Here is the humble Clifford, bowing to me, while Mrs. Maynard evidently congees to him. Merioneth purfues Ellen, who is purfued by that brute fir John, her profeffed admirer. Severn follows Julia, who fmiles on him without restraint; and they are the only was about felling.-Mrs. Maynard declared the propofal was quite in time, for the wanted a walk in the park, to fee if Myrtle (her saddlehorfe, which arrived the day before) would know her. They departed. Lady Derwent foon after told Julia, fhe wanted her in the dreffing-room; and they retired. Prefently Julia returned" Ellen, mama wants you." "For what?" cried fhe."Nay, I don't know; but, I believe, to take a walk." Soon after, Mrs. Merioneth contrived to have forgotten fomething which the must fetch herfelf; and fo we were completely left to make love. I was netting, and continued my work.Merioneth continued playing with Julia's lap-dog.-At length my beau advanced. "Lady Laura, will you forgive my ftupidity? I am horrid company,' "Really," faid I, looking furprifed, "I had forgot your were in the room.' Again we were filent; at laft, by mere accident, I spoke of Ellen. His fine eyes fparkled with pleafure, and he exclaimed "is the not charming?" "She is indeed," was my reply. He walked to the other end of the room; and 1, without ceremony, walked off. After After fpending fome time in my own apartment, I went in fearch of the ladies, whom I found in lady Derwent's dreffing-room. On my entrance, there was not one of the groupe it contained, but betrayed by their looks their fecret anxieties. Lady Derwent looked in my face with fcrutinifing earneftnefs, as if she would have faid, "Albert has been commanded to make love to you, I hope he has fucceeded." Ellen appeared agitated: Julia fmiled: Mrs. Merioneth fimpered; but nobody fpoke. "Rlefs me!" I exclaimed, looking at Ellen, "I am afraid your walk has fatigued you, for you look very ill." fet her heart at eafe: but it was a fubje&t I could not enter on, without wounding her delicacy. He ap proached,-looked anxioufly in her face,-and inquired if he was unwell. : She replied, "only a little vapourifh, and overcome, I believe, with heat." She leaned on me, and trembled violently. Nothing, I think, could exceed the tenderness of his manner. Perceiving that the walked with difficulty, he placed himself between us: we each took an arın he led the way to a feat, threw his arm round her, but was filent. At length, finding we were not likely to become very good com. Der-pany in the garden, I propofed returning to the houfe. I chatted; Merioneth fmiled, and Ellen loft her tremor. We joined the family; and the reft of the day was fpent as ufual. "What walk ?" replied lady went: "we have been here all the afternoon." "Really, ladies," returned I, curtfeying, "you have been very polite. What apology can you offer for leaving me out of your afternoon party?" "We fuppofed," replied Mrs. Merioneth, that we left you in very agreeable company." Farewell for the present. Tuesday Noon. PASSING the mufic room this morning, the door was half open, and on feeing Merioneth and Ellen alone, I paufed, and heard, her entreat him to forbear urging a fubject which must involve them The blood forfook the cheek of both in ruin. "I have no family, Ellen. nor any fortune," he cried; " and I fhould have no gratitude if I could for a moment encourage hopes which muft unavoidably defeat all the views of your lordship's family." "What is the matter with you ?" cried lady Derwent, obferving her. "I have got," the replied, "an unufual pain in my fide." "Ah!" thought I, "the pain I fear is in your heart." Are you inclined," faid I, "to take a walk in fearch of Mrs. Maynard? Perhaps exercife may relieve you." She affented; and, for a wonder, nobody followed us; and, in walking through the fhrubbery, whom fhould we meet but the identical hero of my tale. Ellen drew up mighty ftately; I could eafily perceive the had been informed of the plan in agitation.-I could have "Ah! Ellen," faid he, "is it ftill neceffary for me to repeat that I cannot in this respect yield to their commands, or fubmit to their prejudices My heart, in a choice for life, claims a right to be confulted, and fpurns, with honeft fcorn, the paltry confiderations of birth or fortune. Hefteem lady Laura: fhe is a charming woman: but I cannot give her that love which has long been only yours." away. I wish he would only fpeak,, that I might fet all matters to rights again, by telling him I never will accept of him. I dare fay they have told him that he must make love to me; and then I fuppofe they mean to tell me that I must marry him; but I can affure them they will be much mistaken. My aunt this morning renewed the subject, juft after I had witneffed the fcene I have been relating; but I did not choose to make her my confident on this occafion. I therefore contented myself with, remarking, that as it was a matter on which we unfortu take place, to further views of her own. She is a woman of the world, and does not pay much attention to the peace of others, fo fhe promotes her own defigns. I am a little out of humour at their thus arrogating to themfelves a right to direct my choice. I believe they will find a failure in their plan -I never will marry where I cannot love; and I, like Merioneth, have no heart to give. Yours, &c. LAURA MERIONETH. nately differed, I thought the lefs To the EDITOR of the LADY'S we spoke of it the better. "I cannot give it up so easily," have SIR, MAGAZINE. cried the good fady: "I must have The following curious paffages are better reafons than any you yet given me, before I can bring myfelf to decline lord Derwent's propofals." "Well, madam!" faid I, (vexed, I must own, at her obstinacy) "take notice that I lead you into no errors: for I feriously declare I never can, nay more, I never will give my hand to Merioneth." "Good God !" the replied: "what perverseness!--do you expect a more advantageous offer " extracted from letters written to the late very ingenious and benevolent Mr. Robinson of Cambridge, by the rev. Mr. Browne, formerly of Magdalen - college, Cambridge, chaplain to the garrifon of Fort William, Calcutta -and copied from the Memoirs of Mr. Robinfon, lately published by Mr. Dyer. Yours, &c. F. C. Y imperfect knowledge, fays "That," I answered, " is a fub- "M Brown, of a great variety Μ ject I have never thought of." Quite the contrary-I admire it very much." "Do you never intend to marry, Laura? that you thus make a point of rejecting every propofal that is made to you." of leading facts, will very much cramp my correfpondence; but of one particular branch, the religious condition of the natives,-I have received confiderable information. The Mahometans make only about a ninth of the inhabitants of Bengal, who are chiefly "I certainly do not intend to Hindoos. The Bramin fuperftimatry any of those I have rejected,"tion, which it has been the fashion said Í. to reprefent as mild and inoffenfive, Here the entrance of Mrs. May-is, as I have the moft convincing nard put a period to the converfa-evidence, extremely cruel, oppreftion. She rallied me moft unmer-five, and fanguinary. As a fource cifully on the fubject; and I found of depopulation, it is worthy the atit was an alliance that the family tention of the legislature: the burnconfidered as concluded. I believe ing of the women, which has been Mrs. Maynard ardently wishes it to fuppofed a very partial thing, is an VOL. XXVII. A a ex |