"Does the know who has been here?"

“No, my lady.”

"Does the earl know ?" She answered as before. "Then oblige me by not mentioning it."

the continent, and had become ac quainted with Merioneth in Italy. I fuppofe it was foon announced to him by the earl, who feems fond of his company, that I was the intended wife of Albert; for Clifford behaves to me with nearly as much folemnity as if I was really fhackled. Thus I have given you an account of my acquaintance with Clifford. I have not encouraged a private correfpondence; for I never heard from him, or of him, from the time I left Malvern till we met here. And, without knowing thefe particulars, is it poffible you could be ferious in withing to fee me the

That very day we left Malvern, and staid one month at Twickenham, when the earl was advised to refide entirely in the neighbourhood of Bristol. You are acquainted that we never left that place till after I fuftained my irreparable lofs. Clifford was frequently in my thoughts. I endeavoured in vain to forget him; and, whenever any propofals were made to me of mar-wife of Merioneth, merely because riage, I found he had more claims upon my heart than my judgment approved. I refolved to forget him, but, at the fame time, determined never to marry till I had accom-hefitating and reluctant hand of a plifhed that refolution. This was the exact ftate of my heart when we met here. Our mutual furprise Our mutual furprife was easily concealed from the company, as they entered unexpectedly, and furprifed all by their appearance. We were formally introduced 'to each other. I believe I blushed a little: I know he was agitated.

He feized an early opportunity of fpeaking to me alone, congratulated himfelf on this fortunate meeting, hoped I had not ceafed to think fometimes of Clifford.-Ay, Jane! he knew but little of my heart.-I told him, that meeting him had given me great pleasure.

Why then (interrupting me) that air of referve on my approach?"

it may be made fubfervient to my intereft? Should I,-admitting that he could be perfuaded to propofe himself to me,-fhould I take the

man whofe heart I know is devoted to another? Shall I facrifice my prefent feelings and my future peace, and entail lafting mifery on a deferving man, for the paltry confideration of being what the world calls well established? Jane, you fhould have known me better.-I know all the value of wealth,-all the advantages of rank; but refusing to marry Merioneth can deprive me of neither. I do not pretend to judge of the propriety of his attachment to mils Rutland: I only know that they are two deferving perfons, whofe happiness I will do every thing in my power to promote.

Auguft 4.

I Have juft parted from Mrs. Merioneth: fhe has been renew

"I had never, fir, informed my friends that I knew the gentleman who had fo effentially ferved me. How then could I take upon me, fo turrounded by fpectators, to an-ing the old theme-"Do, pray, nounce my prior knowledge of you?" "I am anfwered, madain," returned he.-Merioneth joined us, and the converfation ended.

I learnt by their converfation that he had been for fome months op

Laura, to oblige me, take one week to confider of the advantageous propotals made by your uncle.”

Were I to confider for a twelve. month, madam, I could return no other antwer than the one I have already

already given. I cannot accept | be removed to thofe which are emp

lord Merioneth."

"Do not be fo pofitive. you will think of it."

Say

"Yes, madam: but it is in want of my own."

ty, by Jenkinfon's; and the latter cottages are to come down, and the dog-kennels are to be erected in their place. A wall is however to be built on purpose to conceal the cottages which are fuffered to remain, from the fight of my uncle's right honourable eyes. His optics are too weak to bear the fight of diref; and the poor inhabitants have already had orders not to walk in the park while the family remain at the priory. I have vifited them feveral times; and nothing can ex ceed the gratitude of Jenkinfon, and poor Mary for the privilege of retaining their old habitations.

I cannot conclude this letter with i out relating a circumftance which occurred this morning at breakfast. Lord Severn had rode out, and was not returned.-Speaking of lord Severn, faid my aunt, addreffing herfelf to the earl, "Do you know if the late lord Severn's lady is yet living?"

Inftantly the cup fell from the hand of Ellen.-Lady Derwent, looking at her with great tenderness, obferved that fhe looked ill, and advised her to walk a little in the garden.

"Strange girl!" fhe answered, and left me to myself. I took up my pen to transcribe the converfation. How tirefome is their obftinacy! I really will fpeak myfelf to Merioneth on the fubject, and tell him to make love to me, in or"His mother, I believe, is living," der that I may get rid of their im- he replied: " but the late earl neportunities. As to tord Severn, hever was married"—laying a particu、 ftill follows Julia. Mrs. Maynard lar ftrefs on the laft fentence. purfues Clifford; while the boifterous addreffes of that brute, fir John, to the timid, and I believe unhappy, Ellen, appear fanctioned by the earl, and forwarded by the countefs. It is ftrange that they can with her facrificed to fuch a wretch: but any thing, fo they feparate her from Merioneth; for I cannot fuppofe them blind to his fondness for her, nor can fee fo great an impropriety, or fo many attending ills, as you reprefent, in his marrying of ber,-fince I think I can venture to affirm, Merioneth will never bow to a gilded idol; and I am fure he has too much honour ever to propole any other than honorable terms to the object of his love.

As to our cottages,-at my aunt's entreaty, they are to remain. The families from the further ones are to!

She availed herself of the propofal, and hurried out of the room. "You have quite spoiled that girl," cried lord Derwent haughtily. Her affectation is become infupportable."

"Surely my lord," faid Merioneth, "on this occafion, Mifs Rutland's weakness may be defended.”

"Perhaps, fir, I may think otherwife; but I obferve," continued he, farcaftically, "that you frequently court the honour of defending her."

"I always confider it as a point of honour to defend the abfent,” faid Merioneth. The

The entrance of Severn ended the | pigs, affes, dogs, and horfes, was

difcourfe. Certainly mifs Rutland's fate is fomehow interwoven with the family of Severn. They are fearceJy known to each other; and yet his name is never mentioned without

faid to be extinguifhed in the wonderful wisdom which blazed in the genius of this bird-catcher's canary. The canary was produced, and the owner harangued him in the follow

66

her betraying the most visible emo-ing manner, placing him upon his tions. I wish I could obtain her confidence; but all attempts at it would appear matter of curiofity. Adieu for the prefent.

Yours, &c.
LAURA MERIONETH.

(To be Continued.)

The CANARY BIRD.
(From Pratt's Gleanings.)

Aa,
Α

fore-finger. Bijou (jewel) you are now in the prefence of perfons of great fagacity and honour; take heed you do not deceive the expectations they have conceived of you from the world's report: you have got laurels beware their withering. In a word, deport yourself like the bijou (the jewel) of canary birds, as you certainly are.”

"That's good," fays the mafter, pulling off his hat to the bird. "Now, then, let us fee if you are a canary of honour, Give us a tune."-The canary fung. "Phaw, that's too harth: 'tis the note of a raven with a hoarfenefs upon him: fomething pa thetic." The canary whiftled as if its little throat was changed to a lute. "Fafter," fays the man." Slow. er-very well-but what a plague is this foot about, and this little head?—No wonder you are out, Mr. Bijou, when you forget your That's a jewel.-Bravo, bravo, my little man."

All this time the bird feemed to liften, and, indeed, placed himself in the true attitude of attention, by T Cleves, I was refiding with floping his head to the ear of the ર. Pruffian family, during the man, and then diftinctly nodding time of the fair; which I fhall twice when his master left off speak pafs over, having nothing remark-ing; and if ever nods were intelliable to diftinguifh it from other an-gible and promiffory, these were nual meetings, where people affem- two of them. ble to ftare at, cheat each other, and divert themselves, and to spend the year's favings in buying thofe bargains which would have been probably better bought at home. One day after dinner, as the deffert was juft brought on the table, the travelling German muficians, who commonly ply the houses at thefe times, prefented themselves and were fuffered to play; and juft as they were making their bows for the money they received for their harmony, a bird-catcher, who had rendered himself famous for educat-time. ing and calling forth the talents of the feathered race, made his appearance, and was well received by our party, which was numerous and benevolent. The musicians, who had heard of this bird-catcher's fame, begged permition to ftay; and the mafter of the houfe, who had a great fhare of good-nature, indulged their curiofity: a curiofity, indeed, which every body participated; for all that we have heard or fein of learned

All that he was ordered or reminded of, did he do to admiration, His head and foot beat time-humoured the variations both of tone and movement; and, the found was ajuft echo to the fenfe,' according to the firicteft laws of poetical, and (as it ought to be) of mufical compofition" Bravo! bravo!" reechoed from all parts of the dining room.The muticians fwore the ca

than any of their band. "And do you not show your sense of this civility, fir?" cries the bird-catcher, with an angry air. The canary bowed moft refpectfully, to the great delight of the company. His next achievement was going through martial exercife with a ftraw gun, after which," My poor Bijou," fays his owner, "thou haft had hard work, and must be a little weary; a few performances more, and thou thalt repofe. Show the ladies how to make a curtfey."

The bird here croffed his taper legs, and funk and rofe with an eafe and grace that would have put half our fubfcription affembly belles to the blufh-That's my fine birdand now a bow, head and foot correfponding." Here the ftriplings for ten miles round London might have blushed alfo." Let us finish with an hornpipe, my brave little fellow -that's it-keep it up, keep it up." The activity, glee, fpirit, and accuracy with which this laft order was obeyed, wound up the applaufe (in which all the musicians joined, as well with their inftruments as their clappings) to the highest pitch of admiration. Bijou, himfelf, feemed to feel the facred thirft of fame, and fhook his little plumes, and carolled an Io Pean that founded like the conscious notes of victory.

nary was a greater master of mufic | length the fleep feemed to fix him in a fteady pofture';, whereupon the man took him from his finger, and laid him flat upon the table, where the man affured us he would remain in a good found fleep, while he himself had the honour to do his beft to fill up the interval. Accordingly, after drinking a glass of wine, (in the progres of taking off which he was interrupted by the canary bird fpringing fuddenly up to alfert his right to a fhare, really putting his little bill into the glafs, and then laying himself down to fleep again) the owner called him a faucy fellow, and began to fhow off his own independent powers of entertaining. The forte of these lay chiefly in ba lancing with a tobacco-pipe, while he fmoked with another, and feveral of the pofitions were fo difficult to be preferved, yet maintained with fuch dexterity, that the general attention was fixed upon him. But while he was thus exhibiting, an huge black cat, who had been no doubt on the watch, from fome unobferved corner fprung upon the table, feized the poor canary in its mouth, and rushed out of the window in defpite of oppofition. Though the dining-room was emptied in an inftant, it was a vain purfuit; the life of the bird was gone, and its mangled body was brought in by the unfortunate owner in fuch dif may, accompanied by fuch looks and language, as muit have awaked pity in a mifanthrope. He fpread him half length over the table, and mourned his canary-bird with the moft undiffembled forrow." Weli may I grieve for thee, poor little thing; well may I grieve: more than four years haft thou fed from my hand, drank from my lip, and flept in my bofom. I owe to thee my fupport, my health, my ftrength, and my happiness; without thee, what will become of me? Thou it was who enfured my welcome in the best company. It was thy genius only Ee

"Thou haft done all my biddings bravely," faid the mafter, careffing his feathered fervant; "now then take a nap, while I take thy place." Hereupon the canary went into a counterfeit flumber, fo like the effect of the poppied god, first fhutting one eye, then the other, then nodding, then dropping fo much on one fide, that the hands of feveralof the company were ftretched out to fave him from falling, and juft as thofe hands approached his feathers, fuddenly recovering, and dropping as much on the other; at Vo XXVII.

made

made me welcome, is a just punishment for my vanity: had I relied only on thy happy pow-ceived for their own efforts. The ers, all had been well, and thou hadft been perched on my finger, or Julled in my breast at this moment! but trufting to my own talents, and glorifying myself in them, a judgment has fallen upon me, and thou art dead and mangled on this table. Accurfed be the hour I entered this house! and more accurfed the deteftable monfter that killed thee! Accurfed be myself, for I contributed. I ought not to have taken away my eyes when thine were clofed in frolic. O, Bijou, my deareft only Bijou, would I were dead alfo."

But thy death | pocket of the bird-man the very contribution they had just before re

As near as the fpirit of his difordered mind can be transfufed, fuch was the language and fentiment of the forlorn bird-catcher; whofe defpairing motion and frantic air no words can paint. He took from his pocket a little green bag of faded velvet, and taking out of it fome wool and cotton, that were the wrapping of whiftles, bird-calls, and other inftruments of his trade, (all of which he threw on the table, "as in fcorn,") and making a couch, placed the mutilated limbs, and ravaged feathers of his canary upon it, and renewed his lamentations.

These were now much foftened, as is ever the cafe, when the rage of grief yields to its tenderness; when it is too much overpowered by the effect to advert to the caufe. It is needless to obferve to you, that every one of the company fympathised with him; but none more than the band of muficians, who, being engaged in a profeflion that naturally keeps the fenfibilities more or lefs in exercife, felt the diftrets of the poor bird-man with peculiar force. It was really a banquet to fee these people gathering themselves into a knot, and after whispering, wiping their eyes, and blowing their nofes, depute one from amongst them to be the medium of conveying into the

poor fellow perceiving them, took from the pocket the little parcel they had rolled up, and brought out with it, by an unlucky accident, another little bag, at the fight of which he was extremely agitated; for it contained the canary feed, the food of the "dear loft companion of his heart." There is no giving language to the effect of this trifling circumftance upon the poor fellow; he threw down the contribution money that he brought from his pocket along with it, not with an ungrateful but with a defperate hand. He opened the bag, which was fastened with red tape, and taking out fome of the feed, put it to the very bill of the lifelefs bird, exclaiming-" No, poor Bijou, no~ thou can'ft not peck any more out of this hand, that has been thy feeding place fo many years-thou can st remember how happy we both were when I bought this bag full for thee. Had it been filled with gold thou had'st deserved it.” “It shall be filled, and with gold, faid the mafter of the house, if I could afford it."

GRASVILLE ABBEY;
A ROMANCE.
By G. B.
(Continued from p. 167.)

ICTURE to yourselves my fi

tuation, after having heard the information of the friendly robber : forced, as I may say, either to follow a life of depredation and villany, or fall a facrifice to a fet of wretches who, I had now every reason to fuppofe, were deftitute of even the common feelings of humanityI had hardly time for this reflection, before the captain of the banditti entered, and prefented me with the propofals,

7