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By Mahomet, (cried the general) | contributed greatly to increafe that here is a ftrange riddle. grief and melancholy which fhe at prefeat experienced.

It is no riddle, (faid the dervife) or at leaft, what you are about to fee, will explain it. Let us go up to the place where the workman is to begin his task.

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UNE

MACBETH.

INFORTUNATE parent, heaven will furely avenge thy wrongs; the wrath of the Almighty muft on a future time fall on him, who, with fiend-like malice, could plunge the innocent into mifery, wretchednefs, and defpair.

Thefe were the words of Matilda, as fe dropped the manufcript from her hand, and burst into a flood of tears. Such affecting mournful complaints, fuch a picture of horror and diftrefs, would greatly have fhocked her, had they proceeded from one not bound to her by the ties of relationship, or even those of friendship: but the idea of a father undergoing thofe fufferings,

Having wept for a confiderable time, the found herself in fome degree recovered. But fhe was entirely at a lofs to know in what manner to act with refpect to the information fhe fhould give to her brother relative to the manufcript. Matilda well knew his natural warmth of temper would not per mit him to use difcretion in his inquiries of Father Peter; and the ftrange myfterious behaviour of this man had prevented them from even trufting him with their fituation. It was true, the paper the had found fpoke well of him: but how eafily might her poor father have been deceived by artful profeffions of friendship to hide the lurking villany of his foul, and make his punctuality to the count's orders appear in lefs infamous and horrid colours. Now, fhould this man be ftill kept by D'Ollifont as a spy upon the abbey, her brother's inpetuofity might caufe him to throw himfelf in father Peter's power, without firft knowing either his character or inclination to ferve them.

Matilda was perfectly convinced thefe confiderations were juft, and wifhed to procure herself an expla nation from the hermit: but to vifit him alone undiscovered, was an expedient fhe was entirely ignorant how to contrive any means effect :-yet it was actually neceffary father Peter fhould be confulted, and that immediately.

to

After fome ftudy, a thought ftruck her, that he might fee him at night, after her brother, Leonard, and Agnes had retired to reft; but then the fhrunk from the idea of walking to the cave at fo late an hour. Second reflection, however, feemed to tell her fhe had nothing to fear; and that would be the only method fhe could take to obtain an interview, without the know.

ledge

ledge of any other perfon. At length fhe came to a determination to try her project the following night; and by the time this refolution was formed, day-light darted through the cafement of her chamber, and feemed to enliven nature with its cheering rays.

She had not yet heard Alfred enter his room: but whenever she had looked towards the weft tower, as the had done feveral times in the courfe of the night, the light feemed to continue in the fame place. This trifling obfervation gave her fome degree of comfort, as the fuppofed every thing remained quiet.

Some little time after, fhe heard Alfred open his chamber door, and fpeak to Leonard. Matilda felt confiderable happiness at his fafety: and as the was now perfectly fatisfied in that refpect, fhe.defired Ag. nes, when the arofe, not to wait breakfast for her; as having received but little reft during the night, she intended now to compofe herfelf to fleep.

She arofe at a late hour, and found her brother, Leonard, and Agnes in the parlour; the former was reading, and though his countenance was extremely pale, yet the thought he could perceive an inward fatisfaction and ferenity, the had lately been seldom witness to.

Aifred foon requested to fpeak with her alone, and with confiderable eagerness, afked her if he had found any thing of confequence in the cabinet.-Matilda acquainted him with every article, except the manufcript; he feemed in fome meafure difappointed, but fhewed great pleasure at the idea of the money.

Matilda was rather furprifed. That money (faid fhe), Alfred, we have no right to; nor do I know, in our fituation, that it would be of any material fervice, were it our

own.

We muft at all events make free

s;

| with it. Matilda; I have great reafon to fuppofe it does belong to us and we are now in the greatelt want of it.

How fo (replied his fifter, ftill more astonished) you told me the other day we had enough to fupport us for fome time at least.

True, (anfwered Alfred) but I have now other ufes for wealth; in fhort, Matilda, this night has difcovered to me circumftances of a moft wonderful nature; and the horrid myftery of this dreadful ab. bey is at length unravelled. Perhaps we may remain here a fhort time longer but I hope you will foon fee these gloomy fcenes of adverfity and foriow transformed to days and years of tranquillity, happinefs, and comfort.

Matilda ftood the image of amazement, and, for a moment, the thought her brother infane; but the glow of pleafure which overfpread his face, confirmed that his words were true; and his features once more appeared the fame as when in former times flie had feen him, with his own hands, relieve the fhivering famished beggar, and, his countenance glowingwith compaffion and benevolence, watch the poor wretch recover vital warmth and ftrength from the nourishment he had adminiftered. Matilda catched the heart-felt joy, but on her it took a different effect, and the burst into tears. Nor was Agnes's joy lefs, when he was informed of the good intelligence. She wept with pleafure at the idea of leaving the abbey, and ftill remaining with her dear young lady.

The good old Leonard too was feen to wipe his eyes, and heave a figh of ecftafy at this unexpected

turn of fortune.

Alfred however would give no fatisfactory answer to their inquiries concerning what he had feen in the weft tower: he only told them that the abbey must be ill their habitatio.i

habitation for a fhort period, but the time would pafs away with far more comfort than it had hitherto

done.

out there was actually a neceffity.— She waited a little tine, and had the pleasure to find Agnes afleep before the left the apartment.

Matilda took the lamp, and hav

great proceeded through the hall, and from that to the firft court, which foon brought her to the outer one.

Dinner-time arrived but the intelligence had cloyed every appe-ing foftly defcended the ftairs, tite, and it was removed almot without being tasted. Ifred, about half an hour after, left the abbey, and faid he fhould return towards evening.

She now began to tremble, and feel her fituation. To be entirely alone at fuch a hour of the night, was an idea in many refpects terrific. The pale and half-obfcured moon gave but an imperfect light, and that light was often eclipfed by dark heavy clouds, which feemed to rife from the outh, and form a gloomy mountain of dark mist towards the weft; while vivid flashes of lightning darted from the horizon, and illumined the gathered clouds on the fouth with uncommon ftrength.

Matilda had now time to confider whether, after what the bad heard, it would be proper to conceal the manufcript from her brother: and, though many reafons prompted her to give it him immediately, yet a little reflection told her, that the fame ill confequence he had before conceived, might arife from it. He might not yet be acquainted with the afferings of his father, nor with the knowledge the hermit had of his diftrefs and death. In fhort the refolved to act as she had before determined, and pay father Peter a vifit at midnight. But the wifhed not to leave Agnes without fpeak-chid herself for want of fortitude, ing: an excufe might ferve that and attempted to laugh at those The had left fome books in the par- fears, which now almoft prevented lour, which the wifhed to look over, her from fupporting herself. and which might detain her fome time to procure.

Matilda viewed the awful scene with great eniotion, and was several' times going to turn back; but fhe

She had however arrived nearly half way to the cave, when a found of human voices ftruck her ear at some distance.

Matilda liftened, thought it might only be a foft breeze which waved the thick groves of cyprefs that furrounded her. But he heard it again, and was convinced she was right; it feemed like a chorus or the chaunting of a funeral hymn for the foul of a deceafed perfon.

Alfred returned at the time he mentioned, and informed them he did not intend to watch in the tower that night. The evening was spent with fome degree of comfort, and at an early hour they retired to reft. Agnes was foon afleep, and Matilda read till near midnight. During this time the often looked at the cafement of the weft tower, but no light nor figure appeared. Having awaked Agnes, the informed her he was going to look for a book fhe had left in the parlour. Agnes But the voices feemed did not by any means like the idea of being left alone in the chamber, now to approach much nearer, and but Matilda reminded her that her he perceived a glare of light at fome brother and Leonard were within diftance above the foliage, which' call, in the next room, but the re-informed her the perfons whom the quefted her to make no noife with had heard were rear. Terror at

She stopped, and leaning againft a broken pedeftal which had formerly borne a ftatue, liftened with fome degree of pleafure to the fo lemn dirge.

being

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being difcovered, now overcame every other confideration, and with eager eye the fcrutinifed each side of the grove, to find a place of concealment. At length fhe fortunately found a fmall opening in one part, which, by putting back the boughs, with fome little trouble, admitted and closed her from view. She now conceived herself to be safe from obfervation, though there was a part through which he could plainly difcover whatever paffed on the other fide.

till the loft fight of them at the extremity of the grove.

Though elated at the idea of having escaped difcovery, the felt confi derable awe at the folemu fcene. In fhort, the fight of this midnight funeral, added to the ftrange dreffes of the mourners, impreffed on her mind a degree of terror which the was unable to overcome. Having left her fecret place of retirement, fhe paffed haftily the ftrange fepulchre ; and with hurried and trembling fteps, breathlefs with agitation, arFive minutes did not elapfe be- rived at the cave of father Peter. fore a proceffion of men entered the His lamp was burning, and at a path, ftill finging in the fame fo- diftance fhe could perceive him at lemn manner. A priest of holy his midnight devotions. His aged. orders proceeded firft; but how reverend figure was in the fame greatly was the aftonifhed, to fee pofture as when they firft difcovered him followed by about twelve men, him; and his crucifix, books, and who had every appearance of ban-hour-glafs, as ufual, stood before ditti, in dreis and figure. The first him. fix carried torches, the other half followed after, with flow and melancholy fteps. These were fucceeded by fix more, bearing a coffin on their fhoulders, which was covered with a black velvet pall, and adorned with trophies.

Matilda could hardly fuppofe herfelf awake, yet by the pale moon every figure feemed perfect, and the thought the could, in the faces of the last four, discover the visitors to the abbey on a former night. The whole company halted at the pedeftal, when, to the amazement of Matilda, two of them removed a large ftone, which formed the eap, and part of a Corinthian base: the pedeffal then parted, and was let down, which difcovered the entrance to a large vault. The fu

(To be continued.)

ACCOUNT of the NEW COMEDY, entitled THE WAY TO GET MARBIED, performed for the first time at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, on Saturday, Jan. 23, 1796.

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DAS

ftory.

Mr. Johnstone,
Mr. Pope.

Mifs Wallis.

Mrs. Davenport.
Mrs. Mattocks,

neral service was then read, by the The following is a sketch of the prieft who walked firft, after which the coffin was carried down by four of the bearers. Another dirge was then fung, and the pedestal was clofed, the cap, &c. being replaced: the proceffion having turned, proceeded back in the fame manner, VOL. XXVII.

ASHALL, a splashing citizen, who thrives by monopoly, having left London on account of bis affairs taking an adverfe turn, arrives at a country town, to vifit

M

his

in confequence of which, Clemen

his friend Toby Allfpice, a grocer, who is theriff of the corporation.tina Allfpice and Dafhall pay an Lady Sorrel alfo arrives there, un- obfequious court to Cauftic, whom der a pretence of vifiting her coufin they had before abufed; and DashCauftic; but in reality to meet all, to gain the fortune and foryoung Tangent, Cauftic's nephew, ward his fchemes, perfuades Toof whom he is enamoured. Tan- by Allspice to embark a large fum gent (a caftle-builder) who is the in a monopoly he is concerned in, victim of his own imagination,. ar- and that London is the only place rives at the fame time, and is told to make a large fortune in. Allby his uncle of the death of an old fpice is deluded by the flattering an maiden lady, whofe will he fhares, tieipations of Dafhall, and deterand by which it is imagined that mines to become a gay fellow. Allfpice's family will benefit to the When Capt. Faulkner is in prifon, amount of near 30,000l. Captain Julia comes to her friend Clemen. Faulkner and his daughter refide in tina, to beg her affiftance, who rethe fame town, in extreme poverty, ceives her with apathy and neglect. occafioned by a vexatious law-fuit Julia accidentally fees Tangent, at his attorney, M'Query, informs a moment when (though without a him a non-pros has taken place for filling in his pocket) he fancies want of cash to proceed. Captain himself worth thousands-Tangent, Faulkner opens his circumftances to without mentioning his defign, him, and acquaints him that, while leaves her to borrow money of he was in india, a lieut. Richmond, M'Query to difcharge Faulkner; who was flain there, left to his care and Dafhall, who has overheard the 1000l. for Mr. Tangent, and that converfation, promifes to meet her when he arrived in England, dif- at the prifon gate and liberate her treffes came upon him, and the father; but in reality intends to hopes of retrieving his eftates (left carry her off. Cauftic is violently him by his father when abfent, and irritated against Tangent, on hear which had been ufurped by a rela- ing that he has again borrowed motion,) induced him to make ufe of ney on ufurious terms, and reTangent's money; but being of folving to try what effect adverfity high pride, he cannot bear the idea will have on his hair-brained neof Tangent's knowing it. Tan-phew, determines to have him argent, by a freak of his imagination, is brought into the prefence of Faulkner, who denies having receivedany money from lieut. Richmond; and determines to leave the town immediately. In this interview, Tangent becomes enamoured of Julia Faulkner, which coming to the knowledge of lady Sorrel, he, in collufion with M'Query, orders Faulkner to be arrested for a debt due to M'Query. On the opening of the old maid's will, it is dif-him to propofe mutual fuicide. At. covered that her fortune is left to Cauftic, in truft that he fhall give it as a marriage portion to whatever woman he fall think moft worthy;

refted-in the doing of which, Tangent wounds the bailiff, and, in his way to prifon, encounters Dafhall, refcues Julia, and carries her to her father. Faulkner is deeply affected at the conduct of Tangent, and imagines from a hint dropt, that his concealment of Tangent's property is difcovered. This ftings him to madness; and the dread of famine, together with the probable difhonour of his child, determines

this moment Tangent having received the money of M'Query, and alfo difcovered his mal-practices with regard to captain Faulkner's

litigand

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