rapture this apparent change in her son, while her daughter Julia de Watteville, an interesting girl, now in her eighteenth year, yet hoped she mind find a future protection in him when her parents were no more. Such was the close deception young Edmund was enabled to carry on by his consummate art. But the day was not far distant when all these bright prospects were to be destroyed, and all the fondest hopes of his parents for ever buried. her children, beheld with unfeigned public intimation of an intended tournament to be held in the castle on the marriage of his youngest daughter, Emily de Lancy, to the young Count Marino. Every preparation was made to unite splendour with hospitality. Among the illustrious visitors on the occasion were the Baron de Watteville and his family. A greater display of military prowess was expected on this occasion than, perhaps, had ever before dignified the nuptials of any nobleman. Every knight was anxious to retrieve former losses, or to increase former glories. Those who had reaped the highest renown in the field of battle were yet willing to increase it on the present occasion; those who had scarcely ever wielded hostile arms, felt an ambition to become illustrious among the illustrious. Such general ardour was, perhaps, never before excited on a similar occurrence; but the Baron's known liberality, munificence, and hospita lity, were such as inspired the coldest bosoms with a desire to distinguish themselves. Among the various noblemen who possessed estates in the spacious forest of Ardennes, was the Baron de Lancy, a man of immense possessions and splendid fortune. His magnificence kept pace with his opulence, and he frequently held justs and tournaments in his castle, to which he invited all those whom rank, fortune, or military glory had raised to distinction. On these occasions it was customary for all the most celebrated ladies to be present, and to bestow, after the combat, the meed of victory on the hero who remained Amid this general anticipation of triumphant. Such an assemblage of future glory, young Edmund was not beauty usually inspired the comba- inactive. Other motives than the tants with more than common ar- mere impulse of renown actuated his dour; and many a knight would ra- bosom: he had, himself, formerly ther die upon the field, than suffer advanced his pretensions to the hand his opponent to receive the guerdon. of Emily. The offer was rejected Female ideas were not, in that rough with some degree of contempt on her period, of so delicate a cast as now; part, and with coolness on that of the they could then behold with few Baron's. But Edmund, unused to emotions of terror, or even pity, the brook contradiction, or to be repulsed furious clash of arms and streaming in the pursuit of any object he had gashes of the warlike combatants; once assimilated to his mind as neanxious only for the safety of him cessary to his happiness, persisted in whom they had honoured, from mo- his importunities till they became tives of affection, with marks of their disgusting to the one and insolent to esteem. The revolting sentiments the other. Finding it impossible to which, in this enlightened age, would advance his suit with any prospect of possess the mind of every British success, he, as usual, determined to fair, at the sanguinary scenes of employ force and art to effect his slaughter which were then prevalent, designs. He justly suspected a rival would be painful beyond sufferance; to be the cause of his rejection, and and it is, perhaps, not asserting too the very idea was sufficient to awaken much to say, that they now feel more in his bosom the most hateful passympathy and generous anxiety at sions. Resolved to ascertain the the fictitious representations of the truth of his suspicions, he began to theatre, than the ancient warlike devise means by which to arrive at dames did at the sanguinary conflicts that certainty. Bribery, he knew, of romantic ardour. To return, however, to the subject of my narrative. It happened, about this period, that the Baron had given was one effectual method, and sometimes the shortest. This he tried, and played off his golden artillery upon the feeble resistance of a do PRINCE OF WALES'S ISLAND.- mestic in the Baron de Lancy's ser- VOYAGE from PORT JACKSON to vice. This man, whose name was Gasparo, he allured over to his interests, and made him instrumental in his designs, not only of ascertaining the fact, but of revenging it when ascertained. Having, by the intervention of this faithless servant, gained admission secretly into the garden, he concealed himself behind some trees, so that he might be unobserved, and yet watch all the motions of those whom he suspected. He had learned that it was their principal amusement, in an evening, to walk and discourse on themes of love and future bliss. Edmund, like another Satan, resolved, though he could not himself enjoy, yet to blast the enjoyments of others, and he wished to learn who this successful rival was, that he might sacrifice him, not to his jealousy, but to his sanguinary passions. His actions did not proceed from the feelings of an injured man, wounded in that peace of heart which a beloved mistress alone could give; they were the result of a more than fiend-like ferocity, which murdered the happiness it could not reach. YE sailed from Port Jackson on WThursday evening, the 21st of April, 1803, with a division of the Our passage to Norfolk island was He waited impatiently for their approach; and his impatience height ened his resentment. At length he heard the distant murmur of voices; they drew nearer, and he perceived, indistinctly, forms approaching. The fumult of his soul arose; and as they approached, irresolute and weak, he knew not how to act; whether to rush like a lion on his unguarded victim, or to dog him to a place of more convenient sacrifice. While he was thus debating within himself, they approached nearly opposite the spot where he lay concealed: their conversation was now distinct, and, before he could justly discriminate who they were, the following words ter took charge. caught his eager attention:"I tell you, Edmund never shall possess her; my dagger should sooner drink his heart's blood, than he disgrace my family by an alliance." As these words were uttered, they turned into another path, and were out of sight in a moment. [To be continued.] I have before informed you of there being no harbour or good anchorage for shipping at Norfolk island. We had to row for some distance in a very rough sea. When we reached the landing place, a rope, made fast to a ring at the stern of the boat, was held by the other end by the people on shore, who, at the favourable juncture for landing, bawled out, as the surf receded, bottom of the hills, and leads to a hut belonging to government, and a garden that produces as fine oranges as those at Rio de Janeiro. "now, now, now." Eagerly, in my crops of Indian corn. A charming turn, obeying this signal, I somehow shady walk between banana-trees drew the rope with such force after winds for some distance round the me, that, catching the master under the chin, it jerked his head over the side of the boat, and threw his feet up into the air: luckily the people in the boat caught hold of his legs, or The governor having been at the he would have been overboard. The trouble of getting his single horse fright I had then accidentally given chaise (the only car jage in the island, the old sailor, with the ludicrous cir- and which had beeg for some time cumstances attending it, made me out of repair) put to rights to accomlaugh, and, together with the impe- modate me, I set out immediately tuosity with which it was necessary after breakfast the next morning on a to land, drove all thoughts of the ride to Carcade, accompanied by a danger of crossing the plank out of lady in the chaise, and three gentlemy head till I was fairly over it, men on horseback. I have already escorted by my companions. We given a description of this road as it set off for Sydney, and by the time appeared when I walked it by moonwe had got half way the moon rose, light, but one of its chief beauties I and made the remainder of the walk 'could not at that time discern. The truly delightful. The scenery around vines of a lively green, bearing a dewas romantic, the road running between pine-trees, which rise to a majestic height. One of these was cut down whilst I was at Norfolk island, and measured three hundred and eighty feet in length. As we approached Sydney we were met by Colonel Foveaux, who has been governor here for some time; who very politely welcomed us on shore. The next morning, Monday, several gentlemen accompanied me to see the new government-hase, building under the direction of the lieutenant governor. It will be a large and substantial house, pleasantly situated on a gentle eminence, commanding a view of the town of Sydney, Turtle bay, and Nepean and Phillip islands. On these islands there are a variety of choice shells, but difficult to be got at, on account of their adhering to sharp rocks that prevent the use of the dredge. licate lilac flower, in shape resembling the convolvulus, creeping round the trunks of the lofty pines, joined together in many parts, and hanging down between them in festoons, have an elegant effect. There is likewise growing in great abundance a dark green shrub, with a large glossy leaf, containing a poisonous juice. From the summit of the hill, on the Carcade side, there is a pretty view of the village of Phillipburg in a valley with the hills bordering on the sea, of which there is an extensive prospect between seven sugar-loaf eminences. The chief purport of my visiting Carcade was to call on Mrs. F. and to introduce the lady that accompanied me to her, with the hope that her society might be soothing to her wounded mind, and help to soften this seclusion from her nativo country and a number of respectable Returning from our walk, the sig- friends. Mr. F. I have been informnal was made for another ship being ed, was most unjustly sent from Irein sight. In the afternoon a boat land, during the disturbances four from the strange sail brought intelli- years ago, on a groundless suspicion gence of her being the Alexander, of sedition, and was, without any whaler, Capt. Rhodes, from New Zealand, returning to Port Jackson. This morning I walked as far as Queenbury, a few huts scattered in a vale, which do not deserve the name of a village; but their situation is beautiful and romantic; the steep hills on each side of the valley affording rich pasture, or yielding luxuriant trial, banished to New South Wales for life. Government have lately taken his case into consideration, and have appointed him to the clerical duty of Norfolk island, with a salary of 150l. per annum. Mrs. F. is sister to an eminent divine of Dublin: she resisted the united entreaties of her friends to remain, and with a child of two years old followed her the word of command, the eight oars husband into banishment. A settled made a long stretch, and instantly the dejection appears on both their coun- boat was almost up an end, then detenances, and his health is at times so scended, and in this manner surmuch affected, that I think there is mounted the foaming surge, without little probability of his continuing any further inconvenience than the long in this world. Mrs. F. had unpleasant sensation it excited, and been brought to bed only a week our getting a little wet from the surf. before of a lovely boy, which, with When the boat had quite cleared the a little girl, constituted her family, reef, the crew lay on their oars and having lost the son she had in Ireland gave three cheers, which was answerand one she had at Port Jackson by ed from the shore by all the officers, the dysentery. I hope you will par- &c. who remained standing on the don my dwelling so long upon these beach till they saw us out of danger. circumstances, when you reflect how We had now three miles to row in the much my feelings were interested in open sea, but the evening being very their unfortunate destiny. favourable we reached the ship at By the time we returned to Sydney sunset in perfect safety. I only deour ship was lying off the town, at tained the boat to reward the men the distance of two miles, the landing for their trouble, and to write a few being better on that side than at Car- lines, and then arranged every thing cade, but as there was a considerable for our departure the moment the surf I had not any idea of embarking; cutter with the master and purser therefore, after dining with an agree- returned, for which we were very able party, we were just setting out impatient, and wished to put an end to take an afternoon's walk, when to the anxiety which must always the cutter came on shore, with the prevail from the perilous situation all master, and brought a letter with infor- ships are in at that place. A signal mation that they only waited my return gun was fired to hasten their return; on board to sail, and a request that, if but there was no appearance of the the surf did not run high, I would come boat till nine o'clock the next mornoff in the cutter. The governor thought ing, when she came off, and informI might go off very safely in his ed us that the surf had risen so high whale-boat with his men, but objected in the evening, before the boat that to the cutter and the hands in her, brought re off returned, that the who were unaccustomed to the place. coxswain was washed overboard After a few moments consideration I three times, my letter lost, and the determined to go off, and accepted boat very nearly wrecked; so that the governor's offer of his whale-boat, the cutter could not venture off till though it was with some difficulty morning. No shore-boat being off, that I resisted the solicitations of my friends on shore to stay all night. I walked down to the beach; but just as we reached it, a violent surf came rolling over the very rocks on which the Sirius was wrecked, which recurring at the moment to my recollection, intimitlated me a little, though not so much as it did the female we were prevented from having any further intercourse at this time with the inhabitants of Norfolk island, and the wind being favourable for our departure, we lost sight of land in a few hours. Sir, [To be continued.] W. HE sensibility of Lady Monta THE friends who were with me, and who On the CONDUCT of Lady M. W. entreated me to return and relinquish MONTAGUE towards H. FIELDING. all thoughts of going for that night; but my mind being made up, Ĭ received and returned many kind adieus, and stepped into the boat with my brother, who had been instructed to place my back to the surf till we got beyond the reef of rocks. The coxswain, who was reckoned the most skilful mariner upon the island, gave gue is generally supposed to. have been equal to her wit. A higher encomium could scarcely be passed, for in wit she certainly was not inferior to any of her sex. It is with reluctance that I point to Lady have thrown into the fire, if meat could have been got without money, or money without scribbling. The greatest virtue, justice, and the most distinguished prerogative of mankind, writing, when duly executed, do honour to human nature; but when degenerated into trades, are the most contemptible way of getting bread." Her ladyship regrets the death of Fielding, but merely as a writer, and as a being that relished existence.— Lady Mary Wortley Montague appears at one period to have been afraid, and at another ashamed, to own for a cousin the author of Tom Jones! "I am sorry," writes Lady Mary, "for H. Fielding's death, not only as I shall read no more of his writings, but I believe he lost more than others, as no man enjoyed life more than he did, though few had less reason to do so; the highest of his preferment being raking in the lowest sinks of vice and misery. His happy constitution (even when he had with great pains half demolished it) made him forget every thing when he was before a venison pasty, or over a flask of champaigne: and I am persuaded he has known more happy moments than any prince upon earth. His natural spirits gave Lim rapture with his cook-maid, and cheerfulness when he was starving Mary's conduct, in regard to Henry It may be averred that the dissipated habits of Fielding rendered him an improper intimate for a lady, but still he was entitled to the consi deration due to a relation and a man of genius. The frequent low pleasures in which Fielding was accustomed to indulge may, perhaps, in some part be attributed to the scantiThroughout every letter in which ness of his finances. Lady Montague Lady Mary mentions Fielding, she is was connected with many persons of entirely silent on the relationship that consequence and power. Through existed between them; and her lady- the medium of these she might have ship admired his talents; but then recommended her cousin to the noshe knew his poverty. "Since 1 tice of the court, and have given him was born," she observes in a letter an opportunity of proving that he to her daughter, "no original has was as well calculated to be an hoappeared, excepting Congreve and nour to his family in point of general Fielding, who would, I believe, have demeanor, as from poignancy of wit approached nearer to his excellencies and fertility of imagination. if not forced by necessity to publish without correction, and throw many productions into the world, he would I am, Sir, your's, &c. J. N. B. |