This was certainly a fevere ftroke, but I was now familiarifed to fuch unexpected events, and my fon, poffeffing much of his father's fortitude, bore it like a man. For our immediate fupport, we contrived to obtain payment of the L. 200 draft on the India Company, and fortunately, by the firft fhip from Madras, my fon received a full remittance for the reverfion of his father's property in India, which amounted to L.7000. This cheered our drooping spirits, and we immediately came down to this country, where my fon took this farm, and gave his hand to fabella Sempille. They have now been married five years, and are bleffed with three engaging children, two daughters and a fon as for me, I never have a wish ungratified; we live much by ourselves, but when a friend favours us with a vifit, my Francis and his Ifabella take a delight in thowing them hofpitality. The only thing which occafions us all fome little degree of inquietude, is the melancholy ftate of my poor fifter Ifabella (mentioned in the beginning of my little narrative,) the caufe of which I fhall tell you in a very few words: cern, that he delayed writing to his Ifabella for nearly three weeks, expecting every day to acquaint her that he had be gun bufinefs; and the thinking herself neglected, and fuppofing him the author of a ftory which happened at that time to appear in a Magazine, containing fome rather unpleasant allufions to our family, gave fcope to the natural impetuofity of her difpofition, and abruptly withdrew her promife and correfpondence. The young man was fo hurt by the defertion of his Isabella, that he banished her from his heart, and gave his hand to another, with whom I understand he has long lived happily; my poor fifter, upon more mature confideration, was fo ftruck with remorse, that he has, for a number of years paft, been quite filly in her judgment. She is harmlefs and inoffenfive, and, for the most part, wanders about the farm in folitude; frequently in tears, and upbraiding herself with unprovoked cruelty to one who loved her with the moft fincere affection. Juft as Mrs Dholfon had done fpeaking, her fifter entered the room, and by fome incoherent fentences, foon fhowed us the unhappy fituation of her mind ; fhe had all the appearance of having been once lovely, but the preffure of melancholy had reduced her to a fhadow: fhe approached me with a fmiling countenance, and taking hold of my hand, afked me if I would forgive her: "You are," faid the," my dear Mr was cruel-it was inhuman to use you fo-forgive your Ifabella and she'll pray for you in heaven here the wept, and with a convulfive laugh, the never-failing mark of a fordered brain, went haftily out of the room, greatly to the relief of us all present. J. F. When about the age of twenty-feven, a young man paid his addreffes to her, and the attachment, I believe, became mutual. He folicited her promife to be his companion for life fo foon as Providence fhould put him in a way to make her comfortable, and fhe frankly gave it him. Their vows of love and conftancy were facredly plighted, and, in fhort, they were married in the eye of heaven, He loved my fifter moft immoderately, and, impatient to poffefs his deareft Ifabella, (for so he always called her,) he embarked in trade with the very laudable view of, by care and induftry, foon accomplishing his meritorious intention.To begin the world, I have always confidered one of the most important tranfactions in a perfon's life, and with the rational part of mankind, it must ever be a matter of the most ferious confideration. My fifter's lover was fo much taken up in setting on foot his little con3 B Ed. Mag. May 1797. it [The writer of the above Narrative has in his poffeffion feveral of the origin. al letters which paffed betwixt the fifler of Mrs Dhollon and her lover. They are written with that fincerity of affection, and purity of fentiment, which cannot fail of making a deep impreffion upon the heart of every reader *.] POETRY. We fhall be glad to fee copies of thefe letters; and if they are calculated for publication, we shall infert them in fome future number of our Magazine. POETRY. All nature is hufh'd to repofe; The warblers, who welcome the fpring, Rife, moon, from behind thy dark cloud! Philomella, besprinkled with dew. Pours forth his deep fighs to the gale. Ah me, how diftrefsful my state, How long fhall I languish in pain, ******** would pity my woes, Were I but my love to reveal: She knows what it is to have fhed I'll lean on her bofom of fnew, But her virtue my words may diftruft, My love is as chafte as a beam Affection's kind language, that flows Away then, ye fhadowy forms! But, alas! I betake me in vain. Soon morning will come from her hall, Ah! Ah! foon I fhall reft in the tomb, She will water its rank weeds, that wave "I long for that period of joy, When thou shalt arrive on our fhore. "Here no dire misfortunes annoy; "But the fweets of love bloom evermore." THE RETREAT. From Prison Amusements. I A FAIRY SONG. By Wm. Afbburnham, jun. Efq. ELCOME, dear maid! to these foft Sounds fo fweet, like fhadows gay, W fcences! Welcome to these Elyfian plains! Corne love, and Laura, fix your seat. No drums, nor trumpet's martial found When morning gilds the opening east, When spring defcends in balmy fhow'rs, Then, arm in arm, we'll gaily rove For thee in this delightful bow'r, Even winter, defolation's fire, Quickly rife and quick decay. 3 B 2 But Love's gay godhead' (paffing ftrange) Yet ftill be young in wiles that vex By love, without finesse or art, For lowly and mean is my lot, Contented and humble at most; Shall the purchase from riches arise ? Too warmly, too fondly carefs'd; And to all that once pleasure could yield, THE Adieu, my fond lamb, e'en to thee! Once this heart thy sweet innocence mov'd; And with meckest humility fought. Mild emblem of Patience, adieu! Away, foft affectionate pet! For thy foothing endearments are vain, It fills me with tender regret To hear thee fo fondly complain. Ah why did the quit thofe proud courts Where nought but magnificence reigns, To join in our innocent fports, And vifit our peaceable plains? In pity the fhould have conceal'd Thofe charms which fuch paffion diffufe, And ne'er thofe perfections reveal'd Which ruin fo closely purfues. For now, with her virtues imprefs'd, JULIUS. ON SCOTLAND. "HEIR groves o' fweet myrtles let fo Where bright-beaming fummers exalt the perfume; Far dearer to me yon lone glen o' green breckan, With the burn ftealing under the lang yellow broom: Far dearer to me yon humble broom bow ers, Where the blue bell and gowan lurk lowly unfeen; For there, lightly tripping amang the wild flowers, A liftning the linnet, oft wanders my Tho' rich is the breeze, in their gay funny valleys, And cauld Caledonia's blast on the wave; Their fweet-fcented woodlands, that skirt the proud palace, What are they?-the haunt o' the tyrant and flave! The flave's fpicy forefts, and gold-bubbling. fountains, The brave Caledonian views wi' disdain; He wanders as free as the wind on his mountains, Save love's willing fetters-the chains of his Jean. PROCEED 383 PROCEEDINGS OF THE FIRST SESSION OF THE EIGHTEENTH PARLIAMENT OF HOUSE OF LORDS,-March 3. THE Bill for empowering the Bank of England to iffue notes under 51. was read a third time, and paffed. The Lord Chancellor left the Woolfack, and ftated, that in confequence of the Marquis of Lansdowne having inadvertently spoken and voted in the House on Tuesday, without having taken the oaths required by law, he had incurred certain penalties and difqualifications, which an Act of Parliament only could remove. He held a Bill in his hand for that purpose, to which his Majefty had graciously affented, and he moved to bring it in; which being granted, the Bill was read a first and second time, and ordered to be engroffed.-Adjourned to Monday. Thanks to Sir John Jervis. March 6. Earl Spencer, in a speech of the higheft panegyric on the late important victory over the Spaniards, moved, "That the thanks of the House should be conveyed by the Lord Chancellor to Sir John Jervis, for his brilliant and decided victory over the Spanish fleet, on the 14th of February 1797. The Duke of Bedford hoped Minifters had it in contemplation to move for fome more fignal mark of gratitude to him; he alfo thought the prefent motion not worded fufficiently ftrong to convey to pofterity that this was more than an ordinary victory. He fuggefted, therefore, that the words "fo greatly fuperior in number" fhould be inferted after the words "Spanish fleet." ever remain fo, for he hoped no British fleet would ever again be left to engage fo great a fuperiority. Lord Spencer, with much warmth, contended againft fuch a responsibility being thrown upon his fituation as that a British squadron fhould never have to contend with a fuperior force:―he had in this inftance, as he should in every other, fupplied the Admiral with every fupport it was in the power of the country to enable him to do. Lord Hood paid many compliments to the abilities and valour of Sir John; he faid, it appeared as if the gallant Admiral was aware that fome great atchievement was neceffary to difpel our present gloom, and therefore, confident in the valour, fpirit, and difcipline of the Officers and men whom he had in command, he boldly hazarded a risk which could only be equalled by his fuccefs'; no compliment, in his opinion, the House could pay, would more than counterbalance the fervice the country had received. After a variety of obfervations on the fubject, it was at length agreed, that the motion, with the amendment of great fuperiority of the Spanish fleet fhould be adopted; and the thanks of the House to Sir John Jervis, and to the Flag Officers, mentioning them by name, and the Captains, Officers, and Seamen of the victorious fleet, were voted. Caufe of the Late Order of Council. The Duke of Bedford, after a long Lord Spencer had no objection to the fpeech, moved, That a Select Comintroduction of any words which the mittee, of fifteen Peers, be appointed to House were inclined to think would enquire into the caufes for iffuing the more frongly express their fenfe of his Order in Council of the 26th of Februafervice. ry laft. The Duke of Clarence bore teftimony to the merits of Sir John Jervis; gave feveral inftances, from his own knowledge, of the excellent ftaté and difcipline in which the men and fhips were invariably kept which were under his command; and, without meaning the flighteft of fence to any other, hefitated not to declare him the very best Officer in his Majefty's fervice. Lord Guildford approved of the introduction of the words, as highly neceffary to diftinguifh a fervice that was, perhaps, the very falvation of the country; it was the moft fignal victory we had ever atchieved; and he hoped it would Lord Grenville did not object to the appointment of a Committee, convinced, the more the matter was inveftigated, the more it would be to the credit of the Bank; but he could not agree to its being an open Committee; therefore he moved to leave out the word Special, and infert the word Secret in its fiead. The Duke of Bedford ftrongly contended against this, upon the ground that, fo far from its being likely to be fatisfactory to the public, it would be confidered as a mockery, and add to the alarm. Lord Grenville's amendment was then put and agreed to; after which he moved that the Committee be appoint ed C |