was pale, and her hair dishevelled, but her look was composed and firm, with its usual expression of high-minded melancholy. She was still shrouded in the large mantle which she had assumed on leaving the vessel. Cleveland's first emotion was astonishment, his next was joy, not unmixed with awe. He would have exclaimed-he would have thrown himself at her feet, but she imposed at once silence and composure on him, by raising her finger, and saying, in a low but commanding accent Be cautious_we are observed there are men without they let me enter with difficulty. I dare not remain long-they would think-they might believe-O, Cleveland! I have hazarded every thing to save you !'

"To save me ?-alas! poor Minna!' answered Cleveland; to save me is impossible enough that I have seen you once more, were it but to say, for ever farewell!"

"We must indeed say farewell,' said Minna; for fate and your guilt have divided us for ever. Cleveland, I have seen your associates need I tell you more need I say that I know now what a pirate is ?' "You have been in the ruffians' power!' said Cleveland, with a start of agony. • Did they presume

"Cleveland,' replied Minna, they presumed nothing-your name was a spell over them; by the power of that spell over these ferocious banditti, and by that alone, I was reminded of the qualities I once thought my Cleveland's !'

"Yes," said Cleveland, proudly, my name has and shall have power over them, when they are at the wildest; and had they harmed you by one rude word, they should have found-Yet what do I rave about-I am a prisoner!'

"You shall be so no longer,' said Minna Your safety-the safety of my dear father, all demand your instant freedom. I have formed a scheme for your liberty, which, boldly executed, cannot fail. The light is failing without-muffle yourself in my cloak, and you will easily pass the guards I have given them the means of carousing, and they are deeply engaged. Haste to the Loch of Stennis, and hide yourself till day dawns; then make a smoke on the point where the land, stretching in lake on each side, divides it nearly to the in two at the Bridge of Broisgar. Your vessel, which lies not far distant, will send a boat ashore Do not hesitate an instant.

But you, Minna!should this wild scheme succeed,' said Cleveland what is to become of you ?” UL

For my share in your escape, an swered the maiden, the honesty of my own intention the honesty of my intention will vindicate me in the sight of Heaven, and the safety of my father, whose fate depends on yours, will be my excuse

to man.

"In a few words, she gave him the his

tory of their capture, and its consequences. Cleveland cast up his eyes and raised his hands to heaven, in thankfulness for the escape of the sisters from his evil companions, and then hastily added, But you are right, Minna, I must fly at all rates for your father's sake I must fly. Here, then, we part yet not, I trust, for ever." "For ever!' answered a voice, that sounded as from a sepulchral vault.

"They started, looked around them, and then gazed on each other. It seemed as if the echoes of the building had returned Cleveland's last words, but the pronunciation was too emphatically accented.

Yes, for ever!" said Norna of the Fitful-head, stepping forward from behind one of the massive Saxon pillars which support the roof of the Cathedral. Here meet the crimson foot and the crimson hand-well for both that the wound is healed whence that crimson was derivedwell for both, but best for him who shed it. Here, then, you meet and meet for the last time!'

"Not so," said Cleveland, as if about to take Minna's hand to separate me from Minna, while I have life, must be the work of herself alone.'

666

Away!' said Norna, stepping betwixt them, away with such vain folly!-nourish no vain dreams of future meetingsyou part here, and you part for ever. The hawk pairs not with the dove-guilt matches not with innocence. Minna Troil, you look for the last time on this bold and criminal man-Cleveland, you behold Minna for the last time !'

“And dream you,' said Cleveland, indignantly, that your mummery imposes on me, and that I am among the fools who see more than trick in your pretended art?"

Forbear, Cleveland, forbear,' said Minna, her hereditary awe of Norna augmented by the circumstance of her sudden appearance. O, forbear-she is powerful she is but too powerful. And do you, O Norna, remember my father's safety is linked with Cleveland's."

"And it is well for Cleveland that I do remember it,' replied the Pythonessand that, for the sake of one, I am here to aid both-you with your childish purpose of passing one of his bulk and stature under the disguise of a few paltry folds of wadmaal-what would your device have procured him but instant restraint with bolt and shackle? I will save him I will place him in security on board (his bárk. But let him renounce these shores forever, and carry elsewhere the terrors of his sable flag, and his yet blacker name; for if the sun rises twice, and finds him still at anchor, his blood be on his own head. Aylook to each other look the last look that I permit to frail affection, and can say it, Farewell for ever." "Obey her,' stammered Minna; monstrate not, but obey her.'

say,

if ye

re

kennar.' +

I

One word more,' said Minna, and Tobey you tell me but if I have caught aright your meaning-Is Mordaunt Mer

toun safe and recovered ?'

Recovered, and safe,' said Norna, else woe to the hand that shed his blood!' Minna slowly sought the door of the Cathedral, and turned back from time to time to look at the shadowy form of Norna, and the stately and military figure of Cleveland, as they stood together in the deepening gloom of the ancient Cathedral. When she looked back a second time, they were in motion, and Cleveland followed the matron, as with a slow and solemn step she glided towards one of the side aisles. When Minna looked back a third time, their figures were no longer visible. She collected herself, and walked on to the eastern door by which she had entered, and listened for an instant to the guard who talked together on the outside."

But our extracts have been too numerous, and we must hasten to the conclusion of the tale. Cleveland gains the shore in safety, and might easily have reached the ship, and sailed immediately; but he cannot think of departing without once more seeing Minna, and pronouncing that adieu which he now feels must be for ever. This seals his fate. The ship is detained a night longer than was necessary; and the king's vessel is seen at daybreak, advancing before a favouring breeze towards the shores of Po

mona.

Before its arrival, Cleveland has said farewell; and, heartbroken as he is, he is just ready to quit forever the shore on which he can no longer hope for any thing but sorrow, at the very moment when the colours of his vessel are struck, and all his companions landed, under the custody of the king's troops.

It is discovered the day they reach Kirkwall, in this situation, that old Mertoun, the father of Mordaunt, is the very man who had, in early youth, gained and abused the affections of Norna. She herself had all along known this, and protected Mordaunt, under the belief that he was her son; but it is now discovered that Mordaunt was indeed the son of Mertoun, but that his mother was not Norna. Cleveland himself turns out to be her son;

and it is chiefly the discovery of this mistake which serves to dispossess the unhappy woman of her delusions, and convince her that all her supernatural dreams of madness. The end of the power and knowledge were but the whole is, that Cleveland, being conveyed for trial to London, escapes the fate which awaits many of his companions, in consequence of a certain act of kindness which he had rendered some time before to a Spanish lady of high rank, who had found means to obtain a pardon for him from the king. In this pardon Jack Bunce is also included; and both Cleveland and he live to serve their country honourably, in the same seas which had heretofore been the scene of their guilty distinction as gentlemen adventurers." Cleveland is slain in battle, and Jack is commonly supposed to have been the same person with a certain venerable gentleman in who was a constant lounger about a fiercely cocked hat and long periwig, Button's coffee-house, in the reign of George I., and told long stories about the Spanish Main, under the style and title of Captain Bounce. Minna Troil gradually recovered her serenity, but died a maiden, while Brenda and Mordaunt Mertoun were happy in each other, and inherited in due time the wealth both of Magnus Troil and his kinswoman Norna.

We shall not trespass upon our readers by more than a very few remarks upon the Romance of which we have now finished a very scanty, and, we fear, imperfect outline. In point of composition, it must rank with the very best of the preceding works of the same author. Indeed, we rather incline to think that his prose is becoming more and more graceful every volume he writes. As to the story, it is certainly one of great simplicity, but it affords room for many scenes of deep interest, as well as of exquisite humour; which, to be sure, would be the case with any story in the world, under the same masterly management. The descriptive passages are throughout of the most bewitching excellence and beauty. The characters are various, strongly drawn, and all of them full of life. Cleveland, Bunce, Goffe, are beings whom we shall never forget. We shall be familiar to our dying day with Claud Halcro and the jovial Udaller of Burgh-Westra. Norna will be henceforth the guardian sprit of the

THE situation of the Orkney and Shet land Islands is so admirably adapted for the prosecution of the British Fisheries, as well from the vicinity of these islands to the best fishing grounds, as from the multiplicity of creeks and natural harbours which are so essential to this trade, that the slow progress which their Fisheries have hitherto made is not a little astonishing. Few people, upon examining the map of Scotland, would believe that the Herring Fishing has only within these few years been begun in Orkney, through the spirited exertions of Mr Samuel Laing, of Papdale, and even at this day the natives are almost strangers to the fishing of Cod and Ling here.

On the other hand, it is no less extraordinary, that, although the Cod and Ling Fishery has been carried to so great an extent in Shetland, as to enable them to export many cargoes to the Catholic countries on the Continent, not a herring net has been spread by the natives of Shetland till the year 1821, when, Mr Mowat of Gardie, and a few other spirited proprietors of these Islands, formed themselves into an association, and subscribed the necessary fund for purchasing boats and nets, to encourage the natives to follow the industrious example of the Dutch, whose herring busses annually appear in great numbers up on their coast; and, where in fact, all the herrings of the Dutch market are caught. fas

The immediate management of this experimental fishery, was undertaken in the most patriotic and disinterested manner by Mr Duncan, the Sheriff-substitute of Shetland. Having procured three boats, he afterwards visited Orkney, to ascertain the mode

The great object which the Shetland gentlemen have in view, in this infant establishment, is to give employmen.v to their fishermen in the herring trade, after the cod and ling season is over, and by this means, to enable them to partake of those bounties and encouragements so properly bestowed by government on the fisheries; and thus abstract the attention of the lower dra ders of these Islands, from an illicit traffic in foreign spirits, tea, and tobacco, which has greatly increased of late years.

The profit of the herring fishing at its commencement, has, however, af forded more encouragement than could have been expected; for, besides paying the men a liberal allowance for their labour, a small sum has been applied towards defraying the expence of the boats and nets. But what is of far more consequence to this patrio tic association, is the spirit of enter prize which it is likely to create, by bringing forward a number of additional boats in the way of private adventure, which must be attended with the best advantage to the Shetland Islamis.

MR NORTH,

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THERE are reputed to be 30,000 English in and about Paris; consequent ly there are 40,000 readers of Blackwood's Magazine, all of whom think themselves strangely neglected in that special article of monthly comfort, the forwarding of MAGA. It is scarcely credible, but literally a fact, that the new Number is re-printed and sold in America, ere a glimpse of it is to be had here. A voyage of fifteen or sixteen days brings it to New York, and twenty-four hours see it printed, press ed, dried, stitched, covered, and ready for delivery, while here the delay and tantalization is horrific. The advertise ment and table of contents in the London papers are just sufficient to raise curiosity, and eagerness to the height, then our twilight begins, but how tedious the days pass on! how immeasurable seems the time till the great luminary itself makes its appearance above our horizon !—this month not till the 18th:-eighteen days in expectation. Do you think that any Christian subscriber can wait such a polar sun-rise ?-For the love of all absentees, Mr North, see into this neglect, stir up Galignani with, the long pole, as Lady Morgan says; at least smuggle my next number into the ambassador's bag, it may serve to lighten the dispatches.

dirty, mean-looking rag, which we would not wrap cheese in, and certainly destined for a more ultimate end than reading. With some difficulty, however, one does discover it to be really a newspaper; but upon falling to, it turns out a kind of lady's Album. England takes up ten lines, Germany five, Italy do. Spain do. Turkey fif teen, French politics five, the Censor's blank column, jaunts of the royal family, three columns, and theatrical criticism, half the sheet. Your small and unconscionable type would wedge the whole of their monthly news into the circumference of two pages.

Their political writers have been oc cupied for the last month in discussing Guizet's new publication, " Des moy ens de gouvernement et d'opposition dans l'etat actuel de la France. The theatrical critics, besides the thousand vaudevilles that keep their pens in continual motion, have been more seriously employed in estimating the merits of Talma in Falkland, a play, like the "Iron Chest," taken from the novel of "Caleb Williams.”* And the critics of general literature have as usual been making strange blunders with respect to us. "A notre avis," says the Constitutionel of the 11th, "trois hommes se sont partagé les mérités de l'histoire. Tacite, Montesquieu, Walter Scot." They have also taken to praise Washington Irving with a most extravagant zeal.

2

There is no light periodical worth mentioning above the rank of a news-› paper-the Minerve and Mercure are no more-the Revue Encyclopedique is about the calibre of the Gentleman's

vapid and well behaved.

If we look to Italy, it is worse, where they do nothing but reprint the Quarterly. The last number of the Antologia, however, commences with something more original-the third Book of Homer, translated by Ugo Foscolo, It is a specimen of a complete translation, undertaken, seemingly, for the purpose of competing with his old rival Monti, whose version of the Iliad has long since been published. This branch of Italian literature must have

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