discovery. Mina at last remained alone with his aid-de-camp Meca, a priest and an old servant. He wandered about the mountains in the most destitute and wretched condition, expecting every hour to fall into the hands of the enemy. He knew the importance that attached to his capture-his situation was deplorable, but his mind remained unbroken by misfortune. The fatal moment at length arrived. His aid-de-camp perceived a strong detachment of royalists advancing in their direction-they had been seen to avoid a meeting was totally impracticable. Mina perceived the horror of his situation, from which he felt sensible nothing could extricate him. He finally resolved to exert every effort, however desperate and wild, rather than submit tamely to his melancholy fate. Collecting all his energies and summoning to his assistance his extraordinary presence of mind, he turned to his companions, who had lost every hope, and in a calm tone of voice said

"Gentlemen, be composed-remain here and let me advance."

Saying this he resolutely went to meet the approaching party. In a short time he was close to the royalists, when in a steady tone and collected manner he cried out

"To what division does this detachment belong?"

The captain stared in astonishment, at a question so arrogantly and confidently put. He did not recognise Mina, and he remained for a few seconds in suspense; he was as it were taken by surprise, and knew not what to make of the man who addressed him in so commanding a tone. Mina, observing the confusion into which he had thrown the royalist chief, lost no time in improving his first advantage; feigning to fall into a rage, he exclaimed in a more haughty and impatient manner

"Sir, I ask again to whom does this troop belong?"

The question was accompanied

with an oath-the captain's confusion increased, his surprise was converted into a kind of dread, and fancying that he was addressed by some superior chief of the royalist army, he submissively answered"This detachment belongs to the division of Juanito."

"Well, then," returned Mina, forthwith, "what brings you hither? hasten to join your division.” The officer stared and demurred to obey this order.

Mina cast a glance of indignation, and in a fierce voice exclaimed

"Damnation, Sir! what do you mean by not obeying immediately? Go, Sir, or depend upon it I shall report your conduct !"

The royalist officer made no fur ther show of opposition, but in a deferential manner bowed to Mina, and followed the command so sharply given in a few minutes the deluded party were out of sight, and Mina joined his companions. The success of this extraordinary ruse gave the four unfortunate wanderers courage to support the new trials and hardships which they were aware they would have to encounter before they could gain the French line. Though they had escaped one imminent danger, a thousand equally appalling obstructed their path. They were not deceived in their melancholy surmises-as the royalists, who by this time had received correct information relating to Mina's fugitive course and destitute condition, were exerting all their endeavors to discover his lurking-place. The constitutional general and his attendants, knowing that those places were filled with their pursuers, had taken refuge in an obscure cavern, situated in a retired and dismal ravine. There they remained in concealment until an opportunity should offer for their escape. Meantime the royalists were very actively engaged in scouring the forest and every spot around, but to no purpose. Their ingenuity was next

put to the stretch, in order to devise means for arriving at the attainment of their object. They caused some shepherds to ramble about, sounding their horns, that Mina, deceived by the welcome note, might be tempted to quit his concealment in order to request succor. This stratagem was very adroitly put in practice, but without success; Mina, like an old fox, would not quit his hole. The failure, however, only served to stimulate the contrivers of this plan to form another more pregnant with danger for the fugitives. Bloodhounds were then procured and let loose, that they might scent the intended victims out; this expedient was sagacious, and it was near proving fatal to Mina. The hounds went on in their pursuit with fearful precision; and the unfortunate men were on the point of being discovered, when two stags suddenly started from their repose, crossing in the direction of the hounds. This singular incident saved the lives of Mina and his companions; the dogs, naturally enough, following in the track of the stags, and this new scheme of the royalists completely failed. Had this extraordinary circumstance happened when the life of a royalist general was concerned, the monks and friars would, no doubt, have cried out"A miracle! a miracle!" The two stags would have been converted into angels, expressly sent from heaven, in that moment of peril. In the present case, however, the said stags must be content to bear a very different character, and if the circumstances of Mina's escape should be narrated by his enemies, we shall not be surprised to see the poor stags transformed into a couple of devils.

When General Mina felt assured that the coast was clear, he ventured to quit his retreat, and endeavored to effect his escape by the most solitary places. After a fatiguing and anxious march, he succeeded in reaching a hamlet; his sudden appearance. produced a strong emo37 ATHENEUM, VOL. 5, 3d series.

tion in the inmates of one of the wretched houses, and he endeavored to tranquillize their fears. A lad eighteen years of age, then generously offered to conduct the general to the French frontier, which he did with perfect success, and in reward for his humanity and resolution received a considerable sum of money from the general.

Having crossed into the French territory, one would suppose that the dangers and trials of Mina were at an end, but this was far from being the case. He arrived at a house near Sara, and there, exhausted with fatigue, and suffering from the combined effects of hunger and want of sleep, he threw himself down to enjoy some repose. Not long after, Santos Ladron, one of the royalist generals, passed by the house where he lay. The chief commanded a division of four hundred men, no doubt a part of those who had pursued the party of Valdes into France. Santos Ladron passed by the house where Mina reposed, and never once dreaming that the rich prize was in his power, he returned to Spain without further delay.

Mina upon his arrival in France appeared in a most wretched condition. It is asserted that a quartern loaf was the only food which he and his companions tasted for the space of two days. The effects of his sufferings were clearly perceptible upon his constitution; his wounds bled anew, and to recover his strength he was afterwards obliged to take the baths of Cambo.

The attempts made by other constitutional chiefs have been of less importance; the one conducted by the brave Colonel de Pablo, called Chapalangaras, is the most worthy of notice, from its terminating in the death of that officer. It must, however, be confessed that De Pablo was guilty of an excess of rashness, not to say folly he boldly marched before a strong body of the enemy, and without further ado attempted haranguing them. A few moments

afterwards he was pierced with a shower of bullets, and his small band totally dispersed. Colonel Baiges also made an invasion, but was obliged to retreat such has also been the case with Gurrea. Of the operations of Milans and Grases, nothing positive is known; but we may venture to assert that from the spirit which reigns in Catalonia and Arragon, invasions are much more likely to be attended with success in those places than in the province of Navarre. The disaster which happened to Mina and Valdes will be a subject of no wonder to those who have been at the pains of perusing this sketch of the event; the wonder would indeed have been, if things had turned out otherwise. A close investigation of facts will convince any one that if the constitutionalists, instead of frittering away their slender powers in petty attempts and foolish quarrels, had mustered up all their forces, and under the command of Mina marched into Spain two thousand strong, the strength supposed to be scattered along the frontiers, they would have determined the undecided to join them, and opened the way to

success.

With regard to different other points in the Peninsula, no event of importance has hitherto taken place. The progress of General Torrijos is involved in mystery; sometimes he is represented as a solitary and helpless fugitive, and at others as having made a successful descent on the southern coast of Spain. As he is totally bereaved of resources, the probability is that he has met yet with nothing but disappointment. In Galicia the fire of the revolution has emitted some sparks. The curate of Valdeorras and Rodriguez, called Bordas, have organized guerrillas, which for some time excited deep anxiety among the constituted authorities. But the forces of those chiefs were not sufficiently strong to cope against the enemy opposed to them. Many of the party have been killed, others executed, and the rest dispersed. The leaders and

principal men have escaped, and will yet reappear in the field, when it is least expected. The long time, which forlorn as they are, has passed without their being taken, is a strong evidence that they have protection in the territory. Much is expected from Catalonia. The spirit of that province is liberal, and the atrocities of Count d'Espagna will add the stimulus of revenge to the desire of freedom. The entrance of winter will probably retard the operations of the constitutionalists. The Junta has been dissolved, but another with a more authoritative character will be named in its place. Meantime, as if the poor refugees had not trials and difficulties enough to encounter, the liberal French government has given peremptory orders for their dispersion, and they are ordered into Bourges and other places in the interior. It is somewhat singular, forsooth, that France should now show such conscientious scruples-France! that blushed not in 1823 not merely to aid and abet the serviles, but even carry on a most atrocious and unjustifiable invasion against all the laws of justice and the rights of nations. By what strange fatality is it, that unfortunate Spain is ever doomed to suffer from the government of her neighbor France, whether this government be imperial or republican, ultra-royalist or liberal?

But the radical impediment to the political regeneration of Spain is, we trust, forever removed. France is no longer under the dominion of a family reared in secret hatred of freedom, and ready to support the views of despotism in the Peninsula. The fatal counsellors of Ferdinand are thrown entirely on their sole resources and strength. Those resources and that strength must at last be exhausted. A shuffling, discreditable, and pernicious system of finance, cannot be continued forever; even the most blind, the most inveterate of dupes, must ultimately open his eyes to the picture of his own ruin.

The Spaniards have now no cause

feeling that so peculiarly graces the feminine character, is there called forth; while the native strength of mind that had hitherto slumbered in inactivity, is roused to its fullest energy. With noiseless step she moves about the chamber of the invalid; her listening ear, ever ready to catch the slightest murmur; her quick, kind glance, to interpret the unuttered wish, and supply the halfformed want. She smooths with careful hand the uneasy pillow which supports the aching head, or with cool hand soothes the fevered brow, or proffers to the glazed and parching lip the grateful draught; happy if she meet one kind glance in payment for her labor of love. Hers is the lowwhispered voice that breathes of life and hope-of health in store for happy days to come; or tells of better and of heavenly rest, where neither sorrow nor disease can come-where the dark power of death no more shall have dominion over the frail, suffering, perishable clay. Through the dim, silent watches of the night, when all around are hushed in sleep, it is hers to keep lone vigils, and to hold communion with her God, and silently lift up her heart in fervent prayer, for the prolongment of a life for which she cheerfully would sacrifice her own. And even when exhausted nature sinks to brief repose, forgetfulness is denied. Even in sleep she seems awake to this one great object of her care. She starts and rises from her slumbers, raises her drooping head, watches with dreamy eyes the face she loves, then sinks again to rest, to start with every chime of clock, or distant sound, that formerly had passed unheard, or only served as lullaby to her sweet sleep.

How lovely does the wife, the mother, the sister, or the friend become to the eye of grateful affection, while administering ease, comfort-nay, almost life itself, to the husband, the son, the brother, or the friend!

Amid the glittering throng of Pleasure's vain and thoughtless votaries-sparkling with gems and silken robes, elated by the homage addressed to her charms, and fully conscious of her power in exciting. the admiration of the crowd-woman may indeed attract the attention, dazzle the eye, and fascinate the mind of the gazer; but behold her in the quiet performance of her household duties, surrounded by her happy train of infants; or hovering about the sick bed of a beloved

partner; and admiration changes to love. We are fascinated, attracted by beauty, grace, and wit; but we love the display of tender, generous, self-devoted friendship that the latter case exhibits.

Such were the reflections that presented themselves to the mind of Arthur Digby, as he regarded with feelings of absorbing interest the animated countenance of a lovely and very elegantly-dressed woman, who had taken her seat at the harp that occupied a distant recess of the superb drawing-room, in which were assembled the leading-stars of science and literature. Arthur Digby had seen that countenance before; but he now gazed upon it with different feelings to those which had formerly occupied his mind.

His reverie was dispelled by the sound of a familiar voice; and, with a sort of surprise, he turned to reply to the greeting of his friend, Hugh Annesley, who seemed disposed to rally Arthur on his grave humor.

"You seem to be deeply engaged in watching the movements of that lovely vocalist, Arthur," observed Annesley, who had detected the object that engrossed the attention of the young student. But the words of the gay barrister fell unheard and unheeded on the ear of Arthur Digby.

"What, silent still? Nay, Arthur, but I shall begin to fear your insensible heart has at last been