From the date of that action, to the 7th of Octeteber, Lady Harriet stood prepared for new trials, and it was her lot that their severity should increase with their number. She was again exposed to hearing of the whole action, and at last received the shock of her individual misfortune, mixed with the intelligence of the general calamity, that the troops were defeated, and that major Acland, desperately wounded, was a prisoner. The 8th was passed by Lady Harriet and her companions in inexpressible anxiety-not a shed, not a tent was standing, except what belonged to the hospital; their refuge was among the wounded and dying. The army retreated that night, and at break of day on the 9th reached very advantageous ground: a halt was necessary to refresh the troops, and to give time to the batteaux, laden with provisions, to come abreast..

When the army was on the point of moving, Lady Harriet sent a message to General Burgoyne, proposing to pass to the camp of the enemy, and request General Gates's permission to attend her wounded husband, General Burgoyne was astonished at the proposal. That a woman after so long an agitation of the spirits, exhausted, not only for want of rest, but absolutely for want of food, drenched in rain for twelve hours together, should be capable of delivering herself up to the enemy, probably in the night, and uncertain in what hands she might fall, appeared to him an effort too great for human nature. The assistance which he could render was small indeed; he had not even a cup of wine to offer

her. All that he could furnish was an open boat, and a few lines written upon dirty and wet paper, to General Gates, recommending her to his protection.

Mr. Brudnell, the chaplain to the artillery, readily undertook to accompany her, and with one female servant, and the major's valet-de-chambre, who then had in his shoulder a ball he received in the late action, she was rowed down the river to meet the enemy; but her distresses were not at an end, The night had advanced before the boat reached their outposts, and the centinel refused to let it pass, or even to come on shore. In vain Mr. Brudenell offered the flag of truce, and represented the state of the extraordinary passenger. The guard apprehensive of treachery, and punctilious to his orders, threatened to fire into the boat if it stirred before day-light.

Here then behold a delicate female, who had all her life been a stranger to bodily hardship of any kind; who had never known the want of any of those indulgences that are usually enjoyed by the daughters of affluence-behold her, destitute of every earthly comfort and convenience, exposed for seven or eight dismal hours, in an open boat, beneath an inclement American sky, to the accumulated horrors of the most cruel anxiety, of darkness, hunger, rain, cold, and fatigue! Say then, ye beauties, whose presence gladdens the crowded assemblies of this brilliant metropolis, ye gay votaries of dissipation, who know no fatigue but what ye experience in devising new pleasures; whose keenest disappoint

ments proceed from the negligence of your milliner, jeweller, or coach-maker; who are strangers to vexation, save that which ye feel when eclipsed by some more ingenious fair one in the vanities and elegancies of fashion;--which of you could renounce the allurements of the great world; which of you could resolve to encounter all the distresses incidental to a military life, purely from motives of affection to imitate the example of the virtuous and heroic Lady Acland?

The reflections of that lady, during so long an interval of painful suspence, could not inspire her with .very encouraging ideas of the treatment she was afterwards to expect.

Morning arrived, and General Gates being appris, ed of her situation, sent instant orders to conduct the fair sufferer to his quarters, where he set before her every refreshment which he couid procure, and lamented that he had not been informed of the conduct of the centinel; and treated her with all the humanity and respect that her rank and her merits deserved; she was then conducted to her husband, who, through her tender care, recovered from his wounds.

It was not many days after this, that General Burgoyne's whole army, worn out with fatigue, destitute of provisions, and greatly reduced by losses, were compelled to capitulate. The British officers bore testimony to General Gates's moderation and humanity on this occasion. He endeavoured to sooth the distresses of mind in which the circum

stances of war had involved his adverse commander, and sought, by every possible means, to render his situation, and that of his officers less irksome.

Having conquered in the north, General Gates was invested by the congress with the command of their southern army; but there fortune did not second his exertions. He was defeated in his turn, by Lord Cornwallis, who thus for a time subdued the Carolinas. Being superseded by General Green, he retired to his estate in Virginia, quitting "the trade of arms," perhaps not altogether without disgust at the manner in which the congress deprived him of his command. I have conversed on the subject of this his last engagement, with American officers, who agreed that no blame could attach to their commander, whose orders were to check the rapid progress of the British force, superior to his own, both in numbers and appointment.

The private virtues of General Gates were many and eminent. He was charitable, humane, just in all his dealings, inflexible in his friendship, and ever acted under the impulse of a good heart. He was the scholar, the soldier, and the gentleman.

REFLECTIONS ON VICE.

THE pleasures of vice, if pleasures they can be called, are of short duration, and leave behind them the most painful remembrances. To the confirmed

profligate, these remembrances act as inducements to plunge into fresh excesses, and he endeavours to drown them in a new delirium-but with the novice in guilt, they produce a contrary effect, and seldom fail to be succeeded by a momentary enthusiasm in the cause of virtue. Young man persevere I beseech you, these first impressions-they are the surest of criterions of right and wrong, and are the least sophisticated of all our decisions respecting our own conduct.

Whatever certain philosophers may talk of the calm and dispassionate investigation of our reason, rely upon it, that whatever the untainted heart con◄ demns, the untainted judgment cannot approve.

THE CHILD OF NATURE.

THE entrance of the venerable monk interrupted the conversation. "I should have paid you an earlier visit, my daughter," said he," but was prevented by an accident.”

"I trust nothing amiss has happened at the monastery," replied Melissa, with emotion.

"Not to any of our brotherhood," answered the monk; "but a foreigner was conducted by one of our trusty dogs to the monastery, who was attacked by a wolf in the forest, and severely wounded. He is under my care at present, and dangerously indisposed."