me) could tell them something. On Edmund of the occurrence. She conbeing thus directly alluded to, I beg- trived, however, to evade his vigi. ged to know if I had the honour of lance, and her first impulse was to speaking to Miss Louisa V., apo- run to Mr C.'s house, where the logizing for my rudeness on account domestics were still remaining ; but of the urgency of the occasion. They from them she ascertained no more were startled at the question, and Miss than that Mr C. had not been V., for her it certainly was, being too there, to their great wonder, for some much agitated to reply, her friend, cold. days past. Her next step was to the ly overcoming her own timidity, an- police office, where she fortunately swered in the affirmative. In truth, met Mr. T., who politely informthey were now alarmed at the steped her that he was ignorant of Mr they had taken. Having requested C.'s present residence; but that a the favour of their company to a pri- letter had been sent from a magistrate vate room, and waiving every idea of at giving an account of a strandeparting for the present, I entered ger, whom he had thought proper to into such particulars as I considered detain till he heard from him, (Mr necessary, my fair auditors listening T.,) the description very closely with tearful attention; but when I applying to Mr C. Her determimentioned that Mr Campbell had set nation was at once fixed. Fearful off for Rotterdam, Louisa, suddenly of detention if she went home, she starting up, energetically exclaimed, proceeded to her cousin and intimate 66 Then we must go to Rotterdam friend Miss M., her present compandirectly, love." With considerable ion, to seek her assistance. With difficulty I gently calmed her, but the devotion of sincere friendship, principally by pledging myself that Miss M. instantly assented, and a note the first letter which I received, pur- having been posted to Mrs V., with suant to his promise, should be put the least possible delay these two into her own hands, and that I would amiable ones set out on their love take care to forward any communica- expedition. tion she might wish to send him. We pursued our way without any This relieved her in some degree from remarkable accident, except when the weight of anxiety and uncertainty about halfway observing a post-chaise under which she had laboured, and dashing by us at full speed, towards she consented to leave the affair to the quarter we were leaving. On me, with the most enchanting expres- reaching London I escorted Miss sions of gratitude.

V. to her home, in which, however, We remained that night at the inn, were neither her mother nor William. greatly to the satisfaction of Mr Edmund had joined them from Paris, B., who charitably pleaded " that and all three, as the servants told us, the young ladies would be much the had hurried after her to William better for it"--and himself. The en. heaping the bitterest imprecations suing morning we commenced our upon her for the trouble she was journey homewards, both my charm. giving him. It was arranged, in coning and unexpected companions com- sequence, that I should not communimitting themselves to my charge. cate with her directly, but only through During our progress, and in the course the medium of Miss M., as in all of conversation, which, as might be probability she would be again doomed supposed, was almost confined to the to strict seclusion when in the power subject of Mr C., they favoured me of her brother, which happened in a with a detail of the means by which very few hours after. they had obtained a clue to the place In the mean time I devoted myself of his retreat. For several days after to my promised efforts. My first obthe abrupt dismissal of her betrothed, ject was to find the clerk who cashed Louisa V. had been rigidly seclue the check, and in this I had little difded by her brother William, by whose ficulty, as also in inducing him to ac.. barbarous threats she had been com

company me in looking after the pelled to write the letter inserted ticket-porter above mentioned. While above, and by whose orders the hasty thus engaged, a desponding letter arremoval had been effected. All the rived from Mr C. at Rotterdam, statliberty allowed her was to apprize ing that he had written to Edmund;

but the latter's silence convincing him his, though it had been damped by that he was deserted by them all, he imagined disappointment, returned urged me to cease to trouble myself with renewed ardour. The advenabout a person who had no longer any tures of his life were repeated, so that thing to gain from the world's opinion. any chance of further misunderstandHe of course was not aware of Ed. ing might be removed; and I shortly mund's absence. This letter I for- had the pleasure of acting, by partiwarded to Louisa by Miss M., who cular desire, as father to the excellent was still allowed intercourse with Louisa at the performance of their her. Through the same channel I nuptials. I then, as Mr C.'s atobtained one from her, which I en- torney, filed a bill in Chancery against closed in my own reply, in which I William, and, as I expected, discoverentreated him to sustain himself a ed that he had been making rather short time longer; and I have no doubt free with the money under his maLouisa's letter encouraged him to do nagement. The solicitations of his

family, however, prevented an exten. My search after the ticket-porter sive exposure of his conduct to his being at length successful, by promises sister and Mr C. of reward for the benefit of his testi. My satisfaction at this fortunate mony, I procured a description of the issue of my endeavours, however, was individual who sent him with the not thus to be completed. I was desdraft-a description as unlike that of tined to be the gratified agentofanother my unfortunate client as is the simi- interesting discovery, Some weeks larity of a greasy Hottentot to a after the marriage, whilst in my office, Chinese. He said the gentleman in one of the clerks ushered into my question had given him, besides money, room an elderly gentleman of foreign employment in Wales, where he had appearance. Save his countenance, on remained three or four months, so that which the lines of grief and care were the man was effectually precluded from strongly drawn, he bore no signs of knowing what had transpired in Lon- advanced age, the freedom of his don. To make “ assurance doubly movements being apparently unimsure,” I next tried to find out Jones, peded by corporeal debility. After but here I failed; he no longer had a an apologizing preface, he desired to seat in the House, and had fled from see the gentleman who had exerted the country to avoid arrest. Satisfied, himself so much in the Jones and notwithstanding, that I could now

check transaction. My acknowprove Mr C.'s innocence, I called on ledgment that I was the party, brought Mrs V., and before the redoubtable forth an entreaty that I would immeWilliam and Edmund, whom I now diately lead him to that Mr C., as saw for the first time, Louisa and he had every reason to believe he was Miss M., I related my discoveries. his own son.

It was so.

It was the I need not dilate upon the gratifica- father of my friend with whom I was tion felt by all but William, who be- now conversing. He was a native of gan to make some savage remarks, in France, in which country he had terspersed with threats; but having made a small fortune a merchant, been used to bullies professionally, I with which he escaped to England soon quieted him by counter-threats. during the convulsions which broke Mr C. having obeyed my summons out there, prompted to this course by to London, the magistrates kindly per. the same terrors which led so many of mitted another examination, at which his countrymen to become emigrants. the ticket-porter unequivocally de. In this country he married an orpban clared that he was not the person who against the consent of her relations, had employed bim, and gave other whose sanction to the match was refuevidence, which caused the magistrates sed, not on the score of property, for themselves to congratulate Mr C., she had none, but because their John and to express their regret that Jones · Bull pride resented the connexion was out of their jurisdiction. His in with a Frenchman. He lived in Herttercourse with Louisa was of course fordshire, in the utmost enjoyment that resumed, I undertaking to hold Wil- love and domestic comfort could af. liam in check. She had demonstrated ford, till left a sorrowful widower by that her love had never abated, and the death of his wife, a few months

9

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after the birth of a boy, when the un- gence; his letters probably never arrelenting hostility of his wife's rela- rived. His active mind, however, tions seemed to increase. Before found means of subsistence, and he at twelve months had elapsed, they pro- last again accumulated a moderate incured, under the arbitrary and indis- dependency, and, on the final declacriminate system pursued by Govern- ration of peace in 1815, Le L. diment at that period towards aliens, a rected his whole attention to the recoperemptory official order to him to very of his son, and this search had leave the kingdom within an assigned engaged him in various parts for the time. Reluctant to expose his child last several years. While at Paris, to the hardships of a voyage, and sick at heart, and despairing of ever trusting to be enabled to return soon, beholding his child, he overheard some he determined on consigning him to Englishmen in a coffeehouse discour. the care of two of his wife's friends, sing about the affair of the check. who alone had remained attached to Of them he immediately made enquiher, with further directions as to Mr ries, the result of which was his visit E., in whose integrity he had every

to me. confidence, as the reader is already The reader will believe me that my aware, in case any thing serious should joy was not inferior to that of the happen to himself. His desire for father or son at the interview which the concealment of the father's name immediately followed the father's visit arose from a fear lest his foreign ex

to me.

All, (except William, who traction should operate against the was unregrettedly absent,) including child while under the protection of Miss M., were deeply affected at this strangers. Having provided the re- consummation of their happiness ; quisite funds for these purposes, he while my feelings were such that I departed with a heavy heart for Ame- internally hoped for such another oprica, taking with him a portion of his portunity of rescuing worth from unproperty. On the passage, the vessel merited opprobrium. was captured by a French privateer, Mr C. obtained the proper legal in which he was carried to Guada permission to assume his father's loupe, where he was robbed of his

name, Le L.

And now my tale is money, and compelled, under a threat ended, unless some of my very inquiof instant death, for being found on sitive readers may wish to know what board an enemy's ship, to enter the became of Miss M. I will gratify army. For years he endured innu- their curiosity at the risk of the charge merable privations in the progress of of egotism. Her merits and affection

till at length he effected his displayed on behalf of her friend were passage to America. Reduced to po- not lost on me. I solicited her hand. verty, his only consolation was that She is my wife; and I for one can sohe had provided for his son, on whose lemnly aver, that I have no cause to account he repeatedly wrote to Lon- regret my encounter with the NAMEdon, but without gaining any intelli- LESS Man.

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LITERATURE IN THE JUNGLES.

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One great argument against the of hare-hunting, that the best known immortality of the soul, which we song in its praise has recourse to the have never seen advanced by any heathen gods to eke out the scantiness philosopher, ancient or modern, is the of its subject. Whenever an author existence of the practice of coursing. brings in Jupiter and Apollo, you may It seems barely compatible with any depend upon it he is reduced to his last theory of a reasoning and thinking shifts; and as George Alexander Steprinciple, that three, or four, or any vens empties the whole of Lempriere's indefinite number of men, should ride Dictionary into his chant on “ Huntwith the gravity of a judge's proces- ing the Hare," we may feel pretty sion across sundry fields and mea- sure that his inspiration is false, and dows, in a bitter day of December, up his raptures affected. The best that one furrow and down another, for the can be said for it is contained in a purpose of putting to death a timid song of which we can recall only one creature with long hind-legs; and stanza ; but that stanza contains a calling this dismal occupation by the simple confession in the second line, honoured name of sport. The only which, so far from being counterbarational excuse for it is the excellence lanced in the remainder, receives a of hare soup; but this, we submit, is dreadful corroboration in the finale. a justification of the act of killing the

“ Are we to sbiver here all day? unfortunate ingredient in that delect

Zounds! there is no pleasure in it. able concoction, but can surely be no Hark, hark! away! Give her fair play! argument in favour of the modus in

Dull for an hour, and mad for a minute." quo. Mutton broth-not the miser.

A charming state of existence this, able extract of nothingness which the

where the chief end of man is declared English dignify with that name, but

to be the chance of first starting a the true genuine Scottish dish, inferior

March hare, and then for one minute only to hodge-podge—mutton broth, we repeat, is also a viand of extraor: equalling it in insanity. dinary merit ; and yet, though we “ Poor is the triumph o'er the timid hear metaphorically of gentlemen

harekilling their own mutton, we never The pack full opening various, the shrill read in tale or history of any gentle.

horn man killing his own sheep. "Imagine Resounded from the hills, the neighing a multitude of individuals, booted and

steed spurred, proceeding into a meadow,

Wild for the chase, and the loud hunter's with half a score of bull.dogs or mas

shout tiffs, and at sight of the short tail and

O’er a weak, harmless, flying creature,—all simple physiognomy of a Southdown,

Mix'd in mad tumult and discordant joy!” hallooing and careering with all their So that we hope we have effectually might, till the woolly victim was me- proved from every consideration, hue tamorphosed into mutton by the teeth man and divine, prosaic and poetical, of the aforesaid dogs ; and then ima- that coursing the hare is the enjoygine them returning after this achieve- ment of a madman, and hunting the ment, not exactly perhaps in triumph, hare the base gratification of a savage. but with the lesser honours of an ova- What shall we say of the fox ? A tion ; and having imagined these and little better, but not much. We grant other incidents of a similar kind, in that the mere excitement of careering form us-not forgetting the prepay. on a good horse through a

o level ment of the penny postage-in what champaign,” not undiversified with material respect sheep-coursing would hedge and ditch, is itself a fine thing differ from hare-coursing. The ani- -the hounds in cry, the huntsman's mals, to be sure, differ; but not in a hollo, and the consciousness of speed very great degree. Both unresisting, and power, are very stirring appeals both cowardly to a proverb, both - but yet, after all, what are we harmless, and both seen to best ad- all assembled for? The morning is vantage in a tureen.

It is a strong

raw and cold ; the cover is fifteen proof of the innate worthlessness even miles from home-down from every

muddy lane come one or two sports. dering at its selection of such an oc. men; halls and parks disembogue their cupation. The run has now lasted inhabitants as we pass-orators, ma- three hours—the riders have displayed gistrates, legislators, tend onwards to incredible ardour in chasing an invi. one point; and we think we perceive, sible object; for not one in twenty has on steady brown horses, two or per- caught a single glimpse of the fugitive haps three uncommonly sedate-look- -and four men, including the huntsing gentlemen, not altogether unlike man, at last ride up to the neighbourchaplains, to the hunt.

hood of a windmill in a different Neither age nor sex is spared, as we county, and with some difficulty rescue read in the accounts of captured cities; a small bushy substance covered with old men and boys, young men and red hair from the throats of the dogs, maidens—all obey the call; and at which have swallowed all the other last, by half-past ten, a couple of hun- component parts of the defunct Reydred people-of all ranks, classes, and nard. And with the full persuasion

-, degrees of men—are collected at the that this is ample compensation for place of meeting, and anxious for the time, money, and labour, they betake commencement of the sport. The themselves as rapidly as possible to dogs are thrown into a small planta- their respective homes, to prepare for tion—the huntsmen and whippers-in a similar occupation on the following glance momentarily at the end of the day. This is fox.hunting. We grant different alleys, as they watch how the there is something in it, and, to those hounds are working—all eyes are di- who enter into the science of it, that rected to the plantation, all bridles are it almost rises to the dignity of a held tight in Frand—and at last, after reasonable pursuit. Besides, the fox one or two ineffective barks, a loud is noxious, and has few good qualities clear voice bursts out from an old dog ; to recommend him; but still, how the huntsman gives the hollo, spurs tame, how poor, how unexciting, are clapped into the flanks of every compared to what we read of in other steed, a great rush-a dash through lands! But some jolly fox-hunting the nearest hedge-and away! away squire will say, "Read of!-who cares o'er field and fallow, goes the whole what you read of ?- -a little thing looks multitude, seeing nothing, hearing very well in a book.” We are not nothing, but tearing on -- on-on, quite so sure of that. It would be a as if it were a race, wherein it was mighty clever book that would make an arranged thing that the devil a review in Hyde Park as magnificent should take the hindmost. In half-an- as Waterloo. We rather believe that hour how different is the face of the books never give half vivid enough country!-Dotted here and there a impressions either of hunts or battles. few red-coats are still to be seen, like As far as we are concerned, we would stragglers from an advancing army rather see a donkey race than read of - silence and solitude resume their Eclipse ; rather see a skrimmage with ancient sway

over the cover at the new police than read of Thermothe hill's side ; and far off as the pylæ;-but all we at present contend eye can reach, in one compact mass, for is, the wonderful inferiority of all which you could cover with a table- accounts of fox-hunting to the descripcloth, are the hounds, the hunts. tions of other and nobler sports; and men,

and seven or eight of the fore- this by no means arises from a defi. most riders. On they go-break- ciency in the recorders of such home ing into quiet domains with their incidents. The sporting magazines, loud holloes, miles from where they Old and New, contain some of the best started. The peasantry, following the writing of the present day-Nimrod plough or harrows, look on them himself is an admirable author; and amazed, as thundering forward they the followers of Nimrod, who are no present themselves for a moment close inconsiderable number, handle the pen beside them, and the next are at the as knowingly as the bridle. But all other side of the meadow. Horses their talent and all their enthusiasm now begin to tire-one reposes in a won't do. Fox-hunting kicks the ditch-another enjoys the rural amuse- beam, and, as compared with nobler ment of swinging on a gate, though, doings, is scarcely indeed to be disas several of the top spikes are run tinguished from hare-hunting. We into its bowels, you can't help won- are not going to speak of Lloyd