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However, I was very much miftaken, because two of them were gentlemen for whom I was not prepared, and who had been already once deceived by Volkert; yet I did not entirely mifs my aim, and the haunted Inn was fold, foon after, to my friend, on very low terms; the fimpleton, who had been the owner of it, and who believed fill in the reality of the apparition, in fpite of what he had feen and heard, when I conjured up the fpirit, and in fpite of reafon and good fenfe, having no peace nor reft until he had difencumbered himself of the poffeffion of "ill-gotten wealth."

many wrongs you had fuffered by me. My intention was to live here in A—; in folitude and retirement, and to dedicate the reft of my miferable life to repentance, and thus to make my peace with God: But my former lawlefs companions foon found out my retreat and forced me to renew my crimes, and to affift them in their infernal deeds."

"The crime for which I am confined here you very likely know: All I can fay, in order to palliate this laft tranfgreffion, is, that it is one of the nobleft deeds I ever performed, and it would not give me the leaft uneafinefs, if the execution of it had not brought deftruction on other people befide myfelf."

Here Volkert flopped, fatigued and exhaufted by the long narrative: I converfed a good while longer with him on his conjurations, and could not help mentioning, that I was very much furprised that his deceptions could have been kept fo concealed, though he had always been obliged to rely on the affiftance of other people: To which he replied,

"Your obfervation is very juft, but your furprise will vanish, if you confider, that my affiftants in cheating people, bore their thare in the frauds I committed, and, of courfe, would not have efcaped punishment, if they had not kept fecret all tranfactions of that, nature.'

"The apparition itself was effected by means of a camera-obfcura, in an apartment beneath that where I performed the cheat, fome boards in the floor having the night before been faw ed through, after we had made a hole in the ceiling of the lower chamber. The boards which covered the opening "It is more furprifing," added he clofe to the wall were replaced in fuch." that one is always certain to find a manner, that they could be removed from below, by means of which, the fmoke could afcend from the lower apartment, and reprefent the picture in the machine-fmoke and darknefs put the finishing ftroke to the decep

tion."

"I'left, like your friend, Frankfort, the next morning, with the firm refolution to return no more, apprehending to be delivered up to the vengeance of the civil power, in fpite of your generolity, and having loft my good cha racter for ever. On my journey I happened to come to the houfe where you was confined, and felt the highest fatisfaction when I had it in my power to make you fome atonement for the

people who will lend their affistance in cheating their fellow citizens, and it is almoft incredible how willing every one is to aflift any impoftor in deceiving others. Yet I do not think that the fource of that intriguing difpofition, so common among all claffes of men, fprings from the depravity of human nature, I rather would attribute it to the pleasure every one feels, when he can prove the fuperior powers of his genius, which is the head fpring that animates us as well to good as to bad actions, and, if guided by a benevo lent heart, and good principles, raifes us above the common herd, and leads us to honour and glory."

As

As I rofe and was going to leave the prifon, Volkert fqueezed my hand, and faid, with a faltering voice,

"To-morrow at this hour I fhall be no more; to-morrow, at this hour I fhall have feen the Supreme Judge of human kind: I fhudder when I think that I must appear before his awful throne; yet there is ftill one confolation fupporting me, one confolation that, as yet, has warded off the deadly arrows of defpair, and, I truft, will comfort me in my trying hour, and when he who dwelleth in heaven fhall fpeak to me. This confolation, friend, give me leave to call you by that facred name, this confolation is not the vain groundless expectation that I fhall atone for my fins, by fuffering the punithment that awaits me; No! If I had a bundred lives to lofe, I could not atone for my manifold crimes: This confolation confifts in the perfuafion that I fhall be made a warning example of the dread confequences attending the criminal abuse of the intellectual pow, ers the great ruler of the univerfe has given us, and that the world will be warned againft impoftors like myself." When he had finished I bade him a laft farewell, in a faltering accent, and left the unhappy man, who faid to me, as I opened the door,

"Come to-morrow to the place of execution, your prefence will give me Comfort !"

I left the prifon loft in gloomy thoughts, and with a bleeding heart. The difmal idea of the awful fcene which was to be exhibited the next day, haunted me wherever I went, and I ftruggled in vain to chace it from my mind: The folemn ftillness of the night rather increafed than diminished my uneafinefs,, and fleep entirely filed from my weary eyes. The dawn of the rofy morn cheered the whole creation, but my foul was pierced with horror when the firft ray of the rifing fun hailed me on my couch.

At length the folemn found of bells announced the approaching hour of execution; I wrapped myfelf in my cloak, and repaired with trembling Reps to the place where Volkert was to atone for his crimes. The streets

were crowded with a noify multitude: Haunted by fecret awe did I arrive at the place of execution, and horror made my bloodrun chill as I beheld the dreadful pile, which foon was to reduce to afhes the preferver of my life.

A gaping multitude was ftanding around, awaiting with cruel infenfibility, and with more than beaftly fatisfaction, the dreadful cataftrophe which was to terminate the life of their fellow creatures.

Without recollection was I ftanding amid the crowd, when, fuddenly a confufed noife was heard, and every eye directed to one fpot: Lifting up my downcaft looks. I beheld the funeral proceffion drawing near with flow folemnity: Volkert was walking in the front with firm and manly teps, followed by his ghaftly looking fellow fufferer: The proceffion ftopped at the enclosure, encircling the fcaffold, and Volkert's eyes were anxioufly looking around; at length he faw me, nodded to me, with a grateful fmile, and entered the enclosure.

His trembling fellow fufferer was firft facrificed by the avenging hand of juftice. I caft my eyes to the ground until I perceived by the murmuring noife around, that his fuffering were over. Now I directed again my melancholy looks towards the dread place of execution, and beheld Volkert undreffing himself, and approaching with firmnefs the ftool ftained with the fmoaking blood of his friend. Now he was feated, the fword of the executioner litted up now it glittered in the morning fun, ready to ftrike the fatal blow. I thut my eyes involuntarily-a fudden hollow humming told me that Volkert had conquered. ful fenfations thrilled my palpitating heart, and I forced my way through the gaping multitude without looking once more towards the horrid place where Volkert had expired.

Aw

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place immediately, in which my peace of mind had been so much disturbed.

But being informed that the Captain of the gang would be examined the following day, curiofity got fo far the better of my impatience to leave as foon as poffible a town where every object recalled to my mind the haplefs fate of my preferver, that I refolved to ftay one day longer, and very glad I am that I took that refolution: The account this man gave of himself being fo fingular and remarkable, that I was amply repaid for the melancholy and grief which haunted me with unabating fury, whilft I tarried within the walls of the town where my benefactor had been executed.

"The trial began at fix o'clock in the morning, and I took care to be in the town houfe, before the terrible leader of the robbers had made his appearance at the bar. Every one prefent feemed ftruck with terror when he entered the hall.

He was of a gigantic make, near feve feet high, his robuft limbs correfponting with his extraordinary fize; his black and bushy hair covered part of his fun burnt face, which was diffigured by two gaping fears across his left cheek. His eye, for he had but one left, flashed like lightning when he beheld the dread arbiters of life and death eager to pronounce his doom. The judge exhorted him to fpeak the truth, and not to aggravate his guilt by ftubbornnefs. However nobody expected that a wretch of his appearance would pay the leaft regard to gentle admonisions, and perhaps remain filent even ander the tortures of the rack. His favage look and lofty mien feemed to betoken an haughty fpirit, not eafy to be fubdued. I at leaft had entertained not the moft diftant hope of having my curiofity gratified in fo fatisfactory a manner as he really did. Imagine therefore my aftonishment when contrary to all expectation, he began.

66

My Lord and Gentlemen,

I am in your power, and well aware that nothing can avert my impending doom, I fcorn the tortures of the rack and bid defiance to every human effort, to force me to a confeffion of my crimes;

You might tear my limbs afunder, and kill me by inches, and yet would never extort a fingle word from my lips, if I had no other reafons to deal candidly with you. However I will spare you that trouble, and honeftly confefs my crimes, their origin, and their progrefs; being ftrongly perfuaded that the hiftory of my life will afford a useful leffon to judges, and teach the guardians of the people to be careful how they inflict punishments if they will not make a complete rogue of many a haplefs wretch, who would have been recalled to his duty, and preferved to the human fociety, by gentle treatment: I never fhould have become a robber, had not the too great feverity of the laws made me an enemy to the human race, and hurried me to the brink of black difpair. I know my doom is fixed; however, if your heart is no ftranger to pity, you will at least not refufe a tear of humanity to a poor unhappy man, who has been dragged by dire fatality into the path of vice, and forced to commit deeds his foul abhors."

Here he ftopped. Awful filence fwayed around, and my curiofity was harrowed up to the highest degree, when he began nearly in the following ftrain.

"I am the fon of an Inn-keeper at A-, whofe name was Wolf, and who died when I had reached my twentyfourth year. I fucceeded him in his bufinefs, which being but indifferent, many of my hours were unemployed: Being an only fon, I had been spoiled by my parents, who were delighted with my wanton pranks, and indulged me in every thing. Grown-up girls complained of my impudence when I was but twelve years old; and the boys of the village paid homage to my inventive genius. Nature had not dealt niggardly with me in refpect of bodily endowments; however, an unfortunate kick rom a horfe disfigured my face in fuch a manner, that the girls of the village fhunned me, and my play-fellows took frequent opportunities to make me an object of their merriment. The more my female acquaintances avoided me, the more the defire of pleafing

took

dok root in my heart. As I grew up, I was given to fenfuality: and perfuadId mylelf to be in love. The object of my flame treated me with fcorn, and I had reafon to apprehend that my rivals were more fuccefsful than I; however the girl was poor, and I had reafon to hope that her heart, which was inasceffible to my vows and prayers, would yield to prefents, which I knew not how to procure, the fmall income my butinefs afforded me being entirely fsallowed up by the vain efforts I made render my perfon lefs difgufting. Being too much addicted to idleness to exert" myself in amending my circumfances, and too ambitious to change my expenfive mode of life, I had only one means left to improve my fortune, which thoufands before me had tried with more fuccefs." (To be continued.)

Ufervations refpecting the Population of

the American States.

encounter were fo great, that in 1614 the number of fettlers remaining did not exceed 400, which small number has progreffively increafed in the course of 180 years to four millions. Such an uncommon increase is the more remarkable, in this inftance, as by an account publifhed fome years fince of the births and burials of Bofton, it appeared in that town the number of the burials exceeded that of the births, and confequently that the inhabitants could not increafe without an annual fupply of perfons born elsewhere. This circumfiance would furnish a prefumption, if more direct evidence could not be obtained, and the fact was not generally admitted, that the rapid advance of population in the United States has been in a great measure occafioned by emigration from other countries; which is ftill more fully confirmed by the result of the enumeration which took place in ́ 1791. According to the returns then made the total number of the white males THE HE inhabitants of a state conftitute in the feveral diftricts of the United its real ftrength, and the increase States (exclufive of the S. W. and N. W. or decreafe of their number furnishes territories) was 1,598,944, and of fecre of the fureft criterions to judge of males 1,541,261, the former being to profperity; as the former will inevi- the latter in proportion of 1000 to 964. bly take place in every country that It is well known that in all confiderable affords encouragement and protection places where fimilar accounts have been induftry, and the latter, wherever taken, the number of living males has lecurity damps exertion, or unfavour- been found lefs than that of the females; able circumftances produce fuch a dif- the exceptions to this general obfervaproportion between the price of labour ion are very few, and only in fuch inand of the neceffaries of life, as renders ftances as may be eafily accounted for bfiftence difficult, and impedes the from particular local circumftances; quirement of competence. Whatever therefore, the contrary appearing in ay be the ftate of particular countries the American States, evidently proves thefe refpects, the general increafe that the population is confiderably af of the human fpecies is little doubted, fected by perfons removing thither from though it would appear much more evi- other countries; it being well known tent were it not counteracted by the that the proportion of females who emiCeftruction of wars, epidemic difeafes, grate is very mall in comparison with and other adventitious evils. Of thofe the number of males. Several AmeriCountries in which the increafe of ro- can writers, obferving the rapid increase pulation is undeniable, America is per- of the population of their country, and taps the moft friking inftance of a ra- perhaps not fufficiently confidering or pid progrefs in this refpect. The first being willing to allow how much it is colony that fettled within the prefent owing to the conflant acceffion of natives boundaries of the united ftates, con- of other countries, have endeavoured to fifted of only 100 perfons, who went fhew, that the probabilities of life are over from this country in the year higher in the United States than in Eu1606; and though many others foon rope, and confequently inftances of con followed, the difficulties they had to fiderable longevity more numerous.

This

This is the principle defign of Mr. W. Barton's "Obfervations on the Progrefs of Population, and the probabilities of the duration of life in the United States, read before the American philofophical fociety the 18th March 1791." How far the arguments contained in this effay are well founded, will appear from a flight examination of the principle evidence produced in fupport of them. This confifts of two tables of the probabilities of life in Philadelphia, and fimilar tables for the town of Salem, a fea-port containing about 8000 inhabitants. The 1ft table for Philadelphia is formed from the Regifters of two congregations (among whom the annual number of deaths was only 145) from 1755 to 1790. For twelve years during this period the bills could not be obtained, which certainly feems to imply fome negligence in the manner of keping them, and authorifes a doubt refpecting the accuracy of thofe that were preferved; the bills for two other years the author thought proper to omit, as being years of extraordinary mortality among children. The 2d table is formed from the fame bills for four years only. The tables for Salem exhibit evident proof of their defects, by fhewing fuch an irregularity in the decrements of life as was never obferved in any confiderable place where regifters have been kept tolerably correct. These are certainly very flender and unfatisfactory data to draw any inference from refpecting the probabilities of life in the country at large, or even in the city of Philadelphia itfelf, containing fo large a body as 42,000 inhabitants; but bies are correct, the comparison of them even upon the fuppofition that the tawith the other tables given with them, is not much in favour of Philadelphia. fhould leave to his children, replied, E. g. it appears by table 1, that out of "La vertu & la fageffe, qui ne craignent 1000 born in this city, 445 die under ni pluie, ni vent, ni tempête, ni force the age of three years; whereas accord- d'homme." Valour, replied he, and ing to count de Buffon's tables, only prudence, which neither are afraid of 420 die in Paris, and 413 in London, rain, nor of wind, nor of the tempeft, under this age; and according to Dr. nor of the power of man. Halley's table for Breflaw, no more than 290. From the Philadelphia table it also appears, that, out of 1000 births 368 attain to more than 20 years of age; but from Buffon's tables 433

live beyond this age in Paris, and 436 in London; and by the Breslaw table 523 exceed it in that city. Dr. Price's table for London is probably nearer the truth than that of count Buffon; but as Mr. Barton in feveral parts of his effay appears partial to the calculations of Halley and Buffon, it is but right that his tables fhould be compared with their's in this refpect. However, even by Dr. Price's table it appears, that at moft of the ages above twenty the mortality is not fo great in London as in Philadelphia; fo that even if it were admitted that America could furnish more numerous inftances of great longevity than any other country (which is very doubtful), ftill it would appear highly probable, that the fum of exiftence enjoyed by the inhabitants en grofs, is but little, if any thing, more than in moft The fame inference other countries.

may be drawn from the great proportion of inhabitants under fixteen years of age; a circumftance by no means favourable to the fuppofed longevity of Americans; for unless it can be proved that the annual number of births is increafing, and is greater than in a country of equal population in Europe, this fac mult refult from a greater mortality in the advanced ages; but as the former is the moft probable, it would be improper to adopt the latter conclufion, unless it should be warranted by more correct accounts of the births and burials in America than have hitherto been published. J. J. GRELLIER. Anecdotes.

LE CHEVALIER BAYARD. 'HIS brave and generous Frenchman

being asked what legacy a father

It is faid of Bayard, that he affaulted like a grey hound, that he defended himfelf like a boar, and that he ran away like a wolf (who always retires from his purfuers with his face towards them).

His

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