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ANECDOTE.

BOUT eleven years ago a fubaltern of the regiment of the Prince of Naffau Weilbourg, was impeached with a crime of great atrocity. He afferted his innocence with a firmness and composure which none but the guiltlefs can affume: however a Court Martial was demanded, and after a fair and impartial trial, he was convicted, and condemned to fuffer death.

He was two and twenty years of age, brave, fincere, engaging in his manners, and handsome in his perfon; had lived beloved by his brother officers, and refpected by the whole corps. The regiment at this time lay at Nimeguen; all ranks were interested in the fate of the young man, both on his own account, and that of his family. He had an only fifter, who loved him with all the tendernefs which the ties of confanguinity and the warmth of affection, peculiar to her age, could infpire.

Distracted with forrow on hearing the fatal news, fhe rushed forth into the ftreets, her hair hanging loofe on her fhoulders, and regardless of the delicacy of her fex, bewailed the lofs of her beloved brother, with all the horror of the moft frantic woé. It was a fight too much for humanity: the hearts of

all were touched with pity. did or whither fhe went, fhe

Unknowing what she approached the parade

in an agony of grief; the evolutions of the troops were, for a moment, fufpended; the eyes of the officers were fuffufed with tears, and compaffion appeared in the looks of the foldiery.

She then turned towards the prison, and with an eager voice, demanded to fee her brother. The guards, without any interruption, fuffered her to pass; but what language can express the grief and defpair of two fuch hearts! The remembrance of their former happiness opposed to their prefent mifery, overwhelmed their fpirits and they funk motionless in each other's arms: they were with difficulty restored to life, but not to tranquillity, for their recovery was only a renewal of their forrow.

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It was neceffary to have the fentence of the Court Martial confirmed by the Prince of Orange. The unhappy fifter flew to the Hague, and threw herself at the prince's feet: a woman young beautiful, is always eloquent; but her tears and fobs would only allow hers, in broken accents to befeech the prince to fave her brother's life and honour. She defended his innocence, and in terms the most pathetic, pleaded, that a foul which always delighted

delighted in virtue, could never be guilty of the crime with which he was accufed. The whole court were moved at the mournful scene.

The Prince, himself a young man, and of fentiments congenial with the feelings of youth, was melted into tenderness. His tears flowed with thofe of the difconfolate girl. He foothed-he comforted her, and promifed all the aid which the circumftances of the cafe would admit.

The

But it was found there was no alternative. prefumptive proof was ftrong. The rigour of the law demanded a facrifice, and the fentence of the Court Martial was put in execution.

The paffions of the people, interested by fo fingular an event had fcarce fubfided, when all their fympathy and concern were again awakened by a full discovery of the affair.

The real delinquent, pierced by the enormity of his guilt, aggravated by the defolation into which he had plunged an innocent and refpectable family, made a full confeffion of the crime,-which, from a fatal concurrence of circumftances, that fometimes happen in human affairs, was laid to the charge of the amiable youth who had fuffered.

We

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We fhall draw a veil over the accumulated dif treffes of this young man's family. His fifter, exhaufted with grief and watching, furvived his cruel fate but a very fhort time; and her laft request was, that she might be buried in the fame untimely grave with her unfortunate brother.

WH

SPRIN G.

WHAT aftonifhing variety of artifices, what innumerable millions of exquifite works, is the God of nature engaged in every moment! How gloriously are his all pervading wifdom and power employed in this useful season of the year; this Spring of Nature! what infinite myriads of vegetable beings is he forming this very moment, in their roots and branches, in their leaves and bloffoms, their feeds and fruit. Some, indeed, begun to discover their bloom amidst the snows of Janu ary, or under the rough cold blast of March; thofe flowers are withered and vanifhed in April, and their feeds are now ripening to perfection. Others are fhewing themselves this day in all their blooming pride and beauty; and while they adorn the gardens and meadows with gay and glowing colours, they promife their fruits in the day of har veft. The whole nation of vegetables is under the

Divine care and culture; his hand forms them day and night with admirable skill and unceafing operation, according to the natures he first gave them, and produces their buds and foliage, their flowery blossoms, and rich fruits, in their appointed months. Their progrefs in life is exceeding fwift at this season of the year; and their successive appearances, and fweet changes of raiment, are vifible almost hourly.

But these creatures are of lower life, and give but feebler displays of the Maker's wifdom. Let us raise our contemplations another ftory, and furvey a nobler theatre of Divine wonders. What endless armies of animals is the hand of God moulding and figuring this very moment, through. out his brutal dominions!-What immenfe flights of little birds are now fermenting in the egg, heaving and growing towards fhape and life! What vaft flocks of four footed creatures, what droves of large cattle, are now framed in their early embrios, imprifoned in the dark cells of nature! And others, perhaps, are moving towards diberty, and just preparing to fee the light. What Thunknown myriads of infects, in their various cradles and nefting places, are now working to wards vitality and motion! And thousands of them with their painted wings juft beginning to unfurl,

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