ich and its inhabitants, were nu- On the fourteenth day of our erous; nearly all that were in- passage, as we were about rising rogated, took delight in answer- from dinner, some person observg his questions, and imparting to ed that a steam boat was about m such information respecting passing us, having on board an e country as they had gained unusual number of passengers.-om books or experience, and yet All of us excited by curiosity, left here were a few, (who although with one accord our seats, and ddressed by him in a very polite were hurrying out of the cabin, anner,) would pay, or appear to in order to have a view of the ay no regard to what he said passing boat; nor was Mr. Ber'his singular conduct proceeding trand's curiosity less excited than om no apparent cause, was no- ours. In making his way out, he ced by more than myself. This accidentally trod upon the foot of entleman, for a gentleman he ap- one of the gentlemen immediately eared to be in every particular, behind him;turning directly around as addressed by the captain as he begged his pardon, assuring him Ir. Bertrand; he was intelligent, at the same time, that it was algreeable in conversation and pos- together unintentional. The genessed of much politeness. We tleman replied that he knew it all anticipated a pleasant voyage, was an accident.' Nothing more every moment some view was pre- that day was said concerning the sented to the eye, capable of rais-transaction, nor did any one who ing in the mind the livliest and was a witness of it, imagine, that most sublime emotions. So much any thing more, would be thought has been said already respecting of concerning it. This, however, the scenery of the Mississippi, and was not the case; for on the folits beauties, that for me to expa-lowing morning the gentleman who tiate on the subject would be su- met with the accident, was seen perfluous. Yet nothing could be to call Mr. Bertrand aside, and more delightful! at one time the address him in the following ab. river gliding on gently within its rupt manner: Sir, during the banks, the next moment, over- past day, I have received from you flowing the country as far as the an insult and it is my desire that eye could extend, had indeed a you make me some reparation.' pleasing effect! here often might Mr. Bertrand at this speech exbe seen, the smoke gradually cur-pressed his surprise on account of ling around the summit of the lof-not remembering at that moment, tiest trees, indicating that a steam the trivial circumstance, that had boat was approaching, which perhaps at the bend of the river would burst on our view. We enjoyed ourselves exceedingly; for our feelings were in unison with the scenes around us, and something remarkable it is, that in so gay a company during the thirteen days we were upon the waters of the Mississippi, a card table had not been spread. This trip, which was anticipated by all as a pleasant one, was however, interrupted by an event of the most disagreeble nature.

occurred during the past day.— Upon recollecting it he replied, that for a circumstance of so trifling a nature, and an accident, he thought he had made sufficient apology, but that if he was not satisfied, he was willing to make him further reparation in any manner he might desire.' 'Well sit, you will meet me at the steam boat's first landing, upon the bank, from which we will not depart till one of us falls!' 'No sir,' replied Mr. Bertrand, duelling is a prac

The next morning we reached our destined port; never was any thing more desired by me. As a steam boat was about leaving the wharf for Cincinatti, Mr. Bertrand had his trunk put on board and continued his voyage; though I requested him to write me, I have never heard from him since. M.

NATIVE SKETCHES, NO. I.

tice which ani much averse to and pointing his pistol he said from principle, and therefore can- to his antagonist: 'Sir, the last not meet you on these terms-words which I addressed you on 'But' (interrupted the other)' you board the boat, from which you bave said that you would give me came, (never to return) are about satisfaction in any manner that I to be realized! He firedmight desire, consequently, by the his adversary fell! words are inlaws of honor, your obligation is adequate to describe the ensuing binding. As I have heedlessly scene-Mr. Bertrand was seen to promised you that I would give shed tears; his adversary's body, you satisfaction in any manner (contrary to the entreaties of his you may desire, rather than be friends, who were the instigators guilty of the charge of cowardice, of this unfortunate affair) was inor aught that might have a ten- terred in the spot upon which he dency to place a stigma upon my fell. character, which heretofore (thank God) I have sustained unblemished, I will at the time specified, meet you; not with the intention of injuring you, unless you cause my blood to flow-but be assured, if you spill one drop of my blood, if life enough is left in me to raise my weapon, you will certainly receive its contents,' upon which they separated. To be brief, it was not long before the steam boat stopped at a landing. The two gentlemen retired to a small grove WILLIAM G-was the son of an whither they were followed by affluent planter in the W. Indies several others. The distance was who had married an accomplished measured, the gentlemen took lady from Rhode Island; and nottheir assigned places. Now sir,' withstanding her dislike to a resisaid Mr. Bertrand, when you are dence in a slave holding country, ready, fire-bearing in mind what she consented to follow the forI have already told you. His ad- tunes of the husband of her choice. versary, after having taken delib- With the exception of being conerate aim, fired. As yet Mr. Ber- stantly obliged to witness the detrand remained untouched; 'are graded state of her fellow beings, you now satisfied sir?' said Mr. she was as happy as love, wealth, Bertrand, if not you are at lib- and the smiles of two lovely chil erty to try it again; upon which dren could make her. But alas another pistol being handed him, for human happiness! when the he received it, and as before fired. eldest was about twelve years old, The contents of his pistol passed it was her misfortune to lose their through Mr. Bertrand's left hand, father. Hearing of the bereaveit was loaded a third time, when, ment, her parents affectionately raising his hand, he thus ad- besought her to visit them with dressed himself to the specta- her children, (hoping that she tors, 'You see gentlemen that I might be induced to reside once have done every thing in my pow-more in her native state.) Mrs. er to prevent this affair termina- G., glad to escape from those ting seriously, but to no effect, scenes which so painfully remind

THE PRIZE.

ed her of the dear one she had of such masters as she should lost, made a hasty settlement deem necessary, to continue still of her affairs, and placing her- the directress of her studies; but self and two children, Wil-she was obliged to consent to be liam and Elizabeth under the separated from her boy, and he care of a friend, she soon reached was placed in a respectable semithose shores which were endeared nary in H-, where the amiato her by the tenderest recollec- bility of his manners, and the bril tions, as the elegant though ven-liancy of his talents, soon secured erable mansion, (from which four-the friendship and favor of his tuteen years ago she departed as a tors, and the love and confidence happy bride) burst upon her view. of his companions. There was She wept-and as she entered the one pupil of this academy who well remembered hall, and was always excited the sympathy and clasped to the bosom of her par- pity of William whenever they ents, she exclaimed with emotion, met. He was a pale, melancholy it was not thus we parted! for he youth, the son of a poor widow in was with us; but you will re- the neighborhood, who was adceive these dear objects of his vised to employ all the means in love, I know, and transfer to them her power to procure for him the the affection you felt for their advantages of an education, as he father. The mother's wish was had evinced from his earliest fully gratified, the grand-parents childhood a strong inclination for were enraptured with the children study. He was always scrupuwho greatly amused them by their lously neat in his person, but he exclamations of surprise and pleas- seemed as if conscious that his ure at all they saw. The first mean, and sometimes ragged atmonth after they arrived was oc- tire, attracted the notice, if not cupied in daily excursions in the the ridicule of all his companions; adjacent country, where after the he therefore kept aloof from them fatigue of a ramble among the as much as possible and seidom rocks and woods, they partook of joined in their amusements. All a wholesome repast of milk and the hours unappropriated to study fruits, which were always offered were employed in performing vato the little strangers whenever rious tasks for the establishment. their party stopped; and their Some of which were of a menial nabrightly intelligent, though pale ture; by these means did this poor faces, soon began to bloom be- boy contrive to pay nearly all the neath the influence of the salu- expenses of his education, and had brious Island breeze, and their del-often the pleasure of providing icate limbs acquired new strength for his mother something nice for and vigor from exercise. It how her Sunday dinner. It was in ever soon became necessary for these weekly visits to her cottage the friends of these children to that the character of Joseph was devise for them other pursuits unveiled; the morose manners, and than those of pleasure,-the im- forbidding aspect which he thought portant subject of education was himself obliged to assume at the to be considered. The instruc- seminary (in order to protect him tion of little Elizabeth had ever from those indignities to which been a pleasant task to her ac-poverty is too often subjected) complished mother, who was most were here laid aside, and he enjoyunwilling to resign it; she there-ed with his mother, the little meal fore resolved, with the assistance which his industry had procured,

with that cheerfulness and grati- last week? Most willingly, said tude, which his affectionate heart William, if you regret the puralways experienced in the pres-chase, and laid the sum upon the ence of those whom he knew were table, with a laugh at his faithles→ his friends; at these times he ad-ness in Madame Fortune. My verted not to his own labors, eith-mother, cried Joseph is in distress! er of mind or body, or the numer- should she fail in paying her quar ous embarrassments of his situa-ter's rent, she probably will be ortion, but spoke with enthusiasm of dered from her comfortable dwell, the future, when established in ing. I thank you for this kindhis favorite calling, (that of the ness, the ticket is yours, but she ministry) he should be enabled to as it in her possession: I will support his mother in ease and hand it you to-morrow morning! comfort. Notwithstanding the re- So saying he hastily left the room. serve of Joseph, William knew his The next morning's paper statworth, and pity for his poverty ed that the holder of the ticket was soon ripened into esteem for (once owned by poor Joseph,) was his virtues. One afternoon, ob- entitled to the prize of $20,000! serving him unoccupied, (a cir- at breakfast the friends met; notcumstance not usual) William in- withstanding his efforts to appear vited him to walk, which, with a calm, there was a wild despair exslight acknowledgment of the hon-pressed in the countenance of Joor done him, was accepted. As seph; and following William to they strolled by a lottery office, his apartment, he hastily proWilliam stopped and exclaimed, come Joe-let's try our luck! I never had a ticket. No, said Joseph I am too poor! beside I question the propriety of adventuring in lotteries. A fig for your scruples, most reverend parson, said his light headed friend,-I am for a ticket, and so here goes; they entered the office-shall I be banker for two? said William. No replied Joseph, I have just $10 in Springing forward, William my pocket-book, and as you really caught his hand, and exclaimed advise me to take a ticket, I will with enthusiasm, My friend, this do so, but not without fear and ticket is not mine! it was not in trembling shall I await my doom.my possession until after its fate Having bought their tickets they was decided, I therefore was not walked home, discoursing most the holder of the ticket which philosophically upon many other drew the prize! The ten dollars vicissitudes of life, beside those I consider as a loan which I will of fortune's wheel. A few days again receive, but the ticket is after this event as William was sitting alone in his room, Joseph hastily entered; his face was unusually pale: my friend exclaimed he, for your kindness emboldens me to call you by that title, will you give me ten dollars for that ticket which I imprudently bought

duced the ticket and said, sir, I congratulate you on your good fortune! As he turned to the door the tear that rolled down his pale cheek, spoke more forcibly than words could do; if his disappoint→ ment in having parted with the ticket excited pity, his high sense of honor in yielding it, after he knew it had drawn a prize, claimed the admiration of William.

yours, and may God bless and direct you in the enjoyment of your wealth! It was difficult to say which was the most happy.

At the age of sixteen the heart, yet uninitiated into the concerns of this selfish world, retains much of its native generosity until the

keen edge of its sensibilities become blunted by the contact of uncongenial characters. This was the age of these friends, who unschooled in art, as yet obeyed the dictates of nature. William knew that he and his sister were the joint heirs of a splendid fortune. Maternal fondness had always granted him the pecuniary means of obtaining whatever his fancy might suggest, and he therefore knew not the importance of money, and only rejoiced that it was in his power to make others as happy as himself.

Joseph had from his earliest childhood been forced to wrestle with the grasp of poverty, to obtain a subsistence; he had learned the value of wealth, and he hailed William as the guardian angel of his destiny, who had opened to his view a prospect of happiness and honor, too brilliant he feared to be realized!

Many were the pro's and con's respecting this boyish transaction, and some were for submitting it to the decision of higher authority; but the name of Joseph was recorded as the purchaser of the ticket, and to him the prize was paid. He at length prevailed upon his generous friend to accept 5,000 dollars as a memorial of his gratitude.

She

SHE kept a number of young ladies in her house, whom she occasionally employed as her amanuenses; some of them slept near her chamber, that they might be ready to rise in the night at the sound of her bell, and commit to paper any ideas that occurred to her. produced no less than thirteen folios, ten of which are in print. In speaking of herself, she says, "That it pleased God to command his servant Nature to endow her with a poetic and philosophical genius even from her birth, for she did write even in that kind before she was thirteen years of age." By this account it appears, that she began to write philosophical treatises previous to having read any her speculations must, of course, have had the merit of originality, since she was nearly forty years of age, she informs us, before she perused any philosophical authors, 'in order to learn the terms of art.'

To be brief, the friends passed The duchess wrote plays, poems, through their Collegiate studies, orations, and philosophical diswith honor to themselves, and sat-courses. isfaction to their tutors.

William became a Lawyer, and was celebrated for his learning and eloquence. Joseph left the quiet tranquility of a peaceable home, where the performance of filial and charitable duties had endeared him to all his friends, to pursue the study of Divinity with an eminent Clergyman, under whose guidance and in the exercise of his own superior talents, he became a bright and shining star, not

Of dramatical writings,

a species of composition for which she had a peculiar predilection, she is said to have been the most voluminous. The fertility of invention which is displayed in her plots and dialogues, atones, in some degree, for their various defects. The person of the dutchess was graceful and her manners reserved: she was indefatigable in study, humane, generous, and pious: she was an admirable economist, an excellent wife, and a kind mistress.