but she proved the Messalina of the age. Her history is so full of—but you must spare me the recital of particulars, and allow me to proceed to the last shocking catastrophe. I had for some time suspected her of criminal intercourse with an officer in the regiment to which I belonged. I watched them narrowly-I detected them -but ask no more-they perished in their guilt.

"One man only had I acquainted with my design. He earnestly endeavoured to dissuade me from it; talked loudly of its injustice and inhumanity; and advised me, as we were then preparing to return to Europe, to institute a legal process against the seducer.

"What!' said I; 'to have my name and character bandied about the courts-to subject myself to every species of ridicule-to be scoffed at by the very wretches who have done me the most unpardonable wrong? Inhumanity! No! It were a want of humanity to spare them. They would live, indeed; but they would live in infamy. It is better that they should die.'"

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"there

'By Heaven!" exclaimed Monsieur De C——, is a savage justice in the blow which you dealt; and should I ever be equally unfortunate with yourself, I solemnly swear to you, that I would act in the same manner."

"Boldly resolved," said the gentleman, embracing "Our spirits are congenial. I am proud in calling you my friend."

him.

I was unable to say a word.

"You find," continued he, " that I have actually cause for sorrow it is, indeed, unspeakably great; but it arises not from compunction or remorse at what I have done. No! I glory in the deed; and my unhappiness is only occasioned by reflecting on the crime which drove me to it."

He ceased: his grief would not allow him to dwell on the subject, and he begged leave to retire.

L'INSENSIBLE.*

HAGUE.

WALKING one evening in the Vyverberg, accompanied by Monsieur De M- a Frenchman came trippingly up to us, singing. "Ah! my dear Monsieur De M, said he, "I am heartily glad to see you. Give me joy, my friend-give me joy. I am the happiest fellow on earth. I have just detected my wife in an intrigue,

"And does that occasion your happiness?" said I; looking on him with astonishment.

"Sir!" exclaimed he, rolling his eyes around, and with a kind of self-approving smile." Sir!"—

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But, as I was going to observe to you," said he, turning immediately to Monsieur De M, "nothing lin the world could be more fortunate. We had long ived unhappily together, and were on the very eve of separation. But in that case, you know, there would have been the devil and all of alimony demanded, while now I shall easily obtain a divorce; and then-tal-deral-lal, tal-de-lal-lal-Serviteur!" And away he danced.

"How unlike," cried I, "is man to man! The exquisite sensibility of the son of the Chevalier De hurried him absolutely beyond himself; while the nonchalance and indifference of this contemptible coxcomb sets even Nature herself at defiance. Gracious Heaven! he has no more dignity than the fellow who, when kicked, consoled himself with the thought, that the shoe was of Spanish leather."

The French substantive is here adopted, as conveying a more perfect idea of the character represented, than any expression which the English language will afford.

THE RUFFLES.

HAGUE.

I WAS invited to the Cercle.*

"Good God!" cried

I, turning over my ruffles and stockings, "what paltry things! they will never do for such an occasion-I must undoubtedly purchase others."

Now, both ruffles and stockings were absolutely new, and even of the finest sort; but the fact is, that I wished to frame to myself an excuse for visiting the petite Bourgeoise.

It is really very strange; but I felt something like a friendship for her. I wished to see her: I was desirous of speaking with her; but then I had no particular business; and what was to be done in such a case?— Why, I fancied I wanted ruffles.

"Beside," said I to myself, "were I really not in want of these things, it would be but handsome to lay out half a dozen ducats with a woman who has behaved to me so very handsomely.”

This determined the matter at once; and I accordingly repaired to her shop.

"Mon cher Monsieur," cried she, " comment vous va-t-il ?"-By the way, there is something extremely captivating in that "Mon cher Monsieur," which is so very common with a Frenchwoman: not that I would be thought to insinuate, that a Frenchwoman means any thing by it-I rather imagine she does not. Be that, however, as it may, it is certainly very pleasing, and not unfrequently gains the heart.

I sat down by the counter; and such was the rapidity and agreeableness of her conversation, that I actually

* An assembly held at the Old Court, at the Hague.

forgot to ask for the ruffles, and even never thought about them till I had got back to the hotel.

I returned immediately to the petite Bourgeoise, telling her of my absent fit. She laughed immoderately; and, looking fixedly in my face, significantly demanded, "To what it could possibly be owing?"

At this instant, her husband coming to the door, I told her it was impossible for me to answer her question then; but that I would take another opportunity of doing it. So, making a pretty low bow to the husband (though I secretly wished him at the Dogger Bank), and a much lower to the wife, I returned forthwith to my hotel; but not without a resolution of shortly seeing the lady again. The ruffles were still unbought.

CHAGRIN.

HAGUE.

WHEN a man is thoroughly out of humour, he should shut himself up for an hour or two in his closet: it will give him time for reflection, and, consequently, hinder him from acting absurdly.

The husband of the petite Bourgeoise had interrupted me in my tête-à-tête with his wife; and I accordingly wished him hanged for it. That was undoubtedly very natural: but why I should quarrel with almost every one who came in my way for some time after (and so it actually happened), I shall leave to the determination of the philosopher. He will account for it in a better manner than I can.

I sat down at the Table d'Hôte-every thing was badly drest-the wines were execrable-I was unable to eat my dinner.

Every other person, nevertheless, found them excellent. I walked out towards the Voorhout. I met the miserable object whom I had relieved a day or two before, and whom I had wished to see again.

He bowed to me in passing. It was not the bow of entreaty, but rather of gratitude-it seemed to thank me for what I had already given; but not to ask for

more.

I looked frowningly on him, and harshly bade him get out of my way.-What an inconsistent creature is man!

REMORSE.

HAGUE.

"AND is it thus," said I to myself, as the humble petitioner walked away, "is it thus I behave towards the indigent and distressed? Is this conducting myself according to the principles of benevolence which I have so frequently laid down as the rule for others? Is this the philanthropy and charity which I have recommended to the attention and practice of all men?

-"But I will go this evening to the opera," said I"it is not improbable but that music will restore me to my natural complacency and good humour-we know its power in subduing and correcting the passions

What passion cannot music raise and quell?

Neither are we ignorant of its influence on the manners; and that it will at once inspire pity, tenderness, and love."

I accordingly went to the opera. The music was by that admirable composer Gretri-I was delighted with it. It is really very surprising, thought I, as I walked from the theatre to the hotel, that the Dutch, who are