Should I here betray the envy which I in this paricular instance feel, the moralist, I hope, will pardon it. "Quelque chose, Monsieur, s'il vous plait, à un homme le plus miserable du monde."

I instantly turned about to the supplicant. And if thou art really so very wretched, thought I, and such thou dost in truth appear to be, why should I not afford thee some relief? I have little, indeed, to give, and thou mayst even be undeserving of that little.-But how am I to get at the truth of this? And since there is a doubt about the matter, let me rather err on the side of humanity. So having settled the debate within myself, I gave him-no great sum, indeed, but more than one usually gives to a beggar.

The wretched mendicant threw himself on his knees, immediately on receiving my alms: not by way of thanking me—no !—he was returning thanks to Heaven, for having directed him to my path.

I felt a sudden warmth about my heart. Good God! cried I, how easily man may purchase happiness to himself, while he is contributing to that of others. The poor fellow whom I had just relieved, and who emphatically styled himself the most miserable of human beings, is at this time happy. But I should have done well in giving him something more, said I: so I instantly followed him, with an intention of doubling the sum; but he was not to be found. Well, well, thought I, I may be fortunate enough to meet him another day.

M. De la Rochefoucault is of opinion,-" Que nous avons tous assez de force pour supporter les maux d'autrui." A wretched and degrading sentiment!-No! let me rather exclaim with Terence-" Homo sum, humani nihil a me alienum puto."

The man of opulence, and of a benevolent heart, considers himself as an agent for the Almighty; and, consequently looks around for objects to whom he may dispense the bounty of his heavenly Master.

THE CONNOISSEUR.

HAGUE.

I NEVER yet visited the Continent without finding that the number of Englishmen, at every town I came to, was infinitely superior to that of any other nation. may be told, perhaps, that there is nothing new in the remark-I acknowledge it: for it is certainly against the rules I had prescribed to myself; but as it leads me at once to my point, I shall hope to stand excused for the transgression.

Now, of this very great number, more than one half are connoisseurs; that is to say, judges, or at least pretended judges, in painting, statuary, architecture, and possibly every other art.

Sauntering one morning in the Picture Gallery at the Hague, my attention was particularly excited by the harangue of a connoisseur. A crowd was gathered about him. He was discoursing of costume, contour, coloris, &c. &c.-in a word, there was scarcely a technical term in painting which he did not employ on this occasion; and for some little time I really thought him the character he had assumed, but I was presently undeceived. Walking up to that admirable performance of Paul Potter-a peasant looking on his cattle—he instantly turned from it in disgust, and with this very sage remark—" That the piece was by no means worth viewing, since peasants and cattle, equal to those in the picture, were to be seen at any time in the fields."

It was sufficient-so I quitted the connoisseur, and went to the Cabinet d'Histoire Naturelle.

THE MAN OF SORROWS.

HAGUE.

SITTING one evening at the window of the hotel at the Hague, a gentleman passed by who attracted my particular attention. He was dressed in black-his arms were folded-his step measured-and an indescribable air of melancholy sat upon his visage.

The following evening I took my place at the window, as before; Monsieur De C was with me. He passed it at precisely the same time that he had done on the preceding day, and seemed equally dejected.

"There is something extremely singular about the man,” said I; “I wish I knew his history."

"I am totally ignorant of it," said Monsieur De C"although he has been pleased to rank me among his friends; but, as he has frequently promised me a few particulars in his life, I shall request him to favour us with them now.' So he immediately went after him; and, presently returning together, the gentleman, after an apology, on my part, for the curiosity I had shown respecting him, related his story as follows:

of an

My father

"I am the eldest son of the Chevalier De ancient and honourable house in Brittany. was a soldier of reputation; but his inheritance was very small. After having served his country for the space of nearly twenty years, he was under the necessity of selling his little estate for the better maintenance and education a young and numerous family.

of

"Following the example of my father, I chose the road to glory; and at the commencement of the late war, was promoted to a command in America.

"During my residence there, I unfortunately married a woman who has destroyed my peace of mind for ever. I thought her a paragon of virtue-another Lucretia ;

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.'

999

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"By Heaven!" exclaimed Monsieur De C————," there 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 him. "Our spirits are congenial. I am proud in calling you my friend."

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 Msaid 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"

"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.