induced me to make a journey to Scotland in the beginning of last autumn. As I travelled on horseback, with a single servant attending me, I was tempted frequently to strike out of the common road, for the purpose of enjoying some of those romantic scenes with which the northern counties of England abound. One evening about sunset, after traversing a part of the country of great beauty, but of a wild and uncultivated aspect, I entered suddenly a narrow valley, where every thing wore the appearance of high 'cultivation; and in the judicious blending of ornament with utility, it was easy to perceive that industry had been guided by the hand of taste.

;

While I rode at leisure down a steep and winding path, indulging that pleasing species of reverie to which a scene of this kind naturally gives rise, a small column of smoke ascending from a thick tuft of trees at the bottom, gave notice of a habitation and on turning the corner of a hedged inclosure, a low mansion broke suddenly upon my view, having in front about an acre of open ground, of which the greatest part was laid out as a kitchen-garden and shrubbery. A level grass-plot surrounded the house, which was separated from the garden by a white rail. The house itself was of one story, extending, in a lengthened front, with two small wings, at either end of which a fruit-tree was trained around the window. A green garden-chair was placed on each side of the door.

While surveying with much pleasure this little elegant retreat, I passed upon the roada ruddy-coloured, middle-aged man, in a plain country dress, whose face, it immediately occurred to me, I had somewhere be fore seen. Uncertain, however, whether there might be any thing more than one of those accidental resemblances which we every day meet with (though I perceived that he at the same time viewed me with

with some labourers returning from work, I inquired the name of the proprietor of the little villa I had been contemplating, and was informed it was a Mr. Saintfort. The name struck me. I recollected to have known at college a Will. Saintfort, a young man of some fortune, of a lively turn, and quick parts, but in the greatest degree thoughtless and extravagant. I remembered to have since heard that he had married a fashionable wife, whose disposition was much akin to his own; and that he had in a very few year's spent his whole fortune. "Can this," said I to myself, "be my old companion? Sure I thought I "knew his face, and he too recollected mine. "must be so yet how this metamorphosis?" Occupied with these thoughts, I had slackened my pace, and was surprised to find myself once more joined by the gentleman I had before passed. If I mistake not,' said he, your name is D———.” -'Yes, and Saintfort.' yours unexpected this meeting !'tual gratulation, Come,' said he, ther this night; nor, with my will, You must take a bed with your old how Farmer Saintfort lives."

1

It

The same. How
After much mu-

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you go no farfor some days. friend, and see

Entreaty was needless; for I was delighted with the rencounter; and I followed my friend, who led the way, to the stables, and assisted himself in putting up my horses. He then conducted me into the house, which within corresponded entirely with its external appearance. In a little hall through which we entered were some angling rods and fowling pieces, with a weed-hook and garden-rake. In the parlour stood a piano-forte, on which laya violin and some muand in a corner of the room, which was shelved for the purpose, were ranged a few books of husbandry and ornamental gardening, some volumes of English poetry, Hutcheson's Moral Philosophy, Horace, and a few of the other Latin classics.

sic;

An old servant now made his appearance, and received orders to acquaint his mistress to prepare the stranger's bed-room, and to get ready an early supper. In the interval we sauntered out into the fields, and passed the time in ordinary chit-chat about our old companions, till we were summoned to supper by a comely boy of twelve years of age, who, with a girl three years younger, were my friends only children. Mr. Saintfort introduced me to his wife by the title of an old and valued acquaintance; and I found in that lady the most perfect politeness and affability, joined to that easy gracefulness of manner which distinguishes those who have moved in a superior walk of life. Our supper was plain but delicious; an excellent pullet, milk in a variety of forms, and fresh vegetables; our conversation interesting, animated, and good-humoured. In my life I never spent a more delightful evening. After Mrs. Saintfort had retired, (like Eve, on hospitable thoughts intent,') There,' said Saintfort, there, Mr. Done of the first, the best of women. You knew me formerly; and I have marked the natural surprise you shewed at finding me in this situation. You shall have my story; for to an old friend and compa nion, simple as it is, it cannot fail to be interesting.'

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"My father's death, which happened a few years after I entered to the university, made me, as you may remember, the envy of many of our common acquaintance, as it was generally supposed I had succeeded to a fortune of 2000l. a year. I had before this contracted many habits of extravagance; and the dissipation into which I now plunged, joined to an indolence of temper not uncommon at that period of life, prevented me for a considerable time from discovering that the free rents of my estate did not exceed one half of the income I was supposed to possess. Even

every species of fashionable dissipation, and the absurd vanity of supporting the appearance of a man of fortune, led me to continue my expences, after I had become convinced that they were leading me to my ruin. "My vanity was not a little flattered by the attention shewn me by the ladies, who, it was easy to be perceived, regarded me as a young fellow, of whom there was some honour in making a conquest. Lucinda N- was at that time the ornament of the politest circles in town. What her figure was in those days, you may guess from what you see it is at present. With every attraction of face and person, endowed with every fashionable accomplishment, and possessing a very handsome independent fortune, she had numberless admirers. It was no mean triumph, when I perceived that this little despot, who exercised upon others all the capricious sovereignty of a coquette, maintained with me so opposite a manner as to convince me of her decided affection. I availed myself of the discovery, which gratified equally my pride and my passion; for I really loved her; and in my marriage with Lucinda, whose temper and taste were apparently much resembling my own, I flattered myself with the continued enjoyment of those fashionable pleasures, which I had now extended the means of procuring.

"When I look back to the first four years of my married state, it is like the confused remembrance of some tumultous dream. In that perpetual dissipation in which we were now involved, and to which the gay and lively temper of my wife rather prompted than imposed any restraint, I did not perceive that her fortune, considerable as it was, was totally insufficient to repair the waste I had already made in my own, At length I was awakened from my lethargy by a refusal of my banker to make further advances with. out additional securities; and when I applied for

that purpose to a friend, he frankly told me that I was generally considered as a ruined man.

"Instead of being overpowered by this intelligence, it brought me to my senses;-like those violent applications, which, by pain itself, put a stop to the delirium of a fever. I saw the folly of concealment, and the inhumanity of allowing my wife to learn our situation from any tongue but my own. But to make this terrible avowal, occasioned a conflict of mind, such as it is impossible for me to describe. I passed two sleepless nights, without finding courage to unbosom myself; and Lucinda's anxious inquiries at length led to the discovery. The shock was severe, and for a moment she gave way to the natural feelings of a woman. It was but for a mo

ment; — when, as if animated by a new soul, and inspired with a fortitude of mind which aftonished me, Come, my dear Will,' said she, clasping me to her bosom, we have both been fools; it is fit that we should pay the price of our folly: but let us thence learn to be wise. Thank God we are blest with health, and with each other's affection; and there is yet much of life before us.'. But what,' said To be done,' said she ;⚫ Justice, in the first place. Let us learn with accuracy the full extent of our debts, and the means we have to discharge them.'

I, is to be done?"

"It was a struggle yet more severe, to declare my situation to the world; and suffering under a feeling of false shame, I would have meanly wasted the time in useless procrastination: but the noble spirit of my Lucinda combated this unmanly weakness. It was no surprise to the world to learn with certainty what had long been expected. In a little time the amount of our debts and effects was ascertained with precision; and, setting apart a small porportion of my wife's fortune, which was secured to fer by law, the