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factress. Her tenderness towards me, and the bewitching life I led, contributed to confirm my error. A single instance will show the pride she took in me. You will perhaps scarcely believe that my shape was once remarkable for its beauty and elegance. Madame de B. often boasted of my grace, and had been anxious to have me dance well. Under pretext of giving a ball for her grand-children, she resolved to show off my talent in a quadrille, representing the four parts of the world, in which I was to perform Africa. Travellers were consulted, books of costume resorted to, and works read upon African music and dancing; at last the Comba, a national dance of my own country, was fixed upon. My partner put a crape over his face. Alas! I had no need of any to blacken mine; but this was far from my thoughts, they were wholly engrossed by the pleasures of the ball. I danced the comba with the greatest success, as might be expected, from the novelty of the spectacle, and the choice of spectators, who were all friends of my protectress, and to please her, gave way to the most enthusiastic applause. The dance was in itself sufficiently attractive, being composed of graceful attitudes and measured steps, expressing love, grief, triumph, and despair. I was totally ignorant of these violent passions; yet from instinct I guessed them, and my imitation succeeded. I was surrounded by an applauding assembly, and overwhelmed with praise. This was a pleasure that I enjoyed in the most perfect security. It was my last.

A few days after this ball had taken place, I overheard by chance a conversation, which a wakened me to the truth, and at once put an end to my joys.

"Madame de B. had a lacker screen in her drawing-room, which hid one of the doors, and extended beyond the window. Between the door and this window there was a table where I used frequently to draw. I sat down one morning, to work at a miniature there; my attention became so completely absorbed that I remained for some time motionless, and no doubt Madame de B. concluded that I had left the room when the Marchioness de C. was announced. This lady possessed a penetrating judgment, but her manners were trenchant, positive, and dry. She was capable of great devotion to her friends, but at the same time was inquisitive, and hard to please: in short she was the least amia

ble of Madame de B.'s friends. I feared her, though she had always shown a regard for me; that is, in her own way. Severity and investigation were its signs. I was too much accustomed to indulgence, not to fear her justice. 'Now that we are alone, my dear,' said this lady to Madame de B., 'let me speak to you of Ourika. She is a charming girl; her mind is nearly formed; she possesses wit, infinite natural grace, and very superior talents; but what is to become of her? What do you intend to do with?' That is the very thought that distresses me,' cried Madame de B. 'I love her as my child: I should think no sacrifice too great to make her happy, but the longer I reflect upon her situation, the less remedy I find for it. Alas, poor Ourika! I see thee doomed to be alone---eternally alone in the world!'

"It would be impossible for me to describe the effect these few words produced upon me; lightning could not have been more prompt. I discovered the extent of my misery. I saw what I was---a black girl, a dependant, without fortune, without a being of my own kind to whom I could unite my destiny; belonging to nobody; till now, the plaything of my benefactress, but soon an outcast from a world that I was not made for. I shuddered, and my heart beat so violently, that, for a moment, I could not attend to this conversation, but I strove to master my feeling.

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"I fear,' continued the Marchioness, 'that you will make her very miserable. What will satisfy her, now that she has passed her life with you in the intimacy of your society ?' But will she not remain with me?' said Madame de B. Aye, as long as her childhood lasts, but she is now nearly fifteen; and who can you marry her to, with the education you have given her? Who will ever marry a negro girl? And if you should find any man who, for the sake of money, would perhaps consent to have negro children, must it not be some one of inferior condition, with whom she would be unhappy? Will a man whom she would choose ever choose her?' this is true,' cried Madame de B.but she fortunately does not suspect it, and her attachment for me will, I hope, prevent her perceiving her situation for some time. To have made her happy I should have made an ordinary being of her; and frankly I believe that impossible. Besides, as she has not remained,

Alas,

in the station she was first intended for, may not her mind rise superior to the restraints of the present one?' 'Never; you are forging chimeras,' replied the Marchioness. 6 Philosophy may raise our minds above the vicissitudes of fortune, but can never prevail against the evils which arise from having disturbed the laws of nature. Ourika has not fulfilled her destiny, she has usurped a place in society to which she had no right, and society will punish her for it.' 'But surely it is no fault of her's? Poor child! with what severity you decide upon her happiness.' I judge it more rationally than you have done-I consider how it may best be secured, whilst you will be the cause of its ruin.' Madame de B. answered this accusation with some warmth, and I was just becoming the cause of a quarrel between the two friends, when the arrival of a third person put an end to their discussion. I slid out at the door behind the screen, and flew to my own room, there to solace my poor heart for a moment by a flood of tears.

"Oh, how I felt my whole existence changed! How lost I was when the illusions I had so constantly dwelt in vanished! they resembled the light of day, and when they fled, utter darkness succeeded. So great was the confusion of my mind under the new thoughts that assailed it, that not one of my usual ideas ever occurred to me. I was struck with terror. To be an object of pity to the world! Not to be fit for the rank I lived in! Perhaps to meet with a man who for the sake of money would consent to have negro children! These thoughts kept rising successively over my mind, pursuing me like phantoms. But the bitterest of all, was the certainty of belonging to no one in the world. To be alone! Ever, and for ever alone! Madame de B. had owned it, and I repeated the words over and over. What cared I to be alone, but a few minutes before. I knew it not, I felt it not; I had need of the things that I loved, but I was unconscious of their not wanting me. Now my eyes were opened, and with misfortune came mistrust into my soul.

"When I returned to Madame de B.'s apartment, every body was struck with the change in my appearance. I pretended to be ill, and was believed. Madame de B. sent for her physican, Barthez, who felt my pulse, questioned me carefully, and then abruptly declared

that nothing ailed me. This quieted the uneasiness of my benefactress about my health; but she sought every means of diverting my mind. I dare not own how little gratitude I felt for her care. My heart seemed withered in itself. As long as it had received favours with pleasure, it gladly acknowledged the benefit; but now filled with the bitterest feelings, it had no power to expand. My days were spent in the same thoughts, differently combined and under various forms, but still the blackest my imagination could invent. Often were my nights passed in weeping. I exhausted my whole pity upon myself-My face was become odious to me,-I no longer dared to look in a glass-and my black hands struck me with horror;-They appeared to me like a Monkey's. I dwelt upon the idea of my ugliness, and my colour appeared to me the sign of my reprobation: it was that alone which separated me from the rest of my fellow creatures, and condemned me to live alone, and never to be loved-That a man should perhaps consent for the sake of money to have negro children! My blood rose with indignation at the idea. I thought for a moment of entreating Madame de B. to send me back to my own country;-but even there I should have felt isolated.---Who would have understood me? Who would have sympathized with my feelings? Alas! I belonged to no one---I was estranged the whole world!"

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Camden, in his researches on the word "King" draws its derivation from Saxon cyning, which signifies the same; and that from can "power, or ken "knowledge,' wherewith every monarch is supposed to be invested. The Latin rex, the Scythian reix, the Punic resch, the Spanish rey, and the French roy, come all, according to Postel, from the Hebrew rasch, “chief head."

Kings were not known amongst the Israelites till the reign of Saul. Before him they were governed by elders as in

Egypt; then by princes of God's ap-, pointment, as Moses and Joshua; then by judges till the time of Samuel; and last of all by Kings, as we read in scripture.

"MAJESTY," is a title given to kings, which frequently serves as a term of distinction. The word seems composed of the two Latin words, major 66 greater, and status "state." The emperor is called Sacred Majesty, Imperial Majesty, and Cæsarian Majesty ; the King of Hungary is styled His Apostolic Majesty. The King of Spain is termed His Most Catholic Majesty'; and the King of Portugal, His Most Faithful Majesty. The King of France

used to be called His Most Christian Majesty; and when he treated with the emperor, the word Sacred was added: his last title was King of the French.With respect to other kings, the name of the kingdom is added; as His Britannic Majesty, His Polish Majesty, &c. Formerly princes were more sparing in giving titles, and more modest in claiming them before the reign of Charles V. the King of Spain had only the title of Highness; and before that of Henry VIII. the Kings of England were only addressed under the titles of Grace and Highness.

Under the Roman republic, the title Majesty (majestas) belonged to the whole body of the people, and to the principal magistrates; so that to diminish or wound the majesty of the commonwealth, was to be wanting in respect to the state or to its ministers. But the power afterwards passing into the hands of a single person, the appellation of Majesty was transferred to the emperor and the imperial family. Pliny compliments Trajan on his being contented with the title of Greatness; and speaks very invidiously of those who affected that of Majesty. And yet this last seems to be the most modest and just title that can be attributed to sovereigns, since it signifies no more than the royalty or sovereign power.

ANECDOTES.

A DEAD TAKE-IN. SOME few years back, while an East Indiaman was lying at Canton, a party was sent on shore for fresh water, accompanied by a young officer, who took

with him his double-barrelled gun," and amused himself, until attacked by seve ral of the natives, when he fired, and unfortunately killed one of the men : this deterred the rest from pursuit, and he escaped. On the following day a great stir was made about this business; the trade was suspended, and, as usual, the officer was demanded as an expiatory sacrifice to the manes of the deceased Chinese. This could not be agreed to; but, instead of the officer, a large sum in dollars was offered to hush up the matter; but no, fond as they are of dollars, the great men at Canton, in this instance, would have a life for a life.

and

Just at this juncture, the butcher of the Indiaman committed suicide, when some cunning dog of the ship's company found out that he was about the size of the officer who had shot the Chinese instead of a parroquet; and it was thought he might be passed off very well for him. The body was, therefore, dressed in a suit of the other's uniform, and the poor butcher was unwittingly promoted after his decease; the dirk was strapped round his body, every thing done to make it appear that he was the officer, who was very snugly put out of sight; the villainous butcher's knife was changed for a town-made razor, which was besmeared with blood, and put into the deceased's hands. When all was ready, a boat was despatched to the shore, to say that the authorities might now have the body of the offending officer. A mandarin was sent on board, saw the officer lay dead. with his own eyes, and having so seen, said, "it was no foshton (no use) to take a dead man; but as he was dead, they had better bury him, and pay the money at first offered!" A very wise Chinese decision.

It was never rightly known how much money was paid on this occasion, but the dead butcher, who so civilly com mitted suicide at this critical moment, and a few Spanish dollars, soon set the junks at work again.

ANECDOTE OF SIR HENRY HARDINGE.

Sir Henry Hardinge, who has been recently involved in the affair of the Marquis of Londonderry and Mr. Battier, is an officer of distinguished bravery, and has lost an arm in the service.; When, on the fall of Napoleon, the allies entered Paris, Sir Henry Hardinge was among the British officers who were stationed in the capital. One

evening, while conducting some ladies home from the theatre, he was grossly insulted by a Prussian officer. He did not take any notice of the circumstance, but next day ascertained the name of the officer, and found that he was a subaltern. He therefore wrote a challenge to the commanding officer of the corps, stating the insult, which was rather national than personal, and demanding satisfaction; adding, that he had addressed him as an officer of equal rank, but should afterwards call on every officer in the corps until he descended to the person that had insulted him. The commanding officer, struck with astonishment at such seeming temerity, applied to the general of division, who, equally surprised, requested an audience of Sir Henry, and, feeling the respect due to a brave officer, compelled his offending subaltern to make a public apology to Sir Henry before the assembled regi

ment.

"A

Lord Minto (says Capt. Seely, in his wonders of Elora), had desired me, by a note, to wait upon him at the Government-House, after church service, on a Sunday in August. It was an excessively hot day. I of course was sashed and belted, and buttoned up to the chin in scarlet. The purport of the visit was to look over some ancient maps and two or three modern MS. ones, and to consult some references in Quintus Curtius. On my entrance, his lordship stepped out from his cage, which was an enclosed space, made of gauze fastened to frame-work, standing in one of the rooms of the upper floor of the palace. very hot day, Sir," he observed, "here is a good hour's work for us.' maps, &c. were lying on the floor, and we had to go on our knees to inspect them; and this posture and the excessive heat did not exactly suit my military equipment. His Lordship threw off his silk coat, and observed, You had better do as I do." I respectfully replied, "It is very well in your lordship as governor-general, but it will not do in a Bombay ensign.' His lordship laughed, and repeated my observation with great glee. To show that he was not offended, he afterwards did me a material service.

VARIETIES.

ROYAL RELIGIOUS POETRY.

66

The

Verses composed by the present King of Morocco, are recited every morning,

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MYSTERIOUS SOUNDS IN GRANITE
ROCKS.

M. Humboldt was informed by most credible witnesses, that subterraneous sounds, like those of an organ, are heard towards sunrise, by those who sleep upon the granite rocks on the banks of the Oroonoko. He supposes them to arise from the difference of temperature between the external air and the air in the narrow and deep crevices of the shelves of rocks. During the day, these crevices are heated to 48° or 209. The temperature of their surface was often 39, when that of the air was only 28°. Now, as this difference of temperature will be a maximum about sunrise, the current of air issuing from the crevices will produce sounds which may be modified by its impulse against the elastic films of mica that may project into the crevices. Messrs. Jomard, Jollois, and Devilliers heard, at sunrise, in a monument of granite, placed at the centre of the spot on which the palace of Karnak stands, a noise resembling that of a string breaking. Here then is an explanation of the tones of the statue of Memnon.

LINES,

SELECT POETRY.

Written on hearing that the Remains of LORD BYRON were to be brought to England, but his Heart to remain on the Shores of Greece.

Clime of the unforgotten brave,"
Meet land to be a poet's grave,
Mute is the tongue that sang thy charms,
Silent the voice that roused to arms.
The haughty spirit nought could tame,
Now lives but on the breath of Fame;
And that proud heart that lately burned
To free the land by Moslem spurned,
Now icy cold, alone is left

To Greece, of him she loved bereft :
Where should that heart so calmly rest,
As in the land it loved the best?
His ashes rest on England's shore,
But England boasts his heart no more,
From her, each fond affection riven,
.To Greece his every thought was given;
All centred in that hallowed spot,
The shrine of heroes unforgot.
His was a truly Grecian soul,
Proudly impatient of control,
Scorning the title of a slave,
Forward to share a hero's grave;
He loved the country, once the pride
Of those, who in her cause have died,
He longed to set that country free,
And hail once more her liberty.-
But tho' the Pilgrim's foot may trace
The spot his honored relics grace,
Say in what clime-what classic ground,
Is his unrivalled Genius found?

Who now may dare to touch the lyre,
Which late with master's hand he swept,
Who shall those matchless thoughts inspire,
That treasured in our hearts we kept?
Oh! none can follow where he led,
Nor catch the mantle from the dead.
Go-read his works; tis only there
His free, unfettered thoughts appear;
There, in each page, in every line,
His talents and his genius shine,
Piercing the veil of gloom-he threw
O'er every form his fancy drew.
His follies are forgotten now,
His dust is scorn'd, his broken vow
Low in the grave they buried lie,
Where his cold ashes claim a sigh.
But, unforgot, his genius lives,

And boasts the wreath which honour gives-
His hall, has passed to other hands,
His eyes were closed in foreign lands,
His heart remains on Grecias shore,
But England owns his living lore.

EPIGRAM.

A WHY AND WHEREFORE. Who freely comments on his neighbour, Will oft judge wrong and waste his labour. One dreary night, as home he ran, A sage observ'd a poor blind man, Whose hand a lighted torch display'd, A pitcher on his shoulder laid. "Pray, simpleton, quoth he, what use, To you, can that same torch produce, The grateful change of day and night Unknown to you, why bear a light?"

"Tis not for me, the blind returns, This blazing torch at midnight burns, I'm poor, nor likely to grow richer, And therefore greatly prize my pitcher: So fear lest in the streets rude bustle Some fool like you against me justle.”

M.

INGREDIENTS WHICH COMPOSE MODERN LOVE.

Twenty glances, twenty tears,
Twenty hopes, and twenty fears,
Twenty times assail your door,
And, if denied, come twenty more!
Twenty letters, perfum'd sweet,
Twenty nods in every street,
Twenty oaths, and twenty lies,
Twenty smiles, and twenty sighs;
Twenty times, in jealous rage,
Twenty beauties to engage.
Twenty tales to whisper low,
Twenty billet doux, to show;
Twenty times a day to pass

Before a flatt'ring looking-glass!
Twenty times to stop your coach,
With twenty words of fond reproach ;
Twenty days of keen vexations,
Twenty-Opera assignations.
Twenty nights behind the scenes,
To dangle after mimic queens ;
Twenty such lovers may be found,
Sighing for-twenty thousand pound!
But, take my word, ye girls of sense,
You'll find them not worth twenty-pence.

EPIGRAM.

Dear Phyllis, your charms, these two years,
Have cost me, girl, torrents of tears;
But still, my dear Phyllis, 'tis soothing
To think that those tears cost me nothing! *

NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENTS.

We owe more apologies to our Correspondents for omitting to notice their favours, than we have time or talent enough to make. We are sorry to incur the censures of Suavis and Curiosissimus; but shall profit by their advice, and endeavour to comply with their requests. Received, and under consideration- Q. P., S. H., A well-wisher, Glo'ster, J. H. Man sell, Babingleycreek, S. J.'s, Delapoer, T. H. ++, and A Visit to School. Rejected-S. P., Omega, Simon Spatterdash, B-0, and Oliver.

M. has laid us under fresh obligations-her favours shall have insertion. We thank her for the hint, and have adopted her suggestion.

We are much obliged to Gerard, and shall be happy to avail ourselves of his assistance on the subject he mentions.

We regret our country friends should experience any difficulty in obtaining the "Portfolio;" our parcels always leave town early on Friday evening, so that the fault must be with the country agents. We shall thank our Readers to transmit any complaints direct to our Office, and we will endeavour to prevent the recurrence of disappointment.

LONDON.-Printed and Published, regularly every Saturday Morning, by Wm. KEENE, at the Office, New Church-court Strand, where all communications for the Editor, and orders for the Portfolio, (post paid) are requested to be addressed: also by DUNCOMBE, 19, Little Queen-street, Holborn, SIMPKIN and MARSHALL, Paternoster-row, and all respectable Booksellers.

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