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tion, was instantly convinced that every attempt to fly in the night, and in a country to which he was an utter stranger, would be attended with equal if not greater danger than he would incur by quietly remaining where he was. A presence of mind almost incredible inspired him on the spot with a very different idea. The maid was about to retire, when he quickly drew her back by the arm. "One more word, my girl," said -he; "does your master live on good terms with his wife?" "Yes, on the best," was the reply. "Does he really and truly love her?" "Almost as much as his own life." "Very well, very well; now you may go. If I escape, your fortune shall be made. If I die, your warning shall die with me. I will never betray you; but mention not a single word even to my servant."

Not

The girl flew to the kitchen, and the count returned to the public room. a look betrayed him; his tone and temper were just the same as before, or, at least, so they appeared. He even ordered supper to be laid below, and would not sit down to it but on condition that his kind host and hostess should partake of it with him. He concealed his suspicions beneath the guise of affability.

In

After supper he ordered a servant to bring a box that was still in his carriage; "There is not much in it," said he to his host. "It contains, perhaps, two hundred rubles, that are to carry me to Petersburgh. I should wish good care to be taken of them; and where can they be safer than in your hands? eight weeks, when I return, I hope it will be heavier with gold than it is now with silver. Then I shall certainly call here again; and if, as I hope, my little god-son has found his way into the world, I will bring a present of at least fifty rubles for him." This declaration called forth a thousand thanks, and the landford promised to keep the box all night under his pillow.

He immediately prepared to retire to bed, and the landlord to light him to his chamber. "Do you know, madam," said Tottleben, laughing, to the hostess, "that this lighting is a joy which I had much rather you should perform?" But, joking aside, I am so superstitious as to fancy that I always sleep as well again when a handsome woman shews me my bed as when a man attends me." At this proposal the woman looked rather strange, and shewed no great inclination to perform the office. The count, still continuing in his jocular strain, put the candle into her hand, and took hold of her arm, observing, that

she ought not to refuse the future godfather of her child such a trifling gra tification; that motion after supper, especially in her situation, was wholesome for her; and that she might take the conjugal protector of her honour along with her. By these and other representations of a similar kind he at length prevailed upon her to accompany him, followed by her husband.

They now entered the chamber. Here Tottleben himself, as soon as he alighted from his carriage, had hung upon a nail a double-barrelled carbine, full charged with ball, and which he always carried with him when he travelled. He took good care not to cast a single look at it before the proper time. But while the woman was setting the candle on the table by the window, when she was just going to wish him good night, he quickly took down the weapon, and stepped still more hastily between the landlord and his wife. In a voice which suddenly passed from jest and laughter to the sternest tone of command, he cried, "No, my good woman, we are not going to part from each other so abruptly. On this chair, at this table, you must sit down, and pass the night in my company. Your chastity, I swear to you, shall run no risk in that time from me. But on the slightest noise at the door of the chamber, on the least attack upon myself, the three balls with which each of these barrels is charged shall dispatch you and your infant at once. This I swear by my hope of salvation."

The landlord and his wife would sooner have expected the dissolution of nature than such an address. Both were silent for a minute, and then both did all they could. The woman piteously entreated him to permit her to go, threatened to swoon, to fall in labour on the spot, nay, even to die, but in vain. The husband was first at a loss to conceive what all this meant; he then had recourse to entreaties and protestations, assuring the count that he was as safe in his house as though he were in Abraham's bosom. At length, finding that nothing prevailed, he threatened to repel force with force, and to call his people to his assistance Tottleben's presence

of mind did not forsake him. "I have no doubt, sir," said he, "but that you have plenty of people and assistance at hand; but they are not so near as to rescue your wife from death. If but a dog approaches, if but a hand is raised against me, I will blow her brains out. Besides the two barrels of my carbine, I have here a pair of pocket pistols, capable of doing excellent service.

I

may be overpowered, I confess; but, at least, three or four men shall accompany me, and that charming woman shall go first to shew us the way. This is my mode in many public houses. If you do not like it, take care and let my horses be fed, and put to my carriage very early to-morrow morning. Now begone without delay. This chamber is to-night my apartment."

Villains commonly lose their courage when they have true resolution to deal with; such was the case in the present instance. The woman sat down and the man withdrew. In this extraordinary situation the remaining couple passed the night. Tottleben seated at the table, just opposite the hostess, spent the hours in reading and writing as well as he could; at the same time he kept his carbine on his arm, ready to fire at the least noise that was made in the house. The poor woman incessantly trembled like a criminal at the bar, intreating him not to be too hasty, and assuring him that nothing would happen to him. In fact, during the whole night not a foot was heard approaching the chamber of the count.

At the break of day came Tottleben's servant. Before he was half way upstairs, he called out to let his master know who it was. He brought the box committed the preceding evening to the custody of the landlord, the count's breakfast, and a bill with very moderate charges. The count presented his fair companion the first cup of coffee, and after she had drank it, he took the rest quite at ease. When he was informed that every thing was ready for his departure, he thanked the hostess for her good company and begged her to favour him with it to his carriage. He then conducted her down stairs as politely as though she was the first lady of the court. At the house door he stopped and inquired for the servant maid he had seen the day before, and whom he had accurately described. All the suspicions of the landlord had already fallen upon her; already had he (as he afterwards related) promised, with the most tremendous imprecations, to give her a suitable reward as soon as the stranger was gone. When Tottleben saw her by day-light,and looked at her more narrowly, he observed that she was a delicate elegant girl. He threw her a full purse. "Take that," said he ; "and if you are determined to stay here, buy a husband with it. But if you are afraid to remain with your master, come along with me; I will answer for your success, and I swear that I will provide for you as long as you live."

The girl sprang into the carriage, leaving behind every thing she possessed, which probably, indeed, was of no great value. The count took leave of his fair hostess, begging her not to forget that he was to be godfather. He requested a kiss at parting, and then continued his journey.

He was afterwards informed by his servant, who had slept in the public room, that about midnight three robust persons softly entered the house, went into another room, and, after a long conversation with the landlord, sncaked away again. The girl, who had been almost a year in the house, related that, during that time, two strangers who had put up there had disappeared she knew not how.

At the next town the count acquainted the magistrate with the whole affair. Soldiers were immediately dispatched, but they could not, or would not, find either the host or hostess. At the same place Tottleben provided his female deliverer with more decent apparel, she continued his companion, and perhaps something more to Petersburgh, in which city she lived with him several years.— At length, when the seven years' war called him into the field, he married her, and settled upon her a considerable sum.

THE THREE MONKEYS.

THE Steward of a noble Lord's estate in the country had commissioned, among other things, a peasant, who was going up to London, (with the design chiefly to see the fine folks there,) to carry to his lady a basket of peaches. This lady lived in the environs of Grosvenor-square; and the peasant, by the written directions on the basket, was enabled to find her house without much difficulty. Having told his errand at the door to the porter, he was shortly after desired to step up stairs with his basket of fruit. On the first landing place he was accosted by three large monkeys: two of them of the male sex, were richly dressed in blue and gold, had bag wigs and ruffles, and swords by their sides; the other, a female, was distinguished by her brocade petticoat, crimson silk mantle, two or three pair thick set together of long laced ruffles, a stomacher, curiously ornamented with brilliant stones, a watch hanging by her side, and a cap in the modern taste, with a gaudy assortment of ribbons. They grinned and cringed to the countryman, and, laying hold of his basket, he put it down to them; and not knowing what animals they were, or not distinguishing them immediately from the human species, he took off his hat to them, with

all the politeness he was master of, and made them several rustic bows. The monkeys, during his obeisance, had made quick work of unpacking and ifling the basket: some of the peaches they had crammed into their pockets; others they had eaten, and others they had thrown again into the basket after having bitten them;—so that, when they had played their farce to the full, they all three scampered down stairs. The lady, wondering what should detain the peasant, dispatched her waiting woman to hasten his coming. When he had presented his basket, "What's the matter here?" said the lady; “every thing quite discomposed; the peaches bruised and mangled; and the basket scarce half full! Sure the fellow, for his impudence, deserves to be put in the stocks.”—“Waunds, madam,” replied the countryman, "the basket was brimming full, and not a finger was laid upon a peach, till the two young gentlemen, your sons, and Miss your daughter, had met me on the stairs, and left it in the condition you see it." The lady then, recollecting the monkeys, said, "I cannot be angry; it is a trick of the dear creatures, Jack, Tom, and Margot; --but for the footman, who should have conducted you up stairs, I will discharge him this moment."

Biographical Sketches.

-00

J. E.

GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS. AFTER raising the siege of Mew, Gustavus entered the town in the evening, extolling the fidelity of the inhabitants, and the bravery of the garrison, to the highest degree, and allowing no man's good services to go unrewarded. In the hurry and confusion of this conflict, Gustavus fell twice into the enemy's hands. How he escaped the first time cannot well be ascertained. He was extricated a second time by the admirable presence of mind of a Swedish horseman, who (to conceal his majesty's rank,) cried out to the Polanders, "Have a care of yourselves, for we will rescue our brother." The king had three or four companions at his elbow. His task the horseman performed in an instant. Not long afterwards, Gustavus perceived his deliverer made prisoner; and putting himself at the head of five or six cavaliers, brought him off triumphantly. "Now," said he, " brother soldier, we are upon equal terms: the obligation is become reciprocal.”

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MARSHAL TALLARD. WHEN Marshal Tallard was confined prisoner of war at Nottingham, he gave several balls to the ladies in the neighbourhood, and danced one evening with a young lady, who was a parson's daughter. She was extremely amiable, and made a great impression upon the marshal. His secretary, who was a man of easy morals, and had observed his master's agitation of mind, and the cause of it, thinking to recommend himself to the marshal's favour, threw out several hints, that there would be no great difficulty of obtaining the young lady upon his own terms; but the marshal replied, with a magnanimity of soul that did him the greatest honour, "Sir, if I was one and twenty, and of the same religion as the lady, I should think it no discredit to offer her my hand in an honourable manuer; but to ruin a virtuous young woman for a momentary. gratification, I should think a far greater dishonour than to be defeated and taken prisoner by the duke of Marlborough."

RICHARD MORGAN, ESQ.

Was born in Aberystwyth, a small town in the county of Cardigan, South Wales, in the year 1700. When a youth, he discovered that sordid disposition for which, in his maturer years, he was so eminently known.

One day his mother gave him some money to distribute among some poor people; but Dick, (who was then in his sixth year,) instead of disposing of the money in the manner his mother desired him, ripped open the lining of his trowsers, and deposited it there, where it remained for a length of time.

Nothing worth relating happened in his minority, nor indeed until the year 1723, when his father died, and his mother in the suceeding year followed him. Mor.. gan now inherited his father's estate, which was worth about £2000. per annum; and immediately discharged three of the servants, and blocked up a number of the windows, to keep him from paying so much for window-tax, saying, it would suck his blood to keep so many servants, &c.

In the year 1730 he had a fit of illness, and was advised to send for a physician; but for a long time he would not consent: he had contracted such a hatred against the faculty, that he has been heard to say, that physicians ought to be all hanged, for they were good for nothing but to rob people of their money. The physician, however, was sent for, by a person who lived near him, and who took pity on him.

The doctor immediately pronounced that the case of Morgan was such as nothing but nutritious food would remove, and advised him to have a fowl, and a bottle of red port. "Oh," replied Morgan, "I really cannot afford it; besides, I am sure I do not want it." In fact, the person who pitied him in the first instance, did the same in this. Thus we behold a man, possessed of £2000 per annum, and about £50,000 in hand, making himself beholden to a neighbour, who was not half so rich as himself, for the paltry sum of a few shillings.

Some time after this, he narrowly escaped being dashed to pieces while cleaning a two-pair of stairs window, because he would not go to the expence of a man to clean it: suddenly the stool which he was standing on slipped from under him, and he was precipitated through the window; but luckily a large nail had been driven into the wall, which caught hold of his coat, and there suspended him. His cries for assistance were soon heard by the people at the next house, who hastened to him at the moment when the weight of his person had nearly left his coat upon the nail. They reached his outstretched arms, and dragged him into their window. He was spared to shew some more of his avaricious habits. "This window," thought he, "it will look very bad; and not only that, the apartment will be so cold in winter, that I shall not be able to sit in it;" for no one hated the expence of firing more than he did; in fact he has been known to light a single stick under some brown paper, and not offer to replenish it till the stick was consumed, and to run backwards and forwards as frequently as supply was required. However, at length, he hit on an expedient: he pasted up brown paper on that part of the window which was broken, and which made the room look like a prison. But here was another grievance; the brown paper cost him fourpence, and he had not fourpence to spare.

Misers in general have some good mixed in with their characters, such as relieving the distress of their fellowcreatures, &c. But Mr. Morgan kept his money as close from giving any thing to the poor, as he did in mending his window.

A remarkable instance of this was exhibited a few months previous to his death. A beggar met him in the street, when the following conversation took place, in which he pretended deafness:

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Morgan.-"Certainly, the river Dovey is a very fine river."

Beggar."For God's sake, your honour." Morgan.-"The fields about this time are very green."

And then, bidding him good morning, he walked on.

"None are so deaf as those who will not hear;"

In 1769, he had a fit of the gout, which proved fatal to him; for on the 15th of August he departed this life, being possessed of the enormous sum of £150,000; which (not having son or nephew) went to a very distant relation.

In his will he directed his executor to

bury him in a plain manner, and with the expence possible.

least

EPONINA.

C. D.

THE following little history possesses sufficent interest to deserve a place in the pages of the Portfolio.

During the struggle of Otho, Vitillius, and Vespasian, for the sovereignty of Rome, Sabinus, a native of Gaul, an ambitious and wealthy man, put in his claim, among others, to the possession of the throne. Encouraged by his countrymeu to this bold undertaking, he pretended to trace his lineage to Julius Cæsar, and having revolted against the Romans, he caused himself to be saluted emperor by his followers. But his presumption quickly received a check his troops were defeated, and scattered in all directions, betook themselves to flight, while of those who fell into the hands of their pursuers, not one was spared. In the heart of Gaul, Sabinus might still have found safety, had his love for his wife permitted him to seek it. Espoused to Eponina, a lady of beauty and accomplishments, from whom he could not prevail on himself to live at a distance, he retired to his country-house. Having here assembled his servants, be informed them of the disastrous termination of his enterprise, and declared his resolution of putting a voluntary period to his existence, to escape tortures prepared for him by the victors. He then dismissed them, and ordered fire to to be set to his mansion, in which he shut himself up, and in a few hours nothing remained of this stately edifice, but a heap of ruins.

The news of this melancholy catas trophe reached the ears of Eponina, who

auring the preceding events had remained at Rome. The grief and despair at the loss of a husband whom she tenderly loved, and who had fallen a victim to his tenderness to her, were too poignant to be supported. She determined to abstain from nourishment, and to re-unite herself in the grave to him, from whom she could not endure the thought of separation. For three days she persevered in her resolution. On the fourth, Martial, a freed-man, and a favourite domestic in the service of her husband, desired to be admitted by his mistress to a private conference, and informed her, that Sabinus, whom she so bitterly lamented, was still living, and concealed in a cavern under the ruins of his house, where he waited with impatience to receive and embrace his beloved wife. This scheme had been concerted in confidence with two of his domestics, in whose attachment Sabinus entirely confided. It had hitherto been concealed

from Eponina, that her unaffected grief might give greater credit to a report on which his safety depended. Martial, to these welcome tidings, added his advice, that his lady should still preserve the outward marks of sorrow, and conduct herself with the utmost care and precaution.

Eponina promised, with transport, to observe all that was required of her, however difficult might be the task; and lest suspicion should be awakened, she endured a short delay of the meeting she anticipated with so much joy.

(To be continued.)

Che Mechanics' Dracle.

Egyptian Mummy.

AN Egyptian mummy, in high preservation, and enclosed in a most elaborately ornamented case, has been presented to the Museum of the Philosophical Society of Leeds, by the liberality of John Blayds, Esq. This specimen appears to have been selected with great care from a small collection at Bullock's Museum, with the assistance of Dr. Noehdin, one of the antiquarian conservators of the British Museum, and W. Roscoe, Esq. late of Liverpool. It appears from the emblems with which it is associated, to be a priest, under the envelope of which a papyrus is generally found.-Leeds Intelligencer.

Electrical Phenomenon.

The Southampton Chronicle says "As a man, in the employment of Mr. James Clarke, of this town, was walking in the street during the late storm, the electric 'fluid struck the steel chain attached to his watch, and changed the stone of his

seal from a deep red colour to a milky white: the man felt a slight pain in his loins, but nothing more.'

Preservation of Greenhouse Plants. It has been ascertained, by Mrs. Tredgold, that plants may be completely by washing them with a solution of bitter protected from the depredations of insects, aloes; and the use of this wash does not in the slightest degree. And wherever appear to affect the health of the plants the solution has been used, insects have not been observed to attack the plants As there is much difficulty in preserving a small collection by the usual again. methods, this notice of a simple remedy may be very useful.-Phil. Mag.

Scale of the Force of Running Streams.

Water flowing at the rate of forty-five inches per second, will drive before it flint stones the size of an egg. At thirtysix inches per second, pebbles of about one inch diameter. At twenty-four inches per second, coarse gravel, the size of a marble, and so on, according to the dimension, down to twelve inches per second. From seven to four inches per second, small gravel, graduated down to sand, will be moved. At three inches per second, even mud will be at rest.

The Family Physician.

HYDROPHOBIA.

THERE is no subject more likely to interest the public at present, than Hydrophobia; and considering the fears which now agitate the mind of every class of society, it is no wonder it has excited such an uncommon degree of enquiry as to the mode of treating patients labouring under this disastrous malady.

The first appearances of hydrophobia usually take place at 20, 30, or 40 days after receiving the bite of a rabid animal, although infection is often received into the system, as early as the 7th, 8th, and 9th days, and not unfrequently as late as 7, 8, and even 12 months after that unfortunate event. The bite will quickly heal up, if means be not taken to prevent it; although it has happened, that the wound will degenerate into an unkind ulcerous sore, discharging a quantity of ill-favoured looking matter for some days. It is the opinion of many, and perhaps it is an opinion not without some share of foresight and experience, that the nearer the wound is situated to the salivary glands, the sooner hydrophobia appears.

I do not conceive that hydrophobia is a name at all applicable to this complaint, as the dread of water is not always an attendant symptom. I know, however, that

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