befall me in this momentous undertaking, and that we might again meet in happier times; but this was said with a deeper cadence of the voice.

you to stint yourself. Let's see-first of all, get the permit of the Colonel, for you ken this place is a kind of devil's hole; none can get out or in without passing through the fire. You jest signify, my mistress, as We immediately set about assuming our different how you wish to come to the speech of him, and I'll disguises. After I was painted and habited, Sweeney underwrite you; he's sure as death; but wait here declared he should have no misgivings, unless he for him, for let but that glossy black-hearted fureigner caught a glimpse of my slender foot or hand. About get wind that you have any private talk with any gen- dusk we started, and found no difficulty in passing the tleman but him, and Beelzebub can't hold him. Here's sentinels around the city. Sweeney being well practhe bit paper, but steady that little white hand, or Itised in giving the countersign, no inquiry was made am afraid the Colonel can't read your chicken flutters." which his ingenuity could not answer. We passed all "I will try, Sweeney," I said, feeling the blush of the foraging parties of the enemy without molestation; wounded pride suffuse my cheeks, as I thought of being and Sweeney, thinking we had gained a secure resting about to solicit a clandestine interview with Col. Web-place in the dark morasses of the Santee, called a halt, ster. I transcribed a few lines, and Sweeney set off that we might refresh ourselves and horses. He struck for the British quarters, while I turned my steps to a light, and we were in the act of discussing our wallet wards Sir John's, to make arrangements for my jour-of provisions, when my guide sprang to his feet, and ney. What was my horror to see Heyward reclining intently listened to a distant noise, which his practised on the balcony, and watching me as I advanced. It ear soon ascertained to be the tramp of horses. His was impossible to pass without encountering him; so first action was to blow out the light; the next, to put I endeavored to assume a careless air as I entered the our horses in motion. piazza. As I was passing, he caught my hand, exclaiming, "How now, little Zephyr, did you think to flit by me thus, when you know my soul lives only in the beam of those bright eyes? I cannot endure this coquetry longer, or allow you to waive my suit, when every day increases the intensity of my passion."

66

Heyward," I replied, with indignant feelings, "no more persecute me with this language, or I shall believe you mean to offend me. I can never listen to a tale of love from you, and I esteem it an ungenerous thing to press the matter farther, when you know it is impossible I can ever think of you otherwise than as a friend and relation."

"Remember, Constance Marion," he said, "that you are the first woman to whom I ever proffered my hand; and, by Heaven, you shall rue the hour you rejected it, if a thousand devils were to stand between me and the accomplishment of my wishes."

I was near sinking on the floor while he spoke. I saw the fell demon in his eye as he rushed by me out of the house. When he was gone, I crept softly into my own apartment, and with trembling hands arranged my apparel in a portable form. I could not trust myself to see poor Sir John, but commending him to the protection of Heaven, left the portals of a mansion where I had known the first throb of delight, and felt the first pang of sorrow. I reached Sweeney's humble abode, and had time to compose my spirits, before Col. Webster's arrival. He met me with emotion, and seemed deeply concerned at the resolution I had taken to commit myself to Sweeney's protection alone.

"My passport," he said, "will secure your party from any interruption from our regular troops; would to God it could shield you from all danger of insult and impertinence from the hordes of lawless marauders. You know how joyfully I would provide you an escort, had not you preferred the plan laid by Marion. My only hope is in the unrivalled tact of your faithful friend Sweeney, with whom I wish to have a few words in private."

He retired a few moments with Sweeney, and then returned with a more cheerful countenance. Day was near dying away before he departed; when he did so, it was with every expression of hope that no evil might

"These," he said, "must be the videttes returning to camp, or that devil Butler."

"Not the marauder, I trust in Heaven!" I exclaimed. "Never fear, lady; I got that will make him move backwards faster than he ever did forwards before. Sweeney don't travel without his pass neither."

"God preserve us! what can you do, dear foster father, against such a gang of banditti ?"

"Never flinch, dear lady; run your beast up between Kate's and mine, and say nothing, for I hear 'em coming right ahead."

They quickened their pace on perceiving us, and a rough voice called out, "Who goes there?"

"A servant of the king's, on duty bound," was the answer.

"By what warrant do you prove it? for I swear no cursed rebel shall escape the sword of Tom Butler." "And Tom Butler is the very man I want," was the ready answer.

"Why, fool, what can you want with him? You seem to be in no case to fight with him, or for him.”

You

"Why," rejoined Sweeney, "it's a long story, which as time don't wait, I'll try to make short. see as how we English folks has a great notion of being comfortable."

"And what's that to the purpose?" rejoined the impatient ruffian.

"A great deal: it's the reason I'm fetching Molly Drugget and her gal Peg to nurse the men in the hospital."

“And who gave you permission to do this?”

Who, but my superior officer, Colonel Webster? Here's his pass, if you want to see it." "It may all be a lie, for what I know. Strike a light there, sergeant. Let me see the paper." "Well, here it is; but what's the use of cogitating on what no consarns you, man; when here's the raal scrip under the hand of Cornwallis, which he sent you by the safest hand he could hit on."

He fumbled in his breeches pocket, and presented Butler with a sealed paper, purporting to be from the British General, and warning Butler of the rapid movement of three detachments of the American army with the intention of surrounding him, and warning

"Well, that's another thumper, by your leave, good Mac; howsomever, go on to the end," muttered Swee

him of the only safe quarter of retreat. A panic seemed | my eye and worship of my soul, until I hand her safe to seize the bandit, when he heard that Marion was one to your presence.'" of the pursuers. He only halted long enough to order a counter march, and wheeling his troop around, the whole gang soon were beyond the fear of molestation.ney. When we were quite clear of them, Sweeney roared "As I was saying, with the General's favor I broke out in a hearty fit of laughter, to see how completely ground, and kept our steeds up to their mettle the the deception had succeeded; the whole affair being a whole way; for who dare say, McDonald stay your fabrication of his own, executed by the same deserter | course, unless I've a mind to it? But, honored lady,” whose uniform served his purpose. he said, addressing me, "you have but to command,

I thanked the rough soldier for his kind intentions, and told him my only desire was to lose no time in reaching the place of our destination.

The next day we travelled through by-ways, but and all we," pointing to his troop, "obey. Pardon the still were often obliged to resort to Webster's passport | rude manner of a soldier, while I greet you in the name for protection, so completely was the country infested of my commander, and offer you the service of my with the friends and allies of the enemy. Night found hands and devotion of my heart." us still plodding our weary way, our only beacon the twinkling stars above, and the dashing of the river, whose course we were following. Sweeney kept his eye fixed on the unerring lights above; and calculating time by the progress of these silent travellers in the heavens, guessed the hour to be midnight. His speculations were interrupted by the sound of a distant bugle. "Hush!" exclaimed he; rein up your beasts a spell. I think, if my ear be true, that is McDonald's note." "What, Sweeney, another ruffian? I tremble at every sound."

About day-light we halted to renew our strength by rest and taking some refreshment, from which I had abstained while beset by dangers. I observed the men to eye me with surprise and curiosity. Doubtless the singularity of my appearance struck them as something incomprehensible. Sweeney soon took an opportunity to explain all, but in so low a voice as to escape my ear, and afterwards they preserved the most respectful silence.

"Tremble, indeed! I'm thinking it's the sweetest sound as ever come over my ear yet; and I'm no way At mid-day we came in view of the American lines. surprised neither. It's jest what I looked for, as soon I shall ever retain a lively impression of the effect on as I got word to the General that we was on the way my feelings. My heart bounded with joy when I beAs sure as my mammy's name was Grace, its jest Ser-held the star-spangled banner waving above the camp, geant McDonald coming to marshal us all to head-quar-where every heart beat in unison for country and home; ters. So you see, Miss, we an't folks of small account and I forgot my own petty cares, when I thought that neither. And tho' the Sergeant's a rampagious sort of fellow, he an't guine to run his head agin a post, not he; he's as true steel as ever bent, and that's why the General sent him. The British run from him like Lu-sured me of his love and protection. cifer, because they think he smells of the brimstone. Listen, he's tooting again, and making right up to us." In a few moments the party came up with us, and McDonald demanded who we were.

“Jest the stragglers, honey, you are looking after, I guess," replied the lively voice of Sweeney, "for you are nobody if you an't McDonald, come to squire us on to head-quarters."

the weal or woe of a great nation hung on one single movement of this army. Marion met me as we entered the American lines, and clasping me to his bosom, as

The army was soon in progress towards its rendezvous between the Pedee rivers. My uncle obtained me very agreeable quarters every night among the whig inhabitants, who rallied around his standard, while the loyalists fled at the terror of his name; so that our march was without interruption until we reached Snow's Island, where Marion took up his quarters. This was one of the most impervious fastnesses imaginable; "Exactly as you say; the General was rather un- surrounded by morasses and running streams on every easy when he heard Butler was prowling in these side; the only accessible point of approach lying conparts; and he said to me, 'McDonald,' says he, 'there's cealed from common view. We had to wind our way no man in my brigade can cope with that marauder like through a canopy of evergreens, from whose leafy arms you.'" hung a drapery of mossy fringe, decorating and shield"You a leetle more than hit it off, Mac," replieding our sylvan retreat. Gen. Marion selected an emiSweeney, with suppressed humor; "something like it, nence on this island as the spot of encampment. Tents I dare say. But go on."

"Take jest such men as you choose from the troop, and scour the road to Charleston, until you overhaul John Sweeney, who has my niece, Miss Marion, under his care, and conduct them safe to my quarters.'" "Not them, Mac; the General knowed I was up to conducting myself, and you too, if there was any occasion. Don't stretch your commission, man; it was the lady the General had in mind."

"I'm an officer under commission, remember that, and speak by authority. 'I charge you,' says he,' that no evil befall her while under your protection.' 'I swear, General,' says I, 'that by every saint in the calendar, and that's not a few, she shall be the jewel of

were soon erected, and lights struck, in the deep green solitudes, which seemed hitherto to have been the fairyland of a poet's dream. In its labyrinths I enjoyed delicious repose, and felt a companionship with its secret haunts, which told me that nature has a voice. In every "leafy bough and bursting rill," she replies to the sympathy of the human heart.

I had quite forgotten I was in the camp of Mars, when my uncle came to tell me of the arrangements he had made for my accommodation. I saw satisfaction and complacency beam on his brow, as he began:

"Dear Constance, I have not told you yet, where your quarters are to be during this campaign.” "No, uncle," I replied, "and your's here are so VOL. VI-16

romantic, that I think I am spell-bound. But, to speak | have known her in prosperity and joy. I cannot say seriously-who has courage to harbor a rebel and run-in which she was most lovely." away?"

"Oh, in both," I replied with warmth; "her charms "Who would you guess? I have been silent, until are surpassing: in which declaration, I think I can I could give you the agreeable surprise."

"Do you call Edith Norwood, your old school-mate, "Certainly, I will not refuse to confess, Miss Marion, a stranger?"

We had poured out our thoughts in gushing flow on various subjects, and yet the one name nearest my heart had not been mentioned. At length Edith said, with something like mortification, "Constance, have "And my dear Edith lives in this truce ground, I you forgotten Sydney? I am sure you have, or you think my uncle said." would at least have missed him from our little circle." I endeavored to make some excuse; but the truth was, that I feared betraying more interest than I wished any one to discover. I suppose my blushes emboldened Edith to go on, for she wound up by saying, "Well, I will tell you, my lady, if he has faded from your memory, you have not from his. By the way, I expect him in a few days from Charleston, where he has gone to gain intelligence of the movements of the enemy."

heart. That full blue eye, which seemed but the portal of a noble soul, that high forehead, shaded with clustering ringlets, that arched lip, now curled in disdain, now melting into an ineffable smile, that form of slight but graceful proportions, still lived in the fond record of youthful memory; but they were like the sacred relics which the heart of the devotee cherishes too much to suffer them to be gazed on by others.

and ornamental arts. The theoretical mechanician, by giving verbal expression to his analytical formulas, has with his most useful and comprehensive rules. Thus, in many instances furnished the practical mechanic by pointing out the available resources of these branches of science, considerable importance has been attached to their acquisition, and the learning of books has been duly respected and prized. But the epithet of stargazer, is still somewhat sneeringly applied to one, who, notions; as though astronomy were of no real worth, upon any subject, entertains fanciful and extravagant and had contributed but little to the progress of civili

I had told Edith of young Heyward, his character for gallantry, and the horror and dislike I felt at being the object of his admiration or love, and my joy at es-zation and to the comforts and refinements of life. One caping from his presence; but I had never spoken to her of Col. Webster. I felt a sort of self-reproach when I thought of him, as if I had requited his kindness with ingratitude; and when Edith inquired about him, as an exception to the generality of the British officers for generosity and honorable feeling, I spoke of him only as a casual acquaintance, in whom I felt no particular interest, and dismissed the subject as soon as possible. [To be concluded in our next.]

AN ADDRESS ON THE

UTILITY OF ASTRONOMY:
Delivered before the "Young Men's Society" of Lynchburg,
Sep. 26, 1837, by Professor Landon C. Garland, of Randolph
Macon College; and published by request of said Society
in the Southern Literary Messenger.
GENTLEMEN,

Had I not in my judgment fully approved the method by which you hope to excite a deeper literary interest among yourselves as well as others; and had I not felt it to be my duty to contribute, when called upon, even in my humble measure, towards the attainment of so worthy and important an object, I could not have obtained my own consent to occupy a place, for which I am conscious I possess but little fitness. But how I may best discharge this duty, I have been at some loss to decide. Among those subjects, to which from choice or profession, my mind has been particularly turned, I have found it difficult to select one, which will admit of being clearly presented in a popular form and within the compass of a single hour. Believing, however, that an interest in the sciences generally, is to be excited and maintained only by pointing out their applicability to the common affairs of life, I have ventured on this occasion, to press upon your attention the claims of one branch of physical science, which in this country has not been duly appreciated.

would have thought that its assiduous cultivation by such men as Newton, Halley, Delambre, Lagrange and Laplace, might have rescued it from a contempt like this; for what department of science can boast of names such as these? The truth is, astronomy is not only the queen of sciences, but in the stricter sense of the word, is the only perfect one. In other sciences, it is probable that succeeding ages will continue, as they have hitherto done, to modify, if not wholly to change the expression of laws now considered general and well established. Important revolutions are likely to take place in the sentiments of the learned relative to many of the present received laws of chymistry, optics, geology and other departments of science; while, on not a few points, even involving the elementary principles of these subjects, there exists much diversity of opinion. The atomic theory cannot yet be considered as incontestably established. Chymists are not agreed as to the nature of caloric-and of chymical attraction. As to the constitution of some of the acids, as well as the existence and relation of the sulpho and chloro salts, there are many questions undecided; and an obscurity still rests upon several important processes, as upon that of combustion as far as the production of light and heat is concerned, and upon all the cases of disposing affinity. Even the best established laws of chymistry cannot conduct us to results, on which we can rely without subjecting them to the experimentum crucis. In physical optics, "the representation of all the series of polarized tints and the colors of natural bodies by a certain universal scale-the Cartesian law of refrac tion when applied to the extraordinary ray in crystallized media-together with innumerable other laws, simple, natural, and resting on extensive inductions, have all been either overset, extended, or materially modified by the progress of the science." (J. F. W. Herschel.) Though the discussion has been carried on with renewed interest of late, it is yet difficult to decide between the rival claims of the theory of undulation and of emission. In cristalography, we know not what modifications may take place, when the facts of dimorphism and plesiomorphism shall have been collected and classified, and the laws they follow discovered. Geology, in many of its most important features, is still more unsettled; and the cultivators of a science can scarcely be more at issue than geologists have been, or even than several very distinguished ones now are. This can be hardly otherwise, since but a small portion of the earth has been examined, and that to a depth not bearing to its whole diameter a proportion greater than that of the thickness of a coat of varnish to the dameter of an eighteen inch globe.

The chymist unfolds the wonderful properties of steam, and exhibits its almost creative energies as a prime-mover of machinery. With those beautiful laws, which control the combination of substances, both simple and compound, he connects the application of the substances themselves to a thousand useful purposes both in medicine and the arts. The geologist interests us with the structure of our globe and the fossil contents of its strata, which like the medals and inscrip- But how different is it in physical astronomy! Here tions of an ancient empire, are supposed to point out our first conclusion is our last. Here particulars have those tremendous convulsions by which whole conti- been completely subjected to generals, effects to causes. nents have been at successive periods up-heaved from The united wisdom and experience of succeeding genethe bosom of the ocean, and others buried beneath its rations will add nothing to its theory. The only rewaves. He regards them, indeed, as historical records maining work for future astronomers, is to determine of the changes to which the earth has been subjected with the extreme of accuracy the consequences of its in assuming its present physiological character, which, rules, by the profoundest combinations of mathematics; notwithstanding the obsoleteness of the language, he and the magnitude of its data by the minutest scrupuconsiders as unequivocal and satisfactory. The miner-lousness of observation. And in this last respect, but alogist unfolds the hidden riches of the crust of the earth-examines its materials-their respective localities-and shows their various applications to the useful

little may be hoped for, unless instruments can be constructed and adjusted with a nicety which seems almost incompatible with the productions of the most

"hosts of heaven," and regulated their rapid, yet calm and harmonious motions, by laws the most beautiful and simple, and evidently the mere extension of those which are in daily operation around us; and we be not allowed to investigate these things, because they do not directly place shillings and pence in our pockets? This were not only to extinguish a source of the highest mitted to our care; and to yield up some of the most ennobling impulses of our nature to motives of the most sordid selfishness. I repeat it, that on this fair and elevated ground we might take our stand and vindicate the cultivation of astronomy, though it had not one useful application.

consummate skill. All the phenomena of this science depend upon a single law, which may be deduced from the simplest among them and by the rudest observation; and which has been put repeatedly to the severest trial, by a series of discoveries unparalleled in number and delicacy-such as the precession of the equinoxes; the nutation of the earth's axis; the aberration of light; the oscillations both of the ocean and the atmosphere-pleasure, but to bury some of the richest talents comand those varitions in the elements of the planetary motions and orbits, termed secular, requiring in some cases the lapse of ages for their development. In all these instances we have not only seen every anomaly disappear, but each become a striking confirmation of the law it seemed likely to subvert. Nay, farther, this law itself has been our most efficient instrument of discovery. Many varitions in the planetary motions, so delicate and refined as to elude the nicest observation, have been brought to light, by being first deduced as mathematical consequences from the general law. Such instances as these are among the triumphs of science; and we cannot put from us the consideration of them in an essay on the importance of astronomy. To do so, were to reject the noblest use of the sublimest of sci

ences.

I would here remark, that it is only by viewing as. tronomy in this light of stability and perfection, that we are prepared to appreciate its value as a branch of education. Since it is the object of education, as the word itself implies, to unfold the powers of the mind, and to prepare them to take deep root in any soil selected for their growth; it is of great consequence to introduce into a course of instruction such subjects, as by the nature of their principles and the rigor of their demonstrations, are best adapted to this purpose. Unquestionably, the study of morals and the principles of human action, is at once the most important and dignified; but we should err greatly in supposing that one can acquire a really philosophical and well balanced mind, without the cultivation of the physical sciences. It is conceded, that they draw most largely upon our powers of attention, abstraction and combination. It is said of the great founder of the Pythagorean school, that he would receive no pupil who had not attended to mathematics. He placed an inscription over his doorΟυδείς αγεωμέτρητος εισιτω-(“ Let no one unskilled in geo ometry enter here.") And this sentiment of the philosopher has been confirmed by the experience of all succeeding ages: that those studies requiring difficult and refined applications of the mathematics are among those best adapted to the expansion of the intellectual powers:-and at the head of them all, "as the most difficult and the best perfected, as embracing a class of phenomena the most various and complicated, and as presenting a generalization the most complete, and a final result the most simple, sure, and imposing," stands physical astronomy,

But a very eminent modern writer has justly remarked-" that in every department of natural science, the speculations of the philosopher, however remote they may for a time lead him from beaten tracks and every day uses, being grounded in the realities of nature, have all, of necessity, a practical application-nay more, such applications form the very criterions of their truth."

I cannot possibly in the time devoted to this essay, touch upon more than three or four of the many impor tant results derived from astronomical science; and even these but hastily and imperfectly. In doing this, I shall be compelled to employed scientific terms to an extent greater than I wished. As far however as may be, I shall endeavor so to express myself, as to render my remarks intelligible to all who retain only so much of knowledge upon this subject as any elementary treatise will furnish.

In the first place, it ought not to be regarded as a small thing, that the cultivation of astronomy has removed the apprehensions and fears which so frequently seized upon the public mind on the occasion of any remarkable phenomenon among the celestial bodies. We have read of whole armies being panic-struck by an eclipse of the sun or moon. A delay in evacuating the island of Sicily on account of an eclipse of the moon, was the occasion of the death of the Athenian general, Nicias, and the destruction of his whole army; a loss so ruinous to his country, that it may be stated as the catastrophe which led to its subversion.

Alexander the Great, before the battle of Arbela, was so terrified at an eclipse of the moon, as to order sacrifices to the sun, moon and earth, as the deities which produced these phenomena. In 1686, the astronomers of all Europe agreed in announcing a conjunction of the whole planetary system, which they supposed would be accompanied by the most terrible ravages, and perhaps by the destruction of the world. On the occasion of the furious wind and remarkable heat of Oct. 20th, 1736, it was announced in the public gazettes that the sun had retrograded through several signs; and it actually became necessary for the scientific to unFurthermore, man has been constituted a speculative deceive the public mind. It was universally agreed at being. Study is one of the wants of his humanity. the close of 1768 that saturn was lost: and 1773 and He contemplates the world and the objects around him, 1788 were each spoken of and published as the end not with a passive and indifferent gaze, as a set of phe- of the world. (See Astronomie par Lalande.) The nomena in which he has no interest; but as a system comets especially have been looked upon as objects of which evidently has been contrived for his comfort and terror by all people. They have been supposed to be happiness, and for the exercise of his intellectual pow- ominous, and to shake from their fiery train wars, pesers. It is for this reason, that I regard the pleasure which tilence and famine. Pope Callixtus II exorcised a comet science brings to the mind, as a proper and sufficient and the Turks in the same bull. (Delambre.) They motive for its cultivation. And when we have experi- were thought to make their appearance at the birth or enced a curiosity intense and devouring, leading us to death of distinguished men. Justin relates, that at the penetrate into the recondite and beautiful relations of birth of Mithridates, there appeared a comet surpassthe physical world, we can never hear without a feeling ing the sun in brilliancy and occupying one quarter of of humiliation, the question-"to what profit is all the heavens. One, scarcely less remarkable, is said to this?" Is it not enough, that the Maker of the Universe have appeared at the death of Julius Cæsar, and anohas created all things in wisdom and in goodness-has ther at the birth of Mahomet. And perhaps the fears endowed us with faculties capable of tracing in some of some who now hear me, were but a year or two measure the operations of his skilful hand-and has so since excited by an expected collision between our globe constituted us, that such researches bring to us emo- and the comet of Dr. Halley. These days of superstitions which are among the most pleasurable our exist-tion have either passed or are passing rapidly away. ence furnishes? Shall he have made the sun to rule by All the phenomena relating to eclipses are thoroughly day-the moon by night;-shall he have drawn out the understood and are susceptible of being precisely pre