Austrian se vice. There, in due time, he rose to the rank of a General; and meanwhile his elder brother, the heir of his family dying, he came over to take possession of his paternal estate in Armagh. Satis fied by this account," continued my aunt, "when I re-entered the drawing-room, I allowed Lady Avis to present the General to me. His person and mauners spoke the man of birth and fashion; and." Here my aunt stammered, looked confused, paused, and then, after complaining that the room was hot, and I had opened a window, she resumed :

"The General talked to me of my Paradise plume; and soon finding that I wished for a loury, he offered me, in the politest manner, one of his. He was to have brought it to me this morning; but accident has prevented him. Here is his apology," added she, presenting the note she yet held in her hand to the Earl. He looked at it.

"Am I permitted to read it aloud?" inquired his Loidship.

"Certainly," replied my aunt; "I have no secrets from Hymenæa. Had she noticed him at Lady Avis's I am sure she would have believed every thing which that note discloses "

My aunt leaned her head thoughtfully on her hand, and the Earl opened the billet doux. As I sat on the same sultane with his Lordship, I could smell that the paper was scented with otto of roses, and could see that the hand-writing was elegant. The Earl began to read :

Aye," cried the Earl, as soon as he had read the note, "I knew both the man's hand-writing and his style. Will your Ladyship," added he, "without being offended at my frankness, allow me to tell you all I know of this disreputable presuming acquaintance?"

"I shall be grateful, my Lord," replied my aunt; and while she still obscured her face by her leaning position, I was surprised by perceiving a tear trembling on her eye lid. The sight gave me a sudden twitch at the heart for having trified with a subject that could possibly have any connection with her sensibility; but the deed was done, and with a self-reproachful sigh I turned to listen to the Earl's explanation.

"My narrative shall be brief," said he, "for my subject is unpleasant. Suffice it to say, that Randal Killaloe is, as Mrs. O'Leary has set forth, a son of Killaloe of Killaloe Castle, in Armagh. But he was of illegitimate birth. Hence he has no legal right to the family name. However, that misfortune could not be considered as any fault in him, did not his subsequent conduct shew more of his female parent (a common woman from the streets of Dublin) than of his father, who, though a dissipated was an honest man. Oid Killaloe, when on his death-bed, left his estates (which were all personal property) between two sons, both by the same abandoned mother. After the old man's death, she arrogated to herself the name of his wife; and her eldest son possessing a castle which "General Killaloe presumes on the con- bore the family name, she foolishly believed descension with which Lady Lovelace dis-that the world would credit a falsehood untinguished him last night, thus to apolo-supported by any of the usual certificates. gize to her Ladyship for obeying necessity The young men lived in a career of extrain postponing the fulfilment of commands vagance and vice; and Randal, who calls received by him in such a situation of himself General Killaloe, being handsome happiness. He is this morning suddenly in his person, and of good talents, soon called upon to sign some papers relative made himself notorious ad over the county to his taking possession of his paternal for his amours and his treasons. Disapinheritance of Castle Killaloe, in the pointed in his improper advances to the county of Armagh. Business, therefore, wife of an English officer of rank, who for a short time, usurps the expression of was quartered near Castle Killaloe, he that devotion he must eyer feel for a lady swore vengeance against the whole nation; of Countess Lovelace's charms and cha- and thus, in a fit of libertine spleen he racter; but in the course of a few days, he became not only the accomplice of the hopes to lay both himself and his loury at most turbulent spirits in Ireland, but the the feet of her Ladyship.-Clarendon Hotel."

|

ndefatigable perverter of the principles of all the simple peasantry, who might

otherwise have remained content and quiet.
When the rebellion in my unhappy coun-
try broke out, Randal Killaloe was called
upon by the unfortunate men he had per-
suaded to be rebels, to lead them in the
field. This his cowardice withheld him
from doing; and, eternal shame on his
head, he doubly betrayed the poor igno-
rant wretches he had ensnared! He se-
cretly wrote to government, and, on pro-
mise of pardon to himself, gave up five
thousand men to the vengeance of the
laws! After this act of treachery he was
abhorred both by the insurgent party and
the royal. He had wasted his share of the
Killaloe property by his extravagancies;
and without money, and without a cha-
racter, he suddenly disappeared from Ire-
land. A year after, I heard he was roam-
ing about the Continent, under some great
military appellation; that and his per-
sonal appearance together, introduced him
into good societies, until his gallantries,
and his success in cards, made it necessary
for the masters of families to shut their
doors against him. You tell me that he
is now in England; that he is introduced
here by Mrs. O'Leary. I know that wo-
man (who is another disgrace to my coun-
try); she exists by certain profits attending
certain negociations in polite and dissi-
pated society. Affecting decorum herself,
she not only introduces handsome adven-
turers, where they may make a prey of
rich widows or heiresses for wives, but I
have known her, more than once, be the
go between in a case of crim. con. and when
the adulterous couple have afterwards mar-
ricd, receive a douceur for her services in

the affair.

"This, Lady Lovelace," continued the Earl, is the character of the discreet Mrs. O'Leary, a woman, indeed, of family, but having married ill (to the keeper of a Pharo bank), she imbibed all her husband's dishonourable arts, and, when he died, became a snare, an instrument of disgrace; and many are the wretched persons, male and female, who have to execrate the success of her purchased machinations."

"But this General Killaloe," exclaimed I, "what a dangerous man must he be! Oh, my dear aunt, how glad I am we have escaped him!"

"He might indeed have been darger"for his art ous," replied Lady Lovelace, in flattery is unexampled; and having a young person of your fortune under my care, had I escaped his toils, I cannot but dread that you might have been the victim."

“Depend on it, my Lady," returned the Earl, "that a man so profligate and so prodigal as he has been, can have no attractions to this house from the beauties and merits of its two amiable inhabitants. A libertine soon ceases to place any peculiar value on charms of any kind; therefore dismally does that woman deceive herself who, acting on the foolish adage that'a eformed rake makes the best husband,' takes such a character to her arms. It is possible that a libertine may, from religious or interested motives, abandon his licentious pursuits; but he can never recover that delicate perception of female excellence which can alone live in a virtuous mind. Associating intimately with profligate women corrupts the taste and the judgment, and ruins the finest sensi bilities of man. In short, my dear Ladies, the feelings of honourable love, which give such happiness to the marriage state, are in the breast of our sex what chastity is in yours; once sac ficed to illicit passion, they can no more be recal ed. They are the bloom of the heart, passed away for ever."

forth

"It was then my jointure, I suppose,” answered my aunt, blushing with shame, that attracted this General to pour his nonsense at my feet; for to be frank with you, dear Lord Castledowne, as you seem to take really a friendly interest in me and Hymenæa, I must confess that General Killaloe did say things to me last night, to lead me to suppose, that if I pleased, himself and Castle Killaloe were both at my disposal."

"I do not doubt it," replied the good Earl, smiling; "but his Irish estate, like himself, is impoverished in every thing. The extravagancies of his late brother, too nearly resembled his own; and, from the authority of my steward, I know that nothing now remains of the property but the bare walls of the dilapidated castle. Your Lad, ship's fine income would indeed have been a prize for this pirate; and allow

me to hope that the escape you have had will be a warning to avoid similar dangers. The greatest perils are often incurred by the most trifling means: a passion for col lecting foreign birds seems a fancy of no consequence, but a passion for any thing, however trivial, when gratified without discretion, is as likely to produce disagreeable effects, as a passion for cards or dice. You perceive that Lady Avis is so eager to fill her aviary, that a man requires little else than a smooth tongue, and a bird on his finger, to be admitted into the familiar intercourse of her drawing-room. Adven-ject of universal ridicule; and all, by turers learn these peculiar fancies of mothers and aunts, and with the bribe of a mackaw, a China tea-pot, or an Indian fan, can at once get within hearing of the daughter or niece;, and if one be as easily imp.sed on as her natural protectors, it is ten to one but she trusts herself in her lover's arms to Scotland.

| fice it to say, that every swindling personage had a credential to her presence, who was ready to sheer their locks, and sell them to her under the name of an Anne Bullen, or an Earl of Essex. By a circumstance of this kind, in way of payment for a ring with Bishop Cranmer's hair, she got a man into a place under the Lord Lieutenant, who since that has disappeared with many thousands of the government money. She has impoverished her fortune, brought her recommendation into contempt, and is now herself an ob

having given way to what may be called the gratification of an innocent fancy."

66

From this hour,' cried Lady Lovelace, "I abjure my growing attachment to birds. I see the whole danger of such whimns, and I will send my cage of cut-throat sparrows out of the house this very day."

Extremes are bad, my amiable friend,” returned the Eart; "keep your sparrows; a few living creatures, of the dumb crea tion, around a woman of fashion, is both ornamental, and complimentary to feeling. It shews graceful sensibility to yield protection to birds and animals; but to collect them in swarms and droves, speaks the owner's vanity, rather than her humanity."

Convinced as I was with the cogency of Lord Castle downe's arguments against the passion of favouritism of any kind, I yet could not but second his pleadings for the pretty little cut-throats, and my aunt at last yielded to their continued resi

"I have had good reason," continued his Lordship, "to deprecate the facility with which virtuous ladies admit strangers to their acquaintance. My wife's sister, the Honou able Mrs. Atropos, conceived a passion for collecting locks of hair which bad belonged to illustrious characters of past times. Her fancy took its birth from an unlucky present of a snuff-box, given | to her by one of the French Princes, which contained a small tress that had formerly decorated the handsome countenance of Lou's XIV. From that hour my unhappy sister imbibed a mania, which has cost her thousands to keep in teinper. The best apartment in her house is like a wig-dence in her boudoir. At the close of this maker's shop, hung round with hair of all lengths, colours, and descriptions, in glasscases, labelled with the names of the once supposed owners. There is hardly a character of any note, male or female, of this country, or of the Continent, if you happen to mention, that she does not run to this hair repository, and bringing forth some flowing lock, cased in crystal, gravely tells you that it once grew on the head of the person you have been speaking of. I have seen her do this, when the discourse has fallen upon the Court of Charles I. and the Parliament of Cromwell; she had a tress for every courtezan, a strip of hair for every senator. But it would be tedious to particularize all her extravagance; suf

debate, the Earl had accidentally discomposed the parcel of invitation cards which lay on the table with his hand. The name of the Countess of Hexham caught his eye it was to invite my aunt and I to an assembly in the ensuing week.

"That is a delightful woman,” said he, pointing to the Countess's card; "she is worth half the honourable names in the Red-Book."

"I know very litle of her," answered Lady Lovelace, "she and I have only as yet exchanged tickets; and, until your Lordship said this in her favour, I was quite dubious about going to her party. I hear she is a writer; and I hate author ladies, they are so very domineering."

"Then you need not fear any mental tyranny from Lady Hexham," returned the Earl; "she is as amiable as learned. Lady Castled wne will then be in town, and I shall certainly have the happiness of attending her to the Countess's on that night."

If that is the case," said my aunt, “I will accept the invitation."

Irej iced in this resolution. And Lord Castledowne expressing the pleasure be should have in seeing me cultivate the esteem of his Lady, he withdrew; and my aunt ordered her carriage for the drive.

(To be continued.)

LOVE AND LITERATURE.

FROM THE FRENCH OF MADAME DE GENLIS.

"WHAT a beautiful invention is that of easel; does she continue to cultivate ber tadiligences! especially now, that all our horses lents? does she still draw?"-" Not often ; are taken up for the armies, and all our car- she writes or she reads. Every body now, riages sold! Nevertheless, the best diligence, doats upon reading! there are so many new for example, this from Lyous, caunot go very books! Look here, I was reading when you diligently in winter, when, during its journey, came in."-" How! a romance !”—“ (), we ..it must have to sustain, at least, one battle no longer read any thing else; throw a glance with robbers; be overset, or stick fast in the on these shelves, you will find nothing there mud, regularly every night; and be stopped but romances and plays. Do you wish ten or twelve times a-day by the allurement of to learn at once all the novelties? only ́a public-house, or the craziness of a wheel !— || read the titles of these works: Oh! there is a what a detestable way to travel for a lover, charming one! Guinguin Bredouille; and this, who, after two years absence, goes to París, to Nigaud net and Codindine; it has not much meet and marry the woman whom he adores!" pretensions to genius, but it is vastly droll; Thus spoke Clairville in the Diligence de | and then, The Marriage of the Devil's Sister! -Lyon, though he was then only six leagues Little Fanny's Foot; My Uncle's Hiding-place.— from Paris: but the nearer we draw to a long- Oh, that which you hold is a collection of the desired happiness, the more our impatience Comedies that have had brilliant success:→ increases with the lively emotion by which it The Red Devil; Two and Two make Four; The is caused. At length they reach Paris; it is || Martindale-but hark! don't I hear a coach noon; Clarville throws himself out of the stop!" diligence, and takes a hackney coach, exclaiming, Street de la Loi, No. 30, full gallop!"After having most devoutly cursed the stoppages, the carts, and the coaches, Clairville finds himself at the door of his beloved.

Mademoiselle Eulalie de Fierval, is she here," he demands of the porter. "No, citizen; but she will be home to dinner, with the citizen, her tutor."-" My name is Clairville."-" Oh! we expected you : come in, citizen."

Clairville gives some money to the porter who hastens to conduct him to the apart ments of his young mistress, and leaves him with Eulalie's maid, who, on perceiving Clairville, utters a cry of joy. "Oh! how glad my Lady will be!"-" My dear Sophy, she loves me then, still?"-" With her whole heart."

At these words Clairville throws down the volume of dramatic excellence, and flies to meet Eulalie. The presence of a tutor restrains not two lovers, whose marriage has been long projected by their familes: thus Eulalie and Clairville attempted not to conceal the joy with which they beheld each other again, after such a tedious separation. Eulalie regarded Clairville with inexpressible delight; he had been with the armies nearly the whole time. of his absence; he had nobly distinguished himself; and nothing embellishes a lover so much in the eyes of his mistress, as success in war. The tutor left the lovers together in the library of Eulalie. Clairville tenderly remarked Eulalie had lost some of her freshness: what a touching proof of love and constancy! Eulalie had suffered, had wept his

Where is my Eulalie?"-" At the Ly-absence! nothing had amused her grief!'ceum.'-"This is her chair; that is her writ ́ing-desk; but I see neither her harp nor her

Could he doubt her when she was so thin!❤ while be, more than once-what self-re