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if he were doomed to be wretched, hear his sentence from her own lips, and be convinced it was no compulsion, but her own inclination.

qualification to render the object of my choice happy, strictly disposed to the observance of every duty required of me. Even Holden shall have no reason to complain; if I'You cannot,' replied his in

marry him I will endeavour to make him as comfortable as a person with an irrecoverable heart can possibly do. He knows every circumstance of my prior attachment, and he knows, likewise, that my heart is cold and indifferent, buried with the corpse of the invaluable Burns; therefore what can he expect more than forced civility and attention?'

In the mean time, Burns, instead of being dead as represented to her, was reduced to the most miserable state possible; her brother likewise was almost driven to despair, to think the only person he ever thought the model of perfection should prove so unworthy the good opinion he had entertained of her. In her last letter she desired them to think no more of her, as her sentiments had undergone an entire alteration since their departure: she was no longer the artless inexperienced girl, but was speedily to become the dignified countess of Holden; as she was determined to give her hand where her father thought proper to bestow it, conscious a person of his family could never solicit it. It may be imagined that Burns was almost distracted. She is faithless,' exclaimed he; never shall I think there is any fidelity in any of her sex!'-In vain her brother endeavoured to console him; no suspicion entered their minds of deception,, not once imagining that her hand-writing could be so closely counterfeited; if so, they would immediately have returned to England, and sought an explanation. Burns, however, said he must at all events,

valuable friend, with propriety; leave the army at this critical mo ment, when your presence is more than ever necessary. What excuse can you make to your sovereign for your absence?'

This reply aroused him; and he consented to stay a few days more till a long-expected engagement had taken place, when they might both with propriety obtain a few days leave of absence, and be convinced that in marrying the earl of Holden Matilda made no sacrifice, as it was almost impossible to imagine a person could be so changed in so short a time.

Notwithstanding all Sydney's ar guments, Burns had conceived a plan, and was on the point of carrying it into execution, when the enemy removed the main body of their army, and assembled on a large plain in order of battle. This the gallant Henry considered as a signal for an attack, and made known to his offcers his determination to wait no longer for reinforcements, but with his little army, trusting in the great God of battles, to commence an attack on the gasconading yet mighty host of the enemy. Immediately the true spirit of a soldier pervaded every individual. Burns was, as if by instinet, arrested in his meditated scheme. The moment he relinquish- . ed it, he informed Sydney that were not an engagement so soon likely to take place he should have been in England, and thrown himself at the feet of the earl his father, acknowledged his whole proceedings, name, and country, and solicited the hand of Matilda in marriage; but if she

preferred another, he would leave the country never more o return, become an exile in some foreign land, that he might never injure her happiness by a sight of his misery.

Fortunately indeed for you,' exclaimed Sydney, has Providence prevented such a scheme from taking place; you would have added another victim to the numbers in my brother's dungeons.'-Here he paused. Burns shuddered: he was no stranger to the crimes the earl had been guilty of; he shuddered to think of his thus meditating his own destruction; but even death was preferable to the misery he endured, and as they had agreed, let what would be the consequence, to defer their intended journey till the termination of the campaign, he must now support himself under his troubles with fortitude. But as life was of no value to him without he could pass it with Matilda, of which there now seemed no probability, he be came courageous even to desperation. No numbers nor strength were proof against his destructive sword: wherever he appeared, victory followed his steps. His sovereign knighted him and admitted him to his presence, in preference to many much his seniors in the army. Though he' sought death as a friend, a terminater of all his troubles, he came not yet; he was spared by Providence for yet greater trials.-Go on, brave youth! although thou art calumniated by those who could not injure thee otherwise than by branding thy hitherto unspotted character with infamy, still persist in thy love of glory and virtue; and though thou mayest be destined to many heartrending pangs here below, immortal happiness awaits thee in realms where sublunary uneasiness can Rever reach thee more. The little tri

umph the wicked enjoy in this world over the objects of their persecution is poor satisfaction when put in competition with eternity.

But to turn to poor Matilda.The week preceding her marriage, her situation was truly pitiable; the earl, her father, saw no diminution in the grief which had enveloped her whole soul since the supposed death of Burns was made known to her: yet in his presence she endeavoured to appear cheerful; but so ill did she feign, that any one might easily see the true state of her feelings. The world to her seemed one void, one wilderness; nothing could afford her one minute's pleasure, since the only person she wished to live for was no more. She had once, in the anguish of her heart, intreated her father to permit her to retire to a convent in France, and devote the remainder of her days to cherishing the loved memory of Burns, and religious solitude; but this he refused harshly, replying, he had rather follow her to her grave than see her immured in a convent. Finding all hopes of escaping the detestable match over, that her doom was inevitably fixed, she endeavoured to reconcile herself to it. to it. She prayed with fervency to Heaven to aid and support her.

The fatal day arrived; her bridal dress, which was elegance itself, finished under the directions of the haughty countess her sister, was put on her; and thus arrayed, the sad and almost heart-broken Matilda, leaning on the arm of her father, entered the room, where was a brilli ant assemblage of nobility to witness the grand event. The fine glow of beauty was fled from her cheek, yet she looked more interesting than

ever.

(To be continued.)

LADIES' DRESSES on her MAJES

TY'S BIRTH-DAY.

Her Majesty-AS usual on her own birth-day, was extremely neat. The dress was composed of brown velvet, beautifully embroidered with scarlet and white silk. Draperies and bottom trimmed with rich point lace, tied up with silk cords and tassels. The mantle to correspond. The neatness of her majesty's dress

was much admired.

Her Royal Highness Princess Augusta-Brown velvet petticoat, beautifully embroidered with silver; a large drapery on the right side, with a most brilliant border, with damask and Provence roses intermixed; a small drapery on the left side, tied up with a very rich bouquet, and bordered with Italian chains. The whole had a very fine effect. Train of brown and silver tissue.

Princess Elizabeth-A magnificent dress of green velvet, superbly embroidered with gold, the right side of the dress composed of a large mashing drapery, elegantly striped with gold spangles, and finished at bottom with a massy border of a mosaic pattern intermixed with vine leaves, richly embroidered in dead and bright gold foil, bullion, &c. the contour of which was strikingly elegant; smaller draperies in shell work, with rich borders; the whole finished with a massy border at bottom of foil and bullion, and looped up with superb cord and tassels. Her royal highness wore a robe of green and gold tissue, sleeves ornamented with gold and green tiaras, and trimmed with point lace and gold.

Princess Mary-The same as her royal highness princess Elizabeth, only in scarlet and gold.

Her royal highness Princess Amelia -A bottle-green velvet petticoat, with a rich etruscan border, and a drapery richly embroidered with

stripes of spangles and mosaic, and trimmed with gold rolio; on the right side a beautiful drapery formed of bullion chain; a body and train of green and gold velvet tissue. Her royal highness wore in the evening a dark green velvet dress, ornamented with diamonds.

Princess Sophia of Gloucester-Gave universal pleasure in making her appearance again at the drawing-room. Her royal highness's dress was purple velvet, with an elegant drapery embroidered with silver; purple velvet train, superbly embroidered with silver, to correspond.

Her royal highness the duchess of York-A most splendid dress, petticoat of white crape, intermixed with blue velvet; the ground most beautifully embroidered with gold spangles in scales; border, wreaths of oak and acorns; on the right side a drapery showered with spangles and groups of acorns richly worked in gold, and fastened up with diamonds, gold cord, and tassels; the pocketholes most tastefully trimmed with an entire new fancy gold trimming, intermixed with diamonds; a train of blue velvet, body and sleeves trimmed with diamonds, and diamond girdle; head-dress white feathers and a profusion of diamonds.

Princess Castelcicala-An elegant dress of white crape, with draperies of patent net, ornamented with white satin and beads, and looped up with handsome bead tassels; train, purple velvet trimmed with point lace and beads.

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Duchess of Northumberland. rich blue satin petticoat, with a drapery of blue satin trimmed with rich sable; mantua, black satin.

Marchioness of Lansdowne - A splendid dress of white crape and satin, richly embroidered in shells of silver and white velvet; the draperies looped up with chains of matted silver, and fastened with arrows; body

and train of steel-coloured velvet, enbroidered with silver in shells; head-dress, feather and diamonds. Marchioness of Salisbury-A green dress, covered with point lace, and ornamented with gold.

Marchioness of Downshire-A bottle-green velvet petticoat, superbiy embroidered in gold, with a gold tissue drapery, en echarpe, the train of the same velvet; an embroidery, forming a rich and elegant drapery on the left; pocket-holes trimmed with gold and velvet; and head dress white ostrich feathers, with a profusion of diamonds.

Marchioness of Sligo-In light blue, trimmed and ornamented with gold; head-dress, a wreath of diamonds, diamond star and turban.

The marchioness of DonnegalWas dressed in plain white satin, with white ostrich feathers and rosette of diamonds.

Dowager marchioness of Bath Petticoat and draperies of rich white 'satin, embroidered in wreaths and mosaic of silver rings and spangles; the drapery was looped up with tapestry trimming, and cord and tassels.

The right hon. countess of Uxbridge-A beautiful white crape em'broidered dress in drapery, with a wreath of green ivy leaves, and rich gold sprigs; the draperies edged with sable and point lace. Body and train of green satin, to correspond.

The right hon. the countess of Cardigun-A most magnificent embroidered brown velvet petticoat, in draperies, composed of beautiful shaded roses, with rich vandyke border on the left side; rich gold chains, cords, and tassels. The sleeves, body, and train, were all correspondent.

The right hon. the countess of St. Vincent-A white crape petticoat, richly embroidered with gold, black velvet, and swansdown green, satin body and train, trimmed with swansdown and gold.

Countess of Buckinghamshire-A lavender satin petticoat, most richly embroidered in gold, with a superb border and drapery, intermixed with velvet of the same colour; a frain of lavender satin, elegantly trimmed with a velvet border, tastefully em. broidered in gold; body and sleeves trimmed with beautiful point lace; bandeau of diamonds, and plume of lavender ostrich feathers..

Countess Albina of Buckinghamshire-White satin petticoat, fanci fully looped up with white crapé drapery; festooned body and train of fine figured queen's brown, colcured satin body and sleeves, trimmed with elegant point lace; head-dress, white feathers, and a wreath of large diamonds, with diamond star and earrings.

Countess of Harcourt - Petticoat and train scarlet satin, with drapery of gold tissue and sable fur, with wreaths of flowers in gold; headdress, feathers and diamonds.

Countess Fitzwilliam — A white crape petticoat grounded entirely over in mosaic pattern, richly worked in gold spangles; a double drapery, bordered in a rich Grecian pattern, fastened with gold cord and taɛsels, pocket-holes superbly trimmed with gold; a train of brown satin, trimmed round with gold fringe; body and sleeves ornamented with point lace and diamonds; head-dress of diamonds, necklace and ear-rings to correspond.

Countess of Mansfield-Train of purple crape, trimmed with point lace, and a rich gold border; petticoat to correspond, with Grecian sash, forming a drapery at the bottom; a rich gold foil-work border.

Countess of Carlisle - A white crape dress, most elegantly embroidered in silver and green foil, forming wreaths of grapes and vine leaves; the drapery of crape and brown vel◄ vet, tied up with a profusion of silver and green tassels and cords; a

brown velvet robe, trimmed with silver and point lace to suit the petti

coat.

Countess Delaware-A white satin petticoat, with a rich gold embroi dered drapery; train purple velvet.

The countess of Derby-A white. Dowager countess of Essex-Petticrape dress, superbly embroidered coat purple satin, with lace drapery, in rich stripes and spangled, with a tastefully trimmed with flowers; magnificent Grecian border; the train, purple satin. whole of the draperies trimmed with a beautiful ring chain, looped with bullion, and tied up with very large gold tassels and cord, the draperies formed of spangled crape and uncommonly large gold zephyr; train of purple velvet, trimmed with a ring chain, to correspond with the petticoat; head-dress, a profusion of diamonds and feathers.

Countess Cowper-Wore a petti coat of blue velvet and white satin, embroidered with silver draperies in waves of silver spangles, with a fringe of matted silver ornaments; body and train of blue velvet embroidered with silver; coronet head-dress of white feathers and diamonds.

Countess Temple-A superb dress of azure blue velvet, embroidered with showers of silver spangles; the drapery edged with bunches of matted silver, and festooned with chains of matted silver, with a profusion of diamonds.

Countess of Clonmell-A very handsome dress of white and gold, the drapery richly embroidered with embossed gold, and edged with ermine; the body and train embroidered with gold, and trimmed with point; headdress, feathers and diamonds.

Countess of Pembroke Lilac sa tin petticoat, ornamented with black lace; lilac satin train, trimmed to correspond; head-dress lilac and gold, with a profusion of diamonds.

Countess St. Martin des Front-A dress of white crape appliqued with lilac and gold, and ornamented with rich gold cord and tassels; robe of black velvet, trimmed with elegant point lace and ornamented with gold fringe.

The countess of Ely-Wore a petticoat and robe of leopard satin, with sable trimming, and handsome black lace drapery; head-dress, superb sable leopard feathers, lace, and diamonds.

Countess of Mexborough-A dress of peach blossom velvet, embroidered with gold, and fastened with gold chains; body and train of velyet, embroidered with gold.

Lady Grenville-A white satin crape petticoat, elegantly trimmed with crimson cut velvet; body and train of crimson velvet to correspond, interwoven with showers of silver spangles.

The right hon. the lady Mayoress -White crape petticoat embroidered with gold, tied up in draperies, with rich cords and tassels; white satin body and train, with a border to correspond with the draperies.

Lady Georgiana Birchley-Black velvet petticoat, richly embroidered in gold, of a rich Grecian pattern, double drapery trimmed with most superb balloon fringe, fastened up with gold cord and tassels; the pocket-holes richly ornamented in gold; train of black velvet, richly embroidered to correspond with the petticoat; head-dress, a plume of fine ostrich feathers, with gold ornaments: the whole had a most beautiful effect, and was much admired.

Lady Walpole-A gold petticoat, richly embroidered with a most superb border of oak leaves and acorns fastened with large gold cord and tassels; brown velvet train trimmed with gold and point lace, fastened with diamonds.

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