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On my way I passed a lowly hovel, where resided a very old man, who, long ere I reached the door' of his hut, bad been gone to rest;. not, perhaps, to sleep; for he; alas! was the victim of unmerited misfortune: born to brilliant prospects, life smiled on him in its advancing hours; pleasure and benevolence beamed from his eye; and all who were in want, found him a ready friend.

The orphan too he clad and taught;
The widow's want reliev'd;
To prisons kind assistance brought,
Where captive debtors griev'd.'

Author's Manuscript Poems.

Thus fled away, happy as friend-, ship, wedded love, and a breast at peace, could make them, many years of his life; till at length ruined by a pretended friend, he was driven from his home, an unhappy outcast! His wife soon died of a broken heart! whilst the poor, aged victim of villany, wandered far from the scene of his former happiness, and fixed himself here; where the open hand of charity offered him a shelter from the unpitying winds. Seventy years

have silvered over his sorrowed head; a few more, and the life he wishes not to preserve will be over; then, in

Another, and a better, world,"

he looks forward to peace, unin
terrupted, and eternal!

Yon hovel is his drear abode,
Which scarcely shelter yields;
All day he sits beside the road,
Or slowly walks the fields.

His downcast look, and modest mien
Implore the passing sigh,
Yet ne'er to beg is this man seen,
Or raise his haggard eye.

But oft the son of Affluence stops
To give him sweet relief;
And oft the humbler trav'ller drops
A mite to ease his grief.

Yet in the mourner's time-worn facë
A noble firmness glows;
ffis better days you there may trace,

Though dimm'd by weighty woes.
His form betrays no common mould,
Though now 'tis bent and weak;
It once was stout, majestic, bold,
As all its features speak.

In mystic wonder and amaze,
Will passing strangers stay;
In silent sympathy they gaze
On Mis'ry's closing day."

Author's Manuscript Prens

The gloominess of the night, as I proceeded, was well suited to an indulgence of superstitious thoughts in a mind that was prone, and weak enough to indulge them. And where is there a man, who, in some situation or other of his life, has not had occa-" sion to regret the folly of the nurses of his early years; who to quiet him have threatened that the naughty man, or the bugabo, or some other equally terrifying being, should come and take him away; thereby unthinkingly im

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With much complacency on all her arts To know the future husband. Yes, ye fair,

I deem it good to take from

- come

years to

A loan of happiness. We could not live,
Did we not hope to-indrrow would
C produce

A better lot than we enjoy to-day.
Hope is the dearest medicine of the soul,
A sweet oblivious antidote, which heals
The better half of all the pains of life.'
HURDIS.

No great pleasure seemed to await a farther ramble, I therefore speedily returned home, and soon sleep, ejaculating, as I stepped sought the soothing power of into bed,

Sweet is the soft and silent hour That steals with ev'ry soothing pow'r Across the throbbing breast Where heavy hours of mental toil Have long suppress'd the pleasing smile That speaks a heart at rest.'

Author's Manuscript Poems.

LETTER from LORD KAIMES to

the DUCHESS of GORDON.

[From Memoirs of the Life and Writings of the Honourable Henry Home, of Kaimes.]

To the Duchess of Gordon.

August, 1770.

favourite pupil, or to write but AS I never incline to visit my when I am at ease and in good spirits, which has not been the case for this last fortnight, worn out as I am with the business of the court, I delayed to acknowshould be restored to my spirits: ledge your last kind letter till I to the country, by the wood nymphs, the water-nymphs, and all the train of rural smiling deities.

Your grace could not do me a greater favour than in communicating the little family anecdote about lady C. than which nothing can show a more charming disposition. Dis-social passions are more painful to ourselves than to those that are the objects of them: Selfish passions are disagreeable to others, and very little pleasant to ourselves; but the generous and benevolent passions, if they make others happy, double that blessing on ourselves: there is no part of our nature that advances us so near the Author of all Good. Cherish, my dear lady, that disposition in your daughter, because it is highly amiable; but double your diligence to cherish it in your son, who, I hope will one day have it in his power to do much good, and to find his own chief happiness in making multitudes happy around him.

The duke of G. may justly be reckoned the greatest subject in Britain, not from the extent of his rent-roll, but from a much more valuable property, the number of people whom Providence has put under his government and protection. God forbid the duke should imbibe the sentiments of too many of his elevated rank, that these people are merely beasts of burden, and that it is allowable to squeeze out of them all that can be got. In point of morality, I consider that the people upon our estates are trusted by Providence to our care, and that we are answerable for the management of them to the great God, their Creator as well as ours. But observe and admire the benevolence of Providence. What else does it require of us but to introduce industry among our people, the sure way to make them virtuous and

happy; and the way not less sure of improving our estates, and increasing our resources?

Now, my dear pupil, I insist on this topic with the more satisfaction, as I figure your grace taking an active part in this useful work, and going hand in hand with your husband; if, indeed, it be not better that each of you should take a separate department. will explain what part I allot your grace after a short preface.

I

Travelling through the counties of Aberdeen and Banff, with any sort of equipage, it is pleasant to see the young creatures turning out every where from their little cottages, full of curiosity, but not less full of industry, for every one of them is employed; and in kniting stockings they lose not all the while a single motion of the fingers. Now mark what I am going to say. There is indeed the same curiosity to be observed on your banks of the Spey, and through the county of Moray; but, alas! the industry is wanting; for the young people go about there perfectly idle. I fear you will think I am growing a little tedious this evening, for I wish to prolong conversation with your grace, but now I come to the point-The part I allot for the duchess of Gordon is to train the young creatures about her to industry, and she will execute it with self-satisfaction and success; for in tender years the strongest impressions are made; and once giving children a habit it will last them for life. What I would therefore propose as her first essay is to introduce the knitting of stockings among the young folk of both sexes, which will easily be done, as that art is so far advanced in her neighbourhood.

If your grace relishes this pro

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posal, signify it only to your old Mentor, and it shall be his business, not only to lay down a plan for carrying it into effect, but to interest our trustees for manufactures, who will most cordially second your operations; in the mean time you may order a fit person to be secured for teaching the children to spin and to knit; and the only thing that will be expected from your grace, besides your countenance (which is all in all), is to encourage children to exert themselves, by some small premiums to those who are the most deserving.

So much for serious matters; and now to a lighter theme, if my paper leaves room for it. From fifty years experience I can vouch that the pleasantest companions for conversation are those who pass some time in their closets in reading and reflecting. Will you give me authority to purchase for you, from time to time, a few books of taste and useful knowledge, which will agreeably fill up your hours of leisure? Does the duke give his commissions to any particular bookseller in Edinburgh? In this and every other capacity command your real friend and faithful servant,...

HENRY HOME.

king of Hungary. Notwithstanding the geographical absurdity of this assertion, it was readily credited by the ignorant vulgar. It appears probable that they drew their origin from Wallachia, or the neighbouring countries, as they are still to be met with in great numbers in Hungary, Servia, Bulgaria, and Macedonia. Whether they were expelled from their native dens, or left them spontaneously, it is certain that at this period they began to appear in the Western provinces, and by their fraudulent arts were able to gain a footing there, though by nature ever addicted to a vagabond life. They were neither cultivators of the soil, nor artisans, but found an inexhaustible supply for their necessities in theft, rapine, and deceit.

Although their way of life was not unknown to the Italians, their infamous practices were tolerated, because they made simple people believe that a penance was imposed upon them of wandering about for seven years; and still more, because they pretended to the gift of divination, and foretelling future events. An opinion long prevailed that they were forbidden to remain longer than three days in one place, and that they had a privilege from the Pope of providing themselves with necessary food wherever they should be. The time in which these Zingani, or

On the FIRST APPEARANCE of Zingari, first made their appear

GYPSIES in EUROPE.

[From Muratori's Antichita Italiane.]

IT was not before the year 1480 that this singular race of people issued from their concealments, pretending that Egypt was their native country, and that they were deprived of their settlements by a

ance in Italy may be collected from the Miscella Bolognese, published in the 18th vol. of the Rerum Italicace. It contains the following notice: On July 18, 1422, there came to Bologna a duke of Egypt, named duke Andrew, together with men, women, and children of his own country, in number about 100. They had a

decree from the King of Hungary, who was Emperor, authorizing them to rob, wheresoever they should go, for the space of seven years, without being amenable to justice. When they arrived at Bologna they lodged within and without the Porto di Galliera, and slept under porticos, except the Duke who was lodged at the King's Hotel. They remained here fifteen days, during which time many persons visited them, on account of the Duke's wife, who understood divination, and could tell what was to be a person's fortune, his condition, how many children he was to have; whether a woman was good or bad, and the like. In many things she spoke truth, and when people went to have their fortunes told, few es caped without having their pockets picked, or, if women, their clothes stripped of their ornaments. Their women went by six or eight through the city, entering the houses of the citizens, and prating with them, at the same time filching what they could lay their hands upon. They also went into the shops, pretend ing to buy something, whilst some of the party were employed in pil fering.'

Italy did not suffice for this crew, which was gradually augmented by accessions from the men and women of the countries through which they passed. Krants, in his history of Saxony, writes that they began to be seen in that country in the year 1417; and he gives a lively description of their customs and cheats under the name of Zigeni, or Zigeuni. Aventine also mentions their arrival in Bavaria, and their misdeeds, in 1411. They spread in like manner through Flanders and France, in which country they were called Egyp

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foes:

Where counsellors are hush'd, and mighty kings

(O happy turn) no more are wretched things.' YOUNG.

THE sun was descended below the horizon, and every whispering to rest with the grand luminary. breeze and playful zephyr was sunk

The fair rising moon Hung up her ready lamp, and with mild Tustre

Drove back the hov'ring shades,'

and invited to another solitary ramble among the tombs.

The first grave that met my observation was a new-made one, upon whose earthy hillock the grass had not begun to vegetate. An aged relative here found a quiet resting-place, having for more than ninety years trod the stage of life, and of whom I can with truth declare

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