ISTHMUS OF DARIEN.

TO THE EDITOR.

SIR,-Geographicus is obliged to the editor for giving him a week's time to review his calculations, before he inserted his communication in his publication. He can find no error in them except these, which he was aware of before-that they are founded on the degrees of longitude and latitude through which the ship must pass, without making any allowance for her taking a diagonal direction, or for the difference in the degrees of longitude, as affected by differences of latitude. But these he apprehends would make still more in favour of his argument. Not, how. ever to depend on calculations merely, he has measured the distances on the globe.

Geographicus is sorry to differ from the King's geographer, but cannot give up his own view of the subject in compliment to any body. Having trusted to no authority, but examined the globe, as well as a map, for himself, and seeing the thing in a clear point of view, he naturally expressed himself with confidence; he hopes not with arrogance and presumption. To speak in the language of doubt, where no doubt exists, would be affectation, not modesty.

November 8, 1823.

TO THE EDITOR.

SIR-Geographicus is superlatively clever in finding out that which must be apparent to ever schoolboy who has had his first lesson on the globes.

In writing a "short cut to India," I never supposed that any man could imagine that I was really ignorant of the extent of the Pacific waters, which I have examined a thousand and a thousand times, upon one of the finest globes ever made in England. I merely meant to infer, that we should get sooner, and with less loss and risk, to the ports of our Eastern commerce by the trade-winds to Darien, and by the trade-winds across the Pacific, than we should do by following the old track round the Cape of Good Hope.. Strictly speaking, I ought to have said a short cut to China, but we never think of calling our Indiamen, Chinamen; taking it for granted that the Indiamen trade beyond India, to China and elsewhere, as their interest may point out to them.

Geographicus may be satisfied with himself that he has "exposed the absurdity of one project;" but in doing so, does he not show how lamentably he is deficient in history, otherwise he would have known that almost all Scotland, with an eagerness bordering on frenzy, subscribed to Patterson's plan; and that the Lords and Commons of Engfand became jealous, and got the King to discountenance the plan, and then the foreign merchants withdrew their subscription, and the plan failed.—The Spaniards also took the alarm, and ever since have prevented us from having a footing on Darien. Now, all this incontestibly proves that Patterson's project was of the utmost consequence; and that this being the case, its enemies would necessarily leave no stone unturned to ruin it, aware that if they did not do so, it would finally ruin them. The cutting through the Isthmus of Darien is an idea of too ancient standing, and too general, to be affected by the modern geographers on the score of absurdity. Above one hundred years ago Patterson was on the spot. Let us hear his ideas. "Patterson knew that ships which stretch in a straight line from one point to another, and with one wind, run less risks and require fewer hands than ships which pass through many latitudes, turn with many coasts, and require many winds; in evidence of which, vessels of seven or eight hundred tons burden, åre often to be found in the south seas, navigated by no more than eight or ten hands, because these hands have little else to do than set their sails when they begin their voyage, and to take them in when they end it; that as soon as ships from Britain got so far south as to reach the trade-wind, which never varies,

that wind would carry them to Darien, and the same wind the two opposite elements are compressed into each o
would carry ships from the bay of Panama on the oppo-to the dangerous proportion constituting inflamab
or fire-damp.
It will more distinctly be elucidated by supposi
parallelogram (as under) the elevation of which sha
the length of the mine, the base being the breadth o
gallery and side workings. A diagonal line being di
from what may be considered the entrance of the mi
upper end of the figure, will divide the body of the
into two distinct and separate elements.

site side of the isthmus TO THE EAST INDIES; that as
soon as ships coming from the East Indies to the bay of
Panama got so far north as the latitude of 40, to reach
the westerly winds, which, about that latitude, blow al-
most as regularly from the west, as the trade winds do
from the east, these winds would carry them in the track
of the Spanish Acapulco ships to the coast of Mexico into
the bay of Panama; so that, in going from Britain, ships
would encounter no uncertain winds, except during their
passage south into the latitude of the trade wind. In
coming from India to the bay of Panama, no uncertain
winds, except in their passage north to the latitude of the
westerly winds, and in going from the other side of the
isthmus to the east, no uncertain wind whatever."

Now it was said, that no idea greater than this had been
formed since the time of Columbus.

Upon the strength of this, and with a large globe before my eyes, I was hardy enough to write of a short cut to India, and though the expression has had a bad effect) upon the nerves of Geographicus, I think it will not have that effect upon yours; nor do I think that the public will allow, that the great geographer has proved the absurdity of the project published in the Kaleidoscope. So far for Geographicus.

Now for your question concerning one vessel all the way to India. It would be rash to be positive until I should have explored Darien; but I cannot help saying, that I have the greatest hopes that if England undertakes the project, she will make a passage large enough for Indiamen to pass from one ocean to the other. Such is the profound idea I entertain of the enterprise, the wealth, and the steam-engines of England. I told you, in my last letter, that a former Spanish minister had a canal in view. Now, if nothing more could be done than merely to make a canal for steamboats, I imagine that, in the present state of South American politics, England might persuade Bolivar to make Panama and Puerto Bello free ports. Leaving the East Indies even out of the question, what an interminable trade would there be for us through Darien into the South Sea, and so on across it to the Philippines and China, &c.—| Now, if, one hundred years ago, a French vessel came from China to Panama in less than fifty days, in how much shorter time would a vessel perform the passage now.. a-days. Again, as it is in the Pacific Ocean, would not steam-vessels run across to China?

Geographicus talks of the Isthmus of Suez. That neck
of land is in the possession of a power which will take
care, if possible, never to let us have a footing there.
Now Bolivar is a liberal man, and possesses territories in
both oceans, and I dare say would jump at the idea of
being able to get by water from Puerto Cabello to Panama,
without going round Cape Horn; and, moreover, would
probably make great sacrifices at Darien to ensure the
friendship of Great Britain,

Another thing against the Isthmus of Suez is, the un-
certain winds. I was once windbound in Malaga for two
months and a half, waiting all that time for an easterly
wind to take us through the Straits of Gibraltar.
I am, dear Sir, very truly yours,
·H, Nov. 12, 1823.

W

FIRE-DAMP IN COAL-MINES.

C. W.

This proposition being admitted, it will follow most dangerous accumulation of fire-damp will be extreme end of the mine or base of the figure, st this quarter it is proposed to remove the evil by the ing process:

An iron main of common gas pipes, led from the house, and laid down the side of the water-pipe of the mine, a cylinder to be attached to the u the rod worked by the engine-beam, upon the principle, at every stroke exhausting a proporte" most dangerous atmosphere, its vacuum being s pure air, descending at the shaft, which, after swe chambers of all inflammable air, will be drawn ur "Exhauster" into the open atmosphere.

This proposal is particularly recommended th ham, Whitehaven, or Newcastle Female Beren exies. In the application of their funds they every assistance from many of the scient and their humanity; and if they succeeded, three great proprietors; if they failed, the attempt would do tages would be the result to society-the preser many valuable lives confidence to the port a the workings-and the opening of several good en which may now be considered too dangerous to

I am, Sir, your humble servant. A NORTH COUNT N Mr. Sadler's account of his Ascent from. o'clock, the wind from the S. W. and conseque -"I ascended from the Castle Yard at 20 units over the town of Nottingham, the streets of v its extensive market place, appeared quite ded cept in the vicinity of the place of ascent. Th to have had the company of a friend; but in ce of the contracted size of the main pipe, the much delayed, and rather than keep the asse tators waiting, I determined to ascend alone. minutes was allowed me to enjoy the prospect e which, at this season of the year, is seldom re The rich variety of country, including Belde seat of his Grace the Duke of Rutland, va e beautiful, and I had scarcely time to look aro the balloon entered the dense clouds which over the earth. On looking into the balloor, ance of its contents was equally opaque, as the emerged and entered a clearer atmosphere, which I was enveloped; but no sooner had t trast was most striking from the brilliancy of t heat of which caused the gas rapidly to ex thermometer in the shade fell to 31, yet I was least troubled by cold. At three o'clock store basket, and enjoyed a sandwich and a g drinking the health of my friends below. A past three, the barometer stood at 20 and thermometer at 30, indicating a height of near and a quarter. I now examined the state of which I found, by the aid of the common p beat 79 per minute, which, previous to my as stantly open to keep pace with the rapid exp 75. I was obliged to keep the valve of the a gas; and upon again looking into it, found rent that I could readily distinguish the met through the silk having a very different ap what it had when passing through the clos pect beneath me much resembled (except, I p ing more extensive) what our northern navig! " a vast field of snow. At half-past three the ba to descend, and in a few minutes was enva

ཁ༑ ས་།, ;

m of the lower atmosphere, and though most people ht imagine that I should rejoice at again returning in of earth, yet such was the chan, from the bright above to the dark one beneath, that I regretted being ged to leave it. The balloon was soon seen by the few hants below, to whom I made known my intention sanding. The grappling-iron took effect, and at 17 is to four o'clock I alighted in a stubble field in the harsh of Thorpe-on-the-Hill, distant from Lincoln near m; and considering some alteration in the direction of ay course, I consider that I must have travelled mbent 36 miles. "W. W. SADLER."

Mont Blanc used to be considered as the highest mountain in Europe, being 14,793 feet above the level of the sea! but it has lately been ascertained by trigonometric measurement, that Mont Rosa greatly exceeds this, its elevation being 15,600 feet. M. Saussure, after many fruitless attempts to ascend Mont Rosa, decided that its summit was inaccessible; but two hardy adventurers, Messrs. Zumstein and Vincent, overcame this difficulty. The details of their first ascent are to be found in the 25th volume of The Memoirs of the Academy of Turin. Serpents. Careful dissections have enabled a skilful anatomist at Paris, of the name of Cloquet, to discover that serpents have a single and transparent eyelid which passes over the ball of the eye, and a lachrymal apparatus, the canal of which terminates in the nasal orifices of fanged snakes, and in the mouths of adders. Besides their ordinary uses, the tears, according to this learned anatomist, seem to assist in the deglutition of the bodies, frequently very large, which these creatures swallow.

The New Zealand flax plant, which was the cause of the first plantation of our convicts at Botany Bay, in 1787, is found to be an indigenous plant of the south of Ireland, growing there luxuriantly. A sample of this hemp or flax has been sent to London.

With respect to this odd list of eminent writers, does H. mean French or German, or both? They are not German as appears by his own letter. The question was, that those who have been esteemed the most learned Grammarians are those who have with the greatest care investigated the principals of ancient languages. Dufrief, Mos. & Mad. Daicer, Chambaud, and Commarten Pere were given for the french. They are universally acknowledged the fathers of french grammarians. Yet H. impudent opime calls them an odd list. H. seems to know a great deal after it is pointed out to him, for his further information, I will give him a list of German grammarians-Eichhorn, Adelung, Gottshed, Heynogz, Klopstockk are the most “A gentleman, of the name of Gray, in reply to a paracelebrated. Homo, in No. 174 page 116 says German pt which appeared in our paper of last week, says: It literature was absolutely good for nothing as long as the ing been announced, that one Signor Scarmucci, of German Authors continued to write in Latin, and to fetter rence, has invented a machine by means of which he their rich and expressive mother tongue with rules from remain suspended in the air for the space of a month, the classics. After I pointed out to him his error, in nuenI feel it a duty which I owe to myself, to inform the tioning the names of Blumauer, Jacobi &c. only marks, alic, that I also have invented an apparatus, which, how he contradicts himself, In page 146 in your last numappended to a balloon, will constitute a machine, ber, he says, "those Authors whom Moses mentions are which the aeronaut may ascend or descend, either not only known to me but in all probability I knew some pendicularly or obliquely, as often as he pleases, withof their works by heart before he had even learned to spell any waste of gas, or throwing out of ballast; and over their names. Here, again, Homo mentitur impudentestemal movements of which he will have nearly as sime, he is egregiously mistaken in the person of Master Controul as the navigator has over his vessel; added Mole and Worm.-The mole, it is well known, feeds before Homo, perhaps, ever heard of the name of LiverMoses, for I had a knowledge of the Authors in question, ts, the time of suspension in the air may depend athe will of the aerial voyager, for, unless the balloon upon the common earth-worm; but I believe it is not pool. The eulogium which H. has here paid himself apbould burst or become torn, he will have no restric. generally known, that in the dark regions it inhabits, it is time, from a month to even a whole year, if he can endowed with powers to distinguish its prey at some dis- pears to be done with a very bad grace, it excites suspicion, and only tends to hasten his own destruction. But there this aëra naviglio for so long a voyage. Further tance, and far less, that the reptile it is in search of can is a better one than this in reserve. I know, says he, niticti serve, that this machine is of that peculiarity of distinguish its approaching danger, and try to elude it. better than he can know, in what manner they were edutution, that it may be unrigged," as a sailor Yet, from some facts that have fallen under my own ob-cated, and I have not to be informed by him of their havlay, in a very short space of time, and laid by, with servation, there seems to be no doubt of this circumstance, ing learned to make latin verses. Has any thing more its appurtenances, very snugly in the library or par- the earth, chases its prey with the same avidity as the lion, head of either Jew or Gentile? Because accidence of birth and that, in consequence of it, the mole, in the bowels of truly ridiculous and silly than this ever entered into the till wanted, when it may be fitted for a voyage over territories of Bolus, in the short space of one hour. I or the wolf, or the bear, upon its surface; and that the has made Homo a German, does it necessarily follow, that e notice to the society at the Adelphi four months past, greedy pursuer, as the stag in the forest, or the hare among same pursuits, and have had equal advantages in acquiring worm flies with the same degree of eagerness from its he must know better than others who have followed the by having invented such an apparatus as is above men. tel, and received a letter from their secretary, Mr. the stubble. One damp cloudy day, as I was standing in correct information of German literature? Ask ninea, intimating that the society would not sit until the the garden, contemplating some of the beautiful pro- tenths of the inhabitants of England in what manner Sir I. week in November, and I should not, therefore, have ductions of the vegetable tribe, I saw the earth near me Newton was educated, and in what language he wrote his ght the subject forward until that time, but upon begin to be heaved up by the working of a mole, and im claborate works, you will find that they will be able to the statement alluded to, I have thought it best (in mediately directed my attention to that object. I could give you little if any information upon the matter. r to avoid any mistake that may arise as to who is the soon perceive the mole was working with an unusual de- really a good joke to hear H. speak of the habit of expressinventory make the above statement."-Gloucester gree of agility, which still more commanded my attention. It was not long before I perceived the head of an earth-ing oneself with modest diffidence, and censuring Moses worm penetrate the mould with a surprising degree of rapidity-nearly half its body came above the earth at the first push, and at the second it freed itself from the mould entirely, and ran off along the surface with a degree of agility I had never seen this animal exert till then. The mole too, pursued still; but on coming very near the surface, immediately desisted, and retired, as I supposed, disappointed, from the chace.-Correspondent of the Dum fries Journal.

66

I

ther Perpetual Motion.-A correspondent of DraStorf ad News, has addressed the following note to ditor Since the death of Sir Isaac Newton, it has the study of thousands, of little and contracted to discover the long-wished for perpetual motion; stless, in consequence of Sir Isaac's opinion, the tion of the thing has scarcely ever engaged the of a philosopher. However, when he has been im. alized tor one century, which will be on March 20, your present correspondent, a friend to society, will the tublic (on contribution of the promised sum) tion that will then have continued eleven years. For plea he has spared neither time nor expense, and, 2, aas omitted that which the vulgar ever found . It consists of that which is not foolish and nonuch as springs, balance, and weights, but of als which will continue a century as well as one day. ight is too immense for its motion, and the me's art shall be batlled at its velocity.”

Sation!"

Correspondence.

[SEE A NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS.]

TO THE EDITOR.
[Inserted literally from the manuscript.]

a

SIR. In reply to Homo's letter in your last number, I have to observe, in the first place, that Homo must be man of no ordinary gratitude; for after having thanked Perspiration.—A candidate at Surgeons' Hall, you for the paternal care which you have evinced in envariety of questions, was thus interrogated:-"Indeavouring to avert from him the shafts of Master Moses, he proceeds next to acquit himself of an obligation to case, Sir, how would you act?"-" Well, Sir, if| not operate?"-"But if that did not produce the opinion. I hope I have sufficiently exposed to your Macclestiekdiensis for what? for coinciding with him in alect, what remedy have you left ?"-"Why, said the worried student, if all these should readers, that, the letter of this last named Gentleman wald direct the patient to be brought here for (which Homo regards as a chef d'œuvre of reason, learning, and argument) is neither intelligible, consistent with itself, nor common sense. H. proceeds in stating, that, I to Dapple a Horse.-Take in the spring the large have contrived to excite a personal quarrel with him out of a mere literary discussion. In this H. errat toto calo. young oak trees, mix them with the horse's pro- Moses is aware that there are no laurels to be reaped, were and give it him three or four times to eat, and he Copied, and continue so for a whole year! The he to triumph sur un pauvre Allemagne par, impar Achilli. jeung elms will have the same effect.-American literature, I shall not answer him with derision, but by arBut as H. appears to have got a smattering of floating gument and reason. He says you have some very clever Jaszle cluster of hazle-nuts, consisting of twenty-ones among your readers, but Moses does not appear to be was gathered in a small copse, from a tree growing one of the number, if we may judge from his odd list of k. Fear Bakewell, Derbyshire, last week. Another eminent writers. Here clever ones is divested of any pre vå læenty-one nuts was found in the same place. cise meaning; I neither like the manner nor the matter of this passage. Why does not II. write with more precision? * exact resemblance between July and August, in Homo here makes allusion only to readers, therefore he is urber of dry and wet days, and in the quantity of right, for once, for I have not seen above twelve numbers , is a fact that has not occurred for 29 years of the Kaleidoscope, nor would I have seen these, had I two adjoining months-Boston Gazette. not been a writer in it for the above number of times.

It is

for not having acquired this habit. This resembles Jupiter with his two bags, putting the faults of others in the But H. is not content in contradicting himself once or wallet before him, his own in the wallet, behind his back. twice, he now says, "If in the time of Frederic or Voltaire, German literature had been any thing like, what it

is now, the former would not have written his works in

French and the latter would have been less pert. H. must confess the English has been long a current language, and is enriched with every necessary expression for almost every subject, yet Gregory has written his conspectus and Newton his principia in Latin. But if H. will explain to me why these authors have given the latin the preference, to the English, I will explain to him why Frederic the Great gave the french a preference to the German. Was not Leibnitz contemporary with Voltaire? did he not establish a school in Germany, in opposition to Newton? did he complain of the unfitness of the language in this dispute, which turned upon almost all the metaphysical ideas of Newton? But it would be worse than idle for me to take any further notice of the pueril and contradictory arguments of H. I shall reserve the rest of his remarks for another publication. I am Sir

TO THE EDITOR.

MOSES.

SIR,-As a caution to persons letting their children drink cold water, I wish the following fact to be mentioned in your valuable publication:-A water-pipe in the neighbourhood of Mansfield-street was stopped on Saturday morning, in such a manner that no water could be procured. After some time, a small part of a living substance unavailing; at length the pipe burst a little below the tap. made its appearance; every means to extract it proved A gentleman then procured a small saw, and opened the pipe, when an eel, about nine inches in length, was found stuck fast in the tap. The eel I have sent for your inspection; part of the tail was broken off by our trying to pull out of the mouth of the tap. I think persons allowing their children to drink cold water, should always have the water previously boiled; or I am informed a few drops of elixir of vitriol will destroy any insects or animalcules, if mixed with cold water. Liverpool, October 20, 1823.

SIR, A phenomenon, somewhat similar to one men. 6. The BOOK of TRADES, describing the Nature, Ex-
tioned in your last Kaleidoscope, occurred to an acquaint-cellences, Peculiarities, Arts, and Mysteries of above One
Hundred Trades and Employments; with 100 Engravings.
ance of mine some years ago.
10s. 6d. or 12s. elegant.

By. MM. NOEL and LAPLACE, Professors in the University of The length of our note to Moses obliges us to postpar

ERRATA:-In the lines on Winter, inserted in our last," Aye" ought to be "O ye;" and "half-frozen" G's lines to the Primrose blowing in November, and should be "hard frozen."

ANGRY CORRESPONDENTS.

"Craignez tout d'un auteur en courroux.”

It is not usual with us, neither is it at any time a pleas-
ing task, to animadvert in strong terms upon the com-

OR,

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The falar Miscellany, from which religious and political matters are excluded, contains a variety of original and selected Articles; comprehending Literature, Criticism, Men and Manners,
Axent, Elegant Extracts, Poetry, Anecdotes, Biography, Meteorology, the Drama, Arts and Sciences, Wit and Satire, Fashions, Natural History, &c. &c. forming a handsome Annual
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Men and Manners.

ANONYMOUS LETTERS. ginal Transkation from Hermite de la Chaussée d'Antin.]

WRITTEN IN 1812.

Lancaster-G. Bentham;
Leeds-H. Spink;
Lichfield-Lomax;
Manchester-Silburn & Co.;
J. Fletcher; T. Sowler;
and B. Wheeler;
Macclesfield-P. Hall;
Mottram-R. Wagstaff;
Nantwich-E. Jones;
Newcastle-under-Lyme-J.Mort;

-Charnley;
North Shields-Miss Barnes;
Northwich-J. Kent;
Nottingham-C. Sutton;
Oldham-The Postmaster:
Ormskirk W. Garside;
Oswestry-Price: Edwards;
Penrith-J. Shaw;
Preston-P. Whittle;

-1. Wilcockson;

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1823.

am not gifted with that flexibility of mind and of at, which leaves to the choice of the writer, who poses it, the subject on which he writes. The thought ch strikes me, or the feeling which governs me, is the y one on which I can expatiate. It would, therefore, in vain for me to attempt occupying my readers with arks foreign to the idea which at this moment predotes in my mind. I must impeach at the bar of pinion (since the laws do not take cognizance of trime, the increase of which announces the last stage oral corruption. It may be plainly perceived that remarks are pointed at those messengers of darkness, authors and writers of anonymous letters, against bonest people know not how to protect themselves. mess was always one of the distinguishing traits of ench character. Our country preserved, even in its , a degree of candour; and we may, by glancing the annals of Europe, discover, with some pride, bose cowardly vices of the poisoner and the spy Aways less frequent in our own country than else During our civil and religious wars, even during gof the revolution, honour (taking the word in its est acceptation) has seldom had to blush for those at which humanity shudders. How happens it the present enlightened age, in a city, the centre eness and of all the social virtues, this scourge of thould have sprung up, and that examples should y multiplied of a crime, which only differs from poisoning, by the impunity it enjoys at present. melancholy ideas had not occurred to me last evening, when I returned from M. de Senanges's, tad passed a most agreeable day, amidst a family appiness seemed perfectly secure, since it was on a reunion of all the virtues. The head of the after having honourably filled, in the Parliament anx, an hereditary office, came to Paris, to enjoy suited to his taste, and a considerable fortune, was so fortunate as to realise in the colonies, è koow a more delightful sight than that of a amily, closely united by the ties of blood, of and of friendship: the wish of enjoying it often to the house of M. de Senanges. I was informed, y last visit, that he was going to marry his eldest the beautiful and modest Amelia, to a young stinguished for his courage, who promises to lize a name already known in our military anbe consent was given: the young people were to each other: the settlements were to be signed ving day, and, as a friend to both families, I was > be present.

return home, I set about planning an epithala

Rochdale-J. Hartley;
Rotheram-Mrs. Wilson;
Runcorn-Miss Rigby;
Sheffield-T. Orton;
Shrewsbury-C. Hulbert;
Southport-W. Garside:

Stockport-T. Claye
Sunderland-Mr.Garbutt;
Ulverston-J. Soulby
Wakefield-R. Hurst:
Warrington-J. Harrison;
Welch pool-R. Owen;
Whitchurch-R. Parker;

South Shields--W. Baines; Wigan-Lyon and Co.;
Stoke-R C. Tomkinson;'
St. Helen's-I. Sharp;
Stockport-J. Dawson;

J. Brown; Wrexham-J. Painter; York-W.Alexander.

VOL. IV.-PRICE 34d.

confidence becomes our duty, and that the man, who once listens to the voice of calumny, lays himself open, for the future, to the attacks of every wretch, whose interest it may be to disturb his peace. I have before had an opportunity of quoting to you those two admirable lines of

'Slander lives upon succession, For ever hous'd where once it gets possession.'

"But when

mium on the subject; but, recollecting that Amelia calls
me the everlasting preacher, I thought I would write
them a little sermon. To give it a proper form, I wished
to read a few pages of Masillon. I opened the book at
hazard, and glanced on this description of calumny,
which I thought still more striking when I read it again | Shakspeare:
the following day :-"The tongue of the calumniator is
like a devouring flame, which withers every thing it
touches; which leaves behind it nothing but ruin and Beware how you try the fatal experiment."
desolation; which penetrates even to the bowels of the my dearest interests are at stake, is not even the excess of
earth, and discovers the most hidden objects; which prudence a duty? And the proofs which are promised?"
changes to ashes what appeared a monent before so valu-A gross artifice, to bring about some delay which
able and brilliant; which, even when it appears ex scandal will seize upon, to spread abroad a report that the
tinguished, acts with the greatest violence, and which match is broken off, and to plan some new snare." By
blackens even where it cannot destroy," &c. This pas- my remarks and arguments, I succeeded in calming the
sage gave a new turn to my ideas, I forgot the epithala- mind of M. de Senanges and the heart of poor Charles.
mium, and fell asleep, while I was considering all the We then went to the ladies, whom I had the less difficulty
evils to which calumny gives birth, without, however, in consoling and convincing, as, after carefully examining
expecting so soon to behold a fresh example of it.
the anonymous letter, I undertook to discover its author in
the course of that day. Charles and Amelia embraced me
at the same moment. I had no time to lose; I made M.
and Mad. de Senanges promise they would make no alter-
ation in their plans; but continue the preparations for
the wedding, as before. I then went out without dinner,
after having had ten minutes' conversation with Charles,'
and took with me the mysterious epistle.

M. de Senanges had invited me to a family dinner, the
following day, to be present at the signing of the contract.
On my arrival, I was surprised at the confusion in the
house; the servants seemed in consternation, and the bells
were ringing in every corner of the house. I saw Du-
bois, the valet de chambre, and questioned him."Ah!
Sir," said the old man, with tears in his eyes, "I do not
know what has happened in the house since yeserday
evening. Mr. Charles, my young mistress's intended, is had given me; but positive proofs were necessary. Two'
I had a suspicion, founded on some information Charles
shut up with my master, in his study; my mistress is in things might give me a clue; the quality of the paper, evi-
the room with Miss Amelia, who has been fainting all the dently of English manufacture, and the impression of the
morning." Without ceremony, I hastened to M. de Se-seal. The paper must have been bought of Despilly; I
nanges's study: he was pacing it in great agitation when hastened there, asked for paper similar to the letter I pro-
I entered: he embraced me in silence, and pointed to an duced; they had no more of it. I persisted; I wanted it so
open letter, which Charles held in his hand, examining much, I would give six francs for a single sheet. "Perhaps,
the direction, his eyes sparkling with rage. I read the Sir, you are acquainted with Mad. de Sennemont," said the
following anonymous epistle:
girl at the counter; "we sold the last two quires to her, a
few days ago." These words were like a flash of lightning:
I begged the girl to give me this information in writing, and
I went to one of our best engravers. The impression of
the seal had neither arms nor cypher, but a device so
whimsical that it would probably be remembered by the
artist; and the excellence of the cutting would clearly de-
note the hand which had executed it. It happened as I
had foreseen: the engraver, casting his eyes on the im-
pression, recognised the hand of one of his profession, whose
name he mentioned, and to whose house I hastened. He
told me he had engraved that seal, about six months be-
fore, for a lady upon whose visiting cards he was now at
work. He showed me the pattern, and I beheld-Madame
de Sennemont. My suspicions were now confirmed; I
made the engraver give me a certificate in proper form,
and, furnished with it, I returned to M. de Senanges.

"Sir,-The sincere friendship I feel for you forces me to give you a piece of information that concerns both the honour and the happiness of your family. M. Charles d'Hennecourt, on whom you are going to bestow the hand of your daughter, is engaged to a lady in Germany, by a promise of marriage, which is on the point of being brought before a court of justice. I will undertake to furnish you, in the course of a fortnight, with such written evidence as M. d'Henuccourt himself will not venture to contradict."

“It is an infamous falsehold,” cried Charles, his voice trembling with passion. "It certainly is a falsehood," said I, coolly; "who doubts that ?" M. de Senanges," said the youth with emotion, "and perhaps Amelia herself......"-" How, my good friend," said I, taking his hand, "can you give any credit to an anonymous letter? can you permit your tranquillity, your happiness, and that of your family, to depend on a clandestine epistle, dictated by envy or hatred, which only proves the cowardice of him who employs such weapons. Can you hesitate between the word of a man of honour, whom you have thought worthy of an alliance with your family, and the vile accusation of a concealed enemy? Remember, my dear Senanges, that there are cases when the most implicit

racter of Madame de Sennemont, of her conduct since On my way, I recollected all I had heard of the chaher widowhood, of her intriguing disposition, and of her well-known intimacy with young d'Hennecourt; and well stored with both positive and circumstantial evidence, I cheerfully entered the drawing-room, where ▼