couraged the gaieties formerly so essential to the not only as to the beautiful qualities developed by happiness of the Highlander. He kept up the ball these trials in the brother and sister, but in the and supper at harvest-home, the dinner at Christ-purifying and softening influence exerted by the mas, and the feast in the hill at the sheep-shearing; sight of his helplessness and her goodness on all but there was no whisky admitted to the enter- around them. tainments, and they were early over. He discountenanced in every way the expensive funerals, the noisy weddings, the numerous excuses for gatherings, which seldom ended in the good of the younger part of the company. Indeed, the tastes of the people were outgrowing the mirth raised by the punch-bowl; a tone of higher enjoyment was gradually expanding over their feelings, which was assiduously fostered, and wisely directed.

faith and strength to bow her head in gentleness | and say, God will provide. She sustained and cheered her mother.

And God did provide. With simultaneous vibration the hearts of all their circle acknowledged the divine obligation of love and mutual aid between human beings. Food, clothing, medicine, service, were all offered freely to the widow and her daughter.

Caroline grew worse, and was at last in such a state that she could only be moved upon a sheet and by the aid of two persons. In this toilsome service, and every other that she needed for years, her mother never needed to ask assistance. The

neighbors took turns in doing all that was required, and the young girls, as they were growing up, counted it among their regular employments to work for or read to Caroline.

Not without immediate reward was their service of love. The mind of the girl, originally bright and pure, was quickened and wrought up to the finest susceptibility by the nervous exaltation that often ensues upon affection of the spine. The soul, which had taken an upward impulse from its first act of resignation, grew daily more and more into communion with the higher regions of life permanent and pure. Perhaps she was instructed by spirits which, having passed through a similar trial of pain and loneliness, had risen to see the reason why. However that may be, she grew in nobleness of view and purity of sentiment, and, as she received more instruction from books also, than any other person in her circle, had from many visitors abundant information as to the events which were passing around her, and leisure to reflect on them with a disinterested desire for truth, she became so much wiser than her companions as to be, at last, their preceptress and best friend, and her brief, gentle comments and counsels were listened to as oracles from one enfranchised from the films which selfishness and passion cast over the eyes of the multitude.

The twofold blessing conferred by her presence, both in awakening none but good feelings in the hearts of others, and in the instruction she became able to confer was such that, at the end of five years, no member of that society would have been so generally lamented as Caroline if death had

called her away.

De Maistre relates some similar passages as to a sick girl in St. Petersburg, though his mind dwelt more on the spiritual beauty, evinced in her remarks, than on the good she had done to those around her. Indeed, none bless more than those who only stand and wait. Even if their passivity be enforced by fate, it will become a spiritual activity, if accepted in a faith higher above fate than the Greek gods were supposed to sit enthroned above misfortune.

VISIT TO THE CROCODILE CAVES.*

I

ON a fine sunny morning, with a light wind, my boat floated quietly down the Nile, its broad waters reflecting village after village, and grove after grove of date-trees. Long lines of pelicans edged mused on the same, with my constant friend by the sand-banks: they did not move for us. but lament that, in a few short weeks, I must bid my side-my pipe: all was tranquillity. I could adieu to a country which had so much interested me; and with deep regret I contemplated the time when, in sketches and recollections, I must try and conjure up the magic scenes by which I had been so many months surrounded. I had revelled in temples, (pardon the expression,) I had lived in tombs, I had boiled my tea-kettle with mummies' bones, descended into labyrinths of passages— beasts; in short, I had become artist, naturalist, poking up from their long-hidden places birds and and half-Arab. I had ridden a camel, and I had shot at-but never killed-a crocodile. Here my train of musing was at once cut short by the remembrance that I had never been in the crocodile pits-so graphically described to me by my French companions at Thebes. True, they said it was a dangerous undertaking-that few accomplished it; nay, they had a story of some traveller but what of that? If one never attempts a diffi having either lost himself, or some of his people: overcoming one. culty, he can never experience the pleasure of

So with this reflection I filled my pipe, took up my map, just to see whereabouts discovered that by to-morrow morning we should the place might be; and to my no small pleasure arrive at the spot-Manfalout bene-my mind was made up. The rest of the day I teased the Arabs with questions and cross-questions, to see if I could procure any information; and in the Mr. G., an English gentleman, with an abundant evening, when joined by my fellow-travellersCaro-stock of good-nature, and my French friend, Monsieur D., with a violin-it was settled to make a

But the Messenger, who so often seems capricious in his summons, took first the aged mother, and the poor girl found that life had yet the power to bring her grief, unexpected and severe.

And now the neighbors met in council. line could not be left quite alone in the house. Should they take turns and stay with her by night as well as by day?

"Not so," said the blacksmith's wife. "The house will never seem like home to her now, poor thing, and 't would be kind of dreary for her to change about hernusses' so. I'll tell you what all my children but one are married and gone off; we have property enough. I will have a good room fixed for her and she shall live with us. My husband wants her to as much as me."

The council acquiesced in this truly humane arrangement, and Caroline lives there still; and we are assured that none of her numerous friends dread her departure so much as the blacksmith's wife.

"Tant no trouble at all to have her," she says; "and if it was, I should n't care; she is so good and still, and talks so pretty. It's as good to be with her as goin' to meetin'.

party.

About five in the morning we awoke by the Arab sailors ceasing from their rowing. They keel grating on the sand, and the lullaby of the make a rascally noise, but travellers praise it-like Tasso's songs by the gondoliers in Venice. I've heard them both, and when I've not been in a

*This sketch is slightly altered from the Art-Union of March, in which it appears, with illustrations from the pencil of its lamented author-the late William Muller. It is," says the editor of that elegant journal, "a graphic description of a most extraordinary scene; and a striking underwent in his search after knowledge. It was written record of one of the many perils the accomplished writer by Mr. Muller for the Art-Union many months ago; he had previously furnished us with the sketches, which we immediately engraved. We were, however, for some had not been prepared; fortunately, it was found entire, time under the impression that the descriptive matter and ready for the printer, among his papers, and was kindly transmitted to us by his brother."

these, I was informed by a Jew at Cairo, they sometimes find stones of value, that must have been washed from the mountains of Abyssinia, and carried down by the Nile.

very poetical mood, wished both the Arab sailors and Venetian gondoliers at ** I won't say where. Alleck was despatched to the town to inquire for a guide, and procure eggs. We commenced washing-that is to say, myself and my Our party made a halt, our guides threw off English friend; but Monsieur D. forestalled his their clothes, and, with the assistance of the sash morning labors by a tune on that diabolical fiddle. worn round the waist, I descended, followed by a It was found broken one day, and right glad was guide. On arriving, however, at the bottom, 1 I of it-it put an end to the music for a time. In could not discover, at the first instant, where in half an hour, just as the sun began to peep over the name of fortune our direction would be; but the sand-hills of the desert, as if 't was a novelty as the eye became accustomed to the change of to him, our breakfast was announced-boiled rice, light, I observed a small hole, just large enough dates, figs, coffee, eggs, and new bread-and to admit a person to enter by lying flat on his we did justice to it. Shortly after, our guides chest. The place had a disagreeable smell, difmade their appearance, and informed us that the ferent from any mummy-pit I remember; and pits were on the other side of the river, at Amabdi. what did not enhance its general appearance, was This was soon obviated. We cast loose, and got a number of large black insects crawling about. into the stream, and a few minutes took us to the The Arab lit some wax candles, motioned to me, other side, where we found the boat of an English and at once placing himself flat on the ground, exgentleman, who was returning from India, but, by tending his arm with the candle, commenced to an injury to his arm, from a fall from his camel at enter this mysterious abode of silence. I followed, Thebes, had been an invalid-had put himself and then there was room for the rest of my friends under an Arab doctor, been cupped with a cow to come down. Mr. N. declined the attempt, as horn, and martyred with certain little insects his arm was far from well. We proceeded; the which make the acquaintance of strangers with passages being tortuous, and the bats most numergreat pertinacity. He was a gentleman of consid- ous, insomuch that at times we feared they would erable information, and fond of pursuits of a much extinguish the lights. We soon, however, arrived higher nature than ordinary travellers. In geology at a small chamber, when we left off practising and botany he had made considerable advance; and many pleasant evenings I had spent with him in Upper Egypt, generally gaining much valuable information. Our meeting was a pleasure; and, on his hearing our intention of visiting the crocodile pits, he requested permission to join our party of course we were most happy.

our lizard-like exercise, and began to look at one another, and to rest for a second; but en avant. We now changed our previous order: my stout friend G. went before the passage became narrower, insomuch that more than one or two bats that were hanging to the roof came to an untimely end by being squeezed to death by the backs of The guides informed us it was necessary to take the foremost of our party; and poor G., who was arms, as in the desert there were some very bad much the stoutest of our 'set,' in one place stuck men; and soon the inhabitants of Amabdi saw us fast and firm. My laugh was unavoidable; but it loading guns, flourishing sabres, &c. But now sounded strange to the ear, as it echoed through came the most difficult part-as to the reward of our the long passage. By dint of much exertion he sworthy servitors. After much banter, noise, and got free; and once more we came to a chamber gesture, we agreed to give them thirty piastres; of rather large dimensions, the roof ornamented so, forming a line of march, our party advanced, with hieroglyphics. Several small holes surconsisting of about fifteen persons, guides, boat-rounded it: our guides fixed on one, and we again men, ourselves, &c. Our way lay along the continued our route. The heat was tremendous; plain, through beautiful clover-fields, the fragrance of which was most grateful; its luxuriant growth astonishing. Half an hour brought us to the margin of the desert; and it is curious to see what a positive line vegetation makes with the sand: just as far as the waters rise during the inundation, you have rich fertility; but past that, eternal sand.

and it was with no small pleasure we found ourselves in a vast cavern, the roof of which I could not well see with our small means of lighting it. We sat down on some large blocks of stone, and began to take breath, for our exertions had been great. The guides, who looked like two fiends from the infernal regions, began to undo a piece of wood, (made from the fibre of the date;) this they tied to a large stone, then commenced searching about for the entrance to the next passage. All this caused a suspicion on my mind, and I determined to mark the passages as we entered and as we left them. I think, in the sequel, I, as well as my companions, had much reason to be thankful for this precaution.

Our path lay by a ruined convent, long deserted; and then we began to ascend the hills, which are here of considerable height-some thousand feet. We found abundance of shells in the rocks: the echinus was common. We kept on loading our guides, and should have had a very pretty museum, if the cunning rascals had not kept throwing away in nearly the same proportion as we gave We went once more creeping, the last Arab them. Having crossed the hills, we came once taking in his hand the cord, and came to chamber more into the sandy plain, bounded by hills in the No. 4. Here large blocks of stone formed the distance the peculiar character of most deserts. ground, until a chasm, the depth of which I know Our guides now pointed to a small spot in the not, presented itself. We summoned our courage wide expanse; this was the mouth of the pit, and and our strength to jump it, and all gained the the object of our search. On arriving at it, I found other side: it was a place, to use the words of a a perpendicular hole, or shaft, of perhaps fifteen favorite author of mine, (Forsyth,) that curiosity or eighteen feet, partly covered by a large block might stand appalled to gaze within.' We entered of stone, and the entrance surrounded by numbers another passage, which led us to the largest chamof fragments of crocodiles, as also a great number ber we had yet been in. Here it was discovered of small pebbles, which that animal at times swal- that the cord had broken-the thread to our labylows-I believe to assist digestion. Amongst rinth gone! The two guides began now looking

We had gone on nearly round the chamber, when all seemed hopeless. There remained but one or two holes more. A shout of joy broke from us both: there was the paper! But was it possible we had entered by that little hole? It must be so. It was truly so small, that we had overlooked it in our former search, and not regarded it as we crawled into the cavern. Huzza! Poke up those black devils, and come along, my boy! In our joy, the Arabs were more frightened than before: they must have thought it was our song previous to a cannibal feast. But how the rascals showed their teeth when they saw us light the candles, and begin the crawling exercise! With our passage out I will not inflict the reader: he must be as tired as we were, especially as he has to descend again. We gained the fresh air, all perspiration and sand: we congratulated one another, had a good draught of water, lit our pipes, and instructed our servant, in particular set terms, to abuse the pretended guides. They looked rather queer when they found we did not intend paying them. But we had not seen the crocodiles.

about for the next passage, but in vain: amongst | my situation; and if the worst came to the worst, the many they could not determine. They entered our entertainment promised nothing better than some, and then came out again: we heard them eating our lean, dry, brown Arabs up-and that shouting to one another, as the voices of some was not exactly the thing one would like. These demons, but all to no purpose. We sat with pa- reflections came into my head as I was poking it tience; we had been under ground an hour, or very into one hole after the other and how I regretted nearly so; our candles began to burn short; our the wax that kept on falling drop after drop; patience, much like our candles, could not continue how we may want it in this infernal petrified reforever. The guides began crying, beating them-gion! selves, and performing a very pretty farce; but it would not get us on, and we made them signs to return; but in this we were as unfortunate. Passages on all sides of the chamber, they knew not which to take; and now came the full horrors of our situation before us. We might have strayed so far from the right path, that in case of our friend and servants seeking us-and they had no guide-they might not find us. Where and to what may not these passages lead? How far may they continue? And to what extent? These were questions which forced themselves upon our minds. Our candles went on burning, and, much like time to the ill-fated man about to be executed, each moment shortens both. Truly our consternation was great-to be buried alive in such a place! -without light, without assistance, without the means of making ourselves heard. We gazed on one another, and the full truth of our situation seemed to occupy our minds past the power of utterance. This, then, might be the termination of all our travels, of all our hopes. In vain had our pretended guides sought the path by which we entered; they sat down, and for a moment all was silence. That black gulf over which we jumped presented fresh horrors; the little narrow winding thread-like passages, all came before the eye, and the picture was despair. No word spoken-silence, deep and profound, alone seemed to occupy this abyss: the moments seemed hours. Still the candles burned: the knowledge of this roused us. We for the first time, in a low voice, began to communicate our ideas one to the other: the voice now sounded like some discordant noise. How different from when we entered!-the laugh, the jest; then all was mirth, now all gloom.

We were regretting this, when on a sudden we saw an old man with a long beard coming across the desert: he was of a most venerable appearance. All shouted out, this is the true guide: this is I forgot his name. He laughed with a sort of inward satisfaction when he heard our story, and told us he expected it. He had heard of our departure, and, with anticipation of its proving unsuccessful, came after us, had brought some candles, &c.: this was civil. I liked the look of the old gentleman. I had faith in him; indeed so we all had, and we disliked being foiled in anyWe knew well that those who were without-thing we attempted. We made certain we should our servants and friend-might never have it in go down again; and so we did; but we took with their power to assist us; the former from supersti- us our interpreter, followed a different route, and tion and fear, (the loss of poor Legh's guides in did not pass the chasm or the large hall. He this place must be fresh on their minds;) and the showed us his marks on the sides of the rock, latter (Mr. N.) could have little power to cause us scratched into the stalagmite, which was of a to be sought. We had tried all in our power to beautiful brown color. Could the exhalations of discover the passage; we talked over all the prob- the bitumen have mixed with it? He gave us parabilities of finding it. In vain I had sought my ticular caution as we began to enter one passage, piece of paper. All was despondency: the ideas to mind and not let the candle fall on the inflamof a lingering death-famine in its worst form-mable substances by which the ground was covhaunted the brain, and filled it with terrible fore-ered-date leaves and old pieces of rag. bodings. The candles were becoming shorter and On proceeding a little farther, judge of our surshorter the truth of this seemed to flash upon my prise: we were literally crawling over the bodies mind more than on my companions, and at once I of once living human beings-nummies! Were determined to act. That determination I believe these the red-haired-sacrificed to the crocodile, as saved us. How absurd to waste that on which some authors assert? The head I brought out our only power of escape existed-the means of with me, and afterwards sent to Bombay, had red light! I immediately proposed the putting out all hair-the learned must decide. There was somebut one, dividing the few matches we had between thing a little novel in this. We continued thirty two of our party, and then commencing a search or forty yards, when the old man stopped, turned for the paper with the utmost attention, as that round and pointed, then touched himself, and then was our only clue. We left our French friend something on the ground. This was the body of sitting alone; not but that he was a man of cour-a man; just behind him another. These were the age and considerable thought. I could not help at the instant expressing a wish that he had his "violin pour passé le temps;" he gave me such a look. But I dislike melancholy as much as I did

remains of Legh's guides: they died from the mephitic vapor, he narrowly escaping. One was better preserved than the other: it was in a bent-up position, dried with all the flesh on, and part of the

blue dress still left. I lifted it. It may have weighed ten or fifteen pounds.

extraordinary proceeding took place in another country with which he was connected by the ties We now entered the chamber of crocodiles, the of friendship and residence, and for the preservaobject of all our pursuit and adventure. There they tion of the strictest ties of friendship between that lay, of all sizes, from five inches to twelve feet, country and this no one on either side of the chanand I dare say more thousands packed on thou-nel was more anxious. He had heard that the sands, and so packed for thousands of years. I government of France had permitted prayers to soon obtained a fine large head, and some half-be offered up by the Archbishop of Paris for the dozen small crocodiles, all bandaged in cloth. conversion of the sovereign and the people of this There was little to observe in this sanctum sancto-country from their heresies to the true Catholic rum, and no knowledge how far it continued: it church. He thought that it was very strange, as evidently had not been much visited. At the end his learned friend M. Guizot was not a Catholic of the passage, which might have been twelve or but a Protestant, that this should have been alfifteen feet high, the bodies formed a solid mass. lowed. Nothing could be more embarrassing than It was from the sides I obtained the specimens. that the religious authorities of one country should interfere with those of another. It was the more objectionable in this case, for the object to be obtained would make our queen forfeit her crown, towards whom the French people entertain feelings of love and loyalty as strong almost as those held by her own subjects, and who were most anxious that she should pay a visit to that country, where no one could be more popular than she was. [Hear, hear.] He was sure that they had no wish of the kind; but if these prayers were fulfilled, that

Our return, however, was rather ludicrous: one of the Arabs stuck the head on a spear, and looked a little like David of old. I chalked, or rather printed, the line of Dante over the entrance

"Lasciati agnè speranza voi che entrate." We gained our boats at a late hour in the evening, enjoyed boiled rice and fruit; and just as we were commencing to light our pipes, the fiddle struck upon my ear, with "Dunois the brave." I wished him at a place in the country he was bound to would be the result; for it was a forfeiture of the Jericho.

crown for any sovereign of this country to be reconciled to the Church of Rome. He therefore said that he never had heard of anything more embarrassing, and it could only have arisen from an oversight, and he was sure that such a proceeding would be prevented for the future. He was not likely to be connected or influenced by any Catholic superstition, but he had great respect for those who professed this religion; yet he could assure his noble friend near him (Lord Camoys) that the prayers of his church in his (Lord Brougham's) behalf would be thrown away.'

One by one the stars shone out, the sky became of a deep purple, then to an indigo, the moon was high in the heavens, the plumed date-trees slept in her silver light, the slender minarets of Manfalout painted into the clear vault of the sky. All was repose. My friend's music had long ceased. All was silence. "How beautiful is night!" At least so I thought. My mind, nevertheless, turned to friends. I had few to trouble my mind about that time; and then to HOME-that was more easily disposed of, for I had no particular spot in the world so called. After these and various other Lord Camoys, if he had lived in the time of subjects, but all in vain, I hit upon the right one-Voltaire and Rousseau, whose libertinism of every sleep. But my kind-hearted musical friend was of description Lord Brougham has labored to excuse, a different opinion. He opened a box, took out a if not to embalm, would have as readily anticilittle miniature, and then I heard a sort of smack-pated success for the prayers of the church in their ing noise. Ay, ay, my fine fellow; my head to behalf. In every material statement, the universal a handful of split peas you won't do that ten years genius must commit some mistake of fact: the hence. I pulled my beurnouse tighter over my Archbishop of Paris did not designate Queen face. What he did next I could not see; but in Victoria, and no permission or agency of governthe middle of the night I awoke with the idea that ment was thought of; at the present juncture, his the boat was on fire: it was only Monsieur writ- pastoral letter was not the most judicious for his ing a long letter by camp-light, to ** no mat- cause. A morbid terror about popery, produced ter whom. Good night, again, M. B.; and once more to sleep, with hopes of an early breakfast.

LORD BROUGHAM.

From Mr. Walsh's letter to the National Intelligencer, dated May 5.]

You are aware that Lord Brougham makes, in parliament, displays, or performs feats, sometimes skilful and creditable, oftener ridiculous or mischievous. His exhibition, on the 30th ultimo, in the high debate on the lord chancellor's religious opinions belief bill, is the subject of pungent French as well as derisive British commentary. It is pretty notorious that his lordship's composition does not include a particle of religious faith or sentiment. Yet how keen his alarm at the free importation of papal bulls into the British dominions, and how solemn his protest concerning the Gallic orisons for the return of the British people to the Roman Catholic fold! Can any text-as we con the speaker-be pleasanter than this:

"He had heard with great concern that a very

by Puseyism, and the further plunges of its professors, revives in England; to aggravate it could not help Catholicism. Lord Aberdeen, quite a precisian in creed and ritual, would have been a little embarrassed, if his usual chosen interlocutor on foreign affairs had-uninvited and untutoredcalled for an official expostulation with his learned friend, Mr. Guizot, the Calvinist. The entent cordiale, however, would have been well turned and felt in the correspondence. The Journal des Debats, usually tender of Lord Brougham, who is a devout worshipper, public and private, of Louis Philippe, noticed his sally in apt and ingenious terms:

"Lord Brougham on this occasion indulged in one of those eccentricities which for some time past have been so habitual to him. He quarrelled with the French government, and especially with M. Guizot, for having permitted the Archbishop of Paris to offer up publicly prayers for the conversion of England to the Catholic church. The illustrious orator said that these prayers tended to nothing short of the forfeiture of the crown of