in vain to rally them to the com> bat. He pictured the perishable charms of beauty in the most contemptible light that ingenuity could devise, but all to no purpose. Eliza still appeared as an exception, and threw a charm over the foibles of her sex, that rendered them less insupportable. Finding he attempted in vain to divest himself of a partiality which seemed fraught with future evils, he started from his mossy seat, and with hasty steps was leaving the grove, when he beheld the object of his contemplation at a small distance, among the trees, and pensively walking towards him, with her eyes fixed on the ground. He gazed on her for a moment with doubtful admiration, irresolute whether to advance or retreat. At length love seemed to conquer, and undecided, he found himself mechanically moving towards her. She had now stopped, and was leaning against a tree for support, in an attitude that rendered loveliness more lovely! The melancholy posture in which she stood, the silence of the secne around, and the placid sweetness which was imprinted on her features, conspired to heighten his admiration, and he had just resolved to address her, when he perceived himself observed. The situation admitted of no alternative, but abruptly returning or passing near cach other. A moment's hesitation determined the choice of Eliza, und strẻ again cane for ward. As they approached each other, she viewed him with a look full of tenderness and pity, which, while icherished his hope, checked his presumption, and he involuntarily passed her cursing his own irresolution. Having proceeded a few paces, he ventured to turn and take another look, the same motives appeared to have actuated Eliza, and their eyes a gain met. It was but for a moment, the next saw them continue their walk, equally absorbed in reflection. and can such sweetness of expression, such chastity of demeanor, be the associate of wantonness? why am I not fully convinced?why did I not address her in the language of adulation? the world gives her credit for flexibility, and the result would prove a speedy cure for my passion. He now took a circuitous turn in the wood, resolved to embrace the first opportunity of assuming the fiatterer, and informing himself of her depravity. Anticipating the success of his last resolve, he was a second time quitting the grove, when, abruptly turning a corner, he again met the object of his thoughts, hesitating how to cross a gap of carth for want of assistance. A faint blush suffused her cheek as she encountered his eye, and she was hastily retreating, when Steinfort politely stepped forward and tendered her his hand.. Politeness would not suffer her to refuse him, and she accepted it. He had no sooner handed her over than he again staggered in his purpose; her beauty appeared more transcendently victorious, and he desisted for fear of giving offence. Her hand which he still retained in his, she now endeavoured to withdraw, and he found he must quickly resolve or lose the opportunity. He repeatedly essayed to sreak, but as repeatedly failed, till she somewhat relieved him by making a polite acknowledgment of his services, and informing him that her road lay to the left hand. gone with a countenance more in sorrow than in anger." The justness of her reproof had rivetted him to the spot, and he could only follow her with his eyes. A heavy shower of rain recalled the astonished Steinfort from the reverie into which this adventure had plunged him, and revolving in his mind a series of pleasant ideas he bent his way homewards, little dreaming that his own conduct would serve but to rivet prejudices fatal to his character and happiness. Eliza, on her arrival at home, retired to her apartment with an eye dimmed with despair, and a heart that reluctantly ceased to hope. She communicated her encounter with Steinfort to her confidential maid, who failed not to exaggerate her part and repeat it to others. At length it reached the cars of Mr. Dalton, the father of Elizag a'man tenacious of honour, fixed and irrevocable in his decisions. The action as it appeared to him, he thought sufficient to justify a challenge, and he called Mr. Steinfort to the field.Eliza soon heard of her father s conduct and flew to prevent the His resolution now revived, and with a reluctance he could ill conceal, he replied, "Madam, the brilliancy of your charms, and the acknowledged superiority you bear over the females in this part of the world, would make it presumption In me to offer my services any farther, yet the sun condescends to shine on all; and would that beauty, which is equally divine, were equally impartial?" He now paused, expecting, doubtless, to trace in her look the approba tion of the lady, but encountered the insulted dignity of the woman. The chagrin with which she had listened to this rhapsody of liber-mischief that might ensue. tinism, was cvidently depicted in her countenance, and, snatching her hand indignantly from his grasp, she replied, "Sir, this is "Sir, this is perfectly consistent with your character, which however fashionable in the world, is a character which I must ever despise." He endeayoured to explain, but she was She stated the action in its true light, entreated, remonstrated on the absurdity of such extremes, but all in vain. He deemed her representation as a partial colouring to prevent him hazarding his life-flew from her presence, and calling for a friend, repaired to the scene appointed for the work of blood. 6 Steinfort was dreaming of future felicity, and planning various schemes of happiness, when he received this note of demand on honour. Thunderstruck, and unknowing what to resolve upon, he applied to an old friend for advice; but his friend would do no more than advise him to decide for himself, as he would then be more easily reconciled to the result of his determination. In this wavering state of mind he departed alone for the scene of action, unprovided with those implements of murder he had been requested to procure. Mr. Dalton had been waiting ten minutes when he arrived, and demanded, in a peremptory tone, where his second was, and desired him to produce his weapons? "I require no second," replied Steinfort, " and for weapons, I make use of none but what nature has furnished me with. "But first, sir," continued he, "I shall require of you an accurate statement of the cause of our quarrel." "Tis sufficient for me," replied Mr. Dalton, "that you have attempted to seduce and dishonor my daughter, this is cause enough for a father. Take your choice of these," continued he, presenting pistols. "No, sir," || from authority I am not accustomed to dispute; give me instant satisfaction, or submit to be branded with everlasting disgrace."-"Brand me with what title will please you," replied Steinfort; epithets commonly have little meaning, and often no meaning at all; those who deem it a deviation from honor to decline committing one crime by way of extenuating another, may throw what light they please on my actions, I neither court their applause nor evade their censure; you have been deceived, sir, in respect to the cause, and it is therefore fit you should be deceived in respect to the effect of our meeting." Having said this he abruptly departed, leaving Mr. Dalton, and his valiant attendant in complete possession of the field. Mortified at such rude and unexpected treatment they sullenly withdrew to satisfy that honor, in idle declamation, which had been disappointed in being satisfied with blood. Eliza, who had waited with the most painful and trembling auxiety for the result of this conflict, heard of its termination with that exquisite pleasure which none but minds replete with every virtuous added Steinfort, "I have attempt-principle can feel. She could not ed to seduce and dishonour no man's daughter, and if I had, it would aggravate rather than ex tenuate my crime, to comply with your request." "Peace, moraliz but admire that self-commanded spirit, which could calmly reason with the stern and inflexible anger of her father. This trait in Steinfort's character, in some measure ing coward!" exclaimed the fa- dissipated her despair: a thousand ther, "I have my information pleasing phantoms danced before her imagination. "A beam of comfort, like the moon through clouds," revived the prospect of life, and added energy to hope.Such is the rapidity with which we conceive in what interests the heart. Dazzling, but transient happiness no sooner has fancy given a boundary to the charming prospect, than reason involves it in gloom. Steinfort, at length sickening at the triumph of vice, and disgusted with the sneers of malice, secluded himself from the world in the retired silence of nature. Thus had disappointment and misfortune tinged with misanthropy, a disposition formed by nature for softer enjoyments.. Eliza heard the true character of Steinfort when it was too late to profit by the discovery. Disconsolate and sick at heart, she found no pleasure but in seeking his friends, and making them recount his virtues, while she, with the greedy ear of love their discourse." devoured up She accused herself as the author of his misfortunes, and of having conspired. to hunt him from society. These ideas preyed upon her mind, and her health began visibly to decline. Her father, struck with the evident alteration, and conceiving a change of air might be serviceable prevailed on her to spend a few months with a distant relation, about twenty miles from town.Thither she retired, where the solicitude of her amiable relatives contributed much towards the re establishment of her health. The country round being extremely picturesque and romantic, she had an opportunity of indulging her taste for solitude, in frequent walks. [To be continued] BIOGRAPHY. THE QUEEN OF DENMARK. (Continued.) They united their coward strength against this noble heroine; and she fell at last breathless, and almost fainting, into the arins of one of the officers. As soon as she had somewhat recovered, and it appeared evident she could make no further resistance, she was forced to dress herself in an adjoining chamber; and Ranzau, who was mean and cruel enough to insult her with offensive indecent language, led her to the carriage which waited to carry her to the fortress of Cronenburg. Upon her arrival in the fort, she uttered loud complaints; and, overwhelmed with unspeakable distress, her knees refused their support, she sunk down upon the stairs and was dragged into her bed-chamber. The sight of a bed alarmed her; she stepped back, and cried, "Take me away, take me away rest is not for the mis ! of the rack, confused by artful and ambiguous questions, and perhaps enticed by delusive hopes, he made a confession by which he highly impeached the character of the queen, and at the same time roused the indignation of every honest man against himself. On this charge alone was Struensee convieted; and he, with his friend Brandt, against whom no crime could be proved, were beheaded on the 25th of March, 1772. Meanwhile as an insurrectionly feeling. Terrified by the threat was dreaded in Copenhagen, every military precaution was taken to prevent it. The most infamous and absurd reports were circulated among the populace, in order to throw an odium on the state-prisoners. They were accused of having infused poison into the King's coffee with an intention to destroy or debiltate his understanding, and to declare him incapable of governing; to send the Queen Dowager, as well as her infant son, Prince Frederic, out of the king. dom, and to proclaim the Queen Matilda regent. During these transactions Struensee and Brandt were detained in rigorous imprisonment. The forper was loaded with very heavy ivons about his arms and legs, and he was at the same time fastened to the wall with an iron bar. In a cell not above ten or twelve feet square, with a little bed and a miserable iron stove, he wrote with a pencil an account of his life and contact as minister; a composition which displays no ordinary ability. A tribunal was appointed for the Four commissioners were now appointed to proceed to the principal part of this great cause, upon which it was necessary to decide, in order to insure stability to the success of the revolution.They proceeded to Cronenberg to examine the Queen Matilda; and Baron Schak-Rathlau was appointed to take the lead in this impor tant examination. A long and tedious series of days spent in the most gloomy solitude, the most exquisite distress, and tormenting suspense, had not yet broken the spirit of this noble princess. She 1eceived the commissioners with |