and had no intention of injuring man. In this society he lingered, until duty called him home, to look after his pecuniary affairs. His mother had died suddenly, and he came into possession on this event of a large estate, left him by his maternal grandfather. He was an only son, and at his mother's death an only child. After settling his affairs, he entered his name with a distinguished counsellor at law, and commenced reading the prescribed course for a practitioner. He continued his studies, and at the end of three years was admitted to the bar. Great expectations were cherished by his friends, in regard to his professional success, particularly as an advocate. He argued several causes with great eloquence and power, but it was soon seen that he wanted in industry. He had in fact no partiality for his profession. He abhorred its drudgery, and thought that it made him too much acquainted with crime. As he was passing away his days without effect, and in a state of indifference, a disturbance amounting to something like a war broke out between this country and France, and Congress authorized the raising of troops, to constitute an army of defence. The pride of the country, General Hamilton, was the First Major General, and Washington was appointed Lieutenant General, and was to take the command when the occasion called him to the field. All the first young men of the country panted for office; and among them Hampton applied for an appointment, and received at once a majority, to the great grief of his best friends, but to the delight of the army. He repaired to Oxford, assumed command, and was at once the pride and delight of all. He had made himself master of his duties, and took rank as a parade officer higher than any one in camp. He appeared to his less instructed brother officers as a veteran in knowledge, and was called the Steuben of the army. The army was not then a goo

school for morals for young men: the officers were many of them wealthy, and lived extravagantly. Major Hampton was so popular, that every one was desirous of enjoying his society, and he lived in a constant round of dissipation, at his own, or at the table of others. The army was soon

disbanded, and he returned to social life, with no greater love for his legal profession than he had felt when he left it, and he could not be prevailed on to return to his duties. In the town where he lived, it was not respectable to live without attention to some business, and he was advised to find a partner, and engage in commercial pursuits. He soon took as a partner a well-bred young merchant, and commenced business. For a while, the major seemed pleased with his occupation. He kept his books with great care; but the novelty soon wore off, and he grew tired of the confinement; and as often as he could took his journies of pleasure with a few gay friends, and left his partner to do in-door as well as out-door business; and when he returned, it was with a diminished relish for labor. Perhaps from some

compunction of conscience he would engage with new zeal, but this did not last long. The nations of Europe were then at war, and the United States had the carrying trade, and fortunes were rapidly made. Hampton's partner proposed a dissolution, which was soon effected, although both parties were advised to the contrary. On settlement, they divided large profits, and the major found that he was a rich man. He at once made judicious purchases of real estate, and put the balance of his funds into the stocks. He had enough, for he was not then avaricious. To every literary institu tion, he was among the most liberal benefactors. To the poor, he was always generous, and made it a part of his duty to see to their wants in person. At his place of busi. ness, you would find decayed gentlemen who were his pen

sioners; and to them, if he was sometimes haughty to his equals, he "was as sweet as summer. In the deep snows of winter, he visited every humble abode of poverty in his neighborhood with ample supplies of fuel, provisions, and medicines, when it was wanted. This became so constant a habit with him, that a severe storm was supposed to bring him the most happy moments. He was as liberal to charitable institutions as to literary and scientific. If the ladies had any project on foot, he was high on the list of their subscribers: they made their calculations on him.

If at times a few good women sighed on hearing that his dinner-parties did not break up till midnight, they instantly alluded to some liberal and munificent act of his, and strove to cover the story by one of charity. Such was his eloquence, that he was frequently called upon to deliver addresses on public occasions; as such was the purity of his semiments and the charms of his language, that every slight blast on his reputation among these primitive and fastidious people with whom he lived was washed away at once. such times, all eyes turned upon the orator as he left the Hall, and every tongue was ready to bless him: even the antiquated virgin, who had often talked sharply about his gaiety, his love of wine, and his syren delusions, seemed at this moment subdued, and was ready to say, he is a fascinating creature! he is charming enough to deceive an angel!

At

At this time, some of his friends who loved and honored him, ventured to suggest to him that it was now proper for him to settle in life, and become a domestic man. To this he listened with more attention than they thought he would. He had become quite pleased with a young lady of his native She was a being out of the ordinary course. Her person resembled the best model of female statuary: sym.

town.

metry and grace were her's, without looking with the eye of a lover. Her form was animated by no stolen fire from heaven; but a lambent and celestial flame seemed to light it up as though it came all mildly from the stars, on whose beams come blessings to mortals. Her movements were in harmony with this thought, and she walked as the figure of St. Cecelia, when she converted the heathen priest at the altar, with her air and motion, as she approached the Christian shrine. Her voice was finely touched with the tones of a bewitching melancholy, without any accent of anxiety or distress in them. Her taste and temperament would have led her, if she had lived in a classic age and country, to have enrolled herself among the vestals. Miss Miranda Falmouth had been educated by an aunt-her mother dying when she was an infant. This aunt was a woman of sense, and well acquainted with the world. She was attentive to the child of her charge, and spared no pains in her education. This young lady was in the circle in which Hampton moved: she had heard of his eloquence, his taste, and benevolence; but it was also accompanied with some hints of his gaiety. The major was advised to secure her if he could all believing that such a woman would make him an exemplary man; and intimated that she should be approached by cautious steps. He made up his mind to make the attempt and, as preliminaries, gave up his dinner-parties, and refrained from the use of all ardent spirits. In a small city, this change of habits was soon made known to his friends-but only a very few knew any thing of his intentions. There was a small society formed by the young ladies of the place, for the purpose of improving their minds. by reading aloud, in turns, some work of celebrity; for this intent, they held meetings at each other's houses. Hampton had a magnificent library, and was in the habit of receiving

This

all the new and rare works from England. He now-andthen sent some of the choicest of his importations to this little coterie for their amusement and instruction. Miranda belonged to this club, and sometimes could not help expressing her admiration of the major's taste. One of Hampton's friends a scholar, who in a measure directed the reading of the young ladies, most of them being his friends or relations-was, at times, invited to read some passages which he was pleased with in the books he brought them. might have been done to prepare the way for the major— and soon an opportunity offered. Scott's Lady of the Lake had just been received on this side of the Atlantic, and had been read only by a few in advance of the public taste. was so managed, that the book and its owner was found in the little circle towards the close of one of their evening sittings. He had marked the striking passages of the work, and read them with great effect. He was requested to meet them again—and did, until the work was finished. It was then loaned to the young ladies, to be read to their friends. It had not as yet been published in this country.

It

This book was followed by others—and the major was frequently, with some of his younger friends, found reading to the young ladies. In the autumn, they were in the habit, after the manner of their ancestors, of taking pleasant excursions to some neighboring sea-shore, to walk on the beach, and enjoy the breeze, as it came with health and freshness from the wave. When fatigued, they retired to a neighboring public-house, and partook of a supper, and early in the evening retired to their respective habitations. These little pleasure-parties were conducted by managers selected for the purpose, in order that there should be no partiality shown. Those who were to occupy the same carriage, knew nothing about it until they received the directions from the managers.