"&c. &c. &c."
As far as this letter informed me that no superior power had had a share in the above mentioned adventure, it contained nothing that was new to me, for the Irishman himself had not concealed from me, that all the wonderful adventures which had happened to me before Paleski"s confession had been the effect of illusion; however, it was important to me to learn _how_, and by what artifices I had been deceived. I cannot but confess that this natural explanation of the whole affair excited my astonishment at the Irishman, not less than those adventures had surprised me at the time when I believed him to be a supernatural being, and that I ardently wished to have cleared up several other events of that epocha which I could not unriddle.
Soon after my arrival at M****d, I went to pay a visit to the minister.
He received me very kindly, and discoursed above an hour with me, although he was so over charged with state-affairs that no stranger could get access to him. I was not less successful with the Secretary of State, in whose favour I ingratiated myself so much in the course of half an hour, that he professed himself extremely happy in having got acquainted with me. Both of them invited me to visit them frequently during my stay at M****d, an invitation which I took care to make the best use of.
I perceived soon with astonishment and joy, that I was getting nearer the mark much sooner than I had expected first. Though I am of opinion that the visibly growing favour of these two courtiers was partly founded on personal attachment, yet the Irishman had not been mistaken when he told me, that the relation which existed between myself and Vascon*ellos would render the access to their confidence easier.
Sum**ez, the Secretary of State, enjoyed the most intimate confidence of the Minister, and was related to Vascon*ellos. Therefore the friendship of the latter paved for me the road to Sum**ez, and the friendship of Sum**ez to Oliva*ez. The two secretaries of State were the chief administrators of the government; Sum**ez in the council of Sp**n, at Ma***d, and Vascon*ellos in the council of state at L*sbon, and consequently were the vice-tyrants of my native country, who jointly executed the designs of Oliv**ez, who in the name of the King of Sp**n was at the helm of despotism.
That the Irishman had very well calculated these concatenations, will appear by the subsequent plan which he founded upon them. I had wrote to Amelia, and Lady Delier, as soon as I had arrived at M****d, and now received an answer from both of them. Every line of the former breathed heavenly love and kindness; the tender and amiable sentiments of her soul, purified by the trials of misfortunes, were palpably displayed in her letter, as in an unspotted mirror. O! how many a time did I kiss, read, and re-peruse it, till at length, what a sweet delusion of my enraptured imagination! I fancied I saw the amiable writer before me, and heard from her lips the words which were written upon the paper.--
(_To be continued._)
AUTHENTICATED ETYMOLOGIES.
The term _hurricane_, is supposed to take its rise from one _Harry Kane_, a turbulent Irishman who lived at _Antigua_, the name of which is now well known to be derived from an avaricious old female planter who once lived on the island, and was called by the sailors _Aunt Eager_.
A jolly West-Indian, whenever the neighbouring girls came to his plantations, insisted upon their sipping his choicest syrups, and reiterated the terms "_My la.s.ses_;" thence the name of that syrup. Few words have aberrated from their primaries less than this.
_For the +New-York Weekly Magazine+._
MARIA; OR, THE SEDUCTION.
+A Fragment.+
"How curst the monster, who with specious guile, "Employs _Seduction"s_ soul-degrading arts, "To drench in tears the cheek that once could smile, "To blast the joy that innocence imparts!"
**** I saw she was falling, and hastened to her a.s.sistance. I caught her in my arms, and led her into the house. By the application of salts she recovered---"He refused to listen to me!" she exclaimed, when her powers of utterance had returned, "and but for him I still might have been happy." I asked who the person was she spoke of? "Ah!" replied she, "it was the wretch that seduced me from the paths of rect.i.tude."---When she had regained sufficient strength I requested her to relate to me her misfortunes, and she gratified me as follows---
MARIA"S NARRATIVE.
Under the specious pretext of love, Frederick has bereaved me of all the happiness and comfort of life. While I fondly dreamed of future bliss he became a visitor at our house. I knew not then that "twas to see me alone he came, as he had not given me the least hint of it; but my parents imagined he was wooing me to become his bride.
It was some time before he paid any direct addresses to me. He then said that he had long been in love with me, but forbore to mention it sooner as he feared I would discard him; and ended with asking if he might be permitted to hope. I gave him no positive answer, until he enquired whether I had a partiality for any other. I told him I had not. His countenance brightened at this. He took my hand, and with all the fervor of love raised it to his lips. When he departed, he said, that was the happiest moment of his life.
After this his visits were more frequent. One evening I was left entirely alone, the family had gone to the theatre. Mrs. M----, a lady from England, made her first appearance on the New-York stage. A slight indisposition occasioned my not being of the party. Frederick, it seems, knew I was alone, and came in just after they had departed.
The next week had been appointed for our nuptials. He entered rather dejected. I enquired the reason of his melancholy. He said he was fearful I did not love him sincerely. I asked if I had ever given him reason for such a suspicion; and said that all beside him were indifferent to me. Here his countenance again a.s.sumed its wonted brightness. "Do you then indeed behold me with pleasure?" said he.
"I know that on you alone depends my felicity---should you be cruel, Frederick would cease to exist." He took my hand, and imprinted on it a profusion of kisses. To me he appeared sincere, and I viewed him as singled out by fate for my companion thro" life.
"Ah! my Maria!" continued he, still holding my hand clasped in his, "did you but know the happiness your words have given me---It is indescribable.---Still manifest for me your love, and every hour of my life will study to deserve it. Should I ever prove myself unworthy your tender regard, I should abhor myself." He continued protestations of his love---the minutes were swift--and ere the evening had elapsed he triumphed over my innocence and credulity---in fine, he left me miserable.
When my parents returned I beheld myself degraded below them, and unfit for their company. I sat in a musing posture. They attributed my want of spirits to the head-ach, which had occasioned my staying at home, and endeavoured to enliven me by giving an account of the entertainments, and the excellent performance of Mrs. M----. I paid no attention to what they said. To bed I went, but not to close my eyes: Sleep had fled me.
In the morning I had a slight fever, and was at times delirious. In a few days I recovered sufficiently to learn that Frederick had set out for France the day after he rendered me so completely miserable. This occasioned a relapse, and I had approached the verge of the grave. My friends were weeping over me, expecting every moment to be my last.
I wished not for life; I sought for death as the only means to conceal my shame. But it pleased Heaven to raise me, contrary to all expectation. In two weeks from the time I began to mend, I had strength sufficient to leave my room, I then found it too true that my deceiver had left home, and did not expect to return in two years.
I dreaded staying any longer where I expected the resentment of my father, when he should become acquainted with my disgrace. I left the house under cover of the night, unperceived. I took with me a small bundle of clothes, and some trifle in cash, which were my own. By working I hoped to subsist until Frederick"s return; for I still thought his voyage was of necessity, and unexpected. The money was soon gone, and almost every article I could possibly spare. I expected to starve.
In this dilemma, I chanced to hear of a place where a young woman was wanted for the upper servant in the kitchen. I applied, and obtained it.
The wages were liberal, and I had not the more laborious part; I endeavoured to give satisfaction to my employer, I lived in this manner until I was taken ill, when I gave birth to this child--I called him after his father.
My recovery was slow; and when I could walk I was unable to work as before; consequently I was forced to give up my place. Since then I have wholly subsisted on the charity of others.
This morning, by accident, I beheld the cause of my woes. I determined to speak with him although he was in company. When I first accosted him, he disregarded me. I told him I was in a poor state of health, and requested only a small boon. "Is that your child?" he asked. "Yes,"
I replied, "and his name is Frederick." He looked me in the face, for I perceived until then he did not know me--"I have nothing for you!" he exclaimed in an angry tone, and pa.s.sed on with his companions. My head felt light, and I certainly should have dropped on the pavement, had not heaven sent you to my relief----
L. B.
_October 17, 1796._
Interesting History Of _THE BARON DE LOVZINSKI._
With a relation of the most remarkable occurrences in the life of the celebrated COUNT PULASKI, well known as the champion of American Liberty, and who bravely fell in its defence before Savannah, 1779.
_Interspersed with Anecdotes of the late unfortunate KING of POLAND, so recently dethroned._
(Continued from page 123.)
"Gentlemen," said he, to the astonished Baccha.n.a.ls, "my brother"s head is not very strong to-day: it is perhaps in consequence of his wound; let us not therefore either speak to or drink any more with him; for I am afraid of his health, and indeed you would oblige me exceedingly if you would a.s.sist me to carry him to his bed."--"To his own bed?" says one of them: "that is impossible! But I will most willingly lend him my chamber." They accordingly laid hold of me, and conveyed me into a garret, of which a bed, a table, and a chair, formed the sole movables.
Having shut me up in this paltry apartment, they instantly left me. This was all that I wanted, for the moment that I was alone, I immediately sat down to write a long letter to Lodoiska.
I began by fully justifying myself from the crimes of which I had been accused by Pulaski: I then recounted every thing that had occurred since the first moment of our separation, until that when I had entered the castle of Dourlinski: I detailed the particulars of my conversation with the Baron: I concluded by a.s.suring her of the most tender and the most respectful pa.s.sion, and swore to her, that the moment she gave me the necessary information concerning her situation, I would expose myself to every danger, in order to finish her horrid captivity.
As soon as my letter was sealed, I delivered myself up to a variety of reflections, which threw me into a strange perplexity. Was it actually Lodoiska who had thrown those tiles into the garden? Would Pulaski have had the injustice to punish his daughter for an attachment which he himself had approved? Would he have had the inhumanity to plunge her into a frightful prison? And even if the hatred he had sworn to me had blinded him so much, how was it possible that Dourlinski would thus have condescended to have become the minister of his vengeance?
But, on the other hand, for these three last long months, on purpose to disguise myself, I had only worn tattered clothes: the fatigues of a tedious journey, and my chagrin, had altered me greatly; and who but a mistress could have been able to discover Lovzinski in the gardens of Dourlinski? Besides, had I not seen the name of Lodoiska traced upon the tile? Had not Dourlinski himself acknowledged that Lodoiska had been a prisoner with him? It is true, he had added that she had made her escape; but was not this incredible? And wherefore that hatred which Dourlinski had vowed against me, without knowing my person? What occasioned that look of inquietude, when it was told him, that the emissaries of Pulaski occupied a chamber that looked into his garden?
And why above all that appearance of terror, when I announced to him the arrival of my pretended master?
All these circ.u.mstances were well calculated to throw me into the greatest agitation. I ruminated over this frightful and mysterious adventure, which it was impossible for me to explain. For two hours, I unceasingly put new questions to myself, to which I was exceedingly embarra.s.sed to make any reply; when at length Boleslas came to see if I had recovered from my debauch. I had but little difficulty in convincing him that my inebriety was mere affectation; after which we went down together to the kitchen, where we spent the rest of the day. What a night! none in my whole life ever appeared so long, not even that which followed.
At length the attendants conducted us to our chamber, where they shut us up, as on the former occasion, without any light: it was yet two tedious hours until midnight. At the first stroke of the clock, we gently opened the shutters and the cas.e.m.e.nt. I then prepared to jump into the garden; but my embarra.s.sment was equal to my despair, when I found myself obstructed by means of iron bars. "Behold," said I to Boleslas, "what the cursed confident of Dourlinski whispered in his ear! behold what his odious master approved, when he said, _let it be done instantly!_ behold what they have been working at during the day! it was on this account that they prevented us from entering the chamber."
"My lord, they have stood on the outside," replies Boleslas; "for they have not perceived that the shutter has been forced."
"Alas! whether they have perceived it or not," exclaim I with violence, "what does it signify? This fatal grating destroys all my hopes: it insures the slavery of Lodoiska--it insures my death."
"Yes, without doubt, it insures thy death!" repeats a person, at the same time opening the door; and immediately after, Dourlinski, preceded by several armed men, and followed by others carrying flambeaux, enter our prison _sabre in hand_. "Traitor!" exclaims he, while addressing himself to me with a look in which fury was visibly depicted, "I have heard all--I know who you are,--your servant has discovered your name.