name.' The doctor assured him of a cordial welcome, and the General was found seated with the communicants the next Sabbath." It is one of the happy features in the history of our country, that we can thus refer to the great name of Washington as an undoubted believer in the truth of Christianity. Never can his example be pleaded by the profane man-for no man ever more decidedly bore the whole weight of his authority and example against profaneness than he did. Never can his example be pleaded by those who neglect the sanctuary, and profane the Christian Sabbath-for in his diary, which was kept for many years with much particularity, "a Sunday rarely occurs in which it is not recorded that he went to church;" and it is known that "visiting and visisters were prohibited on that day." Never can his name and authority be plead for scepticism or infidelity; for during his long life not a sentiment is known to have escaped his lips implying a doubt of the truth of Christianity; and from the two hundred volumes of letters and other papers which he left in manuscript, not an intimation occurs which can be tortured into doubt in regard to the truth and necessity of religion. Other men became corrupt; and the confidence of others were shaken in the truth of Christianity, particularly by the influence of the writings of French infidels, but the mind of Washington on this subject was unshaken and unsuspected. To all future times his name is to be transmitted as a believer in the truth of Christianity; and the authority of that great name is, under God, to be one of the means, it is to be hoped, of perpetuating and extending the influence of true religion over all the hills and vales of our great republic. Every where that great man recognised the God who made him. Alike in the camp and in the cabinet, his sentiments were known, and when he died, not an expression was found in all his confidential correspondence, or his private diary, that a Christian would not be willing to have spread before all the world, or that can be made to contribute to the purposes of infidelity and sin. TV Oils and as me is owing what were the sentiments of that great man on the most vital of all subjects; and especially to understand what were his hal its in the times which tried his soul as well as the souls of his compatriots in arms, and his countrymen every where. Did he trust to the valor of his own arm in the day of battle? Did he rely on his own prudence and military skill when perils gathered thick around him, and when the sky was overcast? Did he trust to the wisdom of Congress alone, and feel that in their counsels all the interests of the nation were safe? Was he a man who was a patron of infidelity and profar eness, a neglecter of prayer, and a contemner of the ordinances of the Christian religion? Happily we are as little left to conjecture on these points as we are in regard to his valor, his patriotism, and his political sentiments. On the great subject of his religious opinions little or nothing remains to be desired. They were settled and fixed; and though he was unobtrusive, yet he suffered no occasion to pass without recognising the Supreme Being when it would be proper to do it, or without expressing his belief in the truth and necessity of Christianity. It is knowu that in his first military campaigns he was careful to have religious service regularly performed in camp. During the French war, when the government of Virginia had neglected to provide chaplains for the army, he remonstrated against such an impropriety, and urged his request till they were appointed. His strict prohibition of profaneness in the army is well known. The following is an extract from his orders when he was a colonel. "Colonel Washington has observed that the men of his regiment are very profane and reprobate. He takes this opportnity to inform them of his great displeasure at such practices, and assures them that if they do not leave them off they shall be severely punished. The officers are desired, if they hear any man swear, or make use of an oath or execration, to order the offender twenty-five lashes immediately, without a court-martial. For the second offence he shall be more severely punished." "To say that he was not a Christian," says Mr. Sparks, "or at least that he did not believe himself a Christian, would be to impeach his sincerity and honesty. Of all men in the world, Washington was certainly the last whom any one would charge with dissimulation or indirectness; and if he was so scrupulous in avoiding even the shadow of these faults in every known act of his life, however unimportant, is it likely, is it credible, that in a matter of the highest importance he should practise, through a long series of years, a deliberate deception upon his friends and the public? It is neither credible nor possible." After a long and minute examination of the writings of Washington, public and private," adds Mr. Sparks, "in print and in manuscript, I can affirm that I have never seen a single hint or expression In relation to these obvious inquiries we have an exceedfrom which it could be inferred that he had any doubt of the ingly interesting instance in the fact which is represented in Christian revelation, or that he thought with indifference or a painting by Kyle, which shows him as engaged in secret deunconcern on that subject. On the contrary, whenever he ap-votion in a retired grove, where he is accidentally seen by a proaches it, or indeed, whenever he alludes in any manner to person standing in the distance. The fact on which this is religion, it is done with seriousness and reverence." founded, and the authority on which it rests, is the following. It occurs in a letter from a Baptist minister to the editor of the Christian Watchman, dated Baltimore, January 13, 1832. "You will recollect that a most interesting incident in relation to the life of the great American commander-in-chief has been related as follows;-That while stationed here (at Valley Forge) with the army, he was frequently observed to visit a secluded grove. This excited the curiosity of a Mr. Potts, of the denomination of Friends, who watched his movements at one of those seasons of retirement, till he perceived he was on his knees and engaged in prayer. Mr. Potts then returned, and said to his family, Our cause is lost,' (he was with the tories); assigning his reasons for this opinion. There is a man by the name of Devault Beaver now living on this spot, and is eighty years of age, who says he has had the statement from Mr. Potts and his family." It has been said also, that Gen. Knox was also an accidental witness of the same, and was fully apprised that prayer was the object of the commander's visits to the grove. But it is not merely in regard to his sentiments that we desire to become acquainted with Washington. There is much in the private feelings and habits of such a man that we would be glad to know. We would like to understand what were his emotions when the storm of war lowered; when calamities pressed thick upon him and his army; when he felt that on each movement of his might depend the iberty and the wel fare of millions of men. We would like to be admitted to his tent when preparing for battle; to observe him when he rises in the morning, and when he retires at night. We would like to be told whether at such times that great man relied on his own wisdom, or whether he sought illumination from the Father of Lights, and strength from the God of Hosts. It is well known that he was educated in the Episcopal church, to which he adhered through his life; and he undoubtedly believed in the doctrines of Christianity as taught in that church, but without a particle of intolerance, or disrespect for the faith and modes of worship adopted by Christians of other denominations. An affecting and deeply-interesting instance of his liberality towards other denominations, and of his desire to honor the religion of the Redeemer, occurred when the army was encamped during the winter at Morristown, New Jersey. The anecdote is found in Dr. Hosack's Life of De Witt Clinton, and is a fact which does not admit, it is believed, of dispute. I was settled as a pastor in that place for more than five years; and I can add my testimony to the authority on which the anecdote is based in the Life of Clinton, that it is a matter of undisputed tradition there, that Washington partook of the Lord's Supper in connexion with the Presbyterian church, at the hand of its pastor, the Rev. Dr. Johnes. "In the morning of the week previous to the communion," says the Rev. Dr. Cox, in the Life of Clinton, "the General, after his accustomed inspection of the camp, visited the house of the Rev. Dr. Jones, [Johnes,] the pastor of the church, and after the usual preliminaries, thus accosted him: Doctor, I understand that the Lord's Supper is to be celebrated with you next Sunday; I would learn if it accords with the canon of Never did circumstances exist which made secret prayer to your church to admit communicants of another denomination?' the God of armies and of nations more proper; and if WashThe doctor rejoined: Most certainly; ours is not the Pres-ington ever prayed, the period when he was encamped with byterian table, General, but the Lord's table; and we hence his army at Valley Forge was one when we should suppose give the Lord's invitation to all his followers, of whatever that he would pour out his heart in fervent prayer to God. In a case like this, the authority for the anecdote appears to be ample. It was so in accordance with his expressed belief in the truth of religion, and of all his public sentiments on the subject, that we can have no difficulty in admitting the force of the evidence in the case. The time when this occurred was in the winter of the year 1777, 78. The battle of the Brandywine had been fought on the 11th of the September previous, in which the American army had been defeated by Cornwallis with a loss of probably three hundred men killed, six hundred wonnded, and four hundred taken prisoners. After retreating to Philadelphia, and being compelled to leave this city, Washington with his army had crossed the Schuylkill with an intention of offering battle to the victorious enemy. A heavy rain, when a battle had been commenced, rendered both armies unfit to pursue the contest; and Washington retired to the Yellow Springs, and then to the neighborhood of Germantown, where a large part of the British army was stationed. Here, he determined again to offer them battle; and by a most judiciously-planned movement he commenced an attack on them early in the morning of October 4th. Of this battle Washington says in a letter to his brother, "If it had not been for a thick fog, which rendered it so dark at times that we could not distinguish friend from foe at the distance of thirty yards, we should, I believe, have made a decisive and glorious day of it. But Providence designed it otherwise; for after we had driven the enemy a mile or two; after they were in the utmost confusion, and flying before us in most places; after we were upon the point, as it appeared to every body, of grasping a complete victory, our own troops took fright and fled with precipitation and disorder. How to account for this, I know not, unless the fog represented their own friends to them for a reinforcement of the enemy, as we attacked in different quarters at the same time, and were about closing the wings of our army when this happened." "Our loss," he adds, " was, in killed, wounded, and missing, about one thousand men. In a word, it was a bloody day. Would to Heaven I could add, that it had been a more fortunate one for us." After this battle, it soon became necessary for the army to go into winter quarters. The place selected for this was Valley Forge. This place is about twenty miles from Philadelphia, and near the river Schuylkill. The ground was then covered with thick woods, and bounded on one side by the river, and on the other by ridges of hills. Here the army encamped for the winter-a winter in which the army suffered probably more than during any winter of the war. "It is affecting," said one who lived on the spot, "to hear the old people narrate the sufferings of the army, when the soldiers were frequently tracked by the blood from their sore and bare feet, lacerated by the rough and frozen roads over which they were obliged to pass." When retreating from the battle of the Brandywine, Washington said that "at least one thousand men are barefooted and have performed their marches in that condition." Changes had been made in the quarter-masters' and commissary's departments, contrary to the judgment of Washington, by which the army was wretchedly supplied, and at no time were their sufferings so great as for a few weeks after they went into winter quarters. On one occasion, when there, Washington wrote:-" For some days there has been little less than a famine in camp. A part of the army have been a week without any kind of flesh, and the rest three or four days. Naked and starving as they are, we cannot enough admire the incomparable patience and fidelity of the soldiery, that they have not been, ere this, excited by their sufferings to general mutiny and dispersion." Such was the scarcity of blankets, that many of the men were obliged to sit up all night by the fires, covering to protect them; and in numerous instances they were so scantily clad that they could not leave their huts. When the encampment was begun at Valley Forge, the whole number of the men was about eleven thousand, of whom two thousand eight hundred and ninety-eight were unfit for duty, "being barefoot and otherwise naked." It was during this winter also, that a cabal was formed to destroy the reputation of Washington, to sow dissensions in the camp, and to spread discord throughout the nation. It was at this period, and under these circumstances, that the commander-in-chief of the American armies was observed so constantly to retire for the purpose of secret devotion. Few scenes have had so much moral grandeur as this. Repeated disaster and defeat had dispirited the army and the nation. Suffering to an extreme degree was in the camp; and thousands of brave men were without the necessaries of life. The independence of the nation was in jeopardy. Attempts were made to stab the reputation of the commander, and to degrade him from office. Provision for the army was to be made; murmurs and discontent suppressed; calumny to be met; plans formed for a future campaign; the nation to be inspirited and aroused; an active enemy was in the neighborhood, flushed with recent victory, and preparing to achieve new triumphs; and in these circumstances the Father of his country went alone, and sought strength and guidance from the God of armies and of light. The ear of Heaven was propitious to his prayer; and who can tell how much of the subsequent bril| liant success of the American armies was in answer to the prayers of the American general at the Valley Forge? Who can help prizing American liberty more, when he feels that it was purchased, not only by valor and by blood, but that it was conferred in answer to fervent prayer? Who can ever treed the ground where the American army was then encamped, and not recall the period when the eyes of that great man were directed to heaven, and when his knee bowed, and when he breathed forth his fervent supplications for the salvation of his country? To latest times it will, and should be, a subject of the deepest interest, that the independence of our country was laid, not only in valor, and patriotism, and wisdom, but in prayer. The example of Washington will rebuke the warrior or the statesman who never supplicates the blessing of God on his country. It will be the encouragement for him who prays for its welfare and its deliverance from danger. The sceptic never can plead his name. The philosophic infidel can never refer to him for authority. The atheist can never enrol him among those who believe that the universe is without a Father and a God. And in all future times it will serve to enhance the value of our liberty, and be a bright spot in our history, that the Father of his country approached the Throne of Mercy in the name of the Redeemer, and that all that we value in independence and peace is closely connected, not only with the valor and wisdom, but with the SECRET PRAYERS OF WASHINGTON. LIFE. TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN OF FREDERICK WETZELL. O, this vast weight that stifles O, anguish! wordless anguish! Is blazon'd on the sky, Yet, up! No dungeon narrows Life now hath colder duties, And man hath sterner toils By Want, and Thought, and Pain, Crush, self, the necromancer! Call Reason from the tomb, Ere action, understand! A COQUETTE.-When I hear of a coquette's marriage, I am reminded of the Doge's custom of marrying Venice to the sea' which, spite of the ceremony, is as free to all flags as before. AN ADVENTURE IN HAVANA. A STORY OF THE YELLOW FEVER. I had not spent more than a fortnight in Havana, when I was seized with the yellow fever. This disease prevails there to a great degree, during summer and autumn, and makes dreadful ravages among foreigners of every description. It sometimes attacks people very suddenly, and almost without any previous warning. call up a nurse to attend him. "Ay, ay!" cried he, "all a damned imposition. They've got me here hard fast, and don't care how it goes with me-But they won't make much more out of me, that's one comfort. Oh, sir? I'm a miserable man I want to write a letter-I want pen, ink, and paper-A small sheet will do." "I entreat you to return to bed," said I; "you shall have all these articles to-morrow morning." "You When first taken ill, I was in a merchant's warehouse, ma- "To-morrow morning!" cried he with vehemence. king inquiries about a vessel in which I proposed going to the don't know what you're talking about. The doctor told me eastern extremity of the island. As the owner was out, I de- to-day-yes he did-that I wouldn't live till then-May God termined to wait until he came home, and accordingly seated Almighty prove him a liar!—I've got into a wrong port here myself on a bale of goods. I gradually sunk into a state of Why the hell didn't we all go the bottom last voyage!feverish torpidity, during which I had an indistinct conception This is a dreadful place to die in―Five dollars a-day," conof where I was, but could not rouse myself, or make any re- tinued he, raising his voice; "What confounded sharks they sistance whatever. At last, I lost all sense of external objects. are!-My berth here an't worth the tenth of that-Well, I dreamed that I went on board the vessel I had been in- well, when I'm dead I hope my corpse will bring a plague quiring about, and that we sailed down the harbor with a fair upon the house, and infect every one that comes near it-May wind. Suddenly, from some cause or other, I fell overboard, every Spaniard that meets my burial in the street drop down and sunk to a considerable depth. When I regained the sur- dead, and be eternally damned!-I was at Ramsay's funeral face, I saw the vessel a little way before me, and called loud- the other day-The coffin was hardly big enough to hold him ly for help, but she swept along, under a press of canvass, and—and what a burying-place!-The coffins are piled above one no one in her seemed to hear, or pay the least attention to my another, and their corners stick through the ground-The carcries. I looked behind me in despair, to discover if any boat rion-crows flew about, as if they were glad to see us in our was approaching to afford assistance, but, to my horror, saw black clothes-I'll be laid there bye and bye.-Lord held me! the whole surface of the harbor covered with the floating bo- But I must write this letter." dies of dead seamen tied upon planks. The vessels around seemed deserted, rotten, and fallen to pieces, and the most awful stillness prevailed in every direction. In my agonies I caught hold of one of the corpses, and scated myself upon it. The limbs and muscles of the dead man were instantaneously relaxed-he uttered a horrible shout, burst the cords that tied him, and caught me firmly in his arms. We immediately began to sink, and the struggles I made to extricate myself from his grasp awakened me. I continued for some time in a state of overpowering agitation and giddiness; and on recovering a little, perceived that there was no one in the warehouse but an old Spaniard, to whom I could not explain my situation, as he did not understand a word of English. I therefore walked out, and endeavored to make my way to the boarding-house where I lodged; but my confusion was such, that in spite of all my efforts at recollection, I got bewildered, and at the same time so fatigued, that I was obliged to take refuge in a coffee-house near the church of St. Domingo. Here I sat upon a bench, stunned by the rattling of billiards, and unheeded by the crowds of Spaniards that bustled around. I knew that I was attacked by the yellow fever, and I also knew that few of my age or temperament ever recovered from it. I was a friendless stranger in a foreign land. But the thoughts of all this did not depress me. I felt as if I could die more calmly in a country, and among a people, whose language I did not even understand, than at home, in the midst of friends and associates. The presence of the latter would endear life, and their grief would embitter its termination; but when every thing around was revolting, affectionless, and gloomy, the world had no hold upon the heart, and could be relinquished without regret. Though excessively weak, I immediately left the coffee-room, and soon reached my lodgings, "which fortunately were not far distant; and from them I was removed, by the advice of a medical man, to a sick house. The establishment which is known by this name in Havana, resembles a private hospital, it being intended for the accommodation of strangers and foreigners who are seized with the fever, and who have no one to take charge of them during their illness. The sick person is provided with an apartment, attendance, medicine, and diet, and may send for any physician he chooses. In summer, houses of this kind are full of Europeans, who die very suddenly, and in great numbers. One night during my convalescence, I was disturbed, after I had gone to bed, by repeated groans and the sound of hard breathing, which proceeded from the chamber below mine. I next heard some person walking quickly backwards and forwards, and then a noise of a heavy body failing on the floor. As the people of the house were in bed, I got up, that I might inquire if any one wanted assistance, and went down to the door of the apartment, which was half open. On looking in, I saw a man dressed in a bed-gown, pacing hurriedly about, and sometimes muttering a few words. A lamp stood npon the table, and when the light fell upon his countenance, I perceived it to be much flushed and agitated. I entered the room, saying I feared he was ill, and would Perceiving that it would be in vain to attempt to compose him, I went up to my own room, and brought down writing materials. Ay, that's right," said he;" thank you. I must write to my wife-Poor young creature, she's in the Orkneys now. We could live there for two weeks on the money I'm now paying for a day's board and lodging I will tell her that I am well, and coming home soon; for if she knew I was dying, she would break her heart-Two or three days ago, I hoped to have seen her again, but this infernal fever has taken me back with a vengeance." “I suppose you are master of some vessel in the port," said I— • No, no, not master," returned he; "my days of being master we over long ago, though I once commanded as nice a sea-boat as ever went before the wind-howsomever, that's neither here nor there now. But I'll tell you the whole. About two years since, I sailed a small vessel, and owned a part of her. Our trade lay chiefly in contraband goods; and well was she fitted for it, for nothing on the seas could keep up with her. Ay, many a time, when chased by a king's cutter, we thought it no more than play, because we knew we could get clear of her the moment we had a mind. "Well, one day as we were hauling out of a French port, a young man came alongside in a boat, and entreated hard to be taken on board. Now, you know smugglers never like to take passengers; so I flatly refused to have any thing to do with him. However, he told a rigmarole story about his being so short of money, that if he was obliged to remain any longer in France, he would not have enough to pay his passage home, and said I might land him in whatever British port I chose. Well, I took him on board, and we set sail. At first, things went pleasantly enough between us; for he was a clever young man, and had a world of knowledge. I used often to talk to him of the Orkney Islands, of which I was a native, and always spoke of them partially, as every one must do, who has enjoyed their delightful climate, and all the good things which they abundantly afford. He at last began to joke with me about my fondness for my native place, which, he said, was only fit for the habitation of bears and seals. Now it's so natural for a man to love his country, that none but a wretch would try to put him out of conceit with it; and I should not be surprised to hear even one of these Spaniards say, that this infernal hole of a town was the finest place in the world. "Well, this young fellow's raillery went farther every day, and began to cut me to the heat. I often tossed about in my berth for hours together, thinking on his sharp jokes, and wishing to death that I had the power of answering them with effect, and handling him as severely as he did me; for he was easy of speech, and had a cool temper; but I was not gifted in either of these ways. "One day at dinner, when he was going on in his usual style, I lost patience altogether, and called him a liar, and threw my fork at his head. He turned as white as that sheet of paper for a moment, but soon recovered himself, and did not offer to touch me. I grew more and more provoked; for I had hoped that he would strike me, and so give me a fair reason for closing upon him, and choking him, or beating his life out. But as I could not do this with any show of justice, I ordered him forward among the seamen, forbidding him, at the same time, ever to enter the cabin again. "He obeyed so quietly, that my mind quite misgave me about what would be the end of the business; for I knew he was a lad of spirit, and never would forgive the disgraceful insult I had put upon him. That afternoon I sent him his trunk, and he never afterwards came farther aft than the main-mast. He used to remain below all day; but generally made his appearance upon deck when it got dark, and sat there in deep thought. Often at night, when all were in their berths, except myself and the helmsman, and other two hands, I have observed him gazing steadfastly upon me for hours to gether. This behaviour would fill my mind with such fearful forebodings, as kept me from sleeping when my watch was over. "We got into port after a tolerably fair passage. We had scarcely dropped anchor before he came to me, as I stood by the cabin-door, and requested to know how much he owed me for his passage; adding, that I had used him very ill, since he had never yet said any thing with the intention of hurting my feelings in the least degree. These fair words threw me off my guard; for after having received from him the sum due me, I foolishly allowed him to go on shore. He went direct to the Custom-house, and informed against me. Whether he really knew, or only suspected, that I had prohibited articles on board, the devil perhaps knows best; but be that as it may, the officers were alongside in the course of half an hour.The short and the long of it was this-both the vessel and cargo were seized. "This was a terrible blow. The owners owed me a good round sum of money; but so far from expecting them to pay it, I felt convinced that they would throw me into jail, whenever they got hold of me. I had settled my wife on a small place in the Orkneys. Part of its price was paid, and the remainder had now become due; but the seizure of the vessel at once deprived me of those means of making up the sum that I had counted upon. It was some time before I quite knew the terribleness of my misfortune; but at last it burst upon me like a hurricane-assailing me first in one quarter, and then in another. "At night I wandered about the streets, not knowing what to do. It was dark, and rained, and blew hard; but I did not mind the weather. In passing a door, where there was a light, I saw the young man who had betrayed me, walking along the opposite side of the way. I followed him, and many a time could have knocked him over, without being seen by any one; but I desisted, for I had not resolved upon what sort of revenge I was to take. Revenge I determined to have, and that very night too. At last he went along the pier-I looked round a moment-every thing seemed quiet-I slipped behind him, and pushed him over. The tide was just coming in, and the dashing of the sea, and the noise of the wind, drowned his cries, if he uttered any. I heard him plunge that was enough for me. "That night I slept at a mean tavern. I did not sleep. I lay in bed, repenting that I had taken such a poor revenge. He has only been choked with water, thought Î, and the like happens to many an honest seaman. I "Next morning, on going to my window, which looked to the harbor, I observed a great crowd of people gathered round something, but could not see what it was for their heads. grew quite dizzy, and began to tremble all over. They soon began to move along the street below me. I ran back from the window, and then to it again, four or five times, impelled by a dreadful curiosity, which I feared equally to resist, and to yield to. However, I got a glimpse as they passed along. His head was sadly mangled; but I did'nt do that, you know. "I was well convinced, that my only safety lay in making off as fast as possible; and I embarked that very day in a sloop bound for the north of Scotland. We had a most baffling time of it, and it appeared doubly so to me, because I was continually thinking what terrible tidings I would bring to my wife and children, and how destitute we would all be. "From the sloop, I went on board another vessel, which carried me to that part of the Orkneys, where my family were. Notwithstanding the dark weight that lay upon my mind, I felt a pleasantness of heart, when I saw my native place again. It almost set me a crying, and I thought more of my country than ever, when I reflected upon what I had brought myself to, by standing up in its defence. "I soon broke the disastrous intelligence to my wife. As we were in absolute poverty, I found it necessary to ask re lief from my father-in-law. This was a trying business, for he was a hard tyrannical man, and had just married a second wife; however, after a deal of parleying and abuse, he consented to take my family into his own house, provided they would make themselves useful. As for me, he said, I must shift for myself. By his recommendation, I soon got a berth on board a small vessel bound for New York. From that port, I sailed in a ship to this place Havana. A mercantile house lately offered me the charge of a vessel destined for a very unhealthy part of the West Indies, which I immediately accepted, for I knew I could make a good voyage of it. But this accursed fever has moored me fast, and death will soon make all things square. Now I have told you all this black story; I would rather the whole world should know it, than than that I should die. Is there no help? is there no power in physic? Oh, it would be nothing to founder at sea! thing compared with dying in this gloomy deliberate way. But I must begin writing, only I'm afraid I'll not be able to make out a connected letter." No "If you insist upon writing to your wife," said I, "let me persuade you to tell her truly in what state you are.' "Nonsense, nonsense," cried he, "I'm not such a wretch. I suppose you think, because I pushed a devil into the sea, I have no mercy about me at all. Revenge is sweet, you know. I like to give every man his own again, be it good or evil; but I would not harm a fly, if it had not injured me. I don't want to kill my wife. I dare say, poor girl, her step-mother makes things go hard enough with her already. I will tell her I am very well, and the hope of seeing me again will keep alive her spirits. You had better go away now-I'll write best alone." After in vain endeavoring to persuade him to defer his purpose till morning, I returned to my own apartment. My first thought, when I awakened next day, was about this unfortunate seaman, and I called up a negro man, who belonged to the house, and inquired if he was still in life. "No," returned the negro, he's dead-dead sure enough; I've just come from telling them to make his coffin. The coffin-makers like to see me-I go to them often, for white massas die very fast now. They die so soon, that my massa can't make any thing of them. If they would all get better and stay long like you, it would answer very fine." I asked at what hour he died. "Me no know that," answered the negro. "Nobody was beside him; but it could not be long time since, for I heard him fighting hard with death, and wished him far enough, for breaking my sleep. I found him quite stiff this morning, with a sheet of paper held so strong in his hand, that I had some ado to pull it out. He be buried this afternoon; but we no know where his friends are; no massa will just take him out to the grave in a volant alone by himself." Early next morning, the superintendant of the house came into my room, and informed me, that a sick gentleman below wished anxiously to speak with me. I immediately accompanied him to the apartment of the stranger, who took no notice of us when we entered, for he had sunk into a sort of lethargic slumber. His face was deadly pale, and the sharpness of his features indicated approaching death. My attendant having roused him, and mentioned the cause of my visit, left us together." "I am informed," said he, endeavoring to raise himself up in his bed, "that you are of the medical profession, and I wish to ask one question, which, for the sake of a dying man, I conjure you to answer truly-Is the fever under which I now labor infectious?" 'Assuredly not," returned I; "I never supposed it to be "Thanl: God!" exclaimed he; "then I shall yet enjoy a few moments of comfort before I die. What a relief this information is! Poor Maria, you will still"-Here he shook with agitation, and tears began to roll down his cheeks. so.' "I owe you an explanation of this behaviour," said he, recovering himself a little; "since you have removed an uncertainty which has hitherto increased the disquiet of my death bed. I arrived here a few days ago, from Baltimore. I intended to have commenced business in this town as a merchant, and accordingly brought along with me a daughter-an only daughter. Being attacked with the fever almost immediately, I was conveyed to this house, for I had not provided any place of my own. My daughter lives at present with an American lady. She has come to see me twice, against my express commands; and I have ever since been full of terror, lest she should have received infection in the course of her visits. But you tell me this cannot be; trusting in such an assurance, I will send for her—that I may see her again before I die." "That you can do without risk," said I; "but are you not too ready to yield to desponding thoughts?" "No, no, I feel something here," returned he, laying his hand on his breast; "I know it is-it must be death. Oh, that the Almighty would yet grant me a little time! I do not ask it for my own sake, but for her's. 'Tis hard to be denied, since there is no selfishness in my petition; but perhaps I'm mistaken. Oh, beware bow you contract any ties that will bind your heart to this earth; our parting is severe enough without them.". He turned his face from me. to push my fortune somewhere abroad. As I understood some Spanish, and could procure a few letters of recommendation to persons in Havana, I soon decided upon coming here. Whenever I arrived, I hastened to call upon those people to whom I had introductions. They received me politely enough, and promised to forward my views as much as possible, at the same time encouraging me with flattering hopes. My finances were low when I reached this city, and the bril liant prospects in which I foolishly indulged, did not tend to make me economical. At last, I began to perceive the necessity of limiting my expenses, and retired to obscure lodgings, where I lived in the narrowest manner possible. "I had made several agreeable acquaintances, though the In a little time I addressed suspense and anxiety I suffered, made me indifferent about him, but received no reply-for he was dead. having much intercourse with them. However, there was a One afternoon, while taking my usual walk round the court, young Spaniard, for whom I felt a particular regard. One my attention was arrested by the sound of persons speaking in evening, he called at my rooms, and requested me to accoma tone of altercation and entreaty. In a little time, the super-pany him to his aunt's, that he might introduce me to some of intendant of the house looked from the door of one of the apartments, and asked me to come in. On entering, I perceived a young man, seated on a bed, half-dressed, and in the act of putting on the remainder of his clothes. He was much emaciated, and so weak that he trembled excessively; but his manner evinced a degree of resolution and impatience, which seemed to supply the place of strength. A mulatto woman stood looking at him with an expression of astonishment and unconcern.' "No person in his senses would think of leaving my house, when in such a state," said the superintendant to me. I inquired if the young man was delirious. He overheard me, and called ont fiercely, "No, sir, I am not delirious-I know what I'm about, and am determined to do as I please. I have given reasons for my conduct already." me. "Rather strange ones, though," said the superintendant to "This morning he asked how much he owed me for the time he had been in this house. When I satisfied him on this point, he said he must go away, as he had scarcely money enough to pay what was already due; now I've just been telling him." 'Say no more," interrupted the young man; "I will not contract debts, when I have no possible means of paying them. A friend of mine has a ship in the harbor-I will go on board of her, and die there." " 66 "Why, it's not worth while moving," said the mulatto woman, "for the doctor told me you could not live two days. My master won't mind the expense of keeping you that time, if you can secure him against the charges of your funeral." "Peace," cried the superintendant; "Sir, I entreat you to remain here for my sake, if you will not for your own. The credit of this house would be injured, if any sick person left it before he had perfectly recovered." "I am of that opinion too," said I to the young man; "but you shall never be under obligations you cannot cancel, while it is in my power to assist you. Allow me to offer my services in extricating you from your difficulties." The superintendant and nurse, perceiving that he had abandoned his intention of immediately removing, left the room, and I again asked if I could be useful to him in any way. "A few days ago," said he, "your generous offers would have proved valuable beyond all description; and I would instantly have accepted of them. But now they are of no avail, unless they could be made the means of purchasing life. Were that granted me, I would soon have it in my power to step into the enjoyment of perfect happiness. But I will tell you my unfortunate story:— "I arrived in this town about three weeks ago, from Philadelphia, were I have hitherto resided. I was bred to the mercantile business; but as, owing to the depressed state of commerce that has lately existed throughout America, I could not procure either a situation, or any employment, I spent my time in idleness, and at last fell in love with a young lady, who also became attached to me. We wasted away our hours in each other's company, without ever thinking seriously of the future. When my destitute state happened to force itself upon my mind, I smothered the recollection of it, by building castles in the air, and trying to believe that some piece of good fortune awaited me. "However, I was eventually roused to exertion, by the death of my dear one's mother. In consequence of this event, she was obliged to leave Philadelphia, and reside with a rich brother, who lived in the country. We had no longer any opportunity of seeing each other; and the distress I suffered on this account, and the thoughts of the misery which my suspense would be the means of inflicting upon her, made me determine his countrywomen. We went and took coffee with the ladies, and it being a festival of the church, it was agreed that we should go to the public ball, that takes place on such occasions. "It was late when we left the ball room, and my friend and I accompanied the ladies home. Contrary to my expectation, they requested us to enter the house, and pressed the matter so strongly that we complied. We had not sat along, when cards were proposed; but I took alarm at this, being well aware of the expertness of the Spaniards in playing games of chance, and of my own inability to cope with them, on account of my imperfect acquaintance with their language. I therefore protested against remaining any longer, but without avail, for my friend and the ladies opposed every thing I said. I would have departed notwithstanding all this, but I did not know the way home, and feared to risk my life by wandering alone through the streets of Havana at midnight. "We accordingly sat down to cards, and lost so fast that I began to have suspicions of unfair play. I was soon stripped of all the money I had about me, but my friend offered to be security for whatever the ladies should win from me. When I had lost a large amount, we rose and took leave, but not before some warm words that passed between us, made me give him, in disdain, a promissory note for the sum I had borrowed. "Next morning, my reflections were not of the most agreea ble kind, for my finances could ill support the encroachments which the preceding night's play had made upon them. After breakfast, I went to the coffee-house, and there met a gentleman whom I had seen at the ball. He inquired in a very significant manner for the ladies I had escorted there. On my requesting an explanation, he informed me that they were women of no reputation, and that the young Spaniard, whom I called my friend, was employed by them to entrap strangers, and bring his dupes to their house, that they might have an opportunity of cheating them at cards, or obtaining money from them in a more licentious way. "This information wounded my pride as deeply as my losses at cards had drained my purse; and I could not but bitterly repent that I had given a promissory note to one who so little deserved my confidence. However, as things could not be retrieved, I endeavored to forget my misfortunes, and went to the post-office to inquire if there were any letters for me. I got one which I knew from the superscription to be from my beloved. She informed me, that her brother having died suddenly, had left her thirty thousand dollars, and concluded by requesting, that I would return to Philadelphia immediately, as her fortune and herself were now at my disposal. The perusal of this letter made me tremble with joy. Every thing around me seemed delightful, and I even began to regard, with some degree of complacency, my perfidious companion, and his female associates. Having learned from the coffee-house books that a vessel had just cleared out for New York, I immediately went on board of her, and agreed with the captain for a passage, which was to cost me nearly the whole sum I had in my possession. "On my return home, after having made these arrangements, I suddenly recollected that the young Spaniard had a bill upon me for such an amount, that, if I paid him, it would be impossible for me to go to New York. The agonies I felt, on recalling this circumstance, were succeeded by a severe struggle between love and honor. If I left Havana, without discharging my debt, my unprincipled associate would proclaim and prove me a villain and a fugitive; but if I remained and answered his demands, I would not have it in my power |