above bank-notes for one hundred, which he had deposited for his brother's release. He brought along with him a deed ready executed, by which he settled a perpetuity of fourscore pounds upon his parents, to be inherited by the other two sons after their decease. He promised to purchase a commission for his youngest brother; to take the other as his own partner in a manufacture which he intends to set up, to give employment and bread to the industrious; and to give five hundred pounds, by way of dower, to his sister, who had married a farmer in low circumstances. Finally, he gave fifty pounds to the poor of the town where he was born, and feasted all the inhabitants without exception.

My uncle was so charmed with the character of Captain Brown, that he drank his health three times successively at dinner. He said, he was proud of his acquaintance; that he was an honour to his country, and had, in some measure, redeemed human nature from the reproach of pride, selfishness, and ingratitude. For my part, I was as much pleased with the modesty as with the filial virtue of this honest soldier, who assumed no merit from his success, and said very little of his own transactions, though the answers he made to our inquiries were equally sensible and laconic. Mrs. Tabitha behaved very graciously to him, until she understood that he was going to make a tender of his hand to a person of low estate, who had been his sweetheart while he worked as a journeyman weaver. Our aunt was no sooner made acquainted with this design, than she starched up her behaviour with a double portion of reserve; and when the company broke up, she observed, with a toss of her nose, that Brown was a

eivil fellow enough, considering the lowness of his origin; but that fortune, though she had mended his circumstances, was incapable to raise his ideas, which were still humble and plebeian.

SMOLLETT.

A STORM.

THE Veipus lake, which is less beautiful and 'less celebrated than that of Geneva, afforded me one day a dreadfully sublime spectacle. As I was passing along the sandy shore, a violent rustling arose in the air, the signal of a storm in the upper regions, that was only audible below: the lake. continued undisturbed; but this very stillness, in contrast with the violence raging at a distance over my head, was more awful than if its waves had risen to the height of mountains. On the right hand over the dark fir wood hung black clouds, whence every now and then issued the thunder. On the left over the lake, a darkness descended from the sky, and like a shroud covered the opposite bank for the distance of a mile. The mews screamed over the tranquil water: and a few small fishing smacks with slack sails were seen driven on by the oars of the anxious fishermen towards the shore. The dreadful contest now commenced in the elements. On one side, the hollow roarings of the thunder resounded in the deep thicket, while on the other, it was heard rolling over the darkened coast. Not a single hut was to be perceived far and wide; only a fishing net here and there spread out. The lightning was more and more rapidly overtaken by the thunder. Not a drop of rain fell; and all was stillness on

the level surface, but the rustling sound did not abate overhead. On a sudden a flash struck down into the water: its lengthened beams as it touched the surface darted forth innumerable sparks, and resembled a descending rocket. This seemed to be the signal for a torrent of hail, which in a few moments spread over the surface of the ground an icy cover, many inches thick. The stones were of the size of beans. My carriage was obliged to stop, the postilion leaped from the horses; the servants hastened down from the box; and all crept for shelter between the wheels. But the hail beat so violently that the horses would not stand still; which compelled the servants to come from this retreat, and hold the restless animals, exposed to all the rigour of the storm. The little light of which the clouds had not already deprived us, was perfectly obscured by the hail; and from my seat in the coach I could scarcely distinguish the horses. This darkness was interrupted only by the frequent flashes of lightning; the pale glimmer of which would present to our view the icy appearance of the ground; and add a horror to the intervening claps of thunder. As there was no other object to attract the lightning, I expected every moment to see either the men or the horses fall, or myself to suffer the death of Romulus. Seven or eight minutes (lengthened by the terrors of the mind into hours) were dragged out in this agonizing condition. At length the storm retreated farther into the wood; ourselves and our horses began again to resume our spirits; and soon nothing remained from this terrible spectacle, but the singular enjoyment which the mind of man experiences on surveying the traces of past danger. We now discovered pools of water in the road; cart-ruts

full of hail-stones; the wet wing, bereft of its power to fly; a few steps from me, on a decayed tree, an eagle (for there are many in this part,) who admitted reluctantly the approach of a human being, probably from the storm having thus impeded its flight; at a distance a scattered flock, around which the wolf was stealing, as the thief profits by the fire to plunder the terrified inhabitants. The sun broke forth, and light and order returned.

KOTZEBUE.

HACK AUTHORS.

Characters. Bookweight, Dash, Quibble, and Blotpage. Scene, a room in Bookweight's house. Enter Bookweight.

Book. Fie upon it, gentlemen! what, not at your pens? Do you consider, Mr. Quibble, that it is a fortnight since your Letter to a Friend in the Country was published? Is it not high time for an answer to come out? At this rate, before your Answer is printed, your Letter will be forgot. I love to keep a controversy up warm. I have had authors who have writ a pamphlet in the morning, answered it in the afternoon, and answered that again at night.

Quib. Sir, I will be as expeditious as possible: but it is harder to write on this side the question, because it is the wrong side.

Book. Not a jot. So far on the contrary, that I have known some authors choose it as the properest to show their genius. But let me see waht you have produced-"With all deference to what that very learned and most ingenious person, in

his Letter to a Friend in the Country, hath advanced." Very well, sir; for besides that it may sell more of the Letter, all controversial writers should begin with complimenting their adversaries, as prize-fighters kiss before they engage. Let it be finished with all speed. Well, Mr. Dash, have you done that murder yet?

Dash. Yes, sir, the murder is done; I am only about a few moral reflections to place before it.

Book. Very well: then let me have the ghost finished by this day se'nnight.

Dash. What sort of a ghost would you have this, sir? the last was a pale one.

Book. Then let this be a bloody one. Mr. Quibble, you may lay by that Life which you are about; for I hear the person is recovered; and write me out proposals for delivering five sheets of Mr. Bailey's English Dictionary every week, till the whole be finished. If you do not know the form, you may copy the proposals for printing Bailey's Dictionary in the same manner. The same words will do for both. (Enter INDEX.) So, Mr. Index, what news with you?

Index. I have brought my bill, sir.

Book. What's here? For fitting the motto of Risum teneatis Amici to a dozen pamphlets, at sixpence per each, six shillings-For Omnia vincit Amor, et nos cedamus Amori, sixpence For Difficile est Satyram non Scribere, sixpence. Hum! hum! hum! Sum total, for thirty-six Latin mottoes, eighteen shillings; ditto English, one shilling and ninepence; ditto Greek, four, four shillings. These Greek mottoes are excessively dear.

Ind. If you have them cheaper at either of the universities, I will give you mine for nothing.

Book. You shall have your money immediately;