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Notice to Correspondents.

"T. W. S."-"E. L. B."-"C D."-" William Pearson, Esq." and "Confucius," are informed that their communications are lying for them at the Publishers.

"G. B. C. K." in our next.

"Philosopher" should learn to spell before he writes any thing more about Animal Magnetism; his " Essay" will be returned to him according to his directions; it will not suit our pages.

The review on Benvenuto Cellini, the new opera by Hector Berlioz, will be inserted next month. Our Correspondent should dispatch his communications a little sooner from Paris: this is the second we have been compelled to omit,

"Charles Patey, Esq." is informed that we do not admit Sonnets containing only nine lines: let him add five more, and send it to some other publication-" we'll none on't.”

"Zoroaster's Sketch in Verse" would occupy at least twelve of our numbers, were we for the sake of inserting it to omit all other matter-it is too long, and too stupid.

"Orpheus" had better ask Sir George Smart himself; we know nothing either of that gentleman's age or his baronetcy.

We should have liked the "Specimens from Calderon" well enough, had they been tolerably translated; but we are sorry to inform "J. S. B-y." that he understands little or nothing of the original.

"Theophilus Weil" will be attended to in our next.

"A writer in the Old Monthly" will not do for us. Letters addressed to "W. P."-" Anti-Homopathist""Solomon"-"Oswald Crollius"-and "H. D. M." lie at our Publishers.

MONTHLY COLLECTION.

STORIES FOR STEAM-BOATS.

BY GEORGE MACFARREN, ESQ.

No. II.

THE DESTINY OF LOVE AND THE FORTUNE
OF WAR.

THE second story-teller was Mr. Godfrey Thrasher, or, in compliance with the adage, “once a captain always a captain," Lieut. Thrasher, of the 81st Foot. He was, however, superior to the adage, and though a Waterloo man, had long since doffed his laurels and betaken himself to the "style, title, and denomination," as well as the "pursuits and pleasures," of pacifical life. Mr. Thrasher was respectably related in the West of England; the younger brother of a Devonshire Squire, with a good estate: at the age of eighteen he had prevailed on his father to advance the half of his promised slender patrimony for the purchase of an Ensign's commission-had fought his way through Spain, and up the ladder of promotion to the first lieutenancy of his regimentwhen fighting went out of fashion, military mortality ceased, lucky old captains coddled themselves in barracks disdaining to die and make way for juniors, and Mr. Thrasher, after the demands of his sumpter, tailor, and washerwoman had been duly satisfied, found it difficult upon his half-pay, to buy ribands for his Waterloo medal. His breeding in the country, naturally gave him a bias for, as well as some knowledge of, rural affairs; he therefore at once prudently struck out of the crowded pathway to Fame, and, bending his steps along the broad western road, resolved to seek in his native county his future ways and means. Having selected a well conditioned farm, he made choice of an amiable partner to make it a home; this is not the most usual mode of proceeding more is the pity-a wife without a home is as a drop of water in the desert; but he that would husband his fountain builds a basin

VOL. I.

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for it. Mr. Thrasher was a prudential person, which made him a happy one; but as merit does not always meet its just reward, (though the sages and moralists, from Dr. Franklin downwards, aye, and upwards too, insist on the axiom,) he found all his struggles and enterprises insufficient for the accomplishment of his hopes and wishes respecting the family live stock that had sprung up around him; he had, consequently, sold off at a small increase upon the original cost, had purchased a considerable tract of land in the new settlements of America, and was speeding as fast as hot water (and cold) permits, to endow his new estate with civilized advantages, and found a rival squire-ship to the hereditary one enjoyed by his elder born brother in the Old World. Mr. Thrasher was accompanied by his amiable matronly spouse, two fair and unaffected girls just verging on the age of attraction, and a pickle of a son about twelve years old, who was the unceasing but goodhumoured plague of every one in the vessel.

It was the second night of the voyage, and the company being mustered as before, the story-teller made a short diffident preface and proceeded:

"I am a homely person, and you must not look for anything very startling or marvellous at my hands. The circumstances I am about to relate form a simple domestic romance, in which a branch-a branch of my own family-bore a part; and if it contain no intense perplexities and no miraculous interventions, it is nature and reality who are at fault, not he who details their doings.

In the summer of 1794, when the British fleet, returning from the memorable victory of the 1st of June, came with its trophies and its spoils in a triumphant Ovation to our shores, receiving the applause of England's people and the honours of her king-in that exhilirating period the coast of Devon was a scene of joyful holiday but rarely exceeded. Municipal feasts, private banquets, public entertainments, popular rejoicings occupied the high and the lowthe natives and the visitors who had flocked from distant parts of the country to partake in this first-born triumph of the republican war, every heart overflowed, every pocket yielded liberally, every lip paid its tribute to the national glory, and, for awhile, even politics were forgotten. Amongst other demonstrations, a public ball was given by the ladies of Exeter and its environs, at which all official persons who could be spared from the fleet, then anchored in Torbay, were invited to become the most welcomed and honoured guests. Ladies are partial to sailors, and sailors are fond of dancing; so it is no wonder the ball proved a very attractive and brilliant affair. A committee of the lady subscribers undertook to embellish the walls of the old Town-hall with appropriate wreaths and devices, and they succeeded so admirably, that the ball-room appeared an evergreen temple to glory. The sons of Neptune, who were fortunate enough to be present, thought themselves at once transported to Elysium, or

at least to a second paradise, where every Adam was to find his heaven-affianced Eve. The laity, or landmen, present, were of course considered and tolerated as an inferior order of created things on this triumphant naval occasion-a genus of second persons singular, which they continued for the most part to remain during the whole evening; while every blue coat, with epaulets or without, provided its button bore the anchor, was sure to find a sailing partner in the dance, and a smiling associate in the corner chit-chat, without the aid of entreaties or grappling irons. But most happy were those fortunate wights-I beg pardon, I should say, blues-who, by their address or perseverance, won the favours of the lady committee, the beauty, youth, superior taste and individuality of these fair officiators, each wearing a broad blue sash across the shoulder, with a tributary medal appended at the left breast, made them the elite of the assembly, to whom every one paid ardent homage, by whom no one was slighted or refused. Perhaps the most attractive and engaging of all this amiable junta, was Arabella St. Ledger, daughter and heiress of Sir Bernard St. Ledger, of Ledger Court, a fine old. manor and mansion house, situated on an eminence near Dawlish, at the mouth of the river Exe. She was in her nineteenth year, a sylph in person, a Diana in feature, a Portia in mind; her blonde complexion seemed for ever kindling incipient roses-it was so exquisitely fair and transparent, that every turn of her thoughts or emotion of her soul blushed upon the surface; thus, though delicate, her looks were not languid; though colourless, she was not pale; and her soft blue eye catching a spark from the vivacity of her disposition, lost the languor for which azure eyes are mostly dispraised. She was highly accomplished and solidly informed, and possessed that most enchanting grace of womanhood, the offspring of good sense and good humour, an unaffected affability to all. Her hand, in the first dance, was solicited and obtained by Edmund Fortescue, a midshipman in the sixth year of his service, and standing high on the list presented by the Admiral to his Majesty, as meriting a lieutenancy. Fortescue was twenty, above the middle stature, well made, stout, active, and agile; his countenance open, marked, and intelligent; his eyes dark, quick, and expressive; his hair black and wavy, as yet unspoiled by the universal land fashion of hair powder, and his manner, if not exactly graceful, was unrestrained without rudeness, and watchfully attentive to all whom he approached. Full of enterprise and animal spirit, he had made up his mind as soon as the invitation was given and accepted, to rival the ship's Chaplain, a perfect lady-killer in his own opinion, on the night in question. On entering the ball-room, his quick eye, attracted at once to the brightest star of the joyous firmament, he resolved on making her a fixed star for the rest of the evening accordingly, he instantly approached Miss St. Ledger, proffered his humble but frank sup

plication, which was as frankly accepted, and away they bounded as leaders off of the first dance. Numerous were the envious aspirations, and not a few the insinuating attempts to share the honour of the lady's hand; but Edmund, like an expert recruiting sergeant, contrived before the conclusion of each dance, to slip a coin into that hand which lawfully enlisted the beautiful owner for the succeeding one-what was the value, or the metal of the said coin, remained a secret, but certainly its impression was perfect-a host of captains, lieutenants, commanders, surgeons, and even the chaplain himself, no less a cutting character, assailed her at every halt, and murmured at the monoply; she smilingly excused herself on the plea that she had been captured at the commencement of the action, and was still at the disposal of her captor, whom she acknowledged to be most ingloriously attentive to so poor a prize, whilst many a superior conquest was yet to be made: once indeed she was entrapped into a conditional engagement for the next dance but two, but supper intervened, the morning approached, and Miss St. Ledger's fatigue was so apparent, that gallantry and charity won her excuse; while she chatted away the last half hour with the baronet her father, and the favoured hero, to whom her condescension and pleasantry had rendered the night doubly triumphant. At the conclusion of the entertainment, Edmund handed his accomplished partner to the carriage, receiving from Sir Bernard a most hearty general invitation to Ledger Court, whenever duty permitted him ashore: this liberal hospitality was extended to a score of his associates and superiors; but the inaudible echo of the compliment in Arabella's eye, as she bade farewell, made it individual; and the honey breath wafted from her lip, by the tip of her fingers, as the coach drove away, assured him of a most cordial welcome.

Other ladies were now handed to their carriages, and other hospitable invites were received; for patriotism, at this exulting season, threw open every door, and spread every board, to the victors over the Citizen lords of the guillotine. A few resident in the city of Exeter, were gallantly convoyed to their homes; and the pleasurable business of the night being concluded, preparations were made by the blues for immediate departure. Several were to return to their vessels down the Exe, their ship's barges being in attendance for that purpose; a few who had longer leave of absence, were starting on excursions amidst the delightful and romantic scenes of the vicinity; numerous post-chaises, gigs, taxed carts, &c. were taking up their loads, and many a rosinante issued from the stables and inn-yards to receive its amphibious cavalier. It is well known that horsemanship is one of the sailors' hobbies, although circumstances render them the most ineligible equestrians in the world, and many is the shipwreck their chivalrous cruizes lead to. Edmund Fortescue was however a tolerable rider, and having furnished himself with the best hack

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