thoughts steal over me-hark! some one enters." The night had fallen, and the large apartment was wrapt in shade; the fair form of the female, as she sat at the window looking on the portal beneath, and the mellow light of the moon as it streamed on her face, presented the idea of some guardian spirit watching over the destiny of man; the ex-Earl was seated near her, looking into her pale and placid face as if to draw from thence some ray of consolation; the door opened, and with a melancholy look a faithful friend, a kinsman of Ossory, stood before them. The Earl started on his feet, and after regarding the countenance of his friend with an inquisitorial glance, sadly asked -"Well Patrick, what is next to befal us? Will your chief still continue our protector, or must we again sleep where the red deer makes his lair, homeless wanderers of the sterile hills ?" "The threats of your tyrant have influenced the Earl of Ossory-the bribes were rejected with scorn," mournfully replied the young man. "Then farewell to you my friend, and bid your chief farewell for me," said Ormond. "I would he had more courage, or more strength; say I bade God bless him." "Yet stay my lord," said Fitz-Patrick, "I have not told you all; the tyrant threatens to exterminate our name, till not an Ossorian remains-to destroy our towns till not a stone stands to mark where a house once stood, unless you are delivered into your kinsman's hands, or you are put to death within these very walls." The resolute bravery on the countenance of Butler changed, he caught his fainting wife to his bosom, as he muttered "Did your chief say he would?" "He hath plighted his word to do so." Butler placed his half lifeless wife on a couch, and leaned over her inanimate form with his hands pressed against his throbbing temples, in bitter and tearless woe. A retrospective vision of his sufferings seemed to pass before his eyes as he exclaimed "Then has it at last come to this, after enduring for four long years dangers, the very name of which men could not hear without a shudder, difficulties almost incredible,-must I now perish, when death has most terror-when life has some promise of amendment, must I die?" "Not so, noble lord," said Patrick, "not so do I assist my friends: a gallant steed waits at the gate, the mountains are near, and the shades of night will cover you." Again the Earl pressed his hands to his head, and from the contortions of his lips, it was manifest a bitter warfare raged within him; his friend watched with impatience, for he knew how precious time was, that a moment's delay was fraught with danger, and his anxiety could not restrain itself.-"Come lord of Ormond," he said, "the veil of night hangs on the mountains and invites you to its friendly shade-haste." Butler raised his head as he started from his meditating posture; his arms folded on his breast, his foot advanced, his keen eye shone with the proud glance of one who felt the mens sibi conscia recti. "Patrick," he said slowly and determinedly, "I remain where I am. If I fall, better do so by the hand of one who has the will but not the power to be a friend, than the base assassin of a tyrant. I could now find no refuge. I have been tracked by blood-hounds through the hills, hunted by men no less savage through the plains, shunned by my fellows as if a plague attended me. When the dread of my kinsman dismays even his bitterest enemy, your noble chief, where can I expect a refuge!-I remain here, and with my last prayer will I bless the name of Fitz-Patrick." A sigh from the Countess now broke in on the conversation, and supplied the youth with a good argument to urge the Earl's departure. "Grant, my lord," he said, "that you remain here, and suffer what I know your resolute heart would permit, surely you will not cause one so young, so constant and confiding, to be cut off in the flower of her youth, in the very morning of her hapless life." The Earl seemed touched: "You have conquered," he cried; "lead me where thou wilt, for her sake will I suffer more. A few moments sufficed to inform the Countess of their situation, she was soon well wrapt up, and leaning on the arm of her lord, followed their conductor. The night was dark and stormy; they soon arrived beneath a venerable tree, which cast its branches over a vast extent of ground, and the lofty top was lost in the dusky clouds. Here stood a strong horse, well accoutred with a saddle and pillion, and tied by the reins to the tree; the Countess was lifted behind, and after grasping the hand of the kind youth, Ormond once more sought safety in flight. The mind of Broghill, amid his illgotten power, was by no means at ease; his conscience eternally reproached him with the injury he inflicted on his nephew and his innocent wife, and his coward soul was in constant dread lest the friends of the young nobleman should at length conspire to recover the estates. Within the once hospitable castle of Kilkenny a sad change had taken place: a rude menial repulsed the stranger at the threshhold, spies peeped out of the port-holes when any person approached, and the tenantry, whom he dealt with hardly, all hated him; the meanest vassal shut his door as he passed by his equals would not hold converse with him things could not last; and the re-appearance of the young Earl and Countess was now hailed with delight. When it was discovered that they had fled the castle of Ossory, nothing could equal the wrath of the ambassadors. After reproaching the chief in terms which nothing, save their character, could save from instant death, they denounced war against all bearing the name of Fitz-Patrick. Instantly the Earl of Ormond summoned his adherents, and advanced into the enemy's country, burning and destroying wheresoever he came. At this critical time, Ormond made his appearance near the banks of the Nore, and was hailed by all as the legitimate chief. The castle was thrown open to him, and, without a shadow of opposition, he and his Countess entered therein. Having collected a good body of forces among those whom he always knew to be faithful to his cause, he fell on his treacherous kinsman in the rear, as he was fighting the troops of Ossory. The tumult instantly attracted the tyrant's attention: on seeing what was about to take place, for his troops were already deserting, he turned his horse to flee; but a blow from Mac Arthy, who fought by his master's side, put an end to his disgraceful life. Lord Ormond was welcomed to his extensive estates with joy, and long and happily did he and his lovely Countess continue to preside over them, with the same hospitality which marked their ancestors the dregs of their cup of joy sweetened by the thoughts of the bitterness they had previously tasted. J. R. O'FLANAGAN. NOTES OF A READER. ADVENTURES OF JONATHAN JEFFERSON WHITLAW. work, is a woman of some talent, but is MRS. TROLLOPE, the authoress of this too fond of exaggeration-her humour often descends to coarseness, which in one of her sex is unpardonable; there are however, some ludicrous sketches worth extracting. We subjoin: A GENUINE AMERICAN CHILD. "Early in the month of August 18—, one of the noblest and largest steamboats ever launched on the Mississippi was seen to bend gracefully round the projecting swell of the bank below Mohana Creek, and approach the landing-place in front of the store. Young Whitlaw was occupied, at the moment she came in sight, in poking a long pole into a hole in the bank, in which he fancied he should find some 'crocodile's eggs.' Struck by her splendid appearance, he left his employment, and placing himself at his accustomed post on the edge of the platform, impatiently awaited her arrival. Before the steam had been let off, or the paddles ceased to play, the impatient boy determined to spring on board, and trusting to his pole, which he fixed, as he thought, firmly on the platform, he attempted to swing himself into the vessel a distance of at least twelve feet. So active and well practised were his young limbs, that it is probable he would have succeeded, had not the slippery log on which he had placed his pole permitted it to give way, at the very moment its firmness was most essential to his safety, and the instant it sank from his hand, the adventurous child fell headlong into the water. Above two hundred persons saw the accident; and the boy's greatest danger now arose from the variety and eagerness of the measures put in practice to save him. But it appeared that the little fellow never lost his presence of mind for a moment; for, without paying the slightest attention to the contradictory cries of Hold fast to this rope' from one quarter, and Catch by this tub' from another, the bold boy, who swam like an otter, deliberately turned from the dangerous projection of the gallery, and marking the moment when the open gangway approached, sprang upwards, seized its railing, and in an instant stood unharmed on board the boat. That awful peculiarity of the Mississippi river, which causes it to bear away whatever sinks beneath its surface, beyond the reach and power of the most skilful search that would recover it, is so well known to every inhabitant of the region, that the sight of a human being falling into its fatal wave creates a much stronger sensation than any similar acci. dent would do elsewhere. Young Whitlaw, therefore, was instantly surrounded by a crowd of anxious and friendly faces. "A pretty considerable escape you've had, my boy!' exclaimed one. "Your fate is not drowning, at any rate, you young devil,' cried another. "A famous swimmer you are, and that's a fact, boy,' observed a third. "And a bold heart as ever I see,' observed a fourth. "Are you not wet to the skin, my poor fellow?' inquired a kind-hearted gentleman, shuddering sympathetically. "And what does it signify if I be?' replied the boy, with an accent which implied more scorn than gratitude. But, I say,' he continued, fixing his eyes on a very handsome rifle which the compassionate gentleman held in his hand, 'what will you sell that there rifle for?' The offended philanthropist turned away, muttering, Impudent young varment!' or some such phrase, while a chorus of laughter from those around testified the general feeling of admiration excited by the dauntless spirits of the saucy boy." 6 AN AMERICAN LOVE-LETTER. "To Mr. Croft, merchant, of Liverpool. "Mr. Croft-Sir,-I guess that by this, your dreadful beautiful daughter, as well as yourself, must become to a pretty considerable good notion of what I am after. The estate at Nixton is all very well, and I wouldn't have any objection to buy it; and as to the price, I find there'd be no matter of difficulty about the needful. Mount Etna is a profitable bit too. But after all, Mr. Croft, what is either estate in consequence compared to the real business in hand between us? I expect I must explain myself, because 't is in rule so to do; though I don't doubt in the least that the beautiful eyes, as have made such work with my heart, have been clear-sighted enough to spy out what they have done. The short and the long of it is, then, that I'm in love with your daughter, Mr. Croft, and that I hereby make a proposal to marry her. One good reason why this match is likely enough to be agreeable to all parties is, that we are both of us only children; which makes the business, as you will allow, a deal more plain-sailing. For, who could Mr. Whitlaw of Mount Etna be after leaving all his property to?-and he has not that little to make it a flea-bite. And who could you, Mr. Croft, devise yours to-which, I don't question, is pretty considerable also-except to us two? So that's plain enough. As to the article of residence, I'm a right down good American, that's a fact nevertheless, I would be no ways particular as to accompanying my wife to England for a spell; and some of our young family might be left to cheer your old age, Mr. Croft, if you wished it, sir. In short, I take it upon myself to assure you that in all things we shall be ready and willing to do what's most agreeable to you. As to money down, I guess that the best way will be not to meddle or make with the Nixton estate at all, but just let that come straight at once to my wife, which I shall consider like one and the same as ready cash; and I understand that you couldn't be well off doing that, seeing that it comes by the young lady's mother, and ought, therefore, as matter of course and justice, to go to her child. There is but one other point, I expect, that need be mentioned at present; but that's one on which I don't think I should be over easy to change, and, therefore, it ought by rights to be done settled, at first starting. Whenever my wife and I goes over to the old country, I never will suffer nor permit any of my niggers to go across with us, for I know from good authority what comes of it: they gets free as soon as they touches that queer old place, and devil a bit should I ever get 'em back again to Louisiana. Not doubting that all I propose will be counted reasonable and handsome, I remain, honoured sir, your friend and son (as would be), "JONATHAN JEFFERSON WHITLAW. "P.S. As I don't see any reason for wishing for delay, I shall be ready to perform my part in the happy ceremony at the shortest notice. DESCRIPTION OF JALAPA. "SUPPOSE us now at Jalapa," says Latrobe, "a picturesque town situated high upon the broken sides of the huge mountain-rampart which serves as a base for the great chain of the eastern branch of the Cordilleras. A lovelier sight, and more beautiful scenery, you need not seek in the torrid zone! Below you, a steep descent leads rapidly down the verdant and fresh slopes, towards the shore of the Gulf, which is just visible from the highest parts of the town, at the distance of twenty leagues and upwards. Above you rises ridge above ridge, crowned by the Coffre de Perote, and yet farther to the southward, by the magnificent snow-covered summit of Orizava, in comparison to whose sublime and majestic stature, the elevated mountains which cluster round its feet, appear but as pigmies. To the right and left, extending along the mountains' sides, at the height of between four and five thousand feet above the sea, lies a delicious and salubrious region, covered with magnificent forests, and diversified with some of the most beautiful towns in New Spain; a country, smiling with an eternal spring, under the kindly influence of the heavy mists and dews, which, rising thus midway up the steep Cordillera from the bosom of the Gulf, pause here in mid-air, and promote that rich verdure, which is equally grateful to the inhabitants of the arid and sterile tableland, or of fervid sands of the sea-board. "To this 'city of refuge' flies the unacclimated European from the port below, as soon as that dreaded sickness, the vomiti prieto makes its annual appearance within the narrow walls,-forgetting the thirst of gain, in sudden solicitude to preserve dear life. To this point, the moment he lands, the panting traveller presses up the steep mountains with might and main; and blesses God when he feels the fresh air of the mountains, and sees the white walls of the convent of San Francisco crowning the steep and here the inhabitant of the table-land, or the departing stranger, pauses and lingers, ere he descend into the infected Tierra Caliente, and ventures to inhale the hot and subtile breath of fever and disease." We paced along our favourite walk, We paced in silence, broken-hearted; We could but weep-we durst not talk, And thus we parted. O! grief can give the blight of years- And then Hope fled. Athenæum. THE FAMILY MANSION OF THE BUONAPARTES, AT AJACCIO. (Translated from the French.) "THE house of the Buonapartes, at Ajaccio, was the handsomest edifice in that town; for the Buonapartes do not date from Napoleon, notwithstanding all that has been asserted by the enemies of the name. The family was one of the oldest, most considerable, and illustrious of the country, even before it had been distinguished from the other patrician races of Corsica by the splendour of an imperial throne. Its nobility is traced up to a period in which it is hidden by the darkness of time. They show in the archives of Ajaccio a register, by which the popular opinion on this point is confirmed. It is a record of a city meeting, which dates from the thirteenth century. At that time, the people were neither Genoese nor French, but true Corsicans, strenuously asserting their independence against the aggressions of the former. At this meeting, twelve lords were chosen by the people to command the militia -there were three Buonapartes among these select men." Thus spoke the Signor Berettoni, as we were sailing through the beautiful gulf of Ajaccio, and cast anchor before that city, which rises from the shore like an amphitheatre. Here everything is Italian, the sky, the climate, the fruits and flowers; and more especially the inhabitants. "Look at those delightful houses! Is not our Ajaccio a fine town?" "Most assuredly! but the house of houses, that which we have made a pilgrimage expressly to visit, the most remarkable of its houses, where is that?" "I understand you-let us leave the quay, and follow this winding and nar row street Signor Berettoni was like all his countrymen; once mention to him the name of Napoleon, to flatter his national pride, which is a species of self-love, and you can get him to do anything. So he undertook to be our pilot through the streets of the Corsican capital. "All that you have just seen," said my guide, as we quitted the vast avenue of the quay, "was not in existence fifty years ago; and when France sent her first governor to the island, the house we are now going to visit was the best in the town; the family which inhabited it you know that family, of course?" "What! the Buonaparte family?" "Look straight forward-that building is its mansion." This annunciation roused us suddenly from meditative ecstasy, into which we had been plunged by the glorious associations necessarily connected with the name of Napoleon, and by the spot whither we had come. General B., who accompanied us on this historical pilgrimage, could scarcely breathe, so strongly was he agitated. "What! that yellow house, with newly-painted green jalousies ?" "Yes, that is it. Three stories high, and four windows to each story, was quite a Corsican palace in 1768. The present proprietor of this illustrious relic is a respectable old gentleman, the only member of the family resident on the island. He is very attentive and civil to strangers and visitors, and will receive you most cordially; only he is always much surprised at the eagerness and enthusiasm of those who come to see his house, and can scarcely understand the importance attached to the chamber where a person was born to whom he was uncle." At this moment the old gentleman walked out of his house. He listened to our request, for permission to see the mansion, with a courteous benevolence of tone and look, and volunteered his services as our guide. Old General B. could scarcely believe his eyes; he actually trembled with emotion; for, I believe, the first time in his life, tears trickled down his cheeks, and showed the nature of the feelings by which he was influenced. We entered the house with that species of religious veneration, with which one is impressed on the threshold of a temple; we were about to inspect and touch with our hands the cradle of the greatest man of modern times. "I have to apologize, gentlemen, for the form and fashion of my furniture, which is, no doubt, different from that now in vogue at Paris, and, as you have just left that city, it no doubt looks odd to you. It was, however, in the newest and best taste in 1818, and I bought it myself there, when I formed one of a deputation, to which honour I was called by the confidence of my fellow-citizens, and perhaps by the unconscious spell which is reflected by an illustrious name. An emperor's uncle may speak of being a deputy, without being looked upon as a boaster." We were amused by his discourse, which we took care not to interrupt. "I perceive your impatience," said he, compressing his lips, as if to hide an ironical smile. "You are all anxiety to see my curiosities and antiquities! But if you will have the kindness to walk still higher up stairs, you shall have a sight of them by-and-by." General B. could scarcely contain his wrath at hearing this careless indifference, and almost disdainful allusion to circumstances which the veteran imperial trooper regarded with fanaticism, and any scorn of which he considered a sacrilege. The old man did not notice his looks and went on: "In the meantime, this was the apartment of my very august and gracious sister, her majesty the empress mother : a generation of kings was born, played and grew up here; and the greater portion of Europe was furnished with sovereigns from this little room. Talking of rooms, this is the one where the most famous of the brothers passed his infancy, and here he lived and slept until the governor's kind interest and patronage procured his reception at the military academy at Brienne. Will you now walk up stairs?" We entered the garret. Do not be scandalized; a year or two later I saw the costly and gorgeous cradle of the king of Rome, put out of sight in another garret of the arch-ducal palace of Marie Louise, at Parma. "Stop," said the old gentleman; "look at that old chair, and that walnut-tree table. He used to sit in that chair, and it was at that table that HE learned his A B C. There is some difference between these worm-eaten articles and the gilded furniture of his cabinet at the Tuileries." The general respectfully kissed this table, or rather its remains, for it was mutilated and cut in such a manner that it could hardly stand upright. "You see that my visitors leave their marks behind them," remarked the proprietor of the house, with a sneer which |