an authenticated copy of his will, with all necessary documents, to our respected friends, Messrs

of London, who will communicate with you on the subject. In the mean time, we shall act upon the general power of attorney, which you left with us, and consolidate his property. By his account, and the accompanying statement, it amounts to nearly one hundred thousand rupees, besides 30007. now in the Three per cent. Reduced Annuities, which latter sum you may dispose of by power of attorney in London. The whole shall be remitted, in good bills, at the most favourable rate of exchange; and, with every good wish we remain, "Dear Sir,

66

Very truly,

"Your assured and faithful

"humble servants."

This communication appeared to me so extraordinary, and its contents were of a nature so completely unexpected, that I felt, for some moments, as I have often felt after a dream. I had almost forgotten my old acquaintance, Peter It is true, he sometimes professed friendship for

me during our near neighbourhood in Calcutta, and I remember he often told my eldest daughter, then a sweet chatterbox, and a great favourite with him, that he would leave her all his wealth; yet I considered this merely an effervescence of his good heart in a warm hour, and the impression had left only a faint trace on my mind.

Peter L--, Esq. was one of those eccentric beings whose happiness, consists in setting public opinion at defiance. Singularity elevates men, I have no doubt, in their own opinion; to treat all the fashions of our own times with contempt, is an assumption of possessing higher taste than our contemporaries, and he who thus claims unimitated superiority, makes up in self-complacency what he loses in censure and ridicule. In confirmation of this remark, I can say, that I never knew any one better pleased with self than my professing friend Peter. He wore his hair unpowdered, in a long queue, whilst every one about him exhibited the Стор à la mode. His dress was of the cut in use a century ago, and his hat as broad-brimmed as a Quaker's. I have often indulged an innocent smile at his figure, yet I never fixed attention on his

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countenance without respect; it was a face in which human kindness was seen peering over the shoulder of cynicism. Having resided long in different parts of India, he had a "climatized" complexion his features were relaxed, yet his eye was full of spirit; it seemed on fire when a generous action was mentioned; it melted at a tale of woe; and the recital of a disappointment in love never failed to awaken his melancholy; for, though he was generally well pleased with himself, as I have said, and at certain times elevated in spirit almost beyond sanity of mind, he was occasionally afflicted with great depression. There was in his conduct a considerable portion of mystery he pretended to hate mankind, yet he was continually relieving individual distress; he assured me, that in his life there was nothing extraordinary, yet his exclamations of sustained injury indicated familiarity with vicissitude; and, gazing on my little daughter's face, I have heard him, when turning away in agony, mutter, "Had she remained innocent, like thee!" All I could learn or surmise was, that he had been disappointed and cruelly treated in love; and that, in my child's

countenance, there was a certain something, which reminded him of a once adored object, and soothed, or charmed, whilst it wounded him. He had acquired his wealth by commercial pursuits; but for many a year he had led a most retired life, shunning society, despising appearance, accounted a miser, but in reality a most benevolent soul, and attached to scarcely an individual, till accident brought him acquainted with my little pet. My acquaintance was then courted by him, and in his oddities I took great delight. He used to drop in whenever he pleased; at times he almost became troublesome, yet I never could prevail on him to accept a special invitation. Since my return we had not exchanged a letter. This is all I know about my munificent friend, Peter L-, Esq. The circumstance of his making me his heir is another proof of the strange flights which riches take. Surely there was less folly in Mr. L.'s bequeathing me his wealth, than in Lord Kilmorey's leaving his estate to a stranger, because he bore the name of Needham.

Out of the news-room I hastened to the inn, and called for my horse, that I might, with all possible

speed, apprise those I loved of our astonishing fortune; but, just as I reached my own door, another occurrence was communicated to me, which surprised me as much as the two I have related. Here I must pause, to express my wonder at the extraordinary conjunctions which sometimes impart to the common accidents of life all the visionary air of Yet I am convinced, that almost every one, in the course of his existence, may recollect circumstances in his own history equally fortuitous, and perhaps as interestingly simultaneous.

romance.