plaint. Her fons, exhausted by hunger, could no longer penetrate the woods, which were deluged every where they laid traps for the little birds which came near their hut, and when they took one, which rarely happened, for they had no longer any bait, they carried it teir parent, and presenting it to her, forced from her a fmile; but she would not eat it unless divided with her children. Three months paffed without any promife of change in their miferable fituation. Compelled at length to take fome step, they held a confultation at the defire of Darina. Guberi propofed first, that they fhould penetrate as far as the coaft, and fell one of their number to the first European they might meet; and to purchase with the money bread, maize, and inftruments of agriculture, with which they might fupport their mother. The brothers replied to this, but with a melancholy filence. To feparate from each other for ever! to become the flaves of white men!' the idea almoft drove them to distraction. Which shall be fold?' cried Teloa, in a tone of grief. Lots muft decide it,' replied Guberi. Let us place three ftones of different fizes in this clay vefiel, thake them together, and he who draws the leaft, muft be the unhappy perfon.'-No, my brother,' interrupted Selico, the lot is already drawn. I am the moft miferable of all; you forget that I have loft Beriffa, and that you alone prevented me from dying, by faying I might be useful to my mother. Confirm what you have faid—this is the time-fell me!'

Guberi and Teloa attempted in vain to oppofe the generous purpose of their brother; Selico refifted their expoftulations, refused to draw his lot, and threatened to go by himself if they would not accompany him; at length the two eldeft gave way. It was agreed that Guberi fhould continue with his mother, and that Teloa should conduct Selico to the Dutch fort, where he should receive the price of his brother's liberty, and that he

fhould immediately return with the provifions which they wanted. When this was determined, Selico alone forebore to weep; but he found it difficult indeed to reftrain them when he was to leave his mother, bid her an eternal adieu, embrace her for the last time, and, what is more, deceive her by promifing foon to return with Teloa, faying that they were only about to vifit their former habitation, and to fee if they could again take poffeffion of it. The good old woman believed them, yet he could hardly tear herself from her fons arms; the trembled at the dangers they were about to encounter; and, by an involuntary motion, ran after Selico the moment fhe loft fight of his perfon.

The two brothers, of whom it could not be faid which was moft unhappy, in a fhort time arrived at Sabi. Murder had then ceafed, peace began again to fmile, the king of Dahomai, undisturbed poffeffor of the territory of Juida, wished to encourage a commerce with the Europeans, whom he invited to his city. Many English and French merchants were received at the monarch's court, who fold them his numerous prifoners, and divided among his troops the lands of the vanquished. Teloa foon found a merchant who offered him a hundred crowns for his young brother. As he hefitated, trembled in all his limbs, and difputed about this horrible bargain, a trumpet was heard, and a public cryer announced with a loud voice, that the king of Dahomai promifed four hundred ounces of gold to whomfoever would bring him alive a young negro, who the night before had dared to profane the feraglio of the monarch, and had efcaped toward the caft, from the purfuit of the guards. Selico heard the proclamation, made a fign to Teloa not to conclude his bargain with the merchant; and, taking his brother aside, fpoke to him thus in a firm tone:

You are come to fell me, and I wished that you fhould, in order to fupport my mother; but the fmall

fum

fum which this white offers you cannot prove of material importance; four hundred ounces of gold will fecure certain wealth for ever to you and to Darina. You must get this, my brother: bind me this moment, and carry me to the king as the guilty perfon whom he wants. not alarmed, I know as well as you do what punishment I have to expect. I have calculated how long it will endure it will not exceed an hour, and when my mother brought me forth fhe fuffered more.'

Be

Teloa trembling could make no reply; penetrated with tenderness and affection, he fell at the feet of Selico, embraced his knees, conjured him in the name of his mother, of Beriffa, by all he held dear, to renounce his terrible purpofe. Of whom do you fpeak,' faid Selico, with a fevere fmile. I have lost Berissa, and I wish to meet her again. I fave my mother's life by my death, I make my brothers rich for ever, and I efcape a flavery which might be protracted for forty years. My choice is made, prefs me no farther, or I go and furrender myself; you will then lofe all advantage by my death, and you will occafion mifery to her to whom we owe our lives.'

Awed by the manner and the accent in which Selico pronounced these laft words, Teloa ventured not to reply; he obeyed his brother, went and got cords, bound his hands behind him, bathing the knots with his tears, and making him walk before him, proceeded to the king's palace.

Stopped by the guards, he demanded an audience of the king; he was announced and introduced. The king of Dahomai, covered with gold and precious ftones, was reclining on a fcarlet fofa, his head refting on the bofom of his favourites, who were dreffed in rich brocaded filks, but were naked from the waift upward. His ministers and officers, fuperbly dreffed, were proftrate twenty feet from him. The most valiant were distinguished by a collar of human

teeth, each of which teftified a victory. Many females with mufquets on their fhoulders guarded the door of the apartment. Large golden vafes contining palm wine, brandy, and strong liquors, were placed at fome distance from the king, and the hall was paved with the fculls of his enemies. • Sovereign of the wo ld!' cried Teloa, proftrating himself on the ground, I come in compliance with your facred orders to deliver into your handsHe could not finish, and his voice died away upon his lips. The king interrogated him, but he could make no reply. At length Selico bega1:

King of Dahomai,' faid he, you fee before you the wretch who, induced by a guilty paffion laft night, penetrated the receffes of your feraglio. He who brings me here in chains was a long time my friend, and I did not fear to truft him with my fecret. Zeal for your fervice has prevailed with him to violate his friendship. He furprised me in my fleep, has loaded me with chains, and comes to demand the reward; give it him, for the miferable man has deserved it.'

The king, without vouchsafing any anfwer, made a fign to one of his officers, who, viewing the prifoner, gave him into the cuftody of the female guards, and paid Teloa the four hundred ounces of gold, This laft, taking the gold, the touch of which agonized his foul, went and purchased provifions; and, precipi tately leaving the town, made haste to his mother.

Already, by order of the prince, they were making ready the horrible punishment to which they are doomed who commit adultery with the wives of the fovereign. Two large trenches are funk at a small diftance from each other. In that which is intended for the guilty female, they fix the unfortunate culprit to a stake, and all the women of the feraglio, clothed in their moft fumptuous dreffes, carrying in their hands large veffels of boiling water, advance to the found of tabors and flutes, to pour this water upon

her

her head till the expires. The other trench contains a pile of wood, upon which they place a crofs bar of iron, which is fupported by two raised ftakes. To this bar the criminal is fecured, fire is fet to the pile, and the wretched creatures perish, after protracted torments being only reached by the extremities of the flame. The place was filled with people; the troops under arms formed a fquare, bearing their fpears and mufquets; the priests, in their dreffes of ceremony, waited for the two victims to lay their hands upon them and devote them to death. They appeared from different corners, guarded by the armed females. Selico, calm and refigned, advanced with his head raised up. When he came toward the stake he could not avoid lifting his eyes toward the companion of his mifery. What was his aftonishment and grief on beholding Beriffa! He uttered a loud cry, and would have darted to her, but was withheld by the executioners. Soon his firft emotion gave way to indignation. Wretch! that I am,' he cried, while I courted death, hoping again to meet her, she was among these vile females who contend for a tyrant's affections. Not content with her perfidiousness in love, fhe was alfo faithlefs to her mafter; fhe deserved the title of adulteress, and the punishment of her crime. Oh, my mother! for thee alone I die-it is on thee alone that I can bear to think!'

At this inftant the wretched Beriffa recognizing Selico, uttered a loud fcream; the called the priests, and declared to them aloud, that the young man they were about to kill, was not he who had penetrated the feraglio. She fwore this by the heavens, the mountains, the thunder, and the most auguft of the facred ferpents. The priests intimidated, ordered the execution to be fufpended, and ran to inform the king, who was himself prefent. Indignation and fury difturbed the countenance of the monarch when he approached Beriffa.

Slave!' faid he, in a terrible voice -thou who contemneft the love of thy mafter, thou whom I would have raised to the rank of my first fultana, and who, in fpite of your refusal, I have fuffered to live, what is your purpose in pretending to deny the guilt of your accomplice? Doft thou" wish to fave him? If this be not thy lover, name who he is deliver the guilty to my juftice, and I will release the innocent!'

'King of Dahomai,' replied Beriffa, who was already fecured to the fatal ftake, I cannot accept thy heart, I poffefs not my own; I did not fear to tell you fo. Do you think, that fhe who would not live to share a crown, would speak a falfehood at the moment of death? No, I confess all, and repeat my refusal. A man did last night enter my apartment, he did not leave it till the morning;-but this was not the man! You ask me to name him; I ought not, I will not; I am ready to die; I know that nothing can fave me, and I only protract the fatal moment to prevent you from perpetrating a crime. I again swear to you, king of Dahomai, that the blood of this innocent perfon will fall upon your head: release him, and punish me! I have no more to say.'

The king was ftruck with Beriffa's words, as well as with her manner of pronouncing them. He gave no orders, but declining his head, was aftonished at the reluctance which he this moment felt to fhed blood. But remembering that this negro had accufed himself, and attributing to love, the intereft which Beriffa discovered for him, all his rage was rekindled, He made a fign to the executioners ; the pile was lighted, the women advanced with their veffels of boiling water, when an old man out of breath, covered with wounds and duft, burst through the crowd, and fuddenly threw himself at the feet of the king.

Stop!' faid he, I implore you ta Rop: I alone am the guilty person;

it is I who have burst through the walls of your feraglio, attempting the delivery of my daughter. I was once the high priest of the deity who was here adored. They tore my child from my arms, and conducted her to this palace. Since that time, I have eagerly fought an opportunity to fee her again. This last night I penetrated to her apartment-in vain did fhe attempt to follow me, for your guards discovered us. I escaped alone, notwithstanding the arrows with which you fee me pierced. I come to offer you your victim! I come to expire with her, for whom alone I defired to live!'

He had hardly finished when the king commanded the priests to release the unhappy prifoners, and bring them before him. He examined Selico, wishing to know what important motive could induce him voluntarily to feel fo dreadful a punishment.

Selico, whofe heart panted with joy at finding Beriffa again, and faithful, was not afraid to reveal every thing to the monarch. He related to him his misfortunes, the diftreffes of his mother, and the refolution he had taken to obtain for her the four hundred ounces of gold. Beriffa and her father heard him with tears of delight and admiration: the chiefs, the foldiers, and the people melted with tenderness: the king himself perceived tears to fall, which never be

fore had bedewed his cheeks.-Such is the charm of virtue, that barbarians themselves adore it!

After hearing Selico, the king gave him his hand, and bade him rise; and, turning to the European merchants, whom this fpectacle had collected, You,' faid he, to whom wisdom, experience, and the illumination of a long civilization, have fo long taught what is the specific value of a man, of how much value think you is this?' A young Frenchman more bold than the reft, exclaimed, Ten thousand crowns of gold!' Which fhall be given to Beriffa,' faid the king, with this the may purchase the hand of Selico.

This order was executed on the spot, and the king of Dahomai retired, aftonished at feeling a delight he had never before experienced.

Farulho the very fame day gave his daughter to Selico. The young couple, accompanied by the old man, departed next day with their treasure, to go in fearch of Darina. She, as well as the brothers of Selico, were ready almost to expire with joy. This virtuous family feparated no more, but well enjoyed their riches, and in a barbarous region, offered, for a long period, the fairest example which heaven could give to the earth that of happiness and wealth produced by virtue.

philofopher, David Hume, was once at Paris, fome converfation paffed between him and meffieurs d'Alembert, Diderot, and other fublime geniuffes, who were remarkable for affecting a noble contempt of the narrow notions and vulgar prejudices which, as they would have it, debafed the understanding even of a Bacon, a Newton, and a Locke. In the course of the converfation, it was difcovered, that Mr. Hume did not go quite to fir in the Unbel ever's

contended for the existence, and for the moral government, of a Deity. After he had left the room, one of thefe great philofophers being afked what he thought of Mr. Hume, anfwered, that he certainly was a man of an enlarged and liberal turn of mind, and that it was a great pity he had not been able to diveft himself wholly of fuperftition, and to fhake off the remaining prejudices of his education!

SKETCHES

I knew

YES, poor fellow! Cheerful

companion never enlivened the briskly-circling glafs, or heightened the convivial pleasures of the table. He was, indeed, the foul of anecdote and wit. His invention was as fertile as his memory was rich; and whatever the latter retained, the former was certain to embellish with fo much originality and variety, that his stock of pleasantry and information never appeared in any danger of being exhaufted; for though you had heard him repeat a thing a thousand times, his language was fo variegated, his reflections fo copious and diverfified, and his art of placing the fame adventure in different points of view fo unlimited, that repetition itself had always the air of originality, and the staleft anecdote was tranfmuted into novelty, as it paffed through the laboratory of his humourous fancy.'

Your defcription of him is very juft. Poor Tom! Thou waft, indeed, an exquifite fellow; the effence of conviviality and humour. Thou hadft but one fault-a grievous one, indeed, in the eye of worldlingsGenerosity.'

Nor could he,' faid Mifanthropos, (joining for the first time, during the whole afternoon, in the fprightly converfation of the circle, in which, like myself, he occupied a chair)- Nor could he, with refpect to himself, have been infected with a fault more deftructive. Generofity! It is the miftrefs of impotent dotage, whom every body enjoys, but the keeper-the fire that confumes your house and fubftance, that the unfeeling crowd may be amufed with the illumination.'

confuming fires of impotence! the

chafte and lovely partner of the conjugal heart, who, while the diffuses her fmiles and attentions around the focial circle, imparts, with concentrating warmth, the reflection of every pleasure the beftows, to the lord of her fonder affections, whose bofom is the native mansion of her felicity !— Call it the fertilizing stream, whose transparent meanders may please, indeed, the eye of the traveller, but whofe richeft bleffings are the rewards of the owner of the foil!'

Well, gentlemen,' faid Arifor, your arguments will, I dare fay, in all due feafon, arrive at the fame point of conclufion; for both feem to be travelling poft on the fame high road of metaphorical hyperbole; and the distance of your opinions, even at prefent, appears to confift only in the difference between fire and water.

I muft, however, for my own part, entirely agree with my friend Ardens, in his comparison of generofity and the lucid ftream; both of them being, undoubtedly, delightful enough to the travellers they refefh on their way; and both of them hav◄ ing the fame fertilizing effect upon the fcenes they embellish. But then, perhaps, upon a more critical examination, this trifling difference will be found to prefent itself-while the proprietor of the latter reaps the abundance it imparts, the course of the former is conftantly directed through alien grounds, and leaves, to its owner, nought but bankruptcy and ruin.'

I

Ruin!' echoed Benevolus, never yet knew a man ruined by his generofity.'

Nor I either,' faid Obfervator: injured, deeply injured, I have known many a generous man; but abfolute ruin is referved for the felfish, the profligate, and the mean flave of fenfuality and low indulgence.'

Y

• And