conceivably picturefque in the varying geftures of unreftrained paffion, fo irrefiftibly comic in their fallies, or fo heart-piercingly pathetic in the little airs they would fing, frequently bursting out after an awful filence, as to fascinate the attention and to amufe the fancy whilft torturing the foul. It was the uproar of the paffions which the was compelled to obferve; and to mark the lucid beam of reafon like a light trembling in a focket, or like the flash which divides the threatening clouds of angry heaven only to display the horrors which dark

nefs fhrouded.

A VISIT TO MY NATIVE VILLAGE.

It was the first time I had vifited my native village fince my marriage. But with what different emotions did I return from the bufy world, with a heavy weight of experience benumbing my imagination to scenes that whispered recollections of joy and hope moft eloquently to my heart! The firft fcent of the wild flowers from the heath thrilled through my veins, awaking every sense to pleasure. The icy hand of despair seemed to be removed from my bofom; and the nurtured vifions of a romantic mind burfting on me with all their original wildness and gay exuberance, were again hailed as fweet realities. I forgot with equal facility that I ever felt forrow or knew care in the country, while a tranfient rainbow ftole athwart the cloudy sky of defpondency. The picturefque form of several favourite trees, and the porches of rude cottages with their finiling hedges, were recognized with the gladfome playfulness of childish vivacity. I could have kiffed the chickens that pecked on the common, and longed to pat the cows, and frolic with the dogs that sported on it. I gazed with delight on the windmill, and thought it lucky that it fhould be in motion at the moment I should pass by; and entering the dear green lane which led directly to the village, the found of the well-known rookery gave that fentimental tinge to the varying fenfations of my active foul, which

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only

only ferve to heighten the luftre of the luxuriant scenery. But fpying, as I advanced, the fpire peeping over the withered tops of the aged elms that compofed the rookery, my thoughts flew immediately to the church-yard, and tears of affection, fuch was the effect of my imagination, bedewed my mother's grave! Sorrow gave place to devotional feelings. I wandered through the church in fancy, as I used fometimes to do on a Saturday evening; I recollected with what fervour I addreffed the God of my youth and once more with rapturous love looked above my forrows to the Father of Nature! I paufe-feeling forcibly all the emotions I am defcrib. ing and (reminded as I rcgifter my forrows of the fublime calm I have felt, when in fome tremenduous folitude my foul refted on itself, and feemed to fill the univerfe), I infenfibly breathe foft hufhing every wayward emotion, as if fearing to fully with a figh a contentment fo extatic.

(From her ANSWER to BURKE.)

ON RELIGION.

That civilization, that the cultivation of the under. standing, and refinement of the affections, naturally make a man religious, I am proud to acknowledge. What elfe can fill the aching void in the heart that human pleasures, human friendship can never fill? What elfe can render us refigned to live though condemned to ignorance? What but a profound reverence for the model of all perfection, and the mysterious tie which arifes from a love of goodnefs? What can make us reverence ourfelves but a reverence for that BEING of whom we are faint images? That mighty spirit moves on the waters, confufion hears his voice, and the troubled heart ceases to beat with anguish, for truft in Him bade it be ftill. Confcious dignity may make us rife fuperior to calumny, and fternly brave the winds of adverfe fortune-Raifed in our own efteem by the very storms of which we are the fport. But when friends are unkind,

and

and the heart has not the prop on which it fondly leaned, where can a tender fuffering being fly but to the fearcher of hearts? And when death has defolated the present scene, and torn from us the friend of our youth, when we walk along the accustomed path, and almost fancy nature dead, afk, Where art thou who gave life to thefe well-known fcenes? When memory heightens former pleasures to contract our present profpects there is but one fource of comfort within our reach, and in this fublime folitude the world appears to contain only the Creator and the creature, of whofe happiness he is the fource. Thefe are human feelings.

A SINGULAR CHARACTER.

(From the Rev. Mr. Warner's Walk through Wales).

S the morning was unfavourable, we did not leave

ing away, and the fun appearing, we fet off for Rhaiddar-Gowy, a town at the diftance of thirty-two miles. The view of Brecon from the north is more agreeable and interefting than from any other point. It here appears a fpacious and refpectable town, climbing the declivity and brow of an eminence, with the Usk winding at its feet, and the mountain Pannervaen, rough, precipitous, and dark, rifing behind it to the fouth. Continuing our former plan, we deviated a little from the turnpike road, and ftrolled through the hay-fields, invited by their fragrance, the crop having been but lately carried in. It was not long, however, before we dif covered we had wandered confiderably from the road, and were perplexed by feveral tracks which croffed us in various directions. At this moment C- obferved fome hay-makers in a field at no great diftance; and being a Theffalian in fpeed, he ran to enquire the path we should purfue. Fortunately, one of the company fpoke

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fpoke English, who, sticking his fork in the ground, and throwing on his coat and waistcoat, came to us without delay. We immediately perceived there was character in this man; a quick, dark eye, and sharp features, gave him that appearance of intellect, which is feldom found to be belied upon further acquaintance. He enquired our deftination and object, and finding us neither thy nor referved, declared he should have a pleafure in attending us part of the road to Rhaiddar, which was fomewhat difficult for ftrangers to trace. "But,"

continued he, "I cannot think of doing this, Gentlemen, till you have visited my cottage hard by, and tafted my ale, of which I keep a good bottle for the refreshment of my friends."

The invitation was given with fo much warmth and good-will, that we accepted it without hefitation, and followed our guide to his refidence. It was an humble dwelling, ftanding in the midst of a small but neat garden, under the fide of a fteep hill, fheltering it from the blafts of the east and north. On entering the tenement, which confifted only of a ground floor, we found that it was divided into two apartments: the inner one containing a bed and four chairs, the outer difplaying an infinite variety of heterogeneous articles; implements of deftruction, and books of divinity; culinary utenfils, and apothecary's drugs; cobler's tools, and English claffics; a cabinet and a cupboard, tables and ftools, chairs and benches. We were fhaken by the hand and bidden to fit down; when our friendly conductor, opening the cabinet, produced a bottle and gläffes, the fhell of a good cheefe, fome brown bread, and oaten cake. After the bumper of good fellowship had gone round, mine hoft favoured us with his hiftory, which he recounted with great fpirit, and much humour, exhibiting a complete example of that rare philofophy, which can meet the maladies of life with a fmile, and rife fuperior to the blafts of cafualty, and the frowns of fortune.

His name, he told us, was Robert Lewis, and his fa

mily one of the best in Wales. Inclination, he obferved, led him to follow a profession, but his friends thinking a trade likely to prove more advantageous, he was bound apprentice to a tanner. Happily, or unfortunately, for he was doubtful in which light to confider it, a fair damfel (the daughter of a neighbouring hidalgo, who had more than an ufual portion of national pride) beheld him with complacency; and the regard being mutual, he eluded the vigilance of her parents, bore her off to a neighbouring church, and made her his wife. The idea of their fair relation being matched with a man in trade, was what her haughty kinfmen could not brook; the father's pride more efpecially was forely wounded, and the whole clan vowed to revenge the affront. Their first attempts were of a very hoftile nature, and Lewis recounted a number of "hair breadth 'fcapes," and "most disastrous chances," which he had experienced from their malice; being frequently fhot at from ambufcades, or encountered at night on returning to his dwelling. None of these adventures, however, terminated fatally to him, the aggreffors in general.coming off the worfe, he being a man of great vigour, activity and fpirit. Finding their expectation difappointed, therefore, his enemies changed their plan of operations, and fince they could not injure his perfon, they determined to deftroy his fortune. Here they were at length fuccessful, as art and cunning will ever be when oppofed to candour and incaution.

By a long ferious of malicious schemes, they ruined his bufinefs, blafted his credit, and drove him from the country where he was fettled. "All this, however, gentlemen," continued he, "hard as it may feem, I could have borne with patience, had the effects of their vengeance extended no further. But alas! they wounded me in a tenderer part, they robbed me of my Letty! fhe died of a broken heart, and left me a widower, with four children. I confefs, I had much difficulty in bearing up against this blow, and I was on the point of fink