THE UNFORTUNATE ARTIST.

They who have seen the paintings of Caravagio are sensible of the surprising impression they make; bold, swelling, terrible to the last degree; all seems to be animated, and speaks him to be among the foremost of his profession; yet this man's fortune and his fame seemed ever in opposition to

each other.

Unknowing how to flatter the great, he was driven from city to city in the utmost indigence, and might truly be said to paint for his bread.

Having one day insulted a person of distinction, who refused to pay him all the respect which he thought his due, he was obliged to leave Rome, and travel on foot, his usual method of going his journeys down into the country, without either money or friends to assist him.

After he had travelled in this manner as long as his strength would permit, faint with famine and fatigue, he at last called at an obscure inn by the wayside. The host knew by the appearance of his guest his indifferent circumstances, and refused to furnish him a dinner without previous payment.

As Caravagio was entirely destitute of money he took down the inn-keeper's sign, and painted it again for his dinner.

Thus refreshed he proceeded on his journey, and left the inn-keeper not quite satisfied with this method of payinent. Some company of distinction, however, coming soon after, and struck with the beauty of the new sign, bought it at an advanced price, and astonished the inn-keeper with their generosity; he was resolved to get as many signs as possible drawn by the same artist, as he found he could sell them to good advantage; and accordingly set out after Caravagio, in order to bring him back. It was nightfall before he came up to the place, where the unfortunate Caravagio lay dead by the road-side, overcome by fatigue, want, and despair.

REMARKABLE INSTANCE OF INTREPIDITY.

In the reign of Queen Elizabeth, the Lord Thomas Howard having sailed to the Azores, in hopes of intercepting the Spanish plate fleet in its passage from America, was almost surprised by Alphonso Basson, who commanded 53 ships destined for its convoy. Howard stood out to sea with five ships of his squadron, but Sir Richard Grenville, the vice-admiral, in the Revenge, was surrounded by the whole enemy's fleet. He endeavoured to fight his passage through them, and maintained a desperate engagement for fifteen hours, during which he was boarded by fifteen galleons successively. At length his crew being almost killed or disabled, his masts shot away, his hull pierced by 800 cannon balls, his powder spent, and himself covered with wounds, he ordered the gunner to blow up the ship, that she might not fall into the hands of the enemy. The execution of this order was prevented by the lieutenant, who capitulated for the life and liberty of the crew, giving hostages for the payment of their ransom, and Grenville being brought on board the Spanish admiral's ship, died in three days of his wounds. The Spaniards were amazed and confounded at this excess of valour, which cost them 2000 men, who perished in the engagement. Two of their largest galleons were sunk, and two turned adrift as unserviceable, and the Indian fleet being dispersed in a storm, some of the ships fell into the hands of the English.

PIRACY, MURDER, AND RAPE.

IN the year 1735, Captain De Tracy, a Frenchman of a distinguished family, had acquired considerable wealth by his extensive plantations in the vicinity of Samana, in the island of St. Domingo. He had constantly resided on one of his own estates, and had married on the island a Creole lady of remarkable beauty and accomplishments, and was blessed by her with an early family of healthy and interesting children. De Tracy, of an openhearted and generous disposition, uniformly conducted himself towards his slaves and dependants with kindness and affability. His lovely wife seconded his benevolence with a woman's kindness, and taught her yet lisping infants that the negro slave is a human being, wanting but the blessings of civilization to rival the boasted superiority of the European taskmaster. The reader is already informed that De Tracy was rich; and it will scarcely be necessary to say, that he was happy. The heart of De Tracy beat high as he surveyed the universal happiness he had himself created; and the comfort he diffused around on every human being within the sphere of his influence was reflected back on him with tenfold interest: in pious humility he thanked his Maker for the disposition he had blessed him with, and the means with which he had entrusted him, and enjoyed what heaven had sent him, with the feelings of a Christian, and with the manners of a gentleman.

Madame De Tracy was, in manners and disposition, the very counterpart of her husband; and, by the affection and devotedness with which she conducted her own family, and the kindness and amenity with which she studied to promote the happiness and better the condition of all around her, she was respected and beloved in her character of mistress, as fervently as she was idolized by her children and her hasband.

The family of De Tracy consisted at the time of which we write, of one daughter, verging on fifteen, a second one year younger, a fine grown boy of thirteen, another of eight years old, and a smiling infant at the mother's

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breast. The elder daughters possessed all the personal charms, with all the gentleness of their mother; of the boys it need only be said, that they bade fair to inherit the noble-mindedness of their parents. De Tracy, with his amiable and happy family, had resided since his marriage entirely on his principal estate in the island of St. Domingo; but in the summer of the year 1735, he determined to visit the Bahama Islands, of which Madame De Tracy was a native, and where she had now become possessed of considerable property by the bequest of her father, recently deceased. A residence of some months in the Bahamas being advised as necessary to the re-establishment of Madame De Tracy's health, it was arranged that the whole family should accompany them.

In the month of January preceding, a brig, apparently designed for a vessel of war, with a mixed crew of twenty men, and commanded by a Frenchman, was driven, in a severe gale, on the coast, and, having received extensive damage, had been compelled to remain on the island for repair and refitted. Her captain had described himself as a naval commander, educated in the French marine, but compelled to resort to the pursuits of commerce to repair the destruction of his early pursuits and fortune. The numbers and appearance of his crew seemed to be at variance with this account, and the vessel itself bore strong resemblance, in its fitting and general equipment, to one used for the purpose of privateering depredation, rather than the peaceful occupations of trade. The account which La Force, her commander, gave of himself, however, ran, that he was on an outward-bound voyage from Marseilles to the gulph of Florida, with a cargo of Dutch and English manufactured goods, to trade with the Spaniards; and that the unusual number of his crew arose from his having shipped, as passengers, several Spaniards, Portuguese, and Italians, who were proceeding to settle in the Spanish SouthAmerican dominions. The relation accounted tolerably well for the doubtful appearance of his men, and the presence of a number of bales and packages of every variety of sizes, marks, and denominations. The guns of the vessel, with the ammunition, and a quantity of small arms, had, in fact, been thrown overboard as a matter of necessity during the gale, as well to lighten and ease the ship, as to remove all violent cause of suspicion, from the shore on which they were inevitably driving. In few words, to relieve the suspense of the reader, the brig Julie, we are describing, was in reality a stout vessel of war, expressly fitted out by the band of adventurers who formed her desperate crew, for piracy and marauding, and previous to the storm which drove her into St. Domingo, had been in a complete state of warlike readiness to grapple even with armed vessels of much superior rate; and the merchandize and valuables saved from her when stranded, were the result of many rich captures. La Force, who with courteous and specious manners glossed over the blackest heart that perhaps ever animated the human frame, was a pirate of the most determined and fearless character, and of disposition more cruel and relentless than was usual, even amongst the desperadoes of his own class. · De Tracy's faithful servants had observed the doubtful circumstances we have related, and had expressed their opinions freely among themselves. Dugald Steward, a young Scotchman, who by meritorious diligence in the capacity of an overseer on one of De Tracy's estates, was become his confidential clerk, had penetrated deeper into the mystery, and had ascertained, beyond the possibility of doubt, that the seeming integrity of La Force was but a mask to his real character, and that the Julie and her crew were not what they were pretended to be: his utmost ingenuity and vigilance, however,

could not unravel the whole truth, nor effect with his beloved master any of the caution with respect to La Force, which he considered necessary. De Tracy, in the sincerity and openness of his heart, suspected no guile in others, and in an evil hour determined to avail himself of the Julie being ready for sea, and take his projected passage to the Bahamas under the conduct of the pirate La Force and his band of miscreants. It should be told, that from the first landing of La Force from his wicked vessel, De Tracy, with his wonted kindness, had bade him a cheerful welcome to the comforts of his house and table, and the charming family. La Force, ever alert in desperate villany, was, like the adder of the old fable, scarcely warmed with the hospitality that sheltered and protected him, ere he sat down coolly to calculate the possibility of undermining and destroying for ever the peace and happiness of his benefactor the ties of moral obligation would with La Force have weighed but little to prevent his insulting the virtue and modesty of De Tracy's wife and daughters; but in spite of his infamous passions, this diabolical intention readily gave way to a plan of a still blacker hue, of more sweeping and comprehensive mischief.

The stay of De Tracy's family in the Bahamas being determined to be of several months, it was judged necessary to their convenience, as well as a prudent measure of security, to take with them the greatest part of the family plate, jewels, &c. as well as a considerable sum in specie to answer the calls of purchases and current expenses. On the forcible seizure of this treasure, the murder of its owner, and the brutal gratification of his hellish designs on his wife and daughters, to obtain these "at one fell swoop," it was, that the insatiate demon La Force had set his mind!

The misgivings of mind of the vigilant and faithful Dugald were communicated to his master with respectful firmness, but alas! in vain; the treasure was shipped under the gloating eye of La Force himself, and the unsuspecting victims being embarked, the Julie bore from the beloved scenes of his happiness, for ever, the ill-fated De Tracy. The vessel left the harbour amid the shouts of the assembled population of the estate, who shed tears of unaffected regret at their departure, and poured out their prayers for their safety.

The majestic ship proceeded with loud strains of lively music; she seemed, as she swam before the gentle breeze, her new decorations sparkling in the setting sun, her colours proudly floating at every mast-head, and the gay crew answering by their cheers the friendly gratulations from the shore, to be the divinity of the watery element, and the abode of confidence and cheerfulness. It has been already stated, that Madame De Tracy had determined to take with her the whole of her family, and the attendance requisite for their accommodation was secured by the presence of the faithful Dugald, and a free mulatto woman-servant named Rachel.

A favourable light wind and smooth sea soon wafted the Julie from the multitude on the shore, and De Tracy, his wife, his children, his wealth, his all! were now in the hands and at the mercy of the ferocious La Force!

The confinement and sameness of a sea voyage were rendered less annoying to the family of De Tracy than they usually are, by the attentions of La Force; he joined in all their recreations, and afforded every facility to the indulgence of them. Much of the time was spent in conversation, in music, dancing, and in walking on deck enjoying the cool evening breezes; and when the dews of evening obliged them to descend to the cabin, the captain would entertain them with a relation of the various dangers which himself

and other persons had encountered at sea, or detail, with an amusing gravity, some of the prevailing superstitions of sailors.

Thus did the time pass during the greater part of a week, and, from the lightness of the breeze, they were still out of sight of land; nevertheless, every thing proved that they were still in the West-India seas. The sky still preserved its dazzling aspect, and the long range of conical-shaped clouds still floated along the horizon. Land birds, with beautiful plumage, often hovered round the vessel, and they sometimes fancied they could discover a vegetable fragrance in the breezes that swelled their sails.

One delightfully clear morning, when they were in hourly expectation of making the land, La Force announced to De Tracy, that it was his intention to make that day a general festival, it being the anniversary of his birth. His orders were issued to the crew, and the ship's steward received his instructions to make the suitable arrangements for a day of rejoicing. De Tracy gave his orders to Dugald to unpack some choice wines to grace the good cheer of the cabin, and the family were summoned to prepare for a day of joy and festivity; all were eager to promote the hilarity of the occasion; every face seemed to wear an air of cheerful alacrity, except that of Dugald Steward; he alone was serious and pensive, and seemed, by the sigh that occasionally escaped him as he passed his master, and the anxious and wistful looks with which he sometimes regarded him, to be oppressed by a feeling too intense for concealment. Madame De Tracy caught alarm from his unusual appearance, and communicated her apprehensions of some indistinct evil to her husband. De Tracy, however, ever unsuspicious, soothed and quieted her fears, and reassured her by his own cheerfulness. In the mean while the hour of dinner approached; the company partook of an elegant repast on the deck, and the crew enjoyed themselves in another part of the vessel the captain had ordered that every thing should be provided and set forth in the most sumptuous style, and the steward had done full justice to his directions. The wines, which were exquisite and abundant, circulated rapidly, and every glass increased the general gaiety and good humour, while the influence of mirth rendered the ladies additionally amusing and animated. In the midst of the general hilarity, La Force seemed to exert his pleasing powers of conversation in an unusual manner: he related the remarkable adventures which had befallen him on foreign shores, with a grace and loveliness which were captivating: all was life and gladness, and alloyed only to the feelings of De Tracy and his family, by the increased dejection which now became visible in the honest countenance of Dugald.

The day was fast declining, and a part of the crew were busily employed in clearing the decks of all impediments to the evening amusement of music and dancing, when a man from the mast-head announced "LAND!" Ere the evening closed, the ship had approached it sufficiently near to perceive the fragrant groves, and it was determined to remain at anchor at the entrance of an extensive bay till day-break. The family of De Tracy now crowded on deck, admiring the green and enamelled land before them, while a gentle land-breeze wafted a delicious perfume from the spice-groves about them. The group assembled presented a picture of deep and unusual interest. Madame De Tracy, still among the most charming of women, with her lovely daughters in the blossom of their youth and beauty, full of health, and life, and love, stood leaning on her husband's arm, in happiness and fancied security. The rough seamen seemed to smooth their uncouth manners, and