dangered, by the French having an organifed force in that country.Now, after all the fpeculation of our wife journalists, why has not even one of them thrown out a hint, that the Rochefort squadron with officers and troops on board, was to have gone to the Eaft Indies. "Beware thou vigorous and vigilant Mr. G. Canning, left thou may not have not let fuch a force as the R. S. flip through your hands. Think well what mifchief it may not effect, if that country be its deftination, and think alfo, what refponfibility you may thereby incur."— But it would feem that Mr. Cobbett, the oracle of the prefent miniftry, expects the deftruction of our power in the Eaft; for he is already by anticipation, confoling us for the lofs that the nation might feel from the annihilation of its commerce.

The tranquility of Ireland was never more vifible, than at the prefent period. A few folitary deeds of mur. der and rapine continue to be commited in the fouth; but if we confider the provocation that thefe unfortunate creatures receive from the grinding fyllem of the landlords, from the general and opprelive pover ty, that every where affects the peafant. If we confider him turned out of his wretched hovel and his few acres, by fome wealthy brute, who takes the farm over his head; if we fee him agitated by the fears of ap proaching want, and the cries of naked, ftarving children; if we add to this the natural impétuofity of the Irish character, will we be furprifed that his pafions will rife fuperior to reafon, and that he will be driven to revenge. Let us not throw the whole blame on this miferable victim of poverty and paffion-Let us rather, with the enlightened and feeling Baron Smith, attribute it to another

caufe, and weep over his woes; and let us hope, that Government may not be entirely fo blind to, or careless of, the true ftate of the mafs of the Irish people, as not to apply a radical cure, to the radical evil which produces thefe outrages.

We intended to make fome remarks on the statements of Dr. Duignan in the houfe of commons, relative to the production he afferted to be undertaken and fupported by an affociation of 110 Priests, for the purpose of misreprefenting the conduct of England towards Ireland As we fhall leave our merit to the candid judgment of the Irish public, we will pafs by the Dr. with fomething like contempt, for the abfurdity and falfity of his affertions. Not one Roman Cetholic clergyman in the city of Dublin has ever contributed a paragraph to the Irish Magazine, and as to misreprefenting historical facts, fuch mifreprefentation would flatter the English, 'tis only the truth that can give them uneafiness.

To Mr. Parnell, who feems to have inherited the patriotifm of an Irishman, we

have to return our

thanks. To him we are indebted for a defence of the Irish prefs against the attacks of the bigotted, against fuch men as thofe, we have the hardihood to declare in the face of an indignant people, what Tom Paine's Rights of Man, is a clafs-book, in the fchools of the Catholics.

CATHAL.

An Interesting Story.

The incidents which happen to human life, are so various, and in a number of cafes fo extraordinary, either in the prevention of evils intended or in the punishment of those al. ready committed, that the most obdurate fceptic, or confirmed atheift, will find it difficult to attribute them to the ordinary occurrences of things, without having recourfe to the direction and interpofition of Divine Providence.

On the colonization of America from the British iflands, during the clofe of the preceding and commencement of the last century, a number of perfons made a profeffion of not only stealing children and young perfons, in order to fell them to the planters, bat even thofe more advanced in years, if dwelling on the fea coaft, were not fecure, whatever might be their fex or condition; and numbers were thus for ever loft to their country, families and friends in both islands.

In the South of Ireland, near the fea-coaft, dwelt Cathal, who occupied not only extenfive farms, and a confiderable perfonal property, but was in his manners amiable, and dif pofition correct and honourable.

About the age of twenty-three he entered into the marriage ftate with a young lady of an amiable temper, improved mind, and genteel fortune. for two years they lived the happiest of couples, refpected and honoured by every perfon who had the pleasure of

their acquaintance and neighbourhood. On a fudden the mind of Cathal became over-caft with black clouds of melancholy, his wonted cheerfulness forfook him, he was referved and filent; his moft intimate acquaintance and nearest relatives could not difcover the caufe of his anxiety, even the endearments and careffes of an amiable wife were ineffectual. Time feemed to increase rather than abate the malady, when towards the dusk of the evening, on a fummer's day, feeming under great perturbation of mind, he walked into his fields near the fea coaft, but was not heard of more. From the ftate of his mind for fome time, it was imagined he had put an end to his ex. iftence, either by water or the bul let, but though every fearch was made, no information could be received. Even inquiries were made in America, from a prefumption that he might be kidnapped to that continent or the Weft Indies, but all in vain. Days, months, and years thus paffed on, but no account could be obtained. Whence after a period of fifteen years anxious fufpence, the heir at law took poffeffion of his pro perty, referving thercout a legal and proper dower for the reputed widow; who, fome few months after this fettlement, entered a fecond time into the bonds of wedlock, with a gentleman of confiderable landed property, and from whom the obtained a genteel and ample jointure.

Cathal however was not dead, but he had conceived a mortal and deeprooted

rooted jealoufy against his wife, tho' no perfon whatever could behave with greater propriety and decorum; and on the evening of his departure, had formed the diabolical idea of murdering the most amiable of her sex. Whilft thefe gloomy and horrid thoughts occupied his diftracted mind, he was fuddenly furrounded by four men in the habit of feamen who conducted him to a fhip lying off the coaft, which immediately fet fail as it as fuppofed for America.

For fome time they had a profpe rous voyage; but at length a terrible florm arofe, which, with adverse winds, drove them entirely out of their course, on the coast of Africa, in a very crippled condition; the the fails were almoft rent in pieces, and yards broken; fo that it was impoff ble to proceed without repairs. It was therefore determined to make for the Madeiras, and they were already in fight of these iflands, when they were attacked by a Sallee Rover, taken and carried into that port. From whence Cathal and his companions were marched into the interior parts of the country, through barren rocks and fandy deferts, almoft naked, and expofed during the day to a fchorching fun, and during the night to no lefs pernicious dews. Fifteen days of a laborious and painful journey brought them to the city of Morocco, where, in the public market they were fold for flaves, and fent into various parts of the country. Cathal's lot was to work in the gardens of the emperor, in which his labour was great, and maintenanc indifferent. I he conftant drawing of water for the feveral and numerous plants in that dry and fultry climate during the night, with digging and other occupations in the day, nearly exhaufted his ftrength. But his corporeal fufferings, however great, were by no means equal to his mental; repen.

tance and remorfe had now fucceeded his former frenzy, and he faw the injuftice and wickedness of his former ill-grounded fufpicions: but alas! it was now too late, there was no probability remaining, or even a moft diftant profpect of his ever feeing his injured wife, home, or country, again. A calm and pious refignation to his wretched fate, and a diligence in the duties of his business, were the only confolations now left him He had always been fond of gardening, by which means he had acquired a confiderable knowledge in that rural art. This, with the propriety of his conduct, after fome years, advanced him to the rank of principal gardener and director of the plantations belonging to the royal palace. In this state, the case which he took of the fountains, arbours, and fhady groves, procured the attention of, and numerous valuable prefents from, the ladies of the feraglio. One, in particular, who was by birth an European, ufed her utmoft endeavours to soften the rigours of his fervitude. By her inte reft he was made principal builder or architect of the palace, an employment not only honourable but lucrative; fo that after a period of thirty years, he found himself poffeffed of a property, not only fufficient to purchafe his freedom, but to render him independent and comfortable during the remainder of his life: he therefore began to entertain ferious thoughts of returning to his native country. Having procured his liberty, and by means of the English Conful at Algiers, obtained permiffion of the Emperor to quit his fervice, he embarked from the laft-mentioned port, and after a profperous_voyage of five weeks, arrived fafe at Cork.Though now in his native country, and near the place of his birth, he found himself a perfect stranger An

abfence

abfence of thirty years, and the burning fun of Africa, had fo much altered both his complexion and features that it was impoffible for those of his moft intimate acquaintance to recollect him; and the intereft of his relations, efpecially those who were in poffeffion of his property, prevented them from acknowledging a perfon, who would on that account deprive them of a great part of their income. A law-fuit was in confequence commenced, but not being able to identify his perfon, he loft his caufe. Chagrined at the difappointment, he broke off all connexion with his family, changed his name, and with the property which he had brought from abroad, retired to Dublin, where he remained several years.

During his refidence in that city, he became acquainted with a widow lady, fomewhat turned of fifty, of an amiable difpofition and large dower; he paid his addreffes to her, and after some time they were married. But what was their mutual aftonishment, when, from relating the paft tranfactions of their lives, it was discovered that the lady with whom Cathal had again entered into matrimony, was his former wife. Her fecond hufband had died fome years before the return of her first from flavery. By her entreaties another law fuit was commenced, and fhe being able to identify his perfon, they recovered all their property, and lived the remainder of their lives in perfect union and happiness.

Here we may obferve the wifdom and juftice of Providence. If Cathal had not been taken off by the failors, he would have murdered an innocent and amiable perfon, and himself fuffered an ignominious death from the offended laws of his country. Even the intention of the crime was fevere

MARQUIS D'ARGENS.

Experience obtains many proofs that philofophy is but of little avail againft temperament; and the following anecdote ofthe Marquis d'Argens, a French philofopher, of the fchool of Voltaire, and Chamberlain of Frederick the Great, King of Pruffia, furnishes one which is not the leaft ftriking:

"He laboured under an inveterate hypochondria; and nothing was fo eafy as to induce him to believe he If he was told that he look

was ill.

ed pale, this was fufficient to make him fhut himself up, and take to his bed. He feldom went out but to vifit the King; and when he was in his chamber, he was always wrapped up in two or three morning gowns ; while two caps, one of cotton and another of flannel, protected his head. A few clouds, a flight mift a little rain, a cold wind, either of thefe was enough to affect his fpirits, to difcompofe his mind, and to make him decline the King's invitation.— He would for fome fuch flight caufe fhut himself up.

"Happen

"Happening to hear a memoir of Cothenius, read at the academy, on the danger of ufing copper utenfils in cookery, he became ever afterwards haunted by the apprehenfions of being poifoned, was conftantly fpeaking of it at his meals, and made his wife folemnly promife to banish all copper from his kitchen. This lady was a very difcreet woman, but living in a state of great retirement, in order a little to cheer it the expreffed a with to give a bali at the houfe of the king's head gardener, and the Marquis confented. Fearful, however, that he would by his apprehenfions and fingularities difturb the feftivity, his family kinted to him, when the appointed night came, that the air was cold, and the hesvens lowering; well knowing that this information would fuffice to make him feel indifpofed, and betake himfelf to his bead, and they were not difappointed. They then fet out for the gardener's houfe, fuppofing that the Marquis would be foon afleep. He did in fact fall afleep; but dreaming of poifon and copper, he awoke, and calling for his valet, but receiving no answer, he concluded that the premises were clear, and that now was his time to examine whether his orders had been followed in regard to the kitchen. He therefore rifes, puts on his robe de chambre, lights his taper, and marches directly to the kitchen; where the first obje&t which meets his eye is a copper flewpan and fets out just as he was for the ball room. He had to cross the whole breadth of the royal garden, which was very wide; but he runs, and foon reaches the joyous fcene, opens the door, prefenting himfelf in his morning veftment, with his naked feet (for he had loft his flippers in the journey), having two or three night caps on his head, the lappets of his fhirt being the sport of the wind, and the few-pan in his hand, with the remains of the ragout, exclaiming I

am poifoned.' am poifoned. He then poured out a voley of reproaches against his wife, and threatened to difmits all his fervants, for having uted copper utenfil in the kitchen, 'contrary to his orders. He was appeafed with difficulty; but recollecting the ftate in which he was, and the risk he ran from expofing himself to the cold night air, he was thrown into the greateft alarm, and permitted him!elf having been fit wrapped up, to be gently carried back to his cham ber."

CHANCELLOR D'AUGUESSAU.

Henry Frs. D'Auguffau, one of the greateft and worthief Magiftrates France ever produced, was the fon of M. d'Augueffau, Counsellor of State, was born at Limoges, 1663. When young he acquired great proficiency in the learned languages was

a paffionate admirer of the Greek poets, and improved his tafte in polite literature by the converfation of Racine and Boileau, who honoured him with their friend fhip. His progrefs in the ftudy of the law, though not fuited to his genius, was rapid, and his previous education enabled him to join the graces of ora tory to a profound knowledge of his profeffion.

In 1689, he made his first appearance as king's advocate, and in the following year was appointed to the newly inflitued office of advocate goneral to the parliament, in which he acquitted himfelf with the highest applaufe.

At the recommendation of the prefident, Harley, he was premoted to the office of attorney general, at the age of thirty two years, and in the difcharge of it he iewed himfelf upon all occafions the friend of civil liberty, particularly in his fupport of the Janfenifts, and his cppofition to the bill Unigendus, with which the kingdom was afterwards

tormented