highly salubrious, but more particularly those, which are so pla ced, as to command the free access of the sea-breeze. We have all heard of the superior salubrity of sea-air, and several circumstances combine to produce it. "One great advantage," says Dr. Harwood of Hastings, "which nature derives from the prevalence of wind, which is itself produced by inequality in the temperature of the air, is that of equalizing it; and it may be easily conceived, that the more constant agitation of the air, as it exists on the sea-coast, and especially one shielded from the more piercing winds, is one of the most important causes of its superior salubrity." Another cause is the combination of a suitable degree of moisture-a condition most favourable to health; and we must also consider the effect of the marine salt, which is held in solution, and which certainly conduces, by its stimulus, to add to and improve the health. The purity of the sea-air is farther enhanced by its being uncontaminated by the admixture of any deleterious foreign substance: its free and extensive circulation over the wide ocean, renders it as pure as possible, by forcing from it those impurities, which the land-air, in towns, at least, cannot fail to collect and accumulate. Thus, therefore, those situations, which are open to the sea-breeze, and sheltered from the oppressive and smoky air of the town, are more salubrious than any other: and the invalid, whose health is not benefitted by a residence in Hobart Town, will do well to consider these points, and provide himself with a suitable domicile accordingly. R. N.B.-New Norfolk, as a healthy place of residence, has been highly, and perhaps, not undeservedly extolled: but, in winter, from the dense and excessive fogs, it is too much charged with humidity to be salubrious: at other seasons, however, we know of no place in the Island, where the invalid can repose with so much satisfaction and enjoyment-it is, indeed, a most delightful and most invigorating place. OH! I REMEMBER WELL. I met him in my father's cot, He stayed, it was but for awhile- He won a heart, devoid of guile, He sought me 'midst my sisters fair, Was always at my side, Would cull the wreath to deck my hair, In all its native pride; And we would roam from flower to flower, Along the moss-grown dell, Nor heed the falling twilight hour, Oh! I remember well," The following anecdote from the history of one, whose career of crime, continued during a period of twenty-seven years, has at length brought him to this Colony, was related to me by an individual who received it from his own mouth; and as I believe, however much it may wear the appearance of invention, that it is strictly true, in conjunction with its being a singular instance of credulity in the victim, I beg to lay it before the readers of the "Hobart Town Magazine." This man, whose name we will call Grey, had, in the course of a journey in Ireland, purchased a very large quantity of salted provisions from a merchant whom he paid with the forged acceptances of Mr. a Member of Parliament, who had by some means or other come into his power. It happened, however, that the provision merchant had business to transact in London, and discovering that Grey was one of a notorious set of swindlers, who had always been fortunate enough to elude the ends of justice, expressed some doubt as to the genuineness of the bills, and on being referred to a banker, was informed that they were forgeries. He immediately had Grey brought up before the Lord Mayor, who, as the prisoner told him a well-connected story of the manner in which they had come into his possession, remanded him until Mr. could be sent for from Ireland. On the day appointed for the second examination, Mr. " or a person professing to be him, made his appearance, swore that the signatures were correct, and of course Grey was discharged. But not contented with escaping, Grey resolved upon being revenged for having been placed in jeopardy, and in order to effect the ruin of the merchant, resorted to the following means. He had discovered, through the agency of his spies, that his enemy was in rather embarrassed circumstances, and caused a letter to be written, (for with all his ability in the art of swindling, he cannot spell three words correctly, nor write a sentence grammatically,} couched in these terms. SIR, Austin Friars, 3rd August, 18-. Understanding that your affairs are suffering a little derangement, and that an advance of cash would be of great service at this juncture; and, also, as we are desirous of doing business with you, we shall be happy to supply you with any sum you may require, to the amount of two thousand pounds, at two and a half per cent. Of course, as the premium required is so low, it will be necessary for you to forward your own, or other good securities to the amount needed, and a draft made payable at the Bank of Ireland, shall be transmitted to you by return of post. We are inclined to be as liberal as possible, therefore your own Bills at three, six, and nine months will suffice. We are, Sir, Your obedient servants, THOMAS SMITH & Co. H. O'BRIEN, Esq. Falling into the trap so well laid for him, Mr. O'Brien did send bills to the whole amount offered in the letter, and Grey put them in circulation, as had been intended, without forwarding the money. When the first fell due, the merchant refused payment, but an action, decided against him, settled the question, and saddled him with not only the two thousand pounds, but the whole of the law expences. One revenge was not sufficient; the above was only part of his plot, and Grey was now determined to destroy that which was of far greater importance to the happiness of his victim than wealthhis domestic comfort; and, accordingly, a second epistle was written:-It ran thus. MADAM, 17, Arrow-street, 12th November, 18-. Necessity has compelled me to apply to you as my last resource, although, of all people, I would have kept you unacquainted with my shame. I am the daughter of a very respectable tradesman, and Mr. O'Brien, when on his last visit to London, was frequently at our house. Passing as he did for a single man, I submitted to the marked attentions he shewed me, nor did I consider myself blameable in listening to the professions of attachment he continually addressed to me. My story is, alas! sadly common-place; by slow degrees winning my affection, he triumphed over my virtue; and now, when my relations have cast me on the world, he, the author of my shame, refuses to afford me the least support. In vain have I written-friendless, pennyless, houseless, but for the kindness of a poor woman who has gratuitously given me shelter, and attended me during my confinement, my unfortunate babe and myself are doomed to suffer the pangs of cold and hunger, while the cause of all, is perhaps enjoying the happiness of a warm hearth and the comforts of domestic life! To you, Madam, who have never deviated from the paths of rectitude, I have presumed to apply, feeling confident that over the worst of men, virtue has some influence, and I do hope that through that influence which you assuredly possess over him, your husband will be induced to do for me, what certainly is his duty, that which he refuses as a boon. Praying for your interference on my behalf I remain, Madam, MRS. O'BRIEN, Carlow. Your most devoted and suffering servant, Mr. O'Brien's protestations to his wife of his utter ignorance of the writer, his total innocence of the charge thus brought against him, availed him nothing. Bickerings and quarrels took the place of affection and peace, and a separation, after a life of twenty years of married bliss, took place between them. Robbed of his money, and of his domestic felicity, one would have thought the ill-fated merchant had endured sufficient to satisfy any revenge; but. no! again the pen was made use of as a weapon in the hands of hatred, and a third letter was despatched to complete his ruin. SIR, Boulogne, sur le Mer, 19th December, 18-. By a mere accident I have discovered your persecutors, the authors of the misfortunes to which you have lately been subject; but as it is unsafe for me with this knowledge to remain in England, and as a letter, (so narrowly do I feel myself watched even here,) would perhaps be intercepted, I shall be happy to communicate to you personally such information as will tend to their apprehension;-should you be fortunate enough to succeed, I beg to make this one stipulation-immediately upon their conviction you will pay over to Messrs. Coutts & Co., the Bankers in London, one hundred pounds on my account. Mr. H. O'BRIEN, I have the honor to be, Sir, Your very obedient servant, WILLIAM DAVIS, On the receipt of this, and in the hope of punishing this worse than assassin, Mr. O'Brien left Ireland for Boulogne, but his endeavors to trace out the writer, were as fruitless as in the former cases. So many annoyances, and so much disappointment preyed upon his mind, and made him neglectful of his already decreasing business, until becoming bankrupt, he wandered about the streets, a destitute beggar, the victim of a vile and heartless swindler. This, I am informed, is not the only instance of perfect villainy in Grey's biography: throughout his whole course, bankruptcies. and broken hearts have been its usual accompaniments, and while he now labors at the Penal Settlement of Port Arthur, not the slightest remorse for having been such a pest to society, ever intrudes itself on the deadened feelings of his heart. What system of Prison Discipline then can be devised sufficiently to punish so fearful a plunderer? In this case the outraged community have a right to demand in retribution the "transportation worse than death," but alas! the difficulty of classifying the children of crime, is such, that the law has awarded to the man who stole only to support his starving family, the self-same punishment. *K. THE VOW. For a kiss of that blood-rich mouth, For the passion within me growing, |