"Several times did I repeat the same attempt; and though a chilling awe crept through my veins, and made my blood run cold, yet nothing had presented itself to my sight, though it was evident that the eyes of the horse were fixed upon something supernaturally terrific. French squadron having been seen ho- | bow, continued his fleet career; when, vering off the coast,) the free negroes in a moment, he stopped, threw out his were armed and enrolled as volunteers. forelegs, and reared upon his haunches, To effect this at a village about six miles while steaming foam issued from his in the interior, I was despatched with nostrils. It was with considerable difproper orders, and the boat landed me ficulty that I retained my seat; and as at the nearest point to my place of desti- the creature refused to proceed, I rode nation. It was late in the evening be- back a short distance and again made an fore my duty was completed; and as I effort to pursue my direct road, but in was particularly desirous to return to the vain; the animal stopped at the same ship and make my report, an officer of spot, and flew from side to side of the the York Rangers lent me a beautiful highway, nor could the whip and spur and spirited horse, which I mounted, urge him to advance. though not without a few misgivings, which were much increased when I was jocosely requested not to fall in love with the "ghost" on my road. On the wayside stood a lone and uninhabited house, where a trafficker in human flesh had murdered his wife; and ever since, the lady or her apparition had presented herself, after dark, before the gate. Beyond this house were the remains of a negro village, which previously to colonization had been attacked by slavedealers, and burned. The aged inhabitants were massacred, the young were borne to slavery; and now it was asserted that the former visited their old habitations, and called aloud for vengeance to redress their wrongs. Such tales were not calculated to inspire composure: but I strove to laugh at the jokes passed on me, and started off at full speed, declaring that "the ghosts should have a long chase, if they felt inclined to sport." "The empty boast still faltered on my heart, and my tremulous hand could scarcely hold the rein, when the house of death, all desolate, appeared in view. Striking the spurs into the sides of the generous animal, he sprang forward on his way, and passed the dreadful spot without my witnessing any thing to excite horror. "Although the moon was up, yet storms were on the wind, and heavy clouds obscured her light. Often in imagination did I hear the shrieks of the slaughtered negroes as they came howling on the gale, whilst I rapidly approached the ruined village which had been the terrific scene of blood. A black cloud thick with darkness overshadowed the picture, and spread a gloomy wildness over every object. The horse buried his hoofs deep in the sand, and, like an arrow from a "At length the moon shed her dim light through the fleecy cloud, and then with horror and amazement I beheld the cause of terror; for right in the middle of the road appeared a long black coffin, and the pale beams of the moon glanced on the white escutcheons fixed on the top. Every feeling of the soul was racked to the extreme; every fibre of the heart was nerved to desperation; and, mustering all my breath, I uttered the great and awful name to which all, both quick and dead, must pay obedience. The lid of the coffin was thrown up,-a figure slowly raised itself and gazed upon me, whilst my whole existence seemed quivering on the verge of eternity. The horse pawed the ground with uncontrolled fury; the howling of the gale seemed more dreadful;-when a hollow voice, with distinct utterance, vociferated, "Don't be alarmed, 'tis only Uncle Joey!-So, so, poor fellow! so, so!" "The horse, hearing a well-known sound, became pacified; and then I ascertained that Uncle Joey, a corporal in the newly-raised volunteers, had been to town to fetch an arm-che:t, which had been made by a carpenter to deposit the muskets in. Having, however, drank rather freely, he had found himself drowsy on his way back; so getting into the chest (which was painted black, with a tin plate on the lid) and shutting himself in, he had enjoyed a comfortable nap, till the snorting of the animal and my shouting brought about his resurrection." SINGULAR ADVENTURE OF A BRITISH SOLDIER. In the year 1799, when the war with America was conducted with great spirit upon the Continent, a division of the British army was encamped on the banks of a river, and in a position so favourable by nature, that it was difficult for any military art to surprise it. War in America was rather a species of hunting than a regular campaign. ance-It was necessary that the station, from a stronger motive than ever, should not remain unoccupied; they were compelled to leave another man, and return to the guard-house. The superstition of the soldiers was awakened, and the terror ran through the regiment. The colonel being apprised of the occurrence, signified his intention to accompany the guard when they relieved the centinel they had left. At the appointed time, they all marched together; and again, to their unutterable wonder, they found the post vacant, and the man gone! "I In order to limit as far as possible this species of war, in which there was so much loss and so little honour, it was the custom witn every regiment to ex- Under these circumstances, the colonel tend its outposts to a great distance be- hesitated whether he should station a yond the encampments; to station cen- whole company on the spot; or whether tinels some miles in the woods, and keep he again should submit the post to a sina constant guard round the main body. gle centinel. The cause of these repeated A regiment of foot was at this time sta- disappearances of men, whose courage tioned upon the confines of a boundless and honesty were never suspected, must savannah. Its loss was likewise great. be discovered: and it seemed not likely The centinels were perpetually surprised this discovery could be obtained in perupon their posts by the Indians, and sisting in the old method. Three brave were borne off their stations, without men were now lost to the regiment, and communicating any alarm, or being heard to assign the post to the fourth, seemed of after. Not a trace was left of the nothing less than giving him up to demanner in which they had been conveyed struction. The poor fellow whose turn away, except that, upon one or two oc- it was to take the station, though a man, casions, a few drops of blood had ap-in other respects, of incomparable resopeared upon the leaves which covered lution, trembled from head to foot. the ground. Many imputed this unac- must do my duty," said he to the officer, countable disappearance, and suggested" I know that, but I should like to lose as an unanswerable argument, that the my life with more credit." A man immen thus surprised might at least have mediately stepped from the ranks, and fired their muskets, and communicated desired to take the post. Every mouth the alarm to the contiguous posts. Others, commended his resolution. "I will not who could not be brought to consider it be taken alive," said he, "and you shall as treachery, were content to receive it hear of me on the least alarm. At all as a mystery which time would unravel. events, I will fire my piece if I hear One morning, the centinels having the least noise. If a crow chatters, been stationed as usual over night, the or a leaf falls, you shall hear my musguard went at sunrise to relieve a post ket. You may be alarmed when nowhich extended a considerable distance thing is the matter; but you must take into the wood. The centinel was gone! the chance, as the condition of the The surprise was great; but the circum- discovery.' The Colonel applauded stance had occurred before. They left his courage, and told him he would do another man, and departed, wishing him right to fire upon the least noise which better luck. "You need not be afraid!" was ambiguous. His comrades shook said the man with warmth, "I shall not hands with him, and left him with a desert!" The relief company returned melancholy foreboding. The company to the guard-house. The centinels were marched back, and waited the event in replaced every four hours, and at the the guard-house. appointed time, the guard again marched An hour had elapsed, and every ear to relieve the post. To their inexpres- was upon the rack for the discharge of sible astonishment the man was gone! the musket, when, upon a sudden, the They searched round the spot, but no report was heard. The guard immetraces could be found of his disappear-diately marched, accompanied as before, by the Colonel, and some of the most experienced officers of the regiment. As they approached the spot, they saw the man advancing towards them, dragging another man on the ground by the hair of his head. When they came up to him, it appeared to be an Indian whom he had shot. An explanation was immediately required. "I told your honour," said the man, "that I should fire if I heard the least noise. The resolution I had taken saved my life. I had not been long on my post when I heard a rustling at some short distance; I looked, and saw an American hog, such as are common in the woods, crawling along the ground, and seemed looking for nuts under the trees and among the leaves. As these animals are so very common, I ceased to consider it for a few minutes; but being on the constant alarm and expectation of attack, and scarcely knowing what was to be considered a real cause of apprehension, I kept my eyes vigilantly fixed upon it, and marked its progress among the trees; still there was no need to give the alarm, and my thoughts were directed to danger from another quarter. It struck me, however as somewhat singular to see this animal making, by a circuitous passage, for a thick coppice immediately behind my post, I therefore kept my eyes more constantly fixed upon it, and as it was now within a few yards of the coppice, hesitated whether I should not fire. My comrades, thought I, will laugh at me for alarming them by shooting a pig; I had almost resolved to let it alone, when just as it approached the thicket, I observed it give an unusual spring. I no longer hesitated; I took my aim, discharged my piece, and the animal was immediately stretched before me, with a groan, which I conceived to be that of a human creature. I went up to it, and judge my astonishment, when I found discovered upon the nearest aspect. He was armed with a dagger and tomahawk." Such was the substance of this man's relation. The cause of the disappearance of the other centinels was now apparent. The Indians, sheltered in this disguise, secreted themselves in the coppice; watched the moment when they could throw it off; burst upon the centinels without previous alarm, and, too quick to give them an opportunity to discharge their pieces, either stabbed or scalped them; and, bearing them away, concealed them in the leaves. The Americans gave them rewards for every scalp of an enemy they brought. INTREPIDITY OF COUNT SAXE. COUNT SAXE, the hero whom France yet honours with its regret, happened, in the year 1705, to be at the city of Lemburgh, waiting for an escort to accompany him to Warsaw, where the court then was. Having learnt that there was a truce between the Saxon troops and the confederates, he wished to avail himself of this interval; and towards the end of January, quitted the place, with a few officers and men. He stopped at a small inn in the village of Craknitz, with an intention of passing the night: not being aware that the truce had been broken, and that the Polanders were informed of his departure, and intended to carry him off. They even dispatched to this village eight hundred cavalry: expecting also to find there marshal count Fleming, who had taken the same route. Count Saxe was about to seat himselt at table, when he was informed that a great number of horsemen had entered the village, and that they appeared to be advancing towards the house where he then was. On receiving this intelligence, he instantly made the necessary dispositions for his defence. Seeing that it was not possible to guard, with only eighteen persons, the whole of the premises, which lay scattered, he abandoned the court and ground-floor, and betook himself to the upper part of the house; that I had killed an Indian! He had enveloped himself with the skin of one of these wild hogs so artfully and completely, his hands and feet were so entirely concealed in it, and his gait and appearance were so exactly correspond-placing two or three men in each chament to that of the animal, that, imperfectly as they were always seen through the trees and jungles, the disguise could not be penetrated at a distance, and scarcely ber, with orders to bore holes in the floors, that they might be able to fire upon whoever should enter below: and finding that he could afford some relief to those in the house by means of the stable, he | posted himself in the latter spot with the rest of his people. These dispositions were scarcely made, when the attack commenced. The doors of the ground-floor were first forced open; but the rooms being all low, the count's people were able to direct their fire with certainty and accordingly, every one of those who first entered was instantly killed. The Polanders, supposing this part of the house full of the count's people, and thinking the upper stories might be forced with less difficulty, abandoned this quarter, and scaled the windows of the chambers which they discovered to be empty, in order by this means to come at those which were guarded. This manœuvre embarrassed the count, because it was impossible to prevent it. He suffered them, however, to ascend. He then resolved to mount himself, and enter the chambers after them, sword in hand, accompanied by a few brave officers: thus hoping to astonish the enemy by a vigorous charge, which might produce the happiest effect, especially in the middle of a dark night; a time when courage supplies the place of numbers, which are then always thought greater than they are in reality. A musket-shot which the count now received in his thigh, did not prevent him from making this attack. Ile threw himself into the first chamber, which was already filled with the enemy: all of them who did not escape by the windows, were immediately put to death. The Folanders made a second attempt, which succeeded no better, and they were compelled to retire. They then determined to blockade the house till daylight. The count instantly perceived their design; and while he was meditating the means of escape, an officer advanced to summon him to surrender; threatening, in case of refusal, to set fire not only to the house but to the whole village. He ordered the officer to retire; and on his refusing to do so, fired on him, and killed him on the spot. The Polanders sent a Dominican friar with a second summons, who met with a similar fate. The count then assembled his people: "You see," said he, "that we can hope for no quarter; to save our lives therefore, we must force our way through the enemy sword in hand. They are dispersed in small posts; the bulk of their force is at a distance: let us avail ourselves of the darkness, to gain the woods which lie contiguous to the village. If we should fall in with one of their outposts, we must instantly put them to the sword. Let us depart." They then left the house, to the number of fourteen persons. They had proceeded a very short distance, before they found one of the enemy's guard; who thinking himself secure from all alarm, had composed himself to sleep. How indeed could it have been supposed that such a handful of men would take a resolution so daring? Nothing surely but that ardent attachment to life which is inherent in the breast of every one, could prompt in so despe rate a measure. The count's people dispatched the sleeping man before he could utter a word; and afterwards proceeded in safety to Sendomir, where they found a Saxon garrison. SPIRITED BEHAVIOUR OF A DRUMMER. This AN English drummer having wandered from his camp, and getting too near the French lines, was seized and brought before the French commander, on suspicion of being a spy disguised in a drummer's uniform. On being asked who he was by the general, he answered, “A drummer in the English service." not gaining credit, a drummer was sent for, and he was desired to beat a couple of marches, which accordingly he did, and removed the Frenchman's suspicion. However, he desired the drummer to beat a retreat. "A retreat, Sir," replied the Briton, "I know not what it is, nor is it known in the English service." This answer so pleased the French officer, that he dismissed the drummer, and wrote to his general, commending his spirited behaviour. COOL COURAGE. He A MARINE on board the Genoa, at the battle of Navarino, had one of his arms shot off in the heat of the action. coolly took up the severed limb and laid it on the shelf-piece over him, saying, "There's an example for you all." LONDON:-Printed by JOSEPH LAST, 3, Edwardstreet, Hampstead-read; and published by W. M. CLARK, 19, Warwick-lane, Paternoster. row; J. PATTIE, 17, High-street, Bloomsbury, and may be had, by order, of all Booksellers, in town and country. NAPOLEON being releived by the treaty of Luneville, from all apprehensions of a serious continental struggle, turned all his attention to the shores of Great Britain, and made important preparations for invasion on his own side of the Channel. Though not of that magnitude of character which they afterwards assumed, these efforts were of a nature to claim the most serious attention of our Government. From the mouth of the Sheldt to that of the Garonne, every creek and headland was fortified, so as to afford protection to the small craft which were creeping round the shore from all the harbours of the kingdom, to the general rendezvous of Dunkirk and Boulogne. The latter harbour was the general point of assembling; gun-boats and flat-bottomed praams were collected VOL. I. in great quantities, furnaces heated for red-hot shot, immense batteries constructed, and every preparation made, not only for a vigorous defence, but the most energetic offensive operations. The immensity of these preparations was studiously dwelt upon in the French papers; nothing was talked of but the approaching descent upon Great Britain; and fame, ever the first to sound the alarm, so magnified their amount, that when a few battalions pitched their tents on the heights of Boulogne, it was universally credited in England, that the army of invasion was about to take its station preparatory to the threatened attempt. The English fleets at this time in the narrow seas were so powerful, that no attempt at invasion by open force could H |