in the eighth house, which is the house that denotes death; and if the planet Jupiter, which signifiés life and fortune, had not been, with Mercury, in the same house and sign, the mortality would have been infinite, if God had so willed! But we ought to believe, and to hold for certain, that God permits the said pestilence, and other calamities of the people, to visit our cities, and our plains, for the punishment of sins, and not alone by the course of the stars, but as Lord of the heavens, as he pleases. -And this will suffice, in this place, of the sayings of the astrologers. The said mortality was greater in Pistoja and in Prato than in Florence, and greater in Bologna and in Avignon, and in Provence, where was the court of the Pope, and also throughout the realm of France. But the most dreadful mortality was in Turcomania, and in those countries beyond sea amongst the Tartars. There happened among the Tartars great judgments of God, and marvels almost incredible; but it is true, clear, and certain, that between Turigia and Cattay, in the country of Parca, now the land of Casano lord of Tartary, in India, a fire broke out (either from the bowels of the earth or from the heavens) that consumed men and beasts, trees, stones, and houses, and raged for fifteen days with so much fury, that every inhabitant and living creature that did not escape by flight, was consumed; and those of the human species who fled from the fire were destroyed by pestilence; and at Tana in Trebisond, and in all these countries, not one out of five survived; and many lands were depopulated by pestilence, earth quakes, and thunder from heaven. And from letters of some of our citizens, that were then in these countries, we learn that there rained at Sebastia, an immense quantity of worms a span long, with eight legs, and black in colour, with tails, some alive, some dead: they filled the whole country with their effluvia; and were most frightful to behold! whosoever attacked or touched them, they stung like wasps or poisonous reptiles. In Soldania (Asia Minor) only women remained; and these, from madness, tore each other in pieces. And they (that is, these letter-writers) relate a more marvellous thing still, and almost incredible, that happened in Arcagia; men and women, and every living animal, were turned into stone like statues of marble! The chiefs of the regions surrounding these countries proposed to become christians, but finding that Christendom was afflicted with the same pestilence, they remained in their infidelity. In the port of Talucco, in a country called Lucco, the port swarmed with worms for ten miles out, which came and went to and fro to the seas and shores; on which miracle many were converted to the faith of Christ. And the said pestilence extended to Turkey and Greece, encircling all the Levant, and Syria, and Chaldea, and Suria, and Cyprus, Crete, Rhodes, and all the islands of the Grecian archipelago, and, in the same manner, all the rivers and shores of our seas. Of eight galleys of the Genoese, trading in the Mediterranean, four only returned from the loss of their crews, and when the sailors of these four arrived at Genoa, they almost all died also, also, and so corrupted the air, that all who approached them died too." 6.-Memoirs of his Serene Highness Anthony Philip d'Orleans, Duke of Montpensier, Prince of the Blood. Written by himself. This Volume is an affecting companion to that in which the Duchess d'Angouleme so simply and so pathetically related the sufferings of the Royal Family of France, and especially of her brother, the unfortunate Dauphin. Montpensier, the second son of the Duke of Orleans, was too prominent to escape the vortex which destroyed, with so many of the race of Bourbon, so much that was noble and illustrious in France. While serving under the Duke de Biron at Nice, he was, in April 1793, (when not yet eighteen years of age) seized and conveyed to the prisons of Marseilles, hardly escaping being massacred at Aix and other places on his route. To the same dungeons were carried his father, his young brother Count Beaujolais, a boy of thirteen, his aunt the Duchess of Bourbon and mother of D'Enghien, and the Prince of Conti, all comprehended in the general arrest of the Bourbons decreed by the Convention in that year. "My father (says the author) having ineffectually asked permission on his own account to take the air, were it only at the gate of the tower, now solicited for Beaujolais, whose health began to suffer from such close confinement, and his tender years obviating every pretext for denial: it was granted, on condition, however, that one of the administrators should keep him constantly in sight. In the course of the day he was sent for, and suffered to remain in the open air for two or three hours, and then remanded to his dungeon. He often earnestly begged to be allowed to come and see me; but his request was constantly refused. His cell being above mine, he was obliged to pass my door in his way out, and he never failed to call to me 'Good day, Montpensier! how are you?' It is impossible to describe the effect his voice had upon me, or the distress I felt when a day passed without my hearing it; for he was sometimes actually forbidden to utter these few words, and was always hurried by so quickly, that he had scarcely time to hear my answer. Once, however, that he had been permitted to remain till my dinner was brought, he crept so close to the heels of the bearer of the basket, that, in spite of the administrators, who tried to hold him back, he darted into my cell, and embraced me. It was six weeks since I had seen him -six wretched weeks! The moment was precious; but, ah! how short! He was torn from me forthwith, with threats of being no more allowed to go out, should the same scene be repeated. Is such barbarity credible? For what grounds, what possible excuse could they offer for preventing two brothers, the one but thirteen and a half, and the other not eighteen years of age, from enjoying the consolation of a moment's interview before witnesses? Nor was I myself any more permitted, when my door opened, to go near enough to catch the breeze which passed through the miserable narrow staircase. One morning only, when my breakfast was brought brought I was allowed to remain for an instant at the threshold. While I stood there, how my heart yearned as I heard my father's voice for the first time after so long a period! He was only separated from the staircase by an iron grating; but there was a sentry who could observe his motion, and accost him when he chose, To this grating the municipal officers and administrators let their friends come to satisfy their curiosity; and the advantage of being able to breathe a little more freely was, in my opinion, dearly purchased at such a sacrifice. A similar privilege had been offered to me, of a grating in place of my massy door; but I declined it; nor could I conceive how my unhappy father could prefer the inconveniences I have mentioned to seclusion by a bolted door. But these had no effect upon him; he even liked to see many faces, be they who they might; and he was pleased to have some one now and then to whom he could speak. At the time I allude to, I heard him ask the sentry what o'clock it was; and I hastened to call out 'Nine-good day, my dear father!-how do you find yourself?'- Ah! Montpensier!' replied he, how happy I am to hear your voice! My health is none of the best, my poor child; but if I could see you it would do me much good.' I then heard him ask leave to see me for a moment; but it was refused, and the door was immediately shut. "All I had been prepared to expect, when my razors, knives, &c, were taken away, was punctiliously put in force. When I wanted to shave (which happened much less frequently to me than to Gamache, for I had then very little beard,) I asked the administrator to let the case be brought, in which my razors were, and two national guards remained at our side all the time we made use of them. The earnestness with which they eyed Gamache, as he shaved, used often to amuse me. When he was in good humour he would ask them if they fancied he had a mind to cut his throat; and assured them, that if nobody was more desirous to harm his head than himself, it would stand a long time upon his shoulders; but he was really ashamed, he said, to see them tire themselves so for his toilette. "I always took advantage of the arrival of the dressing-case, to mend pens and sharpen pencils; for I tried to draw whenever there was light enough; but it was very difficult, and often impossible. I could not even use a table knife, without having two national guards at my elbow, which was odious to me; for then we could not talk, and meals are often the pleasantest times for conversation. On this account, I had the roast meat which was brought for supper, cut into little bits, that both knives and the presence of these gentlemen might be dispensed with. It happened, now and then, that the persons deputed to superintend our meals were civil and well-disposed, which rendered it less disagreeable, and even enabled us to get a little knowledge of what was passing outside the walls, respecting which we were left in utter ignorance. But, as they were always strictly enjoined to be silent in our presence, a fondness for talking, and a thorough confidence in each other, were necessary to induce them to violate the injunction, which seldom occurred." General Carteaux having occupied Marseilles with his army, the prisoners were treated with a little less rigour; but at the same time the catastrophe of the Duke of Orleans approached. His son naturally speaks of him with affectionate attachment; and his story of their last separation, and its consequences, is that of a real sorrow more touching to the soul than any of the best-wrought tales of fictitious woe. A sergeant had taken upon him to permit the father and son to embrace. "The next morning he made no difficulty, and even left me all the forenoon with my fatherwhat a gratification! He did not come to lock me in till the moment before the guard was relieved; and the sergeant who succeeded him being of the same stamp as himself, granted us the like indulgence in the best natured way imaginable, and without restricting us even as to supper. We had thus the consolation of being able to talk at our ease, and without witnesses, which we had not enjoyed for a long time; and, to crown all, we played at several sorts of games, cards in all their variety, besides draughts and chess. In short, independently of the pleasure which this alleviation was calculated of itself to afford us, it was still further enhanced by the hope, however unfounded, of its being the first step towards liberation, which was balm to our wounds. We had been latterly so ill-treated so horribly illtreated, that the least gleam of humanity in those to whom we were consigned, which was all they could show without danger to themselves, greatly improved our situation; and I must do them the justice to say, that they stretched those opportunities to the utmost extent. When I say they, I would be understood to refer to nearly all the sergeants who were alternately stationed in the tower, and upon whom, in consequence, we immediately depended. The officers in general were not so kind; still there were some who conducted themselves extremely well towards us. Beaujolais was permitted to walk in the fortress whenever he liked; and my faithful Gamache obtained the same favour. These two half liberties gave us the more pleasure, as it enabled them to observe every thing that was going on outside, and bring us the details: but, notwithstanding all our appeals, my father and I were denied the benefit of taking the air, of which it may be supposed we stood greatly in need. My father indeed suffered still more from the privation than I did. At length, however, some time having elapsed, an officer on duty entered our cell one day after dinner, saying, Come, citizens, come and breathe the fresh air. It is too bad to smother you in this way. I take the consequence upon myself; and let them punish me for it if they like.' We followed him with an eagerness that may easily be imagined, assuring him of our gratitude. "It is impossible for any one who has not felt it, to form an idea of the dizziness occasioned by the broad day-light, after having been long deprived of it, and by suddenly breathing the pure air. I was at first so overcome, that it was several minutes before I could walk. walk. After this dizziness, a kind of drunkenness came over me that made me stagger, and I experienced at the same time a humming in my ears that utterly prevented my hearing a word that was said. It was more than a quarter of an hour before I was capable of enjoying the blessing that had been granted me. Our promenade was on a little terrace adjoining the tower in which we were confined. We were left there an hour and a half, and when night approached were conducted back to our cells. The next and following days we were allowed the same indulgence. Some officers, however, either from bad-heartedness, or the fear of committing themselves, refused it; but this rarely happened; and when it did, a few bottles of wine, and some pipes of good tobacco, induced the sergeants to take it upon themselves, to allow us a short visit to the terrace. "Thus passed September, and part of the following month. On the morning of the 15th of October, when I was talking with my father, Beaujolais hurried in with a disturbed air, which he tried in vain to dissemble. My father asked whether any thing new had occurred. 'There is something about you in the papers,' he replied. "That is nothing new, my dear boy; it is an honour that is often done me but I should like to see the paper, if you can get it. It was at my aunt's I saw it, and she charged me not to mention it to you; but I know you wish nothing to be kept from you.' You are right. But tell me, is it in the Convention I have been spoken of? It is, papa; and it is decreed that you are to be put on your trial.' So much the bet 6 It ter, so much the better, my son; it must come to an end soon, one way or the other. And of what can I be accused? Embrace me, my children; the news delights me!' I was far from sharing his joy; but his conscious security, and the propensity we all have to believe what we wish, made me feel less uneasy than I should have done, had the intelligence reached me when he was not by. The paper was brought, and he read the decree of accusation against himself and several others. is built,' said he, on nothing; it has been solicited by miscreants; but no matter: let them do their worst; I defy them to bring anything against me!' In this manner did that enviable spirit of optimism which prevailed in his character, conceal from him the danger to which he was exposed. 'Come, my dear boys,' continued he, do not let this good news deject you, but sit down and let us have a game!' We did so, and he played as freely and as cheerfully as if nothing had happened. He told me afterwards that I should be taken with him to Paris to stand my trial. I thought so too; but my presentiment was by no means equally consoling as to the result. Some days after, we had a visit from the three commissioners who had come from Paris to seek their victim. They addressed us in the politest, and even most honied tone (their motive I could never ascertain,) begged that we would not be under the slightest apprehension, and assured us that it was more an explanation than a trial, that was desired. They said also, in answer to a question from my father, that they had no orders whatever respecting me, and that as |