myself with a passport from the military, as well as from the civil, authorities. The former, for which I am solely indebted to your care, was peculiarly serviceable, as I was continually accosted by the patroles, which, in these unhappy times, are marching and countermarching in every direction. Had it not been for my double security, they would willingly have been rude, as my Swiss accent rather betrayed me. Let me be thankful, however, for the mercy which has followed me, and brought me hitherto uninjured.

• Wars and rumours of wars,' with their attendant horrors, thicken over our hemisphere. I had occasion to witness a most painful scene in the vicinity of Dijon. A young man, lately married, had been drawn, amongst others, to supply the place of those whom the sword, the famine, and the pestilence,' are daily sweeping away. He had been ordered to repair to the depôt, but being rather dilatory, unwilling probably to leave his wife and fire-side, a party of gensd'armes were commanded to arrest him. It so happened, that at the time of their

arrival my carriage drove up. Enquiring into the circumstances, I determined to wait, that I might, if possible, calm the exasperated ferocity of the soldiers, and comfort their unfortunate prisoner.

They had already seized him, and were driving him forward at the point of the bayonet, when his wife, with an infant at her breast, rushed in among them apparently in a state of extreme agitation, and threw her arms about her husband's neck. In this manner they continued for some minutes, sobbing and crying alternately; "O Antoine, my dear Antoine:" "Lucie, my Lucie, must I leave thee, my beloved Lucie "So touching was the sight, that the guard themselves were almost moved to tears. Observing this, I asked if nothing could be done, and offered to be at the expense of a substitute; but they replied that their orders were peremptory, and they dared not disobey. At this moment, an officer, the Count de P., whom I had been acquainted with in Vienna, rode up, and after threatening the soldiers with martial

severity for permitting such miserable trifling as he called it, desired the young woman with the most dreadful imprecations to let the conscript go, or he would run herthrough. Not hearing him, probably, she still clung to her husband, when the wretch drew his sword, and, whether he actually intended to kill her, or merely to frighten her, I cannot affirm, but, before I could arrest his hand, the body of her helpless babe received the thrust, and with a little shriek the innocent expired. "P."-I called-He turned round, and seemed surprised. "Mertenburg," said he, at length, "is that you?" Then, without waiting reply, or taking the slightest notice of the murder he had committed, as if it was a matter of total indifference, he commanded the guard, on pain of death, to carry off the prisoner instantly, and appear before him on arriving at the depôt to answer for their conduct. He then put his horse to a gallop, and was soon out of hearing alike of my indignant expostulations, and the cries of the unfortuate Lucie.

O Emily! could I witness such a scene of horror, and not think of you? While I beheld an unhappy being rendered childless among women, and left in a situation more trying than widowhood, could I restrain the reflection that wandered to her-who has so long twined herself round every pulsation of my heart. To fancy her bereft of husband, and children-was more than nature could endure! I remained with the poor creature for nearly an hour, using my endeavours to console her, but she refused to be comforted. I promised, however, to represent the affair to the proper authorities, in order to procure, if possible; her husband's discharge; and, putting a trifle into her hand to enable her to bestow on her infant the decent rites of sepulture, I proceeded on my journey. This incident made a deep impression on my mind, and greatly tended to increase my dejection. Ah, Emily! should our domestic happiness ever suffer so rude an interruption !-But I must banish the idea, lest it incapacitate me for other employment.

I have not as yet taken any steps, relative to the object of my visit to this busy capital. My first duty was to Emily: that fulfilled, with a pleasure which those I have subsequently to undertake will not, I am afraid, afford me, I shall turn my attention to more serious labour. No doubt I shall have many difficulties to encounter. But this is my consolation-that the Most High ruleth among the children of men.' Hope, too, shall buoy me up; and in the soothing thought of once more seeing her, in whose bosom alone my earthly affections can find repose, I shall endeavour to forget the irksomeness of the intervening period.

How often, Emily, have I retraced the hours we have passed together! Alas! how swiftly have they fled! warning us, dear Emily, of that approaching season when the few allotted moments of our present existence will escape from us for ever. Tell me, then, my beloved, O tell me to press forward in my christian course. Encourage me in running the race that is set before me; for indeed I am ready utterly to despair. Yet: