INTRODUCTION.

THE

THE cold maxims of Philosophy may teach us to

survey the ruins of empires and the desolation of countries unmingled with regret. These are only monuments of ancient splendor, and bespeak the awful destiny of nations. But to dwell upon the annihilation of some endearing affection, the loss of an amiable wife and the sweet piedges of our love, where shall we discover a solace to the mind, where terminate the sad remembrance of our wo, where hide us from the convulsions of despair! O, Philosophy what then avails thy magic?

or Thou canst not minister to a mind diseas'd.” The

ways of Providence may well be accounted dark and intricate. I was once affluent, and surrounded by an extended circle of acquaintance. I tasted of all the fleeting pleasures in which the gay rejoice to mingle. But society has now no relish. Robbed of every object estimable in existence, my heart feels light in the contemplation of that moment which shall soon permit a disconsolate widower to follow a beloved wife and children to the grave!

Far have I fled from the busy haunts of man, in search of some sequestered spot where I could dwindle out the remnant of my grief-worn days, and un

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seen hold converse with the shade of my beloved. That spot I have found amid the wilds of America. Here shall I end my life in solitude, though my only consolation be unavailing sorrow! The Eternal Being knows full well that I do not mourn at my unhappy destiny; nor can I for a moment imagine he would impute to me criminality in bewailing the affection I have lost, and all the endearing ties which he was pleased to rend in twain. Fast sinking in the vale of premature old age-the grave is open to receive me.-Lo, the shades of my children and my beloved beckon me to aproach—

"Welcome ye relicts of my best lov'd friends;

Welcome as happy tidings after fears!"

I come! O! Let me embrace thy clay cold frameEliza O my Eliza, we part no more!

*

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my father, tho' he survived some years after, has left nothing upon the memory but veneration for his many virtues, of which the surrounding country bore ample testimony.

Having attained the extent of knowledge to be acquired at the public school of Antrim in Ireland, I was removed to Edinburgh to complete the studies of a gentleman of no inconsiderable inheritance. Here every thing was For some time, as might be expected from one of my years, I occupied myself in viewing all that was curious and interest‘ing in this one royal residence of Caledonia's warlike Kings. My curiosity once allayed, I began to apply myself with avidity to my studies.

* At this period,the seeds of the French Revolulution were disseminating their influence in GreatBritain. Among the sons of Caledonia, long remarkable for metaphysical disputation, they experienced a very nutritive soil.- A fabric of such stupendous magnitude,' to one of my ardent feelings and my speculative turn of mind, was a range too luxuriant to be neglected. But I shall pass over in silence the period I remained at College, simply observing, that to this day I do not remember a more fascinating period of my life. It aroused the yet dormant faculties of my mind, freed me from a mass of prejudice and error, and interesting me in the general welfare of mankind, I first discovered genuine happiness to consist in being contributory to the comfort of our fellow-creatures.-In the ardent pursuit of Philosophy I learned the pleasure of intellectual enjoyment.

Mr. Kinghorn, the gentleman whom my father nominated as his executor, had ever approved himself worthy the trust confided to him, and has a just claim to my affectionate gratitude and esteem. With much solicitude had he looked forward to the moment when, as instructed by the will, he was to put me in full possession of my patrimony. That sea. son had now arrived, and I quitted College accordingly. The faithful account he rendered of his stewardship was at once honourable to his integrity and to his feelings. After the nicest scrutiny, instituted less at my own desire than his resolute command, I found my fortune materially augmented as well as more consolidated than it had exhibited the smallest likelihood of becoming, when he assumed the management. Though habituated to regard myself

a youth of tolerable independance, I had never for a moment fancied it equal to what I now disco

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vered. Mr. Kinghorn, 'tis true, had supplied me liberally with pocket money while at College, but what was my surprize when he produced schedule of my property, in which I beheld myself master of a clear rental sum, my paternal freehold, of 7001. sterling, with 8000). additionally in the funds!

My father dying at a period when his affairs assumed rather unfavourable appearances, and influenced by an opinion that they would be involved in greater embarrassment when he should no longer hold a personal controul, had enjoined his Executor, among other things, to direct my attention to one of the learned professions, giving a preference to the Church; in which, from family connexions, I might attain such eminence as would render any disappointment I should experience, from his diminished fortune, less to be regretted.

• Such, Charles, were the injunctions of your father,' said Mr. Kinghorn ; "and all of them have I religiously performed, except the last; but following the bent of my own judgment, I acquit myself from every imputation of ingratitude or disrespect to the memory of my deceased friend. True it is, his affairs were greatly embarrassed at his death; but I perceived much might be done by judicious husbandry. Nor in the end was I deceived. Long before the season arrived which was to assign to you a profession, then, even then, to all appearance, but ill suited to the bent of your disposition, I had the happiness to cancel the last mortage on your estate. The rest was easy. The soil was far from being impoverished. Care and managenient soon brought round the once rich meadows and luxuriant fields, and the