receive that trust, and to hear that this respectable body never more cordially, nor more meritoriously, bestowed that faithful symbol of their esteem and affection. For if Rome decreed the Civic Crown to him who saved the life of a single citizen, what wreaths are due to that man, who having himself saved many, perpetuates in your Transactions the means by which Britain may now, on the most distant voyages, save numbers of her intrepid sons, her mariners; who, braving every danger, have so liberally contributed to the fame, to the opulence, and to the maritime empire of their country?'

It will give pain to every sensible mind to reflect, that this honorable testimony to the merit of our gallant commander never came to his knowledge. While his friends were waiting with the most earnest solicitude for tidings concerning him, and the whole nation expressed an anxious impatience to be informed of his success, advice was received from Captain Clerke, in a letter dated at Kamtschatka, the 8th of June, 1779, stating that Captain Cook was killed on the 14th of February, 1779.

Captain Cook was a married man, and left

several children behind him: on each of these his Majesty settled a pension of 251. per annum, and 2001. per annum on his widow. It is a remarkable circumstance, that Captain Cook was godfather to his wife; and at the very time she was christened, had determined, if she grew up, on the union which afterwards took place between them.

The constitution of his body was robust, inured to labour, and capable of undergoing the severest hardships. His stomach bore, without difficulty, the coarsest and most ungrateful food. Indeed, temperance in him was scarcely a virtue; so great was the indifference with which he submitted to every kind of self-denial. The qualities of his mind were of the same hardy, vigorous kind with those of his body. His understanding was strong and perspicuous. His judgment, in whatever related to the services he was engaged in, quick and sure. His designs were bold and manly; and both in the conception, and in the mode of execution, bore evident marks of a great original genius. His courage was cool and determined, and accompanied with admirable presence of mind in moments of danger. His manners were plain and

unaffected; but the most distinguishing feature of his character was that unremitting perseverance in the pursuit of his object, which was not only superior to the opposition of dangers and the pressure of hardships, but even exempt from the want of ordinary relaxation.

As a navigator, his services were of the most splendid description, and even the method which he discovered and so successfully pursued for preserving the lives of seamen, forms a new era in navigation, and will transmit his name to the latest posterity, as the friend and benefactor of mankind.

THE MYSTERIOUS OLD WOMAN.

In the remote part of Dellingham, at the foot of a high hill, stood an obscure hut. It was inhabited by one old in wickedness and age, and this retired spot was well adapted to her miserable existence; the tall oaks and knotty pines, the briary bush and twining grape, wove into each other, and shut her from the curiosity of the world, which her fame had aroused.

She was known as the haggard old woman of the forest, and her looks created a trembling fear, as her features were scanned. She was tall, erect, and bony; the flesh of her hands had fallen away, and the yellow skin hung loose upon them; her piercing black eyes sunk deep in their sockets, and her blasted hair fell carelessly before them, concealing her pale emaciated face.

But her strength had not forsaken her; the gripe of her hand was powerful, and she increased it by continued labour;-she walked in the midnight storm, and grappled with the traveller who should refuse his purse: a mas

sy iron chest in a corner of her room, was the receptacle of her gain, and no one had ever known the immense amount she accumulated.

A dreary spot was this of the old woman's; the rabbit and wren deserted the place, and it was only the more foul and hated animals that remained; the reptile crept by, hissing in his path; the owl built her nest in the ruins of an old mansion, and her hoot went forth as a spell; with the old woman, the wolf and the fox had become familiar; but save hers, a face was seldom ever seen: there was something that caused a chill to creep through the frame at the mention of the haggard old woman of the forest.

She was a blot upon the surface of creation, and her heart seemed not of this world; a wide river moved its current a few steps from her door, and served to wash her hands from many a deep crime. There was one man, bold and daring, who had heard of this mysterious being, and his curiosity nerved his courage, and prompted him to enter her dwelling, discover the contents of the iron chest, and drag her wickedness before the world. It was a dark night that the courageous Fleming determined to reach her abode. He chose a