it as large as that? said the prince, pointing to a house opposite in which there was a shopkeeper in a small way of business. The emigrant replied that it was. Wait a little; said the prince, and went away. He soon same back in good spirits and said, That house

there, with the shop is your property; you may take possession of it in eight days. He had gone and prevailed on the shopkeeper tó part with his house and stock to the emigrant for the sum of 10,000 dollars.

This is one of those acts of magnificent generosity of which we love to read and which every benevolent heart would wish for the capacity constantly to realize. Charity appears to have operated on the conduct of Ferdinand less by principle than by impulse; but the impulses which governed him on these occasions were often those which seem to elevate man to a level with higher orders of existence. Benevolence is by no means a cold calculating quality ;-but still that benevolence is productive of the most diffused good, which, while it follows the primary impulses of a sympathizing heart, is not altogether unreflecting and inconsiderate.

The Author gives the following instance of the morality by which the prince was governed in his amours. As the author assures us that the story is not a romantic fiction but a simple relation of facts we shall not dispute his veracity but present our readers with a faithful translation of the whole transaction.

When (Prince Ferdinand) was a young man, previous to the march of the Prussians against France in the year 1792, he fell in love with an officer's wife who was a very charming woman, and who, as was generally known, had been married to her present spouse against her own inclinations and only to comply with the command of her relations. Probably the consciousness of this might have incited the prince to cultivate the acquaintance of a lady of such captivating beauty: He went often to the house and the oftener he went the more he perceived the disparity between her and her husband. It is no wonder if with his propensity to the pleasures of life, if with the loveliness of a woman who lived unhappily with her husband, with the spirit of the times which in such cases diminishes her scrupulosity:-it is no wonder if he thought that he might be happy while the lady obtained some compensation for the misery of her lot. Besides he was far from being a friend of the husband, who at times. behaved without much ceremony to his wife. I will not,' says the author 'take upon me entirely to defend the selfishness which there is in this reasoning, nor the want of a rigorous morality, though in such circumstances and in these selfish times there is hardly one young man in a thousand who would have felt differently on the subject; but he was a man, and he seemed favoured by the friend

ly smile of the goddess Opportunity. But let us proceed with the story. One evening he was alone with the enamoured fair, and secure from every possibility of disturbance. He made her acquainted with the feelings of his heart and begged for a reciprocal gratifi cation. She was mute; she beckoned him to be gone; her bosom beaved with sighs and tears trickled down her checks; but in these tears, in these sighs of an agonizing heart the spirit of virtue was struggling for the mastery with the demon of luxuriating sense. The Prince became more pressing. Young man, said the lady, I am unhappy; would you take advantage of it? my misery does not give me any right to violate my duty. I will not oppose you like a heroine in romance; but I cannot be a wanton that trifles with the solemnity of an oath.--I am a WIFE! Louis reminded her of all the misery which had sprung from this connection, and again urged his suit with redoubled vehemence; but she remained firm, and repeated her determination. The Prince at last went away provoked and out of humour. She called him back and said with a faultering voice; I know myself and think also that I know you. I accordingly venture to make this confession. You know not what a difficult contest had to sustain before I made you any reply. I love you; and were I not the wife of another, but a virgin or a widow,-then-then you should have no occasion to require this acknowledgement from my lips! Louis went away; he was piqued for a whole day and felt vindictive and displeased. His frustrated hope prompted to some criminal resolution; but the more he reflected on her conduct and her answer the more he recovered his tranquillity; the more he reflected on the sentiments she had uttered, the more complacency he felt. This feeling at last rose to genuine admiration and esteem. Things were in this situation, when in the beginning of the last revolutionary war the Prussian army took the field. The prince bade the lady an affectionate and respectful adieu. The husband went with him to the field. They soon came in sight of the enemy; and one action followed on another. In one of these skirmishes, the husband with a small body of Prussians advanced much too far be yond the lines till he was placed in the most perilous situation. The prince who was near saw how the balls flew in showers around his head. The scene in the parlour was vividly presented to his imagi nation. He saw the charming woman, he heard her words; "I love you,and were not the wife of another, were I a widow I would prove it to you!" Her husband stood now before his eyes in the most imminent peril of his life; the happiness of the one seemed to depend on the death of the other: if the husband fell the prince was sure of the love of the wife. For one moment he indulged the unhallowed hope and cherished the lovely dream; but in the next his better self returned. And shall I suffer the man and perhaps thirty others with him to die in torture in order to procure for myself one short interval of bliss ? Ought I to sacrifice the lives of my fellowcreatures to my lust? No! away with the thought!-God defend me! He shall not be made another Uriah!" He sprung impetuously

forward towards the officer and exclaimed! Away' there, sir, don't you hear the balls whizz around you? You are endangering your life without any probable advantage. In a few moments you and your men will be overpowered and lost! "Permit me to be here!" cried the officer blinded with rage. No; answered Lewis-I will not permit it. If you will not comply with my request, I command you as your superior. Fall back, march! The men fell back and the officer was obliged to follow."

The conduct of the lady on this occasion presents an instance of constancy in withstanding temptation which some of our modern females would do well to imitate; and though the conduct of Ferdinand cannot be entirely approved yet it shews that he was actuated by something like a sense of duty which is not always found, as ancient and modern story will abundantly testify, even in the breasts of princes and of kings.

We have great pleasure in relating the following trait of his personal bravery and enterprising spirit. At the siege of Mentz by the Prussians, the French had a strong and well appointed redoubt before the second parallel; the Prussians had to make themselves masters of this outwork before they could in some measure proceed to the conquest of the place, It was determined to attack this redoubt and to take it if possi ble.

'A leader for the enterprize was to be chosen amongst the principal officers; none seemed very anxious for the perilous service. When Louis freely offered himself and solicited from the king the appointment as a favour. The monarch started difficulties, for he was unwilling to hazard the life of the gallant youth in the dangerous undertaking. But the latter did not desist till he had obtained the royal assent. My children what is your opinion?' said Louis as he stood in front of the grenadiers of Manstein who were destined for the expedition, what is your opinion? shall we succeed or not?' O! answered they with one voice, we can't fail when you are with us, Good', replied he, if you think so, we have already conquered. I will never forsake you; you know me well. Only do as much for me and leave me not behind. Follow me with confidence, I will go first.' And he was as good as his word. It was about ten at night; rainy clouds overspread the horizon and rendered it extremely dark. Under cover of the night and in the most profound silence, they approached the redoubt; it was carried by the bayonet and the enemy expelled; but he returned about one in the same night in order to attempt the recovery but the attempt was vain. Louis here exhibited the most distinguished proofs of the most elevated bravery. While the French were repeating in the redoubt their well-known song: Ah ca ira! be collected his grenadiers and cried out, Non, ca n'ira pas! Fol

low me children, forwards, march.' HE WAS THE FIRST IN THE

REDOUBT.'

He had an uncommon affection for his brave and now deceased uncle Prince Henry of Prussia, whose favourite he was. When intelligence reached Berlin of the last illness of Prince Henry, Louis was inconsolable. He instantly prevailed on his father to permit him to set out for Rhinsberg in company with his sister the princess Louisa (wife of Prince Radzivil) and the Prince Augustus Ferdinand. When they came near the place Louis, who was acquainted with the spot sprung forward from the carriage, and flew by the shortest way to the castle, into the chamber of the Prince, and threw himself down with tears on the bed of his sick relation. The dying man still recognised him, pressed his hand and expired!"

It is difficult to say what rendered Louis so prodigal of his life at the battle of Saalfield. His death was not so much that of a hero as of a man in a state of desperation. The writer of these anecdotes says that an extraordinary change was observed in his appearance and manner a few days before the action in which he lost his life. On the 7th of October he is said to have had a conference with Prince Hohenlohe, which lasted for two hours, and no other persons were present. He went into the room with his usual vivacity and cheerfulness, but when he came out a deep gloom was observed on his countenance which did not vanish till his death. He had recourse to music, but there was no longer the same sprightliness in the notes which he produced. Dussek, the musician, one of his intimate friends, observed that his royal highness did not appear the same person since his interview with Prince Hohenfohe. He said a good deal to me, said Louis. My prince, said Dussek, do not let this disturb you. Why should you make yourself miserable to no purpose? Ah!' said Louis, we are in a bad situation; the Prussian army is in a desperate situation; I consider it as lost.' Impossible,' says Dussek. It may appear so,' says Louis, but I SHALL NOT SURVIVE OUR FALL! I will act! And now not a word more on the subject.' On this day he played, accompanied by Dussek, but his manner evinced the depression of his mind. His despair of preventing the disasters of his country may seem to excuse the temerity of his death-but A PATRIOT AND A HERO OUGHT NEVER TO DESPAIR..

1

ART. X.-Der Marsch der Franzosen nach Indien, &c &c. The March of the French to India; Information relative to the recently projected Invasion of that Country. Jena. 12mo. 1809. Imported by a Gentleman from the Continent.

WE believe that the late events which have taken place in Spain and Portugal, will oblige Bonaparte to defer this march for the present; and perhaps, instead of attempting it himself, he will leave it among his posthumous intentions.

In the year 1801, the Emperor Paul of Russia is said to have concerted an expedition to India in conjunction with the first Consul of France. At that time there were great difficulties in the way of the execution. Persia was then subject to disturbances, and could not have contributed that aid to the expedition which she now seems likely to afford. But the death of Paul put an end to the project. It seems, however, highly probable that such a scheme formed one of the secret articles of the treaty of Tilsit.

If the invasion of India were undertaken with the consent of the king of Persia, the army would not only not meet with any obstacles in its march through the provinces of that kingdom, but would also be furnished with the necessary supplies. Astrachan on the Caspian is supposed to be the best place of rendezvous for a combined Russian and French army which should meditate such an expedition. From Astrachan the troops might be embarked in ships, and transported over the Cas

pian.

The Russian part of this army was to consist of 20,000 regular infantry and 10,000 Cossacks. If the French were to send an army of equal force, there are two ways by which it might reach Astrachan. The corps of Davoust, which is stationed on the Vistula might, if destined for the expedition, proceed directly from Warsaw to Zaritzin on the Wolga. This would be a distance of about 230 German miles. Hence the troops might be conveyed by water down the Volga to Astrachan; a distance of about 50 German miles. If the troops which are collected in Dalmatia were employed in the enterprize, they would have to march through a part of European Turkey to the Danube, and might then proceed by water to its mouth. Hence they would cross the Black Sea, and land at Taganrock, on the coast of the sea of Asoph. Hence the army would march along the Don, cross that river at Isbianka, and thence proceed to Zaritzin. From Tanganrock to this place are about 70 German miles,