consequence of an affair of honor, heen obliged to fly the country, and has left us to discharge the full amount of the obligation. HIGHLAND HEROISM. OR THE CASTLES OF GLENCOE AMD BALLOCH. (Continued-) The same morning Allan informed his mother of his resoIution; it was what her heart had long foreboded, and she sunk lifeless in her chair. Ma tilda flew to her assistance, and when she had recovered her mother, they united their sighs and tears to persuade Allau to abandon an enterprize that might only terminate fatally for their mutual peace. They talked, however, in vain. lan held it positively to be a duty, and immediately summoned a few of the most trusty of the clan, who held a council of war, in which it was resolved that Ancolm should be attacked with all their force; Al they were going to assist a distant chief; that the army should set out on a different rout, but, under cover of the night, suddenly turn aside, and fall upon the castle of Balloch. Donald, in a few days, had collected a number of no inconsiderable consequence, and animated by the hope of distinguishing himself in the eyes of his mistress, he again appeared at the castle, and told the earl, that himself and his followers were ready to follow. his standard when ever called upon. In a few days after the clan assembled in arms, and, the young earl at their head, departed on the expedition. A very tender adieu took place between the countess and her son, and Matilda and Donald. It was evening when the earl set out, pursuing at first, a wrong route, till night advanced, when they suddenly wheeled towards the castle of Balloch. Their plan was to scale the walls, and burst their way into the retreat of Ancolm sword in hand. When they drew near, they heard a bell sound, which informed them and that to prevent any suspi-they were close to the abode of cion, a report should be spread the baron. It was now agreed, that the carl, with Donald and a chosen few, should first reconnoitre. The edifice was built with gothic magnificence, upon a high and dangerous rock, which was surrounded by a broad moat, over which were two draw bridges, both up. Having pitched upon a spot in "the rock, which appeared most accessible, they gave a signal to the clan, who advanced, and deposited their bundles of faggots in the ditch to form a bridge, over which they passed in safety, and prepared to mount the heights. The slaughter without the wall was dreadfu!; and only a few escaped to carry the dreadful tidings to the countess.➡ The fate of the earl remained unknown. It was a matter of surprise how Ancolm came to have so many soldiers in his garrison beyond the quantity which feudal pomp required in a time of peace, but the fact was, that he had been apprised of all the hostile intentions' against him by his agents, and in silence prepared for the attack, which it was fondly sup posed he was entirely ignorant of. It was his intention to have put all the scaling party immediately to the sword, but the sleepiness of the centinels prevented the signal of their approach from being given; and thus suffered Donald to open the gates. It had had been resolved, that Donald, with a small par ty, should scale the walls, sur, prise the centinel, and open the gates to the rest of the clan with the car at their head. This service Donald perform ed, but in the mean time the signal of surprise was given, and the castle resounded with the clang of arms. The earl, with a part of his people, had entered the gate, when suddenly the portcullis fell, the bridge was drawn up, and Al-ness, upon this intelligence, lan and his followers found themselves surrounded by a numerous garrison. The two heroes gallantly cut their way through, and forced them-brother and the brave young The fortitude of Henrietta gave way to a violent fit of ill and all the soothing cares of the sorrowing Matilda were exerted to support her drooping mother. Matilda felt for her highlander, and in silence brooded over the uncertainty of their fate. The earl, after being loaded, with fetters, was led to the strong prison of the castle, and there left to the bitter redection of disappointment and uncertain destiny. After his mind had recovered from its first shock, he began to examine his prison; it was a square room, on the summit of a tower, built on the east side of the castle. Two grated windows afforded light, one of which looked into an inner court the other presented a prospect of the barren highlands. Donald was conveyed through dark and winding passages to a dungeon where no light entered. He shuddered as he entered into this tomb of the living. Meanwhile the baron, after racking his brain for the invention of tortures on the unfortunate earl, determined to supply all their effects by keeping him in suspense of his fate, allowing him just food sufficient to keep him alive and sensible of his wretchedness, In this temper he visited the earl in his prison, but the indignant and keen taunts of Allan drove the tyrant from his room, who, in retiring, told him he was going to meditate his destiny. The insolence of the baron had excited a degree of phrensy in the breast of Allan, who, actuated by the sudden impulse of triumphing over the inhuman intentions of the baron, seized a short dagger he wore, and was on the point of sheathing it in his breast, when the soft notes of a lute, accompanied by a tender me lodious voice, arrested his purpose; it seemed sent by heaven to give him time to reflect on his rash and unmanly intentions. When the music ceased, he looked through the grates, but whether the sweet performer remained within or without the castle walls was equally uncertain. He then enquired of the guard who brought him food, but he could give him no information, and he was compelled to remain in a state of uncertainty. Upon the news reaching the countess that the earl remain, ed in confinement, she offered an immense sum to the baron for his ransom, but he refused every overture with contempt, partly induced by another motive, The beauty of Matilda had raised a passion in his soul which the ferocity of his char acter could not subdue. He had made several unavailing attempts to trepan her, and he now resolved to distress the countess, that she might the more readily resign her daugh ter as the wife of her enemy. (To be Continued.) The SPECULATOR. NUMBER XIX. SATURDAY, March 2, 1811. "I'll ride upon the Dog Star, and there I'll coin the weather, I'll wrench the rainbow from the sky, and tie both ends together." Last evening, while sitting by a good coal fire, I was alarmied at an unusual rapping at the door, and from the sonorous sound of the knocker, I naturally presumed it to be some quality visitor. In haste I dispensed with my woollen cap and slippers, and inquired the cause of alarm-when lo! I be. held a tiny boy; and pray, child, said I, what is your business with me at this late hour? Is your name Speculator? aked the stripling. I answered in the affirmative; then, sir, there is a letter from my mas the contents. Certainly, tho't I to myself, the man who wrote this must be mad, and yet "there's method in his madness." Courteous reader, to keep you no longer in suspence, it was a letter addressed to me in my speculative capacity, for insertion. But just such another epistle, I think in the whole course of my reading, (and that has been pretty extensive) I never have met with. It took up three sides of close and neat writing, and it was near the close of this very incoherent rhapsody before the writer hit upon any particular subject; at length he exclaims, (apparently in frenzy) What think you, Mr. Speculator, of Here I found detraction?" something like consistency, and paused upon it. The style is allegorical and wild, but not without merit. "What think you, Mr. Speculator,". says the writer," of detrac tion ?". "D. traction is a monster, bred by Imperfec tion, and nursed by Envy.Deformity had the charge of her outward appearance, and Malevolence, the education of her mind. Hell born Sin, obliged her, when a child, to take an oath, for ever to pursue, and with all her powers to endeavour to exterminate Vir by Josephus, in the following letter, still I am willing to gra tue. As she increased in years, she gave symptoms of not only adhering to her oath, but of antify him by a publication; leav ing the merits to be ascertained by a discerning community. At the same time I cannot but remark, that Brutus lived in an age and country, where murder, and even suicide, was not decided on according to the from the motives alone. Junius Brutus was applauded, when he sentenced his son to die. In the present age, such an act would be contemplated with horror,and receive the deprecation of all moral men. Therefore, a reference to some act performed amongst a people, more sensible of equal rights, and more aware of the crime of murder, would have answered his purpose much better; and by appealing to the feelings more forcibly, would have given more cogency to his reasoning. inclination to villify and destroy every thing that was beautiful and superior to herself. At her midnight orgies she formed the plan of secretly undermining all that was great, good or excellent. Her votaries, Scandal, Calumny, Cen-real nature of the crime, but sure, l-grounded Opinion, Malice, Envy, and an innumerable quantity of fools, ideots, thieves, murderers, &c. all swore to assist in the exe cution; and drank success to the plan, out of a bowl containing the following mixture, viz. wormwood, gall, assafo. tida, powder and blood. Revenge and l'engaence held the bowl, and while each drank, thus explained the nature of the composition, You will leave no means antried to ex. pedite the plan, be it ever so bitter, loathsome, or dangerous; nay, should it be required, blood must flow as freely as the favours of our mighty queen, upon those who merit her smiles.' Then, with a hissing howl of applause, the caucus broke and up, fiend every began the dreadful work. Although I do not entirely approve of the arguments used Mr. Speculator, A few evenings since, at a Debating Society, which I have the pleasure of belonging to, the following Question was discussed, viz Whether an individual is justifiable in taking the life of a Tyrant. The question was very ably supported, on both sides, and at |