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cence to the flatteries and attentions of lord Raimond, and her little heart dilated in a small degree with what may be called vanity, though by no means of that kind which could in the least shake her solidvirtue, her constant affection.

Lord Raimond, having succeeded thus far, applied to the count of Poitou to grant his permission for the father of Adelaide to enter into his service which having obtained, he took him and his daughter with him to his castle in Brittany, where he soon advanced him to be the first officer at his court, at which, for some time, nothing was to be seen but tournaments, festivals, and entertainments of the most sumptuous kind, at all of which Adelaide was the most distinguished among the ladies.

cient to indicate that jealousy was beginning to take possession of his heart. But Adelaide answered with the most artless innocence, protesting that all the honours and distinctions she had submitted to receive were accepted by her merely for her father's sake, whose fortune appeared likely to be essentially benefitted by the favour of lord Raimond; and she assured Orlando, in the most solemn manner, that her affections must ever continue faithful to him.

At length, however, lord Raimond, conceiving that he had sufficiently prepared the way, proceeded to give such intimations of his real views and intentions as could not be mistaken by Adelaide; and he soon after made his attack in form, by a most ardent declaration of his love, and the most splendid promises of reward would she condescend to comply. It was with difficulty that Adelaide could make her escape from the violence of his embraces, and fly to her fa ther for protection. It was immediately resolved that they and Orlando should immedi

Orlando, in the mean time, who, without any particular invitation from lord Raimond, had followed Adelaide into Brittany, became very uneasy: and in his interviews with Adelaide, which were now become somewhat less frequent than they had before been, he could not avoid letting her per-ately set out on their return to ceive that uneasiness, and anxiously making enquiries of

the court of the count of Poitou, who was well known to be

such a pature as were suffia prince of the most rigid man

ners and the most inflexible virtue, who would certainly afford them the most effectual protection. But before they

reached the frontiers of the territory of lord Raimond, a number of soldiers, disguised as banditti, attacked them, and carried off Adelaide, after having robbed her father and Orlando of all the valuables they had about them, and left them bound, to prevent a parsuit.

It was not long, as may be supposed, before Adelaide was again brought before lord Raimond, who received her more like a desperately enamoured lover than one who had been the author of so violent an act as the forcible seizure of her person. He threw himself on

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remain so, Know likewise, that I utterly despise all your proffered rewards and distinctions, when placed in competition with my virtue.' After she had uttered this answer, lord Raimond could not get from her another word: and rage, at length succeeding to his. love, he sternly exclaimed, 'You must then feel my vengeance; suffering may subdue even obstancy like yours."

Immediately he called an attendant, and ordered, that she should be confined in a damp and dismal dungeon, and there be fed on bread and water, till he gave further commands concerning her.

The father of Adelaide, and her lover, in the mean time, having been released from their bonds by some travellers, reached the court of the count of Poitou, and informed him of the behaviour of his nephew, and in what manner Adelaide had been violently seized and carried off, most probbly by his orders. The good old count expressed the utmost indignation at the conduct of his nephew, and or

his knees before her, lavished on her the tenderest and most affectionate expressions, promised her the highest honours, rewards, and distinctions, and vowed that, when he should be released from certain engage.. ments he was under to some. branches of his family, he would redeem her honour, by making her his wife. But Adelaide firmly answered'My lord, I am in your pow-dering his attendants to be

er but you cannot force my heart, which has been long devoted to another,and must ever

summoned immediately set out with a strong escort, and accompanied by the father of

much energy and vehemence, that his nephew, at length, unable to bear his reproaches, threw himself at his feet, and confessed, that, overpowered by disgraceful passions, he had caused Adelaide to be seized and confined: but he declared that he was now willing immediately to release her, and make her every reparation in his power, if he might be restored to the favour of his virtuous

ness and noble conduct has made him despise himself for the unjust and base act he had committed.

Adelaide, and Orlando, for the castle of lord Raimond; where when he arrived, he abruptly demanded of him what he knew of the seizure of Adelaide, and where she had been conveyed to. Raimond at first prevaricated, and wished to have it supposed that he had no participation in the act of carrying her off; but the count would be satisfied with no an swer, but a positive denial, sanctioned by a solemn oath.uncle, whose generous good. The suspicion,' said he,' my lord,that rests on you is strong, the charge is of the most serious and disgraceful kind, and must be replied with sincerity and honour. The ends of all The ends of all government are lost, if those who govern may with impunity commit the crimes they were appointed to restrain. Foolish, as well as wicked, likewise, are such rulers, for they most rapidly undertake their own authority. They may for a time be feared as well as hated, but they never can be loved and truly honoured, and, when least they expect, they may be hurled from the pinnacle of their grandeur and pride, into the very dungeons into which they have plunged the innocent.'

The count discoursed in this manner a long time with so

They immediately proceeded to the dungeon in which Adelaide was confined, and where she had passed many wretched hours; but without swerving in the least from her virtuous constancy, by what she had suffered or might fear to suffer, When the door now opened, she turned her eyes towards it with dread, as not knowing for what fate she was reserved. But what was her astonishment when she saw enter the good count of Poitou, her father, and Orlando, followed by the lord Raimond, who fell at her feet, and submissively entreated her forgiv ness for all the insults and cruelties she had suffered from

him. The scene appeared to her like a magical illusion of the senses, as it seemed scarcely possible that it should be

real.

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pathy. The preface to this work is of so original a cast, and reflects so much honour on the feelings of its celebrated author, that we cannot refrain from introducing it to our readers. It will serve to il lustrate the character of the renowned KOTZEBUE, more than any thing which we ourselves can put to paper on the subject.

'Dearest Reader,

"I do not pretend to con

The count of Poitou then advanced, introducing Orlando; and joining the hands of him and Adelaide,assured them that he would protect and provide for them; lord Raimond engaged to make them a present of a considerable portion of land and their union, which soon after followed,com-sider this little work as likely pleted the triumph of Constan- to be useful, perhaps it may cy and virtue. not be even entertaing. I write it to sooth the anguish of my soul-I write it in the most wretched moments of my life. The loss of a wife whom I loved inexpressibly, drove me forth into the wide world. I fled the place where my repose was buried forever-whence angels had claimed a sister's presence among themselves. Ah! the place I could fly, but the image of my Fredrica followed me every where, and only in death, when I shall press the original again to my bosom, wildt forsake me.

Extract from a Sketch of the Life

and Writings of Kotzebue.

DURING the year 1790, hé lost a beloved wife, by which catastrophe he was almost distracted. To alleviate

his distress he instantly quitted the place where she died, and fled to Paris. Of this melancholy circumstance, and of his journey, he has published an affecting narrative, entitled, My flight to Paris. This piece is translated by Miss Plumptre, and added to his life. It is a beautiful composition,and cannot be read without exciting

"Tis become a matter of indispensible necessity to my heart to be always talking or writing of her. The hope of

the tenderest emotions of sym-allaying my anguish has placed

for

the pen in my hand-but the yet forgotten, let us weep toform of my beloved wife hov-gether we are brethren! To ers over the paper: I know such I make no excuse not what I shall write, yet I see writing a book solely for myplainly it will be only of her. self and a few friends a book to relieve a wounded heart.

'Ye, who have hearts capable of sympathy !-Ye, who have sometimes dropped a tear at the representation of my drama! if ever I acquired merit in your eyes, reward it by weeping with me for my beloved Frederica Or at least spare your censures if you take this book into your hands, and perhaps do not find in it what you seek. Indulge me with writing of her!-spurn me not if even the reinotest object still brings me insensibly to her!-Heaven preserve ye all from experiencing a like affliction yet if ever a similar fate should be yours, ye shall not entreat my compassion in vain.

· Every husband who at this moment still possesses his be loved wife, who can still clasp her affectionately to his bosom, when he reads this and thanks God for the blessing yet spared him, I ask no tears of inyet even he may surely pity me!-Eut ye, whom a similarity of fate draws nearer to me! ye, who have lost a husband or a wife, who are not

'I will at some time erect the fairest monument I can to my Frederica, but not here ! At present I am unequal to the task. When my mind is somewhat more composed, I will write the history of our love and of our marriage. What a. moment will it be for such a heart as her's when I draw aside the veil that modesty threw over all her virtues Oh, she was so truly, so inexpressibly good, not from cold reasoning and principle, but from the overflowings of a warm and affectionate heart! Her feelings were always noble for there was not a place in her bosom that could harbour an ignoble thought. Her heart and hand were ever open to the relief of distress, she gave freely, and always as one human being should give to an other, as though it had been

to a brother or a sister.

* We regret, that for want of room we are obliged to continue this letter to next week.

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