and fpiders fo huge and inflated, that the hagged hair of their bodies was like the briftles of the hunted boar; and their eyes, globular and projecting, were as the eyes of tygers watching whom they might devour. All these, and innumerable others for which nature had no likeness, immediately on the approach of Dulimond,. ceafed their obfcent fports and rancorous wars on one another; and, with their million mouths, came in voracious swarms, as if in expectation of their prey. Hu. manity fhuddered and fhrunk; it was a fight of horror. The naked arm, in the mean time, refted over the centre of the lake, the finger ceafed to bleed, and pointed downward. Thither the prince caft his eye, and beheld the white wand of Grophalis; he stayed not to confider on danger; he quitted his fleed, and threw himself, fearless, into the Lake of Bitterness. His arm divided the waters; and though his body feemed to be penetrated and torn by a hoft of thefe devouring reptiles, he ftill had the power to proceed. He arrived at the fpot; and, unterrified, plunged to the bottom. The earth fhook, the heavens were on fire, and Nature feemed to groan, as though her end were come. He feized the wand; and, lo! the lake was Ho more! He ftood upon dry land, his enemies were annihilated, and himself Mahurt. While he flood confidering thefe things, he beard a found of a multitude finging "Praifes to the valorous Prince Dulimond, who hath broken the charms of hell, who hath delivered us from the Spells of Holakaree." He turned, and faw coming towards him troops of knights and ladies; and, at their bead, a venerable old man, leading, as he thought, the Lady of the Golden Thumb, "Fear not, valorous prince," faid the aged knight," your trials are past, and your reward is come; this virgin is no enchantress," The happiness of Dulimond was ex. treme, when he was informed that Holakaree had affumed the beauteous form of Bellimante; that the vile enchantrefa was now no more; that his valour and virtue had freed the moft angelic princefs of the universe, her father, and many other noble knights and ladies who had fallen in her fnates; and, in his tranf port, he caft himself at Bellimante's feet, and kiffed her virgin hand, which be was in exftacy to find was not now ftig matized by the Golden Thumb. As for the magician Tomogorod, ke became dikonfolate for the loss of his daughter; and fome fay he now wanders over the face of the earth without a fettled habitation; and that he is always attended by one faithful dæmon, that af fifts him in his wants, and revenges him upon his enemies. And thus ends the Story of the Bleeding Finger.' It is eafy to imagine what effect a story like this would have upon John Audley and bis dame Dorothy. Had not Mr. Errant, who ftill was attentive to the fup. per, occafionally interrupted his narrative, to remind his hoftefs of the pot's boiling, the cock and bacon might have cooked themfelves for Dorothy. Blue hares, bleeding fingers, enchanted forefts, and the reft of the machinery, were things fo amazing, fo new, and fo true to them, that gaping aftonishment, terror, and agitation, poffeffed them wholly. And tho' our rator could not fo far degrade his fubject as to lower his language to their exact feale of comprehenfion, yet his fine words, and figurative expreffions, gave, even at the fire-fide of John Audley, a certain dignity to his fubject that made it more wonderful. It may be obferved, too, with what are Mr. Errant threw in touches, which, tho in themselves foreign, and of a heterogeneous nature to the fubject, ferved his purpofe. Thus, though the magician was a character inconfiftent with and fuperfluous to the tale, he was not fo to Mr. Errant. The infinuation that he was attended by the devil in the shape of a dog was not loft upon John Audley; and the concluding fentence that again revived this circumftance in his memory had its due, weight. In fhort, John's imagination had been led fuch a dance, and was fo much disturbed, that he could not be faid precisely, to know if he were fitting in a cottage, or an enchanted castle. Mr. Erraut had obferved the incident of the bible, as well as the wax that was at tached to it; and waving his walking. ftick in a circular and grave manner, touched it, and demanded of John what it was he had under him. John, who doubted whether the flick was a stick, or the wand of Orophalis, replied, with a trembling voice-The the-the b-bi-bible bible, Sir. The bible- are you fure it is the bible or are you fure it actually is there 1.1-be believe fo, Sir."- Be fo good as to rife, and let me fee.' John trembled, rofe, and looked, but no bible was there. His hair would have lifted his hat off, had it been on The Lord of beaven blefs me! faid John. Chrift have mercy upon me ! — What is that faftened to thy- -faid Dorothy. John clapped his hand bebind and ejaculated "the Lord pardon me miserable finner; I am bewitched? Mr. Errant could not forbear laughter at John's diftrefs: it was truly ridiculous-John Audley was fully convinced he was now more frmly married to the Bible than ever he had been to Dorothy herfelf; nay, and strange as it may feem, he thought the laft the worft match of the two. To carry fuch a wen for life was not to be fupported. John fell on his knees- I pray and be feech you, for the love of heaven's mercy, almighty goodness, and grace, Mr. Conjuror, have pity on me-I am a poor, innocent man; I never meant to offend your worship's goodness; indeed, indeed, I never did!' John did not perform his part folus; Dorothy prayed as faft as he: and Mr. Errant, as foon as he could for laughing, defired John to rife, and he would difenchant him, which office be kindly and faithfully performed; and after a few confolatory fentences, which Mr. Errant knew perfe&ly well how to adapt, he prevailed on his fimple, but kind hofts, to prepare for fupper; at which, for this prefent, we fhall leave (Continued from page 32.) T length fleep overcame him, the Auence of the crowny hud, pre vailed, and he funk into his arms, where he forgot his forrows, the world, and the cruel treatment he had juft met with. In the mean while Leonora remained immured in her convent, perpetually tormented by the lady abbess to take the veil, and recalling every moment to her mind the wishes of her mother. "Mrs. Cleland, the used to fay, is defirous that you should be a nun: inexorable in her resolution, the writes to me, nothing can make her change her mind; you muft, therefore, fubmit to her mandates. Our parents are the images of God upon earth, and the interpreters of the fupreme law; and to oppofe their refolves is to difobey heaven." Leonora was obliged to liften to thefe very pleasant difcourfes; the remained immoveable, and made no reply, but implored that heaven, which the fuperior talked of, to extricate her from her prefent difficulties, and in doing this her ghs and tears kept pace together.. One day when Leonora was alone, the, as it were, involuntarily cried, in wiping away the fpontaneous pearl drops, that flowed down her lovely cheeks; " No, my beloved Williams, my vows are implanted in your breaft, and my heart fympathizes with yours; I will be faithful. Great God, they want me to give myself to you, that I confecrate myself to you without referve: and what kind of heart fhall I carry with me to the feet of thine altars? a heart fullied with the most shameful perjuries. What kind of oath will that be which fhall bind us? and that violator of it is unworthy of thy fight. No, Omnipotent Father, thou wouldst not that fuch a horrid deed should take place : jealous of the homage that is due to thee, we can only prefent ourselves before thee in the greateft purity. Vile and abje& man is not fit to partake of thy kingdom. And can thofe facrifices please thee which are daily made the victims of policy and chicane? They loved, they adored thee in the fituation to which they were called, but under the chains which they now expire, they, perhaps, abjure thee." Mifs Cleland had preferved her lover's miniature picture, and it had been, till that day, almoft her fole companion. She feldom quitted her chamber, unless it was to go to the refectory and to perform the official duties. She there appeared melancholy and dejected, which, however, the endeavoured to furmount, and inftantly returned to her apartment as foon as poffible. A young lady, who was a penfioner under the fame roof, sometimes vited her. She was the daughter of a rich merchant at Bourdeaux, and her name was Adelaide, and one of the belt tem pered girls in the world. Tender hearts have a fympathizing pleasure in comparing misfortunes. Her foul partook of the melancholy ftate of her friend's mind, tho' fhe was utterly ignorant of the cause. Leonora was not of that clafs of females who think they folace their grief, by communicating it to all the world. Her chagrin was planted in her bosom; the even fuffered to find that Adelaide discovered it. Leonora and Adelaide were walking together one day, when the latter in treated Mifs Cleland to inform her of the cause of those tears which she involuntarily fhed. "Have you not confidence in me?" faid that amiable girl. Leonora, vanquished by fuch repeated questions, and ftill more by the real affection the entertained for Adelaide, affented to her entreaties. They feated themselves in a kind of alcove, and Leonora was on the point of entering upon her ftory, when fifter Sophia, a young nun who had already taken the vows, furprifed them. She had for fome time paft endeavoured to enter into a friendly intercourfe with Leonora. Leonora. The deep melancholy into then gave her narration nearly as fol- Mifs Cleland was not prepared for fuch an attack; her heart in concord with her tongue, at length broke that filence which the bad too long kept. After the had related her flory, Adelaide and Sophia fincerely compaffionated her misfortunes. "But, faid the first, Mr. Williams does not know what has become of you, and you are ignorant of his prefent fituation, how do you know that he invariably remains conftant to you? If fome other object should have caught his fancy."Here Leonora could not refrain from interrupting her. "Alas! Laid the, my heart is guarantee to his mutual peffion. I fhould never have loved Mr. Williams, if he ever could have deferted me. His faith is true, beyond the fmallest doubt inviolable; and he knows mine to be the fame. Oh! that it were poffible, but I know it is not, that our fentiments could change, I might then find fome confola tion in being feparated from a man, whofe perfidy and himself I should equally defpife; but this can never be, our hearts are rivetted together, let the distance be ever fo great between us, and our fituations however excruciating." Then her fighs and tears prevented her proceeding. You are blinded by your paffion, my dear Léonora, faid Sophia, I have too fatally experienced it." After faying this, fhe was going to relate her own ftory; but the hour of recreation being expired, the young ladies feparated, promifing to meet again as foon as poffible. Accord ingly, after fupper, when all the reft of the penfioners were retired to reft, they met in Leonora's apartment, Sophia my my father met with an accident by a fall from, his horse. Our guests remained with us two days longer, in which time my lover found means to make a declaration of his paffion, and he urged me to acknowledge I entertained a mutual paffion for him. The manner in which I received his declaration too clearly proved that he was not indif ferent to me." I am, faid he, with a deep figh, with the greatest reluctance going to leave you, and I may not, perhaps, fee you again for a confiderable time." I could not refrain saying, "What will prevent you? 1s it neceffary that your father must always accompany you? My father loves and efteems you, and you will always confer a pleasure on him, by making your appearance bere." He feem d enraptured at the invitation I gave him, and we parted mutually fatisfied. "In fine he departed, and with him went my heart and tranquil of mind, A week elapfed without feeing my lover; but not a moment paffed without his image being present before me. My thoughts were inceffantly engaged in contemplating his many beauties, and my nightly dreams called forth the marquis on my pillow. before he was reinforced; and the Dallaway of Myfore, much diftreffsed by the expence attending the support of his army, had frequently been ready to return to his own country. He was, however, appeafed by the nabob, who made over to him the revenues of all the districts which had been lately recovered; but Morari. row was fo much enraged at this inaЯtivity, which deprived him of getting plunder, that he began to meditate defection, and had already, entered into a treaty with Chunda Saheb. Dupleix was apprehenfive of the arrival of this reinforcement, and fent orders to Mr. Law, who commanded the French battalion, to intercept it if poffible. On the 26th of March they arrived at a fort belonging to the king of Tanjore, at the ditance of about 20 miles from Tritchanopoly, where fuch part of their flores as would have retarded their march were depofited. On the facceeding day they proceeded along the high road near Coilady, when major Lawrence received advice, that the enemy had here a ftrong party with artillery, which induced him to look out for another road; but, through mistake, he was led within reach of the very place he was defirous of avoiding "At length he came fee me, after a and they were unexpectedly fired upon by feparation of eight days, hich appeared fix pieces of cannon from across the Caveas fo many years, or rather centuries. ri. It was answered by 300 Europeans He found me all alone, my father being under command of captain Clive, whilst abroad on a vifit at fome distance from the line marched on towards the weft, home, and was not expected to return till by which manœuvre they were soon dut of the next day. I could not conceal the the reach of the enemy, but 20 Europepleafure I received in beholding the marans were killed. Then they halted, when quis; and he ran to me with open arms and embraced me. Could I think that fuch a beautiful monfter came to dilhonour me?" (Continued from page 34.) Tfield, the dare after their arrival at fort St. David's, under the command the rear divifion joined them, and conti qued their march without farther moleftation, and, towards night, were within ten miles of Tritchanopoly, when they again halted. Captain Gingen in the night detached 100 Europeans, with 50 dragoons, who joined the reinforcement ere day-break; about this time captain Dalton was alfo detached from the city with his son pany of grenadiers, and another all of 200 Europeans, 400 Sepoya and belonging to the battalion, confisting in four field pieces, who were ordered to lie at a rock, and from thence join a reinforcement as foon as it appeared. In the interim the major marched towards Elimiferum, a rock with a fortified pagoda on the top. Here the French had mounted fome cannon, and were prepared for an attack, and the greatest part of their army was drawn up in order of battle; the remainder were in a line, which extended from the French rock to the vilJage of Chuckleyapolla on the banks of the river. The major having gained informalion of this difpofition made to fur round Found him in cafe her paffed to the north of Elimiferum, turned bis march to the fouth of it; and the whole of the confederate troops, employed by the nabob, were in the field, before he came in fight of the enemy, who, by their appearance, were deterred from attempting to attack the major, About noon captain Dalton's party, with the nabob's and Myforean troops joined him between Elimiferum and the Sugar-loaf rock, whilst Morari-row, at the head of the Morattoes, continued a faint fkirmish with the enemy. It being intenfely hot the troops were ordered to halt, in order to get fome refreshment; but in a very short time the fcouts arrived, and brought advice that the whole of the eremy's army were ad vancing, and that the Morattoes had taken flight at the firing of their cannon. The Morattoes foon after came up, and joining the rest of the allies followed flowly on.. The enemy having been reconnoitred by captain Clive, he reported that there was a large choultry, with ftone buildings ad jacent, at no great diftance from the French battalion, which they had neg. Jected to take poffeffion of; whereupon he was ordered to take the first division of artillery and proceed, fupported by the firft divifion of grenadiers, with all poffible fpeed to the choultry, whilft the rest of the column marched on flowly. Inftead of being prevented by the enemy in this operation, they contented themselves with cannonading the battalion as it advanced, which had approached within 800 yards of the Choultry by the time the detach ment arrived there; and now made a puth against their artillery, which was fo well directed, that it kept them at a distance until the remainder of the battalion and Sepays arrived. Unwilling to expofe their horfes to a cannonade, the confederate troops halted at a distance; but such as belonged to Chunda Saheb, under the command of Allum Kham, governor of Madrats, was clofe at the French's rear. A very hot cannonade took place, the French firing from twenty two pieces of cannon, and the English from nine. The English troops, who were not employed at the guns, fheltered themselves behind the Choultry and the adjacent buildings, and the whole of the enemy's army remained expofed on the open plain, and in proportion to this disadvantageous fituation their fufferings were great. In about half an hoor the French battalion began to waver, and withdrew their cannon to a greater distance, whereupon the English advanced their guns, and that part of the battalion Hib. Mag. Feb. 1784. which fupported them were ordered to fit down with their arms grounded, whereby many efcaped with their lives. They ftill continued to retreat, but the cavalry of Chunda Saheb kept their ground for fome time, and endured the cannonade with much more fortitude than ever had been remarked in Indian troops. This firmness was afcribed to their commander's bravery, Allum Kham, who, at length, loft his head by a cannon ball, as he was exerting his endeavours to induce them to advance; but this difafter instantly difpirited them, and they retreated. Captains Clive and Dalton continuing to advance with the firft divifion of artillery, purfued the French, who threw themselves into a great water-courfe near the French rock, where they were upon the point of being enfiladed, when major Lawrence being fatisfied with the advantage he had gained, and unwilling to expofe his troops to more fatigue, under fuch a fultry fun, ordered the purfuers to difcontinue their march. The heat was fo intenfe that feven men were killed by it, and fourteen were difabled by the cannonade. The lofs of the French was about twenty, and 300 of the troops of Chunda Saheb, with 285 horfes, and an elephant, were found dead upon the field of battle. The advantage of this day might have been much more confiderable, had not the confederate troops been rather inactive, remaining at a distance idle fpectators, nor could they be perfuaded to make a fingle charge, even when the enemy's cavalry retreated, This inactivity did not proceed from poltroonery, but from the treachery of Morari row, who being in treaty with Chunda Saheb, was unwilling to bring the Morattoes to action; and fo great an opinion was entertained of their courage, that none of the reft of the allies would, engage without being joined by them. Major Lawrence parfued his march, and in the evening reached Tritchanopoly, and had, the fucceeding day, a conference with the nabob and the rest of the generals, refpecting a plan of future operations. Upon this occafion they united in opinion that a general attack ought to be made, and speedily, on the enemy's camp; but when the time was to be fixed, he found both Moors and Indians fo attached to fortunate and unfortunate days, that feveral days were likely to be lost before they could come to an agreement refpe&ing a lucky bour, without which none of them ought, in prudence, to risk an engagement. L (To be continued) Chronological |