till he determined our fate. At length his orders came, which condemned us to pass the remainder of our lives in the woods, in purfuit of the wild beasts, of which this country was full. I acknowledge that my constancy, which had hitherto fupported me tolerably, now forfook me at once, and gave place to the moft horrid defpair. I could no longer contain my tears. So fhocking a fate feemed more dreadful than death itfelf. I refolved to make away with myself, if I could not obtain a mitigation of my fentence, and conjured my guards, on my knees, to grant me a moment's liberty to throw myself at the governor's feet. This favour was not refused me: I appeared before the arbiter of my fate. Senfible of my infirmities, and that I could be of but little service in the woods, he confented to permit me to live at Ciangut, the name of the city, or rather miferable village, in which he himself dwelt. I in vain implored the fame favour for my companions, they were obliged to fet out, and I had the mortal regret of feeing us feparated, as I imagined, for ever. My punishment thus received fome fmall alleviation, but I was not the lefs confidered as a criminal by the inhabitants of Ciangut. I was foon informed, by the governor's order, that I must set about expiating my crimes by fome other punishments. They were less rigorous, indeed, but they appeared to me fo humiliating, that my pride operating ftill more ftrongly than my first apprehenfions, I again thought of murthering myself. Iwas, according to the custom of Ruffia, to enter into the state of life the moft contrary to that of my birth, and in which I had always before lived. I had exercised the profeffions of a merchant thirty years with the diftinction peculiar to the English, that is to fay in the midst of abundance and plea fures, free, independant, ferved by a number of clerks and domeftics; ́in fhort, poffeffed of every thing that could render life agreeable and happy. I was to be employed in cleaning fhoes, confequently forced to condefcend to the meaneft employments to gain a livelihood, and fubject to the authority of fome wretches who had an abfolute command over those who were condemned to this lot. But, to confole me for this fhocking difgrace, inftances were fhewn me of an infinite number of perfons of greater confequence than myself, who had fhared the fame fate. This confideration infpired me with patience. In fact, I had not been long at Ciangut before I got acquainted with above an hundred perfons of distinction, who had much greater reafon to complain than I had, from the vaft difference between their prefent and their former condition +. I faw generals reduced to private foldiers, judges of the chief tribunal of all Ruffia forced to be all their lives executioners, noblemen of the first rank degraded to fervants; in fhort, the moit infupportable fubverfion of the established order of nature and providence. However, my own experience lef fened my astonishment, and I became familiarized to my mifery fooner than I could have imagined poffible. I made acquaintance with fome of thefe illuftrious criminals; they received my offers of friendship with joy, and related to me the hiftory of their misfortunes; and, whether from cuftom or ftrength of mind, they almoft all teftified a moft extraordi nary refignation to their bad fortune. Perhaps this conftancy is to be attributed to the blind fentiments of refpect and fubmiffion which the Mufcovites entertain for their fovereign; that is to fay, to the fame motives which induce the Turks to fubmit their + Perfons acquainted with the cuftons of Ruffia, or who have read the memoirs of Peter the Great, will find nothing in this beyond probability, necks Interefting Adventures of an English Merchant. necks, without murmuring, to the fabre or bow-ftring of the fultan's mutes. Like them, they seemed perfuaded that a fentence of death pronounced by their Czar, is a certain paffport to heaven. But thefe religious ideas, which I at first admired, foon after occafioned my ruin. I had never found any inconvenience at Petersburgh from my being a member of the church of England, and I flattered myself I fhould enjoy liberty of confcience in my exile alfo. In fact, I was free fo long as people did not miftruft that I thought differently from them in religious matters; but it was impoffible they fhould not remark my being always abfent from church; and befides, I never thought of faving appearan ces. It was privately rumoured that I was an Heretic. I foon perceived every one avoid me with marks of fear and horror. Some exiles, whofe friendfhip I imagined I had acquired, fhunned me, and, to compleat my miffortune, the masters on whom I depended began to treat me more rigorously. I was long ignorant of the cause of this new difgrace. At laft two Greek Papas, or priests, having one day taken me afide, asked me, in a very preffing manner, whether it was true that I was an Heretic. I answered ingenuoufly, that I was a member of the church of England, and would die in that communion. No violence fhall be done you, replied they meekly enough; but we were ordered by the governor to enquire concerning your faith, and to inform you, that if you refufe to embrace our religion, you shall be banished to the woods for life. I complained bitterly of this menace; I asked whether the fentence of the court mentioned that I muft change my religion. They allowed that it contained nothing refpecting that article; but the governor, who 95 had an abfolute authority over the exiles, being ftrongly attached to the Greek church, would not fuffer any other at Ciangut; fo that the principal reason these good Papas used to convert me, was the will of their malter. My eyes were then opened with regard to the conduct of the inhabitants for fome time paft, and I became fenfible of what I had to fear from the blind zeal of an ignorant populace. Perhaps I fhould have been lefs timid, if I had only had death to fear; but, befides the ftrange humiliation of my condition, I reflected that my lot was become more dreadful than ever, by the inhabitants refufing to hold the leaft communication with me. What could I imagine more terrible in the woods? On the contrary, I might hope to meet with my companions. I repented a thousand times my having quitted them. So that, without oppofing in the leaft the declaration I had heard, I begged as a favour to be banished from Ciangut, to dwell among wild beafts in the midst of immenfe forests. The governor, furprised at my refolution after the preffing entreaties which I had before made for the remiffion of this part of my sentence, defired to fee me himself. I was conducted into his prefence, and my adventure having made fome noife in the city, the governor's lady, and fome others, had the curiofity to be prefent. Notwithstanding the fhabbinefs of my cloaths, and the languid air which mifery had implanted on my countenance, I was induced, at the fight of fo many amiable ladies, to recollect fome remains of my natural politeness. The governot? though very humane in appear it was inflexible; but the ladieg fo affected with my courage ated, if I made me prefer, rather tha judge in my religion, to live amon would ask beats; that they all united & the man you, treaties to incline him to fhew me favour. He obftinately rejected their applications, and I obferved that they feemed chagrined at his want of complaifance. I departed the next morning, guarded by two foldiers, and travelled about two leagues. I thought my misfortune fo certain, that wishes feeming useless, I did not even form any for a change of my fortune. However, the affiftance of Heaven was never before fo near me. My guards topped at the entrance of a foreft, told me my journey was at an end, and acquainted me with an happinefs that I had not the leaft reason to expect. The governor's lady, piqued at the obftinate refufal of her husband, did not wait my departure to fatisfy her refentment. Some of the ladies who had fhewn compaffion for my misfortunes entered into her views, and refolved to procure me my liberty. To gain my guards feemed the moft natural ftep, and they fucceeded there in fo well, that these men teftified as much affection for me as they were capable of, and ferved me as much through inclination as through motives of intereft. After having difcovered to me the governess's defign, they explained the first measures that had been taken to provide for my fafety. The preceeding night they had brought into the foreft a covered fledge, which they had left for my ufe until the ladies should further determine how to proceed. They had alfo brought provifions fufficient for feveral days, for thefe vast deserts are almoft wholly uni:.habited. My guards conducted me to the fledge, which was con amongst the foliage; we there which me refreshment, and, to comhad exerc.joy, they affured me that chant thior's lady, with three of her peculiar twould vifit me in the after+ Perfonder pretence of taking a the Great, ther. I received this generous vifit. My tranfports of gratitude were fo lively and tender, that their inclination to do me fervice was heightened ftill more. I was first obliged to fatisfy their curiofity concerning my country, and occafion of my misfortunes. I had nothing fhameful to reproach myfelf with, and, as the recital of my ftory was proper only to excite compaffion, it produced that effect on the ladies. I beneld them as much affected with my fad fate, as if they had been my relations. We confulted together about the means of putting an end to my flavery; whatever affiftances they could procure me, there were not the least hopes that a ftranger, who had only once travelled from Peterfburgh to Ciangut, fhould be able to find the way through the vast countries that iepa rate these two cities. There were ftill lefs, to expect that I should arrive at Europe, by other roads entirely unknown to me. These difficulties concerned me only: but the ladies were not lefs uncaly for themfelves. It was neceflary to form a plaufible reafon for the fpeedy return of my guards, otherwife our fecret could lait no longer than their abfence. It would be, perhaps, an eafy matter to perfuade the govenor that I had died on the road; but being fo near Ciangut, fome accident might difcover my retreat, and fhould then not only become a prey, a fecond time, to the misfortunes from which I flattered myself I was now delivered; but I fhould alfo expofe the governor's lady to her husband's refentment. On the other hand, I could not go farther without renouncing all affiitance, and confolation; and if I mu live in a dreadful folitude amidst forefts and wild beafts, what fignified freedom, when I had nothing more terrible to fear from flave y? Fortunately I recollected the four companions of my exile, two of whom Generous Country-Maid; or, Difinterefted Love. whom were Englishmen, one a Swede, and the other a Mufcovite. I propofed to the governor's lady to fend the two foldiers in fearch of them, with orders to bring them back free to us. All my difficulties were furmounted by this project; for this journey of my guards would prevent the governor from fufpecting their fidelity, and the return of my companions gave me hopes of being able to make my efcape with them, through the most difficult, winding, and unfrequented paths. Befides, I made no doubt but, amongst flaves who tremble at the very name of their mafters, the lady's order would be 97 refpected as much as that of the governor himself. My guards fet out. I ftayed with the ladies, who gave me fresh marks of their compaffion and efteem. My miferable condition did not prevent my being fenfible of the charms of the youngeit; but I rejected a fentiment that fuited my prefent ftate fo ill. They all promifed to provide carefully for my neceffities, and to renew their vifits frequently. The foldiers had required only eight days to perform their journey. This time was fo fhort, that I really thought my misfortunes almost entirely at an end. [To be concluded in our next.] The Generous Country-Maid; or, Difinterefted Love. Concluded from our laft. IN N this foft reverie he continued a confiderable time. He faw, in imagination, his happiness, fometimes near, fometimes at a distance; but always as fixt and indifputable. He believed it impoffible for a woman, whofe heart pleaded in favour of a man, to make any long refiftance, provided he knew how to push the advantage of his conqueft.In thoughts like thefe, the marquis paffed the night. In the morning, while he was preparing to return to Angelica, he received a letter from Boiffart, informing him that his daughter had earneitly entreated him to conduct her back to the convent; that he could not refuse her this favour, and therefore begged to be excufed waiting on him till his return. What news, for a man who imagined his happiness fecure! Could he ever more hope to fee the object he adored? Would the abbefs grant him fuch a request? In this cruel fufpence he paffed the day. The farmer came, according to his promife, in the evening, and the manner in which he mentioned his daughter, cafed the marquis of the fears he had entertained of her having discovered the affair to her father.-Eight days paffed without his daring to vifit the convent; at length, love got the bet ter of his fears; he repaired thither, and, in the name of her father, asked for Angelica; fhe inftantly came into the parlour, but, furprised at seeing de Clerville there, he was going to return. He read her defign in her eyes. "Stay," faid he, " for heaven's fake, do not fly a man who does not want the bars you have placed between us, to treat you with all the refpect he owes your virtue. If I have been fo unhappy as to displease you, I am now come to offer you a fatisfaction worthy of my crime; and chearfully fubmit to whatever punishment you fhall think proper to inflict upon me. Happy, if you will only fometimes permit me to fee you: 'tis all I afk in return for the moft fincere, the most ardent love. Can you refufe me this fmall request? "Perhaps," anfwered the, it would be imprudent, after the manner in which you have acted, if I fhould make yourfelf the judge in this affair: otherwife, I would ask you, you you, whether the fufpicions which muft inevitably attend your visits, will not tend to fully my reputation? A few days ago I fhould have granted your requelt, but how can I ever more, place any confidence in Yes, beautiful Angelica," interupted the marquis, " you hall place your confidence in me: your fentiments are too juft, too delicate, not to be complied with; I will fee you as feldom as poffible. What pain will this felf-denial coft me? But what would I not oto fecure that reputation on which my happiness depends? But fay, lovely Angelica, will you always re-fufe my love?" My paft actions," faid fhe, "and what I am now going to declare, will enable you to judge for yourfelf. I am at a lofs to exprefs the different agitations of my foul, from the first moment I faw you. I always found myfelf unhappy in your abfence, and fighed for your return. In fine," added the with a blush, " my heart fpoke a language unknown 'till I knew you." The marquis, quite enchanted, thanked the fair Angelica for this generous declaration, and acknowledged himself the most happy of men." I fincerely wish your happinefs may continue," replied the, but remember, that, as I have in my prefent circumftances been able to fly from you, fo I have refolution enough never to fee you more, if you fail in that circumfpection I have required of you." De Clerville, after having affured her she had nothing to fear, faid all that the most tender love could infpire; and then took his leave. As he returned home, he reflected on the different emotions of his heart, and the effects they might produce: he trembled when he thought to what lengths this paffion might lead him. Angelica, faid he to himself, is mif trefs of a great share of good fenfe, fhe has alfo virtue, or at least pretended virtue enough to deftroy all hopes of poffeffing her on my own terms. I love her, and feel myself capable of facrificing every thing to my love. Thefe ideas employed him 'till he reached his feat; reflection lent her aid; he refolved to fee her no more: but reafon, which fhewed him all he had to fear in this engagement, was not fufficient to overcome his paffion. He was fome days without feeing Angelica; he even left the country, that he might not be near her; but abfence only encreased his love. He returned, refolved, at any price, to vanquish the refolutions of this charmer of his foul. He vifited the convent, and employed every argument that had any tendency to induce her to return to her father's; but without effect.—“ I fear you," faid the to the marquis, "and Iought alfo to fear myself. Nothing can alter the refolution I have taken. Do not therefore endeavour to disturb the tranquility I enjoy in this retreat. You love me; I have confeffed my tenderness for you; what can you wish for more? Let us live contented with this friendship; you can, with the fame freedom, fee me here as at my father's; and if you have a real esteem for me, you will not wish it otherwife. Suppose I fhould quit the cloister? You would think me guilty of a weakness, and unable any longer to refift your paffion you alone obliged me to retire hither: and can I leave this fafe retreat without expofing myself to the most imminent danger? I fhould fee you every instant: you would im→ plore my pity, and I might at length be fubdued by compaffion. Reflection would make me hate you; and I fhould no longer bear to fee a man, whofe prefence would be an eternal reproach to my virtue. Nay, even fuppofing 1 |