Lieutenant's commission in the army, and everything shall be purchased to fit him out as a gentleman. You, and your son, Mrs. Dollman, must accede to my proposal, otherwise we must separate. I will now go to the War Office, and inquire if a Regiment will shortly embark for the East or West Indies." During Mr. Dollman's absence, Mrs. Dollman made his hasty determination known to my mother and my uncle. My uncle appeared to feel conscious that he had not acted right; he was well aware that he had unfortunately pursued an acquaintance with young men of dissipated habits. After remaining in a deep reverie for some time, he told his mother that he felt quite willing to accept of Mr. Dollman's proposal, but begged her to bear in mind that at any time she might hear of his death she would have no one to blame but herself. "Had you have remained unmarried, I should not have been banished from you and my native country for ever." "Not for ever, I trust, my son." "When once I leave you, mother, it is ten thousand chances if ever you see me again. Mr. Dollman is obstinate and unforgiving. I know well that he will always owe me a grudge for taking that favorite horse of his out of the stable, and getting Tattersall to advance me money to bet at Brighton races. I expected to win, but was disappointed. Nevertheless, my dear mother, I think I had quite as much right to that horse as my youthful fatherin-law. Mr. Dollman had no property when you married him. If he wants the animal, by paying Tattersall the sum he advanced to me, he can redeem it whenever he pleases. I will, my dear mother, make out an inventory of all I want to take with me; and, the sooner I am off, the better." On Mr. Dollman's return from the War Office, he inquired of Mrs. Dollman if her son was willing to leave his country. "He has resolutely made up his mind to accept of your offer, Mr. Dollman." "The 14th Light Dragoon Regiment will shortly embark for the East or the West Indies; I will purchase him a Lieutenant's commission. Previous to your son's embarkation, I should much like Mr. Lonsdale, the celebrated portrait painter in Portman Square, to take his full-length portrait, dressed in his regimentals. Mr. Lonsdale is a Royal Academician, and has a portrait in the Exhibition at Somerset House every year." Every thing was prepared for my uncle's hasty departure; he took an affectionate farewell of all his relatives and friends, and left England. For some weeks Mrs. Dollman, at the separation of her son, was almost inconsolable, and appeared at times as if she could scarcely bear the sight of Mr. Dollman. After the usual time had expired, she received a letter from her son, to inform her of his safe arrival;

that he was in excellent health, and quite happy. At the receipt of this letter, she soon became more reconciled.

After my uncle left England, Mr. Dollman proposed to my father and mother to adopt me as his own little daughter; if they did so, that he would spare no expense upon my education; that a servant should be engaged to attend upon me; a room appropriated for my own use, to entertain my playmates; and everything, as far as laid in his power, and Mrs. Dollman's, should be done to make me happy. My father and mother considered if Mr. Dollman adopted me as his own daughter, it would certainly be for my future benefit their residence being so near Mr. Dollman's, they could see me every day if they wished. At the age of six years, I became the adopted daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dollman. My health being delicate, seabathing and to drink sea-water were recommended by Mr. Deveroux. As Mr. and Mrs. Dollman intended going to Brighton for six weeks, and change of air might be beneficial to my health, I had to accompany them. Brighton is a very fashionable place of resort; it is about fifty-two miles from London. During this delightful excursion my health considerably improved. After my return, I was placed to a select day school, until I arrived at a proper age to be sent from home to some school of celebrity. At the age of twelve years I was placed at Bryan House, Blackheath, in Kent,to finish my education. This was a female establishment of notoriety, and most beautifully situated, exactly opposite to the palace of Princess Caroline of Brunswick. Highly capacitated masters were engaged to teach. Mrs. Dickens, the celebrated vocalist that sung in the different favorite operas with the renowned Braham, was engaged to teach singing; but as her theatrical pursuits so intruded on her time she had to confine herself to the limited number of four. I was under Mrs. Dickens' tuition fifteen months. She had then to decline attending altogether. The last lesson I took of Mrs. Dickins, she presented me with a book that very book I have still in my possession, although so many long years have elapsed. Mrs. Dickens strongly recommended me to practice lessons in that book daily. She considered my prospects in life were at present promising, but a reverse of fortune might take place with me as it had with many others. "You are too talented to submit to poverty;⚫you are gifted with a voice of a peculiar nature; you can in concert take either first, second, or third treble; when you practice your lessons in singing, think of me. At any time in the prime of life, you wish to have resource to your voice, make it known to me, and I will bring you forward as a concert singer." Mrs. Dickens then took an affectionate leave of me,

for me. sixteen years

and left Bryan House. What she had named to me, seemed to make a great impression on my mind. I fancied that she certainly must have some presentiment of my future fate. As Mrs. Dickens was decidedly my favorite as a teacher, I felt so much regret at her leaving, that I sincerely wished in my own mind that I might soon leave Bryan House. Being passionately fond of music and singing, I thought, ,

as she had left, music no longer would have any charms Mrs. Dickens' voice was powerful and melodious. About of age, I took

my final farewell of Bryan House. On my return home, I found Mamma Dollman's health on the decline, and Papa Dollman considered it essentially necessary for her to have immediate change of air. Mr. Dollman was chief magistrate for the county of Surrey ; a Mr. Thomas Starling Benson, chosen high sheriff for the same county. Mr. Dollman and this gentleman were very particular friends. They agreed to share expenses and take a tour around England for six weeks. They considered that constant change of air during that time would certainly prove beneficial to Mrs. Dollman's henlth. Mr. Benson proposed we should travel in his own carriage, with four fast horses, and change every fifteen miles. I remember we visited Derby ; I recollect the peak in Derbyshire. This immense mountain appeared, as I stood upon level ground, to be almost perpendicular; and to see the milkmaids descend with each a pail on her head, appeared to me truly astonishing. We visited Speedwell Mine. We entered a door placed on the side of a hill, and descended one hundred and six stone steps, laid like those of a set of cellar stairs. The passage was regularly arched with brick, and was in all respects convenient. Having reached the bottom of the steps, we found a handsome vaulted passage cut through solid limestone, and by the light of candles observed that it extended horizontally into the mountain, and its floor was covered with an expanse of water four feet deep. The entrance to this pássage was perfectly similar in form to the mouth of a common oven, only much larger. On this unexpected, and, to me at that moment, incomprehensible canal, we found launched a large and convenient boat, and a guide, with two oars ; regularly on each side of this boat were placed lighted candles. We embarked ; our progress was through a passage wholly artificial, it having been blasted and hewn out of the solid rock. You will readily believe that this adventure was a delightful recreation ; we all felt sensibly the power of contrast. Instead of going through a narrow, dirty passage, we were now pleasantly embarked. The boatman rowing along, but we knew not to what solitary regions of this rude earth, over an expanse of water as

smooth as summer's seas. We had not the odors nor the silken sails of Cleopatra's barge, but we equalled her in melody of sound and distinctness of echo; for when, in the gaiety of spirit, Mr. Benson and Mr. Dollman began to sing, the boatman gave them to understand that no one should sing in his mountain without his permission; and before they had sung many notes, he broke out in such a strain that they were contented to listen and yield the palm without a contest. His voice, which was strong, clear and melodious, made all these silent regions ring : the long vaulted passage augmented the effect. Echo answered echo with great distinctness; and had the genii of the mountain been present, they would doubtless have taken passage

with

us, and hearkened to his song. We began to hear the sound of a distant waterfall, which grew louder and louder as we advanced under the mountain, till it increased to such a raging noise that the boatman could no longer be heard.

In this manner we went on a quarter of a mile, till we arrived in a vast cavern formed there by nature. The miners, as they were blasting the rocks at the time they were forming the vaulted passage, accidentally opened their

way

into this cavern. We then discovered how the canal was supplied with water, and found that it communicated with a river running through the cavern at right angles with the arched passage, and falling down a precipice, twenty-five feet, into a dark abyss. After crossing the river, the arched way is extended a quarter of a mile further on the other side—making, in the whole, half a mile from the entrance. The end of the earch is six hundred *feet below the summit of the mountain. This has all been effected by mere dint of hewing and blasting, and is pronounced a most stupendous performance. It took eleven years' constant labor to effect it. In the meantime, the fortune of the adventurer was consumed without any discovery of ore except a very little lead: and I have no doubt, to this day, but this great work still remains a wonderful monument of human labor and perseverance. During the whole period of five years that they continued this work, after they crossed the cavern, they threw rubbish into the abyss, but never could fill it up. At the end of the cavern, near the cataract, Mr. Benson and Mr. Dollman ascended a ladder, made by pieces of timber fixed in the sides of the cavern, and with the aid of a torch elevated on a pole, they could not discover the top: the guide assured them that none had been found, although many had ascended very high. This cavern is without exception the most grand and solemn place that

When we viewed the centre of a mountain in the midst of a void, where the regularity of the walls looked like some

vast rotunda; when you think of a river as flowing across the bottom of this cavern, and falling abruptly into a profound abyss, with the stunning noise of a cataract; when you imagine, by the light of a fire-work of gunpowder played off on purpose to render this darkness visible; the foam of the cataract is illuminated even down to the surface of the waters in the abyss, and the rays emitted by the livid blaze, the preparation along the dripping walls of the cavern till they are lost in the darkened regions above. At this unexpected scene, we were filled with awe and astonishment, and involuntarily exclaimed, "Marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty!"

We were all much pleased and amused on visiting the different manufactories of earthen ware, and the beautiful and innumerable articles invented from the Derbyshire marcasite.

Passed through Oxford; visited the different villages. During the hour of respite, it was a most interesting and gratifying sight to see the young Collegians in their silk robes and Oxonian caps, parading with the greatest regularity and decorum around the different colleges. The Oxford printing office is truly a most magnificent building. Passed through Nottingham; visited the extensive stocking factory-hundreds of men employed, each man placed to his own loom. Mr. Benson and Mr. Dollman felt a great wish to see Mr. Boulton's extensive factory at Birmingham, both being acquainted with Mr. Spooner, a banker at Birmingham. Thither we went. A note was sent to Mr. Spooner. This gentleman was independent, and very eccentric in his habits. We were at the Swan Hotel, sitting at the windows to amuse ourselves with what was passing and repassing; suddenly we observed a carriage coming very quickly towards the hotel; a gentleman on the box driving four in hand; he stopped at the hotel. To our great surprise, we discovered they were four mules, all the same color and size. Mr. Benson and Mr. Dollman immediately recognized Mr. Spooner, the banker. We had quickly to prepare to return with him to his beautiful villa, about five miles out of Birmingham. The next day, introduced by Mr. Spooner to Mr. Boulton, and received permission to go entirely. through his factory. The first rooms we entered were very lofty and spacious; in one, a great number of girls; in another, as many boys-all busily employed in polishing plated goods. In other rooms, hardware and other articles, by far too numerous for me to mention. The next day went to the China and Glass establishment; the first thing that attracted my attention was the winding staircase which we had to ascend to go to the spacious rooms above. I observed the balusters were all of solid thick cut glass; this staircase, to me, ap