ledge of any other perfon. At | with it, Matilda; I have great reafon to fuppofe it does belong to us; and we are now in the greatest want of it. length fhe came to a determination to try her project the following night; and by the time this refolution was formed, day-light darted through the casement of her cham-more aftonished) you told me the ber, and seemed to enliven nature with its cheering rays. She had not yet heard Alfred enter his room: but whenever she had looked towards the weft tower, as the had done feveral times in the courfe of the night, the light feemed to continue in the fame place. This trifling obfervation gave her fome degree of comfort, as the fuppofed every thing remained quiet. Some little time after, fhe heard Alfred open his chamber door, and fpeak to Leonard, Matilda felt confiderable happiness at his fafety: and as he was now perfectly fatisfied in that refpect, the defired Agnes, when the arofe, not to wait breakfast for her; as having received but little reft during the night, fhe intended now to compofe herself to fleep... How fo? (replied his fifter, ftill other day we had enough to fupport us for fome time at least. True, (anfwered Alfred) but I have now other ufes for wealth; in fhort, Matilda, this night has dif covered to me circumstances of a moft wonderful nature; and the horrid myftery of this dreadful abbey is at length unravelled. Perhaps we may remain here a short time longer but I hope you will foon fee thefe gloomy fcenes of adverfity and forrow transformed to days and years of tranquillity, happinefs, and comfort. Matilda ftood the image of amaze ment, and, for a moment, the thought her brother infane; but the glow of pleafure which overfpread his face, confirmed that his words were true; and his features, once more appeared the fame as when She arofe at a late hour, and in former times fhe had feen him, found her brother, Leonard, and with his own hands, relieve the Agnes in the parlour; the former fhivering famished beggar, and, his was reading, and though his coun- countenanceglowingwith compaffion tenance was extremely pale, yet the and benevolence, watch the poor thought he could perceive an in-wretch recover vital warmth and ward fatisfaction and ferenity, the had lately been feldom witness to. Aifred foon requefted to fpeak with her alone, and with confiderable eagerness, asked her if he had found any thing of conféquence in the cabinet.-Matilda acquainted him with every article, except the manufcript; he feemed in fome meafure difappointed, but fhewed great pleasure at the idea of the money. ftrength from the nourishment he had adminiftered. Matilda catched the heart-felt joy, but on her it took a different effect, and the burft into tears. Nor was Agnes's joy leis, when he was informed of the good intelligence. She wept with pleafure at the idea of leaving the abbey, and ftill remaining with her dear young lady. The good old Leonard too was feen to wipe. his eyes, and heave a figh of ecftafy at this unexpected turn of fortune.. Alfred however would give no fatisfactory answer, to their inquis Matilda was rather furprifed. That money (faid fhe), Alfred, we have no right to; nor do i know, in our fituation, that it would be of any material fervice, were it ourries concerning what he had feen in the weft tower: he only told them that the abbey must be bill their own. We must at all events make free habitation habitation for a short period, but the time would pafs away with far more comfort than it had hitherto done. out there was actually a neeeffityShe waited a little time, and had the pleasure to find gnes afleep before the left the apartment. Matilda took the lamp, and hav proceeded through the hall, and from that to the first court, which foon brought her to the outer one. Dinner-time arrived; but the intelligence had cloyed every appe-ing foftly defcended the great stairs, tite, and it was removed almo without being tasted. Ifred, about half an hour after, left the abbey, and faid he should return towards evening. She now began to tremble, and feel her situation. To be entirely alone at fuch a hour of the night, was an idea in many respects terri fic. The pale and half-obfcured moon gave but an imperfect light, and that light was often eclipfed by rife from the fouth, and form a gloomy mountain of dark mist towards the weft; while vivid flashes of lightning darted from the hori zon, and illumined the gathered clouds on the fouth with uncom mon ftrength. Matilda had now time to confider whether, after what the had heard, it would be proper to conceal the manufcript from her brother: and, though many reafons prompted her to give it him immediately, yet a lit-dark heavy clouds, which feemed to tle reflection told her, that the fame ill confequence the had before conceived, might arife from it. He night not yet be acquainted with the fufferings of his father, nor with the knowledge the hermit had of his dittrefs and death. In fhort fhe refolved to act as the had before de termined, and pay father Peter a visit at midnight. But the wifhed not to kave Agnes without fpeak ing an excufe might ferve that the had left fome books in the parlour, which the wified to look over, and which might detain her fome. time to procure. Matilda viewed the awful scene with great emotion, and was several times going to turn back; but she chid herself for want of fortitude, and attempted to laugh at thofe fears, which now almoft prevented her from fupporting herself. She had however arrived nearly half way to the cave, when a found of human voices ftruck her ear at fome diftance. Alfred returned at the time he mentioned, and informed them he did not intend to watch in the Matilda liftened, thought it might tower that night. The evening only be a foft breeze which waved was spent with fome degree of com- the thick groves of cypress that furfort, and at an early hour they re-rounded her. But he heard it tired to reft. Agnes was foon afleep, again, and was convinced the was and Matilda read till near midnight. right; it seemed like a chorus or During this time he often looked the chaunting of a funeral hymn at the cafement of the weft tower, for the foul of a deceased perfon. but no light nor figure appeared. She ftopped, and leaning against Havingawaked Agnes, the informed a broken pedestal which had forher fhe was going to look for a book merly borne a ftatue, liftened with the had left in the parlour. Agnes fome degree of pleasure to the fodid not by any means like the icea lemn dirge. But the voices feemed of being left alone in the chamber, now to approach much nearer, aud but Matilda reminded her that her fie perceiveda glare of light at fome brother and Leonard were within diftance above the foliage, which call, in the next room; but the re-informed her the perfons whom the quested her to make no noise with- had heard were hear. Terror at 7 being till fhe loft fight of them at the extremity of the grove. Though elated at the idea of hav being difcovered, now overcame every other confideration, and with eager eye the fcrutinised each side of the grove, to find a place of concealing efcaped difcovery, the felt confiment. At length fhe fortunately found a small opening in one part, which, by putting back the boughs, with fome little trouble, admitted and clofed her from view. She now conceived herself to be fafe from obfervation, though there was a part through which the could plainly difcover whatever paffed on the other fide. derable awe at the folemn fcene. In fhort, the fight of this midnight funeral, added to the ftrange dreffes of the mourners, impreffed on her mind a degree of terror which the was unable to overcome. Having lefther fecret place of retirement, fe paffed haftily the ftrange fepulchre; and with hurried and trembling fteps, breathless with agitation, arrived at the cave of father Peter. His lamp was burning, and at a distance he could perceive him at his midnight devotions. His aged reverend figure was in the fame pofture as when they first discovered him; and his crucifix, books, and Five minutes did not elapfe before a proceffion of men entered the path, ftill finging in the fame folemn manner. A priest of holy A priest of holy orders proceeded first; but how greatly was the aftonished, to fee him followed by about twelve men, who had every appearance of ban-hour-glaís, as ufual, flood before ditti, in dress and figure. The first him. fix carried torches, the other half followed after, with flow and melancholy fteps. These were fucceeded by fix more, bearing a coffin on their fhoulders, which was covered with a black velvet pall, and adorned with trophies. Matilda could hardly fuppofe herfelf awake, yet by the pale moon every figure feemed perfect, and fhe thought he could, in the faces of the laft four, difcover the visitors to the abbey on a former night. The whole company halted at the pedestal, when, to the amazement of Matilda, two of them removed a large ftone, which formed the cap, and part of a Corinthian base: the pedeftal then parted, and was let down, which difcovered the entrance to a large vault. The fu (To be continued.) ACCOUNT of the NEW COMEDY, entitled THE WAY TO GET MARRIED, performed for the first time at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, on Saturday, Jan. 23, 1796. DRAMATIS PERSONE. itory. Mr. Johnstone. Mifs Wallis. Mrs. Davenport. neral service was then read, by the The following is a fketch of the priest who walked first, after which the coffin was carried down by four of the bearers. Another dirge was then fung, and the pedestal was clofed, the cap, &c. being replaced DA ASHALL, a splashing citizen, who thrives by monopoly, having left London on account of the proceffion having turned, pro-his affairs taking an adverse turn, areeeded back in the fame manner, rives at a country town, to visit VOL. XXVII. M his his friend Toby Allfpice, a grocer, [in confequence of which, Clemenwho is fheriff of the corporation. tina Allspice and Dafhall pay an Lady Sorrel alfo arrives there, un-obfequious court to Cauftic, whom der a pretence of visiting her coufin they had before abufed; and DashCauftic; but in reality to meet all, to gain the fortune and foryoung Tangent, Cauftic's nephew, ward his fchemes, perfuades Toof whom he is enamoured. Tan- by Allfpice to embark a large fum gent (a castle-builder) who is the in a monopoly he is concerned in, victim of his own imagination, ar- and that London is the only place rives at the fame time, and is told to make a large fortune in. Allby his uncle of the death of an old fpice is deluded by the flattering an maiden lady, whofe will he fhares, ticipations of Dafhall, and deterand by which it is imagined that mines to become a gay fellow. Allfpice's family will benefit to the When Capt. Faulkner is in prifon, amount of near 30,000l. Captain Julia comes to her friend ClemenFaulkner and his daughter refide in tina, to beg her affiftance, who rethe fame town, in extreme poverty, ceives her with apathy and neglect. occafioned by a vexatious law-fuit Julia accidentally fees Tangent, at -his attorney, M'Query, informs a moment when (though without a him a non-pros has taken place for filling in his pocket) he fancies want of cash to proceed. Captain himfelf worth thoufands-Tangent, Faulkner opens his circumftances to without mentioning his defign, him, and acquaints him that, while leaves her to borrow money of he was in india, a lieut. Richmond, M'Query to discharge Faulkner; who was flain there, left to his care and Dafiall, who has overheard the 1000l. for Mr. Tangent, and that converfation, promises to meet her when he arrived in England, dif- at the prifon gate and liberate her treffes came upon him, and the father; but in reality intends to hopes of retrieving his eftates (left carry her off. Cauftic is violently him by his father when abfent, and irritated againft Tangent, on hearwhich had been ufurped by a rela-ing that he has again borrowed motion,) induced him to make ufe of Tangent's money; but being of high pride, he cannot bear the idea of Tangent's knowing it. Tangent, by a freak of his imagination,refted-in the doing of which, Tanis brought into the prefence of gent wounds the bailiff, and, in his Faulkner, who denies having receiv- way to prifon, encounters Dafhall, edany money from lieut. Richmond; refcues Julia, and carries her to her and determines to leave the town father. Faulkner is deeply affected immediately. In this interview, at the conduct of Tangent, and Tangent becomes enamoured of imagines from a hint dropt, thật Julia Faulkner, which coming to his concealment of Tangent's prothe knowledge of lady Sorrel, the,perty is difcovered. This ftings :in collufion with MQuery, orders him to madness; and the dread of Faulkner to be arrested for a debt famine, together with the probable due to M'Query. On the opening difhonour of his child, determinesof the old maid's will, it is dif-him to propofe mutual fuicide. At covered that her fortune is left to Cauftic, in truft that he fhall give it as a marriage portion to whatever womande fhall think mottavor thy ney on ufurious terms, and refolving to try what effect adverfity will have on his hair-brained nephew, determines to have him ar this moment Tangent having received the money of M'Query, and alfo difcovered his mal-practices with regard to captain Faulkner's litigated |