of the intrusion, should he encounter the Signor?" A faint groan interrupted his cogitations, but it accelerated his reso lution to retire; and, turning round, he cast an apprehensive glance upon the dilapidated walls that surrounded a kind of court, and was rendered, by the partial gleam of light that fell on them from the window, an object of no very agreeable import. A second groan quickened his steps, while a thrilling desire to know from whence it arose checked them.-He stopped again-listened-all was silent. Again he retreated, and again lingered, when the shadow of some person near him decided all. The pavillion was already in sight, and the sound of pursuit closely behind. It was in vain he sought the path by which he had entered the court. The wild and trackless scene about him prevented all hope of escape, and he well knew that part of Calabria was infested by the most ferocious banditti. But he had not long to hesitate. The voice of Schabraco broke like thunder on his bewildered meditations; and to the stern enquiry of “ What had brought him to that spot?" he could only oppose a confused silence.

6.6

"Speak," cried Schabraco, "dost thou come to torment with that detested similitude, a wretch over whose secrets thou hast no power? I marked thy rudeness at the masquerade, and fled. Say, then, who art thou? I would have avoidedthee, for there is death in that aspect, destruction in thy voice." Rinaldo had began an awkward excuse, for he felt himself irresistibly awed. "Speak not again-plead not so like Sabrina.But I rave.-Begone, nor tempt me to commit another murder."

"Murder!" echoed Rinaldo (who felt his native ardour rouse at this horrible implication); "dost thou own a crime of the greatest magnitude, and yet-" "Hark! she reproaches me!-It is herself!-But mark, young man, I have yet a dagger!"-An address so horrible-so broken-so inap plicable, and inconsistent-while it almost overwhelmed Rinaldo, carried to his heart the pungent reflection, that he had nearly deserved the consequences of his temerity. His situation became critical, and not less dangerous. It was plain the mysterious mortal adverted to some epoch in his own fate of a horrible nature. The groans which yet thrilled our young hero's soul (if hero he may be styled), although they argued no confirmation of the opinion he had hastily formed, yet seemed to accuse Schabraco as the inflicter of some lingering punishment..

These flying suspicions were speedily interrupted by his awful companion, who, awakening as from a painful reverie, commanded Piozzi instantly to depart. "I have," cried the

unhappy being, "committed myself too much, in thus giving vent to the tortures which rack a restless bosom; but I charge you, give my words no place in your mind, but as remembrancers of these injunctions: never, if your life be of any consequence, breathe a syllable of what you have heard or seen. Nor, should you chance to meet, in a future hour, the man on whom you have so rudely, if not villainously, intruded, dare, by word or look, betray a knowledge of Schabraco. Yet stop" (for the astonished youth was availing himself of this permission, after solemnly giving his oath never to reveal what he had witnessed) "first say, what is your family— your origin-your expectations?”

"My country is Sicily; I came from Syracuse. My father" "Ay, your father-speak," urged Schabraco " I would have the name of him whom I suspect." Rinaldo, as he announced the title of Count Piozzi, viewed with horror the blazing eye, pallid cheek, and trembling lip of his interrogator; whose face, being turned to the brightening east, revealed features working with a variety of contending passions. Still more was his surprise encreased, to be thus interrupted"Yes, I knew it. Thou hast been employed as an active agent in but begone, young Sir; nor stay to witness the weakess of thy superior." Rinaldo waited not a second bidding, but hastily retreated, least his departure should again be interdicted. The path through the pavilion. was clearly visible, and he entered, deeply musing on all he saw and heard. That Schabraco had traced on his countenance a striking similitude to a female called Sabrina, was beyond a doubt; but the name was totally beyond his knowledge.

The females of his family consisted only of an aged aunt,. and a young sister. His mother deceased during his childhood; since which period, Count Piozzi was never seen to smile. Her death, as hinted to him by Count Piozzi's aunt, was attended with circumstances peculiarly terrible; but none of them could apply to the case in question.

(To be continued.

ANECDOTE OF JOSEPH THE SECOND.

As Joseph the Second, was once walking in the suburbs of Vienna, he observed a crowd of persons collected round a

cart loaded with fire-wood. Curious to know the cause, he questioned one of the spectators, and was informed that the Inspector of the Barrier had stopped the countryman on suspicion of his having concealed tobacco among the wood, and insisted on his immediately unloading the cart. The countryman, who regarded this as a loss of time and a very serious labour, earnestly intreated him to permit somebody to accompany him into the city, where he could obtain satisfactory testimonies of his innocence; but the clerk would not listen to his supplications, and insisted on executing the order he had received to empty the cart. The Emperor, who was concealed amidst the crowd, remained for some time a tranquil witness of the dispute. He at length sent for a subaltern officer and a few soldiers from the nearest Corps-de-Garde, and ordered them to remain on the spot until the wood was entirely turned out. This being done, he enjoined them, in case the peasant should be fonud guilty of fraud, to executive fifty lashes across his shoulders; but if he were proved to be innocent, the refractory clerk was immediately to undergo the same punishment, and to be obliged to reload the wood himself. These orders were executed. No tobacco was found, and the Inspector after having reloaded the cart of the poor countryman, who was besides indemnified for his loss time, received the fifty lashes. Previous to his, accession to the throne, the gates of the superb promenade called the Prater, were opened only to persons of distinction. Joseph wished they should be thrown open to every body, and caused these words to be inscribed above the entrance to the promenade: Place of Amusement, a treasure destined for every body. The nobility immedi ately thronged round him, and declared that the Promenade would soon be profaned, and that it would no longer be fit for their enjoyment, if the vulgar were suffered to frequent it.

"Gentlemen," replied Joseph, "if I were determined to associate with none but my equals, I must transport myself into the vaults of the Monastery of the Capuchins, where my ancestors repose, and take up my abode with them. I love men, because they are men; I make no other distinction among them, and have no other preference for them, except that which is due to their actions. Whosover thinks well and acts honourably, is entitled to my esteem. It must not be exclusively reserved for those who reckon none but Princes among their ancestors."

In 1773 as the Emperor was passing through Medwisch in Transylvania, and aged woman came up to him for the purpose of soliciting a discharge from the army, for her, son,

whom she had not seen for a long time. She thus began: "good day to you, Mr. Emperor, I hope you enjoy good health. How is your mother? Is she likewise well?" Joseph replied to each of these questions, heard her request, gave her some pieces of gold, and sent her away well satisfied; then turning to his attendants he said: This good woman is the only person who has spoken to me of my mo ther during my journey. She shall see her son in eleven days, and free from all military engagements."

The Emperor, by an edict, granted permission to every Jandholder, whose fields had been ravaged by Deer, and whose representations had not been attended to by the Forest Courts, to destroy the animal. A countryman who had made repeated complaints, killed a superb Stag which had been brought to Vienna for the amusement of the Emperor, and which had frequently laid waste the field of the poor farmer. He was immediately thrown into prison. The chief huntsman in dismay presented himself before the Emperor, exe plained the circumstance, not forgetting to mention the detention of the criminal, and requested to know the further orders of His Majesty. "My orders are," said the Emperor, "release the man, let the Stag be sold and give him the produce of the sale of the animal by way of indem nity.

"

A crime committed by a person of distinction, whose friends applied for a mitigation of the punishment which he had but too well merited, served to make manifest the prin ciples of Joseph, who replied: "The law must be executed on all individuals equally. He who did not blush to commit the offence, should not blush to expiate it. If the law admitted of any difference in the chastisement allotted to the same species of offence, the indulgence ought not to be extended to those who have the fewest excuses to offer. Besides, virtuous and honorable actions being the more meritorious in the lower classes, where one may presume that education is least carefully attended to, and the greatest privations are felt, they ought to be the more highly recompensed."

In April, 1785, the Prince of Kaunitz, Chancellor of the Empire, completed his 74th year. The Emperor went at seven in the morning to the Riding School, where he was certain of finding him. While, in conformity to the orders of the Emperor his arrival was announced to the Prince, he proceeded himself to the outer gate, where he received him saying: "Happy the day which gave birth to the Prince of Kaunitz!" Surprised at this unexpected salute, the worthy old man could not utter a single word in reply,

His gratitude was manifested only by a tear which dropped from his eye. The Emperor perceiving this, added: "I know, my dear Kaunitz, that you have invited some good friends to pass this day with you; as I am among the number of your friends, I shall not fail to wait upon you."

A SKETCH OF THE HISTORY OF THE PROGRESS OF MANNERS.

Simple Manners of the Greeks-Violent Passions predomi nate among Savages-Cruelty of the Scythians-Barbar ous Manners of the Trojans-of the Jews.

(Continued from page 95.)

Men improve in urbanity by conversing with women; and however selfish at heart, they conciliate favour, by assuming an air of disinterestedness. Selfishness thus refined be-i comes an effectual cause of civilizatiou. But what follows? Turbulent and violent passions are buried, never again to revive; leaving the mind totally ingrossed by self-interest. In the original state of hunters and fishers, there being little connection among individuals, every man minds his own concerns, and selfishness governs. The discovery that hunting and fishing are best carried on in company promotes some degree of society in that state: it gains ground in the shepherd-state, and makes a capital figure where husbandry and commerce flourish. Private concord is promoted by social affection; and a nation is prosperous in proportion as the 'amor patriæ prevails. But wealth, acquired whether by conquest or commerce, is productive of luxury and sensuality. As these increase, social affections decline, and at last vanish. This is visible in every opulent city that has long flourished in extensive commerce. Selfishness becomes the ruling passion: friendship is no more; and eveu bloodrelation is little regarded. Every man studies his own in-, terest; and love of gain and of sensual pleasure are idols worshipped by all. And thus in the progress of manners, men end as they begun: selfishness is no less eminent in the last and most polished state of society, than in the first and most savage state.

From the general view of the progress of manners, we de scend to particulars. And the first scene that presents itself