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ther, "I was so anxious to assure her of Miss Euston vainly endeavored to conthe affection with which I should welcome jure up something like a blush upon her her into my family, that I immediately put sallow cheek, and rejoined, "Mr. Seyton on my bonnet, walked to Belvidere Place, has received my letter, and must feel perconfessed to her the mistake under which I fectly secure of the reciprocity of my senhad opened her letter, and obtained her timents." consent to come and drink tea here this evening; now are you not surprised?"

"Very much so indeed," I replied, wishing that my mother had not been quite so officious and prompt in her movements, although at the same time I felt glad that my timid gentle Charlotte should have been encouraged by such marked demonstration of kindness on the part of one with whom I knew she suspected that she was no favorite.

"As soon as tea is over," said my mother, "I and your sister will slip out of the room, and you may enjoy the conversation of your beloved."

I could not help thinking with the Irishman, that "the reciprocity was all on one side;" my cheeks flushed, my hands trembled, and I had the conviction that I was cutting a very ridiculous figure. My companions, however, were all disposed to be very indulgent to me, and I talked about Richmond Hill and Twickenham meadows, and strove to appear as unembarrassed as possible; my plan was, that as soon as my mother and sister had left the room, I should disclose to Miss Euston my unfortunate mistake, and advise her to take upon herself the credit of refusing me, which I was perfectly well inclined to give her as a balm to her wounded vanity. At length my mother and sister exchanged a telegraphic

murmuring something about the geraniums in the back drawing-room, when suddenly a thundering knock resounded at the door, and she resumed her former position.

"But, mother, you have never shown me her letter," I exclaimed. My mother was on the point of producing it from the re-look, and the former half rose from her seat, cesses of her pocket, when a knock was heard at the street-door, announcing the arrival of the fair one in question. I has tily ran up stairs to arrange my hair, and put on the most irresistible waistcoat in my "I believe it is my brother the baronet," wardrobe. When I decended again, I said Miss Euston; "directly I had read stood for a moment in the fearfulness of Mr. Seyton's letter, I inclosed it in a note true love, with my hand upon the lock. to Wimpole-street, begging that he would "How shrill Charlotte Easton's voice sounds soon call upon me to converse on a meato-night," I thought; "she speaks much sure so important to my future happilouder than my mother and sister; I sup-ness; and I directed, that if he came this pose nervous excitement is the cause of her evening, he should be told where I was to be altered tones; however, her beauty will not found." be impaired by her trepidation, although the sweetness of her voice may be so." I threw open the door, expecting to feast my eyes on the smiling, blooming countenance of sweet Charlotte Easton; alas! what was my horror at beholding the bony angular form of Miss Euston, the spinster who had been so often and so warmly recommended to me by my mother and sister. Instanta- or viscount. I entertained somewhat of neously the truth flashed upon me; both of the same idea, but with me it took not the the ladies lived in Belvidere Place, and the pale cast of fear, but the rose-colored tint atrocious habit of which George Gordon of hope; such an event would extricate me had accused me in my boyhood, of making from my difficulties without impugning my an a in the precise shape of a u, had occa- honor; and had the baronet thought fit to sioned the letter meant for Miss Easton to enact the part of Lochinvar, and carry be carried to Miss Euston, read, and fa-away my affianced bride on his steed, I vorably answered by her. I actually trem- should certainly have borne a close resembled with consternation. blance to "the poor craven bridegroom" "William is rather overcome, my dear," who "spoke never a word" on the occasion. said my mother to Miss Euston; "but it is The first glance, however, at the countealways the way with true lovers to be doubt-nance of the "very magnificent three-tailed ing and diffident." bashaw," who was now advancing towards

My mother and sister looked aghast. Miss Euston had frequently alluded to the very high views formed for her by her brother the baronet, and they apprehended that he had come to fulminate his right honorable indignation on our presumptuous family, and bear away his sister an unwilling victim, to receive the addresses of some earl

Too much overcome to speak, I gave a nervous nod of the head.

"And I conclude," he continued, with additional vivacity, " that you are not overburdened with capital, and have not much of your own to add to it."

I gave a nervous shake of my head, and my mother interposed in my favor with the hackneyed joke that "I had nothing to settle but my heart, and had already done that most effectually."

us, dissipated the fears of my mother and my sister's property should be settled on sister, and my own hopes; he was amiably herself." and patronizingly condescending, assured me that he had always respected me as a very deserving young man, and that he felt assured the more he saw of me the better he should like me; told me that I had made choice of a treasure, and complimented my mother and sister on the fondness and admiration which his dear Dorothea had informed him they had long evinced towards her. For the first time in my life I was ashamed of my mother; she kept inclining her head as reverentially as if she had been "I imagine," said the baronet, " that you the mother of Aladdin asking the stately will not object to the settlements being Chinese princess in marriage of the sultan made by my own solicitor, who is an exher father; and she occasionally uttered cellent fellow; indeed I am particularly short phrases expressive of her delight, fortunate in every one whom I employ. I honor, and satisfaction at the proposed can recommend you to an admirable winealliance. I learned afterwards the secret merchant, and an invaluable tailor; and of the unexpected affability of "my brother when you furnish your house, you cannot the baronet." do better than to apply to all my own tradespeople."

About three months ago, he had united himself with a very lively, laughing, pretty young girl, who had obtained great influence over hin, but whose levity inflicted such a severe shock on the nerves of her prim sister-in-law, that she took the trouble of going every other day to Wimpolestreet, to lecture the young bride on the enormities of standing half the morning in the balcony, singing French ballads with the windows open, and encouraging young men to drop in at luncheon-time. Lady Euston was by no means grateful for this! surveillance, and repeatedly told her husband that "she would give any thing in the world to get the old maid married, and only wished that he would look out for some one silly enough to take her."

Thus oppressively condescending, did the baronet converse for a couple of hours, when drawing his sister beneath his arm, he took his departure, leaving me convinced that it was too late for explanation, and that, to use an expressive colloquial phrase, I was "fairly in for it!"

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A week passed, my courtship progressed; I did not confide the secret of the mis-directed letter to any one but my old friend George Gordon.

"I pity you sincerely," he said; "but I am afraid that on the present occasion I verify the words of Rochefoucault, that there is something in the misfortunes of our best friends which does not displease us;' let me, however, first ask you if you really mean to marry Miss Euston?"

"I had some thoughts," the baronet remarked to me, "of deferring my visit till "I cannot do otherwise," I said mournto-morrow, but Lady Euston would not hear fully, "she has just ordered her weddingof it; she said she quite felt for the anxiety bonnet, and her brother the baronet has of mind under which you must suffer while presented her with a topaz necklace beawaiting my opinion. Lady Euston is ex-longing to the late Lady Euston, all claim cessively fond of Dorothea, she feels for to which the present Lady Euston has genher just as a younger sister would do for erously relinquished, because the setting is an elder one." (Lady Euston was seven- old-fashioned, and she has a particular disteen, and Miss Euston forty-seven, there- like to topazes. But why do you ask the fore she must have felt for her like a very question?" younger sister indeed!)

My mother here interposed an observation, that much as Lady Euston's affectionate kindness was to be admired, the wonder would be to find any one who was not attached to Miss Euston.

"I presume," said the baronet, turning sportively to me, " that you are willing that

"Because," said George Gordon, "I have long secretly admired Charlotte Easton, but never made known my feelings to her, deeming that you were attached to her, and that your attachment was reciprocated; even now I will not address her till your marriage has taken place."

My marriage did take place in a few

weeks, and the next day, George Gordon | in Oliver Twist, "I let myself go very reasent an exquisitely-written proposal of mar-sonable,-I was cheap, dirt cheap!" riage to Charlotte Easton, which lay in no I had written thus far, when George Gordanger of being taken to a wrong house. don called.

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George looked rather alarmed at this preface, as the firmest friend would find it very natural to do.

He was refused, but Charlotte's aunt, with George, my excellent friend," I said, whom he was a great favorite, privately ad-" I know your regard for me, it has been monished him to persevere, saying that tried and proved; will you give me another Charlotte had certainly felt a decided pre- demonstration of it?” dilection for Mr. Seyton, who had paid her marked attentions, and she was both mortified and wounded when he made choice of another lady, but that a little time and her own excellent sense would doubtless enable her to forget him, and she would then begin to value the good qualities and firm and consistent attachment of Mr. Gor-I returned, "the service I require at your don. George took the hint, was a frequent hands is of a domestic nature." visitor at the house of Charlotte's aunt for three months, then renewed his offer, and was accepted.

"I am sure, Seyton," he said, "I would do any thing to oblige you, but my account at my banker's is very small just at present." "I do not wish you to lend me money,"

Surely," he exclaimed, "you are not going to separate from your wife! I know these things are very common in the fashionable world, but indeed, Seyton, they will not do in middling life."

"Again you are wrong, my friend,” I said, "I have been writing a sketch of my life for the benefit and improvement of the rising generation; I wish to insert it in the Metropolitan, but it has awakened feelings in my mind so painful, that I cannot bear the idea of again glancing on it; you know my adventures, you know my turn of expression, you know better than any one else the little peculiarities of my hand-writing, will you take it to the editor, and will you-will you, my dear friend, order the proofs to be sent to you for correction?"

George started, put his hand for a moment before his eyes, then withdrew it, looked first at the cabalistic mysterious characters of my blotted manuscript, and then on my rueful and imploring counte

I have been married for a year, and have not the most remote intention of claiming the Dunmow flitch. The temper of Mrs. William Seyton is still less placid than that of Miss Euston; her jealousy is such that she cannot even bear me to look at the pretty faces in the Annuals, and she repays the anxiety of my mother and sister to possess her for a relative, by treating them with so much rudeness and hauteur, that it is painful to me to see them in my house, while I am subjected to the most rigid domestic cross-questioning and lecturing if I visit them in their own. It is true that my wife had, as was alleged, fifteen thousand pounds, but the solicitor employed by "my brother the baronet" has so drawn up the setlements, that should my wife die without children, (and at her age it is likely enough that "she may lead her graces to the grave, and leave the world no copy,") I am depriv-nance. ed of even a life-interest in her property, "I will," he said, in a firm, distinct the whole of which goes to her brother and his descendants, of whom there promises to be no lack, Lady Euston having just enlivened her domestic hearth by the introduction of magnificent twin boys. Thus, when I am left a widower I shall be a pennyless one; the property of my wife being in the three per cents, only produces four hundred and fifty pounds a-year, of which she claims. two hundred as pin-money, asserting that no lady can dress neatly upon a less sum; the one-horse chariot and French soubrette, which her brother the baronet declares to be absolutely necessary to the respectability of his sister, absorbs the remainder of the income she brings to me, and my friends all say of me, that, like Bumble the beadle

tone.

I wrung his hand in silent gratitude, and feel happy to close my melancholy tale with so sublime an instance of the devotion of true friendship. By the time these pages meet the eye of the public, George Gordon will have performed his promise!

LADY ELIZABETH LEVESON GOWER.A matriconcluded between the Marquess of Lorn and the monial engagement is confidently stated to be Lady Elizabeth Leveson Gower, eldest daughter of their Graces of Sutherland.-Court Journal.

DISCOVERIES IN CENTRAL AMERICA.

From the British and Foreign Review.

builders) abroad upon the face of all the earth," was the time when the vast plains and forests of the Western world first received man as their inhabitant. A third party, still more absurd, have conceived (from a passage in Plato) that, in former times, an island of enormous dimensions,

The History of Ancient America, anterior to the time of Columbus, proving the identity of the Aborigines with the Tyrians and Israelites, and the Introduction of Christianity into the Western Hemis-named Atlantis, stretched from the northphere by the Apostle St. Thomas. By GEORGE JONES, M. R. S. I., F. S. V. Longman and Brown, London; Harper and Brothers, New York. 1843.

Ir all the embellishments the art of printing can bestow, with the addition of an elaborate title-page and a solemnly inflated style, could insure the success of a work and confer reputation on its author, Mr. George Jones would henceforth become the literary lion of the day, and his 'History of Ancient America' would display its hot-pressed charms upon every library table. Unfortunately the merits of a book are not in precise proportion to its outward garniture; and though we doubt whether even the author would recognize the "child of his brain," were it unrolled from the gorgeous coverings in which it has been sedulously swathed, we own that we would rather have seen it in puris naturalibus.

Few questions have given rise to more discussion or more ingenious theorizing than the original history of America. It is one of those moot points which have always been, and probably will ever continue to be, of an uncertainty only stimulating to the appetite of the speculative; while the inquirer, though he fail to solve them, may chance to alight upon detached and valuable portions of truth, as the hammer of the geologist may sometimes strike out a gem, though he lose the course of the stratum he is investigating. To determine this disputed paternity, many incredible and absurd hypotheses have been from time to time propounded. Some authors-Lord Kaimes among them-have not scrupled to report that the Mosaic account of the creation of our first parents was only intended to inform us of the origin of the inhabitants of the Eastern world, and that the American nations sprung from a different Adam and perhaps a less erring Eve! Others, with less imagination, or more piety, have contented themselves with hazarding the conjecture, that the destruction of the tower of Babel, when, according to holy writ, "the Lord scattered them (the

western coast of Africa across the Atlantic Ocean, and that over this continental tract both man and beast migrated westwards. In one night, however, a mighty storm and wind overwhelmed this island, at a time when only a few animals had succeeded in making good their passage.

These theories, and many others even more wild which might be collected from different writers, are not without their warning use; they give a humiliating proof of the puerilities into which even vigorous minds may be betrayed, when once they abandon inductive reasoning for the seducing fields of speculative fancy. Thus the early geologists conceived that the petrified shells and vessels found buried in the secondary strata were produced by what they called a "plastic force" in nature, and accounted for the vast beds of shells on the tops of the Alps by remembering the shellornamented bonnets of the pilgrims passing from Rome!

To return however to our subject. The discoveries made by the Russians in the northern parts of the world, under the auspices of Peter the Great, confirmed the opinion of those who, not disposed to account by supernatural agency for what might be effected by natural causes, had early suggested the possibility of America having been peopled from the contiguous northern shores of Europe on the one side and Asia on the other. They insisted upon the similarity in features, manners, and mode of life of the denizens of these frigid zones; and, arguing upon the analogous migrations of the European and Asiatic nomads, they accounted for the existence of the Southern Americans by the continual pressure of a rapidly increasing population from the north.

But even when the discoveries of Russia apparently corroborated this hypothesis, the tide of discussion was not checked, but merely diverted into fresh and numerous channels. Almost every nation of the Old World set up its claim in turn to the honor of having given birth to the new hemisphere; the Jews, Canaanites, Phoenicians, Carthaginians, the Greeks, Scythians, Chi

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nese, and many others, have all found zeal-] But we should give due weight to the reous advocates for their respective claims. mark of the author of the work before us Josephus Acosta, a Spanish Jesuit, who upon this point, viz., that this eminent hiswrote about the year 1560, is opposed to torian was not aware of the existence of the opinion, which he says was prevalent the stupendous remains of former magnifiin his time, that the Americans were of cence which it is the object of Mr. Jones Jewish origin. He treats this suggestion, to ascribe to their proper architects. On which he believes to have been founded on the whole, Robertson inclines to the opina passage of the book of Esdras, with ut-ion of Mr. Parsons before alluded to, and ter skepticism and even some degree of concludes that we must consider the northcontempt. He "cannot well see how that eastern nations of Asia to have been the Euphrates in Esdras should be a more con- first inhabitants of America; and that, after venient passage to go to the New World having migrated across Behring's Straits, than the enchanted and fabulous Atlantike they spread themselves gradually over the island of Plato." He confesses, however, whole hemisphere. This account tallies. that the coincidences in the customs of the with the traditions the Mexicans have of two nations are curious, although in his their own origin, which relate that their opinion accidental. ancestors journeyed from the north-west.

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This theory receives some additional confirmation from an account given by Peter Kalm, in his 'Travels into North America,' of pillars of stone, apparently of great antiquity, which had been found some hundred miles west of Montreal,-one of them covered with inscriptions, which some Jesuits who saw them affirmed were written in Tartarian characters. It appears moreover, from Marco Polo, that Kublai Khan, a Tartarian monarch, one of the successors of Ganghis Khan, after he had conquered the southern part of China, sent out a naval expedition for the purpose of subduing Japan, but that this armament was cast away and never more heard of; and it has been conjectured that some of these vessels may have found their way to the American

Mr. Parsons, the author of the work entitled 'Remains of Japhet,' entertains no doubt that the earliest Americans were a colony from Tartary. In confirmation of this idea he observes, that the American nations had some acquaintance with the doctrine of the Trinity, for they worshipped their tutelary deity, the Sun, under the threefold appellation of the Father and Lord Sun,' the Son Sun,' and the Brother Sun;' and moreover they adored an idol called by the name of Tanga-Tanga, which signifies One in Three and Three in One. This circumstance is considered by Mr. Parsons, who had observed a similar worship among the Lamas of Thibet and Tartary, as a strong presumption in favor of the original identity of the two nations; and from this and some other analo-shores. gies he concludes that both the Peruvians and Mexicans are derived from the house of Togarmah, the son of Gomer, the son of Japhet, who, we are told, settled "eastward, in the northern quarter."

The Abbé Francesco Clavigero, a native of New Spain, and author of a 'History of Mexico' of considerable celebrity, is decidedly of opinion that his countrymen came from the northern parts of America, Dr. Robertson, whose graceful yet man- but evades the question of their original ly style stands out in strong and pleasing parentage. His description of their state relief to that of some authors upon this sub- at the time of their discovery is extremely ject, does not place much reliance upon the curious and entertaining, but appears too analogies which may be traced in the cus- much drawn from the notoriously exaggetoms, either secular or religious, of any two rated and fanciful coloring of Boturini to be nations. He justly observes, that there is received as history without the most extreme nothing in these coincidences which may caution. He affirms that the Mexicans wornot be sufficiently explained by the similar- shipped a supreme deity called Teotl, which ity of their condition or situation; and that, bears some analogy to the Greek Osos, both to prove an identity of origin, it is requi- in sound and attributes. They had also site that some arbitrary institution, such as some notion of an evil spirit, whom they the keeping the seventh day holy, should called (for what reason we cannot conjecbe discovered in both. He also conceived ture) by a word which signified' a rational that America was not peopled by any na- owl.' They also believed in the immortality tion of the Old World which had made any of the soul, and had descriptions of the considerable progress towards civilization. | creation, deluge, confusion of tongues and

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