gently towards the upper part, and ending like a bulb, or very fmall onion. On the top of each is its mouth, furrounded by one or two rows of claws, which when contracted look like circles of beads.

The lower part of all thefe bodies has a communication with a firm fleshy wrinkled tube, which sticks faft to the rocks, and fends forth other fleshy tubes, which creep along them in various directions. These are full of different sizes of these remarkable animals, which rife up irregularly in groupes near to one another. This adhering tube, that fecures them faft to the rock, or fhelly bottom, is worthy of our notice. The knobs that we obferve, are formed in feveral parts of it, by its infinuating itself into the inequalities of the coral rock, or by grafping pieces of fhells, part of which ftill remain in it, with the fleshy fubftance grown over them. This fhews us the instinct of nature, that directs these animals to preferve themfelves from the violence of the waves, not unlike the anchoring of mufcles, by their fine filken filaments, that end in fuckers; or rather like the thelly bates of the Serpula, or Worm-fhell, the Tree Oyster, and the Slipper Barnicle, &c. whofe bafes conform to the shape of whatever fubftance they fix themselves to, grafping it fatt with their teftaceous or thelly claws, to withstand the fury of a storm.

When we view the inside of this animal diffected lengthways, we find a little tube like a guller leading from the mouth to the ftomach, whence there rife eight wrinkled small guts, in a circular order, with a yellowish foft fubftance in them: These bend over in the form of arches towards the lower part of the bulb, whence they may be traced downwards, to the narrow part of the upright tube, till they come to the fleshy adhering tube, where fome of them may be perceived entering into a papilla, or the beginning of an animal of the like kind, molt probably to convey it nourishment, till it is provided with claws. The remaining part of these flender guts are continued on in the fleshy tube, without doubt for the fame purpose of producing and fupporting more young ones from the lame common parent.

The many longitudinal fibres, that we difcover lying parallel to each other, on the infide of the femi-transparent fkin, are all inferted in the feveral claws round the animal's mouth, and are plainly the ten

dons of the mufcles, for moving and directing the claws, at the will of the animal. Thefe may be likewife traced down to the adhering tube.

With refpect to its name, the critics may perhaps observe, that an animal compounded of many animals has not a very philofophical found. But it is well known to thofe, who understand the nature of zoophytes, or lowest class of animated being, that there are many kinds of these animals, as well fuch as swim about freely, as fuch as are fixt to rocks and thells in the fea, that have a great many mouths in the form of polypes, and yet are but fingle animals; fuch as the great variety of Pennatulas, or Sea pens, among those that swim about, and most of the Sertularias, Gorgonias, with many others, among thofe that are fixt. Yet this newly discovered animal differs very much from the generality of thefe. It may be compared, to fpeak in the style of those who maintain that zoophytes vegetate, to a timber tree, that fends out at a distance round it many fuckers from its roots, which fuckers coming in time to be trees, may with propriety, be reckoned so many diftinct trees, though connected at their roots with the parent tree.

The discovery of this animal appears to be of fome importance to natural history, as it clears up that much-difputed point, that the extenfion or increase of the subftance of thefe zoophytes is of an animal, and not of a vegetable growth. The poetical defcriptions of fome late fyftematical authors have tended rather to confufe than explain there matters to our ideas; for inftance, they call these bodies, that rise up like a fpike with many mouths, a vegetating ftem, and their mouths, which are formed like fo many polypes, flowers; though with thefe fuppofed flowers, they evidently feize their food, by ftretching out their claws (which they call the petals) to convey it to their mouths, that are in the center of each, to swallow it, digeft it, and return the non-nutritive parts back again by the fame way. Can this then be called a vegetative life? Befides, this animal, when diffected, difcovers not only mufcles and tendons, but a ftomach to digeft, and inteftines to fecrete, proper nourishment for the fupport and increase of itself and its progeny; the strongest proof that has yet appeared, that zoophytes are true animals, and in no part vege

the impreffion which I then experienced. She could not fail to perceive the fenfations of my heart, and, blufhing with unaffected loveliness, the retired. I had all the diffaculty imaginable to tear myfelf from this fafcinating spot. The image of Sophia purfued me every where. I returned many times to her father's fhop, under pretence of buying more jewels. I contracted an acquaintance with her mother, and was charmed to fee every thing virtuous in this family. I had been hitherto unable to speak to Sophia, but in the prefence of her parents; but one day the happy moment arrived, when she was alone in the fhop. I entered trembling. As foon as the faw me, the feemed difconcerted, and before I could ask her a fingle queftion, told me with a faltering voice and downcaft eyes, that her parents were gone out. Charming Sophia,' faid I, it is not them I feek: It is you only, you, who have robbed me of my repofe and my liberty; you, without whom I cannot exift. I am quite concerned,' answered Sophia innocently, that I have been the cause of such uneafinefs, fince it is not in my power to remove it. Ah Sophia, you alone can remove it. Tell me only that my paffion does not difplease you, and I fhall think myself the bappiest of men.'Your paffion! Ah! Sir, young as you are, and formed to please the handfomeft of women of your own rank, I can never imagine that you feriously think of a girl in my fituation, Rank, my Sophia, is nothing. Nature and Love never knew any other than Virtue and Beauty. You poffefs thefe; you are formed to reign in every heart. Ah! Sir, at your age one may be inattentive to the prejudices of the world. No, Sophia. You are the firft that has taught me that I have a heart, and I know my heart too well not to fwear to you, that thefe fentiments can never be effaced. I believe you are fincere, and I will speak to you with equal fincerity. I confefs, that, without being ambitious, you lead me to wish that my rank were equal to yours, or that yours were as low as mine. But as this circumftance is unalterable, it is with regret that I fee the neceffity we are under of abfolutely renouncing each other. I am determined never to encourage a paffion, that would fully my honour, or deftroy your for June. Adieu, Sir, we must avoid each other.'

At these words, Sophia called fome perfon into the fhop, and immediately retired: but I perceived, notwithstanding her feem

ing firmness, fome marks of agitation, and fome tears, which the could not conceal. I left the fhop a moment after, overwhelmed with grief. From this moment fhe avoided all converfation with me. In vain were all my efforts, till I learned one day, that she was to go to a ball with her mother, on occafion of the marriage of one of her friends, the daughter of a rich goldsmith. This was an entertainment to which the father had invited all all the perfons of quality whom he served, as is cuftomary in Paris. I contrived that the Marquis de * **, who was invited, fhould introduce me into the party, but without acquainting him with my views. The mafter of the houfe received us with a noble welcome; and I could not but obferve, that the eafy gaiety, the refpectful manners, and the good fenfe, which reigned in this affembly, were far preferable to the airs of importance without dignity, and the unintelligible small talk of what is called Good Company.

I had no difficulty to discover Sophia in the crowd. I approached her under cover of my malk, and fnatching the first mo ment in which I could speak to her at liberty, I defcribed all my fufferings fince he had condemned me to forget her. 'Command me,' faid I, what is within my power to obey. And is it then fuch a crime to love you? Can the most rigid virtue be offended with a fecret homage? Even the most powerful Monarchs have no empire over hearts. Forget you! No, Sophia! never. In vain, when I follow you, do you affect indifference and difdain. In vain, when I meet your eyes, do you avert them with anger. Ah! Sir, how remote is my heart from the harth fentiments you imagine! Happy would it be for me if I could entertain fuch in reality.' - -What do you fay, my charming Sophia? And have I been fo fupremely happy as to infpire you with fimilar fentiments. But, why then do you thus avoid me?'-' Because I owe it to your happiness; we can never be united.'

Love has worked greater miracles than this. Ah! if the tendereft affiduities, if the sharing of my fortune could but conquer these prejudices."

At these words, Fortune and Prejudices, Sophia gave me a fevere and chilling look. 'Do, I understand you rightly? Would you have the bafeness of those wretches, who never approach our fex but with dif honourable views? What opinion must you have formed of me, if you can ima gine that I would grant that to your de

grading

grading gifts, which I would refuse to your virtues Ah!' I exclaimed, 'on what foundation do you accufe me of entertaining fuch humiliating ideas? If I offer to divide my fortune with you, it is with the title of wife to the mott ardent of lovers. Oh! no, that can never be. 1 fhould disgrace the man I love.'-Treat me with as much rigour as you pleafe, but never impute fuch unworthy fentiments to me. Yes, tell me this moment that you will be mine, and to morsow I will demand your parents confent. I will marry you in fpite of mine.'

Joy feemed to sparkle in Sophia's eyes. But it was momentary. A melancholy reverie fucceeded, and fome tears tole down her lovely cheeks. At length, breaking a painful filence, the defired a month in order to confider of this important Яtep; and that I might have all the me that was requifite to deliberate on the confequences of fuch an unequal match, fe required that during this interval I fhould abfolutely avoid her. Believe me," he added, what I demand is efential to your happiness. Thele words, which I interpreted as favourable to my hopes, induced me to accede to her demands, and the next day I retired into the country.

Never was an abfence from the object of the mott paffionate love fupported more agreeably. The given period I doubted not would be the commencement of my happiness. Three weeks had paffed, and I counted the hours that delayed our union, when I received this letter.

The Count, prefenting the letter to Matilda, entreated her to read it, as the fubject was too affecting for him. It was as follows:

The facrifice, which I owed to the molt generous of men, is now accomplish ed. Your love was on the point of ruining you, and all my life I should have had To reproach myfeit with being the cause of that ruin. I had every thing to fear for myself: a little more, and perhaps I had become your accomplice. But for the facred principles of religion, of the two expedients which remained to deliver you from me, perhaps I might have preferred death itself to the step which I have taken. Whatever tendernefs you might have for me, I queftion whether it can equal that which I feel for you. I have hesitated to make this confeflion. If, on the one hand, it may heighten your regrets, on the other ir gives you an example of the duties which honour requies. Such a marriage

as you had determined upon would have embroiled you with your family beyond the hope of reconciliation. And with what face could you have seen me expofed to the contempt of your relations? Could we have remained unmoved by the confideration that we were the cause of unspeakable grief to a venerable mother, and perhaps even of her death? For that grief, which has its fource in rooted prejudices, how abfurd however, is more exquifitely pungent than that which springs from the real misfortunes incident to human life. Your uncles, of whose vait estates you are now the heir, would have altered the fucceffion in favour of other relations. You would have been plunged into a variety of mifery, and I should have had the guilty confcioufness of being the author of your dittreffes, by having taken an unworthy advantage of an inconfiderate paffion. Perhaps this paffion would have enabled you, in the earlier years of marriage, to fupport thefe misfortunes; but beauty fades away, and while paffion cools, the force of prejudice remains. And though you might have continued fuperior to prejudice till death, your children would yet be fenfible to its force. They would have had a right to reproach their mother with having fullied the nobleness of their blood. You think too justly not to regard thefe prejudices in the fame light that I do : but ridiculous as they are, they reign with univerfal fway; and the wife man, who defpifes them, is not lefs obliged to make them the rule of his conduct, than the fool who applauds them.

My

A man of my own rank had demanded me in marriage a long time fince. I efteemed, but could not love him, and my heart was quite averfe to this union. parents, who had not a wish but for my happiness, and who perceived how little I was difpofed to favour this young man, attempted not to importune me. You had no fooner left Paris, than I furnifhed him with an opportunity of renewing his addreffes. He eagerly embraced it, and I delighted him with an unexpected attention to his profeffions: but incapable of diffimulation, I opened my whole heart to him. I avowed that I did not feel that love for him which his paffion for me fo truly merited. I added, that if he had fuch a favourable opinion of me, as to hope that my unceasing attachment to my duties, with time, and gratitude for his affectionate attentions, could infpire me with fentiments more worthy of his delicacy, I was ready to

give him my hand. This poor young man, who loved me to distraction, fnatched this hand, and bathed it with his tears : he then led me to my mother, and, fcarce able to exprefs his joy, She is mine,' he exclaimed, if you confent. From this moment the marriage was concluded upon. But my fortitude now abandoned me. For fifteen days my struggles had nearly terminated life. But I triumphed at my Jatt, and but yefterday I fwore a fidelity to my husband that can end only in the grave. I am fenfible how feverely you will feel this blow, but it was neceffary; and it is perhaps the greatest effort of which true love was capable. Had I loved you for myfelf alone, I fhould have accepted your offer without hefitation; but I frave been intent upon nothing but your felicity. My heart enjoys the noble triumph, while it is yet fenfible to fevere regrets, and I fuffer more from the idea of your griefs than of my own. Adieu, Sir. Recollect the facred obligations into which I have now entered. They are irrevocable. Recollect what you owe to your felf, to your family, and to the world. Your efteem will ever be dear to me."

'You fee,' refumed the Count, the caufe of that melancholy which has fo long diftreffed my happiest moments with you. The letter you have read affected me to fuch a degree, that for twenty-four hours my fenfes failed me. I fell into a kind of lethargy, which lasted several days. However, Nature and youth prevailed at laft, and the firft ufe I made of my recovery, was to feek for this fatal letter, in order to read it again. I then wept for the first time, and wept inceffantly. I wrote to Sophia, but the returned my letter unfealed, with this anfwer on the back of it: 'I will never open any of your letters. Your reproaches may awaken my fenfibility, but can never excite repentance. If you have any friendship for me, you will carefully avoid every opportunity of feeing me. Adieu. Forget me.'

I have attempted a variety of means to fee her agasn, but without effect. In the mean time I led a lingering life. My mother, who was apprehenfive that I fhould pine away, often urged me to marry. For a long time I combated her views. They recommended you in-the warmest terms. They dwelt on all your excellencies. In your character I fancied a fimilarity to that of Sophia; and I hoped that you would be the means of diverting my chagrin. They dragged me to the altar. My tenderness, however, anfwered your

fondeft hopes, but you divided it with Sophia. Heaven is my witness, that you are dearer to me than life; that in you I find again a miftrefs and a friend; that there is not a facrifice I would not make to your happiness, and every effort will I exert to forget Sophia.'

But why fhould you forget her?" interrupted the Countess. This would be an ingratitude, and I require it not. I love. I revere this uncommon woman, and I would fain know her, that I might demand her friendship. Put no longer this constraint upon yourself. Speak to me. often of Sophia. Pour your regrets inte my bofom. I fhall be the first to applaud a love fo pure, and fo worthy of a better fate.'

Love dictated this difcourfe to the Countefs, and the most refined Philofophy could not have advised a difcreeter conduct. The paffions rankle in concealment. Like a fire, that keeps alive under the ashes that cover it, it is necessary to give. he paffions vent in order to weaken them. To perfecute a rival is not the way to banish her image from the fond reco'lections of the lover. It only leads him to defend her, and to attach himself to her with invincible perfeverance. But to speak in her favour, to intereft one's felf in whatever relates to her, is to win the regards of the patient we would cure. It is to infpire him with confidence in his Phylician, with friendship, with gratitude, and in a word, to triumph over an enemy without a combat.

The Countess foon experienced this. She perceived a livelier ardour in the tendernels of her husband. His complaifance was more endearing every day, and he often adverted to the converfation in which the excellent Matilda had at first opened her fentiments on the fubject of Sophia. When the had attained this point, the formed a plan that was to effect a total change.

The Countess procured fecret information of the fituation of Sophia. She dif covered, that during the illness of Marlines, the Marchionefs his mother had found the letter of this unfortunate wom in, and that, treating, even her virtue as a crime, she had not bu hed to folicit her to become the miftrefs of her fon, hoping that enjoyment would cure. her paffio and the miseries she had occafioned, tisat, having found her inflexible, the had compeiled her through perfecution to retire to an obfcure place in the extremity of one of the fuburbs; that her parents were dead ;.

that