beast-fishes made these sounds in their nocturnal gambols on the water. He grows quite melancholy, though he receives no injury, and seems safe from discovery. But his ignorance on the subject ever galls him.-What are they? Where are they? Whence are they?

"At length, one night or day, I cannot say which, hearing the voices very distinctly, and praying very earnestly to be either delivered from the uncertainty they had put me under, or to have them removed from me, I took courage, and arming myself with gun, pistols, and cutlas, I went out of my grotto, and crept down the wood. I then heard them plainer than before, and was able to judge from what point of the compass they proceeded. Hereupon I went forward towards the sound, till I came to the verge of the wood, where I could see the lake very well by the dazzle of the water. Thereon, as I thought, I beheld a fleet of boats, covering a large compass, and not far from the bridge. I was shocked hereat beyond expression. I could not conceive where they came from, or whither they would go; but supposed there must be some other passage to the lake than I found in my voyage through the cavern, and that for certain they came that way, and from some place, of which as yet I had no manner of knowledge.

"Whilst I was entertaining myself with this speculation, I heard the people in the boats laughing and talking very merrily, though I was too distant to distinguish the words. I discerned soon after all the boats (as I still supposed them) draw up, and push for the bridge; presently after, though I was sure no boat entered the arch, I saw a multitude of people on the opposite shore all marching towards the bridge; and what was the strangest of all, there was not the least* sign of a boat now left upon the whole lake. I then was in a greater consternation than before; but was still much more so, when I saw the whole posse of people, that, as I have just said, were marching towards the bridge, coming over it to my side of the lake. At this my heart failed, and I was just going to run to my grotto for shelter; but taking one look more, I plainly discovered that the people, leaping one after another from the top of the bridge, as if into the water, and then rising again, flew in a long train over the lake, the lengthways of it, quite out of my sight, laughing, hallooing, and sporting together; so that looking back again to the bridge, and on the lake, I could neither see person or boat, nor any thing else; nor hear the least noise or stir afterwards for that time.”

"This is no mortal business, nor no sound
That the earth owes."-

“I am in a land of spirits!"-"I am never safe, even in my grotto; for that can be no security against such beings as can sail on the water in no boats, and fly in the air on no wings, who can be here and there, and every where!" Glad should he have been of some human being to converse with,

but not having any one, he had consoled himself with the thought, that he was, at last, safe from the ills to which man, in society, is obnoxious to. But now-" what may be the consequence of the next hour, I know not."-Though at a distance, these aërial beings may perceive his thoughts and discontent, and be hatching revenge against him, for his dislike of them. His usual resource, in danger and distress, fails him not now. His prayer is, that his doubts may be resolved, and that if not helpful, these beings may, at least, prove not hurtful. "Hereupon, as I always did on such occasions, I found myself much more placid and easy, and began to hope for the best."

He is even composed enough in spirits to rest sweetly, till fancy, set at work, doubtless, by the previous agitation; and busy, restless, and toiling, when all the other faculties are defunct; commenced her operations. In plain language, he dreamt; and thought he was in Cornwall, inquiring for his wife and children. He was told they were dead; but that his wife, before her departure, had desired them to tell him, on his arrival, she was only gone to the lake, where he should "be sure to see her, and be happy with her ever after."" [ then, as I fancied, ran to the lake to find her. In my passage she stopped me, crying, Whither so fast, Peter? I am your wife, your Patty. Methought, I did not know her, she was so altered; but, observing her voice, and looking more wistfully at her, she appeared to me as the most beautiful creature I had ever beheld.""Oh! that this was but a reality," thought he, when he awoke to solitude and terror. How happy could he be with her, though their years should go down the vale of life in the silence and loneliness of his present abode. But as it is -nobody to converse with-nobody to assist, comfort, and counsel him! Thus ran he on lamenting, till, on a sudden, the voices, clear and distinct, and apparently close at hand, broke upon the silence of the night. Hark! there they are again. "Come life-come death"-he'll face them, though they blast him! but scarcely had he got his gun in hand, with the intention of showing himself to those who uttered them,

in

"When I felt such a thump upon the roof of my anti-chamber, as shook the whole fabric, and set me all over into a tremor; I then heard a sort of shriek, and a rustle near the door of my apartment; all which together seemed very terrible. But I, having before determined to see what and who it was, resolutely opened my door and leaped out. I saw nobody; all was quite silent, and nothing that I could perceive but my own fears a moving. I went then softly to the corner of the building, and there looking down by the glimmer of my lamp, which stood in the window, I saw something in human shape lying at my feet. I gave the word, Who is there? Still no one answered. My

heart was ready to force a way through my side. I was for a while fixed to the earth like a statue. At length, recovering, I stepped in, fetched my lamp, and returning, saw the very beautiful face my Patty appeared under in my dream; and not considering that it was only a dream, I verily thought I had my Patty before me, but she seemed to be stone dead. Upon viewing her other parts, (for I had never yet removed my eyes from her face) I found she had a sort of brown chaplet, like lace, round her head, under and about which her hair was tucked up and twined; and she seemed to me to be clothed in a thin hair-coloured silk garment, which, upon trying to raise her, I found to be quite warm, and therefore hoped there was life in the body it contained. I then took her into my arms, and treading a step backwards with her, I put out my lamp; however, having her in my arms, I conveyed her through the door-way in the dark into my grotto; here I laid her upon my bed, and then ran out for my lamp."

Well, thought he, this is an amazing adventure! Patty here, and "dressed in silk and whalebone, too! Sure that is not the reigning fashion in England now." But then his dream said she was dead-this cannot, surely, be the place for persons to inhabit after death!-Be that as it would, she felt like flesh and blood.

On re-entering the grotto with his lamp, he found that she lay without motion-and he began to fear that the fall had absolutely killed her; but, laying his hand on her breast, he perceived the fountain of life had still some pulsation. By moistening her lips with some wine, that he had yet remaining, and pouring a few drops into her mouth, he brought her, by degrees, to sit up, and look about her. He then spoke to her -and, in reply, she uttered a few words in an unknown language, but in the most musical tone, and with the sweetest accent he ever heard. Making some motion, as if she would rise, he went to assist her, when she felt to his touch in the oddest manner imaginable; for while, in one respect, it was as though she had been cased up in whalebone, it was, at the same time, as soft and warm as if she had been naked. His dream still ran in his head-and still he could not persuade himself that this was not his own English wife; though, upon a deliberate comparison, Patty, pleasing as she had been to his taste, "would no more come up to this fair creature, than a coarse ale-wife to Venus herself."

"You may imagine we stared heartily at each other, and I doubted not but she wondered as much as I, by what means we came so near each other. I offered her every thing in my grotto, which I thought might please her; some of which she gratefully received, as appeared by her looks and behaviour. But she avoided my lamp, and always placed her back toward it. I, observing that, and ascrib ing it to her modesty in my company, let her have her will, and took

care to set it in such a position myself as seemed agreeable to her, though it deprived me of a prospect I very much admired.

"After we had sat a good while, now and then, I may say, chattering to one another, she got up, and took a turn or two about the room. When I saw her in that attitude, her grace and motion perfectly charmed me, and her shape was incomparable; but the strangeness of her dress put me to trumps, to conceive either what it was, or how it was put on."

He then set some eatables before her, and gave her some of his cordials, "for which she showed great tokens of thankfulness, and often, in her way, by signs and gestures, which were very far from being insignificant, expressed her gratitude for my kindness." When he showed her his place of repose, and signified, by signs, that she might rest herself, she evinced some slight degree of discomposure; but on his "making the matter intelligible," she lay down very composedly. He himself rested with perfect security, for he could have no suspicious thoughts, or fear of danger, from a form so excellent. Thus he continued to treat her with every kindness and respect; and it pleased him, to see her endeavouring to learn to talk like himself. It occasioned him, indeed, some wonder, that she showed no symptoms of disquiet at her confinement; for, at first, he kept his door shut through fear of losing her, thinking she might take the first opportunity to run away from him. This thought gives him great concern, insomuch that when, after some days, he found they were in want of water, he cannot muster up courage to leave her. Upon his intreating her, by signs, not to leave him in his absence, she sits down, with her arms across, leaning her head against the wall, to assure him she would not stir. However, for fear of the worst, he thought fit to secure the door on the outside. During the remainder of the dark season, by from morning to night endeavouring to make themselves understood, they acquired knowledge enough of each other's language to hold pretty long conversations. All this time, the modesty of her carriage and sweetness of her behaviour were such as to fill him with the highest regard for her, and to strike him with dread of giving the least offence.

"When the weather cleared up a little, by the lengthening of day-light, I took courage one afternoon to invite her to walk with me to the lake; but she sweetly excused herself from it, whilst there was such a frightful glare of light, as she said; but, looking out at the door, told me, if I would not go out of the wood, she would accompany me so we agreed to take a turn only there. I first went myself over the stile of the door, and thinking it rather too high for her, I took her in my arms and lifted her over. But even when I had her in this manner, I knew not what to make of her clothing, it sat so true and close; but seeing her by a steadier and truer light in the

grove, though a heavy, gloomy one, than my lamp had afforded, I begged she would let me know of what silk or other composition her garment was made. She smiled, and asked me if mine was not the same under my jacket."

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This is the commencement of a dialogue at cross purposes. She appears somewhat indignant at his replying, that he had nothing but his skin under his clothes; but, indeed, I was afraid something was the matter, by that nasty covering you wear." When he tells her that he has no prospect of departing thence have you not, says she, the same prospect that I, or any other person has? Sir, added she, you don't do well, and really I fear you are slit, or you would not wear this nasty cumbersome coat, (taking hold of my jacket sleeve) if you were not afraid of showing the signs of a bad life upon your natural clothing." As she was so peremptory, he supposed there must be some way out of his dominions, though he could not imagine where; but as to his jacket, and showing himself in his natural clothing, he professed she made him blush. He was extremely puzzled to know what she meant by being slit, and had a hundred strange notions in his head, as to whether he was slit or not. She next inquires how he came there—and on his offering to conduct her to the mouth of the cavern, she tells him, that as she knew all the rocks round, she could understand by his description, from whence he descended, without going to look. Descended!-he descended from no rock at all.Sir, says she, in some anger, it is false, and you impose upon me."

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"Bless me, madam! says I, do you think I and my boat could fly? Come over the rock? did you say. No, madam; I sailed from the great sea, the main ocean, in my boat, through that cavern into this very lake here. What do you mean by your boat? says she. You seem to make two things of your boat, you say you sailed with, and yourself. I do so, replied I; for, madam, I take myself to be good flesh and blood, but my boat is made of wood and other materials. Is it so? says she. And, pray, where is this boat that is made of wood and other materials? under your jacket?—Lord, madam! says I, you put me in fear that you was angry; but now I hope you only joke with me. What, put a boat under my jacket! No, madam, my boat is in the lake.-What, more untruths! says she.-No, madam, I replied; if you would be satisfied of what I say, (every word of which is as true as that my boat now is in the lake), pray walk with me thither, and make your own eyes judges what sincerity I speak with. To this she agreed, it growing dusky; but assured me, if I did not give her good satisfaction, I should see her no more."

Being shown the boat, as it lay in dock, she was yet hardly content to believe him, till he stepped into it, and push