O! I was sure that they were genuine, deceitful as the dictates of our bosoms so frequently are. But to my tale-let it be, my friend, the most sacred, as it is the most sincere pledge of our friendship.

"Our hours here are early-earlier than my heart, with its load of care, can compose itself to rest. I, therefore, usually take a book for an hour or two after retiring to my own room, which I think I have told you opens to a small balcony, looking down upon that beautiful lake, of which I attempted to give you a slight sketch. Mervyn-Hall, being partly an ancient building, and constructed with a view to defence, is situated on the verge of the lake. A stone dropped from the projecting balcony plunges into water deep enough to float a skiff. I had left my window partly unbarred, that, before I went to bed, I might, according to my custom, look out and see the moonlight shining upon the lake. I was deeply engaged with that beautiful scene in the Merchant of Venice, where two lovers, describing the stillness of a summer night, enhance upon each other its charms, and was lost in the associations of story and of feeling which it awakens, when I heard upon the lake the sound of a flageolet. I have told you it was Brown's favourite instrument. Who could touch it in a night which though still and serene, was too cold, and too late in the year, to invite forth any wanderer for mere pleasure? I drew yet nearer the window, and hearkened with breathless attention: the. sounds paused a space, were then resumed-paused again and again reached my ear, ever coming nearer and nearer. At length, I distinguished plainly that little Hindu air which you called my favourite. I have told you by whom it was taught me-the instrument, the tones were his own!-was it earthly music, or notes passing on the wind to warn me of his death?

"It was some time ere I could summon courage to step on the balcony-nothing could have emboldened me to do so but the strong conviction of my mind, that he was still alive, and that we should again meet; but that conviction did embolden me, and I ventured, though with a throbbing heart. There was a small skiff with a single person-O Matilda, it was himself! I knew his appearance after so long an absence, and through the shadow of the night, as perfectly as if we had parted yesterday, and met again in the broad sunshine. He guided his boat under the balcony, and spoke to me; I hardly knew what he said, or what I replied. Indeed I could scarcely speak for weeping, but they were joyful tears. We were disturbed by the barking of a dog at some distance, and parted, but not before he had conjured me to prepare to meet him at the same place and hour this evening.

"But where and to what is all this tending?-can I answer this question? I cannot-Heaven, that saved him from death and delivered him from captivity; that saved my father too, from shedding the blood of one who would not have blemished one hair up

on his head, that heaven must guide me out of this labyrinth. Enough for me the firm resolution, that Matilda shall not blush for her friend, my father for his daughter, nor my lover for her, on whom he has fixed his affections."

WHEN Wilds that were lately the panther's retreat,
Were turn'd to plantations, and covered with wheat;
When emigrants thickened, and congress debates,
Turn'd full on the west, and they cut off new states,-
The King of the Metals, (who, deep under ground,
Repos'd with his subjects in slumber profound,)
Alarm'd by the tumult he heard upon earth,
From Mexico travell'd in haste to the north;
Nor paus'd he for river, or mountain, or plain,
Till he reach'd the frontiers of his golden domain,
There stopp'd on a mountain, all reeking with heat,
(Th' Arkansaw winding along at his feet,)

And survey'd with amazement the torrent that press'd—
The stream of migration that roll'd to the west.
From mountain to mountain a survey he takes-

From the gulf on the south to the northernmost lakes;
And all the wide scene, valley, hillock, and glen,
Resounds with the tumult of business and men:
They are driving the savage hefore them amain,
And people each forest, and culture each plain.
He sees how they struggle with fortune and fate,
How toil to be happy, and pant to be great;
He hears the axe sounding on every high hill,
And the woods are re-echoing liberty's thrill:
All countries and climates, "the bond and the free,"
To people the wilderness closely agree.

From Maine's rocky borders the emigrants pour,
And are leaving the fruitful Connecticut's shore:
The Hudson, Potomac, and Delaware, sigh,

For friends who have quit them, they hardly know why:
The exiles from Europe, the poor, the oppressed,
All, all, are now bending their steps to the West.
One object impels them, one passion inspires-
The

rage for improvement, for wealth the desires.
And alike in all countries, conditions and states,
This passion is cherished, prevails, and elates;
The rich in it see an increase of estate,

And the poor are still flattered by hopes to be great.
Thus season on season new converts engage,
And support and augment the migratory rage:
Now here, and now there, its direction it turns,
On Wabash it kindles, on Miami burns:
And now on the fertile Scioto delights;
And next to the Washitaw fondly invites:
Still changing, each season new regions display,
No boundaries check it, no streams can allay:
No land is too distant, no climate too hot;
No forest too gloomy, no stream too remote:
They move, they inhabit, they cultivate all,
And were oceans no bar, would encompass the ball.
Even now they approach my extensive domain,
And Missouri is crowded already with men.

Thus the Monarch reflected, with sorrow oppressed,
Full may a sigh shook his glittering breast;

He thought on the woes he had brought on mankind,
In countries remote, and in ages behind;

How fatal his friendships, and yet that his hates
Had overturned empires, and founded new states.
Of Ophir he pondered, and passed in review,
His Mexican robbers, and foes in Peru;

And he sigh'd for his friendships so fatally dear,
While brave Montezuma claimed a soft tear:

And he fear'd that this great, this all-conquering press,
This progress of empire, stir, business, distress,
Would not only require an unlimited bound,
But discover his very retreats in the ground;

That his subjects and kin would be eagerly sought,

And wofully handled, and dreadfully taught;

That they all should be dragged out with bucket and chain,

And hammer'd, and pounded, and melted with pain.

He knew in such tortures men take a delight,

And he dreaded a miner, and hated the light.

But while thus he debated with reason and fear,

A sudden commotion saluted his ear;

There were horses and men in tumultuous throng,
Came tramping, and talking, and rattling along;
The farmer was ploughing in sensible view,

The woodman, he chopp'd, and the blacksmith, he blew;
There were lawyers and merchants, all nations and brogues,
Scotch, English, and French, Irish, Yankees, and rogues;
And a school it was building, a master was found,
Who was drawing out plans, and surveying the ground.
Such a tumult and toil left no reason to doubt,
That his fears were all true, and a town was laid out:
But how great was his tremor, vexation, and hate,
When "a state" was re-echoed; Missouri "

a state!"
In so sad a dilemma, dejected and grave,
The monarch withdrew to his closet, a cave;
Resolving in silence to take into view
The course it were proper a king should pursue.
He pondered, and plotted, in fear, and in haste,
Now bited his quill, now he wrote, now eras'd;
Alternately flagging in fear and in doubt,

Or bent on campaigning with courage devout;
Now bending his thoughts upon leaving the land,
And next on the fame of a resloute stand:
At length, he concluded his foes to harass,
And resolved to assemble his subjects en masse.
He appointed the time, and provided a place,

Where they all might assemble, talk, plan, and embrace.
For, quoth he, to avoid being dragg'd out to light,
We more can accomplish by scheming, than fight;
And however the mortals on earth may deny it,
There is more to be got without fighting, than by it;
For though they gain treaties, they lose it in bones,
And such points are not valued by fossils and stones.
The monarch of metals, whose absolute sway,
Not minerals only, but mortals obey,
Wherever he journeys, whatever betide,
Has always companions and slaves by his side;
And hide as he may hide, and go where he will,
Has mica-slate, granite, and quartz with him still.
Hence the king had no sooner resolved on a plan,
Than he bade them proclaim it throughout his domain:
"Tell the metals I summon them all to this shore,
Or in person to come, or by delegate ore:
To the uttermost mines of my kingdom go, haste,
Search dell, traverse mountain, go through every waste:
Let no cave be unenter'd, no rock unexplor'd,
Where metal could harbour, or oxide could hoard;
Every bank, every hill, every stone, every shore,
Search by fire and by acid, hunt over and o'er!

That the kin of my ancient and glorious line
May hear of my summons, and know my design;
Go tell them I hail their approach with a kiss,
I study their safety, I pant for their bliss;
And I would not intrude on their solid repose,
Were it not that my enemies drive me to blows.

But be cautious, friend Granite, lest thou shouldst be seen,
In thy tour, by our foes, mineralogical men.

Fly the face of the earth, keep the underground wave,
By stratum, or cavity, crevice, or cave."

The courier mounted on mettlesome steed,

Departed full gaily, a trooper of speed;

Nor paus'd he for pleasure, nor stopp'd he for bait,

He spurr'd on through limestone, and sweated through slate; He travell'd through gneiss where metals were in't;

He gallop'd through greenstone, and worried through flint; He canter'd o'er gravel, where porphyry lay,

He floundered through gypsum, and trotted through clay;
Nor could sienite stop his unparalleled course,
Though adamant injured the heels of his horse;
'ut whene'er his steed linger'd, a hint for hussars,-
e urged him to canter by pelting with spars;
he gave him no rest for refreshment or bait,

"ill he 'd travers'd the empire, and summoned the state;
hen for all his unkindness he largely atones
By feeding his steed on some beautiful stones.
A cave on the Arkansaw, spacious and dread,
The monarch had chose for the royal parade;
Where, guarded by minions, he patiently waits
The gathering council and coming debates.

The first who attended was blue visaged lead,
Who had quitted Potosi in haste, as he said;
For his friends they were many, and occupied ground
Full seventy leagues in the country around;
And the moment he heard of his majesty's will,
He set off with speed over dingle and hill,
And so great was his haste, and his journey so far
He took with him but one friend-ponderous spar.
He raising his voice, though with sorrow oppress'd,
Thus vented the feelings that burned in his breast:
"My friends of Missouri,-my kin and compeers
Now smarting with pains, and now bathed in tears;
After many long years of oppression and grief,
At length are encouraged to try for relief:
And as mbled in council from seventy mines;
I bear t commission and declare their designs;
an a century, since we were first
mortals; discovered and cursed;

It is me
Discove