town; the guard knew him, and let him pafs. The night was dark and ftormy; it rained and fnowed. He came in about eleven. His fervant perceived he was without a hat, but did not venture to fay any thing; and when he undreffed his mafter, he found his cloaths were all wet. His hat was afterwards found upon the point of a rock, where it is inconceivable that he could climb in fuch a night, without breaking his neck. He went to bed, and slept till late next day. His fervant found him writing when he carried his coffee to him. He was adding what follows to Charlotte's letter.] VOL. II. L -For -For the laft, last time, I now open my eyes. Alas! they will behold the fun no more; a thick and gloomy fog hides it.-Yes! let Nature put on mourning-your child, your friend, your lover, draws near his end. Charlotte! the sentiment I now feel, ftands alone in my mindit is strongly marked; and yet nothing appears to me more like a dream, than when I fay, This is the laft day. The laft!-Charlotte, I have no idea that correfponds with this word-Laft!-To-day I ftand upright, I have all my strength; tomorrow, cold and ftiff, I fhall lie extended on the ground. What is death? death? we do but dream when we talk of it. I have feen many die ; but fuch are the limits of our feeble nature, we have no clear conceptions of the beginning or end of our existence. At this moment I ftill poffefs myself-or rather, dearest of women! I am thine; and the next -detached, separated-perhaps for ever!-No, Charlotte, no! we now exist, how can we be annihilated !What is annihilation !-this too is a mere word, a found which conveys no idea to my mind!-Dead! Charlotte! shut up in a pit, fo deep, fo cold, fo dark. I had a friend who was every thing to me in my helpL 2 lefs lefs youth; fhe died: I followed her hearfe, I ftood by the fide of her grave, when the coffin was let down; when I heard the creaking of the cords as they were let down and drawn up, when the first shovelfull of earth was thrown in, and the coffin returned a hollow found, which grew fainter and fainter, till it was all covered in, I threw myfelf on the ground; my heart was fmitten, grieved, rent, but I neither knew what had happened, nor what was to happen to me.-Death! Grave!-I understand not the words. Forgive forgive !-yesterdayAlas! that moment fhould have been my been the last of my life. I am beloved, I am beloved by her; the delightful fenfe of it for the first time penetrated, enflamed heart. My lips ftill feel the facred warmth they received from thine. New torrents of delight flow in upon my heart. Forgive me! forgive me! Oh! I knew that I was dear to you; I faw it in the first animated look which you directed to me; I knew it the first time you preffed my hand: but when I was abfent from you, when I faw Albert by your fide, my doubts and fears re turned. Do you recollect the flowers you L 3 fent |