with the fountain of all honour and glory. Before its lustre, the pageantry of diadems and stars and garters fade away, and are lost in oblivious shade. Philosophy looks not for pedigree. Socrates was the son of a stone-cutter and a midwife; Aristides owes his fame, not to a splendid lineage, but to his spotless character, and Zeno was presented with a golden chaplet and entrusted with the keys of the Athenian citadel, solely from the consideration of his superior integrity and justice.

My ancestor, Cadwallader Crotchet (a brief memoir of whose life I promised in this paper) could plume himself little on his descent. His father was originally a poor haberdasher of English extraction, residing in Wales; his mother was a native of the north country. It is somewhat singular, that the first and only pledge of their love, came into the world, on the twenty-second day of July 1706, the very epoch, at which the treaty of Union was signed. All hailed this coincidence as an omen, propitious to their prosperity and advancement. Certain it is, that the wares soon after sold more briskly and at a higher price. Success stimulates avarice, and every accession of fortune excites a stronger disposition to scheme and speculate. The parents of my grandfather began to think they had remained too long supine, and contented with a condition much below mediocrity. They determined to fix their eye upon a better prospect. After framing a variety of projects, which were regularly discussed by the fire side, every night, before supper, they at last determined to embark for America. Agreeably to this resolution, all the household goods and chattels, together with the entire stock in trade were sold to the best bidder, and in the succeeding spring, the family performed their destined voyage

They settled in the ancient dominion of Virginia and assumed the profession of husbandry. Unmingled felicity has been long since, banished from the world; but when it was the portion of primeval purity, its presence was only manifested in the walks and bowers of Eden. The largest effusion of its spirit, permitted to be still enjoyed, is found in its old retreats. The rustic life presents more blandishments than any other lot of man. If it be humble and homely, it is also honest and unsophisticated. If it be full of toil, it is likewise free from hazard. The cultiva

tor of the soil, can be under no obligation, save to the great God of nature; and a dependence on Him is the sweetest liberty.

tue

The new emigrants felt all those blessings, securely realized; and in the course of a short period, acquired a very easy competence. In the meantime my grandfather, increased in years, and discovered a sprightliness of genius, a docility of mind and benevolence of heart, seldom united in the same character. Every day added to his stock of knowledge, and matured vire into habit. At length having attained his nineteenth year, and completed his classical studies, upon a bed of justice solemnly held, it was decided, that he should be sent to the college of William and Mary. A particular fund arising from the tolls of a small mill on the farm, and from the sweet-potato patches under his mother's jurisdiction were appropriated to defray the expenses. After a long closet lecture on economy and diligence, he was despatched to seek the benefits of Alma mater.

As soon as he had reached the favourite seat of the Muses, and matriculated, he applied himself to science with an ardour, which neither the voluptuousness of youthful fancy could abate, nor the fascination of the circean bowl betray. Nothing transported him more than to converse with Wisdom, in her most secret recesses, or wander among her delicious parterres. His retired manners, and studious mode of life soon engendered ill nature amidst his idle classmates; for the contrast imposed a scandal on them. The ladies of the city, too, exclaimed against that cold and austere philosophy, which it was not in the power of their charms to dissolve away. Thus my poor grandfather was made a butt for the coar se ribaldry of paltry jesters.-Ridicule is infinitely worse than defamation. Its shafts may be effectually cast by imbecility itself. They are so baited, that the slightest touch infuses the most dangerous poison. The heart of this unoffending victim, filled with sensibility of the liveliest kind, was wrought up to agony. The only solace he experienced was in the com. munication of his feelings to a fellow student, with whom the most intimate intercourse had been cherished-Aristotle, according to Diogenes Laertius, being asked "What is friendship?"

VOL. V.

answered, "one soul in two bodies." Such was the friendship, which subsisted between the young collegians.

They consulted together, and it was determined, that my grandfather, should, for a while, mingle with the world, in order to dissipate the cloud of prejudice, which was rising against him. His disposition was naturally social, and he accordingly devoted a portion of time to the indulgence of it. There was something singular in the sudden change from a state of scholastic apathy, to one of merriment and gaite de cœur; but it produced a happy effect. For he, who had been previously subject to the dislike of his own sex, and the neglect of the other, was now caressed by both. One circumstance was however seriously lamented his heart had firmly withstood the sieges of Beauty, and seemed too firm a fortress to be reduced either by sap or open breach. He was then thought entirely incapable of the tender passion, and it was predicted, if he ever experienced it, that like the brother of Charles II, he would marry some deformed and hideous Sedley, by way of penance for the misprision; or like old Pygmalion be punished with the love of a cold and lifeless statue. How often erroneous are our judgments of each

other!

My grandfather after his metamorphosis sometimes gratified his humour in playing off all the hairbrained eccentricities of the place. Among other crinkum-crankums, was the following. An election, for burgesses to the general assembly, was going forward; and a large number of freeholders had rode from the country to exercise the right of suffrage. Their horses, ready caparisoned in all their habiliments, stood tied to the same rack in the court-yard. A number of good-humoured wags, passing by, it was suggested, that each man should select a steed, for the purpose of proving his mettle in a race. The hero of my story being one of the knot, thought himself highly fortunate in his choice, for he mounted a courser, that bounded and curvetted in the air, and scarcely seemed to touch the ground. He was in a short time very far beyond his companions, and checked the rein. It was however to no purpose. The horse was conscious of being near home, and impatient to be nearer still. He dashed forward with the rapidity of lightning, and having arrived at his

owner's gate, with a strenuous leap cleared the impediment; but left my ancestor senseless on the earth.

It was a fine evening in spring. The farmer's family had collected in a cool and shady lodge, at a small distance from their cottage, to enjoy its freshness and tranquillity. They observed. the accident, and with fearful steps hastened to the spot where it occurred. Nothing could exceed their astonishment, when they beheld a beautiful youth, extended before them-his sandy locks were distained with blood-his eyes half-closed had lost their lustre and were fixed on vacancy; and the expression of his countenance seemed to indicate, that his pilgrimage was drawing to a close. They were filled with compassion. They bound up

his wounds, pouring in wine and oil, and carried him to their house, and took care of him. It was not until toward night fall, that my grandfather recovered from the delirium; and beheld at his bed-side a female (the only child of his host) who sat like a ministering angel, watching every movement, and ready to apply any anodyne. She possessed features of the nicest proportion; and the purple light of youth, playing over them, imparted all that interest, which grace and intelligence could bestow. Her form was perfect harmony. Such charms might have awakened sensibility, even in the heart of a phlegmatic dervise. What effect must they have produced upon him, to whom they were at that. time devoted?

The husbandman having walked home, visited his sick guest, and cordially forgave him, for the inconvenience which he had been subjected to. My grandfather felt serious contrition, although he was innocent of any intentional offence. He was most kindly and hospitably attended, until he was able to resume his academical duties, when he departed from the cottage, with blessings on its friendly inmates.

The welcome of his former associates, on his return, seemed a dull formality. He again banished himself from their communion, and like a wild enthusiast, pensively wandered in unfrequented paths to indulge the feelings of his bosom. He often visited his new rustic acquaintances; and became entirely enamoured of the lovely daughter.

A season of festivity was now arrived, when all the gay, and fashionable of the neighbourhood, assembled at the metropolis, to enjoy pleasure or to court admiration. Among the rest the dulcinea of my grandfather appeared; and immediately became the theme of praise and the object of passion. He attended all parties and openly avowed himself her devotee. To illustrate the desperate thraldom, in which he was confined, I shall relate an anecdote, that I have heard him tell a hundred times. The whole city were preparing for a splendid ball; at which he, likewise desired to be present, and to display himself, with all possible advantage. It was a standing maxim with him, that practice and discipline, are the father and mother of success. He therefore imagined, that the best plan would be, to subject himself to a rehearsal of his part in the entertainment. Accordingly he retired to a double row of elms, near the university; and by a strange prosopopoeia fancied them to represent so many fair damsels, and gallant carpet knights. The goodliest tree was selected; on it, he engraved 'the adored name,' and approaching it, with an air of the most elegant refinement, he hoped, that miss Euriphilé was in good health and spirits. Then presenting her with an enormous bouquet, made up of pinks, roses, marygolds, narcissus and thyme, he hoped she would be pleased to accept of them. In imagination she seemed to smile benignantly upon him; and he again hoped to have the supreme happiness of her company in a minuet. Whereupon she consenting the dance is commenced, and he goes on, slipping and bowing-skipping and bowing, siding, sliding and bowing-and bowing sliding and siding, until it is finished, when finally he hopes to have the agreeable office of procuring her some kind of refreshment. The whole winds up by his pulling out of his pocket a flame-coloured taffeta fan, with which he politely ventillates the favoured elm. All this ludicrous scene was observed by a young sophomore, who concealed himself in a neighbouring thicket-hedge, and afterwards excited much laughter against the amorous swain engaged in it. But he confessed the joke by a quotation from Terence.

In amore hæc insunt omnia.