And rule the world, to whose impending woes: brA His father's virtues gave a sweet repose On thee the earth spontaneous gifts shall show's The winding ivy, and the charmed flow'r, Egyptia's bean, acanthus, laughing sweets; Homeward the goats shall wind with swelling teats Nor shall the herds the lordly lion dread; ཀཾ Sweet flow'rs their bloom shall round thy cradle spread: 2 And earth, and ether, and the vast abyss; ARTICLE XIV. TRANSLATED by Miss Mary Greaves, aged 143, who is requested to send for any book she may think proper the price of which does not exceed seven shillings. As soon as morning dawned, they brought Paul reclining on a palanquin. He had recovered the use of his senses, but not the power of utterance. His interview with his mother and Madame de la Tour, which I at first dreaded, produced a better effect than every precaution, which, till then, I had taken. A beam of consolation shone upon the countenance of these two unhappy mothers. They placed themselves by his side, clasped him in their arms, kissed him with transport, and their tears, which, till then, had been restrained by the excess of their grief, began to flow. Those of Paul were soon mingled with them. Nature being thus relieved in these three unhappy beings, a suspension of their faculties succeeded the convulsive state of their grief, and procured them a lethargic slumber, truly resembling death. Monsieur de la Bourdonaye sent to warn me secretly, that the body of Virginia had been brought by his orders into the city, and thence was to be conveyed to Shaddock Grove Church. I immediately descended to Port Louis, where I found the inhabitants assembled from all quarters, in order to be present at her funeral, as if the island had lost its greatest treasure. The vessels in the port had their yards crossed, their colours hoisted, and fired cannons at long intervals. Grenadiers commenced the funeral procession, carrying their guns downwards. Their drums, covered with long crapes, echoed only doleful sounds, and dejection was painted in the features of these warriors, who had so frequently faced death in combat without any change of countenance. Eight of the most respectable young ladies of the island, clad in white, and holding each of them a palm-branch in her hand, carried the body of their virtuous companion, strewed with flowers. A choir of little children, singing hymns, followed; behind whom were the most distinguished of the island, and its staff; at the retinue of which marched the governor, followed by the multitude. Behold what the administration had appointed, for the purpose of rendering due honours to the virtuous Virginia. But when her body arrived at the foot of this mountain, the whole funeral ceremony was deranged at the sight of these cottages, the happiness of the inhabitants of which she had for so long a time created, and whom her death now filled with despair: the hymns and cantos ceased; there was no longer heard any thing in the plain but sighs and sobs. Troops of young girls were seen running from the neighbouring habitations, in order to touch the coffin of Virginia, with handkerchiefs, chaplets, and crowns of flowers, invoking her as a saint. The mothers were beseeching God to grant them such a daughter; the youths, a sweetheart so constant; the poor, a friend so tender; the slaves, a mistress so kind. As soon as she arrived at the place of interment, negro women from Madagascar, and Caffres from Mosambique, placed around her baskets of fruit, and suspended pieces of stuffs to the adjacent trees, according to the custom of their country. Indians from Bengal, and those of the Malabar Coast, brought cages filled with birds, to which they gave liberty around her body;-so much does the loss of an amiable object interest every nation, and so great is the power of unfortunate virtue, since it unites all religions around its tomb. Attested by Mrs. Batt, Wirtemberg-House, Hackney. Miss Hannah Wedd, aged 124, at the Miss Wrights' Seminary, Boston, is requested to accept of any book, value four shillings, for her Translation of the above Article. Master H. Atkins, aged 14, at Mr. Abraham's Academy, Sheffield, will also accept of any book, value four shillings, for his Translation of the above Article. Very good Translations, and worthy of much commendation, were sent by Miss Maria Barnett, aged 15, at the Miss Wrights Seminary, Boston. Attested by Miss M. and I. Wright. Miss M. A. Smith, aged 10, Boston. Attested by Miss M. and I. Wright. Master C. R. Cotton, aged 15. Attested by Mr. F. Reynard, Master of the Mathematical, French, and Commercial School, Reading. Master C. Metcalf, aged 153, Wisbeach. Attested by his Father. Master T. Hopkinson, aged 131⁄2, Attercliffe Academy. Attested by Mr. G. Fieldsend. Master L. Winterbottom, aged 134, Townsend Academy, Rochdale. Attested by Mr. Armitage. Master James Going, aged 13, Attercliffe Academy. Miss Green, aged 124, Spalding Seminary. Miss E. Ayre, aged 14, Spalding Seminary. The above are not placed in order, according to their merits, but rather promiscuously. It gives us sincere pleasure to observe the rapid improvement which many of our young friends are making; we trust they will ge on; and we assure them that nothing on our part shall be wanting to reward their respective merits. ARTICLE XV. THEME I. "On the Comforts of Religion," by Master R. Partington, aged 14, Rochdale Academy, who is desired to accept of books, to the amount of seven shillings. . Every man is seeking after something that may contribute to alleviate his misery, and that may render his life happy and comfortable. Nothing appears to contribute so much to our happiness, both here and hereafter, as religion. When we are deserted by our friends, and forsaken by our relations; when the world frowns upon us, and every thing runs contrary to our wishes, religion is still our consolation, and God our safe refuge. When this earthly tabernacle is destroyed, we have another, not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. We have the enjoyment of the life that now is, and a lively hope of that which is to come. How different is the character of a wicked man, who spends his time in luxury, vice, and folly, and in dishonouring that God whom he ought sincerely to worship!Though this world affords him some pleasure, yet age lessens the enjoyment of life, and every moment informs him that life cannot be long. Still he often glides on unthinking of the present, and regardless of the future, till death unexpected, judgment unprepared for, and sudden destruction overtake him.-As water is thirsted after by the parched traveller, so are the comforts of religion by the distressed soul. Addison showed the benign effects of religion; for when on his death-bed, and life was just glimmering in the socket, after a decent and proper pause, he thus addressed a youth who stood near him; may distant ages not only hear, but feel, the address !" See in what peace a christian can die." Through divine grace, how great is man-through divine mercy, how stingless is death! "I never had a sight of my soul," says the Emperor Aurelius, "and yet I have a great value for it, because it is discoverable by its operations, and by my constant experience of the power of God; I have a proof of its being, and a reason for my veneration." With the * |