tant from Bourdeaux, in the province of Guienne, and finely situated on the river Garonne.

"For this excellent parent we had from infancy entertained a degree of enthusiastic affection bordering on adoration; and indeed his character was such as to excite at once our reverence and love. It was he who first taught my young soul to pant for those scenes of martial glory, in which he himself had acted so conspicuous a part; with what animated rapture did I listen to the histories he loved to relate, of various battles in which he had been engaged; especially those of Palestine, whither he had accompanied the brave prince Edward! and had had the inexpressible happiness of saving his life, by warding off the deadly blow of a determined assassin, who at the same moment fell beneath his own sword."

"How did I burn to behold that immortal hero, that constellation of valour, who had since been called to take possession of the throne of his ancestors; in whose con

fidence and friendship my beloved father stood perhaps unrivalled, and of whom that father could never speak, but with tears of gratitude and affection!

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The earl watched with an anxiety truly paternal the gradual expansion of that germ of loyalty and patriotism he had so carefully implanted in my breast. • Thou wilt one day, my Ethelwolphe,' he would exultingly exclaim, 'prove worthy to serve thy gallant prince; and to fulfil this animating prophecy became from childhood my proudest ambition.

During our long residence at the monastery of St. Pierre, we contracted an intimacy with a youth of nearly our own age, who had the art to conceal beneath the mask of virtuous candour and sincerity, a heart of more than common depravity. The young count Matthew de Noirmoutierre easily gained our confidence, for his manners were agreeable and insinuating, whilst we entertained not (at that time) the smallest suspicion that his character was other than it appeared.

"It was the May following the coronation of king Edward that my father was summoned to attend a parliament held by him at Westminster, in order to settle the national affairs, previous to his engaging in a war against the Welch. Our beloved parent bade us an affectionate adieu, promising to return as soon as this business should be concluded, in order to take us over with him to England, and present us to the monarch for whom, though unknown, we had already conceived the most exalted love and veneration, for I had, at this period, attained my one-and-twentieth year. Edwin was twelve months younger, and my father considered that we had profited sufficiently by the instructions of our holy preceptors, to remove altogether from the monastery, at the time he had appointed for his return to Guienne; but, alas! that happy, that long and anxiously-expected hour, never arrived. We received a letter, stating, that immediately on his arrival in London, the earl, our father, had

been seized with a sudden and alarming disorder, that his life was supposed to be in the most imminent danger, and that he requested us, without delay, to accompany the bearer of this melancholy and heartrending epistle to England.

"Almost distracted at intelligence so afflictive and unexpected, we bade a last adieu to the abbot and fathers of St. Pierre, and departed laden with their prayers for the restoration of our parent who had indeed been a most liberal benefactor and patron to this monastery. We used all possible dispatch, and on reaching London, flew to the residence of the earl, but oh, my children! imagine our anguish on finding that we were too late to receive his last blessing! this dearest of fathers and best of men had expired some hours before our arrival, and by his loss we were reduced to a condition almost bordering on despair.

"It was some weeks after this sad event ere we could, in any degree, exert our

selves to shake off the gloomy despondency it had occasioned; for the blow had been sudden and unlooked-for, and it consequently was felt with accumulated poignancy, wholly unprepared as we were to receive it. One day, however, Edwin consented to accompany me to some private gardens, where we might breathe a fresher air, without being exposed to the distressing gaze of impertinent curiosity. We had for a considerable time indulged in our favourite theme of conversation, and experienced a sort of melancholy, yet soothing pleasure, whilst enumerating the many virtues of our departed parent: our eyes were still humid with the drops of tender recollection, when a stranger approached the tree beneath which we were seated, and regarded us for some moments with a look of silent, yet eloquent, commiseration, which evinced a benevolent and feeling heart.

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May I," he at length exclaimed, "without being deemed guilty of intrusion, inquire the cause of your uncommon