ince tax, at this period, were second only to those of Boston. And as to its numbers and opulence"-we learn from an old sermon preached at the ordination of the Rev. Mr. Hubbard in 1781,—“ it swarmed with inhabitants, was a pattern of industry, flourished in trade, and abounded with wealth."

In this mart of enterprise and bustle was Tucker educated, from his infancy, in the habits which were most popular among his numerous companions. He was born, it would seem, at a fortunate period for his morals; for the same ancient writer, who records without reservation that the Marblehead people, early in this century, "were generally a rude, swearing, drunken and fighting crew"-as many in such a place always are-adds, that "as they increased in numbers, they made improvements in social life, in virtue and good morals." Again, "by the middle of the century, the manners of the people were so much cultivated, as to be remarkable for their civilities, and especially for their hospitality to strangers. There were not only gentlemanlike families, and pious and well-behaved people in the town, but the very fishermen rose superior to the rudeness of the former generations." Those who have had the pleasure of knowing Commodore Tucker at any period of his life, and especially such as have had occasion to avail themselves of his hospitality, will readily agree that the compliments here bestowed upon his fellow townsmen are confirmed and illustrated in himself. We have never met, elsewhere, with so striking a specimen of the frank, cordial, cheerful, soldierly manner of the old school. Of the particulars of his early life upon the seas, we have, unfortunately, little definite knowledge. It is known, however, that he commenced in boyhood the career which he has continued through the last three principal wars of the country; and that he has actually been in hard service about thirty years. At eleven he was placed on board a British frigate, and here was probably the only opportunity which he ever enjoyed, of learning the higher technicalities of his profession. It was not long continued, but he used it to the best advantage.

Subsequently to the French war, which terminated formally in 1763, Tucker, who was then sixteen years of age, is understood to have engaged actively in the merchant service, and to have acquired already a good part of the reputation which he afterwards so brilliantly confirmed. The breaking out of the Revolutionary War gave a new scope to his patriotism and his energy;-he entered into it with his whole soul; and, as we have already seen, his exertions were by no means unattended with success. It was not long, indeed, before his name became a terror to the small craft of the enemy. Jones himself was not farther known nor more feared; and special expeditions were actually projected, and special instructions given, for the apprehension of this fearless and indefatigable Yankee Captain-this Robin Hood of the Oceanevery where present in attack, but no where visible or accessible in retreat or reprisal.

The opinion entertained of him by the best and wisest men in the country, at this time, may be conjectured from the tenor of certain Resolutions adopted by the Continental Congress. In the Journal for 1777, we find it recorded, March 15, that the Marine Committee reported-"That there are several fine prize-vessels in the State of Massachusetts Bay, very suitable for the service of the continent, and which

may be fitted out at small expense; and that Captain Daniel Waters and Captain Samuel Tucker, who were early employed by General Washington in cruising vessels, and were very successful, and strongly recommended by the General and others, are, in their opinion, [that of the Committee] proper to be appointed to the command of two of them." Immediately upon this report being made, votes were passed by which the Committee were empowered to purchase three of the vessels above mentioned. Waters and Tucker were selected to take charge of two, and the other was directed to be given to John Paul Jones, "until something better can be found for him." It cannot be expected of us, we think, to produce better evidence of the high estimation in which Tucker was held by the most illustrious of his countrymen. We should by no means omit to mention, however, that he was selected to carry out Mr. Adams, our first Minister to France. The negociations which were to be prosecuted with that government were well known to be of the most important and even critical nature. The enemy took vigilant measures, accordingly, to intercept the proposed movement; and the ship which conveyed the Minister had scarcely weighed anchor, when a fleet of British cruisers of all descriptions, was in pursuit of her. We regret our inability to detail any of the singular adventures of this memorable voyage. It is well known, that the Commander acquitted

himself to the entire satisfaction of those who entrusted him with their confidence, either defeating or eluding his adversary in all cases. On one occasion, it is said, when an action was growing close and warm with a British vessel, and a good deal of bustle was made upon the Commodore's deck, Mr. Adams came up from his cabin abruptly, seized a musket, and engaged in the contest with all the zeal of an old soldier. But this was a hazardous species of service, which the Commodore could not permit. He requested Mr. Adams to retire to his proper position-the Minister hesitated, and perhaps expostulatedbut the old veteran knew his duty better, and he "ordered him peremptorily" to go below.

The danger to which this expedition was exposed may be conjectured from the fact, that the Commander kept his appropriate station upon deck for about seventy hours in succession, at one time, during a hot chase by a superior force of the enemy. Even then, nothing short of the repeated solicitation of Mr. Adams himself, could induce him to leave his post. The Minister sent for him to go below-he wished to convince him of the necessity of rest and refreshment. The Commodore obeyed, as in duty bound. Nature was exhausted; for in the midst of the conversation, he nodded and dozed upon the cock-pit table. The few hours sleep which he then allowed himself in his birth, he says, was like the sleep of death. A forty-two pounder at his side would not have waked him.

On this and many other occasions, Commodore Tucker had the good fortune to make the acquaintance and secure the respect of the most eminent and influential personages of his time. Mr. Adams retained a cordial and intimate friendship for him to the last hours of his life; and the same relations, we believe, are kept up to this day, by his son, the late President. He was on board the vessel just spoken of, with his father, at the age of about eleven. He has not forgotten the kindness and the courage which protected him; nor is the

Commodore on the other hand, as we can safely attest, likely to forget him.

Washington, we have already shown, was well acquainted with our hero, and put early and implicit confidence in him. The latter occasionally speaks of a week which he passed on shore, during the Revolution, in the General's company. It was at Morristown. Washington's custom, it seems, was to visit the lines of his little army, regularly once every day; and he invited his naval guest to go the rounds, while he remained, with himself and his suite. The compliments passed upon his horsemanship, on this occasion, are still very fresh in the Commodore's memory. The General was an observing as well as a polite man, and he thought his friend Tucker "the best rider he had ever met with-for a seaman.”

He was well acquainted with John Paul Jones-who, by the way, was only eight days older than himself, and was in some respects, a man of similar talent and temperament. The worst point about Jones was, that he treated his men too roughly. Commodore Tucker, though in no degree wanting in decision or good discipline, knew better how to mingle the gentleman with the seaman and the soldier. At least, he never lost the command of himself in the attempt to command others. But Jones was a brave and useful man, though his apprenticeship in the coal trade, which was no fault of his,-did leave a black mark or two upon his manners.

Commodore Tucker did not lie altogether idle during the late war with Great-Britain. Though considerably advanced in years when it commenced, one of his exploits-which happened, we believe, towards the close of it-may afford a tolerable specimen of what his life would be, could the materials of it be collected. The shipping of Bristol, which then comprised Bremen, as well as that of the coast generally, was much annoyed by the cruisers of the enemy,-sometimes by men of war, and sometimes by their tenders and boats. The celebrated action between the Enterprise and Boxer took place in this vicinity. A fast-sailing, sharp-built little tender to the British frigate Rattler was another thorn in the side of the people upon this coast. Not a coaster could venture out from a creek, for several months, but the foe was down upon him, with all sails set, and some half a dozen guns run out on each side, like a cat with her long claws arrayed for a mouse. Matters went so far, at last, that a number of the inhabitants of Bristol,-most of them seamen, and some of them veterans,-determined upon taking prompt measures for repelling the invader. It being ascertained, one Sunday, that the tender was not far distant, prowling among the indentations of the Pemaquid coast, an agreement was drawn up forthwith, whereby the subscribers bound themselves to prosecute together the common object of retaliation. By this company, forty-five in number, Tucker was elected commander of the expedition, and summoned accordingly to make his appearance on the spot. The old veteran was willing and ready. He mounted his equipments, and started off for a neighboring town, several miles distant, to obtain a commission. This being effected, and the volunteers being mustered, the Commodore plied them with a stirring though brief harangue. "My brave boys," concluded he, you have signed this paper, it is true, but I wish no man to go on compulsion. You have had time to

reflect more maturely on your project, and now, if there is one among you who had rather not go than go, let him speak. No such man should be one of us." One individual, only, availed himself of this indulgence, a poor fellow who afterwards died of mere fear, as his comrades believed, at the battle of Plattsburg. The residue of the company were furious for the cruise, and, a wood-sloop being fitted up for the purpose, they sailed on the same day. An additional force with two pieces of cannon, was taken on board soon after, but the enemy was no where to be found, and the reinforcement was dismissed. The sloop itself, after scouring the coast in vain, for a day or two, was on its return to Bristol, when, just as they doubled Pemaquid Point, the tender hove in sight. The vessels approached each other rapidly. The Commodore ordered most of his men, meanwhile, to station themselves upon the wood in the hold of his sloop, out of sight, but ready for a call at any moment. On coming within pistol-shot, he run up the American flag and fired a musket. The tender hoisted a British ensign and responded with a nine-pounder, fearing, of course, no resistance from a craft manned only with the ragged and sorry complement of a wood-coaster. But just at this moment the Commodore called for his men with a voice of thunder. The deck was covered with them in a twinkling, and a tremendous discharge of musketry poured into the enemy. In a few minutes not a man was visible on board the tender, and the only symptom of life left, was the hat of the Captain occasionally peering over the quarter-rail as he lay, steering or attempting to steer, flat on his back. It was soon ascertained that he was ready to surrender, but had no means of hauling down his flag; his men were ensconced below, and he dared not himself venture among the shower of balls which rattled in the rigging over his head like a hail-storm. This matter being adjusted by shooting down the flag, the tender was boarded and made prize, together with several excellent carriage-guns, and twenty-five men. These were forwarded to Wiscasset fort. But the conqueror himself, in the chivalric spirit which always characterized him, took the British commander with him to his own house, and entertained him like a prince, till he could be regularly returned as a prisoner of war to the proper authorities, and discharged from confinement on his parole. Not a man was killed or wounded on either side. The wood-coasters showed what they might have done, however, by boring the Captain's hat through several times on his head, and by firing three hundred and seventy bullets through his mainsail.

Such was our hero's last exploit. Since that time he has reposed upon his laurels, enjoying the friendship and respect of all who know him, and preparing himself quietly for the last voyage which awaits him. He has been several times a member of the Legislature of Massachusetts and Maine; and, so late as his eightieth year, presided at a large County Convention called in favor of his "young friend and fellow passenger," John Quincy Adams. His faculties of mind and body are remarkably vigorous for his years. His patriotism and his enthusiasm for his own profession are as vivid as ever. "You have served your country in three wars," said a visiter to him not long since, "do you flatter yourself you could command a ship now, should you be called upon,—or would that mutinous limb (a rheumatic grievance) of

yours be an obstacle? "Sir," said the old veteran, riveting his sharp eye upon the querist, and raising his voice-"Sir, wherever I had the honor to command-in my day-men-of-war were furnished with chairs. I trust, Sir, that one might be found now."

THE HERMITAGE OF CANDU.

AN ORIENTAL TALE.

[The following tale forms, in its original shape, an episode in the ancient Hindu Poem, called the Brama Purana. The entire work has never been translated into any European language. The extract which is here offered to the reader, was translated from the original Sanscrit into French, by M. de Chézy, of the French Academy, and from the manuscript of this version, into German, by the well known scholar and critic, A. W. Von Schlegel. This German translation was published by Schlegel in his Journal, entitled the Indian Library, and is the one from which we have made the following translation. We are not aware that the poem has ever appeared in print in a French or English dress. After passing through two intermediate languages, it can hardly be supposed, that it will exhibit the exact shape and color which it wears in the original; but even in this form, it will probably be regarded as a curious specimen of the lighter style of Oriental literature. It is introduced by Schlegel with several pages of critical remarks, from which we make a short extract.

"The following Poem is taken from an unpublished Sanscrit manuscript in the Royal Library at Paris. The graceful ease and sportive humor which distinguish it, will recommend it at once to readers of taste, Although it was originally an episode in a larger work, it nevertheless forms of itself a complete poem. There are many narratives of a similar description to be found in the Sanscrit writers, and they frequently, as in the present instance, turn upon the inconveniences to which literary men are exposed by giving way to the seductions of the tender passion; but the subject has seldom been treated in a more agreable manner, than it is in the following story.

"It may be proper to remark by way of introduction, and in explanation of the fable, that although Indra, the ruler of the gods in the Hindu Mythology, has many traits of character in common with the Greek Jupiter, he does not possess his power by quite so certain a tenure. Jupiter, when his dominion was invaded by the Titans, succeeded in repulsing them, and, having banished them to Tartarus, has reigned ever since in complete security. But Indra is so situated, that he would be compelled, by invincible Destiny, and the decree of the unchangeable Brama, to surrender his celestial sceptre to any devout person, who could make out a title to it, by performing more severe acts of penance than those by which he himself originally acquired it. It is easy to conceive that this circumstance must be a constant source of disquiet at the Court of Indra, and must diminish very considerably the satisfaction which he would otherwise derive from the means of enjoyment by which he is surrounded. It is accordingly understood, that in the midst of the exquisite music and airy dances which constantly divert his leisure, he often casts a look upon the earth, in order to watch the progress of the most remarkable hermits and other devotees. When he sees any one among them particularly pre-eminent, and to all appearance in a fair way to attain the prize, Indra immediately despatches one of the most attractive of his attendant nymphs to seduce him, if possible, from the path of duty. If the hermit yield,as too often happens, to her allurements, he loses all the fruit of his previous labors; and Indra is left for a time to enjoy his power in undisturbed security. "Such were the means employed by this Prince of the Hindu gods about three thousand years ago, on the banks of the river Gomati, to defeat the ambition of the hermit Candu, as is briefly set forth in the following tale."]

On the consecrated banks of the river Gomati, in a solitary wood producing fruits and flowers of every kind, where nothing was heard but