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was attached a watch key in the shape of a harp. He was, he said, a Frenchman, though born in Ireland; and was no less a person than the Duke of Marseilles; had been possessed of immense estates in Normandy, where he owned a chateau of white marble, as long as the State Prison. But, on the return of the Bourbons, his estates were confiscated, and he fled to Ireland to the protection of his uncle, the Archbishop of Munster, in whose palace he was concealed for some time, until his residence was betrayed to the new French ministry, by the Elector of Denmark; and an officer of the Inquisition was sent to demand his person from the English government. In this extremity he was obliged to accept the hospitable invitation of his old military friend, the Governor of Botany Bay. Under his auspices he sojourned for a time in tranquillity; but he soon became weary of the monotony of that pastoral district-felt the want of literary and "illigant" society, and grew tired of eating nothing but kangaroos. Avoiding the sorrows of parting, and the ceremonious politeness of his Excellency and suite, he took private passage for Canada, where he had friends in high places. An office of great importance was about to be conferred upon him there, when an unfortunate affair of honour, with an aid-de-camp of

the Lord Lieutenant, compelled him to make a precipitate flight from the vice-regal court. He was daily expecting remittances from his French estates, which were to arrive at New-York in a seventy-four; and meanwhile he wished to remain in rural and unostentatious retirement.

Such was the account given of himself by Terence, at divers times, and with divers variations. If any one should wonder that Mrs. Peck and her daughter, who were no fools, gave it credit, let them remember that equally gross stuff has been swallowed by people, who pass for intelligent, when enforced by imperturbable impudence, and illustrated by a rag, a ribband, or five dollars worth of paste jewels. When weeks passed on, and neither the seventy-four nor the remittances were heard of, and when the grand cross fell sick with the rheumatism, the Reverend Doctor Peck, a brother-in-law of the old lady, and who had just arrived on a visit at her house, strongly advised her to make him raise the wind by hypothecating his diamonds, or else avoid the premises. But he found an advocate not only in Abishag, who wanted to make a thorough experiment on his system, with her specific, but in Plutarch, to whom he was teaching French; a language which Duke Terence had picked up enough of at Montreal and Quebec to speak

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with unhesitating fluency, in a nondescript patois pronunciation, and a genteel negligence of grammar; and, moreover, could write upon occasion, in an orthography, which, if it was not that of Voltaire, or of the Academy, had the superior merit of perfect originality. Under his instructions, the ambitious juvenal soon felt himself sufficiently accomplished in the Parisian dialect, to venture to say to Mr. Viellecour, when he carried him his Aunt's nostrum,-"Je ways appronder parly francy be ang too." The last of this gibberish sounded so much like—and be hanged to you, that my respectable friend thought it an expression of anger, for his having refused to initiate Plutarch into the language of love, diplomacy, tactics, and fashion. But, with his usual politeness, he wished him success in his studies, and accepted the prescription.

I have now, perhaps somewhat tediously, furnished the intelligent reader with a key to the ensuing correspondence, which I can assure him is genuine. I have taken no liberties with either the style or orthography of any of the letters, except in supplying the necessary words, when a torn seal, or worn-out fold, has occasioned a lacune in the MSS.

Whether the disease was slight, or the remedy efficient, or the cure had been really achieved by

patience and flannel, Mr. Viellecour found himself so much better, in a few weeks, that his politeness led him to express his thanks to his benefactress, and to accompany his letter with a present of quinces; both which were despatched by a servant. The former ran thus:

"Belcour Grove, December 26, 182—.

"FAIR LADY!

"I pray your forgiveness for not having before thrown myself at your feet. I had flattered myself that I should had the felicity of kissing your fair hands, on Christmas eve. But I was engaged with my builder, Mr. Plumline, who waited on me with plans and contracts for the new kitchen, and the two additional bed-rooms to my mansion.

"I have sent you by the bearer a basket of yellow Portugal pear quinces, true court-pendus. He will also inform you of the happy and blessed effects of the medicine, which you so amiably and kindly sent me; which happy result I ascribe, under Providence, as much to the charm of the long and taper fingers which compounded and prepared it, and to the benevolent spirit which presided over its administration, as to its intrinsic virtues. Be pleased to receive, with

your wonted condescension, this golden fruit; and I earnestly pray you therewith to accept my

Secasty thaniy

"With the tenderest regard,
"I have the honour to be,

"Madam,

"Your most devoted friend and servant,

"ADAM ADRIAN DE VIELLECOUR."

"P. S. This fruit, I hope, is of good quality, as it is of choice stock. Autumn has mellowed its juices, but not, I trust, lessened its flavour. Yet I hope that next year's fruit will surpass this by far, if Vertumnus and Pomona will smile on their poor, devoted worshipper."

Having discharged his conscience of this debt of gratitude, the old gentleman felt himself comfortable and satisfied, except that he waited with a little restless anxiety for the arrival of some articles which he had written for to town, and which he intended to bestow as holiday presents, on Betsey Bull, his god-daughter Emily, and

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