NEW-YORK, AUGUST, 1835.

WINNIPISEOGEE LAKE. THIS lake is one of the most beautiful sheets of water in the world. It is surrounded by the highlands and mountains of a most picturesque country, in the interior of the state of New-Hampshire. The lake is about twenty-two miles in length, and not far from eight miles in breadth; the waters are deep, pure, and sweet, supplied by mountain rills and subjacent springs, and when drawn but a few feet from the surface, are cool and refreshing in the hottest season of the year. The lake abounds in excellent fish of all kinds common to the northern waters. What add greatly to the beauties of the lake, are the numerous islands which are scattered about in it, probably the tops of greater or smaller mountains, whose huge masses of granite were but half engulfed in the convulsions which, in some early period of time, opened the abyss into which the surrounding waters flowed.

These islands are generally well wooded, and many of them are susceptible of high culture. The last royal governor of New-Hampshire had a princely mansion on the borders of this lake, which was his favorite summer residence. Winnipiseogee has been compared to Lake George; there is a similarity in the purity of its waters, but the former greatly exceeds the latter in magnitude, covering nearly three times the square miles. There is also some resemblance in the scenery. If that of Lake George is more wild and savage than that of Winnipiseogee, the latter is more romantic and diversified, and, from several points of observation, vastly more extensive. The circumjacent country embraces a most intelligent, industrious, and hardy race of men. This lake and the neighboring waters were favorite resorts of the Indians; they spent their summers in fishing in them, and basked away on their banks their hours of ease in the months when they rested from the chase. These children of the forest had the most exquisite taste for rural scenery: their villages and small settlements all prove the truth of this remark; and the names they gave to favorite lakes, rivers and shores, were expressive, delicate, and appropriate: OHIO is said to mean the most beautiful of rivers; NAHANT, the lover's walk; WINNIPISEOGEE, the smile of the Great Spirit. All these translations

may be fanciful, but there cannot be a doubt that beautiful waters and favorite haunts were named by them with taste and imagination. The various tribes on the borders of this lake were often engaged in fierce wars; and if the water-gods had the privilege of antiquity, to communicate with the human race, we might have the story of feats of valor, worthy the poet's song and the historian's page. A few traces of the red men only remain. The hum of industry and the sounds of joy and peace echo over the graves of the sons of the wilderness; but the beauties of the lake can never be lost; they are a feature of nature that civiliza

tion may slightly change, but can never entirely destroy.

The view here given, is taken from a headland on the banks of the Winnipiseogee. Beneath the eye of the spectator lies the placid lake, circled with its wild shores, and far in the distance rise the gigantic peaks of Mount Washington and Chocorna, two of that majestic brotherhood, the White Mountains, the loftiest in all the eastern half of North America.

"NICE PEOPLE."

A SKETCH.

EXPOSE me to the malevolence of the wicked, "kisses," enough to stock a confectioner's shop, the artifices of the designing, or the influence of my father called me into his study, to give me a the corrupt; but Heaven defend me from the in- few words of advice, in addition to the "voluntary fliction of "Nice People." "Nice People!" the contributions" I had "thankfully received" from very expression makes me shiver; the recollec- others. tions it revives fills my soul with self-reproaches I "Charles," said he, "you are now going up to cannot escape, and if sometimes I wish I had never London, for the first time. You will be your own been born, it is when I hear repeated these words. master. Ride your passions and desires with a Gentle reader, would you learn the origin of this curb,-snaffle won't do in such a place. Don't be repugnance to a portion of society, who are usually led away by idle pleasures. Look to your profesin high repute?-listen to the short narrative of one sion. It's a noble one, my lad! Blackstone was who sought, and found, and was their victim! I the greatest man that ever lived! except Burns! hold myself up not as "an example to imitate," Have moderate recreation, but avoid much compabut as "a warning to deter." The career of inex-ny. Young men go too fast. Get acquainted with perienced youth is beset with temptations and snares. Yield to all and each, rather than to the fatal allurements and fascinations of "Nice People!"

some quiet "nice people," none of your rioting, roystering folks, who turn night into day, for pleasure, and then day into night, from necessity—but discreet, quiet, "nice people." After these, and many more hints to the same effect, we parted, and early next morning I found myself located in a small dark set of chambers, up three pair of stairs in Churchyard Court, Temple!

I was a simple-minded lad, and I think I may say, considering all things, a well-conducted one: at any rate I had no positive vice, so that there was less danger in making me my own master, than usually is in cases where boys are prematurely

My father was a country gentleman of considerable fortune and extensive information. He had an income of three thousand a-year, and knew the fourth volume of Blackstone by heart. He was astonishingly fond of the law, and every thing belonging to it, from the livery of a javelinman, to the full-bottomed wig of a judge. He administered it after the most approved fashion of his class, and could shake his head at a culprit with electrifying effect. The shelves of his library were lite-treated as men. My inclinations were very studirally one sheet of "calf," even the three top ones, which, to speak the truth, were only "in boards," were painted to match, with a beautiful fidelity to nature. So much for my father and his hobby.

ous, and I resolved to avail myself of the advantages before me. For two years, then, I attended Mr. C.'s chambers with great regularity, reading from five to eight hours daily. The cautions of my father against gaiety and dissipation were unnecessary, for so determined was I, not to risk the possibility of being led astray, that during the whole of this time I did not make a single acquain. tance. At length my health began to suffer considerably from such close confinement and want of relaxation. My mother and father entreated me to make the acquaintance of some "nice people," with whom I might occasionally spend an evening; they said I needed company, so I made up my mind to have it. One evening, I was writing to my father, to ask him if he could send me a letter, or two of introduction, when young Butler, a fellow pupil, opened my door. We sat down and had a segar-smoking was a weakness I sometimes indulged in.

My mother was a notable personage, simple, and sweet-tempered, and not unreasonably proud of the rank and consequence to which marriage had elevated her. She was the daughter of my father's head gamekeeper. The "young squire's" heart was 'snared' one evening that he went down to the lodge to give orders to old Joseph, and in a nonth after Miss Patty moved her residence from one end of the grounds to the other. I had three brothers and three sisters, all younger than myself except Tom, he was the first. I need not enter into any history of our young days, they were tolerably like the days of other children. We were born in sin and bred in mischief. "Nursery-plants" till two years old, then transplanted to the parlor,-petted till five, whipped till ten, schooled till fifteen, and brought out properly "finished" a year or two after. I will bring you at once to the afternoon upon which I was to leave the parental roof for the first time. I had decided upon the bar as a profession, out of compliment to my father, and he cheer- "My dear fellow," continued he, laughing, "I fully paid down, to a special pleader of some note, mean Willis' public rooms in King Street, St. two hundred pounds, which was to entitle me to James'; there is a ball to-night, to which I am a the entree of his chambers, until I should deem my- subscriber. You must really go." I shook my self as clever as my master; and which we consid-head. "Gad! but you must," said he. "Such ered would be in about two years. At this time I devilish nice people!" was nineteen years of age. After I had taken leave

of my mother and sisters, and been treated with

After some little conversation, "Fleming," said he, "go to Willis' rooms with me to night?" "Willis," I replied, "I can't go to his rooms. I don't know him."

"Nice people?" said I, in an inquiring tone.
"Egad, and there are too. I'll introduce you to

fifty-there's the Princes, from Brunswick Square; limit her conversation to the overworked monosyland the Stanhopes, from Fitzroy; the Regent's-ables-yes and no. On the contrary, she looked park Trees; and the city Walls-all nice people,' me boldly in the face, when I addressed her, but if you shouldn't like them, there's the laughed fashionably loud, and twice corrected me “What time shall I be ready?" said I. It was with her fan for some little pleasantry. In other the very introduction I required. respects, too, she was rather a striking person. By the end of "L'Ete," I was much pleased with her by the end of "La Poule," equally so with myself. During the last promenade I should have had no hesitation whatever in pronouncing her "an uncommon nice girl."

"Not later than ten," replied my young friend. I will call and take you there in my cab." He called as he had promised, and I was presently introduced to, and moving among, the gay and glittering throng. We had not been in the room above ten minutes, when I saw a party who had just entered, bearing up the centre. It consisted of three young ladies and an elderly one, apparently their mother, a grey-headed gentleman, who might well be the husband and father, and a thin, pale young man, who walked as if he were afraid of making an impression on the floor. Each beauty had evidently been careful

"To have her sails, before she went abroad, Full spread and nicely set to catch the gale Of praise."

And their appearance, as they came up in convoy. excited no little attention. I was about to ask Butler if he knew them, but he anticipated me.

"Gad," said he, turning round, here are the Princes;" and away he flew to pay his respects, with as much show of importance as if they had been "Princes of the blood." In about ten minutes he returned. "Fleming, you must be introduced to the Princes-you really must-they are such devilish nice people.' Come."

"One moment," said I, "tell me a little about them," and we moved on.

"About them," said he. "Oh! old Prince is a Procter, and a capital business he has too; his house is in Brunswick Square-his establishment just what it ought to be. As for himself, there isn't a better old fellow in England; but his wife, Mrs. Prince, she is an excellent creature! so kind! so motherly! And the girls." We turned short round, and came full upon them, "Ah!" exclaimed my companion, "most fortunate meeting, indeed. Ladies, we were just speaking of you. Allow me to introduce my most particular friend, Mr. Charles Valentine Fleming. Mr. Flemingthe Misses Prince." The three graces curtsied. "Fred," continued my friend, addressing the slim young man, who was their brother, and who, from the direction of his eyes, was apparently counting the wax-lights in a chandelier; "Fred, my particular friend, Fleming." Mr. Frederick Prince lowered his eye-lids, put a scented cambric handkerchief to his lips, and smiled faintly. Well, an introduction thus satisfactorily completed to the young people, nothing remained but one to the old, and that followed, as you will hear, in a most natural way. The music commenced, and I summoned up courage to offer myself as a partner to one of the Misses Prince; indeed, I may say, to Miss Prince, for she evidently had the advantageunenviable advantages-in years. She was not the handsomest of the family, but as the eldest, I considered claimed the compliment. We stood up, and I found her a very chatty creature, without a portion of that bashfulness and reserve, which make a girl look at her shoe when spoken to, and

"Come," said she, in an easy and familiar tone, as she moved off, "let me take you to mainma." And she placed her arm within mine, as unceremoniously as if we had been on a-six-quadrille-inone-evening footing with each other. How much more sensible than if she had treated my arm like the wing of a butterfly not to be touched without soiling. We threaded our way to the card-room, and up to a whist-table in a corner. "Mamma, let me introduce to you Mr. Fleming, a most particular friend of Henry Butler's." I was flatteringly noticed.

"Are you a stranger to these rooms, Mr. Fleming ?" inquired Mrs. Prince.

"Entirely," I replied.

"Do you know"-"Diamonds are trumps," said her partner, as fourth hand, she threw away a small heart to her adversary's best spade.Many persons here," continued Mrs. P., entirely overlooking her mistake, and the next hand.

"But one-until I had the honor of

" and I bowed-a bow will often finish a sentence as satisfactorily as words. It did now, for turning to the young lady on my arm, she certainly acknowledged the compliment with a gentle pressure.

"Do you not think the music extremely good?" "Very," said I. No one could play better." "A revoke!" exclaimed a sharp-eyed, sharpboned, sallow-skinned, old maid, as at this mal-apropos moment, the talkative Mrs. Prince threw down a spade to the lead, and in an instant five withered fingers, with nails like screw-drivers, had laid face-uppermost the fatal evidence.

"A true bill," said the good-tempered Mrs. P., 1 plead guilty."

"You'd better not, it won't save you," said her partner, in a guttural voice, something between a grumble and a grunt.

"Do let us go away from this," said Miss P. "I wonder how mamma can ever play with that ill-tempered lawyer, Old Baily." And we went again among the dancers, and a quadrille forming, it was natural that we should help to complete itand did so.

"Are you fond of music ?" said my partner. 'Extremely. Do you play?"

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any of the encouraging kindness of her elder sister; | large and black. My mother, sisters, brothers, all and, indeed, as taciturn as politeness admitted. During the whole of six figures, she smiled once, and that was at an accident. Opposite to us was a little dowdy creature whose head exactly reached the elbow of a remarkably tall man, her partner. In "chassez croisee," the poor little thing slipped and fell.

rushed to my mind in an instant. For the first time in my life, I felt there was one I valued less than the others: for assured that death had claimed a victim, I could not help wishing whom it might prove to be, though had I seen all in health and strength before me, I never could have decided with whom I would most readily part. With 'What an awkward fellow!" said Georgiana, trembling hand I opened the letter. In the first "he has dropped his bundle." few lines there was no preparation for melancholy Emily was a very different creature, and decid-news. Anxious to learn the worst, I hurriedly edly the most fascinating of the three. It was not glanced my eye from line to line, from page to her face, for she was not handsomer than the oth-page. I breathed more freely, for there was not ers; it was not her figure, for she was rather short, even a word of grief, much less death. I reached but the expression of the former, and the airy light-the last sentence, the last words-"“your affectionness of the latter, with a charm of manner alto-ate father," and I put the letter down, hurt, that by gether indescribable, amply sufficed to take the fan- an act so thoughtless, he should have caused in my cy prisoner. She was fond of poetry, and had a mind an excitement so painful. considerable dash of romance in her characteropen and ingenuous to a fault, expressing her likes and dislikes with an earnestness very entertaining. With Emily, I confess, I was forcibly struck.

I reperused my father's letter. Happy man! He had been commanded to proceed to Windsor to receive the honor of a baronetcy. A disturbance had fortunately taken place in his county-town, Towards the close of the evening, I again came which would, unless promptly suppressed, have in contact with Mrs. Prince. She had "cut the undoubtedly led to God knows what! He cards," and was reclining on a sofa in the ball-acted with great decision on the occasion, and room, chatting to a highly-rouged dowager beside made a speech in the market-place impromptu. It her, and amusingly pointing out the little peculiar- had a wonderful effect upon the populace. Being ities of walk, talk, dress, manner, general appear- altogether unintelligible, they concluded it was ance, and effect of the troop of young and middle-law, and he being generally esteemed an oracle, the aged creatures that, during the quadriles, or between them, passed in review before her, ever and anon relieving the monotony of ridicule, by some motherly remarks about my girls."

rioters, amounting in numbers to upwards of twenty, were appeased for a time, and ultimately successfully attacked and routed by a strong force of yeomanry cavalry, who had, by dint of considerable labor, been brought together. For this act of service to the state, he was to be rewarded in the manner of which I have spoken.

This friendly tete-a-tete was unfortunately broken up by Mrs. P. not detecting any resemblance between her colored companion and about five feet nothing of sallow-mortality, that happened to be her daughter, and whose figure, looking at its tedly informed me of this addition of the honor and In folding up the letter, which had thus unexpecincreasing thickness downwards; she, in an un-importance of our family, my eye rested on a few lucky moment, and in the plenitude of her satire, lines which had hitherto escaped ine; they were declared to be like a note of admiration turned written on the side, and were as follows:upside down.

When the indignant matron fled from the loquacious Mrs. P., I took her place. We chatted upon various subjects. Among others, of course, her daughters. She favored me with the little peculiarities of each,-"Fanny was so lively and clever; Georgiana 'so reserved and satirical;' Emily such a thoughtless little puss,'-but all 'dear good girls,' and 'so domesticated and united.' If," continued their happy mother, " you should ever feel inclined to join us of an evening, and pass a quiet hour, we shall be delighted to see you. We have always a little music, perhaps a quadrille. Do not wait for a formal invitation,” said she, putting her card into my hand, "but come in in a quiet way.'

And thus commenced my acquaintance with these "nice people.”

I returned to my chambers that night, or rather early in the morning, delighted, as you may imagine, with the lucky accident that had befallen me. Really, if I had given up three months in hunting out an introduction, I could not have managed a more promising one.

Unlocking my door, and looking into my sitting room before I went to bed. I found a letter from my father. Itrembled and turned pale. The seal was

"It is with the most poignant sorrow, my beloved Valentine, that I inform you of the sudden and violent death of your brother Tom. He fell a victim to his passion for hard riding. He was out with our hounds the day before yesterday, and taking a strong dike, his horse fell upon him, and, melancholy to relate, he was killed on the spot. Of course we have been plunged into great affliction; perhaps the most unhappy feature of the case is, it happening just as he was about to become heir to the distinguished honor, which, as I told you, is to be conferred on yours, &c.-H. V."

down to attend the funeral if possible. Should you "P. S.-It will be as well that you should come not be able, and wish to write, do not give me iny title before next Friday."

Tears rolled down my cheeks, as Iread this brief announcement of my brother's death. For an instant I felt indignant at my father for having made it secondary to the news about himself; but this feeling quickly subsided, when I reflected how much more common is death than honor.

The following morning I had a visit from Butler. I explained to him why I could not call in Brunswick Square, and begged him to leave my card

there, which he promised to do. For a week I hair and blue eyes, wrote sweet poetry—had been was absent from town. I went home, of course, staying with them a twelvemonth, before his deto attend the funeral-I did so as chief mourner. parture-was a delightful, kind, good creature, and My father being engaged at Windsor, and therefore that she looked on him "quite as a brother." I conunable to attend. On my return to my chambers, fess these last words hardly removed the suspicion I found the cards of Mr. Prince, Mr. Frederick that flashed upon me, as I marked her flushed Prince, Mrs. Prince, and the Misses Prince. I cheek and sparkling eye. The "green-eyed monwas much touched with this little attention. On the following day I opened my door to a knock very rarely heard, I should think, in the Temple. It was loud enough and long enough to have reached the very cellars of the building of which I inhabited the sky-parlor. A servant, in a glaring livery of blue, red, and gold, desired me to tell Mr. Fleming, that Mrs. Prince was at the Temple Gate, in the carriage, and wished to see him. I told the fellow I would be down in a few moments; whereupon he took off his hat and attempted a bow, but which was, as it usually is, when persons detect themselves in an impertinence to the wrong person, a so t of apologetic and nervous wriggle of the whole body.

ster" had already more than a finger upon me. She saw the tyranny with which I was threatened, and in a tone of sincerity a cynic could not have doubted, assured me there was nothing but their cousin-ship between them. Of course, a conversa tion thus begun did not end here, but you need not be afraid that I shall repeat all that passed between us; such scenes have no interest for an audience, indeed will not even bear rehearsal before the cur tain: suffice it that from that morning I considered myself, if not preferred, in the high road to preferment, and fully justified in indulging in the hopes I had for some time silently dwelt on.

My intimacy with the family continued unbroken for nearly a year, during which time I might almost have considered myself a member of it. From old Prince I received just that sort of atten

I put myself a little into order, and went down. There was no mistaking the carriage. It was a large yellow-bodied one with red wheels, and bluetion which a youngster likes. He was always as hammer cloth, upon which were glaringly emblazoned the arins and quarterings of Mr. Prince, the Proctor. Before I reached it, I saw feathers and veils in profusion; I found not only Mrs. P., but two of her daughters. At their pressing invitation, I went for a drive with them, and then home to dinner. Their kindness and attention were beyond any thing I can express. The cheerful and congratulatory manner in which they spoke of my father's elevation, and the delicacy and tact with which they alluded to my brother's death, asking me if I was not now the eldest son, created in me quite an interest for them all, and I already looked upon these extremely “nice people” as old friends, rather than acquaintances of yesterday.

and flatterinely enough, "I think you are.”

happy to see me-or appeared so-as if we hadn't met for a month, though in truth I never lost sight of him for two days together. We used to sit over our wine and discuss the leading topics of the day with a briskness which lost nothing by repetition, and although we were widely opposed in politics, I being a Tory, and he a worshipper of Hume, our arguments never degenerated into personalities: this might have been from an inclination on his part to yield perhaps a little more than is desirable in an antagonist of spirit. For instance, after a long discussion on any subject, and a tolerable ex haustion of the pros and cons, he invariably wound up with these words, Well, perhaps after all, you are right." This was always accompanied by a Before I left Brunswick Square that evening. I slight elevation of the brow, and then immediately had promised to return on the following day on a after came three or four very deliberate, but affirm visit for a week. All lent their powers of persua-ative movements of the head, which said plainly sion, though I confess I wanted but little had it been otherwise, when Emily begged I would "put I observed something of the same concession to by my books and come," I should have at once me in every member of the family, and it was a complied. It would be too long a story, if I were quiet, winning flattery I could not resist. I was to enter into detail of the week in question. It was charmed with all of them without knowing at the one round of pleasure, increasing hourly, until I time, that it was because I was so delighted and felt myself the happiest creature in existence. I satisfied with myself, and often exclaimed, "Well, did not disguise my attachment to the youngest if ever there were nice people I have found them daughter-my love, my passion, for her, when I here." Mrs. Prince was perhaps the most adroit had reason to believe it returned. This happened in the use of that most dangerous weapon of attack on the very morning I was about to terminate my-flattery. Her assaults never defeated themselves visit. I went into the library, and found her alone by their violence. Her moments were rarely ill reading a letter. It was crossed and recrossed, chosen; if she saw that I was prepared, she stood but this prima facie evidence of it being from a at once disarmed, waited her opportunity, and woman, yielded to the bold and masculine hand in when I did feel myself touched, it was so slightly, which it was written. I turned pale, and was about as to create no aların. She knew that she applied to retire, stammering out some apology for my in- a subtle poison, and that a scratch was sufficient to trusion, but she assured me I did not disturb her, ensure inoculation. If ever any thing was to be and in fact, looked her wish that I should remain; done, "Charles" was to be acquainted with it. and then she began talking of the letter, and her Any place to be visited, "Charles' convenience" cousin Augustus, and his beautiful uniform, and the to be consulted. Any thing in dispute, “What Cape of Good Hope, and a long passage, and a va- does Charles think?" was the ready question-and riety of other matters; and concluded by inform-" Charles says" so and so, the certain quietus. ing me that her said cousin was on his voyage to The girls also played admirably seconds to their Calcutta to join his regiment; that he had light mamma-Miss Prince in particular. She display