hatchets. Their colour is that of bright copper, and their countenances are strong and open, but generally much disfigured by tattooing. "We travelled much in the way of an Indian camp, slept in skins, often under the trees; but, when the nights were cold, we pitched small tents. A blaze of the long grass had the effect of frightening away snakes from our vicinity; and the fire-fly was so large, luminous, and numerous, bespangling every tree with stars, that we seldom required a candle. The little humming-bird flitted about us; our opportunities for contemplating all the curiosities of American natural history were incessant; and, wondering at all I beheld, we at length reached Lexington, where, to my extreme chagrin, I learned that Hugh had gone some time before to Louisiana. Thither I went, spent a few months with him pleasantly, and floated down the rivers Missouri and Mississippi to New Orleans. "New Orleans is the capital of the state of Louisiana, and stands on the western side of the Mississippi, one hundred and five miles from its mouth. When I was there, the population con sisted of about ten thousand souls; it now amounts to fifty thousand. Upwards of a thousand flat-bottomed boats arrive annually from the upper country, bringing its productions; and there are above twenty steam-vessels now navigating the Mississippi, and the Ohio, which flows into it. "Finding my recommendations at New Orleans unproductive, I travelled by land to Frankfort, a journey of six hundred miles. It is the seat of government in the Kentucky state; and here I procured two good situations for accumulating dollars, namely, enrolling clerk of the House of Representatives, and clerk of the Federal Court of the state. These offices I held until the year 1805, when I found myself possessed of a sum sufficient to pay off my debts in Ireland, and leave something to begin the world anew; so I packed up, and, in the spring of 1806, arrived at the city of Washington; obtained my certificate from Mr. Merry, our consul, as a British subject; travelled thence to New York, and, in twenty-eight days, embraced my wife and your sister. "I had not heard of your departure; my feel ings, therefore, when the afflicting tidings reached my ear, may be conceived but cannot be described. Providence, however, seems to have converted what I deplored into exquisite sensations of joy; for in my grief for your loss may be discovered those seeds of happiness matured by your return, the harvest of which has made my old days seem young. "Soon after my arrival I called all my creditors together, and paid them with interest to the last farthing; an act of justice which restored me to self-respect, and re-established my character for honour and integrity. Since that period I have been most prosperous: all I wanted to crown my joy was you, my only son, which God has granted; and to his holy name be ascribed praise, for our preservation through numerous dangers by sea and land.' No. VIII. DUBLIN. "We may roam through this world like a child at a feast, Are the dearest gifts that heaven supplies, We never need leave our own green isle, For sensitive hearts and for sun-bright eyes." MOORE. "THE morning after my arrival in my native city, I marched down Capel Street with exultation in my countenance. Before me stood the Royal Exchange, which, seen in the long perspective over Essex Bridge, gave a fine finish to a magnificent and busy scene; and I felt something like delight in my own identification with such taste as is displayed in the public edifices of Dublin. On turning down Dame Street, my eye glanced |