of empires has sometimes depended on the construction of the retired flank of a bastion, but that without some portion of his knowledge, it is impossible to understand completely some of the most interesting passages in modern history. But I am aware that this "sweet fountain of knowledge," as Sterne names it, is relished by few: it is caviar" to the generality of readers. They will probably feel more interest in the curious coincidence between the story of Widow Wadman, and one which made a great noise in Germany, a lit tle after the middle of the last century. The origin of the lady's distress was nearly the same, but her conduct was very different from Sterne's heroine, and did the highest honour to her purity. The misadventure of the gentleman happened only thirty-six years before the siege of Namur by King William, where Sterne laid the scene of Uncle Toby's wound. The distresses of this pair, who may be almost termed the Abelard and Heloïse of Germany (saving

that they prosecuted their affections with the strictest virtue, en tout bien et en tout honneur) deserve to be more generally known. Their history has been confined to an obscure book,* and has never yet found its way into our language: I shall therefore venture to make a sketch of it.

My readers may perhaps recollect, that Charles x. of Sweden invaded Denmark, in 1659; that after passing the Sound, and taking the castle of Cronenburg, he laid siege to Copenhagen; where he lost so much time in preparing for a general assault, that the inhabitants, aided by the gallant exertions of the Dutch cannoneers, recovered sufficient spirits to repulse him; and that the Swedes, after raising the siege, were attacked and defeated in the Isle of Fühnen, where the remaining part of their army was obliged to surrender at discretion.

*Valentini's Novella Medico-legales; under the title of Conjugium Eunuchi. An entertain ing selection might be made from this book.

In the battle of Fühnen, which cost the Swedes upwards of two thousand men, besides several general officers, Bartholomew de Sorlisi, a young nobleman in Charles's service, had the misfortune to receive a musket shot of the most cruel nature. He was speedily cured, and was enabled, by the fidelity of his surgeon, to conceal the consequences of his wound. Disgusted by this accident with the army, he retired to an estate which he had purchased in Pomerania, where he endeavoured to bury his melancholy in the occupations of a country-life. But in the course of time, the desire of society returned, and having frequent occasions to consult an old nobleman in the neighbourhood, respecting the management of his estate, he insensibly contracted an intimacy with the family, which consisted of his friend's wife and daughter. Dorothea Elizabeth Lichtwer, then a beautiful girl of sixteen, inspired Sorlisi with so ardent a passion, that he at tempted every method to engage her affec

tions, without allowing himself to consider the injustice of his pretensions. His assi duities were crowned with success; he found his attachment repaid, and soon gained such an interest in his mistress's heart, that he demanded her in marriage. As he had become a favourite with the whole family, his proposals were readily accepted; and if he could have suppressed his secret consciousness, happiness and joy would have appear

ed to court him.

Unfortunately, his alliance was disagreeable to some of the lady's relations, for three excellent reasons: he was a stranger, a roman catholic, and his family had been but recently ennobled by Christina. These disqualifications, however, might have been surmounted, especially as Sorlisi, about this time, became known to the Elector of Saxony, who appointed him one of his chamberlains, but an unexpected piece of treachery put him into the hands of his enemies.

Sorlisi happened to consult the physician usually employed in the Lichtwer family,

and in the confidence which naturally arises between medical men and their patients, had disclosed to him the secret which preyed upon his mind. The officious doctor, forgetting not only his inaugural oath, but the obligations of honour and gratitude, betrayed his patient's confidence to the discontented part of the family, and furnished them with a tale capable of overwhelming the object of their hatred; especially as about this time, death deprived the lovers of a powerful friend in Mr. Lichtwer. Many men would have shrunk from the obloquy which was now let loose against Sorlisi, but he faced the storm gallantly; and by exposing his life in some duels at the onset, obtained an exemption from any farther private insults,

But the greatest trial of his firmness was yet behind; it was impossible longer to conceal the cause of all his vexations from his intended bride, and it became necessary for him to explain his real situation. What a painful confession for Sorlisi, desperately enamoured, and yet touched with the nicest