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Cats, and Monkeys of every defcription, The feems attracted towards them by a myfterious fympathy; while if her languid eyes are caft towards any of the company, it is only to exprefs the language of disdain. Notwithstanding my admiration of this amiable protectrefs of the brute creation, I cannot help feeling a fuperior degree of pleasure, in contemplating the unaffected charms, and unaffuming loveliness of a young widow; the beauty of whose countenance is fhaded, though not concealed, by the veil of forrow. Whilft beftowing on her fatherless babes the foft caréffes of maternal tenderness, I have obferved the tear which gliftened on the filken fringe of her fine black eyes, mingled with the failes of tender complacency.

Betwixt this Lady and her husband, at an early period of life, a mutual attachment had taken place. Prudence could not at that time fanction their union: for in a country where luxury has fixed her refidence, it becomes difficult to procure the neceffaries of existence, and withourthefe, how would a man anfwer the calls of an infant family? The affection of thefe lovers, at length triumphed over every difficulty: the gentleman went to India, where in procefs of time, he was promoted to the of -- and no fooner found himfelf in a fituation

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to fupport a family, than he claimed the promise of his betrothed bride, who, throwing afide the timidity of her fex, and unprotected, fave by the modeft dig. nity of virtue, nobly braved the inconveniences and hazards of an Indian voyage. She was received with transport by her anxioufly expecting lover, whofe happiness was completed by their immediate union. Their's was not that tranfient glow of joy, which, like the crimson-tinted cloud of morning, vanishes while gazed on; it was permanent as pure. Each met in each the enlightened companion, the wife advifer, the faithful friend. But, alas! while fondly. looking forward to a long period of fe-, licity, the ftroke of death, fuddenly deftroyed the fair, but fallacious profpect. You will, perhaps, think but indifferently of her, who in fuch circumftances, would perfevere in preferving life:-But it is the cuftom of her nation! And fhe perhaps imagines, that he may as effectually evince her regard to the memory of her husband, by devoting herself to the care and education of his children, as if fhe had mingled her afhes with his.

Three fine boys look up to her for protection, and already begin to benefit by her instructions. Their innocent vivacity, though a fource of amufement

to most of the party, is a great annoyance to the monkey-loving Bibby, who declares, that "of all the odious tor"ments of a long voyage, that of being "teized with the noife of children is the "worft." At the found of her voice, the diffonant fcreams of her feathered favourites, feem to ratify the declaration of their fair benefactrefs; whilft the young and lively niece of the Dewan, cafts towards the many-coloured objects of her aunt's affection, fuch an expreffive glance, as feems to say, they are almost as bad.

Of this young lady I can fay little, but that fhe appears gay, and good humoured. The Surgeon, indeed, from whom I have all my information refpecting my fellow voyagers, tells me, that fhe had been brought to India by her uncle, in order to be married to the gentleman, who was to fucceed him in his appointment; but that on the voyage from Europe, a mutual affection had taken place between her, and a young votary of Laekshmi *, who must obtain the fmiles of the Goddefs, before he can procure the hand of his mistress. Her uncle, in the mean while, infifts on her return to Europe; and from the hilarity of her countenance, I fhould not fuppofe the disappointment to have entered deeply into her heart.

* Fortune.

A fad buftle has juft taken place. One of the little boys having been allured into the great cabbin, by the comical tricks of a Marmozet, was attacked by a huge Baboon, one of the fierceft animals in Mrs. 's collection. His cries foon gave the alarm; every one flew to the place from whence they iffued. No defcription can give any idea of the confufed fcene which followed. The voice of the fufferer, was foon loft in universal uproar. The fcreams of the ladies, the chattering of the monkeys, the barking of the dogs, to fay nothing of the fqualling of the parrots and maccaws, made altogether, fuch a noife, that the thunder of the contending elements could fcarcely have been heard in it. When peace was at length reftored, and the little boy, whofe leg was fadly torn, had been committed to the care of the furgeon, the Dewan ventured to remonftrate with his fair partner, on the numbers, and bad behaviour of her favourites. It was a tender point; the very mention of it, though managed with the utmoft gentleness, threw her into a paroxyfm of anger, which at length terminated in a flood of tears. In truth, there appeared to me in thefe tears, fo much more of paffion than of tenderness, that I could not regard

them as any ornament to the cheek of beauty! Perhaps you may blame my infenfibility, and beftow more unbounded admiration on this benevolent woman, who generously prefers the welfare and happiness of her tailed, and feathered favourites, to the peace and comfort of her husband; and whofe heart expands, with more lively affection, for the meaneft quadruped in her poffeffion, than for the orphan child of any friend on earth.

Intelligence is juft brought me of our having caft anchor in the road of Madrafs. -I will from thence fend you this letter. May it find you in the poffeffion of the beft bleffings of life, health, and tranquillity! What can I fay more?

LETTER XII.

THE day after I concluded my epifle

from Madrafs *, we returned on board our ship, and the morning following weighed anchor, and proceeded on our voyage, in company with many floating fortreffes of fuperior fize, fent by the king of England, to protect the fleet of the Company. The gentleman who I mentioned to you in my laft, proves indeed a valuable acquifition to our fociety.

Which letter does not appear-and is fuppofe ! by the Editor to have been loft.

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