merit," replied the Surgeon; "or, if he did, she was so young, that he promised himself much pleasure in filling the office of Precep tor." Alas! he considered not that pride is the usual concomitant of ignorance; that it is not the understanding which has been perverted by vanity, prejudice, and folly, that will listen to the instructions of a husband. from the enjoyment of his fortune.

Her hopes of happiness were

"Elated by her exaltation to affluence, she thought that to realize the dreams of bliss, formed by her fond fancy, she had only to indulge in every capricious whim of vanity. Her extravagance was unbounded. But soon she found that it was not in the power of splendid equipage, or fantastick finery, to fill the chasm of an empty mind.

"The delight of unrivalled pre-eminence in every article of expensive ornament, soon gave place to sullen apathy and fretful discontent. New follies were invented and pursued with no better success, and it will, perhaps, astonish you to learn, that her

mighty fondness for the brute creation, instead of proceeding from the pure source of true benevolence, was in reality no other than an effort of the animal spirits, to procure an object of employment to her ever restless mind."

Here ceased my kind informer, who left me very much astonished at the picture he had drawn of an English woman and a Christian.

After much reflection I think I can trace the unenlightened state of this woman's understanding to her want of instruction. Had she received her education at one of those wise, learned, and pious seminaries, called boarding-schools, her mind would no doubt have been vigilantly defended from the noxious breath of vanity and conceit, She would there have learned according to the precepts of her Shaster, to have adorned herself with " shamefacedness and sobriety." "Not with broidered hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array, but (which becometh women possessing godliness) with good works." Such, no doubt, is the education

of Christian women, at Christian schools! How does it exalt my opinion of the native genius of the young widow, when I contemplate the extent of her acquired knowledge, her unaffected humility, her undeviating discretion, and at the same time consider, that by her own account, she never enjoyed the advantages of instruction at one of these enlightened seminaries, but was confined during the early part of her life to the roof of her parents! Is it not surprising that, notwithstanding this disadvantage, she should have made such proficiency in every accom plishment? My first sentiments concerning her remain unaltered. Her exalted sentiments continue to excite my admiration, while her sweet temper and ever obliging disposition make daily progress in my

esteem.

THE morning after I last laid down my pen, we arrived at a small island, which the

benignant hand of Nature seems to have (erected) in the midst of the mighty ocean, as a convenient* Choultrie for the floating caravanseras that traverse its watery bosom. Here we spent nearly twenty days, and were entertained by the inhabitants, who appear a gay and lively people, with much kindness and hospitality.

The change of scene was relished by all the party, but by none so much as the niece of the Dewan, to whom the uniform life we led on board ship, was become altogether insupportable. She had indeed for a long time been at a most pitiable loss for employment. The contents of her library, which I imagined would have afforded her a fund of amusement and edification during the course of her voyage, were soon exhausted. Having once found out how all the wishedfor marriages of all the heroes and heroines were brought about, and been let into the secret of the surprising discoveries, lucky

*Choultries, are houses built in India for the accommo dation of travellers.

accidents, and miraculous combination of circumstances, which uniformly led to that happy event, she had no further interest nor curiosity concerning them. These books had, nevertheless, by giving constant fuel to the vivid flame of youthful imagination, created such an insatiable craving for novelty, as rendered every other sort of reading tasteless and insipid. Even the ever entertaining conversation of our intelligent companions had no charms for her. I have frequently known the chain of an interesting argument, to which I have been listening with avidity and delight, all at once interrupted, by her abruptly asking, when we should see land? Whatever gave the promise of variety, seemed to re-animate her flagging spirits: whether it was the appearance of a flying-fish, or the rumoured approach of an enemy, the drowning of a kitten, or the indications of a coming storm, all were equally acceptable, so that they relieved her from the tedious task of thought. The approach to St. Helena made her almost wild with joy. No sooner was it