It is the sullen pleasure of the proud man to insult and oppress those
who have less power than himself. The man of a rational and manly
spirit, could not give pain to the weak and the helpless without
stabbing his own heart. The pride which God disapproves, cringes to
titles and enormous wealth. Laudable spirit is most resolute and
inflexible, in repelling any attack on his rights, when the invasion is
made by formidable power.
* * * * *
* * * *
THE VICTIM OF MAGICAL DELUSION;
_OR, INTERESTING MEMOIRS OF MIGUEL, DUKE DE CA*I*A._
Unfolding Many Curious Unknown Historical Facts.
_Translated from the German of Tschink._
(Continued from page 131.)
The following passage in Lady Delier’s letter struck me particularly:
“I neither have read Amelia’s letter, nor has she read mine; however, if
she has been sincere, she will have wrote to you many fond things, as I
can guess by her grief at your departure, and by the warmth with which
she is animated when she speaks of you. I think that Amelia’s resolution
not to marry again will be dropt, as soon as the murderer of her late
Lord ceases to live, if not sooner. However, I would not have you think
that Amelia ever has mentioned any thing to that purpose, or that I
believe that a noble spotless soul like hers, could harbour sentiments
of revenge; but I suppose only that the amiable enthusiast perhaps
fancies that the ghost of her murdered Lord will not enjoy a perfect
tranquility and happiness, before the perpetrator of that villainous
deed has received the just reward of his atrocious crime. Endeavour, my
Lord, to settle your affairs at Mad**d as soon as possible, in order to
gladden our hearts by a speedy return.”
With regard to the latter point I wrote to Amelia: “My affairs make a
rapid and successful progress, and I shall soon see your Ladyship again.
See Amelia again! What happiness do these words imply! Heavens, how
great would my felicity be if I constantly could fix my eyes on the
loveliest of women! How superlatively happy should I be if I were
Amelia’s brother, in order that I could be constantly about her, and
speak to her: or her slave, that I could breathe under the same roof
with her, follow her every where, and anticipate every wink and every
wish of hers.”
I had been about three weeks at Mad**d when I visited the minister one
evening, and found him in company with a person who, by his dress,
appeared to be a man of rank. He seemed to be very old and infirm, but
conceive my astonishment, when, on approaching nearer, I fancied I
discerned the features of the Irishman, though every thing else was so
entirely changed, that he appeared to be quite a different person; a wig
covered his head, his dark eye-brows were changed into grey, his
complection yellowish, his voice weak, and frequently interrupted by a
hectic cough. The minister met me with the words: “My Lord Duke, I have
the honour to present to your Grace the Marchese Ricieri, who lately is
returned from a journey through your native country.” The Marchese rose
with difficulty, as it appeared, from his seat, and after reciprocal
civilities, and a short conversation, took his leave.
My looks followed him with astonishment to the anti-chamber, and I found
it extremely difficult to conceal my emotions from the minister, who
told me that the Marchese had brought bad news from Port***l, where the
spirit of sedition was said to be very busy. Not knowing how far I durst
disclose my thoughts on that head without blundering upon the design of
the Irishman, I returned an indifferent answer, and endeavoured to turn
the conversation to some other object. Fortunately company was
announced, I staid an hour longer, and then took leave.
On my way to the hotel, somebody tapped me on the shoulder, and a
well-known voice said, “I am glad to see your Grace well.” I turned
round and the Irishman stood before me, dressed in black, and wrapt in a
scarlet cloak. I was seized with astonishment. “I give you joy, my
Lord;” said he in a friendly accent, “how do your affairs go on?”
“Extremely well!” I replied, adding after some hesitation, “will you
come with me to my hotel?” He accepted my invitation.
“Be so kind,” said he when we were arrived at my apartment, “to take
care that we are not interrupted, nor over-heard!” This preamble made me
expect to hear important matters, and I was not deceived. Having
communicated to him how I had succeeded with Oliva*ez, and Suma*ez, he
approved my diligence and discretion, adding, “it is now time to come
nearer to the point. I am going to entrust you with two commissions,
both of which are equally important.”
“Let me hear what I am to do!”
“First of all you must endeavour to prompt the minister to publish a
royal edict, by which the Port****e nobility are ordered, under the
penalty of losing their estates, to enter into the military service of
Sp**n.”
“Good God, what do you mean by that?”
“Then,” he added, without noticing my exclamation, “you must advise the
minister to seize the person of the Duke of Brag**za.”
I flared at the Irishman, “Then the revolution is to be given up!” said
I, after a pause of anxious astonishment.
“Not at all, it rather is to be promoted by these means.”
“I cannot comprehend you;” I exclaimed, “you either are counteracting
your own plan; or the revolution will be destroyed in the bud.”
“My good Duke, one must frequently _appear_ to counteract a plan in
order to carry it into execution with greater safety. I will explain
myself more distinctly.” So saying, he pushed his chair closer to me,
and continued in a lower accent; “Let us take a short view of the
situation of your country. Not to mention the enormous loss of its
possessions abroad, which it has suffered during the subjection to
Sp**n, the interior state of the empire is deplorable beyond
description. The King of Sp**n looks upon your country as a conquered
province, and takes the greatest pains to exhaust it entirely, in order
to keep it in inactivity with more ease; the royal revenues of Port***l
are either distributed among the favourites of the King, or mortgaged;
more than 300 gallies, and 2000 cannons have been carried to Sp**n; the
nobility are injured by the most unjust demands; the clergy must see
their benefices in the possession of foreigners; the people are beggared
by enormous taxes--in short matters have almost been carried to the
highest pitch. So much the better, for this is a sign that our
undertaking is ripe for execution. Let us strain the strings a little
more, and they must break.”
“And what then?” said I with ardour. “General commotion, and at the same
time universal confusion will be the consequence; and it is very obvious
that thus my country will not regain its liberty, but rather be plunged
in a more oppressive state of slavery. If the people are not supported
by the nobility, and both parties not united under one common head, the
furious unbridled populace will rage till the Sp**sh goads shall have
reduced them again to obedience.”
“You have divined my most secret thoughts,” the Irishman replied. I was
as if dropt from the clouds. “Then I have entirely misconstrued your
words,” I replied, “I am to endeavour to obtain an edict in virtue of
which, the Port****ze nobility are to be bound to enter in the service
of Sp**n, under the penalty of losing their estates; I am to advise the
minister to seize the Duke of B----a! Did you not say so?”
“Exactly so!”
“However, if the P---e nobility should enter into the Sp***sh service,
how are they to be active in the service of _their country?_ If the Duke
of Bra***za should be seized, how will it be possible that he should
become the head of the conspirators?”
“Heaven forbid your _ifs_ should be realized!”
“But why the preparations for it? Indeed I do not comprehend you.”
“You soon shall; only suffer me so go on. The people must be supported
by the accession of the nobility and clergy, and all parties guided by a
common leader; thus far you are perfectly right: and in order to effect
that purpose every preparation has been made, and the general commotion
will be effected in a harmonious and regular manner, if _ever it can_ be
effected. But, dearest Duke, you look upon what _may_ happen as already
existing. I was saying just now, that matters have _almost_ been carried
to the highest pitch! one moment of rashness may ruin the most prudent
plan. It is true, that the people and the clergy are waiting anxiously
for the signal of a revolution; however, the nobility are not
sufficiently exasperated. Once already have they been ordered to enter
into the service of Sp**n against the Cata**nians; however, they were
satisfied to evince their displeasure silently, by obeying the edict
reluctantly and negligently. If in this situation of affairs that edict
should be renewed, and the transgressors punished by the seizure of
their estates, their resentment, which is burning under the embers, will
soon burst out into a blaze; then all the states of the empire will be
equally provoked, and it will be seasonable for the Duke of Bra***za to
give the signal for a general commotion.”
“But is not this very Duke to be seized and imprisoned?”
“Neither is he to be seized, nor are the Port****ze nobility to enter
into the Sp**sh service, but both parties are to be provoked, by the
severest oppression, in such a manner that their resentment may break
out into open revolt.”
“His father would not have wanted such a violent incitement; the Duke
has, however, inherited very little of the spirit of his parent*.”
“A rash resolution is not always the firmest, nor is a precipitate deed
always the best. And besides, the undertaking of the Duke of Bra***za is
of such a nature, that he risks nothing less than his own and his
family’s welfare; it requires therefore a more mature consideration.”
“But if he should flinch back!”
“His retreat must be entirely cut off, and this is to be effected by the
execution of the second commission which I have given you.”
[* The Grandmother of the Duke of Brag**za had already attempted to
enforce her claim to the throne; she was, however, obliged to yield
to superior power. His father was hurt so much at the loss of the
crown, that he had formed the design to seize the King of Sp**n when
he stopped at his palace at Vi**ciosa, on his journey to Li*bon, and
not to set him at liberty till he should have renounced to him the
crown of Por***al. His friends represented to him how impossible it
would be to accomplish this design; however, he could not be
persuaded to desist from all farther attempts of getting possession
of the sceptre of Port***al, and his people were frequently
instigated by him to quarrel with the King’s Officers at Li*bon, on
which occasion the populace evinced clearly how strong their
attachment to the family of Bra***za was. But matters were never
pushed any farther, the proper time when the crown of Por***al,
should be restored to its lawful possessors being not yet arrived.
The old Duke was so much grieved at his unsuccessful attempt, that
at length his reason was disordered. He spoke constantly of war and
arms, and ordered his family, on his death-bed, to bury him with
Royal pomp, which was actually done, though in secret.]
(_To be continued._)
* * * * *
_EULOGY ON BUFFON, the celebrated Naturalist._
Le Compte de la Cepede, in his description of the Four Lamps suspended
in the Temple of Genius, erected in the bosom of France, has given the
following Eulogy of Buffon:
“It was no longer night: a star created by nature to illuminate the
universe, shone with majesty. His course was marked by dignity; his
motion by harmony, and his repose by serenity: every eye, even the
weakest, was ready to contemplate it. From his car, resplendent over the
universe, he spread his magnificence. As God enclosed in the ark all the
works of creation, he collected, on the banks of the Seine, the animals,
vegetables and minerals dispersed in the four quarters of the globe.
Every form, every colour, all the riches and instincts of the world were
offered to our eyes, and to our understandings. Every thing was
revealed; every thing ennobled; every thing rendered interesting,
brilliant or graceful. But a funeral groan was heard---Nature grieved in
silence---with Buffon, the last lamp was extinguished.”
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_For the +New-York Weekly Magazine+._
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