A disinterested action, if it be not conducted by justice, is, at best,
indifferent in its nature, and not unfrequently even turns to vice. The
expences of society, of presents, of entertainments, and the other helps
to chearfulness, are actions merely indifferent, when not repugnant to a
better method of disposing of our superfluities; but they become vicious
when they obstruct or exhaust our abilities from a more virtuous
disposition of our circumstances.
* * * * *
* * * *
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 203.)
“And yet it has been affected in a very simple manner. A moveable board,
which could be pushed to and fro without the least noise, was concealed
among those of which the cell was composed. Hiermanfor stole through
that hidden avenue as soon as he saw from without, through a small hole,
the lamp extinguished. He could enter without the least danger of
detection, because you have turned your back towards him, and fixed your
attention entirely on the altar.”
“Then every thing had been previously prepared and pre-concerted with
the King?”
“Certainly!”
“And the whole conduct of the King has been regulated by Hiermanfor?”
“Yes, my Lord.”
“The incident,” the Duke replied, after a pause, “now ceases, indeed, to
appear miraculous to me; however, the behaviour of the king seems to me
so much the more mysterious. How is it possible that this reverend old
man could consent to deceive me in so degrading a manner?”
“It was no easy task to perswade him to it. However, after Hiermanfor
had exhorted his eloquence in vain, he declared at length proudly, that
no other choice was left him, than either leaving his crown forever in
the possession of an usurper, or to consent to that innocent artifice.
The King thought he was bound to choose the latter, for the benefit of
the empire and his private happiness.”
A long silence on both sides. At length the Duke resumed: “Hiermanfor
showed me the ghost of my tutor at the church-yard; by what means has
that been effected?”
“Your Grace will allow me to leave this question unanswered!”
“For what reason?” the Duke asked with seeming coolness.
“Because my answer would explain nothing to you.”
“Why do you think so? the explanations which you have given me, as yet,
have been very satisfactory to me.”
“They concerned only things which you were able to comprehend.”
“Indeed! you pay me a very bad compliment!”
“My Lord, do not misunderstand me, you have been telling me a little
while ago, that you have not yet been initiated by Hiermanfor in the
last mysteries of his philosophy!”
“I did, but what follows thence?”
“That you are still in want of the knowledge which will be requisite, if
you are to be capable of comprehending the appearance of your tutor.”
“Don’t pretend to persuade me that this apparition has been effected by
supernatural means.”
“I will persuade you to nothing, I only tell you what I know.”
“And I tell you only what I do not believe. All the other incidents
should have been effected by delusive arts, and Antonio’s appearance
only be excepted?”
“The appearance of Antonio was no deception.”
“You will never make me believe it.”
“I cannot blame you for it.”
“Why not?”
“Because I have forfeited the right of deserving credit.”
The Duke was silent, viewing the Count attentively. The latter resumed:
“Besides, it is very indifferent to me what you think of the matter.
Hiermanfor may set you right.”
“How far are you connected with Hiermanfor?”
“Very much like you. He has made himself my master, and I am subservient
to him.”
“Do you serve him with reluctance?”
“With devotion.”
“Then you will know to whom you are devoted?”
“I don’t know much more of him than your Grace.”
“Even that little which you know of him would be remarkable to me, if
authentic.”
“I should tire your patience if I were to repeat to you all the
improbable stories which are related of him. There are, however, very
few credible accounts of him.”
“I protest I should see glad to know them.”
“Even the true family name of Hiermanfor is not known to me. He is said
to have been born in Ireland, of plebeian parents. A near relation who
professed astrology, had observed the stars on his birth, and prophesied
great things of him. The same man persuaded his parents to give him a
learned education, which they afterwards repented so much the less, when
they perceived the astonishing progress in learning which he made. When
he had attained the years of adolescence, his relation instructed him in
mathematics and astronomy. The fame of Hiermanfor’s great learning
procured him the place of governor in a noble family. The eldest
daughter fell in love with him, and the language of her eyes soon
betrayed to him the impression he had made on her heart. She was a
blooming beauty, who had attracted by her uncommon charms, and rejected
many woers of high rank. It had been reserved for Hiermanfor to kindle
in her heart the first spark of love, and yet he appeared insensible of
his good fortune. But he was not. He entertained a high sense of the
preference given to him: honesty and prudence commanded him, however, to
conceal his sentiments for a person who was so far superior to him in
point of rank. Yet youthful age is not always capable of maintaining the
rigorous dictates of reason against the seducing voice of the passions,
and thus Hiermanfor betrayed, in an unguarded moment, the secret of his
heart, which was received with rapture by the young lady, and carefully
concealed in her bosom. But from that moment he resolved to endeavour to
rise to a situation which would permit him to woo the hand of his
mistress without blushing. This bold idea had no sooner taken place in
the soul of the resolute youth, than he began to delineate a plan for
the execution of it. Hiermanfor thought the naval service would be the
shortest way of attaining a splendid fortune, and instantly navigation
became the chief object of his study. He found very soon an opportunity
of putting his acquired knowledge in practice, which he chiefly owed to
the support of the family in which he had been tutor. The proofs of
uncommon skill which he gave in naval matters, soon raised him to the
rank of a captain, when his mistress died. Hiermanfor resigned his place
in the navy, and was received as _lay brother_ in the order of the
Carmelites. Having performed his vow he was sent to Rome, where he got
acquainted with a priest of the same order, whose name was Father
Gabriel, and who was famed for his great skill in physic and natural
knowledge. Instructed by that learned man, he improved rapidly, and
acquired at the same time great knowledge in natural magic, in which his
relation had already instructed him.
“A genius like his could not, however, confine himself for a length of
time to cloistered retirement and a speculative life. His superiors sent
a mission to the Indies, and Hiermanfor got leave to make that journey
with the missionaries. There he is said to have acquired among the
Bramins the knowledge of the occult sciences, in the mysteries of which
he has promised to initiate your Grace. I do not know what prompted him
to leave the order afterwards. His superiors parting with him
reluctantly, rendered it very difficult for him to procure dispensation
from his vows. At length he got leave to retire, under the condition
never to be inimical to the order.---This is all that I know of his
life.”
“Then every thing the Magistrate and the hermit have related of him is a
fictition?” the Duke enquired after a short silence.
“Not at all!” the Count replied, “almost all those accounts are founded
on facts, though they have been embellished by fictitious episodes. The
surprising feats of Hiermanfor, of which you have been informed, were
however effected merely by means of natural magic.”
“For instance, the delivery of the old King from the castle of St.
Lukar---how has it been effected?”
“It certainly has been performed by Hiermanfor’s accuteness, though not
through him alone.”
“And the apparition of Antonio at the church-yard---”
“Has been effected by his supernatural power.”
“Count! by all that is dear to you, by Hiermanfor’s friendship, by our
reconciliation, what is your real opinion of that apparition?”
“That it was affected by his supernatural power!”
The Duke rose and pressed the Count’s hand. “Have you any secret wish
which I could satisfy? speak freely, and I will satisfy it, cost it what
it will, only make a frank and candid confession.”
“I have confessed every thing already.”
“If you, perhaps, hesitate to discover your real sentiments here, you
may fix some other place, and I pledge my honour, that no man living
shall be made acquainted with your secret.”
“My dear Duke! I have indeed told you what I think.”
“Count, I conjure you, by every thing sacred, by the horrors of
eternity!” here the Duke encircled him with his arms, “by Amelia’s
spirit, tell we what do you think of that apparition?”
“I believe _that_ apparition to have been effected by Hiermanfor’s
supernatural power,” replied the Count after a short silence.
The Duke stepped a few paces back, and having viewed him some time with
a stern look, said, “You are my prisoner, do you know that I can send
you to the dungeon?”
“I am in your power.”
“Where you will not be entreated to speak the truth?”
“Even on the rack I shall not contradict what I have said.”
“Come,” said the Duke, after he had walked up and down the room in
silent meditation; “Come, I will give you some time for
consideration.”---So saying, he led the Count into another room where he
locked him up.
“What shall I do with that fellow?” he said to me when he returned to
us, “believe what he has said and set him at liberty; or mistrust and
retain him?”
“Retain him,” my reply was: “if he sees that you are in earnest, he
certainly will confess.”
(To be continued.)
* * * * *
_DIGNITY OF MAN._
Strength and majesty belong to the man; grace and softness are the
peculiar embellishments of the other sex. In both, every part of their
form declares their sovereignity over other creatures. Man supports his
body erect; his attitude is that of command; and his face, which is
turned towards the heavens, displays the dignity of his station. The
image of his soul is painted in his vissage; and the excellence of his
nature penetrates through the material form in which it is inclosed. His
majestic port, his sedate and resolute step, announce the nobleness of
his rank. He touches the earth only with his extremity, and beholds it
as if at a disdainful distance. His arms are not given him, as to other
creatures, for pillars of support; nor does he lose, by rendering them
callous against the ground, that delicacy of touch which furnishes him
with so many of his enjoyments.
* * * * *
* * * *
Interesting History Of
_THE BARON DE LOVZINSKI._
With a relation of the most remarkable occurrences in the life
of the celebrated COUNT PULASKI, well known as the champion of
American Liberty, and who bravely fell in its defence before
Savannah, 1779.
_Interspersed with Anecdotes of the late unfortunate KING of POLAND,
so recently dethroned._
(Continued from page 206, and concluded.)
Pulaski, consumed with a black melancholy, exposes his life like a man
to whom life had become insupportable, is always to be found at the most
dangerous posts, and, towards the end of the fourth campaign, is
mortally wounded by my side. Being carried to his tent, I instantly
repair thither to console him.
“I find that my end approaches,” says he, addressing himself to me. “Ah!
it is but too true, that I shall never see my native country again!
“Cruel, fantastical destiny! Pulaski falls a martyr to American liberty,
and the Poles still continue slaves! . .
. . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . .
My friend, my death would be indeed horrible, if a ray of hope did not
remain to cheer me! Ah! I hope I do not deceive myself----No, I am not
mistaken,” adds he in a firmer accent.
“A consoling Deity discloses in my last thoughts a futurity, a happier
futurity which approaches!
“I behold one of the first nations in the world awakening from a long
and deep slumber, and re-demanding of its proud oppressors its violated
honours, and its ancient rights; its sacred, imprescriptible rights, the
rights of humanity.
“I behold in an immense capital, long dishonoured by every species of
servility, a crowd of soldiers discovering themselves to be citizens,
and millions of citizens becoming soldiers.
“Beneath their redoubled blows, the Bastille shall be overturned; the
signal is already given from one extremity of the empire to
another;---the reign of tyrants is no more!
“A neighbouring people, sometimes an enemy, but always generous, always
worthy of deciding upon great actions, shall applaud those unexpected
efforts, crowned with such a speedy success!
“Ah, may a reciprocal esteem commence and strengthen between these two
nations an unalterable friendship! May that horrible science of trick,
imposture, and treason, which courts denominate _politics_, hold out no
obstacle to prevent this fraternal re-union!
“Noble rivals, in talents and philosophy, Frenchmen! Englishmen! suspend
at length, and suspend for ever, those bloody discords, the fury of
which has but too often extended over the two hemispheres;---no longer
decide between you the empire of the universe, but by the force of your
example, and the ascendancy of your genius. Instead of the cruel
advantage of affrighting and subduing the nations around you, dispute
between yourselves the more solid glory of enlightening their ignorance,
and breaking their chains.
“Approach,” adds Pulaski, “behold at a little distance from, and in the
midst of the carnage that surrounds us, among such a crowd of famous
warriors, a warrior celebrated even in the midst of them, by his
masculine courage, his early talents, and his virtues truly republican.
He is the heir of a name long illustrious; but he had no occasion for
the glory of his ancestors, to render himself celebrated.
“It is young FAYETTE, already an honour to France, and a scourge to
tyrants: but he has scarce begun his immortal labours!
“Envy his fate, Lovzinski; endeavour to imitate his virtues, and follow
as near as possible the steps of so great a man. He, the worthy pupil of
a Washington, shall soon be the Washington of his own country. It is
almost at the same time, my friend, it is at that memorable epoch of the
regeneration of nations, that the eternal justice shall also present to
our fellow-citizens, the days of vengeance and of liberty.
“Then Lovzinski, in whatever place thou mayest be, let thy hate
re-kindle! Again combat gloriously on the side of Poland.
“Let the remembrance of our injuries, and of our successes, call forth
thy courage! May thy sword, so many times empurpled with the blood of
our enemies, be still turned against those oppressors. May they tremble
while thinking on thy exploits! May they tremble in recalling the name
of Pulaski!
“They have ravished from us our property; they have assassinated thy
wife; they have robbed thee of thy daughter; they have dishonoured my
memory!
“The barbarians! They have dismembered our provinces! Lovzinski, these
are injuries which you ought never to forget.
“When our persecutors are those also of our country, vengeance becomes
at once sacred and indispensible.
“You owe to the Russians an eternal hatred! You owe to Poland the last
drop of your blood!”