AFTER remaining a close prisoner for some months in a bookseller's shop, I was liberated and taken to the country to be a companion to a young gentleman who had lately come of age. The moment I entered the parlour where he sat, he rose up, and took me in his hands, expressing his surprise, at the elegance of my dress, which was scarlet, embroidered with gold. The

whole family seemed greatly pleased with my appearance; but they would not permit me to say one word. After their curiosity was satisfied, they desired me to sit down upon a chair in the corner of the room. In the evening I was taken up stairs, and confined in the family prison, called by them the library. Several thousand prisoners were under the same sentence, standing in rows round the room; they had their names written upon their foreheads, but none of them were allowed to speak.

We all remained in this silent inactive posture, for some years. Now and then strangers were admitted to see us; these generally wondered at our number, beauty, and the orderly manner in which we stood, but our young keeper would never allow a person to touch us, or take us from our cell.

A gentleman came in one morning, and spoke in high commendation of some Arabians and Turks who stood at my right side; he said they would afford' fine amusement on a winter evening. Upon his recommendation, they were all discharged from prison and carried down stairs. After they had finished their fund of stories, and had not one word more to say, they were all remanded back to prison, and one who called himself Don Quixote, was set at liberty. This man being extremely witty, afforded fine sport for Mr. William, (for that was our keeper's name.) Indeed, for more than a fortnight he kept the whole house in what is called good humour. After Quixote had concluded his harangues, Mr. William chose a Man of Feeling for his companion, who wrought upon his passions in a way which pleased him vastly. Mr. William now began to put a higher value upon his prisoners, and to use them more politely. . Almost daily he held a little chitchat with one prisoner or another. Mr. Hume related to him the history of England, down

to the revolution, which he intersected with a great many anecdotes about Germany, France, Italy, and various other kingdoms. Dr. Robertson then described the state of South America when first discovered; and related the horrid barbarities committed by the Spaniards, when they stole it from the natives. Mr. William wept when he heard of their savage treatment of Montezuma. Rollin next spoke; he related to him the rise and fall of ancient empires; he told him that God was supreme governor among the nations; that he raises up one to great power and splendor, and putteth down another. He told him what he did not know before, that God had often revealed to some men, events which were to happen hundreds of years afterwards, and directed him to converse with me, and I could fully inform him on that subject; Mr. William resolved to converse with me at a future period, but having heard some of his relations speak rather disrespectfully of me, he was in no hurry. At length,. my prison door was unlocked, and I was conducted to his bed-room.

My first salutation struck Mr. William, In the beginning, said I, God created the heavens and the earth; and then proceeded to make man, whom he placed in a garden, with permission to eat of every tree that was in it except one. I then related the history of Adam, the first man, how he was urged and prevailed on by the devil not to mind God's prohibition, but to eat of the forbidden tree; how, by this abominable act, he had plunged himself and his posterity into misery. William not relishing this conversation, closed my mouth, desiring me to say no more at that time.

A few days afterwards, he allowed me to speak of the, wickedness of the old world; how God sent