cal skill removed all apprehensions of injudicious treatment. As the day advanced the ball was crowded with inquirers, the answer to whom was, "The general still lived, and was nothing worse!"

A considerable abatement of the pain in the head enabled the general to collect his scattered thoughts, and faintly to express his wants to me, who watched every opening of his lips. The admission of a strong light for a moment or two upon his features presented an alteration truly appalling, and struck me with a feeling of horror which I could but ill conceal. The whole form and character of that lately handsome and manly countenance had undergone such a change in twelve hours, that I am persuaded had I been called to his bedside, not knowing who was its suffering inmate, it would have been impossible for me to recognise that face, with every line of which I was so familiar.

Still, however, I would not allow myself to think his life was utterly hopeless; but towards mid-day my worst fears as to the precise and dreadful character of his disorder were excited, by the kind and cautions instruction of the physician, not to come in too close contact with, or hang over the patient, but to allow the nurse alone to approach him. He then directed me to take some hours' sleep, having ordered one of the hospital mates to replace me in attendance, who would perceive when any change took place which required his own presence.

CHAPTER XXVI

"A father's heart shall daily bear
Thy name upon its secret prayer;
And as he seeks his LAST repose,

Thine image ease life's parting throes."

WORN out with anxiety and the fatigue of watching for four teen hours, I lay down for some time, and on awaking found myself so much refreshed as to be equal in my own opinion to the task of another night's attendance. During the whole of that day and evening, the general lay almost inanimate, and seemingly unconscious of his state, occasionally sinking into short and startling slumbers, from which he would awake with deepfetched, heart-rending groans, and an inarticulate murmur of the names of those most dear to him.

His medicines were administered regularly, and received without effort; but his strength became every hour more and more prostrated. Sleep overpowered me in the course of the night, and on my waking, after some hours' repose, I found that iny own mulatto servant had taken the precaution of covering me with a counterpane, and had herself watched for me during the night.

The look of the physician on seeing his patient in the morning spoke death to my hopes! I saw the hour was rapidly ap proaching that would deprive the world of a brave and good. man, and me of a kind protector. The doctor renewed his precautions to me for my own safety, and gave me a preparation to apply frequently to my mouth and nostrils. He examined my tongue and pulse, and declared my health untouched up to that moment; but beware," he added, " of contact at that moment which I see, with pain, cannot be far distant!"

As the general was raised from his bed by the old nurse, I perceived a small stream of dark-coloured liquid trickling from the sides of his mouth; and this deadly appearance destroyed my last remaining hope. Medicine could be no longer administered from the violence of the hiccup.

It is one of the awful characteristics of this dreadful disease, that within a short period (sometimes only a few minutes) of dissolution, the mind suddenly obtains a brief restoration of its powers; and, as if awaking from a dream, struggles through the

last act of fleeting life! While sitting at the bedside, ab sorbed in grief, occasionally throwing my eyes through the dim light on the attenuated form and face of my respected general, I was astonished by his addressing me, not in his usual calm tone of voice, but in a hurried half-whisper-" MOORE!— MOORE!-MY WATCH!" He had not spoken to me so distinctly since his attack; but the frequent pressure of his fevered and emaciated hand convinced me that though incapable of speech, he felt that I was still by his side, his faithful and devoted atattendant!

I struck the hour by his watch, thinking he wished to know the time; but he seized the chain, and pointed to the key of his writing-desk, which was linked to it. I interpreted his wishes, and brought the desk to his bedside. He made a sign to me to open it.

The first object that presented itself to me was the minature picture of his lovely wife, Lady Augusta, holding in her embrace an infant boy of about two years old.

I exerted all my strength of mind to avoid yielding to those outward demonstrations of the grief which then wrung my heart. Without further sign I placed the picture in his hand, and made a motion to the nurse to admit a little more light, and retire.

Who can imagine what must have been his feelings at that awful moment, when mine were so borne down by the afflicting sight that my eyes rained tears,

"Fast as the Arabian trees

Their medicinal gum!"

He held out his hand to me, and grasped mine in silent gratitude for my fidelity. I pressed it to my almost bursting heart, but could not utter a word! He seemed to commune with himself, and, as I thought, struggle to give utterance to his wishes; but exhausted nature could no longer support this last and painful effort. He still firmly held my hand with his right, while with his left he fondly pressed the picture to his lips; and faintly murmuring the sacred name of God and his child's, he sunk back upon his pillow, never more to rise!

The nerveless hand relaxed its last earthly hold; and, as I felt the chilling damp of death upon its palm, I placed it gently by his side, and did not move from the spot for some time, still listening in deep anxiety for one sign of lingering life; but, alas! his noble spirit had for ever fled.

When the physician appeared to hurry me away from the couch of death, after taking the precaution of returning the picture, still dimmed with the expiring sigh of my poor general, and securing his pocket-book, and other valuables in his

trunks, I bestowed one sad look on the livid corpse, and retired with a stricken and almost broken heart.

But there were duties to be performed to the dead which yet required my care. In that country the passage from the death-bed to the grave is short and unceremonious! Six o'clock that same evening was appointed for the funeral. Detachments from the four regiments composing the brigade, amounting to twelve hundred men, were ordered to parade at five. Shortly after that hour the body was placed in the rude and simple coffin, which boasted not of velvet, nor of cloth, nor gilded plate, nor blazoned scutcheon! But it had a nobler covering the untarnished colours of the brave brigade were made its funeral-pall! Borne on each side of the body, they were lowered over the humble shell, on which rested his hat, his sash, and his inverted sword. The bier was carried to the grave by twelve sergeants, who volunteered this last act of duty and respect. I followed the coffin more in feeling than in form the chief mourner! Next to me marched Brigade-major Grantz, a brave soldier, but a man whose marble heart seemed impenetrable to every tender emotion; while upwards of one hundred officers of all kinds joined in the sad procession.

From the churches of St. Pierre and St. Louis the dull knell of death broke on the ear, as we moved mournfully and slowly up the steep ascent which led to the place of sepulchre.

The solemn service for the dead was impressively performed by the chaplain of the garrison; and the triple volley, the soldier's last honour, being paid, the grave closed for ever on the mortal remains of my brave and noble-hearted general.

The deep anxiety I felt for the fate of my late chief during his illness did not leave room for any reflections on my own, in the event of losing him. But now that the much-dreaded event had happened, they crowded on me with painful weight, as I sat bewildered in thought in the splendid desolation of our now silent and sorrowful house. The family had withdrawn to the country three days before; none but servants remained; and I passed that night in a state of indescribable misery.

CHAPTER XXVII.

If ever thou didst hold me in thy heart,

Absent thee from felicity awhile,

And in this harsh world draw thy breath in pain
To tell my story!

To collect the deceased general's property, to settle with the native servants, and close the accounts of the household, which had been for several months under my stewardship, gave occupation to my mind, and assisted to relieve it from that weight of wo, which, in spite of all my efforts, had nearly overwhelmed me.

My good, my brave general! hurried to an untimely grave in the very prime of life-the self-banished victim of female folly, if not crime; the dear innocent boy who yet survived him, and who probably would never know his noble father's worth; whose infantine image was the last object of his earthly vision; whose name was mingled with his own in his last prayer to the throne of mercy! these sad thoughts constantly recurred to me, and threw a damp over each rising hope which the ardour of youth called up.

The deputy quarter-master-general, Colonel Driesbach, arrived at St. Pierre from head-quarters; and under his directions an inventory of the late general's effects was drawn out, in order to their being disposed of by vendue, according to the custom of the service.

I was struck with the peculiar kindness and courtesy evinced by this officer towards me, so much his inferior in rank; the more so, as it was in those days an unusual condescension. The property proved of considerable value: the horses alone sold for nearly four hundred pounds. His plate, canteens, clothes, accoutrements, horse-appointments, &c., increased that sum to upwards of seven hundred. Nothing remained unsold but the sword, which, to my great surprise, the deputy-quarter-mastergeneral delivered into my hands, saying, that one who had so faithfully discharged his duty to his general, deserved that honourable token for his reward! To that same sword I owed the preservation of my life in 1809. But it was destined for a nobler service. There was but one person on earth to whom I could resign this proud record of my fidelity! To the gallant son of the man whose memory will be for ever dear to me-to