miraculous amour, the heroine of our tale, is conveyed away to some distant mountain, and at six years old is purchased from a blacksmith by the Duke de Fronsac, who intends to rear her to be his chief mistress. She grows up a miracle of beauty in his grace's establishment. The Marquis is so enraptured that he lays a wager on her charms with an Englishman of fortune. To see her and fall in love with her was one and the same thing to Mr. Cleveland. Like Moore's" Epicurean," this latter gentleman feels a complete satiety of all the enjoyments of life, and is proceeding to rid himself of the burden by throwing himself into the Seine, when he meets the Duke's beauty intent on adopting the same expedient to get rid of the Duke. An explanation ensues, and the would-be suicides plunge into love instead of plunging into the Seine. The Duke de Fronsac employs Cagliostro to discover the retreat of his Dulcinea, no difficult task to that man of mystery. It happens that her mother has kept her reputation and married a marquis. The marchioness is most anxious to find her lost daughter, and also employs Cagliostro to find her. The latter succeeds in inducing the fair Antonia, who is his own daughter, to leave Cleveland and go to live with the marchioness under the title of her niece. But the Duke de Fronsac discovers the imposture-the affair gets wind-the marchioness and her daughter are sent to the bastile. The revolution breaks out-the bastile is attacked-Cleveland and Cagliostro deliver the ladies from the murderous assault of the mob, and carry them away in a hackney coach. Such is the plot. We shall conclude with a short specimen of the execution. The extract details some of the conjurations of the charlatan.

"Seat yourself again on yonder mystic couch,' replied Cagliostro. This time you will lose your consciousness; and will not recollect anything you may see, hear, or say. But when brought under the magneto-electric influence, you will readily answer all questions that are proposed to you respecting your own destiny.'

And how shall I ascertain the correctness of your report?' asked the Duke.

"Count D'Ostalis shall witness the process. Yet bethink you, it was not without good reason that Dame Nature hid the future from our prying eyes. The foreknowledge of your fate will not enable you to avoid it. The anticipation may affect your mind with terror-may inspire you with the profoundest caution, but all in vain. The anticipation, and the terror, and the caution, will constitute links in the immense chain of pre-ordained events -nay, perhaps, they may be made the very means of fulfilling your destiny.' "I should have thought,' answered the Duke, 'that a fatalism so complete as yours, would not have left me the choice of knowing my fate or remaining in ignorance: but be that as it may,' (and his haughty lip curled as he spoke) be assured that terror forms no part of my composition. I would rather know the worst, and be satisfied.'

"That is your deliberate resolution?' demanded Cagliostro. "It is,' replied the Duke firmly.

"Be it so. Your desire shall be gratified. It is a pity,' muttered Cagliostro, as the Duke walked boldly up to the couch, and seated himself on it, It is a pity so much moral courage and such indomitable resolution never found a fitting sphere of action.'

·

Cagliostro gave him as before a preparatory draught, and then set his machinery in motion. The Duke speedily sunk into deep slumber. His eyes still remained open, but their sense was shut; and there was something in the fixed stare of his vacant pupils that made his companions feel that he did not perceive them. Cagliostro, having accurately marked the time by his watch, at last said in a forced and unnaturally low tone of voice, 'Duke de Fronsac, enact the last scene of thine own career.'

"The sleeping nobleman seemed immediately agitated by the most frightful convulsions. He struggled fiercely, like one contending with a crowd of assailants. The big drops of perspiration broke out on his brow; his eyes rolled with ghastly force and rapidity, and his whole appearance assumed the aspect of a victim resisting his murderers, with desperate but ineffectual efforts. At length words found their way in broken gasps from his labouring bosom. Drive on-who stops my carriage-over the canaille, if they will not give way-ha! what means this? Weapons!-We are beset! Pierre! Jacques, use your pistols.-Back caitiff! on your life back! -Nay, if you will-ha! ha! ha! I have still the other ball!-Ah! take, take your fingers from my throat-ruffians I defy you all-spit at you— Cagliostro demon! What dost thou here!'

This is dreadful! damnable!' exclaimed Count D'Ostalis, exasperated beyond all endurance by the horrible exhibition: Stop this scene instantly—or I will drag him off the sofa-I will by Heavens-''

ART. IV.-The Despatches and Correspondence of the Marquess Wellesley, K. G., during His Lordship's Mission to Spain as Ambassador Extraordinary to the Supreme Junta in 1809. Edited by MONTGOMERY MARTIN. London: Murray. 1838.

THE extraordinary interest which has been excited by the publication of the Despatches, Minutes and Correspondence of the Marquess of Wellesley, written during his Administration in India, might well induce the editor of them to collect and arrange in chronological order those now before us; for though these documents are much more limited in number and extent, and relate not only to a much shorter period of time and a much narrower scope of subject, yet they are valuable both as models of diplomatic wisdom and correspondence, and as giving the clearest of all possible views of an eventful era in history. Not only have we here the statesmanship and patriotism of the Marquess in the purest and most eloquent language of which the occasions admitted, but other men of celebrity figure in these pages, foreign and British, so as to convey a plain and pointed view both of national and individual character. Here we have not only Spain and the Spaniard exhibited for times past, and, we fear, for times to come, but Canning and Wellington are prominent, particu

larly the latter. Our endeavour therefore will be to let the Marquess be seen in his wonted style of being sagacious and firm, yet temperate amid circumstances of great delicacy, to let Spain and her countrymen in respect of chivalrous auxiliaries, be beheld—and, not least in importance, to let the great Captain of the age be duly appreciated, going so far back in the history of the late war as 1809, when he was merely Sir Arthur Wellesley.

It must be perfectly unnecessary for us to glance either at the state of the continent previous to 1809, or to the share which the British had in the Peninsular war down to that time. It is sufficient to remind our readers that the Marquess of Wellesley's Mission to the Supreme Junta in Spain, as Ambassador Extraordinary, took place when England commenced her more active interference in that country. This was on the expulsion of Ferdinand the VII., and when a great part of the kingdom was occupied by the French. Mr. Canning, then Secretary of State for the Foreign Department, was the originator of the embassy; and its design was, that while a large armament was to be sent to Spain, under the command of Sir Arthur, the Marquess was to maintain an efficient negociation with the Supreme Junta, in order that the operations of the British army might be the means of securing solid benefit to the cause of the allied powers.

The appointment of the Marquess as ambassador to Spain took place in April 1809, but a sudden and severe illness detained him in this country until the 24th of July, so that it was the 31st of the same month before he arrived off Cadiz. He was received in Spain with every demonstration of welcome and honour. He lost not a moment to make himself master of the relation of parties, the condition of the British army which had distinguished itself so triumphantly at Talavera two or three days before his landing, and the situation of Spanish affairs in general. Don Martin de Garay, the Secretary of State acting under the Supreme Junta at Seville, was the principal of the Spanish correspondents. By this time, however, the complaints of Sir Arthur Wellesley were loud and frequent on account of the necessary supplies being withheld from his army. To be sure, to the Marquess and to himself the promises of support were equally numerous and precise; but partly from the prevalence of Spanish intrigue and insincerity, partly from the disorganization and want of general and great arrangements which prevailed, and partly from the want of an efficient authority on the part of the Supreme Junta, the consequence was that Sir Arthur Wellesley was at length obliged, for the preservation of his troops, to fall back on the Portuguese frontier, in order to have access to a regular provisioning of the army, to procure the means of conveyance for ammunition, &c., and to obtain for his wounded hospital accommodation. This decided step, which was taken after weeks and weeks of great privation, filled the Junta and the Spaniards with

dismay. They complained, misrepresented, and entreated. But Sir Arthur and the Marquess stuck to their points, demanding the necessary provisions for sustaining the vigour of their countrymen, and hearty co-operation on the part of those whom they were willing and eager immediately to serve. And such are the topics, such the burden of the Despatches and Correspondence now before us, furnishing, we think, a useful lesson to Colonel Evans and all other foreigners who would chivalrously engage themselves as auxiliaries or allies in behalf of Spain on her own soil. Here is a letter which appears pretty early in the volume, and which, while characteristic of the writer in more particulars than one, explains in some measure the exigencies of his troops.

"Sir Arthur Wellesley to the Marquess Wellesley. "MY LORD, Jaraicejo, August 13th, 1809. "I have the honour to enclose an answer which I have received from General Cuesta to the letter which I addressed to him on the 11th instant, with my reply of this date. The plan which he proposes, of dividing between the two armies, in proportion to their numbers, all the provisions received at Truxillo, however specious in appearance, would be fallacious in practice, and would probably starve the British army.

"It would not be difficult to forbid the convoys of provisions coming from Seville, from going to Truxillo; and it is probable that the supplies of provisions from Seville do not amount to one fourth of the consumption of both armies; the remainder being supplied by the country, in which of course the Spanish army has the preference. An arrangement of this description is impracticable of execution, even if the commissaries of the two armies would act fairly by each other; but this is not to be expected every commissary will do the best he can for the troops to which he is attached; and many articles must be procured in the country, which will not be brought to account in the magazine of Truxillo.

"In short, my Lord, it comes to this; either the British army must be fed with the necessaries which it requires, or I will march it back into Portugal, whether that kingdom is invaded cr not by the French corps which have moved within these few days towards Placencia.

"ARTHUR WELLESLEY.

"P.S. I beg to mention to your Excellency that the troops have received, this day and yesterday, only half an allowance of bread; and the calvalry no forage except what they can pick up in the fields. The troops suffer considerably for the want of salt; and neither officers or soldiers have had any wine for the last fortnight. In case I should move, I must leave behind me two thirds of the small quantity of ammunition I have got; having been obliged to give all the Portuguese carts (which had carried the ammunition hitherto) to move the wounded; and not having been able to procure means of transport for any thing in this country. "Surely, my Lord, the Junta have had time since the 19th of last month to supply the wants of the army, with which they were then made acquainted ?"

Two days later Sir Arthur again writes thus :

"I consider the answer of the Junta to the note of your Excellency, in respect to supplies of provisions for the army and to the means of transport required, to be entirely unsatisfactory. The army cannot exist in the shape of an army, unless these supplies and means are provided; and the Junta has already been informed by me, that if Spain, or rather that part of Spain which is under their government, which in fact now comprizes the whole kingdom, excepting that part of Estremadura and of Castile and Arragon occupied by the enemy's troops, cannot, or is unwilling to make the exertion which is necessary in order to provide the supplies and means, Spain must do without the British army."

General Cuesta, the commander of the Spanish army, was an old, obstinate, intractable man, whom the Junta would fain have got rid of, although, like other untoward circumstances in Spanish life and affairs, the government was afraid of giving him offence; while in accordance with the weakness of the same government, it seems to have been wished that the removal of the Spanish general should be at the instance of the British ambassador, he insisting for such a strong step, which the Marquess however prudently avoided. At last the stubborn old fellow resigned, alleging increasing infirmities and a necessity for the use of baths as the reason for the muchlonged-for change, General Eguia taking the command.

We must insert, before going farther, one communication more from Sir Arthur Wellesley to the Marquess. Like all the other letters by either of these correspondents one string is harped upon with painful uniformity; how much more painful and provoking the reality than the reading! The collection of such documents, indeed, as only appear in the present thin volume, impresses upon the mind more strongly than the ordinary current of historical works the magnitude and multifarious concerns which the general of a mighty army has to superintend and direct. But it is to the Peninsula, to the campaigns in which Moore, Wellington, Evans, and others have distinguished themselves, to disorganized Portugal and Spain that we must look for some of the most harassing duties that modern ralship has encountered.

gene

"Sir Arthur Wellesley to the Marquess Wellesley. "MY LORD, Jaraicejo, 18th August, 1809. I have the honour to enclose different reports, which I received yesterday, of the measures taken by the Spanish officers and troops to prevent the British army from foraging. The foraging parties, to which the reports relate, were necessarily obliged to go to a distance of four or five leagues (from sixteen to twenty miles) in order to procure the forage they required; which, with the distance they would have to return, appears to be sufficient work for the parties and their horses. But, when having performed this work, they are deprived of the forage by the Spanish cavalry, it must be obvious that the equipment of the army must be ruined. I understand that similiar outrages were committed on the foraging parties yesterday; but I have not yet had the official reports of

them.