Feb. 13. This trait will give you an idea of the character of Justine, more decided, and more strongly marked, than that of Adrienne, but possessing the same charm and candour.

This estimable girl listened with equal attention as her father; and at every circumstance which marked the uprightness of Salvary, his deep affliction, his courage in supporting his misfortunes, I saw them look at each other, and tremblingly alive, with that sweet feeling which virtuous minds will always enjoy. But, insensibly, the father became thoughtful, and the daughter more affected. When I came to those words which Olion had addrefsed to me, Ah, Sir! what a consolation it is for me to think that the esteem of my fellow citizens will return to adorn my old age, and crown my white hairs,' I saw Nervin raise up his head, his eyes brilliant with the tears that filled them: No! virtuous young man, (cried he, in the warmth of his feelings,) no; thou shalt not wait for a tardy old age, to be free and honoured as thou deservest to be. Sir, (addrefsing himself to me,) you are in the right, there is not in the world a more honest man. The plain and simple

duties of life, any one may fulfil; but to preserve such courage and probity, in the midst of precipices, misfortunes and disgra e, without losing his way the breadth of a hair, this is what is uncommon; this is what I call a mind tempered to proof. I will answer for him that he will commit no more imprudencies; he will be good and virtuous; for he knows now too well where the contraries lead to; and notwithstanding all his father-in-law has said, he is the son I should with for :-but what do you say Justine?" Me! father, (replied Justine,) I own he would be the husband I should wish for." 'Thou fhalt have him, (said her father, having directly formed his resolution.) Sir I beg you will write to him to come here immediately, that a rich heirefs waits for him; but do not say

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more.' I wrote to him. He answered me by saying, that in his situation he was condemned to celibacy and solitude; that he could not think of afsociating a wife and children with him in disgrace; and that he fhould never think of returning to Paris whilst there remained a creature that he could not honestly look in the face. This answer

was a fresh spur to the impatient desires of the solicitor. Ask from him, (said he to me,) a particular account of his debts; and inform him, that a person who is interested about him, is desirous and willing to accommodate them.' Salvary consented to send me a list of his creditors, but would not listen to any idea of accommodation; that any reduction of his debts would be an injustice; and that he was determined to acquit them to the utmost; and the only favour he required was patience and delay. Patience and delay! (cried out the solicitor,) I can give him neither; my daughter will have grown an old woman before he has paid his debts :-leave me his list, I know how to treat for an honest man; and I can assure you all the world fhall be pleased.' Two days afterwards, he came to me, and said, 'It is all done;-here are the receipts in full;-send them to him, and tell him he will owe nothing if he marries my daughter; or if he does not choose me for a father-in-law, I fhall be his only creditor; for what I have done, does not constrain him to any act he does not like.' I leave you to imagine what was the gratitude of Salvary, on seeing, as it were by a stroke of a pen, all the traces of his ruin and disgrace effaced in an instant; and with what eagerness he flew to return thanks to his benefactor. He was however detained in Holland longer than he wished, and the impetuous Nervin began to say, that he was a difficult man, and slow to move. At last he came to my house, scarce daring to persuade himself that all which had happened to him was not a dream. I immediately VOL. Xiii.

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conducted him to his generous benefactor; and there, between two sentiments, equally delightful, gratitude to the father, and every day more struck with the charms of the daughter, finding in her all that he had so much regretted in his dear Adrienne, he was, he said, uncertain which was for him the most precious, such a friend as Nervin, or such a wife as Justine. He had, however, a weight upon his mind, which he could not conceal; and Nervin having reproached him for having made them wait so long for his arrival, Excuse me, Sir, (said he,) I was impatient to throw myself at your feet; but independent of my accounts which I had to close, I had more than one combat before I could leave Holland. The worthy Odleman, my refuge, my first benefactor, had reckoned upon me as the supporter and comforter of his old age; he is a widower without children; and, without telling me, had adopted me as his son. When it was necessary to take my leave of him, and in relating to him my past misfortune, I informed by what sort of miracle of goodness my honour had been restored me he complained bitterly of my difsimulation, and afked if I thought I had in the world a more sincere friend than Odelman ? He prefsed me to consent that he should pay for me what you have so generously expended; he renewed his request with tears; and I should shortly not have had the force to refuse him; but having read the letter of M. Watelet, wherein he so truly painted the beautiful person of Justine, and her mind still more amiable, "Ah! (said this honest man,) I have no daughter to offer you, and if this portrait is true, her equal would be difficult to find:-I no longer wish to detain you. Go; be happy, never forget me, or cease to love me." During this recital, Nervin was wrapt in thought. All of a sudden breaking his silence, he cried out, 'No, no! I do not wish you fhould be ungrateful, or that a Dutchman fhould boast of more generosity than I have; here you have no profession, and you

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are not made to live in idleness. ceedingly agreeable, as you may suppose, to have my children live near me, but let us reserve that for my old age; and whilst businefs will sufficiently occupy my time, to prevent its hanging heavy on my hands, write to the good Odelman, I give you to him for ten years; after that time you will return to me, surrounded, as I hope, with a little colony of children, and during that time we shall have both been working for them.'

"The Dutchman overwhelmed with joy, wrote word! that his house, his arms, and his heart, were opened to receive the new married couple. He is now expecting them.. They are just setting off, and Olion henceforwards will be in partnership with a Dutchman. This is the example. I promised you, (said Watelet,) of a courage which many misfortunate wretches are in want of, that of never falling in one's own proper esteem, that of never despairing of our exertions, as long as we feel ourselves actuated by vir tuous and good principles.

INTELLIGENCE RESPECTING ARTS.

Account of the Silesian silk plant. A new discovery.. NOTHING Seems to be of more utility to man than an at-tention to the productions of nature, so as to mark the uses to which they can be applied in economy and arts. This study, though it be not the most fashionable one of the present age, is still attended to by a few; and scarce a year elapses, in which some useful production is not brought forward to the knowledge of the public, which had been formerly disregarded. The varieties of the cotton plant, which now begin to be attended to more than formerly; the bread fruit tree, the lac insect,

and many others, not to mention many lefser articles of economy, lately recommended to the attention of European farmers, are examples of this kind.

Hitherto, however, it has been supposed, that all cotton bearing plants are confined to tropical regions; but there is reason to believe, that many plants, bear ng fibrous envelopes of the seeds, as the cotton plant, which might be employed in arts, may be discovered, that will admit of being cultivated in temperate climates. Mr Charles Schnieber, director of the city of Liegnitz in Silesia, has lately cultivated a plant of this sort, which he announces to the public as a discovery of great importance. An abstract of his efsay on that subject we fhall here lay before the public.

The plant he recommends is called ASCLEPIAS Syriaca"; which is a species of apocinium. This is a perennial herbaceous plant, which, though a native of Syria, he finds to admit of being cultivated without difficulty in Silesia. It sets out in the spring many fhoots from the root, which resemble the young fhoots of asparagus. It is of very quick growth, and rises to the height of seven or eight feet. It flowers in Silesia towards the end of June; these flowers grow in umbells, or clusters, of thirty or forty together, each of which adheres to the stem, by a very tender pedunculus. It continues in flower about a month; and he describes it as a superb plant, which on account of its beauty alone, would deserve a place in every ornamental garden; but he has omitted to mention the colour of its flowers.

The flowers expand succefsively; they are gradually succeeded by the fruit pod, which is at first a roundish button, like an egg. As these increase in size, they become a longish pod, which is for ordinary about five or six inches in length. They ripen in October, when the pod opens