who surrounded him; and in the course of his address, mentioned that he had been bred at a charter-school, from which he was taken as an apprentice-servant by William Izod, Esq. of the county of Kilkenny. From this station he ran away, on being corrected for some faults, and had been absent from Ireland six years. He confessed also, that he intended to murder Hickey on the road between Waterford and Portlaw; but though it was in general not much frequented, yet people at that time continually coming in sight prevented him. Being frustrated in all his schemes, the sudden and total disappointment threw him, probably, into an indif ference for life. Some tempers are so stubborn and rugged, that nothing can affect them but immediate sensation. If to this be united the greatest ignorance, death to such characters will hardly seem terrible, because they can form no conception of what it is, and still less of the consequences that may follow. LISBON AND THE PORTUGUESE. Feb. 1822. | married portion of it, has with the THE Portuguese women are short in stature, almost universally brunettes, and if their faces were not animated by such beautiful eyes, one might boldly assert, that they were rather ordinary than handsome; but he who is not deterred at the first glance by a plain set of features will find in them many qualities to make amends for the latter. Fine hair and teeth, small feet, a majestic gait, vivacity in conversation, readiness at repartee, a naïveté in their demeanour, which holds a middle course between a silly or affected prudery and too great freedom, good natural ta- Throughout civilized Europe there lents, especially for music and danc- are not perhaps more unfortunate ing; these are qualities which none wives than the women of Portugal. will deny them, though a stranger The manner in which matches are has but little opportunity to make made here is not much better than himself acquainted with them, unless that prevailing in the East. Here alat places of public resort, where they so they are regarded rather in the will probably appear to him in a still light of slaves than free women. It more advantageous light. Consider- may be safely asserted, that out of ing the little intercourse which the five marriages, scarcely one is the refemale sex, and especially the un-sult of real mutual affection. Parents sell their daughters to the wealthy, || opposite house or from the street, to send her a billet-doux, though he may never have spoken to her in his life; and it is as common for the lady to return an answer, either favourable or otherwise, but in general a promise of marriage is the condition on which she appoints interviews. How many fathers and mo and concern themselves very little about the other qualities of a son-inlaw: a previous acquaintance of the parties is totally out of the question. It appears that this practice has long existed in Portugal; for the Portuguese legislature has taken it into consideration, and confined the authority of parents within the narrow-thers repent having taught their est limits. If a suitor solicits the hand of a young lady, and the parents refuse their consent, the lover, provided that he has arranged matters with his mistress, may obtain the assistance of justice to remove her from the house; he then places her in a convent, or with some female of his acquaintance, produces evidence before the court that he is able to maintain her, and the church dares not withhold the nuptial benediction, whether the father assent to it or not. I have seen many such instances, and experience teaches that these marriages are in general happier than those which are contracted by pa rents. daughters to read and write, as the forming of clandestine connections is thereby facilitated! With Argus-eyes the mother watches her daughters, when she drives them before her after mass like a row of organ-pipes, for the youngest always goes first, and the rest, be they ever so numerous, follow in rotation singly, never walking two together. While they pick their way with incredible skill, in silk stockings and shoes, through the mud in the streets, and, with downcast looks, seem wholly estranged from earthly thoughts, the young hypocrites, will contrive to conceal in their bosoms, or perhaps in their handkerchiefs, the billets, which, in spite of all their mother's vigilance, their inamoratos find means to slip into their hands. Though far from females on the score of these secret connections, still I cannot help admitting, on the other hand, that they have frequently no alternative, if they would not remain all their lives under the paternal roof. Even in company they have no opportunity whatever of conversing with persons of the other sex; for their mothers escort them wherever they go. When the sex is treated in such a despotic, mistrustful, and degrading manner as here, it is no wonder that it should seek opportunities of reta-attempting to justify the Portuguese liation. While the Portuguese husband scarcely knows conjugal fidelity even by name, his wife makes not the least scruple to risk her reputation. Young females, often by way of pastime, and often too in hopes of being released from parental authority, ogle every man they see, and return the salutations of perfect strangers, totally regardless of the opinion of their neighbours. The language of the hands supplies the place of words. It is quite customary here for a man who has thus exchanged amorous glances with a female, either from an Foreigners are not in ill repute with the fair sex at Lisbon; but the Portuguese seldom afford them access to their houses: indeed hospitality is not one of their virtues. The ز ap term estrangeiro-foreigner-is fre- || fewer opportunities they have of quently used in a somewhat contemp- pearing in public. It is inconceivatuous signification, as if foreigners ble how many fathers can support the were inferior to, or worse than, the luxury displayed by the female part natives. A Brasilian, in whose coun- of their families when they go abroad. try hospitality is more practised, Those who are really wealthy are though the fair sex is kept quite as fond of glistening in diamonds; but much secluded, lately expressed his these are not requisite on all occaastonishment to me at the answer of sions, and a lady of rank is content a Portuguese, to whose house he had with its being publicly known that been invited to see a procession pass she possesses them. On the other along. "I thought," said the Bra- hand, at least one Indian shawl is an silian to his host, "that I should article without which a lady who has have brought a foreigner with me, any pretensions to gentility would butWithout suffering him feel herself miserable. Among the to finish, the other replied: "You women the prevailing fashions are did quite right to come without him, the French, among the men the Engfor I have several daughters at home." lish. Whether the former, upon the The retired life which the fair sex whole, dress to advantage, I shall not is destined to lead, whether volunta- pretend to decide; though if I were rily or not, has, however, the effect obliged to state my private opinion of producing in the majority domes- on that subject, it would be to the tic virtues, which are more rare in contrary. Here, as among all souththe principal cities of Spain; but an ern nations, the women are too fond ambition to shine is the more conspi- of a gaudy variety of colours, cuous in the Portuguese ladies, the MADALENA, OR THE CONSEQUENCES OF ELOPEMENT. To our fair readers in early bloom || probably, was aiming at wealth, while no service more essential can be ren- he pretended homage to love. A dered, than to assist their inexperi- | fine fellow in pursuit of affluence as ence in discriminating the motives of their adulators; and we would beg leave to admonish an heiress, before she allows her imagination to be fascinated by the obsequious blandishments of a swain, whose fine person, showy accomplishments, and elegant manners are his sole estate, that she may spare herself a life of hopeless misery, by weighing against romantic credulity this sacred truth-that, in general, no sacrifices are so ill requited as the renunciation of prudence and filial duty, to become the dependent of a spouse, who, most t the means of commanding pleasures, and a husband in full possession of the prize, are two characters distinct as a fawning sycophant and a despot. The fate of Madalena Ormond has numerous parallels. Indeed the feelings and habits of a lady cradled and reared amidst opulence and refinement, and those of a man, who, since he could act for himself, has been struggling to support the appearance of a gentleman, must be so. intrinsically different, not to say discordant, that manifold causes for dissension may be expected to arise in than Madalena Ormond: she perceived in the young heiress a generous and amiable, though misdirected mind, and without appearing to their conjugal association. To rémove those contrarieties and assimilate their tastes, it would be necessary for beth to new-mould their long-formed propensities and cus-reprove, or to dictate, led her to toms-a task which few indulged girls, or selfish men, will be likely to undertake. some perceptions of merit and happiness superior to the ambition of excelling her schoolfellows as a musician, a paintress, a dancer, or to eclipse them in finery. Lady Mel France for the recovery of her health, and Lady Jemima saw her young friend no more, until lamentable changes affected her condition. She went home to celebrate her fifteenth birthday, and had been but a short time returned to the seminary at Hampstead, when the particular intimate of her father came to make known the sad tidings, that both her parents had been carried off by a putrid-fever; and the contagion was so virulent, that they had forbidden their beloved child to be exposed to it in taking a last farewell. Not to have seen her fond father, her idolizing mother, before they expired, was a severe aggravation of Madalena's loss. Her passions were not violent, but her feelings were sus-ceptible of poignant and profound impressions. Mr. Jessop wished her who, from small beginnings, by cau-bourne was going to the south of tious speculation and unremitting frugality, accumulated an immense fortune; and notwithstanding their parsimonious habits, they spared no expense in giving Madalena an education suitable to her pecuniary rights, and to the distinguished endowments of her person and mind. Yet soon after she entered her teens, Mr. and Mrs. Ormond painfully apprehended they had not only lost all points of communion with a creature in every respect so dissimilar, so elevated above them, but that the dashing, fashionable, giddy heiress of all they had amassed with toilsome anxiety, might bestow herself and her property upon some artful pennyless admirer, who pretended to agree in her high-flown notions. To deter Madalena from a foolish marriage would perhaps be out of the power of a father: he could, however, take effectual measures to disappoint the miscreant who should steal her heart, while he designed to filch her purse. Indulged at home, caressed and flattered at school, the aspirings of Madalena's noble nature had been excited only to puerile display; till, in her fifteenth year, she was invited to spend a vacation at the seat of Mr. Burlington, where a younger sister of Lady Susan Burlington also passed some weeks. Lady Jemima Milbourne was three years older to accompany cursions, intended to amuse the heiress. Captain Gilman was about the age of thirty; and if a faultless form, with the most beautiful features, adorned by insinuating manners and graceful accomplishments, were sure indexes of merit, we might congratulate Madalena on her conquest. He had been educated for the medical profession, and attended a young invalid nobleman on his travels. The constitution of the titled traveller was supposed to have benefited much through Mr. Gilman's prescriptions and assiduous care; but averse to the fatigues that must be endured by a general practitioner, Gilman accepted a commission in the army, and had repeatedly been distinguished in military exploits. must be insupportable, he would seek death as the only remedy for his woes. Madalena, weeping, trembling, and overwhelmed by tumultuous emotions of tenderness and apprehension, was enticed by her lover to elope with him, and her destiny was fixed before her guardian, Mr. Jessop, overtook her at Edinburgh. Gilman was now lord paramount of the heiress: he inquired of Mr. Jessop what allowance she was to have during her minority; and Mr. Jessop produced a duplicate of Mr. Ormond's last will, from which he read: If my daughter Madalena Ormond shall not marry with the full consent and in presence of her surviving guardian, her income shall be limited to two thousand pounds per annum, to be paid to her quarterly; with an increase of five hundred pounds per annum for each living child born by my said daughter; and all the said sums shall be for her own use and at her disposal. The remaining property, of whatever kind, shall continue under the management of my executors, to accumulate for the child or children of my daughter Madalena Ormond until they are of age." Madalena's grief, composed and inobtrusive, preyed upon her health, and Captain Gilman recommended the most palatable medicaments to restore the lovely roseate of her complexion: he would intrust the ministration of cordials to no other hand; she ascribed her convalescence to his skill and attention, and he had continual access to his fair patient. We shall not deform and debase our pages by enumerating the artifices Gilman employed in making himself necessary to the happiness of an inexperienced girl; it will be enough to say, that the term of mourning for her parents was not half expired, when he convinced her that his prolonged existence depended upon her condescending to accept his nuptial yows. His regiment was under orders for foreign service, and unless his martial ardour should be restrain-ing institutions: Three-fifths shall be ed by calling the angelic Madalena his own, he would, as formerly, volunteer on every post of extreme danger; and since without her life Gilman's face was in a glow of rage, but he commanded himself to say, " And if my Madalena shall have no children, will she not have a right to dispose of her inheritance?" Mr. Jessop again read: "If Madalena Ormond, my foresaid daughter, shall die without heirs of her own body, the whole amount of my effects shall be vested in the follow appropriated for storing grain to relieve the poor in times of scarcity; one-fifth shall be paid into the funds of the Guardian Society; and the |