tranquillity would not be established him, and he remained lifeless in their as long as the life of the emperor gave a pretence for disorder or infurrection. It was therefore determined to put to death this unfortunate prince. "One of the counts, Orloff, who had been the bearer of the news of revolt to the emprefs, and a perfon of the name of Toplof, went together to the place where the emperor was confined. They informed him on entering, that they were come to dine with him; and, agreeably to the Ruffian cuftom, they brought in glaffes of brandy before dinner. That which the emperor drank was a glafs of poison. Whether they were in hafte to carry back their news, or whether horror of the deed made them anxious to finish their work, they infifted on pouring him out another glass. His bowels were already affected; and, ftruck by the atrocity of their looks, he refufed: they endeavoured to force him to take it, which he as forcibly refifted. In this horrible conflict, and in order to stifle his cries, which began to be heard at a distance, they threw themselves on him, feized him by the throat, and flung him down; but as he defended himself with all the ftrength of defpair, and they avoided giving him any wound, they called to their affistance two officers who were entrusted with the guard of his perfon, and who were then waiting without the gate of his prifon. The one was the youngeft of the princes of Baratinsky, the other was named Pittenikini, only nineteen years of age. They had shown fo much zeal in the confpiracy, that, notwithstand. ing their extreme youth, they had been appointed to this poft of confidence. They rushed in upon receiving the fummons; and three of thefe murderers having tied a napkin around the neck of the emperor with a running knot, while Orloff preffed his breaft with his knees, they ftrangled Ed. Mag. Nov. 1797. hands." It is not accurately known what fhare the Emprefs had in this events but it is certain, that the day on which it happened, this princefs was at dinner with much conviviality, when Orloff appeared, dishevelled, covered with dust and fweat, his clothes torn, his looks disturbed, and full of horror. As he entered, his piercing and troubled eyes met those of the Emprefs. She arofe in filence, and paffed into a room, to which he followed her; and fome moments after the called Count Panin, who was already named her minifter, informed him that the Emperor was dead, and confulted him upon the mode of an. nouncing his death to the public.Panin advised her to let a night pass, and to fpread the news the next day, as if it had been received during the night. Having taken this advice, the Emprefs returned to the apartment fhe had left, and continued her dinner with gaiety. The next day, when the news was fpread that Peter had died of an hæmorrhoidal colic, she appeared bathed in tears, and published her affliction by an edict. The body, notwithstanding the marks of violence which it difplayed, was publicly expofed for three days. The Emprefs fent back all the rela tives of the Emperor to Holstein, with tokens of liberality; and to Prince George, the uncle of the late Emperor, fhe gave the adminiftration of the Duchy. Poniatowski, on the news of the revolution, was haftening to Petersburg, but was ftopt by motives of prudence on the frontiers, and received fhortly after, as the reward of his conftancy, and his paffion, the crown of Poland. The Empress, defirous of removing all appearance of foreign influence in the government, carefully avoided promoting any of her own family, or admitting them into her Y y pre prefence. She was acknowledged by all the fovereigns of Europe, but not by the Emperor of China, who refufed all kind of communication with the ufurper of her hufband's crown. The Counts Orloff and Panin divided the adminiftration of the empire between them. By the affaffina. tion of the unfortunate captive prince Ivan, the Empress delivered herfelf from all further apprehenfions of rivals or of confpiracy. As he had waded through crimes to the poffeffion of defpotic power, it coft her but little to remove every other obftacle to the indulgence of her paffions. The Princefs d'Afchekoff, who had been the most inftrumental in raifing her to the throne-who had dared the scaffold in her defence, and, according to M. Rulbiére, had made facrifice even of her confcience and her virtue, was difgraced by the Emprefs in the first days of her ufurpa tion, while her fervices were yet neceffary to confolidate the revolution. Difappointed in feeing her country change mafters without a correfpondent change in the principles of government, the means of effecting which change had been the favourite fubject of her fecret difcourfes with Catharine during their retirement from the court in the life time of Elifabeth, the remonftrated freely with the Emprefs on the fallacy of her promifes; and the difcovery of the intimate nature of her attachment to Orloff led her to cenfure her difregard of decency. Catharine was now raifed above remonftrance or reproof; the fuggeftions of juice, or the admonitions of prudence, were harsh to her ear; even the presence of the Princefs became offenfive and humiliating; and the Emprefst freed herself from reproach and importunity, at the expence of friendfhip and gratitude. ER THE INFECTION OF PROFLIGACY ILLUSTRATED. RIC EDELMAN was the only fon of Chriftiern Edelman, an eminent merchant in Copenhagen. His amiable difpofitions and good underftanding were improved by the advantages of a liberal education. But, unfortunately, after finishing a course of fuch ftudies as were held not unfuitable to his condition, and about to enter into business with his father, he became connected with fome young men of enticing, but very diffolute manners. Among others, a perfon confiderably older than himself, named Geyfler, descended from a ref pectable family in Jutland, of agreeable appearance and infinuating addrefs, but who had fquandered away a large eftate that had been left him by his parents, and had now no other means of fubfiftence but by play, in which he was very expert, became the principal friend of Eric. It is needlefs to enumerate the affiduities, flatteries, and plans of seduction that were contrived and employed to enfnare him. They were not very numerous. Gay, lively, unfufpicious, glowing with the paffions, and elate with the arrogance and felf importance of youth, he became impatient of all controul, and abandoned every worthy purfuit. The remonstrances of his father were ineffectual, and the traces of good inftruction were altogether effaced. But though he be came as profligate as any of his new affociates, he had not acquired their dexterity in profligate arts and attainments. Seduced by their example, and corrupted by their impious maxims, he now became the dupe of their rapacious craft. His loffes at play were great and frequent. His refources were foon exhausted. The flave of diffolute vices, without money, without credit, avoided by men of worth, and now defpifed by his mean and unfeeling affociates, is it wonderful he should defpair? 66 But his defpondency was reprimanded by the feeming friendship of Geyfler. Go," said he, to your father. You are his only fon. His wealth is immenfe. Your condu&t is not more cenfurable than that of others. Or do you think your father himfelf was not in his youth as debauched, and as expenfive as his fortune permitted? He must indeed be an unjust and unnatural parent, if he will not free you from your prefent embarraffment.". Suffice it to fay, that his father, vexed at his follies, fhocked with his enormities, and weary with having frequently, and even to excels, fupplied his extravagance, now not only refufed him, but refufed him with a feverity which his conduct merited. The young man was incenfed. His feducer juftified, and even praifed his difpleasure; he called it fpirit, and improved it into refentment. Refentment against a father!-But Geyfler had formed a dark and deep defign to peffess himself of Edelman's fortune. For this purpose he embraced the prefent opportunity of plying his inconfiderate fon with extraordinary affiduity. He fupplied him with as much money, from his own funds rapaciously accumulated, as enabled him to leave his father's family, and retire to. Elinore. Conceal yourfelf there," faid he, for a little time, and I shall fall upon fome method of his difcharging your debts, and of enabling you to appear as unembarraffed, and with as much fplendour as ufual." Eric's gratitude was expreffed with rapture; and his falfe friend did not mits the opportunity of promoting his refentment against the venerable Chrifliero. 66 bles of priefs, I would fay that a noble interpofition of Providence in your behalf had now taken place. I am this inftant informed that your inhuman father is fuddenly dead; an apoplectic ftroke did its duty in an infant. Haften then to meet me in the Birch wood, at your father's, rather your country houfe; by the fea fide between Elfinore and Copenhagen. The old fellow is dead, without a will; fo you are fole heir of his immenfe eftate. Haften to meet me, that we may concert feveral things refpecting your re-appearance in this metropolis. Your ever faithful and affectionate Geyfler. This letter, it must be acknowledged, threw the heart of Eric into great agitation. He hed fome tears, and felt fome remorfe. He read it again; and was folding it up with extreme emotion, when he received by exprefs the following note from his friend. "I just now learn that your father had given orders for having a deed written, by which you were to be difinherited; and your fortune beftowed on your hypocritical coufin Henry. But, thank your liars, your father had not time to fign it." The refeutment of Eric was thus renewed; and his imagination rioted in the profpect of unbounded opulence. He haftened to the place appointed; and the fight of an elegant house and gardens, of which he now thought himself the fole proprietor, tranfported him with exultation. "Here," faid he, "I fhall have many a smart party with Geyfler."Geyfler foon arrived; but with a countenance clouded with feeming anxiety and difappointment. Eric flew eagerly to his embrace, and to receive his congratulation." Nay," faid his artful affociate, " we have been fhamefully and moft vilely deceived. The report of your father's death was without foundation. It was invented and circulated by himfelf, and with the bafe intention of Yy 2 impofing Young Edelman had not been many days at Elinore when he received the following letter from Geyfler: "If I were childish enough, my dearest friend, to believe the fa impofing upon me, fo that I might reveal your fituation, and the place of your concealment. He is now lea gued with your creditors; wishes you may languish out your life in a jail; or go in a most dependent condition to fome Danish factory in the Eaft or Weft Indies. In the mean time, he has actually made the fettlement I told you of; and has declared your coufin Henry the heir of his fortune." The various effects produced by this guileful narrative on the mind of Eric, may eafily be conceiv. ed. Need it be added, that rage, envy, and revenge, were the three furies that fcourged his heart? But the fkies and groves did not frown with correfponding horror. The sky was ferene; and the fun was fetting bright in the weft. The Birchwood was adorned with his rays, that crowned with splendour the oppofite mountains of Sweden. The intervening fea was calm; and a multitude of the veffels of all nations lay at anchor in the Sound. The father of Eric was then returning from Copenhagen, whofe fteeples and edifices were feen at a little diflance. His intention was to pafs the night at his charming villa, and derive from its peaceful retreat as much confolation as affliction for his fon's mifconduct would fuffer him to enjoy. He was defcryed at a little distance by the diffolute pair, who concealed them felves by the fide of a thicket. He was walking flowly and alone by a folitary path, which he had reserved for his own convenience, that he might not be disturbed by carriages or paffengers, as he went to or returned from the city. It will readily occur to the intelligent reader, that the abandoned Geyfler was not unapprifed of his coming. Nor need it be difficult to conceive, that he meant to profit by the frenzy of Eric's paffions, and prompt him to defperate parricide. He might no doubt have perpetrated the crime himfelf; but he chofe to have it done by the unhappy victim of his avarice, in order that, being privy to his guilt, he might for ever after detain him in bondage, and extort from him what he chofe as the price of his filence. He accordingly reprefented to him, that if his father were to be flain in the wood, it would naturally be fuppofed, that he had been killed by the band of robbers which at this time infested Denmark, and particularly the ifland of Zealand. Yet, incenfed and furious as Eric was, his feducer had to encounter difficulty and he fitation, before he could prevail with him to grafp the fword which he offered him, and proceed to the bloody business. With irrefolute and trembling step, ferocious, but timid look, eyes glaring with the horror of felf-condemned refentment, and a heart wrung with conflicting paffions, the youth advanced. His father faw him; fhuddered. "Whence?" faid he, with faltering accent: "and what is your favage purpofe?" Eric paused. "Paufe not; fubjoined his father, now recovering from his amazement; "perpetrate the bloody deed; and free me from a life which your follies and vices have rendered miferable. The fword fell from the hand of Eric. He threw himself at his father's feet, and hid his face on the ground. The feducer was feized with terror. He faw they would immediately be reconciled, and beheld in that reconciliation his own infamy and deftruction. No other refource was left him; both father and fon muft perish. He fired a piftol; miffed his aim: Eric ftarted up at the noife; feized his sword; rushed upon the affaffin who was drawing the trigger of another pistol; plunged the fteel in his heart; and had his own bofom at the fame inftant pierced with the fatal bullet. Geyfler died on the fpot. But Eric languishing for fe veral days, afforded his fathe and other relations the fad confolation of hearing his confeffion, and witneffing his fincere and pious repentance. He faid it afforded fome relief to his fuf ferings, that "he had faved his father's life, and bequeathed him to the care of an affectionate and worthy coufin." 66 "In places afflicted by peftilence, we must be careful," fays Seneca, not to fit befide those who are tainted by the difeafe; fince we may incur danger, and be infected by their very breath: fo in the choice of friends, we must beware of forming any connection with perfons of fe corrupted manners." AN ACCOUNT OF THE TIN MINES IN CORNWALL, AND OF THE EXTENSIVE TRADE FOR THAT ARTICLE CARRIED ON IN THE MOST REMOTE PERIODS. From Maurice's Indian Antiquities, Vol. VI. THIS valuable article of com merce owes its name to an Oriental word intended to denote the appearance which it bore to thofe Afiatic traders who first explored for tin the mines of the Caffiterides and Cornwall; for, when brought in its crude ftate from thofe mines, it is of a dark colour, and, when washed, refembles flime, or mud. Pliny and other ancient naturalifts denominate it plumbum album, white lead, and, in truth, lead and filver are faid by the chymift to enter largely into the compofition of this ore. We read of no other country that anciently produced tin, at leaft, in fuch abundance and purity as the British ifles, nor of any people who extenfively traded in it, except the Phoenicians; and that trade must have commenced early indeed, fince it is enumerated among other metals that paffed through the purifying fire in the Pentateuch of Mofes which cannot be dated lefs than 1400 years before Chrift. It is alfo mentioned by Homer, who had too accurate a knowledge of the progreffive improvement of mankind in arts and sciences to affign any dif coveries to an improper age. But, when thofe mines are well examined, they exhibit internal teftimony of the remote, I had almost faid the incalculable period at which they have been wrought; for, in digging to the depth of fifty fathoms, the miners frequently meet with large timbers ftill entire. Thefe are vulgarly fupposed to have been depofited there by the waters of the deluge: but that idea tends to violate M. de Luc's rational hypothefis, which fuppofes that deluge to have been effected by the finking down of the ancient continents: and, without going quite fo far back in the annals of time, we may reafonably enough conclude them to have been left there by Phœnician workmen, the props and pillars of the exhausted mines, especial ly when we read, in the fame author, that pick axes, brass nails, and other utenfils, are found, at the greatest depths, intermixed with those timbers. Tin is in itself fo beautiful a metal, forms fuch elegant domeftic utenfils, the most elegant next to filver, and in the various proceffes it undergoes by fire, makes fo confiderable an ingredient in other manufactures, that the folicitude of all nations, and efpecially thofe addicted to commerce, to obtain it, is by no means to be wondered at. The great use indeed of tin and the preparations made from it in the various branches of trade and manufactures, particu larly in painting, gilding, and potte. ry, as well as in the fcience of chy. mistry, and anciently in that of medicine, though, from its poisonous qualities, generally and juftly reject. ed |