CEDAR RAPIDS, RIVER ST. LAWRENCE.. and see a raft far behind, struggling in the waves. While contemplating its dangers, we forget our own, and the lines of Horace appear peculiarly ap THE St. Lawrence is perhaps the only river in the plicable to the Indian who first entrusted his frail canoe to these terrific rapids :- Circa pectus erat, qui fragilem truci POINT OF VIEW.-The ancient astronomers were led into false systems and erroneous concep world possessing so great a variety of scenery and character, in the short distance of one hundred and eighty miles-from Kingston to Montreal. The voyage down this portion of the St. Lawrence is one of the most exciting and interesting that our country affords to the pleasure-seeking traveller. Starting at daylight from the good old city of Kingston, we are at first enraptured by the lovely and tions regarding the heavenly bodies, in consequence fairy-like scenery of the "Lake of the Thousand of viewing and reasoning upon them in their relaIsles," and oft we wonder how it is that our helms- tion to the earth and its apparent motions. Asman can guide us through the intricate path that lies before him. Surely he will make some mis-suming the earth to be at rest in the centre of the universe, they made the movements of the sun, take, and we shall lose our way and our steamer wander for ages ere the trackless path be once more but whilst their systems answered to some phemoon, planets, and stars, conform to this dogma; discovered. However, we are wrong, and long before the sun has set we have shot the "Long eccentric movements of the heavenly bodies, as nomena, they were totally unable to explain the Sault," and are passing through the calm and peace- observed by a spectator on the earth's surface. ful Lake St. Francis. Gently we glide along, and The true system was evolved by making the sun are lost in pleasing reveries, which grace the scenes the centre, and contemplating planetary and stellar of our forenoon's travel. Suddenly we are awakened motion in relation to that eternal orb. Simplicity from our dreams by a pitch and then a quick jerk then took the place of complexity, and order of conlesson to the sceptic, who can see only complexity fusion. May not this fact teach an important and confusion in the Word of God? Does he not look upon it from a wrong point of view? W ere he to raise himself to the centre of moral order and beauty, would he not perceive that Divine Inspira of our vessel, and rising to see the cause, we find ourselves receiving warning in the Coteau Rapids of what we may expect when we reach the Cedars, a few miles further on. Now the bell is rung for the engine to slow its speed, and glancing towards the beam, we find it merely moving sufficiently to keep headway on the vessel; now looking towards the wheelsman's house, we see four men standing by the wheel; backwards we turn our gaze, and four more stand by the tiller to assist those at the wheel in guiding our craft down the fearful leaps she is about to take. These preparations striking us with dread, we, who are now making our first trip, involuntarily clutch the nearest object for support, and checking our breath, await the first plunge.-'Tis over. We are reeling to and fro, and dancing hither and thither among billows of enormous size, caused solely by the swiftness of the current. With difficulty we keep our feet while rushing down the tortuous channel, through which only we can be preserved from total wreck or certain death. Now turning to the right, to avoid a half sunken rock, about whose summit the waves are ever dashing, we are apparently running on an island situated immediately before us. On! on we rush! We must ground! but no; her head is easing off, and as we fly past the island, a daring leap might land us on its shores; and now again we are tossed and whirled about in a sea of foam, we look back to scan the dangers passed, * See Engraving. tion is the excellence of Wisdom and the majestic simplicity of Truth. CLERICAL APATHY:-A prelate being in the company of Garrick, asked him how it was that and listened to with so much delight, whilst the the fictions of the stage were received so favourably, truths of eternity enforced from the pulpit produced so little effect. "My Lord," replied the actor, "here lies the secret; you deliver your truths as if they were fictions; but we deliver our fictions as if they were truths." THE MOON.-We assent to the opinion that the moon has not an atmosphere; but have we ever reflected on what is implied in the absence of this iform envelope? The moon must be a soundless, voiceless desert. Its landscape must be totally unearthly and ghastly; with no ærial tints and gradations; and all objects near and remote staring out with monotonous uniformity. There can be no diffusion of light in its sky-a dark concave, pierced by the burning orb of the sun at one part of the lunation, and by the vast dise of the earth at another. The thread of the gossamer, if suspended, would hang plumb and motionless, like a pendulum at rest. A STORY OF THE GREAT BLOCKADE. CHAPTER I. EVERY one has heard of that famous political move by which Napoleon hoped to check-mate England, and shut her out from the commerce of the continent. The emperor had been baffled in his intention of invading this country, and unwilling to give up the long-cherished hope of striking a blow at the heart of his powerful enemy, he sought to effect by indirect means that which he would have preferred attempting on the soil of Britain, at the head of a hundred thousand men. He therefore launched those memorable decrees, dated from Berlin and Milan, which were to have had the effect of weakening England by ruining her trade, and ultimately to lay her prostrate at the feet of the conqueror. an eye-witness and actor in some of these proceedings, I have thought that a few chapters recalling some incidents of that eventful period might prove interesting to readers of the present day. In the year 1797, my father having resolved on bringing me up to a mercantile life, placed me for the usual period in a respectable house at G. I was then fifteen years of age, inclined to work, and with a reputation for intelligence, and soon learned to render myself useful to my principals, who, at the expiration of my term, kept me as one of their clerks. I remained in the service of the firm out of regard for my parents, who wished to keep me near them, although the meagre salary which I received, to say nothing of my inclinations, would have led me to seek fortune in another country. No change, however, took place in my circumstances until 1808, the year of the famous decrees of Milan and Berlin. We had a stock of mer but there were no means of renewing it, and masters, clerks, and apprentices crossed their arms and waited. To shorten time we read novels and romances of all kinds, bad as well as good; and many a circulating library owed its fortune to Napoleon's hatred of England, though assuredly neither one nor the other suspected the fact. Wait we must; but for what? No one could say. Everybody hoped; but what? Day after day people repeated by way of consolation-the string is overstrained, it will break. They spoke truth, yet the string held good; and days, weeks, and months of insupportable inactivity went by. What yawning! What secret maledictions upon the emperor! Many yet alive will remember the excitement created by the publication of these decrees, and the establishment of the great continental block-chandize on hand which was speedily exhausted; ade. Few, however, are aware of the loss and suffering consequent thereon, which, though severely felt by the British, weighed far more heavily on the continent than on those it was intended to injure. Commercial men on both sides of the Channel resorted to all sorts of schemes to baffle the designs of the all-powerful emperor. Those who were most deeply involved, and who made the most profit, never cared to reveal their share in the great system of wholesale smuggling that was carried on; and in time other events effaced the remembrance of daring enterprise. And yet there was much in that period that possesses a lasting interest. The people abroad had no free press in which they could expose their grievances; and it is difficult in the present day to form an idea of the severe judgments pronounced, not only on those taken in the act of smuggling, but on all suspected, right or wrong, in any share in the fraud. Great commercial houses that had stood for a century or more, were often ruined by some rascally informer who had a spite to gratify, or who hoped to come in for a share of the spoils. The whole coast was strictly watched, and it was a high crime to send to, or receive from, the foreigner even a simple letter, though it might treat of none but family matters. Such severity, instead of proving fatal to England, only defeated itself, for the people of the continent persisted in having English goods whether or no, and English manufacturers were not at all backward in supplying the demand. Having been VOL. V.-D. In February, 1809, the public journals announced the sale of an English vessel at Cherbourg, which had been captured by a privateer. The cargo consisted of the very articles we had been so long unprovided with. A rumour went the round of the office, and the result was that the firm decided on sending me to the sale. They gave me full instructions and letters of credit on Paris for 100,000 francs. I gladly left my high stool, my desk, novels, and idleness, and started, happy as a bird flown from the cage and permitted to try the strength of its wings. I remained in Paris only the time necessary to see our correspondents, and to make some acquaintance with a world so new to me. By good fortune I met an ancient college chum, well up in what was going on, who whispered FORT mysteriously into my ear, that the English were for me the doors of a lunatic asylum, or exposed PURI! establishing a mart at Heligoland, and that a Scarcely was Paris left behind, than the me to the gravest suspicions. I had, therefore, to concoct a plan, foresee difficulties, prepare answers; and I succeeded. By dint of firmness and self-possession, aided by a small amount of lying, I attained my object, which was the transference of my credit and the letters of recommendation to Holland. The small lie, as will be seen in the end, might have cost me very dear, for more than once I risked my life, as well as my liberty. It involved, also, other consequences; obliging me to hold out to the end with the species of wager that I had laid, and leading me into transactions and positions that I should have shrunk from, could I have foreseen them at the outset of the enterprise. The remembrance of this error has had a salutary effect on my subsequent existence; it has convinced me of the great truth that a first fault paves the way for others, or at least, in most cases, brings in consequences altogether unexpected and painful. Soon I was on my way to Holland. I had no definite plan of succeeding, neither could I have, seeing my ignorance of the places, the circumstances and the possibilities. Sometimes I thought of a voyage up the North Sea, as far as Russia, even to Archangel or Torneo, if need were, to find a port where I could land my goods. The die was cast, and, whatever the cost, I was determined to win. As it turned out, a shorter way offered, but which, in fact, was neither better nor easier. Such were the thoughts that occupied my mind during the remainder of the journey. With every change of horses I built a new castle in the air, each more and more magnificent. At last, we arrived in Cherbourg. Full of my On my arrival at Rotterdam, I called on a readventurous projects, I was no way inclined to spectable merchant, to whom I was recommendamuse myself by outbidding the numerous buy-ed. He received me so kindly, that I confided ers who had come, like birds of prey, from all my hopes to him, and frankly stated my desire France, to swoop down on the unlucky English to cross over to England. In an instant, even cargo. The lots were too small to make me en- while I spoke, the gentleman's language and vious; and but little impressed by the proverb, manner underwent a complete metamorphosis. "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush," His tone became cold, his air severe; and reI made my way back to Paris. garding me fixedly, he said, "You ask for what is impossible; such a precious freak would ruin us all." It must be confessed that on getting near to the barrieres, I began to see a little more distinctly the obstacles accumulated between my project and their accomplishment. I had entered upon the subsiding point of enthusiasm, when the imagination, after having taken its loftiest flights, sinks insensibly downwards, and goes dragging along the earth. Moreover, hów were our correspondents to be induced to give up to me the 100,000 francs destined for purchases at Cherbourg, for a purpose that I dared not reveal? To speak of my intention of crossing over to England would have either opened "Well, then," I answered, "give me letters for the towns in East Friesland, for Hamburg, and Bremen. I should greatly regret compromising you, but I must go to England." "Are you determined?" "Perfectly." ""Tis a folly." "No matter, I must go to England." "Return here to-morrow," he replied, "I'll think the matter over;" and with a slight move ment of the hand, by way of salutation, I was charges included. You have, I believe, no bagdismissed. The next day I was at his door in good time. He took me into his private office, and seating himself directly in front of me, he began, "Monsieur, I have maturely reflected on your demand; can you say the same? Have you well calculated all the consequences of your redoubtable enterprise? Do you know to what you expose yourself and your friends in seeking a ship? Do you know what awaits you, if, as is to be feared, you fail in escaping the surveillance of the numerous agents, whose duty it is to execute the emperor's decrees?" “Qui, monsieur, I am quite aware that I risk being taken and shut up in prison, or be a mark for a bullet, if I attempt to run away. But I have already said, "Nothing venture, nothing have.' I am determined to go to England." “Holland,” went on the worthy merchant, "is specially watched. We are the more mistrusted, because the interests of our commerce suffer greatly. The police of Paris is as regularly brought into play here as at the Palais Royal; and I am bound to tell you, it is a point of conscience with me, that many attempts similar to yours have been made, and that all-all, without exception, monsieur, have failed. More than 150 persons are imprisoned in the fortress of Enkhuysen alone for this sort of thing; and I have reason to believe that the officers are not less vigilant towards the north, and failures take place there as well as here. Take my advice, and give up your scheme. You are young," he added, taking me by the hand, " 'you appear to me to be active, and not devoid of ability; you will find many other ways of advancing yourself in the world." Tears stood in the excellent Dutchman's eyes as he spoke thus for several minutes, and in a most affectionate tone; but judging from the expression of my features, as much as from my answers, that nothing could shake me, he resumed in his habitual tone, “You are, then, quite determined?" “Oui, monsieur, quite." 66 A gage; so be in waiting at six precisely this evening on the steps of your hotel, with nothing but a portmanteau. A gig drawn by a black mare, and driven by a big man, will stop before you; get up by his side, and keep yourself quiet." "But, monsieur " I wished to interrupt. "I have nothing further to say. From this moment we do not know one another. We have never seen each other. I wish you good luck." We shook hands, and I took leave of the kind hearted merchant, fully resolved to say or do nothing that might compromise him. In the evening, a few minutes before six, I was at my post, and presently saw a gig approaching in the distance. It was the one I expected--a black mare and a big driver; there could be no mistake. I took my seat, the whip smacked, and away we went. Up one street, down another, across the outskirts of the city; and at last the open country. I addressed a few words to my companion. Not a word or sign in answer; he appeared not to understand me. I waited a quarter of an hour, and renewed the attempt at conversation, but in German; still the same silence. He made up his mind not to talk, that was evident; so I resigned myself to the course of events. The day waned, and was succeeded by the darkest of nights. Still we kept on at the same pace along a narrow and deserted road, making, as it seemed to me, numerous detours. My heart beat quickly with excitement and impatience. At length we came to a cross-road, where two men of rather suspicious appearance were waiting. My driver leaped nimbly from the gig, took my portmanteau, handed it to the two men, spoke a few words to them in a low tone, which it was impossible for me to comprehend; then turning to me, he whispered in my ear, in good French-"Follow these men ;" and remounting immediately to his seat, he lashed the black mare, and disappeared. Without saying a word, my guides walked off, and I followed them. Judging from their be'Very well, you shall start this evening. haviour and their dress, they belonged to the fisherman of my acquaintance will carry you to lower class of people, and they were quite as Harwich, in company with two gentlemen whose taciturn as the big driver had been. We crossed acquaintance you will make on board. The large damp meadows, then stubble-fields, then owner is a simple and ignorant man, and his endless dykes, and more squashy meadows; vessel in rather a bad condition; two facts which, and kept on for a full hour and a half, when we however uncomfortable in one sense, will have came to another cross-road, where two other the advantage of not arousing suspicion. You men were waiting me. My guides put the will pay eighty guilders for your passage, all portmanteau into their hands, and addressing me in Dutch, said-" Betalen, Mynheer, betalen" still on the same spot for some minutes, with (Pay, monsieur, pay). This demand vexed me greatly. My purse was but slenderly furnished, and my correspondent at Rotterdam assured me that my eighty guilders would defray all charges. I, however, drew a few florins from my pocket; the men made a grimace of dissatisfaction, and insisted on having more. Being impatient to find myself under some roof where I could rest and dry myself, I added three crowns to the gift, and we parted good friends. 66 out saying a word to each other, and I was beginning to feel uneasy at the delay, when a figure came towards us out of the gloom, and at once my two guides broke out with the eternal Betalen, Mynheer, betalen." I answered them successively in French, German, and English, trying to explain that I had no money left, and owed them nothing. They, however, could not, or would not understand; and repeated, with greater emphasis, "Betalen, betalen." It was in vain that I added pantomime to speech, and turned my pockets inside out, to demonstrate their emptiness; the Dutchmen remained as little convinced by my signs as by my words. I then lost patience, and snatching my portmanteau from their hands, sat down upon it, without a word of explanation. While following my new guides, I was full of joyous reflections. I saw myself, at the end of another hour or two, embarked in a good ship, scudding away to England, whose soil I hoped to tread on the morrow. My golden dream lengthened with our walk, which, in profound silence, was across wet meadows and along wea- A quarter of an hour dragged slowly away, risome dykes as before. The night was cold as full of anxieties on my part; for if these men well as dark, and we had walked for more than abandoned me, my project failed at the very two hours, but I scarcely felt fatigued, so much outset. But I had the advantage over them of was I sustained and cheered by the thoughts to a fixed determination, and guessed at the causes which I entirely abandoned myself. By and by of all their hesitation. They could neither make we encountered two other men, who were evi- up their minds to leave me on the road, nor to dently posted to wait for us, and I had to un-lose the few florins which they had promised dergo a second course of "Betalen, Mynheer, themselves. Whether it was that their patience betalen." I made a desperate resistance, but was forced to yield to necessity. I had given myself up to these men; my project was completely in their power, and I was dependent on their good-will. I paid, therefore, in order to continue my journey. CHAPTER II. became exhausted, or that they had other business to attend to, they at length reluctantly, as it seemed, took themselves off. The man who had come alone to meet us then signed to me to follow him, notwithstanding that he had witnessed the success of my struggle with his countrymen. I congratulated myself heartily on the result, for now that my conductor knew there was nothing further to be obtained from me in the way of gratuities, he would probably not wish to prolong his walk. And, indeed, at the end of another half hour, just as day was beginning to peep, we came in sight of a cabin built on the bare sandy shore at the mouth of the Maas. Pointing towards it, my guide gave me to understand that I was expected at the miserable little edifice, there was my destination, and, without another word, he abruptly left me. As we kept on across the dreary midnight landscape, I began to have scruples, or rather fears, as to the result. Suspicion after suspicion crept into my mind, and at last I persuaded myself that I had fallen into the hands of clever rogues, who were determined to make the most of me. It seemed to me that I recognized some of the places we passed, and the idea grew upon me that I was to be walked round and round upon the same road all night, without bringing me a step nearer to my destination, until every sous had been extorted from me. Immediately I I was worn out with cold, fatigue, and huntook the resolution to be on my guard, and to ger; but the sight of the broad expanse of keep out of the trap, if trap there were, what- water reanimated me, and I stepped gaily into ever might be the consequences Watching my the cabin, the interior of which, however, offeropportunity, therefore, as a preliminary pre-ed nothing cheerful. Broken planks, pieces of caution, I contrived to conceal in a safe place ships' timbers, and nets heaped one on the other, about my person all the loose money I had in nearly filled the narrow space. A man who lay my pocket, continuing all the while to follow stretched on these nets, rose at my entrance, my guides. At length they halted; we stood struck a light, bade me lie down, and told me, |