At the end of a ledge, | tell.

his dangerous situation. It might even be his grandfather, calling he saw something like poles hanging on the rock from below. So he crossed to quite the verge of —some work of human hands, certainly. Having scrambled towards them, he found the remains of a ladder, made of birch poles, fastened together with thongs of leather. This ladder had once, no doubt, hung from top to bottom of the chasm; and its lower part, now gone, was that ladder of which Peder had often spoken as a proof that men had been on the island.

the little island, wishing with all his heart that the birds would be quiet, and cease their civility of all answering when he spoke. When quite out of hearing of Peder, Oddo called again, with scarcely a hope of any result, so plain was it to his eyes that no one resided on the island. On its small summit there was really no intermission of birds' nests; no space where any one had lain down; -no sign of habitation-no vestige of food, dress, or utensils. With a saddened heart, therefore, Oddo called again; and again he was sure there was an answer; though whence and what he could

With a careful hand, Oddo pulled at the ladder; and it did not give way. He tugged harder, and still it only shook. He must try it; there was nothing else to be done. It was well for him now that he was used to dangerous climbing-not make out. that he had had adventures on the slippery, cracked glaciers of Sulitelma, and that being on a height, with precipices below, was no new situation to him. He climbed, trusting as little as possible to the ladder, setting his foot in preference on any projection of the rock, or any root of the smallest shrub. More than one pole cracked; more than one fastening gave way, when he had barely time to shift his weight upon a better support. He heard his grandfather's voice calling, and he could not answer. It disturbed him, now that his joints were strained, his limbs trembling, and his mouth parched so that his breath rattled as it came.

He then sang a part of a chant that he had learned by Rolf singing it as he sat carving his share of the new pulpit. He stopped in the middle, and presently believed that he heard the air continued, though the voice seemed so indistinct, and the music so much as if it came from underground, that Oddo began to recall, with some doubt and fear, the stories of the enchantment of the place. It was not long before he heard a cry from the water below. Looking over the precipice he saw what made him draw back in terror; he saw the very thing Hund had described-the swimming and staring head of Rolf, and the arms thrown up in the air. Not having Hund's conscience, however, and having much more curiosity, he looked again; and then a third time.

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He reached the top, however. He sprang from the edge of the precipice, unable to look down, threw himself on his face, and panted and trembled, as if he had never before climbed any- "Are you Rolf, really?" asked he, at last. thing less safe than a staircase. Never before, Yes; but who are you-Oddo or the demon indeed, had he done anything like this. The feat-up there where nobody can climb? Who are was performed the islet was not to him inacces- you?" sible. This thought gave him strength. He sprang to his feet again, and whistled, loud and shrill. He could imagine the comfort this must be to Peder; and he whistled more and more merrily till he found himself rested enough to proceed on his search for Rolf. He went briskly on his way, not troubling himself with any thoughts of how he was to get down again.

Never had he seen a place so full of waterbirds and their nests. Their nests strewed all the ground; and they themselves were strutting and waddling, fluttering and vociferating, in every direction. They were perfectly tame, knowing nothing of men, and having had no experience of disturbance. The ducks that were leading their broods allowed Oddo to stroke their feathers; and the drakes looked on, without taking any offence.

"If Rolf is here," thought Oddo, "he has been living on most amicable terms with his neighbors."

"I will show you. We will find each other out," thought Oddo, with a determination to take the leap, and ascertain the truth.

He leaped, and struck the water at a sufficient distance from Rolf. When he came up again, they approached each other, staring, and each with some doubt as to whether the other was human or a demon.

"Are you really alive, Rolf?" said the one. "To be sure I am, Oddo," said the other; "but what demon carried you to the top of that rock, that no man ever climbed ?"

Oddo looked mysterious, suddenly resolving to keep his secret for the present.

"I have not the

"Not that way," said Rolf. strength I had, and I can't swim round the place now. I was just resting myself when I heard you call, and came out to see. Follow me home."

He turned, and began to swim homewards. Oddo had the strongest inclination to go with him, After an anxious thought or two of Nipen-to see what would be revealed; but there were after a glance or two round the sky and shores two objections. His grandfather must be growfor a sign of wind-Oddo began in earnest his ing anxious; and he was not perfectly sure yet quest of Rolf. He called his name-gently-then whether his guide might not be Nipen in Rolf's louder likeness, about to lead him to some hidden prison. "Give me your hand, Rolf," said the boy, bravely.

There was some kind of answer. Some sound of human voice he heard, he was certain; but so muffled, so dull, that whence it came he could not

It was a real, substantial, warm, hand.

"I don't wonder you doubt," said Rolf, "I can't look much like myself—unshaven, and shrunk, and haggard as my face must be."

Oddo was now quite satisfied; and he told of the boat and his grandfather. The boat was scarcely further off than the cave; and poor Rolf was almost in extremity for drink. The water and brandy he brought with him had been finished nearly two days, and he was suffering extremely from thirst. He thought he could reach the boat, and Oddo led the way, bidding him not mind his being without clothes till they could find him

some.

Glad was the old man to hear his boy's call from the water; and his face lighted up with wonder and pleasure when he heard that Rolf was not far behind. He lent a hand to help him into the boat, and asked no questions till he had given him food and drink. He reproached himself for having brought neither camphor nor assafoetida, to administer with the corn-brandy. Here was the brandy, however; and some water, and fish, and bread, and cloud-berries. Great was the amazement of Peder and Oddo at Rolf's pushing aside the brandy, and seizing the water. he had drained the last drop, he even preferred the cloud-berries to the brandy. A transient doubt thence occurred, whether this was Rolf, after all. Rolf saw it in their faces, and laughed; and when they had heard his story of what he had suffered from thirst, they were quite satisfied, and wondered no longer.

to bring away whole handfuls of beautiful shells, which he had amused himself with collecting for Erica.

At last they entered the boat again; and while they were dressing, Oddo charmed his grandfather with a description of the cave-of the dark, sounding walls, the lofty roof, and the green tide breaking on the white sands. It almost made the listener cool to hear of these things; but, as Oddo had remarked, the heat had abated. It was near midnight, and the sun was going to set. Their row to the shore would be in the cool twilight; and then they should take in companions, who, fresh from rest, would save them the trouble of rowing home.

When all were too tired to talk, and the oars were dipping somewhat lazily, and the breeze had died away, and the sea-birds were quiet, old Peder, who appeared to his companions to be asleep, raised his head, and said,

"I heard a sob.

Are you crying, Oddo?" "Yes, grandfather."

"What is your grief, my boy?"

"No grief-anything but grief now. I have When felt more grief than you know of though, or anybody. I did not know it fully myself till now.”

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Right, my boy; and right to say it out too." "I don't care now who knows how miserable I have been. I did not believe, all the time, that Nipen had anything to do with these misfortunes-'

"Right, Oddo!" exclaimed Rolf, now.

He was all impatience to be gone. It tried him more now to think how long it would be before Erica could hear of his preservation than to bear all that had gone before. Being without clothes, however, it was necessary to visit the cave, and bring away what was there. In truth, Oddo was not sorry for this. His curiosity about the cave was so great that he felt it impossible to go home without seeing it; and the advantage of holding the secret knowledge of such a place was one which he would not give up. He seized an oar, gave another to Rolf; and they were presently off the mouth of the cave. Peder sighed at their having to leave him again; but he believed what Rolf said of there being no danger, and of their remain-my boy to learn if he forgetsing close at hand. One or the other came popping up beside the boat, every minute, with clothes, or net, or lines, or brandy-flask, and finally with the oars of the poor broken skiff; being obliged to leave the skiff itself behind. Rolf did not forget

"But I was not quite certain; and how could I say a word against it when I was the one to provoke Nipen? Now Rolf is safe, and Erica will be happy again, and I shall not feel as if everybody's eyes were upon me, and know that it is only out of kindness that they do not reproach me as having done all the mischief, I shall hold up my head again now-as some may think I have done all along; but I did not, in my own eyes—no, not in my own eyes, for all these weary days that are gone." "Let

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Well, they are gone now," said Rolf. them go by and be forgotten."

"Nay-not forgotten," said Peder. "How is

"Don't fear that for me, grandfather," said Oddo, as the tears still streamed down his face. "No fear of that. I shall not forget these last days;-no, not as long as I live."

MYRIADS OF ANIMALCULES.-In the Arctic seas, CHANGES IN SOLID FORMS.-The gradual change where the water is pure transparent ultramarine of form of a body which still continues solid, is a color, parts of twenty or thirty square miles, 1,500 problem at which many are confounded, because feet deep, are green and turbid, from the vast num- they cannot imitate the great experiment of nature. bers of minute animalcules. Captain Scoresby cal-On a grand scale, it does not hold; but, in a smallculated it would require 80,000 persons, working er way, the barley sugar, which, in course of time, unceasingly from the creation of man to the present becomes crystalline and dull, presents an example day, to count the number of insects contained in two miles of the green water. What, then, must be the amount of animal life in the Polar regions, where one fourth of the Greenland sea, for 10 degrees of latitude, consists of that water!

of change of structure without any alteration of its solidity; and copper coins, buried in the earth, become oxidized without losing their impressions.— Herr Karl Bruner, jun.

CORRESPONDENCE. Paris, 11th October, 1948. THE celebrated Dr. Strauss, author of the Life of Jesus, a bonne bouche for erudite infidels-was lately elected a deputy in the legislature of Wurtemburg; in his maiden speech, said to be very eloquent, he declares for constitutional monarchy, against all radicalism and all republicanism.

of Oregon, which a president so ably achieved; look to the conquest of Mexico, to the splendid position of the republic on the Pacific Ocean," &c. &c.

In reply to these remarks, it was said-" Monsieur Lacrosse tells us that the plan which he proposes is executed in America; the president is made by a double election. Undoubtedly; but the representatives are appointed in the same way and all citizens are not voters; there is a property qualification; and when exceptions are admitted, it is of little consequence whether they be more or less. Moreover, has this system really produced in the United States the excellent results so much emblazoned? I am greatly mistaken if I have not read in American history, that the best candidate does not always succeed. The country is separated into two camps; the man is set aside, who will not consent to enter into one or the other-whatever may be his merit. To reach the sovereign magistracy of the presidentship, it is necessary for the citizen to be of a party, and as a consequence, if he be carried, to act with less independence than the national weal may require." Here are specimens of the different views taken in the Assembly, of our institutions-mistakes of fact; and some truth to serve as just pride or salutary admonition.

Among the most remarkable speeches in the Assembly, last week, was one of Ledru-Rollina formal profession and advocacy of the doctrines and purposes of the red republic-armed propagandism; alliances with nations, not with governments; immediate and immense issue of paper money; war for Italian independence or for German unity and democratic freedom: no executive chief, but a ministry of the choice, and under the constant control, of a national convention; pro

The name of Washington is now constantly invoked in the French Assembly and the Paris journals, as the unique pattern of a republican chief and perfect patriot in modern history. La Réforme, opposed to the idea of any president for France, asks" Whom would you elect president? Washington is dead.” At the sitting of the Assembly on the 9th inst, a member of the Mountain moved that all military commanders be declared ineligible to that office, and argued on the testimony of all history, as to the danger and evil. Cry from many groups on the floor-"And what of Washington?" A representative of considerable merit, urging the reëligibility of the president, without intermission, said "Whatever we may style ourselves—republicans of this or that date —we know the republic, as yet, only as a theory. Our business is now to have it in practice. All of us, without exception, need lessons-we should all, look for instruction where it has been carried into effect with success and with glory. Direct your eyes to America, to the United States. There the republic is not a simple conception-a sheer theory; it is a thing gloriously realized; a mighty fact. Well, in the United States, as you know, the president is reëligible. By the text of the constitution, he is indefinitely so; but, in practice, he is only once so, and immediately on the expiration of his first term. This seeming contradiction-this anomaly, in some degree sub-gressive taxation by which to level all fortunes. lime is easily explained: the constitution is the law of laws; it is right par excellence. Now, the Americans, who regard and value principles first-above everything else-did not deem it well to insert a provision contrary to the political right, the most sacred for them—that of the freedom of suffrage. However, they could not forget the form of their government-and for this they have their reasons; their patriotism contrived to bring about what could not be in their constitution; they established it as usage that the president should be reëlected but once-twice only consecutively." Another member, Lacrosse, contending for the choice of president by electors, as in the United States, ascribed to this part of our system, the magnificent development for the sixty years past of the American republic. "It is by this mode of election," he added, "that America has gained those illustrious chiefs of the executive power, who, by their disinterestedness, their personal selfdenial, have endowed the world with the noblest example of public virtues; it is in the same way that the Union procured the other great functionaries who have pages so bright in the history of their country. Look to the diplomatic conquest

He quoted Washington's advice to our Union against foreign alliances-the monarchies being necessarily and essentially hostile to republics; the French Assembly should sanction no diplomatic conjunction of France with England for any purpose; they had pledged themselves to the independence of Italy. In America, he suggestedCongress lays down principles for diplomatic negotiations and external policy, which the executive is obliged to follow. But the Assembly, after earnest debate, passed to the order of the day at the request of Cavaignac, refusing to refer even to their declaration of May in behalf of Italian independence. Nevertheless, the minister of foreign affairs, being interrogated touching his acceptation of the vote, replied that the executive would still consider itself bound by the declaration of May; from which it was inferred that he, the minister, at least, wished to involve the government in an armed intervention, if the diplomatic mediation with the Austrians should fail. A great majority of the Assembly are decidedly averse to war. The National, (semi-official organ,) of yesterday, says, "It was believed in Hungary that Austria is decided to get peace in Italy by sacrifices, in

order to be able to put down the Hungarian revo- templated a bottomless gulf yawning for the whole lution at once. If such be the aim, the obliga- system which he had proclaimed at the Hotel de tions of our republic towards Italy would extend | Ville. As he repudiated American example in

to Hungary." The Assembly can never be per- the question of a senate, so he did in that of the suaded or driven to that degree of Quixotism.

presidentship.

tious anxiety to the remarks which were made by I yesterday listened with sincere and conscienan hon. representative, (M. Parieu,) but the considerations developed by that hon. gentleman are not new to me. I have also read and studied the constitutions of other nations in which monarchy has recoiled before the forms of liberty. I am acquainted with the United States, with Venice, and Genoa; I am aware in our own history of the system of '93; I have seen that combined mechanism according to which twenty-five candidates were

the president of the republic; I have endeavored to render to myself an account of all these systems, and I declare that I have there found no information, no certain evidence, no application of a great minds. M. Parieu yesterday adduced the example and general principle which could enlighten our of the United States, of Switzerland, and of Holland, where the nomination of the presidents was made by two degrees-even by three degrees in one of those republics; but, he must allow me to observe, that that example applies as badly to the that of the single chamber. Those republics which question of the nomination of the president as to have been cited to us are federal states; what was to be personified in their presidents was not the expression of individual value, but of a federation. That is the secret of the constitutions of those countries. But France has nothing analogous to amples, without understanding the nature and the these federations, which are held up to us as ex

necessities of our country.

On Friday last, the cardinal question, Whether the president of the French Republic should be elected by universal suffrage, or by the National Assembly directly, came up for discussion. The galleries were thronged at an early hour; the house had few vacant seats. It was known that the extreme democratic division, the Mountain the radical journals-the executive chief and the ministers and the whole cotérie of the National, including the speaker of the Assembly, were opposed to the first scheme, and had prepared them-pointed out, from amongst whom was to be chosen selves with every intimation and parliamentary manœuvre by which the second plan, or a first or provisional election by the Assembly, might be achieved. The draft of the constitution prescribed the principle of universal suffrage; the legitimists preferred this, of course, because most favorable to the exertion of their influence in the interior; the ex-deputies and the Orleanists in general regarded it as opening the best chances for a monarchical choice or a moderate and orderly republic; every one believed it to be propitious for Henry V. and Napoleon Louis: this risk, however, they held less formidable than the gratification of the views of the Mountain and the coterie of the National. Among the extracts which I enclose for you, you may find an amusing specimen of the first day's debate. On the 2d, Lamartine reaped all the honors, and produced indescribable sensation, by a splendid harangue in behalf of the right of the people to the selection of the executive chief, and the expediency or necessity of yielding it at once, whatever the consequences to be apprehended. He insisted that the die was cast as to the universal application of universal suffrage; it must be stood the hazard-reaching even, as it did, the perdition of the republic, the restoration of monarchy, or the establishment of military despotism. The harangue clashed with his famous speech of the 27th ult., the purport of which is stated in one of my antecedent epistles. But the poet-politician cannot be consistent; a journalist, admiring his rhetorical powers, observes-" We require, indeed, a towering and vigorous chief for the republic; but Lamartine is not the man; he is too variable; too easily acted upon; he resembles an Æolian harp, which sounds-admirably it is true under the wind from what direction soever it may happen to blow," Other editors are not charitable one says "M. Lamartine has made a presidential speech; it is a manifesto of candidateship." Another He disposed of all the pretenders to clear the road for himself; he knew that he had less chance with the Assembly than with the masses." He adduced his belief that if France was not republican by her habits, if" she was still monarchical by her vices," she was republican in her ideas. Evidently, however, at the close of the speech, he desponded; he con- on his shoulder, as if there was nothing for him

All the seven or more amendments by which the ultra-democrats and the government party labored to devolve on the Assembly the election roundly or virtually-for the nonce if not in perpetuity, failed in a degree beyond the expectation of the most sanguine advocates of the text of the constitution. The decision by a vote of 627 to 130 was as follows:-" The president is nominated by ballot, and by a majority of the votes, by the direct suffrage of all the electors of the French departments and of Algeria." It was further decided, that the minimum of suffrages necessary to make a president shall be two mil lions; and if no candidate be returned with that or more, then the Assembly to choose a president out of the five highest candidates. An amendment was rejected which excluded the descendants of the families that have reigned in France. Prince Louis Napoleon took this occasion to aver that he rejected the appellation of pretender, which was constantly "thrown at his head." He cuts a poor figure in the tribune. His German accent offends French ears; the real Napoleon, though he disdained ambitious oratory, could pronounce a laconic address of irresistible impression. The prince, though watched from floor and gallery, seems rather forlorn, or suffering ennui, in his place, he sits with his arms crossed and his head

in that Assembly to do or to hope. He can boast (cences, should err so far to choose a pretender, of having been returned by five departments- we must bow to its majesty; according to the three hundred thousand voters in all; he has con- committee and the house, no one citizen whatcluded to be the representative of Paris, which re- ever can be excluded, even for the public safety, lieves us from another election. A very well-in- without violating fundamental law. Wonderful formed member of the Assembly, in conversation this, and grieved we are, truly, that the Assemwith me yesterday, mentioned his belief that the bly did not at once repeal the decree which exiled southern and western provinces will vote for Hen- that charming young gentleman, the descendant ry V.; some of the middle and northern for Na- of Henry IV., and the whole nest of the Orleans poleon Louis, and some for the Prince de Join- family. May not the people in the plenary exerville; none of them would care for the old out- cise of their sovereignty, annul, to-morrow, the lawry of the royal family. General Cavaignac decree, and consecrate, by their votes, the pretenmight have calculated on a considerable number sions of Henry V. or the Prince de Joinville? of adherents; but the act of voting against a Huzza, gentlemen! let us have a royal president, choice by the people must affect his popularity in with his council of ministers, as of old. Alas, the interior, and will certainly be turned to ac- poor republic, may God have you in his holy count by his adversaries. The question remain-keeping! Better would seem hereditary monarchy ing before the Assembly is, shall the election take with its charter and its prestige, than the arrangeplace immediately, or after the whole constitution ment to which you assign the title of republican has been voted and revised, or after the organic government. The instincts, the hopes, the ideas, laws have been enacted? Cavaignac and his min- of the revolution have been crushed; the real isters express their desire of an election next month, as the committee on the constitution think that their work will be carried through by the end of the present. The grossest inconsistency and self-contradiction are so common here that we can scarcely be surprised at any instance, but we may remark the extreme boldly manifested by the chiefing ship. Still, the campaign is not over; we authors and agents of the revolution of February, touching universal suffrage, which was their special creed, their grand arcanum, their battle-cry. The National admitted that it might be well to introduce, as a principle, into the constitution, the election of president by the people; but the application or fruition of it should be adjourned, on account of the momentary portentous dangers of the republic. The adjournment, as planned, would have been sine die, and for the indefinite prolongation of the absolute rule of the bureau and instruments of the National. But the organs of the ultra-radicals and the socialists hold a stronger language.

people and their men are proscribed; we have but to mourn the extinction of our liberties. A president-that is, a master: justice has become impossible; intrigue and selfishness prevail; our noble work of February perishes; a few of us survive, indeed, clinging to the masts of the sink

know these cunning tacticians, these parliamentary heroes; they never dared to stand battle elsewhere-the battle of blood. We are resolvedthe pretender chosen by the urn, whoever he may be, will have to fight for his sovereign prerogative-our party will die to a man, rather than brook a royalty."

The Journal des Débats, of yesterday, presents M. Chevalier's seventh study on the constitution of the United States. It treats in particular of the stages and effects of American paper money; to which the writer attributes much good and much evil. His outline from the commencement For example, the Démocratie Pacifique, of our revolution is impartial, but he does not apof which the editor is in the Assembly: "Until pear so amply informed touching the continental all Frenchmen be enlightened, and as long as uni- money, as he would have been, if he had read Mr. versal suffrage shall be far above the average in- Samuel Breck's dissertation on that subject, and tellect of the country, while the exercise of it is certain reports to Congress. He derives sound pregnant with dangers, the Assembly are impera- lessons for France; dealing skilfully, likewise, tively bound to regulate and limit its application." with the story of French assignats, and the giganLa Réforme, conducted by Flocon, a representa- tic schemes of Ledru-Rollin. He observes—“The tive, and ex-minister of commerce, treats the de- United States are our masters in all republican cision of the Assembly in this strain: "The matters." He styles the French year 1793, to house was excessively feverish and agitated; you which Ledru and his scarlet brethren appeal, might perceive that when about to give a vote "The infernal parody of a republic." The sewhich was to afford legal scope to the dynastic cret," he adds, "of American prosperity, lies in the aspirations, it was a prey to the distressing pre- love of regular labor, and uniform respect for the sentiment of the calamities and crises which the laws." Remark the language of the London pretenders prepare for France. The majority, Times of the 7th inst. "For three years nearly however, ventured to the last hazard. The new all Europe has been plagued with poverty, derepublicans, who once deprecated universal suf- spondency and mutual distrust, and with actual frage, manifested the most scrupulous tenderness famine." Compare with this picture, your confor this indefeasible right of their adored sover-dition, the very reverse, during the same term, eignty of the people-with the spirit of Judas. notwithstanding your Mexican war-not to say The deed is done. If universal suffrage, betrayed how vast your gains, as a balance, by your treaty, by ignorance, wretchedness, or illusive reminis- and how rich your harvest of military renown