She kindly shewed us the chapel of the convent. It is remarkable for possessing the skeleton of one St. Felician, an early martyr of the church. It lies in a glass case over one of the altars, and is most splendidly arrayed in satin and velvet, adorned with jewels and lace. It is not easy to conceive what a curious figure a skeleton's head cuts, looking out from the midst of such finery. It affords, however, a striking emblem of that world, with its pleasures and allurements, which these nuns profess to have forsaken. Its external appearance is splendid and fascinating, but in reality it is all rottenness and deformity. As Henry Kirke White said of those academic honours, which he purchased with his life, we may truly say of the world," It is a death's head, under a mask of beauty."

The bones of this famous martyr, who was a bishop, were presented to the convent. The apparel and decorations are the workmanship of the nuns. The lamp, which was found burning in his sepulchre, is still unextinguished by his side. Near the altar of the saint, we observed many little arms and legs, and other members of the human body modelled in wax, and laid in rows upon shelves. We enquired the meaning of the collection. The nun informed us that they were offerings to the saint, in consequence of miraculous cures effected by his mediation. If any person bad a disease in the arm or leg, &c. he brought the representation of the

diseased limb in wax, and presented it at the shrine of the saint, who interceded for him, and he was immediately healed. I thought, from her manner of telling the story, that the nun herself had not much faith in it. Indeed, she appeared to be a woman of an enlarged and liberal mind, whose heart would freely open to the light of truth, if from any quarter it should beam upon her. We left her with regret, and shall long remember the nun of Fribourg-the politeness of her manners-the soundness of her understanding, and the sweetness of her disposition.

From the convent we proceeded to the monastery of the Capuchin friars. The monks are all old men, and with their bald heads, long beards, sandalled feet, and coarse brown coat and cowl, bound round the middle with a piece of rope, from which was suspended the rosary and cross, were to me, who had never seen a monk before, most venerable and interesting objects. One of them only could speak French. He told us that he took the habit of a monk when but twenty years old, and though he is now eighty-three, yet he still appeared a strong and hearty man, and spoke with all the fire and energy of youth. "At the time of the French revolution," said he, "when this country was a part of Alsace, they wanted to abolish this monastery, and offered to provide for the monks if they would abjure the monastic life and become curates. But, no," said

the old man, the fire of indignation flashing from his eyes, "I disdained the proposal-I had taken the vow to my God, and I resolved to perform it— preferring to live in poverty and upon alms, rather than forsake the life to which I was devoted." Of what use to society he had been during his long life, however, he did not tell us; neither did he say wherein consisted the wisdom or the piety of taking such a vow. He told us that they were not permitted to receive any new fathers into the monastery, that they were left to die off, and that their number was already reduced to six. He said that the only provision found them was water and wood, for the rest they subsisted upon charity. We had observed, however, a very good kitchen, and, on our entrance into the monastery, had been introduced into a spacious and well furnished diningroom, both of which indicated better fare than bread and water, as that with which, occasionally at least, these holy fathers were regaled.

The conversation had hitherto been carried on in the garden. We at length expressed a desire to see the interior of one of their cells-but this they informed us could not be allowed. "And why" said the monk," should you wish to see so forlorn a place; the cell is but poorly furnished, and scarcely able to contain four persons at a time." One of my fair companions, however, se completely.. insinuated herself into the good graces of another of

the old men, that he was induced to break through the rule and let us into his. It was, as he described, a poor and small apartment. A coarse bed occupied one half-a desk, a chair, and two shelves of books the rest. The books were chiefly scholastic divinity. The monk shewed us what he called his consciones, of which he had several bundles; he appeared to have been employed when we interrupted him, in adding to the stock. The writing materials, and an half-finished essay were on his desk. There was no fire-place in the cell.

In the chapel of the monastery they shewed us a great wonder. It was a figure of Jesus Christ lying in the lap of the Virgin Mary, with his wounds gaping and bleeding, carved in wood. This figure they assured us was once animated and used to move. It has been still enough of late, however, according to their own account, except at the time of the revolution, when its head was knocked off by a bomb-shell, which they still preserve, and the Virgin Mary got a wound in her cheek from a pistol shot. They have put on the head again and healed the cheek, but not before they had an exact drawing taken of the headless Saviour and the wounded Virgin.

We have passed by many vineyards to-day, in which the vines were much higher than in France or Switzerland; we also observed some Indian corn, which is cultivated in this country with success.

Your's, &c.

MY DEAR

LETTER XXV.

Mayence.

IMMEDIATELY on leaving Kehl, we crossed the Rhine by the bridge of boats, and again entered France. We passed on our left the beautiful monument erected by Napoleon to the memory of General Dessaix. It is the work of Ohmacht, a German artist, from a design of Weinbrenner. At Strasburg, which is about three miles from the banks of the Rhine, the principal object of attraction is the cathedral. It is certainly one of the finest buildings the continent can boast. Its workmanship is most exquisite, and its whole appearance truly sublime. The stone is of a dark red, which gives it a sombre character. The front is exceedingly magnificent, notwithstanding the circumstance that it was designed for two spires and possesses only one. The spire is the highest in Europe, being four hundred and ninety-four feet from the ground; yet it is extremely light and elegant. Mr. H, Mrs. F, and myself, ascended