Imagination; and on Occupation. In experiment, urges, from motives of pothe treatment of all these subjects, Dr. licy as well as duty, an observance of Reid has manifested much philanthro- the same rules of conduct that had bepical feeling and elegance of mind, as fore been dictated by speculative reawell as an extensive range of observa- son and enjoined by religion, how tion, and a profound acquaintance with much is the cause of virtue strengththe theory of human life and duty. ened? Men then find that the laws of Such books are eminently calculated nature and providence grant no immuto do good. The precepts and exhor- nities to transgression, no pardon, but tations of the moralist are too apt to be to reformation; and that with one acunavailing. In early life, when sense is cord they all cry out, by the immutayoung and appetite keen, before truth bility of God, that self-control is wishas been enforced by stern experience, dom; that the infallible consequence there is ever indulged an obscure hope of righteousness is happiness, and that, that the connexion between moral and physical ill is not absolutely inseparable; that passion may be indulged and duty neglected with impunity. But when, in aid of the moralist, the physician comes forward, and by the strong evidence of facts, on the stable basis of Sure as day follows night, Death treads in pleasure's footsteps round the world, When pleasure treads the path which reson shuns. L. ART. 5. ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. MESSRS. EDITORS, A MONG the romantic incidents of real life, few surpass the adventures of lady Harriet Ackland, who accompanied her husband Major Ackland in General Bur. goyne's unfortunate campaign, of 1777. An entire generation has nearly passed away since the declaration of American Inde 1777) was remarkable for a circumstance of private distress too peculiar and affecting to be omitted. The circumstance to which I aliude is Lady Harriet Ackland's passage through the enemy's army to attend her wounded husband, then their pri soner. "The progress of this lady with the army could hardly be thought abruptly or superfluously introduced, were it only so for the purpose of authenticating a wonderful stoTy-It would exhibit, if well delineated, an interesting picture of the spirit, the enterprise, and the distress of romance, realized and regulated upon the chaste and sober principles of rational love and connubial duty pendence. The events of our revolutionary war, familiar to those who were actors in its scenes, are becoming, like the tales of "the days beyond the flood," to the existing race. The memory of those times that "tried men's souls" is revived by the perusal of General Wilkinson's Memoirs, who corrects a mistatement in the pathetic tale of Lady Harriet's story, so admirably delineated by General Burgoyne in his "Lady Harriet Ackland had accompanied State of the expedition from Canada, as her husband to Canada in the beginning of Jaid before the House of Commons in the year 1776 In the course of that cam1780." Should the Editors of the American Paign she had traversed a vast space of Monthly Magazine consider the narrative country, in different extremities of season, comprehended within their plan, they will and with difficulties that an European trano doubt amuse and gratify their read- veller will not easily conceive, to attend, ers by its insertion. The account of in a poor hut at Chamblee, upon his sick General Burgoyne is first introduced, and General Wilkinson's relation concludes a scene unrivalled in interest by any section of ancient or modern romance. bed. "In the opening of the campaign in 1777 she was restrained from offering herself to a share of the fatigue and hazard expected before Ticonderoga, by the positive injunctions of her husband. The day after the conquest of the place, he was badly wounded, and she crossed the Lake Chan plain to join him. "From the date of that action to the 7th of October, Lady Harriet, with her usual serenity, stood prepared for new trials! and it was her lot that their severity increased with their number. She was again exposed to the hearing of the whole action, and at last received the word of her individual misfortune, mixed with the intelligence of the general calamity: the troops were defeated, and major Ackland, desperately wounded, was a prisoner. "As soon as he recovered, Lady Harriet two British officers, major Hanage and proceeded to follow his fortunes through Lieutenant Reynell; but in the event their the campaign, and at Fort Edward, or at presence served but little for comfort. the next camp, she acquired a two wheel Major Hanage was soon brought to the tumbril, which had been constructed by surgeon very badly wounded; and a little the artificers of the artillery, something time after came intelligence that Lieutensimilar to the carriage used for the mail ant Reynell was shot dead. Imagination upon the great roads in England. Major will want no help to figure the state of the Ackland commanded the British grena-. whole group. diers, which were attached to General Fraser's corps; and consequently were always the most advanced post of the army. Their situations were often so alert, that no person slept out of his clothes. In one of these situations a tent, in which the Major and Lady Harriet were asleep, suddenly took fire. An orderly sergeant of grenadiers, with great hazard of suffocation, dragged out the first person he caught hold of. It proved to be the major. It happened, that in the same instant she had, unknowing what she did, and perhaps not perfectly awaked, providentially made her escape, by creeping under the walls of the back part of the tent. The first object she saw, upon the recovery of her sense, was the major on the other side, and in the same instant again in the fire, in search of her. The sergeant again saved him, but not without the major being very severely burned in his face, and different parts of his body. Every thing they had with them in the tent was consumed. "This accident happened a little time before the army crossed the Hudson's river, (13th Sept.) It neither altered the resolution nor the cheerfulness of Lady Harriet; and she continued her progress, a partaker of the fatigues of the advanced corps. The next call upon her fortitude was of a different nature, and more distressful as of longer suspense. On the march of the 19th Sept. the grenadiers being liable to action at every step, she had been directed by the major to follow the route of the artillery and baggage, which was not exposed. At the time the action begun, she found herself near a small uninhabited hut, where she alighted. When it was found the action was becoming general and bloody, the surgeon of the hospital took possession of the same place, as the most convenient for the first care of the wounded. Thus was this lady in hear ing of one continued fire of cannon and musketry, for four hours together, with the presumption, from the post of her husband at the head of the grenadiers, that he was in the most exposed part of the action. She had three female companions, the Baroness of Reideșel, and the wives of VOL. I. NO. IV. "The day of the 8th was passed by Lady Harriet and her companions in uncommon anxiety; not a tent, not a shed being standing, except what belonged to the Hospital, their refuge was among the wounded and the dying. "When the army was upon the point of moving, I received a message from Lady Harriet, submitting to my decision a proposal (and expressing an earnest solicitude to execute it, if not interfering with my design) of passing to the camp of the enemy, and requesting General Gates's permission to attend her husband. Though I was ready to believe, (for I had experienced) that patience and fortitude, in a supreme degree, were to be found, as well as every other virtue, under the most tender forms, I was astonished at this proposal. After so long an agitation, exhausted not only for want of rest, but absolutely want of food, drenched in rain for twelve hours together, that a woman should be capable of such an undertaking as delivering herself to the enemy, probably in the night, and uncertain of what hands she might first fall into, appeared an effort above human nature. The assurance I was enabled to give was small indeed; I had not even a cup of wine to offer; but I was told she had found, from some kind and fortunate hand, a little rum and dirty water. All I could furnish to her was an open boat, and a few lines, written upon dirty and wet paper, to General Gates, recommending her to his protection. "Mr. Brudenell, the chaplain to the artillery (the same gentleman who had officiated so signally at General Fraser's funeral) readily undertook to accompany Her, 2 M of the sensibility which dictated it, and as a testimony of that supreme degree of fortitude, resignation, constancy, and affection, which is most frequently discovered under the most tender forms; and I will add, from my own observation, and I will do it with lively satisfaction, that in the exercise of these duties and these virtues life; in every trial of adversity, the fair and feeble sex, show themselves superior to the lordly animals of the creation, and furnish examples of tranquil firmness and resolution to their protectors. and with one female servant, and the major's valet-de-chambre, (who had a ball which he had received in the late action then in his shoulder) she rowed down the river to meet the enemy. But her distresses were not yet at an end. The night was advanced before the boat reached the enemy's out post, and the sentinel would not let it pass, nor even come on shore: which ornament and sweeten the married In vain Mr Brudenell offered the flag of truce, and represented the state of the extraordinary passenger. The guard, apprehensive of treachery, and punctilious to their orders, threatened to fire into the boat if it stirred before day-light. Her anxiety and sufferings were thus protracted through seven or eight dark cold hours; and her reflections upon that first reception could not give her very encouraging ideas of the treatment she was afterwards to expect. But it is due to justice at the close of this adventure to say, that she was received and accommodated by General Gates with all the humanity and respect that her rank, her merits, and her fortune deserved. "Let such as are affected by these circumstances of alarm, hardship, and danger, recollect, that the subject of them was a woman; of the most tender and delicate frame; of the gentlest manners; habituated to all the soft elegancies, and refined enjoyments, that attend high birth and fortune; and far advanced in a state in which the tender cares, always due to the sex, become indispensably necessary. Her mind alone was formed for such trial." 66 General) who commanded the guard, was Major Henry Dearborn (since Major ordered to detain the flag until the morning; the night being exceedingly dark, and the quality of the lady unknown. As this incident has been grossly misrepresented to the injury of the American character, which in arms is that of courage, clemency, and humanity; to correct the delusions which have flowed from Gen. Burgoyne's pen, who, although the vehicle lumny-I am authorized by General Dearcould not have been the author of the caborn to make the following statement, in which guard occupied a cabin, in which there place entire confidence. His was a back apartment appropriated to his own accommodation: the party on board the boat attracted the attention of the sentinel, and he had not hailed ten minutes, before she struck the shore; the lady was immediately conveyed into the apartment of the Major, which had been cleared for GENERAL WILKINSON'S RELATION. her reception; her attendants followed "The day, (9th Oct.) wasted without a was made, and her mind was relieved from with her baggage and necessaries, and fire movement to the front, excepting parties the horrors which oppressed it, by the asof observation, and the night found us on surance of her husband's safety; she took our old ground. About ten o'clock I was tea, and was accommodated as comfortaadvised from the advanced guard on the bly as circumstances would permit, and river, that a batteau under a flag of truce the next morning when I visited the guard had arrived from the enemy, with a lady before sunrise, her boat had put off, and on board, who bore a letter to General was floating down the stream to our camp, Gates, from General Burgoyne, of which I shall here record a fac-simile, in honour * Gen Burgoyne's Letter to Gen. Gates. SIR tune,without testifying that your attentions to her M. G. Gates. Lady Harriet Ackland, a lady of the first distinction by family, rank, and personal virtues, Oct. 9, 1777. is under such concern on account of Major Ackland, her husband, wounded, a prisoner in your hands, that I cannot refuse her request to commit her to your protection. Whatever general impropriety there may be in persons acting in your situation and mine to solicit favours, I cannot see C uncommon preem nepes in every female grave and exaltation of character of this lady, and her very hard for Your obedient Servant, The original of this highly interesting letter, documents relating to the campaign of 1777, has together with several other important MSS. been deposited, by Gen. Wilkinson, in the archives of the New-York Historical Society as well as an of his Memoirs. elegantly bound presentation copy question, took the negative side with his usual decision; he was opposed, warmth ensued, and he gave the lie direct to a Lieutenant Lloyd, fought him, and was shot through the head. Lady Harriet lost her senses, and continued deranged two years; after which, I have been informed, she married Mr. Brudenell, who accompa nied her from General Burgoyne's camp, when she sought her wounded husband on E. where General Gates, whose gallantry will not be denied, stood ready to receive her with all the respect and tenderness to which her rank and condition gave her a claim: indeed, the feminine figure, the benign aspect, and polished manners of this charming woman, were alone sufficient to attract the sympathy of the most obdurate; but if another motive could have been wanting to inspire respect, it was furnished by the peculiar circumstances of the Hudson's river." Lady Harriet, then in that most delicate situation, which cannot fail to interest the solicitudes of every being possessing the form of a man: it was therefore the foulest injustice to brand an American officer with the failure of courtesy, where it was so highly merited. Major Ackland had set out for Albany, where he was joined by his lady" I am, &c. July 4, 1817. HISTORICUS. We are much obliged to our correspondent for bringing together the particulars attending an adventure, which, we doubt not, has engaged the sympathies of our readers. We will complete the history of these lovers. The circumstances attending the wound and capture of Major Ackland, will be found in our Review of General Wilkinson's Memoirs, page 41 of this volume. We are enabled to add from the same authority, (Gen. W's Memoirs,) the tragic sequel of this interesting story. In consequence of the situation of Lady Harriet, General Wilkinson used his endeavours, with success, to procure the conditional exchange of Major Ackland, with permission to remove to New-York. There, Major Ackland effected his exchange against Major Otho Williams, at that time a prisoner on Long Island. Pending the negotiation for this purpose, Major Ackland made this wounded officer an inmate of his house, where Lady Harriet's attentions alleviated his sufferings. We approach with reluctance the catastrophe of our tale. General Wilkinson has feeling ly related it. "But unfortunate was the destiny of this gallant, generous, high-minded gentleman; and it cannot be listened to by an American without deep regret, when it is known he gave his life in defence of their honour. I have the following detail from an English gentleman in whom I place confidence:-Ackland, after his return to England, procured a regiment, and at a dinner of military men, where the courage of the Americans was made a NEW-YORK INSTITUTION. MESSRS. EDITORS, The American Museum has been re moved from Chatham street to the NewYork Institution, in Chamber street; and was opened for exhibition the first time on the afternoon and evening of the 2d July, 1817. The brilliant display made on this occasion, gave an opportunity for many to admire the taste of Mr. Scudder (the proprietor) in the disposition of his natural curiosities, and the elegant manner in which he has prepared and preserved them, and varied their natural attitudes to give the strongest impressions, and produce the most lasting effect upon the beholder. His skill is unequalled in preparing subjects of natural history so that they shall retain their original characteristic expression, and appear in their native beauty or deformity. It was the opinion of several gentle. men present the first exhibition, that neither London nor Paris, which they had visited, possessed specimens in such high state of preservation; and that as he already excelled in the preparation, he would soon exceed in the number of his subjects, and the extent of his Museum, any similar establishment. It was thought by some, that nothing was wanting but a little more time and due encouragement, to make the American Museum the first establishment of the kind in this or any other country. Not an individual appeared dissatisfied with this appropriation of the building in which the Museum is now established. On the contrary, all express ed their satisfaction that Mr. Scudder had received public patronage, and thought that he had shown himself worthy of it. Former attempts had been made in NewYork to establish a Museum of natural and artificial curiosities, but they failed for want of public patronage. Notwithstanding these discouraging circumstances, Mr. John Scudder began, about the year 1800, while he was yet in the employ of Mr. Savage, at monthly wages, to pro cure specimens for a new collection. The Armadillo was the first animal that he procured, and from this feeble beginning his industryand perseverance have brought to public view the splendid collection which now graces our city. He has laboured for several years under the disadvantage of having a house badly adapted to the purpose of a Museum, but as this is now removed, he will for the future have full scope for the exercise of his ingenuity, and with the encouragement thus afforded him, much may be expected to result from his labours. On the 2d July, Mr. Scudder complimented his patrons with the first view of the American Museum as newly arranged in the New-York Institution. The members of the Corporation, and those scientific gentlemen who had taken a particular interest in his success, together with their families, were invited to a gratuitous view, previously to opening the Museum to the public. We shall take some future occasion to describe the excellent dispo. sition of the natural curiosities of this Museum, particularly the different groups and combinations of the preserved specimens of animals.. 2. The Literary and Philosophical Society, of which his Excellency the Gover nor is President. This association has the lease of a spacious room for their sittings, which are monthly. A number of excellent papers on various subjects have been read before this Society, of which one volume of transactions has been published, and there are other communications on file sufficient for a second volume, whenever the funds of the Society will admit their publication. The Museum now forms a part of the New-York Institution, which, though well understood among ourselves, may require some explanation to distant readers and visiters to our city. The building which is appropriated for the purposes of the Institution, was formerly the New-York Alms-house,a brick building,260 feet long, and three stories high. It is a plain edifice, without ornament, having been built for use, not for show. When it was vacated in 1816 and the paupers removed to the new establishment at Bellevue, in the suburbs of the city, the Corporation appropriated it to different Societies, which had applied for apartments within it. Under the direction of the Committee of Arts and Sciences, the building was leased for ten years, for a nominal rent, to different persons and Societies, who are now located in the building, and whose leases commenced on the 1st May, 1816. The edifice, by its present designation, means the New-York Institution of Learned and Scientific Establishments, of which the following are located there. 1. The American Academy of the Fine Arts, of which Col. Trumbull is President. The other officers are stated in a former number of this Magazine, in which was commenced (p.133) an account of the subjects exhibited. These comprise painting and statuary only. 3. The Historical Society. His Excellency De Witt Clinton is also President of this institution. They have a suit of rooms. One is appropriated for the sittings of the Society, and in this, the monthly meetings of several Bible Societies are permitted to be held. Another room contains the collection of books, papers, manuscripts, &c. collected by the Society, relating to the civil, ecclesiastical, or natural history of our country. Two other large rooms are set apart for the cabinet of Mineralogy,Zoology, and Botany, and considerable progress is made in these departments. These rooms were once assigned to the New-York City Library, but the lease was relinquished, and they were subsequently given to the Historical Society and to Mr. Griscom. 4. The Lyceum of Natural History. Dr. Mitchill is President of this institution, of which we gave some account in a former number. The members consist principally of young, active and zealous cultivators of the Natural Sciences. Their sittings are frequent, and the communications made to the Society are numerous and important. The room occupied by the Ly ceum was formerly assigned to General Swift, and occupied by him, during the war, when his services were wanted, and his talents were employed, in planning works of defence for this city. Being 10 longer wanted for that purpose, it has been granted to the Lyceum. 5. Mr. John Griscom, Lecturer on Chemistry and Natural Philosophy, has a room assigned to him on the same terms with the other Societies, provided he uses it for the purpose of delivering his lectures therein and nothing else. 6. The American Museum, of which we have spoken. These six establishments and associations constitute the New-York Institution. The whole of this extensive building, except a small part occupied by the Commissioners of the Alms-house, has thus heen disposed of by the Corporation for |