with a female friend, to the place where the company was to assemble. After taking a turn in the rooms, she passed by the place where they were boiling the water for the tea; and pretending to be taken ill, she sent the waiters, one after the other, to look for assistance. As soon as they had quitted their post, she threw a sufficient quantity of jalap into the boilers, to produce the effect she desired. When that was done she resumed her place, and acted her part so well, that no person had the least suspicion of what she had done. She afterwards asked to remain in a retired part, where she could see all that was going on without being seen. In the mean time the company arrived; breakfast was served; conversation began to grow lively; the violins at last gave the signal, and all seemed disposed for gaiety; when the jalap, which had been mixed with the tea, began to produce its usual effect. Every one endeavoured to refrain, as much as possible; but the jalap obliged them, one after another, to quit the rooms. Lord Nugent was among the first, to the great delight of Lady Berkeley; who was highly amused with the grimaces and contortions which the guests made, in order to conceal the appearance of the necessity which pressed their withdrawing. Her Ladyship at last went away, after having seen the party break up much sooner than had been expected. 72. SINGULAR ANECDOTE OF ZAMPERINI. About the year 1775, Zamperini, one of the actresses at the opera, returning from Lisbon by sea, was so terrified by a storm, that she fell into a state of stupidity, from which nothing could relieve her. Upon her arrival at Venice among her family, she received every assistance which medicine could give, but in vain. She eat, drank, slept, and performed all the functions of animal life; but she knew nobody, took no interest in any thing, and seemed to be sunk into the most profound state of unconsciousness. Some person recommended that a harpsichord should be played in her presence: she was immediately affected; shortly after she appeared so far sensible as to take a part in the music, and even sung some favourite airs which were played to her. This was repeated frequently during six months, and always with the same symptoms and the same effects. At first sight, any one would have taken her for an ideot: as soon as the harpsichord was touched, her countenance changed, and by degrees she sang with as much expression and fire as ever; but in a moment after she relapsed into her former state of insensibility. Madame de Durazzo, the lady of the Imperial Ambassador at Venice, had the curiosity to see her she was moved with her situation, took her to her own house, and by care, medicine, and above all, by music, had the satisfaction of seeing her, in two years, completely restored to her original state of health and rationality and in 1778, she appeared upon the stage at Venice with the greatest suc cess. 73. UNFORTUNATE AND AFFECTING INSTANCE OF LOVE. The daughter of a country curate in Hampshire being reduced, by the death of her father, to the hard necessity of seeking some mode of subsistence, could find no other than going into the service of an old female friend of her mother, as her maid. Emilia (that was her name) had received from her parents the best education. She was handsome, had a very pleasing figure, was sensible, discreet, reserved, and of the most modest deportment. Unfortunately for her, a young gentleman of good fortune, who was a friend of the family with which she lived, frequently visited at the house. The master and mistress keeping only one footman, poor Emilia, who generally assisted in serving the tea, had thus an opportunity of seeing the young man, and fell in love with him before she was aware of the progress of that sentiment in her heart. When she did perceive it, her reason induced her to oppose it, and she made many ineffectual efforts for that purpose : indeed so violent were her struggles, that her health became seriously affected by them. Her mistress, who loved her tenderly, after having consulted several physicians in vain, sent her to the house of a friend at twenty miles distance, to try whether change of air would not be of service to her. The absence of the object of her affection, no doubt, contributed to her recovery. She returned to her mistress's; and having the same opportunities of seeing the young man as before, her passion revived. Firmly resolved to conquer it, or to die rather than give way to an attachment which increased in spite of her, she relapsed into the most deplorable state of health. The physicians, not being able to discover the cause of her disorder, thought that she must be affected by some deep sorrow, and pronounced her in danger. Her afflicted mistress entreated her to entrust her with the secret: and, to induce her to do so, told her the danger she was in; and promised not only not to betray her confidence, but to do her utmost to obtain the means necessary for her cure. Overcome by the affection of her mistress, she acknowledged her passion; begged her to conceal it from him who was the object of it; and received with resignation the news of her approaching dissolution, which would at last deliver her from an unfortunate passion that all her efforts had been |