CHAP. XXIV.

A good Disposition to be preferred to Genius or Acquirements.---Continuation of Mr. I Williams's Story:

MR. Williams was rejoiced at the return of Mr. Richardson, nor were Frank and Patty less so, to see their youthful benefactors, with whom having for a short time withdrawn, Mr. Williams, in the warmest terms, expressed how sensibly he felt the obligations he owed to Mr. Richardson for his goodness to his distressed relatives..

Willing to change the discourse, Mr.. Richardson asked him his opinion concerning them, as he judged that they were now become acquainted with each other.

They want improvement, Sir," answered he: but, thank God, they appear "to possess good natural dispositions; and all the genius and acquirements in the

"world,

"world, unless the innate principle of vir"tue direct them, are worthless, or only "enable the possessors to soar to higher

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flights of wickedness, and increase their "condemnation. I am therefore satisfied; " and trust, as they appear virtuously dis"posed, to be able to make them all I "wish.

The entrance of the children prevented more discourse; and all being drawn round the fire, Mr. Richardson requested Mr. Williams to continue his narrative.

Continuation of the Adventures of Mr. Williams the Surgeon, and the Rajah Ali Saab.

"THE bramin, after examining us some moments, replied, "Though I would, at the hazard of my life, succour suffering virtue, yet I will never screen false"hood or vice. Who ye are, or what ye

may have taught this boy, I know not: "but of this I am certain, that he is not "the son of the Rajah Doual Saab, as that

"child is of the complexion of the Eu

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ropeans; neither hast thou," continued he, fixing his eyes on me," the appearance of that country, either in person or "speech."

"Gourah and myself were both on the point of answering the bramin, when the

young Ali, with wonderful quickness, "tore open his vest, and shewing his bo

som, exclaimed, "Indeed, father, I am "the son of the Rajah Doual Saab and the "Princess Selima; and to convince you' "that I am so, do you not recollect, that "as the Rajah Heider Cawn passed these "mountains, after he had made me pri-'

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soner, the soldiers all stopped to water "their beasts at yonder well? and surely "they must have greatly injured your rice-ground."

This simple assurance at once satisfied the bramin. "I would not obstinately err against conviction," said he; "the "child's natural complexion, I see, is "fair, and it is as certain the troops wan

"err

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sidering that it was my whole depend66 ence for support. Follow me: I will do my best to save you.'

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"With these words he led the way to a deep hollow between the rocks, the en

trance to which was inclosed with moun"tain shrubs: pushing them aside, he

pointed out a recess, where he assur"ed us we should be safe, at least for "the night.

By this time the music no longer "echoed at a distance; it was near, and

"the clattering of arms, and noise of "horses, made us ready to sink with ter "6 ror, though I exerted my utmost efforts "to calm the fears of Gourah and those " of the young Ali, who, clasped close in

my arms, dared scarcely whisper for fear, "until, nature exhausted, he dropped asleep. We remained in this situation "for near six hours, for the last three of "which we heard no noise, and gave way

"to the hope that they had retaken the. "road from the mountains; for we knew "that, since the Rajah Heider's treacher<< ous

66 ous attack, Doual Saab's boundaries "have been so vigilantly guarded, that

they would not dare to attempt to pass "them. On the dawn of the morning "we heard the sound of steps, and in a "few minutes saw the bramin, with a "wicker basket in his hand-Children," said he, "I have brought you food, though "I believe you might safely come forth, "for I have watched the troops down the "mountains as far as my aged eyes could "discern them. It is better, however, to remain where you are for a few hours

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longer, than run any hazard. At midday you shall again see me."

Setting down the basket, he gave us no time for thanks, but instantly departed; and having refreshed ourselves "with the rice and roots he brought us, "we began to lose our fears, and waited impatiently for his return. At the ap

pointed hour he came, and bidding us "follow him, we returned to his hut.

"I have been employed," said he, "since I saw you, in climbing to the sum