The novels of Charles Brockden Brown, consisting of Wieland;or, The transformation. Arthur Mervyn; or, Memoirs of the year 1793. Edgar Huntly; or, Memoirs of a sleep-walker. Jane Talbot. Ormond; or, The secret witness. Clara Howard; or, The enthusiasm of love. With a memoir of the author.

ORMOND;
OR,
THE SECRET WITNESS.
CHAPTER I.
STEPHEN DUDLEY was a native of New York.. He
was educated to the profession of a painter. His father's
trade was that of an apothecary. But, his son manifesting an attachment to the pendil, he was resolved that it
should be gratified. For this end Stephen was sent at
an early age to Europe, and not only enjoyed the instructions of Fuzeli and Bartolozzi, but spent a considerable
period in Italy in studying the Augustan and Medicean
monuments. It was intended that he should practise his
art in his native city; but the young man, though reconciled to this scheme by deference to paternal authority,
and by a sense of its propriety, was willing as long as
possible to postpone it. The liberality of his father relieved him from all pecuniary cares. His whole time was
devoted to the improvement of his skill in his favourite
art, and the enriching of his mind with every valuable
accomplishment. He was endowed with a comprehensive
genius and indefatigable industry. His progress was
proportionably rapid, and he passed his time without
much regard to futurity, being too well satisfied with the
present to anticipate a change. A change, however, was
unavoidable, and he was obliged at length to pay a reluctant obedience to his father's repeated summons. The
death of his wife had rendered his society still more
necessary to the old gentleman.

1*

6