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.

TIlE SECRET WITNESS.

33

Contagious diseases, she well knew, periodically visited
and laid waste the Greek and Egyptian cities. It constituted no small part of that mass of evil, political and
physical, by which that portion of the world has been so
long afflicted. That a pest equally malignant had assailed the metropolis of her own country-a town famous
for the salubrity of its airs and the perfection of its
police-had something in it so wild and uncouth, that
she could not reconcile herself to the possibility of such
an event.
The death of Watson, however, filled her mind with
awful reflections. The purpose of her walk was forgotten
amidst more momentous considerations. She bent her
steps pensively homeward. She had now leisure to remark the symptoms of terror with which all ranks appeared to have been seized. The streets were as much
fiequented as ever, but there were few passengers whose
countenances did not betray alarm, and who did not
employ the imaginary antidote to infection,-vinegar.
Having reached home, she quickly discovered in her
father an unusual solemnity and thoughtfulness. He
had no power to conceal his emotions from his daughter,
when her efforts to discover them were earnestly exerted.
She learned that during her absence he had been visited
by his next neighbour,-a thrifty, sober, and wellmeaning, but ignorant and meddling, person, by name
Whiston. This person, being equally inquisitive into
other men's affairs and communicative of his own, was
always an unwelcome visitant. On this occasion, he had
come to disburden on Mr. Dudley his fears of disease
and death. His tale of the origin and progress of the
epidemic, of the number and suddenness of recent deaths,
was delivered with endless prolixity. With this account
he mingled prognostics of the future, counselled Mr.
Dudley to fly from the scene of danger, and stated his
own schemes and resolutions. After having thoroughly
affrighted and wearied his companion, he took his leave.
Constantia endeavoured to remove the impression
which had been thus needlessly made. She urged her
doubts as to the truth of Whiston's representations, and
endeavoured, in various ways, to extenuate the danger.