150 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



" the gentle attrapions of confidence. What joy 

 *• is not heightened by her joy ? What forehead 

 *' is not fmoothed when ihe fmiles ? What wrath 

 *' can repel he-r tears ? Virginia will return with 

 ''more philofophy than you poffefs ; fhe will 

 *' be greatly furprized at not finding the gar- 

 *' den entirely reftored, fhe, whofe thoughts are 

 *' fixed on embellifhing it, in fpite of the perfecu- 

 *' tions of her relation, while far from her mother, 

 ** and from vou.'* 



The idea of the approaching return of Firginia^ 

 renovated the courage of Paiil^ and brought hirii 

 back to his rural occupations. Happy in the 

 midft of his perturbation, in propofmg to his 

 exertions, an end congenial to his predominant 

 paffion. 



One morning, at day-break, it was the 24th 

 of December, 1752, Paul, on rifing, perceived a 

 white flag hung out on Mount Difcovery. This 

 flag was the fignal that a veflel was defcried at fea. 

 He immediately flew to the city, in order to learn 

 if it brought any intelligence of Firginia. He re- 

 mained there till the return of the pilot of the port, 

 who, according to cuftom, bad gone out to recon- 

 noitre her. This man did not come back till the 

 evening. He reported to the Governor, that the 

 veflel which they had hailed was theSaint-Gerand, 

 "^ of 



