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has all the high finishing, all the careful correctness, and all the nicety of a miniature. The next sketch is the

FAMILY OF GERARD DOW.

This painter, in his compositions, approaches nearer to the historical school than Van Ostade. He is less natural, less correct, it is true; but then he is more luxurant, is richer, and has more elevation in the choice of his subject, and though his touch has less freedom, yet it is more finished and more studied; he has, in fact, if one may so express it, a finish more finished, a nicety more nice! This picture, which, according to an uncontroverted tradition, is called by its present name, possesses all the characteristics of his particular talent; the head of the old woman, in a half tint, is a master-piece of truth, expression, of tone, and colour; her lips seem to move; all her body is in action; her profile is a portrait; every part of the body, the hands, the back, nay the dress, and even the look, are all cotemporary with the head; all her linen is of the utmost transparancy; all her various stuffs in the dress are distinguishable. Even the inanimate details, all the furniture, are highly finished; nothing can be more exact than the wheel, the chairs; nay, even the copper pot, with its ornaments in relief; the very dust is found upon the places where it ought to rest; in short, it is the chamber of an ancient couple. But the figure of the old man is not so perfect; the head scems a little too historical for a portrait; the beard is too patriarchal; he listens, however, whilst his wife reads; he is quite in action, and all his body takes part in it. The light is drawn with great purity; it is evening; the window is open, but the sky, which appears through this opening, is too blue; there is also a blue vine, but this is very properly attributed to the chemical destruction of the yellow in the green tints, from the lapse of time.

FOR THE PORT FOLIO.

MR. EDITOR,

THE inclosed trifle is translated from the Mercure de France. If you should deem it worthy of insertion in The Port Folio, I shall think myself amply compensated for my trouble. If, in the course of my perusal of the above work, I should find any other articles more worthy of translating than the present one, I may, possibly, occupy a leisure hour in rendering them into English, and sending them to you.

Philad. Sep. 28th, 1811.

THE GENEROUS MASK.

J. W. P-R.

A BEAUTIFUL Woman of Bourdeaux mourned for her husband, who had embarked in a vessel that was said to be shipwrecked. Many lovers, attracted by her youth and beauty, waited on her to make her the offer of their hands, as soon as the news was confirmed that her husband had perished. The lady observed a great deal of circumspection in her conduct; however, wishing to give an answer to the offers of her lovers, she invited them to an entertainment at her house on one of the last days of the carnival. They were at play, when an unknown mask, disguised as a Genius, presented himself, and sat down to play with the lady. He lost; he insisted upon playing more, and he lost again. Fortune went against him ten or twelve times in succession, for he seemed to shake the dice so that they might turn up against him. Others of the players tried their fortune with him, but they did not find their account in it. The lady sat down again, and gained an immense sum of money, which the mask seemed to lose with an air of gayety, and apparent pleasure, that astonished the spectators. Some one said, loud enough to be heard, that he gave away with prodigality, and did not play. The mask, raising his voice, said, that he was the genius of riches; that he cared not for them, unless he could share them with the lady; and that he professed nothing that he was not willing to fulfil. As he spoke, he pulled out several purses; some filled with gold, and others with diamonds, which he placed before the lady, proposing to stake them against the most trifling sum she would choose to hazard. The lady, embarrassed by this declaration, refused to play.

They did not know what to think of this adventure, when an old lady, one of the company, whispered to her neighbour, that the mask was the devil, and that his riches, his dress, his discourse, and his subtilties at play, made it evident enough. The generous player heard it, and profited by it. He assumed the voice and manners of a magician. He spoke of several things that were known but to the lady herself; he spoke several unknown languages, performed many slight of hand tricks, and concluded by saying, that he came to demand one of the company, that had been given to him; protested that she belonged to him, and that he was going to take possession of her, never more to quit her. Each one regarded the lady, who was quite at a loss what to think of the affair. The women trembled, the men smiled, and the genius continued to amuse himself. However, the scene continued long enough to give them time to send for persons, who began to interrogate the spirit, and were ready to exorcise him.

The mask turned the whole into ridicule, with so much spirit, that the laugh was entirely on his side. At last he threw off his mask, and the scene was concluded by a cry of joy from the lady of the house. It was no other than her husband, who having gone to Spain, afterwards went to Peru, where he had become enriched, and returned to Bordeaux, loaded with an immense treasure. He had learned, on his arrival, that his wife intended giving an entertainment to her friends. This favourable opportunity for disguise had made him wish to be present at the entertainment, without being known. He had assumed for that purpose, the most fantastical dress he could find. The assembly, composed of his relations and friends, congratulated him on his happy return, and left him with his lovely and happy wife.

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