o his desires; for the manner in which
we have squandered money, during the last two years, has fearfully
diminished my fortune, and there is but a very small balance of cash in
my favor at the bank. This house must be sold, together with all our
furniture, in order to replenish our funds. Now, my dear, we must make
preparations for our instant departure for Boston.'

Mrs. Franklin summoned her servants, paid them their wages, and
discharged them all, with the exception of her handsome footman, whom
she determined to leave in charge of the house, until it was sold, after
which he was privately requested to join his mistress in Boston; he was
particularly directed to state, in answer to all inquiries, that the
family had gone to Philadelphia. Simon, (for this was the footman's
name) promised implicit obedience to these orders; and was rewarded for
his fidelity by a private _tete-a-tete_ with his fair patron, during
which many kisses were exchanged, and other little tokens of affection
were indulged in; after which she gave him the keys of the house,
charging him not to visit the wine-cellar too often, and by all means
not to admit a woman into the house, under pain of her eternal
displeasure.

That same afternoon, the two ladies took passage in a steamer for
Boston. They were received on board by the handsome and gentlemanly
Captain, who, being somewhat of a fashionable man, had some slight
acquaintance with the aristocratic mother and her beauteous daughter. He
courteously insisted that they should occupy his own state-room; and
they accordingly took possession of that elegant apartment, where they
ordered tea be served; and, at their invitation, the Captain supped with
them. The repast over, he apologized to the ladies for his necessary
absence; and sent the steward to them with a bottle of very choice wine.

The state-room was divided into two apartments by a curtain of silk; and
in each of these apartments was a magnificent bed. The floor was
handsomely carpeted, and the walls were adorned with superb mirrors and
pictures. The Captain was a man of taste, and his cabin was a gem of
luxury and splendor.

As the stately steamer ploughed her way through the turbid waters of the
Sound, many were the scenes which took place on board of her, worthy to
be delineated by our pen. Though it is our peculiar province to write of
city crimes, we nevertheless must not omit to depict some of the
transactions which occurred durin