h we may
designate a progress toward a divine goal, that of soul-exalting and
soul-saving wisdom) is as utterly prevented by this non-intercourse
system between the civilized and the _half_ civilized; which, with all
deference to the ancient Britons, I must venture to consider them.
Camden, the antiquary, has preserved a tradition, that "certain
Brittaines" (Britons) going over into Armorica, and taking wives from
among the people of Normandy, "_did cut out their tongues_," through
fear that, when they should become mothers, they might corrupt the Welsh
tongue of the children, by teaching them that foreign language! The love
of their own tongue thus appears to be of very old standing, if we are
to believe this agreeable proof of it. I believe the extirpation of
Welsh, as a spoken language, would pioneer the way to knowledge,
civilization, and _religion_ here, of which last blessing there is a
grievous lack, judging from the morals of the people.

ADVENTURES IN TEXAS.

NO. II.

A TRIAL BY JURY.

When I recovered from my state of insensibility, and once more opened my
eyes, I was lying on the bank of a small but deep river. My horse was
grazing quietly a few yards off, and beside me stood a man with folded
arms, holding a wicker-covered flask in his hand. This was all I was
able to observe; for my state of weakness prevented me from getting up
and looking around me.

"Where am I?" I gasped.

"Where are you, stranger? By the Jacinto; and that you are _by_ it, and
not _in_ it, is no fault of your'n, I reckon."

There was something harsh and repulsive in the tone and manner in which
these words were spoken, and in the grating scornful laugh that
accompanied them, that jarred upon my nerves, and inspired me with a
feeling of aversion towards the speaker. I knew that he was my
deliverer; that he had saved my life, when my mustang, raging with
thirst, had sprung head-foremost into the water; that, without him, I
must inevitably have been drowned, even had the river been less deep
than it was; and that it was by his care, and the whisky he had made me
swallow, and of which I still felt the flavour on my tongue, that I had
been recovered from the death-like swoon into which I had fallen. But
had he done ten times as much for me, I could not have repressed the
feeling of repugnance, the inexplicable dislike, with which the mere
tones of his voice filled me. I turned my head away in order not to see
him. There was