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PAPEl!S O.F .MIRABEAU BUONAPARTE LAMAR
<:onsequence of his villany to leave North Carolina. Many forgeries are pro,·cn on him. He absconds clandestinely, lea\'ing every thin" behind him, save his money. 0 H c goes to New Orleans, where he is robbed of all his money. About this time the war commences in Texas- l\Iordecai being now an out- <:ast, aud pennyless, Volunteers his sen·ices and comes to this country. Is at the .Massacre at Goliad, and escapes: After wandering about through the woods and prairies for several days he becomes exhausted from fatigue and hunger and is found lying near a small brook by a [faded] conducts him to the . . . [faded] .Mordecai in- stantly recognizes the Hecluse to be Melrose, and with clue penitence discloses the whole truth. He confesses the letter to be a forgery, and that it was himself, instead Osborn that was shot. He had been in the office of Dr Birdsall to get some medicine, being that evening a little indisposed. Melrose treats him with the utmost hospitality .and kindness. Soon as the battle of San Jacinto is heard of in the United States Mr Slade concludes to emigrate to Texas. He pur- <!hases land in "Cole's Settlement." He has not been there long be- fore he discoveres a solitary hut, situated in the bosom of a beautiful, sequster'cl valley about n half mile distant from his own- He ascer- tains that it is the abode of a "Recluse." Ellen has now partly re- gained her health. In one of her evening . . . [fadedl she dis- <!overs engraved on a [faded] She is filled . . . [faded] impart the good tidings to her parents. They are now satisfied that the "Recluse'' is Dougald .Melrose. Ellen continues to stroll through the Valley every evening, hoping that some fortuitous circumstance might cause them to meet. Her hopes are soon realized. Dougald is out one afternoon with his gun- he discovers a beautiful female sit- ting beneath the shade of a spreading oak- He secretly approaches her. The surprise is complete, on both sides- They embrace each other, and after many tender salutations, retire to their respective homes. They are soon married. The f:tory leaves them standing on the summit of an elevated k"noll, at sun set contemplating the grandeur, a.ncl beauty of the surrounding landscape; and indulging in the pleas- ant reflection that "Constancy will be rewarded." I design (if I meet with sufficient encouragement) publishing a series of short sketches. It is my intention to publish them in Nos. two Nos to constitute a Vol. Each no will contain about eighty pages octavo. The first No is almost in readiness for the press. I luwe a few pages to finish of the second part of the "Recluse of the Valley." When that is compleated, the work will be ready for publication. I ha rn for the last two weeks been confined to my bed, with a very severe fever. That is the cause of my writing so miserable a hand. So soon as I am able to finish the work now on hand I will send it to you. I have not had time to revise the part I send you There must be several errors particularly in the punctuation for when I get absorbed in thought I nm . . . [faded] wrong If you deem the . . . rfaclccl] worthy of a pince in the News Papers and it is not too lengthy, you are at liberty to have it published, with yo1ir 01l'li correcti-011s. I will send you the second part in a fortnight, with a written "Pros- pectus" for the publication of the work.
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