The court charged the jury, that although the testimony was not conclusive, nor the injury very apparent, yet the court was not warranted in taking the case out of the hands of the jury. A promise had evidently been made, and had been broken; some differences existed as to the period when the matrimonial contract was to have been fulfilled, and it was equally true and honourable, as the court observed, that in 1827 slavery was to cease in the state, and that fact might have warranted the defendant in the postponement; but of this there was no positive proof, and as the parties could neither read nor write, the presents might be construed into a marriage promise. The court could see no reason why these humble Africans should not, in imitation of their betters, in such cases, appeal to a jury for damages; but it was advisable not to make those damages more enormous than circumstances warranted, yet sufficient to act as a lesson to those coloured gentry, in their attempts to imitate fashionable infidelity. The jury brought in a verdict of “Ten dollars, and costs, for the plaintiff.” The defendant not being able to pay, was committed to Kingston jail, a martyr to his own folly, and an example to all others in like cases offending. * * * * * THE RETROSPECT. I have not heard thy name for years; Thy memory ere thyself is dead; And even I forget the tears That once for thy lov’d sake were shed. There was a time when thou didst seem The light and breath of life to me-- When, e’en in thought, I could not dream That less than mine thou e’er could be:-- Yet now it is a chance that brought Thy image to my heart again; A single flower recall’d the thought-- Why is it still so full of pain? The jasmine, round the casement twin’d, Caught mine eye in the pale moonlight. It broke my dream, and brought to mind Another dream--another night. As then, I by the casement leant, As then, the silver moonlight shone But not, as then, another bent Beside me--I am now alone. The sea is now between us twain As wide a gulf between each heart; Never can either have again An influence on the other’s part. Our paths are different; perchance mine May seem the sunniest of the two: The lute, which once was only thine, Has other aim, and higher view. My song has now a wider scope Than when its first tones breath’d thy name; My heart has done with Love--and hope Turn’d to another idol--Fame. ’Tis but one destiny; one dream Succeeds another--like a wave Following its bubbles--till their gleam Is lost, and ended in the grave. Why am I sorrowful? ’Tis not One thought of thee has brought the tear In sooth, thou art so much forgot, I do not even wish thee here.