The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1818-11-24 00:00:00

MELANCHOLY NARRATIVE.

We exlniet the following letter from The Newry
Telegraph ; it is addressed to the Editor of ilia
Pried :

With feelinp of sincere sorrow, 1 het leave, through
the medium of your Paper, to communicate to the public
the Very inrbilleisoly intelligence of the loss of the entire of
Mr. %mien's family, late of this town, un their passage to
Quebec, which consisted of eight persons—the mother, five
daughters, mad two sons; the eldest of whom, Miss &mien,
• most interesting girl, of 22 years of age, had received a
finished educators, in our of the firm boardeug-schoola in
Dublin. The eldest son. James, bad been brought up to the
study of physic, in which lie haul made a great pruticieory.
They all embarked on board the Mary Ann, in Belfast, Oct.
1817, bound for Quebec, in company with Mr. Soden'. brother,
James, from a hum the lamentable intelligesice has beta receiv-
ed. Mr. S. not having fluidly arranged his &Bair', was solder
the necessity of stopping after his family for that purpose,
mid the period having elapsed in which the vessel was to
sail, the Captain would Out make further delay, but pro-
mised Nlr. Soden that nothing el Id be wanting, on his
part, td make his family lie comfortable as possible. 'This
in a degree tended to alleviate his distreps of mind; but
how this promise um fulfilled she swims, will more fully
prose. about to take his leave (alas! Ilia dust fare-
well!) of his dearly beloved family, a scene ensued, which
language tills sue to &scribe. _ _ _

Shortly after the ship stolid, and being buffeted about
by contrary winds, their p.issage was much impeded, mid at
knob their provisions were nearly exhausted, SO murk so,
that their allowance was one hisenit per diem! At this
period a typhus fever raged will, great violence on hoard ;
none escaped its baneful inthience. After a lapse of fifteen
weeks they arrived in the Gut of Cancer ; being delayed
there a mouth, and having taken jut provisions, they sailed
fur Quebec. The ship was again tossed about by euutrary
winds, ■nd Wore she reached the river St. Lawrence, the

provisions were once more Hearty exhausted--their allow.
ante was limited to one pound of bread per week ! though
it is stated there was a sufficiency of provisions on hoard!!
" We were now informed they were within 120 miles or
Quebec, but the Captain (through what motive it has slot
yet been ascertained) veered his course and east anchor at a
place called Kitcheithneho. Hence he used his rhetoric with
the passengers to prevail Oil them to go ashore, :cud when it
proved ineffectual, be swore he would close dcwn the hatch-
way., and smoke them with fire and brimstone. This shiest
had the desired effect—they tundra; and when leaving the
vessel (going, as it appeared to Intro, on a desolate island),
the cries or tire mother and the preen children were meet
dreadful. They had to travel 120 miles through this inland,
ere they reached Cuckain, where they agreed with Captain
ill'Cray, of the brig Mary, to bring Omni to
'‘ Now, Sir, the most melancholy part commenced: they
all embark, d on the Bth of December, and on the morning
of the 10th (three o'clock) were alarmed with the cries of
distress; they rushed on deck undresiwol, where they ter.
crived their awful situation—the brig being heavy laden
with plaister of paris, after she struck filled in a few mi.
antes with water; their situation became mow truly awful.
The boat lashings were cut, and a gond many of the passen-
gers rushed into it, amongst whom Mrs. Sullen 's children.
Mrs. Soden almost distracted—whir h being perceived, pa-
rental affection conquered every other consideration—they
rushed into the arms of their dear mother, Swing determined
lo save her or die in the attempt. The waves with redou.
bled fury beat against the shattered bark, wad rolling moon.
tains high, swept off the boat, and burled in the watery deep
this amiable and iuteresting !
" After Mr. Soden hail his affairs properly arranged, he
took his passage in a vessel Wood for tanellee, in high
spirits, in expectation of embracing his dear children and
beloved wife; hut on his arrival yon may judge how be
must have felt, when all proved lord.. et ual. He was told,
indeed, that the Mary Aim bad arrived, and sailed far a
foreign port, but there were no parmenKrraof the die:eriptioss he
gave uu board. He remained in this state of mind, torii with
gospel's?, hoping against hope, when one day, after making
his usual inquiries, he wet with a Mr. Waters, loan Bedard,
whom he recolls'eted seeing uu board when he parted with his
family; he stood ... Ironies*, gaz.d usi the rOIIIII,II4IICC of
Mr. Waters, and both horst into tears—lie had now nu doubt
of the melancholy fate of his dear family. and with streaming
eyes prayed he would relieve him of his anxiety of mind, as he
was fully prepared fur the worst. Mr. Waters then /We
him a brier recital of Ilacif sull,riugs, and finally of their
unhappy and melancholy cud. 1 tired not say his grief was
must excruciating. and after his mind had hi-come somewhat
calm, he said, The Lord had given them to me; hr bad a
right, therefore, to take them when and how he pleased."