Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-10-14

X
feet higher than was ever before known ::
1T carried away the building occupied as
the Post Office, and several houses and
stores. A long range of brick stores on
one OF the wharves, wa, carridcd aw:y and
with 1t their valuable contents, among
which were more than 400 boxes of sugar.
a great number oftrees were blown down
and mucho neutrality-suspicious.. The wh.ryes
were completely swept away.
TRIAL OF ROBERT J.. TAYLOR.
In our paper of yesterday, we were to-
tally silent on the subject. of this Trial,
which,ln consequence of an Indictment
found againt Robert l.. Taylor by the
Grand Jury ct August term, took place OIL
Tuesday last Before the Hastings Court,
and Special Jury of this CITY. 1t is not
easy to define the cause of our silence. II
originated in the peculiar nature of the
case. There was in that case, something
over which humanity and modesty wished
to throw an impenetrable veil-while JUS
tice. stern and unmoved, rent, with one
hand. the chaste and mysterious curtain.
and with the other, smote the humbled and
wretched offender.
A report of the trial, however, having
appeared from another quarter, cur scru-
pies are, ir some degree, removed and
we feel at liberty to approach the awful
subject (; still we approachit with blush
with commingled emotions of surprise.
indignation, and pity-and, especially,
with deepest sympathy for the young, art
less, innocent object of the guilty assault.
and for the amiable wife and infant son
of the author of that assault.
How strange compound is man ! and
IN this compound, what heterogeneous
mixture of pure metal and base alloy -
The man thus indicted-1, for an assault
ioith an intent to commit rape,-2 for a
mere assault, was not one Of those wretch
ed, despisable, brutalized beings, whose
soul was never irradiated and warmed by
single genial ray of refined knowledge
whose feelings never walked but to lark de-
signs, and atrocious deeds-No Genius
and science had marked him for their own
-fhe muses. had gifted him with poetical
powers which have often been admired
and, what is more, Religion had enrolled
| him under her holy standard With the
e'oquencc ola Chrysostom, he had often
inculcated from the pulpit, the precepts
of christian morality.-No wonder then
that, with so many claims to private and
public confidence, he should engage the es-
TEEN, conciliate the friendship, and COM
mand the respect of SO many enlightened
and virtuous persons! the Good, the
Honorable are not prone to suspicion
and, indeed, who could have suspected one
who, with so many other incentives to vir-
tue, possessed in his accomplished wife.
an uncommon share of that bliss which fe-
male loneliness bestows CONTRARY TO all
moral probabilities, contrary to the usual
results of human affairs, and to the usual
phases OF the human character, genius,
science; religion, self-respect, social consi-
derations, sympathy for innocence, alec
ton Tor vile Ia the most interesting OF
situations, at once deserted him. No hal
tacsllatton ever was so deplorable. AS
well might the rash offender Lave ascended
the lofty pinnacle of our Capitol and preci-
pltated himself headlong from its summit.
with hope Of escaping unhurt from the
tremendous fall. There obviously was,
IN the unaccouutable attempt, considera-
DE share of insanity, produced by intempe-
rate habits, ard by the wild, iawless wan
behring's of disordered imagination.
10 be specific-Robert l.. Taylor, in
dicted on the two counts above mentioned,
was, az Tuesday last, put upon his trial.
No counsel appeared in his behalf. The
case was opened in calm and dignified
MANNER by the States Attorney, Mr.. WIN.
Marshall. The Prisoner then spoke
The object of his address, in which incen-
uity and cIoquence, worthy of better
cause, cOnspicuousiy, shone, was TO remove
the clouds OF prejudice in which he stood
llnyolyed.-We ought to have remarked
that most of the persons summoned as iu-
ry-men upon this case declared precon-
ceiyed opinion of guilt in the Prisoner
and that he declined challenging any Of
those persons.
Miss -, the only witness, was called
upon to reveal the dark mystery of almost
Uncomfortable iniquity. Her tender age
(she IS scarcely 10 years Old)--the modes.
~ uatorul to her sex and to that agc--the
awulsnlemnity of the occasion-the heart
renting recolections and dismal imagery
which It cOnjured up--all contributed TO
limpart somc confusion to her testimony
the taic ot honor was with difficulty ex-
torted from timid, ingenious, blushing.
lartless girl.--it unravellcd web of min
/ gict.lnpurc, detesta5le yarn. II appear
ed tbat wies at first, then threats and vio-
lence, had been used towards the poor. IN
tended victim of unhalIcwed love-fhat