Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-08-30

u
her service. Tn respect OF the latter, al
hey, have certainly existed, and as th'
circumstances of good. men did not more
I equire them formerly than now, | do no
now any reason which sound philosophy
Or religion can advance against the sup
position that they really exist.
| 1t is highly improper to adiuce, as {
treason against these, that they have beer
abused by ignorance and superstition
Those that ! plead for, were given t.
rood men: they were never vouchsased
ior petty, far less far impious purposes
They are merely the kind warnings OF
the voice Of friend enjoying us to be on
our guard-to prepare for the shock OF
suferings, or the awful moment OF disso
luton
| am persuaded, therefore, that while
we reject, with contempt anu ridicule
/ the pretensicns of prsphets and fortune.
tellers, who impose en the ignorant and
Iruperstitious. and while we Danish FROM.
,he enlightened paths Of science, the sto-
|ties of Nitchcraft the fetes OF magic, an,'
the ghostly tales of superstition, we must
not venture to deny that there may exist.
on the one band, impressions made or the
mind by evil spirits; and on the other.
communications to good men, ard some
times TO wicked men, By the Deity, tllro'
his agents.
Instances of what | al ude to, nigh be
given. Tie narrative OF the Lord L,yt.
Teton, is well known. Perhaps | ma
trespass too far Oh your patience. but
Der leave to relate one, leaving ny read
ersts refer it to whatever class he pleascs.
The fact of the dream = the catastrophe
can youch for. | had them fren a per
sen, nov II Europe. Of nth rack IN 50
c,ets gran vi honor, ard Of grea. learn.
iG@.
go was a person Of talents, and
good education. 1t was generally know
BY his friends, that be had unhappily i'm
bibed infdel sentiments. and his manners
were disSoI1te One night having reti' ed
TO rest, his mud not being known to nave
been asitated by any thing that ne had
been reading, Or by Y unusual occur
renee of the day-he had the following
singular dream
He foanL hjmsplf walking along an ex-
tensive valley. Every thing around pre-
sente4 pleasing aspect. lie assembled.
gradually. to the left, one ot the hills
which bounded the valley. As he adj
vanced. he discovered door on its SIDE.
His curiosity PROMPTED him to examine It.
and 10 try to gain adnittance. He knock
cd, ard instantly a pers n opened tie
ion gate, Which, grating on It's hinges
lai,, opea to BIN a ras>age. The g~tei
was hut ara bolted behind him. with al
laundering sound. lie locked around
him. ard beheid, as FAR as the eve could
reach, CT immense multitude Of faaianI
beings. They we're clothed IN long gar
ments, that reached the ground Somei
walked alone in the most pens'ye sad
ness. Some stood in grouges, locking
each other in the face, in profound 81
!ence. bat with looks and features ex
pressiye OF horror, beyond the pewer o;
words. A. approached one Of then
and enQuired what was Hle name of the|
place. the person started-trrned tn
round on him and exclaimed nnor you
not the name Ct This place This il
hell - 8 Pow can this be SO :" SAID
A.. 6 II suits, in no respect, The de
scription usually given US Of the place,
whittier the wicked are sent, alter thu
life is at an cld It's described as a lakcl
If iire and birthstone. see no fife-nol
burning Hamcs.o The figure. who stood
by him heard him in profound silence.
ii male 30 reply. Il fixed On him a ter
ribIe look, Then opening the !oIdings OF
the long garment, IN which he was Ell
,einped, he presented himself to The eyes,
of 4 az one entire mass Of burnIngI
fire, from head to foot. II then fo' Jed it.
seifipt its robe. and walked slowly al
long, with signs OF the deepest melancho
II, and The consummatjon 0i misery. FIN
ell with astonishmeut and horror, A.
fastened to the gate and demanded his
liberty With ali eye the host sterg! and
vindactise, the figure at the gate way re
piled, no" Aud after pause iikeI
the silence Of death, It added, {" There Isl
not tie most distant hope OF release toI
those who have been once doomed to thisI
place" s. ought TO be set at liberty" !
epilet! A. Sly curiosity aloneI
led me hither. None has doomed ne toE
duyance here. low can YOU be 50 UNJUST
as 10 offer to (etain me 20 /" On one
condition SET yoa at liberty--Els this
swear to ne that you will return hlther-
to this very spot---at the expiration OF one