The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1824-02-24
INTERESTING DELINEATTON.

The following extract from BaCkwood's
Magazina is we believe, from ihe pen Of
James Hogg, the Ettrick Shepherd whose
extraordinary powers Of delineaii;g the
Wild and fearful passions, and exciting
those feelings of hor,o Or and suspense which
cause an involuntary shuddering in the
mind Of the reader, have been fully eXem-
pIi(ied in the strange production. ofhis pen,
that have added no small celebrity 10 this
Magazine
| was on my voyage back TO my native
country, after IN absence of five years,
spent in unrcmitting toll in "A foreign land,
to which had been driven by a singular
iatlliy. Our voyage had been singular
and prosperous, and on Christmas day we
wee within fifty leagues of port. Passen
gers AUD crew were all in the highest
spirits, and the ship was alive with mIrlh
and .jolIity For my own part, was the
very happiest man in existence. had
been Unexpectedly rasled from poverty to
alliucnce-my parents were once more
longing TO behold their errlng and beloved
son, and know that therp was one dearer
even than any parent, who had remained
true to me through all my ml5torlunes, anu
would soon he mine loI lille.
About eight O'Clock in the evening, |
went on deck. The ship was sailing upon
wind at the rate of seven knots an hour,
aud there was "A wild grandeur III the night.
A strong snow storm blew, but steadily, aud
without danger, and now and then, when
the struggling moonlight overcane the
secty aud misty darkness, we saw i"fsont
distance around Us, the asltated sea All lnm'
bling with foam. There were no Shoals To
fear, and the ship kept boldly on her
course, Cldserecfcd, and mistress oil the
storm. Ieant over the gunwa'e, admIrlng
he water rushing past like iuamlnb ca
taract, when, by some nnacconntable acct
dent. lost my balance, and IN an instant
fell overheard into thu sea.
remember n cOlvuslire shndderinS all
over my body, and a hurried leaptnS oi my
breast, felt myself about to lose hold OF
| the vessel, and afterwards sensation OF
the mosticy ehilness from immersion INTO
the wavcs-but nothing resembling 4 lail
or precipitation. When below the wafer,
! think that the mbmentary beh"t rushed
across my mind, that the ship bad sudden
| Nv supt. and that was but one OF perish
/ ing crew. l imagined that felt hand
With hong fingers clntcalng at my legs, ana
made violent efforts to escape dragging
after me, AS thought, the body ol SOM
drawing wretch. On rising to the sur &
| r.collrcted in moment what ha' ,,cfal
len me-, and uttered cry OF hors,v, " bic
Is IN my ears To this day, and dcn mike
me shuddef as il It were tb' n,ad shrek q
another in the eXifem1Fy II perIaus ago
ny. Oftcn ave | d. canned over agai
that dire momeDf, nd the cry nttci j
my sleep Is So thing mo2e horrible iba
human "oi e. M ship WAS 10 he s"r'
She US gone forever. Tit little hapP
world. 10 which, moment before, la
belonged, had swept by, the wave
dashed on mr., aud struck me on u,
>, face aud honici al me; the WIND
= yelled, and snow beat like drifting san
: into my eyes, aud there was leit to s,rus
, Gle, aud bullet, and gasp, aud SINK, an
| perish, alone, unseen aud nnpiltiedb by MAJ
/, and Itho',too,by The everlasting God. lure
y. to- u. citrate the surrounding darkness VII
h my garing cyrs, that felt leaping ir"l
II their sockets, and saw rs if by mlracn'o'
, power, To a great distance through Il
night-bnt no ship--noihing but wh'
crested waves, and the dismal noise
a thunder. | shouted. shrlek"d aud yeIl'
: that ] might be heard by the crew, III n
;. voice was gonr-and that too, when kne
. that there VAS none to hear me-. AT i's'
ii became utterly specchless, and when 'r''