The Wilmingtonian., 1824-04-29
Fromthe liverpool Kaleidoscope.
THE DIVING BELL.
A FRAGMENT.


A FRAGMENT.
The strains of music grew fainter and
fainter, as the bell descended through the
green fluid which surrounded me and |
now began to experience that variety and
intensity of feeling, which have SO often
seen described by divers. The first sensa-
zion was painful pressure upon my ears,
as it body of considerable power and mag.
nitude had been endeavoring to enter my
brain through those apertures. After a
while, the cavities became expanded, and
the pain was relieved but as the bell sank /,
it was frequently again renewed. and as of
ten exchanged above three or four fathoms,
when felt the amazing weight of the O.
cean, pressing upon, and girding round my
head, like an iron crown rveted fast to the
scull the force of which was so very tre-
mendcus, that it was with difficulty that my
senses were preserved. Th, painful feel
ing wao then exchanged for species Of
restless agitation and excitement, which
might not entirely be the effect of my
situation and extraordinary voyage, but
might partly arise from some recollection
Of the eminent danger in which was pac-
ed. A kind Of langour, which increased
almost to fainting, now overcome me the
blood left my face, and my limbs grew
cold; and. Indeed, although was supplied
with air, by continual exchange of the
barrels from above, life seemed on the
point of departing. In the course Of my
voyage, I frequently looked out upon the
waters, which of themselves present moth
Jig but clear green fluid but frequently
there came rushing by the bell, fishes Of
extraordinary form. and magnitude, some
ofihe most beautiful colors and appearance
and others armed with dreadful teeth,
stings. and fangs, with scales and eyes of
a fiery fpstre. felt constant dread
which perhaps tended to keep off other
Fears, that sumo of them might enter
through the lower part Of the diying-bel,
and ATTACK me in my strong hold, where
escape and opposition would be equally in
vain.
Occasionally ! passed some marine pro.
duction, between fish and plant, which
spread out into branches filled with in.
Vulnerable mouths, and never-ceasing mo-
lion. Now and then methoueht heard
a noise like music in the deep; but the
continual rushing, ,:roaring, washing, of ths
current against the sides of the bell, pre-
vented any thing like distinct hearing
only from this am convinced, that the
ocean is not silent world. Sometime,
the water would seem deserted and vacant
and then again there would rush by, sucl
shoals ofliving beings, pursuing each othe
either in sport or anger. that their cours
was too rapid for the eye to discern the;
iorms.-Once or twice, indeed, though
there apparcd somewhat like human f
cure covered with scales of a slyery greer
but the image was too swiftly gone for IN
10 speak with certainty added to which
the optical illusion occasioned by the wa
ters might have deceived me. At length
at the depth OF seventy fathoms, the bel
rested on the basin of the sea; and il ma
be imagined only what were my feeling
at chat moment. was more than fou
hundred feet below the ocean in fra
machine of wood, depending upon ie
ropes and in world which seems TO b
the principal abode of the most terrif
monsters cannot, however, even at tn
distant period, trust my recollection wi
the maddening subject; and therefore
hasten forward with my tale. The bed
the deep is in itself fair and beautlf
sand, on which are place rocks that see
20 glow with metallic lustre of vario
colours, on which is 10 be seen many a ia
and living tree Of silyery whitenass,
constant motion, while shells Of all kin
and hues are scattered over them. II
view is indeed landscape, the most wi
and magical that can be imagined; and ,
though they really want the artificial ere
tions of man, yet are rocks shivered al
followed out into the form of templ,
tlomcs, pinnacles, mnarets and palace
upon which there is continual moveme
of the sea. When arrived at this pla'
.he painful sensation which l had expe
enced in my voyage had left me; cou
breathe freely, and upon viewing the bes
ti'ul objects around me, | began to thi
that the ocean world was indeed as delig
I'll as-the poets ard water spirit, had d