The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1824-09-28

A LIFE OF TRIALS.
have this day completed my nine
tirth year IL may fairly be supposed
that variety has nothing Ia do with one
VIII is fNuliering on the brink of the grave;
aud that she can have little in view, save
the instruction of others, in detailing two
OF the trials nf n strange aud ehequrred
existence. The first may teach the yaunger
part Of my sex, in this age OF over refine
ment,that II courage hr indspensibleto bold
lpr4ing man, aslf-poss. aaou il no less
necessary Ia iinid, shrinking woman and
my second, TINT if anatomical exposure he
! The ntrsc--a aud belivr it--of medical sci.
enec, caution should be used in lhr sccc-
lion Of Objects, aud elimination in the
choice of those who are topaltiolpaie in lis
/ disclosures, And thus, when my feeble voice
/ VII be heard IL this world M longer, may
| instruct from my grava. | was a gr of
eightern WHEN my father was WAS Cover
nor of York Castle, murder, attended
with circumstances of the most nhuInan
harbarity bad been prrpetrated IN our
! neiglbuthood, and an old man with his
two sons, charged with the commission Of
the crime, were delivered into his custody.
| by accident | Witnessed their being brot
into the Castle. Years have passed away,
and other events have succeeded 10y and
sorrow, aillieton aud poverty, like sun
shine, have chased each other, foreign
scenes and foreign faces have intcrycned
but | see them hrinrc me NOW in the deep
| gloom Of midnight IN which am writing
~ dear aye, rs ii they We're standing IN
life before me The hardened, rulhlrss
look of The elder mUrdcrer---his We
ncrablc hoaIy hair, hIghtflliy cOntrlsted
by the expression of counignance-- his cold
grey eye, which glanerd intrs8anily around,
with the most fearful aud restless anxiety
his parchfd lips and laggar"d look, sad
~ ut Variance with his bent form and ioi
ierlng gait all combined To form pic
tne, which, once seen, could never b" for
gotten. The two sons stood bchlud their
latilcr The eldest appeared snen--.'nui
tered an in.oherent answer when asked
what injury he had received from III sic
tim, while an expression of ,indlcllvc ti
umph ghred in his eye. The youngest
seemed bowed down With the conscious
ness of guilt, and kept his eyes fixed sadly
on the ground. Once only hc raised
them. They encountered The old mans
penetrating glance, and sunk beneath it,
Deposition afcrirr deposition WINS drawn
out, and such a mass of circumsiantial evi
dcncc accumulated, that it WAS hardly pos
siblc to doubt their guilt, The trial was 10
come on in the course of ten days hut, ~
the interim, a committee ofihc House OF
Commons required py fathers presence IN
towp, aud | was left in charge of the Cas-
lie. 1t was a responsibility which had
incurred before. aud il did not appear for
nidablc. WAS surrounded by trusty and
tried servants, aud hasins always beeo
taught 10 rely op my own courage and re-
solution, ia cxgcncics, entered upon my
dutlrs without fear. The Keys Of the die |
frrcnt ward, nele brought me Every night, |
and remained undcr my pillow I'LL mornings
aud that my fathers room might be Kept
perfectly aired, | removed In IL III the exc
ung after his departure. Things went on
smoothly for some days, till, one morning,
was told that the eldest Wexford WAS not
10 be found, aud MAS supposed II hove
made has escape. Piacards we're posted
over York, without dclny--lnrge rewards
offered for hi, apprehension -olllcrr5 and
conslablc5 despatched IN all difecuons---
but without success. Eight and forty
hours elapsed, aud 40 tidings procured ol
him. How he had escaped, and 10 WHIST
retreat he had fed, WAS as much secret
ageycr. IN this annoying posture Of affairs,
| went 10 my own room, IN the evening OF
the second day. for some paper wished TO
consult ! had opened my desk, and WAS
buslly prosecuting my search, when, hap
penlng to glance my eye around, dls
tlnctIy saw the face of n man, cautiously
perpiuG over the furniture of my bed
Jd IT was Ncbford's My frsl impulse
vas to Scream but rccollefilng that as
alone, III a distant part ot tue house that
all assistance was beyond my fracl, that
the faintest shrek would seal mr doom, |
hhsiIly smoihered MY emotion, End con
tiDucd my search rs before. | confess |
hcmbIrd; aud thinking my death blqw
might br dealt lrom bphin.f, | determn-
ed on having what lu'lc loice ! could =
and .Jacing my foe, drew my chair f ont
lnS the bed, and r. I'd n letler--my voice,
know, hnlleiHrd -aloud. thrn sung for n
leN m"ne'lte very faintly,! believe TIL,
afadua'y- getting nearcr and nearer 1he
aoor, thade grasp at the lock, and rush
e. ou. trust l,il As grateful AS ought,
towards d mcfelhl Providence, when !
, locked the door upon the telon The turn
keys Yere then summoned, tire fugitive
VAS taken, secured, and, few houre after
'Yarda, cOndpmned. On the night preced Z
nag hisPxeculion, lir made fiillronlr7son.
After admitting the justice OF BIS sentence,
he conhnucd-that having discovered, by
accident, his celi Joined my apartment, and
knnwing the keys were given me nightly,
he had climbed up one chimney, and tri
himself down by another, into my room !;
that Ills design was TO have murdered me.
possessed h msrlf of the keys, and escaped;
that during the two whnle days he was
missing, he had laid concealed in my room,
enduring, las he himself expressed it,
" between hunger and disappointment The
,ormcnts Of the damned" He added, he
Thought himself in heaven when h", at