American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1824-10-15
ANASTASIA,
THE BENED1cTINE NUN.

w est Riding of Yorkshire by the main road from
Sheffield TO Leeds can hardly have avoided noticing
beautiful edihce which greets HIM a few miles be.
lore his entrance into Wakefield. The venerable
pile seated an eminence-its turreis covered with
iivy-the river, which sweeps nobly round it as if
proud OF the edI6ce it reAected-unite in forming
an OBJECT to arrest aud charm the eye of the travel
| Ter Nor is the situation of the building its only
claim attention. melancholy interest attaches
, to it, from its being the residence of remnant Of
Benedictine Nuns, who, flying from France at the
period of the Revolution, have here found an asy.
lum, and in the consultations oil religion, refuge
from misfortune. They could hardly have been
more fortunate in their choice. The loneliness
the seclusion--the objects that surround the build
lng--ln.est il with an aspect SO inexpressby calm
and tranquil, that it to bid defiance to the en-
trance OF any earthly feeling, unhsowed passion
behind it, in silent grandeur, rises the thick
bic wood Of Kirkthorp, while through the trees the
village church is raising its humble head in
the distance. 1t is not the least remarkable feature
of this owy building, that, 10 its church yard, the
Nuns from Monte Casino find their last resting
place.
Amidst the high grass which vegetables in dark
Iuxuriance, distinguished from the more simple
memorials OF the lowlier inhabitants of the village
rise In proud prominence, the marble monuments
| OF the little catholic community. The number is
about twenty. The cross carved at the top--their
Iot'lCt uhhOImily ana 10 eacn OtnSf-
the rosemary and sweet brar which flourish thickly
around them finely contrast the simplicity Of sur
founding objects, and give picturesque appearance
| TO the scene.
| Among the inscriptions, which vary only in name
and date, was that of
| "ANAsTASIA,
one Of the society IF Benedictines.
Aged 81.
novice 1878.
Proiessed 1914.
Died 1852
| was gazing on the tomb of one so young, and
FOL ming conlectures as to her history and misfor
tunes, when perceived stranger melancholy and
labsracled, viewing with The most intense interest
the same Objects myself. accosled him; and
to my numerous queries respecting her who lay
mouderlng beneath US, he gave the following
particulars. The actors in the scene have long since
passed from the stage, and without hesitation, give
the story to the world. The young will never be
persuaded by the aged nor the foolish by the wise:
but the living may learn from the Dead for them
| they can neither envy nor hate.
| 1t was in the year 49,, when the British army
was encamped near Lisbon that two British Officers
paid visit to the Convent OF ST. Clara. 1t enclos-
ed within it, walls at that period, two sisters, beauti
iul and unfortunate girls, who had taken the VOWS
which rendered them wretched Tor life under cir
cums'arces OF the most unprncipled deception.
Their story interested the feelings, and their beau
ty gave to deeper impressions in the breasts OF
two romantic young men and repeated interviews
ended in the young officers offering to carry off to
England these victims Of deception, and there toI
make them their own for lille. The wretched state
OF the county -the storm OF conVeDtual persecution.
OF all others the most severe and the most ptiless.
induced the Nuns 10 give their enterprising admi
rers willing assent Colonel Perrepoint and Sir
Harry Trelawny were both men of family and for
tune and Constance and lnez de Castro readily be
ieved them men of honour. 1t was speedily ar
ranged that Colonel Pierrepont's brother, who com
mabded man of war, then lying under sailing or
ders in the bay should receive the ugitves board
and convey them to England. There their lovers
were to join them, Immediately on obtaining leave
of absence.
Alter almost insupportabe delays the signal that
the Andromache would sail on the morrow, and that
their lovers would be under the western wall at
twelve that night, was perceived in the Convent.
The hour, so important to some beating hearts,
rived. The bay OF Lisbon lay clear and blue in the
summer moonlight the man OF wars beat, with
mufned oars, was stationed at little distance from
| the shore,-and the gray massy building OF the
Convent was distinctly visible through The bending
foliage OF the lines that surrounded it.
| The hour had barely struck, when female form
appeared above the Convent wall, " She's mine,'
cried Plerrepoin the high. minded Constance, TO
INSPIRE courage in her sister, and shew her the ex
ample, first descended the rope ladder. Inez at
tempted TO follow her; but, from some accident
never explained the ladder slipped she faltered-
totered-and, attempting to grasp one of the but
tresses of the wall fell into the grounds oil the
Convent The scream Of agony which scaped her,
and the frcnzied ordinations of Trelawuey, alarm
ed the siserhood, who rushed in crowds to the spot,
and alter short search, found the insensible IneZ.
T,eiawney was dragged by main force from theI
spot, while Constance hurried on board the An
dromache which conveyed her to England. ThereI
her lover soon after joined her, but torer only.