The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1825-06-20

the inhabitant Of 4 new world. We
grew very intimate. His cOnyersa-
ton was inexhaustibly rich he had
seized with ample grasp ON all the
broader outlines of nature and socic-
y, yet their most trivial features
were equally revealed In him. had
hitherto studied books alone. and
these specifically: he poured n
Hood of living light upon my mind.
On one topic, indeed, we differed at
trst---I dread to add, that it was on
y at first. lie often descanted on
the crcd0lity Of mankind bigot-
ry. prejudice, superstition---thc Graf
tlness Of priesthood, and the e,iden-
ces Of the senses. insensibiy | inn
bibed the contagion my misfortune
or my error had been, that | had ne
YER mastered the historical proofs Of
christianity: had breathed it in
childhood, as the air around me my
belief was only built on the foundati-
on Of feeling, example, opinion.
Through this breach he assailed, and
conquered me. His learning was
very extensive, and | could but make
few replies to it on recorded facts.
On natural religion TO use his own
term) he eXpatiated with eager el0-
quenrc until | was at length per-
suaded that had never before felt
the force OF genuine picty and from
that moment | WAS never actuatcd
by any.
| write largely Of this man, for he
was the hinge ON which my fate had
turned. | had occasionally heard
hun alludc To a sister, who was a
tcaC her Of music. My task was one
day finished earlier than usual.
While much rcmained on his hands !;
he Was to have spent the evening
with her, but now was unable he
asked me To leave his excuse at her
lodgings, which lay on my walk
homeWards. intended merely 10
leave the message at the door, but
the servant insisted on conducting
me up stairs. The apartment was
one ol those sanCtuarics, which in
stantly whisper that we are treadinS
a superior ground ;---exhIbiting in
varied forms those graceful touches
Ol an inventive taste, which are often
sought in vain amid scenes OF more
costly spendor. From that day you
never received more than one SIN
gle letter from me duped, capri
cious, sensual fool that was, what
have not lost Not you alone, but
every charm OF this word, and in the
next.
Adelaide was not a woman to be
described you should have seen her;
yet tn see her was not to know her !;
always llcctlng from the view and
toaCh OF observance, she was ever
presenting herself as u new being.
She was not the most beautiful NO.
man ever saw, but she was more
SHE was genius and sensibility en-
bodied ali her looks. words, and
gestures were emotions there was
an intense animation III her nature,
which communicated sparks of life
to every object that crossed her path.
You smiled, you admired, You sigh
ed, forgot your existence, during a
minute Of her conversation. lntrc-
pidity was prominent ingredient in
her composition, though not the most
attractive one. She would launch
forth into the boldest, bitlcrcst iro-
MES against fslschood, folly, corrup-
ton, perverted talents and then
would abruptly cXelaim, !" i am draw
ing my own portrait" But in this
she spoke to one who could not be
Iieve. Why am | SO tedious Il
caught the wildness OF her spirit
Her brother, at first, treated my rap
lures with indifference, insiunating
the imprudcnce of an early union
with a porlionIess orphan. This on
Iy famed my flame. At length he
consented with seeming reluctance /;
x, on the strength of our approach
ing union n relationship, condescen-
dcd to borrow thousand pounds Of
me, which were to be repaid in a
month and, i'll the interim, were to
rescue from the horrors of a prison
an afflicted friend ofhis bosom. Inc
day was fixed for our marriage, and
my five thousand pounds were set
tied on her. But my fever OF de-
= light was arrested by the following
letter, which is engraycn en- my me
mary the minutcst syllable; a fee
bic sketch of The mott extraordinary
Inrcnn 1 cAnI, hennlI