Literary cadet, and Saturday evening bulletin. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1826-1827, 1826-09-23

Wild and mysterious.
The HERMIT OF ETRIcK:
Soon after the arrival Of Bishop BERKLEy,* at
Rhode Island, there appeared on the southwestern
shore of Narragsusett Bay, a family OF whites,
who, from their appearance, were supposed to bs-
long to some of the interior shire towns Of England,
whose department, manners, and habits, excited the
utmost curiosity among the civilized part Of the in
habants of this then infant Colony, as we'll as the
admiration and universal respect ofthe neighborns
tribes Of Indians, who, at that period, resided on the
shores of Massachusetts,, Rhode-Islsnd, and Con-
necticut The family consisted of ten individuals,
an aged man, a venerable mstron, six men of mid
die age, and young man, apparently about seven
teen years old, and young lady, some two or
three years younger
TO what nation of people they belonged was
never known, as hey assiduously Stunned the So
ciety of European settlers, nor could it be oscer-
tanned what were the motives that led them to
seek III a western wilderness, a retreat, far fron,
that refined and civilized society," with whom they
had evidently long been accustomed to associate.
The venerable BERKLEY, who felt strongly at
taChed to every thing that was connected with the
western Colonists, Immediately after he inform
ed OF the location Of the mysterious strangers,
sorted to their abiding place, with ahope that ne
could draw from them something Of their history,
and the manner in which they migrated to trans
atlantic regions. II was in van however, that he
vi,ited the strangers for notwithstanding they
ed him with every attention, and evinced dispo-
i'm hiatt nj thar
nsensible TO his kindness, they preserved the most
profound silence, and refused to yield the slightest
answer to his interrogatorios. Their manners,
though clothed with sIngularity, and marked with
most profound Indifference for the sacerdotaI
robes of the reverend visitor, were pleasing and
polished, and convinced the faithful representative
fthe Almighty that they were beings of superior
order, who, by reason Of domestic Affections and
prosecutions, were compelled 10 abandon their ma
tive country, and TO burst assunder all the ties
which bind US to the land Of our nativity.
Disappointed in his expectations, and somewhat
chsgrined TO find that family Of civilized beings
refused to hold intercourse with one who hud
crifced the honors oi the Church and its emolu-
mens, to spread the gospel Of the Cross on inhos-
pitable Shores and to diffuse happiness among
fallen race, the venerable prelate babe them
temporary farewell, not however without hoping
that he should ultimately be enabled to draw from
them their mysterious history, and embarking
board his gondos, looscd its lattene sails to the
breeze, and proceeded to his humble dwelling on
Rhode-Tsand.
As his barge retired from the strand, the young
lady, whom we shall distinguish by the appella-
ton Of Maria Angelica, stood beneath the boughs
ofsn aged oak, and as her eyes caught those OF
the Jealous disciple of the Savior, she seemed to
supplcate his aid, TO implore his interpostion to
relieve her of something with which her virgin
heart evidently labored.
| The whchery Of Maria Angelica, her artless man.
ners and the alternate evidences of grief and hap
| pness, which were but too plainly marked upon
her youthful countenance instantly caught the at
tenton Of the Bishop, and he invountarily return
ed to the strand, hoping, that thus relieved from
the observation OF the other members of the myste-
rious family, he might succeed in elicng from her
| something relative to The mystery which overshad.
owed her, and her no less mysterious associates
But these fond hopes were not realization as the
Bishop leaped upon the surf.beaten shore, Maria
Angelica, agonized, prest to her bosom miniature
end exclaiming lost lost forever lost - precipi.
lately fled through the adjacent brake, and left
him, who had sought to give her comfort astonish.
ed and confounded, and to conjecture, why one O.
young so lovely and good, should refuse the us.
sistauce he s, humanely proifered. Retiring again
to his barque the Bishop spread its canvass to the
breeze, and in few minutes was waited to III,
rocky strand, adjacent to his dwelling, where h,
spent the evening in offering orisons to the Aln,igh
ty. and in medtating on the sinsularity of the de
pertinent Of the Mysterious Visitors, and purticu
larly on the conduct Of the beautiful Maria Angei
en-.
As he sat in his study, wrapt in meditation, willis
the Pickering taper shed its expiring rays over tn,
latticed apartment, a gentle tapping at the doo
awoke him from hi, reverie.-Hastening to tn,
wicket, he opened it, and to his surprise, Maria An
|
The reverend gentleman here alluded to emigrate,
to tins country somewhere about the year $780, ii,
was Dean Of Cloyne ireland, but aetuated by a spri
Of benevolence, he conceived the idea of establshn,
College at Bermuda for the education and civilization
ofthe natives; but the mander of the shin, who nm
dertook to conduct him to Bermuda being unable tt
find that Island, bore away for the Continent and th,
first land he made the highlands of Narrapansett
The Bishop, abandoning has Bermudan project. settled