Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-10-09
From The liverpool .4ib'on, .7ug. 90.
CONFESSIONS OF AN .UNEXECUTED
EENiICIDE

title, has IuSt Issued from tue SiaaSo"- p''
1t is declared 10 be "no felton," It's published
according to the viii OF" William Mr., Esq
Of, in the county Of Stirling, Scotland, i"r
the purpose Of deterFing others rom the COM
mission oil a similar sin, by the thought, that
if thew escape the punishment Of the law, they
are sure 10 meet with that Of racked and ha-
raised Conscience The Confessions are pow
eyguliy written, and seldom have we read more
touching narrative ,-,an that which is contain
ed in the work before us We insert an extrao
from the first part Of lhr Confessions.
"Twen,y years-and the vision still haunts
mf!-Yrs, i, is twenty wears since l perperated
that crime which has poisoned my existence,
and thrown over i, cloud Of nnuuerabIe s1r-
row. All other crimes may sltep. hut inquity
like mine never can I've worm that dies not,
prcys upon my heart: | am the victim Of re-
morse
"My house stood in the m,ds, of plantation
of elm and pine It's situation was considered
romantic ny those who had ala eye for the beat
ties of nature; bu, such never had. Il was a
large isolated bUIlding, white and AIRY II rs
appearance, aud decorated IN front with por-
,co OF four Ionic pillars. Before the door WAS
. a plot of green ground, bordered with flowers,
and in the centre Of this fountain IL clear wa
ter. Behind the mansion house there was a
spacious garden, aud about Ally yards to the
right flowed he little river d, mnr-
muring among rocks, anl shaded over ny bow
ers of the birch and chestnut tree.
"Fsw places were so relircd and beautiful,
and here. il my miserable tone OF mind had
permitted, must have seen happy had no
companion but an only sister, and Heaven as
sureoly never formed two beings SO completely
difirren, as we. Poo, Eliza, she was every
thing that is amiable in woman Far, beauti>
fully proportioned, and graceful in Ler move
ments, beyond even the most gifted oil her sex
her light and airy form-hLr blue, deep blue
eye-hcr lip ever crossed with smiles, and her
complexion clear as heaven itself OF all these
things could speak, bu, il avails nor. They
aye gone, and nothing save their remembrance
remains behind. Memory may do much tn
hallow even the divIntsj beauty. and magma
ton may touch vjth mere delicate hues Nhat
the former bring, W from the depths OF ':ne,
but tncir fairy power were Useless mere. Nv
sister had form and mind WINCH fancy never
eAceiled, ev, N in Ser brightest dreams
"Suange 10 SAL, she loved M. say Strange,
sf0r what heart bu, THAI Of an angel could ne n
affection towards being ~ malignant-s' hoI-
rih', wicked a. en- now rec all how harshiy
/ returncd all her Gt,le acts of kindness. S'p
would Try, by every arr, Ia OrlrS nm me some
deed OF tenderness. She wouIa smile, and
come out WIN some mlrtnlui stCrt one Wouiu
SIT down b, fore me, and throw her delicate
around NV neck in mood Of gaze y AID love
She would flatter me, and watch over INV con-
cerns, and anticipate my wishes. but ali IN vain
NV urgraieful heart refused To arkuow edge
Der attentions: her fondness became painful to
me, aud l repulsed her Nor Wien l WAS
stretched on bed Of sickness Did her tender
ness abaIe. When the burning fever rio,ed IN
my veins, and but step lay between me anG
eIrruity. she attended me with more than no
-:,'s care. Night after night she sal watch
ing over my couch l have Seen her. when she
httle thought ] remarked, weeping in my
dinly iuminsd chamber. and raising her iaIr
hands 10 Heaven in suppiicstion for my rec owe
nv. And when did recover, who can paint
the Joy that lighted up her beautiful counrr-
nance! All saw it with delight save one, and
that was her wretc he'd and ungrateful brother
's'She had friend named Mary Eilislon, also
a beautiful girl. Their Friendship had CONS
meaced IN childhood, aud their souls were kni,
closer by succeeding years. Mary lived with
US, for she was an orphan, and being original
ly OF respectable but unfortunate family, my
father gladly adopted her as companion 10
his daughter, She was tall aud exquisiteiy
p. made, and all her movements were full of ie-
male dignity. Her form waited the richness
and Vniuptuous swell Of Eiiza's, but il was
more airy, and, il possible, more graceful My
sisters complexion had the brightness and
bloom of northern beauty. Her yellow hair
waved like s.reaks Of sunshine over her TEN
pies, and her blue eyes, deep aud lucid as the
sapphire, were full of animation and mirth Of
soul Mary had more Of the Italian cast In her
countenance, hich was Of darker and warm
er hue. Her hair was black and shining, and
her eyes, of the same complexion, we're full of
melancholy. Never were two loyelier beings
associated together vnderthe same roof. Eliza
was all affection, and smiles, aud innocence, aud
she showed them on every occasion IL She
loved, she expressed in bright and undisgu:sed
language the emotions of her soul Msry vas
DOT more lovely, for thar was impossible. but
she WIS evidently being Of P'oiounder aud
in,en>er feelings. Her spirit was more full of 1
pa,hos. Tier feryour was not so easily excited,