The Litchfield County post., 1827-04-05
From the dibum. THE SEA VOYAGE.

THE SEA VOYAGE.
 By RICHARD PENN SMITH, Esq.
 ''Messmates, hear brother sailor,
 Sing the dangers of the deep"
 Concluded.
 The violence of the storm every hour increased, and towards noon all hands were aloft, busily engaged among the rig ging, preparing to encounter tempest that threatened our destruction. In the midst of the bus,le the captain was sum- moned below, as it was said Campbell was dead, and his wife was dying. On enter ing the cabin, Mrs. Campbell was discov- cred lying on the bed in a swoon, beside the lifeless body of her husband. The melancholy expression of Campbell's coun- tenance still remained in death; but there was serenity about it which spoke more of hope than despair, though every line plain ly indicated deep rooted wretchedness.- Mrs. Campbell was gently removed from the body around which she clung in the agony of grief.
 1t was scene caculated to awaken the sympathies of all present, and even the philosophical Frenchman, "though " all un- used to the melting mood," opened the sluices of his heart, and his time-beaten cheek was bedewed with a tear, though for years it had been moistened alone by the sea or the tempest. He caught my eye, and understood what was passing in my mind he wiped his tears away, and in vain attempted to assume the philosopher again. As we turned from the disconso- late woman, the captain muttered to him. self, "oui, oui, je suis philosophe, nlais, ie suis honme" I replied, |" that being a man, it was impossible that philosophy should deaden the feelings to a scene of that description" |" can bear,' said he, like Seneca or Diogenes, whatever bur- then may be cast on my own shoulders, but not the aff1ictions that are visited on the heads of others" grasped his hand: inc understood the pressure, and returned it.
 The storm continued with unabated fu- Sy, and as night approached, it was deem- ed expedient to consigu the remains of Campbell to watery grave. Prepara- tions were accordingly made, and the body was literally torn from the agonizing em- brace of the disconsolate wife, and wrap ped in saileloth to receive the last human rites. It was now light when the corpse was placed upon deck. The captain, the passengers and such of the crew as were not engaged, stood around it. Becoming sorrow was depicted in every countenance. Torches were brought, and l read brief service before consigning the body to the waves. Having performed this duty, Mrs. Campbell was gently raised from the corpse, over which she had knelt during the service, and two sailors taking hold of it by the head and feet, committed it to the sea. The heart-broken widow swooned. The solemn plunge was distinctly heard, and immediately followed by iend-like laugh. I turned to discover whence this ill-timed merriment proceeded, and beheld amongst the crowd, the ghastly visage of the ship-wrecked man. The clothing from his bed was wrapped around him, and his features were horribly distorted. He still laughed historically, and as the light of the torches rested on the dark surface of an as- cending pillow, and disclosed where the unhappy Campbell foated in his winding sheet, the sailor pointed at it and shouted with laughter. We were all struck with amazement; but on-securing him we dis covered that he had become a maniac.- The cause remained a mystery, but the physician aseribed it to the agitation his mind must have undergone at being inno- gently charged with murder, and to having exposed himself to the night breeze, whilst under the influence of burning fever.- He considered the explanation both learn ed and natural, and as no one on board was profound or bold enough to contradict a man whose businessit it was to deal out life and death at pleasure, his opinion was ta- ken, as we usually take physic, without ex- animation, and consequently received full as much credit as it deserved.
 Day after day passed on, and still the contending elements threatened us with destruction. Our ship had become mate.