Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-11-21

1 ~. ~,
those appalling pictures ofdespera,e hardwood
and suffering, IN which the chfohicies VI oui
early naval history abound.
Among the few memorials OF This kind when
relate TO events in our own times, none, per.
hans. is more fearfully interesting than that OF
the burning Of the kent East lndiaman. he
circumstances attending that catastrophe were
few, but terrible. The struggle OF the perllous
hour was one of rapid and wihering anxiety;
and the de scrip,ions which have been given OF
il present the whole scene 10 the mind with
strong and glaring dislinctness that appais The
imagination. 1t is hardly possible to conceive
a situation in which human nature couid De
surrounded with CREATE horrors--horrors when
mus, have appeared 10 start up from the WIG
caverns of The deep itself; for there was no pre-
para,ion for the thoughts, none Of those signs
ofapproaching peril which plecede The whiii'
wind or the tempest; bu, almost IN an instant,
the crew of the lonely vessel found themselves
assailed BY an enemy against which human lore
81 ph, could have provided no protection.
There is something in the misioTtunrs which
happen al sea that awakens in our bosoms more
than ordinary sympathy with the sufferers -
The loneliness of the ocean, as we have salu'
is. even in idea, fearful TO the mind, and the
complete separation Of those who are on It's
maths from the rest of mankind, makes Us toll
low them in our synpathies as if they had once
been sharers Of our home. This ieeling Is OIL
course deepened when any OF the objects Of our
pity have been actually known TO US, or have
once lived in our own neghhourhood. How ma
nv village tale ofwar or shipwreck has been
handed down from generation TO generation, be-
cause. some one whose name is il The parish re
sis,er happened to be present, How often has
the circle round TIE winter hearth in The most
inland county Of the kingdom listened ucm-
blingly to the bowling blast, because the son or
the husband Of some one in the town was pass
ing over the deep.
/, happened that TIE writer OF this article
was residing in he beginning OF the year 1925
in small and rural village, OF which he was
the curate. Among the simple inhabitants OF a
Country parish there will now s then be found
q family, whose long residence in the place and
established character for sobrleIy have gwen
them CERTAIN rank among their neighbours,
of which few know the importance but those
skilled iaviIlage politics. Such, however, was
the family of the parish clerk, who was himself
fine specimen Of the English peasant, when
his head has become hoary with honest and
successful industry.
The old age Of this happyhearled old man was
lie had saved gu; Of his small gains enough 10
keep him from the lear Of wan, and he used 10
boast thai, through long lite aud with large
family t. bring up, he had never once been
chargeable 20 his Weather neighbors. He had
three sons and a daughter living. OF the for
mer, two we're al home, and the third IN the ar
nv II was after this absent child hat the old
mans heart was continually yearning He
would have resigned al his little wealth 10
bring him home, and yet hc had that SORT OF
pride which prevented his expressing a wish
for his discharge, habit been offered. Often
has the writer heard long tale Of the youthful
exploits of this son, and sren the father weep
and laugh al the same time; and sometimes,
lust as he seemed about % repeat his rrgrr,
that he was not at home TO cheer his old age,
he has heard him end his lamentation with d
proud expression of thankfuntss that he had
such a son 10 serve The king
F,om al, indeed, that the writer could learn
Of THIS Young man, he was aighly deserving Of
his fathers love. BY little scholarship, and
a good deal Of attention 10 discipline, he had in
snort time been made serleant; and there
was prospect, if he should D. sent on foreign
service, O? his acquiring further promouon.-
This at length occurred; and his regiment was
one of those whose dttachmcnts were on board
the Kent, when the catastrophe took place which
exposed so many to destruction. There is no
SUITE ring to which we are iiahle in the present
state Of existence more terrible 20 tie heart
than that of uncertainty respeo ting the fate of
friends; and this the virtuous old man whom
we have been mentioning was doomed to suffer
in ITS most dreadful form. 1t happened that
lidlngs of the burning of the Kent arrived on a
Sunday: the old man listened 10 them with a
firm brow and swelling heart; and The only al.
teration in his appearance during the service
was slight bowling Of the head, as i? lie bore "a
burden for which his strengt!. was unequal. 1t
was a considerable time before it was known
who had persisted and who had been saved; and
week after week did the rcbast frame oil the
anxious parent become more and more feeble,
and his grey hairs almost visibly heavier with
sorrow. There was not soul in tie little par
ish who did no, respect he old clerk, or, rude
as were their expressions, did not commisser-
ate his misfortune.
1t was on bright evening when the discon>
ISOLATE father, seated in his armchair and erdea
voring 10 enjoy the setting sun, was convers,ng
with some old men Of the village Who were ga
,hered around him, that the wri!er met not far