Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1828-03-18
MISS BATHURST

The history of this highly interesting
young lady is already, l believe, in part
before the public, yet none but those on
the spot can fully appreciate the sensa-
tons which it caused at Rome. 1t was
but the evening before that she appeared
IN very brilliant circle of her admiring
friends, at ball given at her own house.
Previous, it was supposed, to her approach
ing nuptials. Her intended was already
at Turin, and everyday expected at Rome.
She seemed to those who hung upon her
steps that night, and saw therays of hope
and Joy which lightened about her fea-
lures, IN which were realized all we can
desire tor our 'countrywomen, to have
touched the very verge of human felicity.
and to be altogether invulnerable to the
shafts Of the future. Providence disposed
1t otherwise the adieux of that evening
were eternal. 1t was rather boisterous
night, and the; rains for some DAYS had
continued to swell the Tiber. II is a ia
vonrlte lounge of the English at this sea-
son. A young Oxonian, for instance,
likes to compare it with his Horace. and
every one with his Shakespeare. The next
day the rains had ceased; and that Italian
sun, which never deserts his children for
any considerable period, permitted and
invited ride. The ambassador proposed,
as | am informed, the direction of the
river. His proposal was fatally acquiesced
in. The whole cavalcade proceeded by
the Porta del Popolo along the road which
leads to the Tiber. They were soon at
the Ponte Molle. On the right hand of
the road, and the Etrusian side of the
river, a small path conducts to, vineyard.
They wished to see every thing to advan-
tage; and without rejecting on the chan
ges that had taken place since their last
visit, engaged at once in the hazardous
attempt of gaining its gate, and viewing
the yellowness" and "chafing" of the
waters at their leisure. 1.-THE path was
etud they were oofsgtyT 10 auvance
one by one. All dismounted except Miss
Bathurst 1t was "a fatal circumstance
but would have been of no consequence.
unless connected with others. On arriving
at this point, the gate of the vineyard,
contrary to custom, was found closed, and
they were obliged to return. The path
was slippery-the bank of the Tiber was
shelving-the flood rapid and particularly
high. Her horse hesitated she attempt
ed to impel him forward; his hind foot
slipped, and the next moment precipitated
both horse and rider into the very centre
of the stream.
The CONSERVATION on every side was
dreadful; every one lost his presence Of
mind. 1t is said that none of the party.
could swim except her own servant, who,
by one of those fatalities so beyond the
reach of all human prudence as to appear
an immediate interposition of Providence,
had been sent, in the outset of their pro-
menade, back to Rome for. her pelisse.
1t is quite certain at least that no attempt
was made, and perhaps no attempt would
have been successful in rescuing her from
her fate. Life, however, twice rallied,
and appeared in all the horror of an une-
quail struggle with death: twice she rose
from the waters, and brandishing her
whip over head, called on her friends, by
every endearing name save--save-
save me- In the next instant she disap-
peared, and was never heard or seen
more. Her horse foated on with the cur
rent, and landed lower down. All Rome
focked the day after to the spot: fifty
louis were offered for the discovery of the
body, but the appearance of many engaged
in the search exempted them from the
charge of any other motive than HUMANE
ty. Nothing could be more honorable,
indeed, to the Romans, than their feel
ings on this occasion; but youth, beauty,
misfortune, in this country, make more
impression than the revolution of empires.
Her uncle retired to the Villa Spada,
where his grief for many days bordered
upon insanity; he had been one of the
unfortunate witnesses of her death. For
hours after the catastrophe was ANNOUNCE
ed in Rome, | saw many silent faces on
the Scala of the Trinita de Monte, her
late residence, gazing with the deepest
sympathy on the closed shutters and fu-
nereal tranquility of one of the gayest
HOUSES in the town. Every effort was
made fer the recovery of the body, but for
many weeks in vain. 1t was at last found /;
not, indeed, as was conjectured, near the
city, but almost in the very spot where
she fell. The substructions and other
ruins Of the ancient Pons Milvius had de-
tanned it on its way. 1t was conveyed to
small osteria near; all traces Of beauty
had been blotted and washed out; the