Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-07-02

PED IN the garb oil the warliko Celts.
need not detain you with an ac-
couUt Of my dull and uninteresting life,
after our arrival in Belgium, previous 10
the memorable fight Of Waterloo. The
night before the battle, / was pacing
backwards aud forwards, a solitary SEN
tinel, at one Of QUE out-posts. There
was a weight in tho midnight almost
phere that spread an unwanted gloom
over my soul There, was a silence
throughout the whole of our army, which
formed striking contrast to the loud
shouts Of the eeomy as they passed in
carousing round their watch fires.
should not, perhaps call it sileace, and
yet il was something like it; but rot tiac
silence Of sleep. The stern and sullen
sound with which tho word and counter
sign were exchanged: the low but deep
tone in which the necessary orders for
the following day were given; the sign
of contending feelings in the soul, which
almost resembIed the groaas extorted by
bodily pain from the wounded, were all
still more audible than the distant clang
Of the armourer, and the snorting and
prancing ofthe steed, and showed that
all around was waking watchfuiness and
anxiety.
About the middle Of the night, I re-
ceived visit from a young man with
whom had formed an intimate acqudin-
tance. He was the only son Of gen.
tlcman Of large property in the south of
Ireland; but having formed an attach
ment TO beautiful girl in humble life ,and
married her against the will Of his faith
er, he had been disinherited and turned
out of doors. The youth had soon rea-
son to repent OF his rashness. His wife
was beautiful, virtuous, aud affectionate;
but her want Of educ alton, and entire
unacquaintance with those polished
manners and little elegancies Of life to
whicn he had been accustomed, soon
dissolved much Of the charm which her
beauty and anlessncss had at fret
thrown around him. After struggling
for some time with poverty and discon-
tent, he enlisted in a regiment Of heavy
dragons; and being ordered TO the con-
tinent, left his wife, with an infant daugh-
tor, in a wretched lodging in London
Chance brought US together in Belgium,
and similarity Of tastes soon produced
q friendship.
Depressed as I was myself, was
struck with the melancholy tone in
which that night he accostci me. He
felt presvn,isnent, he said, that he
would not survive the battle Of the en-
suing day. He wished 10 bid me fare
well, and TO intrust to my care his por-
trait, which, with his farewell blessing,
was all he bad 20 bequeath to his wife
and child. Absence had renewed, or
rather doubled all his fondness for the
former, and portrayed her in all the
witching loveliness that had won his
boyish affection. He talked Of her,
while the tears run down his cheeks,
and conjured me, if ever 1 reached Eng
land, to find her out, and make known
her case to his father. In vain, while I
pledged my word to the iu,ilmcnt of
his wishes, l endeavoured to cheer him
with better hopes. He listened in
mournful silence to all could suggest;
flung his arms round my neck; wrung
my hand, and we parted 1 saw him
but once again. 1t was during the hot
test part Of the mex, and terrible day,
when, with noise that drowned even
the roar of the artillery, Sir William
Ponsenby's brigade of cavalry dashed
past our hollow square, bearing before
them, in that tremendous charge, tho
flower Of Napoleon's chivalry. Far a.
head even Of his national regiment, |
saw the manly figure of my friend. 1t
was but for moment. The next in
slant he was fighting in the centre Of
the enemy's squadron; and the clouds Of
smoke that closed in masses round friend
and foe hid him from my view. When
the battle was over, and all was hushed
but the groans Of the wounded, and the
triumphant shouts and rolling drums Of
the victorious Prussians, who continued
the pursuit during the entire Of the night,
| Quilted the shattered remains Of :he
gallant regiment in whose ranks l had
that day tho honour of standing. The
moon was wading through scattered
masses Of dark and heavy clouds, when
commenced my search for my friend.
The light was doubtful and uncertain; yet
it vas easy to keep along the track that
marked tho last career Of Psnsenby.
Shuddering, lest in every face should
recognize my friend, passed on, and
sometimes trod upon cold and notion
less heaps, which now lay insnimate.
! Oh! how unlike the fiery masses Of liv-
ing vaior that few hours before had
mingled in a conflict more dreadful than
the earthquakes shock. Although
at first felt certain conviction of his
fate afterwards began to hope, that the