Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-06-06

Sassst~s ss..'i-"s-
LEDyARD.-Though the life oG Ledyard by
Mr.. Sparks has been received with approba-
ton, we canno, but wonder that it has no, rx>
cited greater interest. The fearless inuepidi,y
OF this truly heroic traveller, his unconquerable
buoyancy Of spirit, the Extraordinary incidents
OF his life, and his bold and adventurous enter
prises, give this biographical work ali the in
terest Of a romance.
1t seems 10 Us tina, Mr. Sparks hardly dos
justice 10 Ledyard's C. arAc,er as writer and
thinker Some Of his letters are remarked rs
only being characts rlsed for heir "sngulariiy,"
which app ar 10 US To be quite as distinguish
ed for their beauty and brilIiancy. 1t gives one
pain 10 Fl d lerlers so moderately praised,
which abound In those fnr touches that cha.
rae erie man Of genius.
He expresses his admirs,ion Of Lafayette
very happily, and his gratitude very forclbly.
Is, tore starting on his journey to Siberia, for
stan lie writes to Mr.. ], IF son. III find in
my travels mou.,ain, as much elevated Il
bose other maintains, as he i above ordinary
men, will name il Lafaye,te."
In another letter 10 Mr. Jefferson, written
about the same time, speaking Of the subscrip
ZION getting up 10 help him on his Journey, he
says,"l fear my subscription viii be small, it
add, 10 my anxiety to reach those domnions,
where | shall not want money. do not mr an
the dominlons that may be beyond death
shall nevcr wish to die while you and the Mar
qus [de Lafayette are alive
We meet with another very felctous pas.
sage in one of his letters, which also relates to
the same parsonage, "l> took a walk 10 Paris
this morning. says he, "aad saw the Marquis
de Lafayette. He is good man, this same
Marquis, | esteem him, and even love him,
and so we all do, except some few, who wor.
ship him."
The concluding sentence is that TO which
we alludc.
The Roman Catholics, as is well known, con-
sldcr the reading Of the service. aud practising
certain ceremonies in behalf Of persons near to
their death, to be Of great importance to their
future welfare. The English Church has ve-
ry similar notion, FOR lis stricter members. are
DESTROYS TO par,ake OF the Sacrament or the
approach Of dissolution. |, is in allusion 10
this melton Of the Catholics, that Ledyard re-
lates the following occurrence Witnessed by
him at the Hospital de Dieu in Paris.
IL was interrupted by a melancholy figure
that appeared at its last gasp, or already de ad
"She's dead" said tn Gernlatr- Gentleman
who was with me, sand nobody knows or cares
about it" We approached the bedside.
observed slight undulatory motion in one Of
the jagular arteries ashes not dead" said l.,
and seized her hand in search Of pulse.
hoped TO find life, but il was gone. The word
dead being again pronounced, brought he nuns
10 her bed. "Aly God" exclaimed the head
nun, "she's dead"-Jesu Maria;'' exclaimed
the other nuns in their defence, she's dead"
The head nun scolisd the others for their NAL
attendance. "My God" continued she, "she
is dead without the form" ''D.u," said the
Others, she died SO silently" "Silence," said
the elder, perhaps SIDE is not dead, say The