Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-07-23

I The subioa of this memoir, having slppi, o.
rather watched, below, vauno VITA difficulty
upon deck, clingins by all the objects IN hn
way, hrs temples throbsng aud complaining
Of excessive iussitude. na,sea, AID headache
! He inquired of one aud another II It was usua
| for sea siekness--he had not before experienced
that evl-io be attended with such v'o'en
symptoms. Assured that il often happened
and that there was no cause Of alarm, lie qu'
city resigned himself 10 tho influence OF dis
ease, which, bad il been suspected, might pos
sibIy, at this stage of 1t, have been arrested
Three days aud nights The storm without,
and disease within, continued their force un-
spent. One and another OF the crew fell vic-
TINS, while others sunk and rose again. Such
med cines were administered as are employ ed
IN common cases. and as were compatible
wHh the situation of the sufferers; situation
but little adapted TO tire comforts and neces-
sites Of the sick. Rost and quletness were
out of the question. a still, dark room,a bed
OF suitable dimensions, with constant ard
careful atiendanis-nny one circumstance m
cluded in the word home, had been more than
luxury. Let those who would learn The iull
meaning Of that dearest Of oil names, expert
ence a distressing, paraIyzing illness at sea,
and they will know It's full import Hitherto
no one had expressed n fear Of dangerous
disease on hoard, so little do we feel and un-
derstand impending evil. II now became
cahn, and there was time and opportunity TO
attend 10 the suffering and the helpless. The
danger Of DIR. Holley's situltion became too
apparent. HIS eyes were half closed, his mind
wandering The same medicines were rcpca-
ted, the doses doubled, and all other means
o. relief applied, which tho kind hearted,
though unskilled, in their goodness could COM
mand. The disease which 10 It's early stages
might perhaps have been checked, had now
acquired force and strength, and soon triumph
ed over one of the finest constitutions, as we'll
as most brilliant of intollccts. The fifth of the
disease, and the thirty fist day of the month,
was the fatal day.
The sun rose in all the brightness and in
tense heat of tropical region. u was a
daad calm. Not breath Of air skinned the
surface Of the sea, or famed the burning brow
o. the suilcIcr The writer of this article, who
still lay in silent anguish, Il specchless spccta-
tor OF the scene, expected, whilo conscious OF
any thing bat distress, to be the next victim,
and who, losing at times even all sense OF
suffering in tre womanish feeling occasioned
by tho circumstance of there not being a fe-
male hand TO perform the last sad Offices of
humanity, has confused recollc ction OF hOr-
ror, of the solemn looks of the passengers pa
cling 10 and fro upon the deck, OF deathllko
stiffness, broken by groans. and half uttered
sentences, and Of a little soft voice trying 10
sooiht the last moments, and TO interpret the
last accents Of his dying parent. All this shl
heard, without sense enough to request TO be
carried Ia the spot, or TO realize that II meant
death. When the groans and spasms had
ceased, it seemed to be only a release from
pain, temporary sleep. When all was hush
ed, and the reporl Of pistols, and the fumes OF
burning tar announced the fatal issue, trusting
in that Divine Being, into whose presence she
expected soon to bo ushered, believing, as far
as reflection had exercise that the separation
was but for li,,c space, she heard, with The
iirmness Of despair, and with silent awe, the
parting waters receive the scarce breathless
form Of him who had been ber pride and boast,
as he had been the admiration Of all to whom
he was known--his winding sheet a cloak, his
grave the wide ocean, his monument the cv-
erlasling Toriugas all this she heard and
lives.
That the author lives TO tell the story, is
matter, perhaps, Of greater surprise TO herself
than 20 others; for y no could know the extent
cr her suffering and her danger, II need not.
n It could, be told, how returning strength and
increased sensibili,y brought also that mental
anguish which attends a clearer sense Of ca
lamity, Of the blow which proslrated, which
crushed every hope Of life, but did not quite
Destroy