Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-10-25


Gravesend to juin my wiz and embark for
PhiladeIphia. Judge, reader!-but no; how can
you, how can any one, Judge Of my feelings at
thi. most strange adventure? The captain hao
never seen my wife! had never left her o"
board that ship!-The light broke in suddenly
upon my comprehension. There had been an
Other ship, but bound, alas! for India, lying d
longside Of the one in which had taken our
passage for America; and that ship had saiea
the very evening had returned to London -
Blind. blind idiot! had mistaken the ships!
How could ] read the name upon her Stern! IL
was as much as could do TO see 1t she mad
stern al all! ! had sent the wife Of my bosom
long solitary voyage 10 the Eastern Indies! ohe
was with srrangers-without due provision
for her commonest necessltles, and worse 'hai,
ali, without The slightest knowledge OF my rea'
intentions, BY which she could understand 'hat
this was not deliberate act OF base and cruel
desertion. Unucky in every thing! my trade
had made me so well known on board every
East Inhisman in the river, that the captain,
(who knew me, although could not see him)
expecting farther explanation, had not hesi'a'-
ed to receive my wife on board-and she poor
SOUL would no, have asked question after the
order had given her, had it been 10 save her
own life, aud mine into the bargain.
What was 10 be done? My first thought
was, Of course, to follow her Immediately.
Ra,tered myself might over,ake her at Madei'
ra, or catch her at the Cape; and instantly
returned to London, to make eager inquiries
conc rnine the first ship that would sail foi
Calcutta. But disappoin,meBts came thick up
on me. This had been the last ship OF the
Company a. ct for the season, and all the pri-
va;e ships had sailed before ! was obliged 10
resign myself TO my fate, with whatever pa
,ienee could call to my aid. waited upon
nv father il law. as l thought / owed him
some explanation. IL might have been merely
accidental, or my own fancy, but thought ne
received and SPOKE to me coldly. Considering
was the husband of his only child, certainly
was surprised and felt somewhat hurt. bui
said nothing--and all know is, the untortu'
nate have few friends
led a most uncomfortable life for many
weeks. At length heard Of ship going di-
rect TO Bombay from Portsmouth My wife
was gone to Calcutta; but, as my first objec'
was TO be in the same quarter oil the globe
with her, | secured a passage on board his
ship, and, turning my back once more uP"n
the glories of my dear naive city, started for
the coast rode on the outside OF The Ports
mouth coach. tina, l might get view Of Lon
don from tn, country. remember my ssnsa>
lions were Off very mixed description as sa
upon the coach, looking back from time TO
zine upon the dense cloud of sm ke in which
London was losr. My sensations were painful,
nasmch as WAS quitting, knew not for now
long, the only scene Of life which custom had
endeared 10 me-the only spot in the world IN
whirh I had felt iii now an interest. They
were pleasing, Iaasmuch as although every ten
minures took me another long long mile from
London, still every ten minutes placed me, by
i sHPs hsF Hhitesh RE ish at my heart to keep
an account Of the miles onrs as nv fellow II a
yeIlers told me that we passed them. Al last,
aftsr long stage, we stopped at ~.
Here we changed horses-and here would lna'
had died! for, miserable being hat am! here
met with one Of my worst misfortnnes-like
all he rest, consequence of that dire calamity
which has robbed Ire pf reposr, aud Of every
thing hat I ever held Gear and valuable, even
AZ promised at the corIme ncemenl Of these
sheets.
We stopped at K to breakfast, as well
as TO change horses. was SO little accustom-
ed 10 travel in this manner, and was so niue n
disc o,nposed by heat, fatigue. aud dust, that /
asked for chamber IN W ich ! might wash
and refresh, and make myself neat and more fit
10 be seen, intending, as did, to 60 the res, of
the way inside The coach. changed my suite,
and shaved All this did very hastily, fear.
Ing that should he too lave; Tor the people Of
the inn were calling for me, and hurrying me,
till hardly knew it STOOD on my head or my
heels. When / reached the inn>door, by good
luck, as then though'0 fell for my purse
searched in vain in my pc, ke,, the coach
waited for m young gentleman diver on the
coach box swore with a terrible oah that he
would go WITHOUT me. | had bu, moment.
rushed back 10 the room in which had chang
ed my dress The purse vas lying ON The Ia
BILE. full and heavy, W. Il prepared as it was for
the expense ofmy journey. seized i'-pu,
il into my p'okr'-ran down stairs and got into
the coach, which instantly drove off All this
was done in considerable less time than have
employed in writngi..
fell asleep soon after we lef the inn door.
dreamed was on he wds sea, which had
never before seen, and that it was full Of won
ders. Blu, still it was more like great river
than an open sra. I thought that soon arriv-
ed at place full Of buildings and shipping,
and not very unlike the Custom house in my
own city, thought Ibis place was Calcutta