Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1831-08-08

acquainted with the splendid sceneFy Of -
cara 10 the same space Of time. lie WAS M
formed thai visitors nj the Fails Frequently
remained hot y day or two. aud he eApresssed
his Acknowledgement that they should he ~
inile Interested in the grand and beautiful
works OF 0aiuTe, as 10 spend only so short
period.
In = few DAYS he called again. and sxpatia-
tel upon the beauties of The Falls, aud said he
had concluded TO remain month AT least,& per.
hsps six months. In n short time after Tins, he
determined 10 fx his abode uppn Goat or Iris
Island, and was DESTROYS Of erecting rustic
hut, for the purpose of absracting himself
from all society. and b. coming solitary her
MI. The proprietor OF the islani did mol
think proper to grant him the PRIV lege oi
erecting building for such use but per-
miited rim 10 occupy small room IN The only
hops- on the ISLAND. In the house there lived
family ~ho FURNISHED him occasionally
with bread aud mix. But h. generally dis
pensed with these, providing himself with otil
er srlicles, and always doing his own cooking.
TINS was his permanen, residence for about
twenty months.
Last winter the family removed, and 10
those few persons with whom he held any
communication, he expressed his great salts
faction at having IT III his power to hive hlone
For some months he seemed tn enjoy him elf
very much, until another family eni cred The
house. lie then concluded to eject a cottage
OF his own. AID AS he could not dn il on the
ISLAND, he determined 10 build il on the main
shore. II yet Glands about thirty rods from
the man fall, on the back oi the river. lie oo-
cupiet II about two month";.
Ga Friday. the 1Oh of June las he went
twice 10 the river la battle, aud was seeo
TO 90 the third TINE al that Time the ferryman
saw him the wafer. IL was about two
O'Clock IN he afternoon the ferryman did nj
see him return, and his clio hes were observed
where he had deposited them. An examina-
tim was immediately made, but his body could
not b" discovered. On the 2lst il was taken
up AT Fort Niagara, aud the nrxt day il was re-
moved To, and Inferred decuntly al the burial
ground al Niagara Falls.
Thus has terminated the career Of the unfor-
tunate Francis Abbot. little Indeed known 10
those near whom he has spent the last two
years OF his life. Some few gieanings can be
glyen. He was an English gentI-man, OF re-
.pectnhIe family, OF highl, cultivated mind and
manners.- He had n flushed education, was
not Only master oil the Languages, and deeply
read IN the aris aud sciences, but possessed all
tie MINOR acco adjustments OF the genllem IN
--collun Hiai powers III an eminent degree and
music ond drawing IN great perlecuUn. Many
Years OF his lie had been spent in travelling
lie bad visited Egypt aud Palestine tad ,rnv.
elel Though Turkey. Greece, ltaIy, Spain
Portugal aud France, aud had resided Tor con.
siderable periods oil time in Rome, Naples
aud Paris. while nj he Falls. business
bTough hi u ia contact with sune of III. IN.
nabdant. win a lew oflhrse he would sonr
inns he sUClable--to al otneis nu was distant
aud 'e,eIvrd. At suca TIM ., us conversation
would he OF the mast Interesting hinI, aud bis
descri ptIons Of people and counnJes were
hghi, glowing and animated. bat at times,
ven witn these lac would nuIi NJ conytI-
satlon, but cOmmnnic ited his wishes on a slate
aud would rem Iest that nothing might be SAID
10 hun. Sometimes Tor thee or tour noah,
logethtr he would 81 uhsnnved, often with no
covering on his head, his body en,elnped IN a
blank I, shunn,ng all, aud seekug the deepest
sol ude OF his Island. lie composed much,
aud gener'ly IN La IN; hut destroyed MS
compositions AS last almus DIS ne Produced
them. When his little cot was examined.
hopes were tntertained that some manuscript
menoII al might be found OF his own compo i
ton. but he 0ad left nothing OF the kind. Hs
fail fnl do glarded his door, and was with Jif.
fculIy persuaded aside wlile It was opened
lis cat &C up,ed III place Appropriated ms hi.
bed Hs guitar MS violin, aud lure and mt
sic books, we're sc ,ltered around 10 confusion !
There was port folio, aud the leaves of
Lang" book but ut a word mot eyea his name,
was WRIT IL IA any OF them.
Many spots IRIS Island are consecre.
ted To the memory OF Francis Abbot Ga me
upper end OF the island TIC had established HI.
walk and at one plaoe II has become had
trod and well beaten, like that on which sen
llnel performs his tour OF dniy. Beln zen lris
land and Moss Isle, lheIe IS empowered IN
secln non aud shade. one OF tho most charming
" a,er-f falls or scades imaginable. luis va,
hia iay1Il er.treat Tor bathing. Here he re.
sorted al al seasons oil The ear. In the cold
est weather even when there was snow on the
& ouni and ice in the rive he coniinut Il 10 baiuu
ia the Niagara.
AT HE lower extremity of the island ia n
hndg" leading 10 what IS called the rerrapin
rocks from Tins bridge extends "a sIuPIo ni,c
of imber some twelve or fifteen feet over the
precIpIce On ms bulge 1t Was his daily nrae
lie 10 walk WITH II quick step na would
pass the hriige. advance on the tInber T. the
xir, me point iurn qulekl, on his heel aud
walk Tor hours together Sometimes he woula
let huns 1t down at tie end ol the timber. and
hang unacr II by his hands and feet, over the
terrific rrrcpCe Tor III cen minutes alta tim.
/ o tho enqlny why hs would thus expose nm
SELL ne would reply ,,hat in crossing the ocean
NE hah "eq lehuy seen the boy perform
iar more ptiiIous acts, ani as lie should pro.
oao'g again pdss ihe sea himself, he wished
10 'nuie himself to such dangers. III heneiyes
o' o'hers were aIstnfoe h 3 we've not In the
widest hours OF the nlsn, he was often found
walking alone aud unfrn ng IN tho most dan.
gerous places near thu Fails and AT such
tunes he would shun approach, as # he had
dread OF man. lie had s,ilend allowed hun
oil about SO week. tie always attended ia
'ha sta'e OF his accounts very carefully WAS
economical IN The expenditure ofmouey for
his own immediate use mud was generous in
paying for eli favours and services, never re.
crivhs any 'hlng without making immediate
payment, lie had deep and ab,dln, sense
OF religious duty and decorun, was mill IN
ss behaviour, and inotfensive IA his condpet
hti,gio" was subject he we'll understood and
n's"'! appreciated. The charity he asked
from others, he extended to sn n,aa.
kind.
u nat. il VIII lie nSLnI nn..lI h.-