The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-11-27


esting to note, that the effect was inva-
riably to raise the one in the others es-
timation--as if they mutually priced
most the qualities of the other. Young
n had spent two days in London
the greater portion of them, need hard
ly say, at my house--about week be-
fore and he aud his fair mistress had
disputed rather keenly on the topic of
general discussion--the predicted event
of the tenth of July. If she did not re-
pose implicit faith in the prophecy, her
belief had somehow or another, acquired
a most disturbing strength. He labored
hard to disabuse her of her awful appre-
hensions-and she as hard to overcome
his obstinate incredulity. Each was
little too enger about the matter and
for the first time since they had known
each other, they parted with little
coldness--yes, although he was to set
off the next morning for Oxford !! In
short. scarcely any thing was talked of
by Agnes but the coming tenth Of July
and if she did not anticipate the actual
destruction of the globe, and the final
judgment of mankind-she at least look
ed forward to some event, mysterious
and tremendous. The eloquent en-
thusiastic creature almost brought over
my placid wife to her way of thinking.
To return from this long DEPRESSION
which, however, will be presently
found to have been not Unnecessary
After staying few minutes in the par
lour, l retired to my library for the pur-
pose among other things of making those
entries in my Diary from which these
passages" are taken-but the pen lay
useless in my hand. With my chin
resting on the palm Of my left hand, /
sat at my desk lost in reverie my eyes
fixed on the tree which grew in the yard
and overshadowed my windows. How
still--how motionless-was every leaf!
What sultry pressive--unnatural re-
pose How it would have cheeredS me
TO hear the faintest "sough" Of wind
to see the breeze sweep freshening
through the leaves, rustling and stirring
them into life II opened my window,
united my neckerchief, and loosened my
shirt colar-for felt suffocated with
the heat. I heard at length faint pat
,ering sound amoug the leaves of the
tree-and presently there fell on the
window-frame three or four large omin-
Gus drops of rain. After gazing up
wards for moment or two in the gloo-
my aspect of the sky-I once more set
tied down to writing, and was dipping
my pen into the inkstand, when there
blazed about me, flash Of lightning
with such ghsstly, binding splendour,
as defes all description. 1t was like
what one nigh, conceive to be a glimpse
of hcll--and yet not a glimpse merely
for it continued, / think, six or seven
seconds. 1t was followed at scarce an
instant's interval, with crash of thun-
der as if the world had been smitten out
of its sphere and was rending asunder
hope these expressions will not be
considered hyperbolical. No one, | am
sure, who recollects the occurrence am
describing, will require the appeal -
May never see or hear of the like a
gain The sudden shock utmost drove
me out of my senses. / leaped from
my chair with CONSERVATION and
could think Of nothing, at the moment
but closing my eyes, and shutting out
from my ears the stunning sound of the
thunder. For moment ] stood literal
ly supplied. On recovering myself, my
frs, impulse was to spring to the door,
aud rush down stairs in search Of my
wife and children. I heard, on my way
the sound oS sbrieking proceed from the
parlour in which had left them. In a
moment l had my wife folded in my
arms, and my children clnging with
screams round my knees. My wife had
tainted. While ] was endeavoring to
restore her, there came second flash of
lightning, equally terrible with the first
land second explosion Of thunder;
loud as one could imagine the discharge
Of a thousand parks of artillery directly
over head. The windows-in fact the
whole house, quivered with the shock
The noise helped to recover my wife
from her swoon.
/ "Kneel down Love Husband !"-
she gasped, endeavouring to drop upon
her knees--"Kneel down !-pray for us
We are undone !" After shouting till ]
wns hoarse, and pulling the bell repeat
edly and violently, one Of the servants
made her appearance-but In state
not far removed from that of her mis-
tress. Both ofthem, however, recover
ed themselves IN few minutes, reused
by the cries of the children. wait a
moment, love-" said !, ''and will fetch
you few reviving drops !"-I stepped
into the back room, where ] generally
kept some vials Of drugs, and poured out
a few drops Of snlvolatile. The thought
then for the first time struck me, that
Miss P was not in in the parlour /
had Just quilted. Where was she p