The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-11-20

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From the New.York Mirror.
A LEGEND OF THE PACIFIC.
I"Why should there be life, when that the love,
That gave TO life its sunshine, all is gone;
The heart should die,then, nor 10 endless pain,
Broken, live on"
A Spanish vessel. touching ut one Of
the beautiful islands ofthe Pacific, short
ly after the discovery Of yasco Nunez
had made them available, left, at its de-
pnrture, youag Spaniard upon il, who
having strayed at some distance from the
vessel into the interior, had been unob-
served and forgotten. The island, at
the first glance, seemed uninhabited |;
and so indeed. in reality, it proved 20 he
subject only to the migratory visits of a
tribe from one in the neighborhood.
Our Spanard, who was named Velasquez,
was of good family, and was among the
many seduced from the luxurious enjoy
ment Of an independent fortune in his
own country, to the paradisal enjoyments
accounted TO belong TO the modern dis
coyefies Of the new world. He was net
unknown to the perils of war; md, with
all the chivalrous spirit of his age and ma
ton, lie contemne1 and met them boldly,
and will, sufficient firmness; but the per-
ills oflabor for life were perils hitherto
unknown, and the first moment of con-
sciousness which followed the knowledge
of the ships departure, was one little
short of despair. In a paroxysm of ffren-
! zy- he cast himself down upon the sand,
bewiIdered with nameless and number
less terrors, and frantic with their con-
Temptation. h. sFtn4,ns io 4s,l
Velasquez was not, however, 50 greatly
the nursling of nobility and ease as to
yield the contest to his fate without a
struggle. He was Of noble spirit, and
his energy Of character Ind been at all
times his peculiarly. He was romantic,
too, and after the first paroxysm of APP
prehension had subsidized, the feeling Of
its desola,ion was strangely connected
with the novelty of his situation; and in
mood somewhat more lively, lie betook
himself 10 survey Of the dominion, of
which he found himselfin the exclusive
possession. ..i,tsra ~ .,sBIals.4. ~.
The island was but few miles in ex-
tent ,'nnd in the course Of second days
journey he had made its circuit. 1t pos
sessed the shelter, from the sun, of sew
eral delicious groves, Of which, during
the midday heats, he availed himself and
found repose, while they yielded him, at
tho same time, an abundance Of the vari-
Gus fruits common to these islands, OBJ
Whiting any and every Inconvenience
from hunger. A few muscles also con-
tributed To his repast and the human
mind, always subtle in expedients when
sl'arpened and brought into action by
necessity, did not permit the young Span
lard so quietly TO suffer, ms to make his
grief insuppor,able. He felt his priva-
tions, il is true but with the philosophy
which comes ofa stout heart and buoy
ant spirit, he contrived to make the best
of a situation in which he had no alter
native.
1 The island upon which he was left, Of
fersd no means by which he might have
constructed a shallop, fcr the exploration
OF its neighborhood. This, the main evil
Of his exile excepted, was the chief sub
Iject Of regret with veIasquez. Could
he have traced :he waters dependent u p
on his sovereignty, he might have ex-
lplored the contiguous shores, which hung
before his eyes upon the verge Of his
horizon, like a dim streak, curtaining the
distance. An arm Of the sea interposed,
presenting wall Of waters TO his pro-
gress, which. though but few miles in
extent, was cffectuuIIy n barrier 10 him.
Day by day, after providing for his re-
past, would he sit upon the edge of the
island, contemplating that faint limo in
the distance, Which lie felt sure was in
hnbitcd, and which he go longed 10 he
hold. Even the presence Of savage
tribe would have been grateful, assuring
him, ms il must have done, that he was
not entirely nIonc. When, however, ms
was frequently the case on these occa-
sions Of survey. he began to despond,
like a good Cnthoiic he told his bends
! and said his prayers, and promised many
visit tn the shrine of his patron saint in
the event ell her succor aud assistance.
One day. while engaged ntl,is mourn
ful contemplation, surveying ihs wide
waste stretching bcfore him, rufiied into
petty fury by the influence Of a sudden
tempest, he bcheld dark speck in the
1 distance, which strongly attracted his nt-
icntion. lis course was directly onwsrds