The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-11-27
More Passages from the Diary ola Ply
sician.

In the summer Of 49,, London was
visited by one of the most tremendous
r-storms that have been known in
this climate. It's character and effects
some of which latter form the subject
of this chapter--will make me remem-
ber il to the latest hour of my life.
There was something portentous--a
still, surcharged air--about the whole of
ruesdly the 10th of July, l6-, as
though nature was trembling and cow
ering beneath tho coming shock. From
about eleven o'clock at noon the sky
wore lurid threatening aspect that
shot awe into the beholder, suggesting
to startled fancy the notion, that within
the dim confines of the "labouring air
was working to the world.
The heat was intolerable, keeping al
most every body within doors. The
very dogs, and even cattle in the streets
stood every where painting and loath to
move. There was prodigious excite
ment, or rather agitation, diffused
throughout the country, especially Lon
don, for, strange to say, land thousands
will recollect the circumstance, it had
been for some time confidently foretold
by certain enthusiasts, religious as well
as philosophic that the earth was to be
destroyed that very day; in short, that
the awful Judgment was at hand
By the time reached home, late in
the afternoon, felt in n fever of excite
ment. found an air of apprehension
throughout the whole house. My wife.
children and young Visitor, were all to-
gether in the parlour, looking out for
me, through the window, anxiously-
and with paler faces than they might
choose to own. The visitor just alluded
to, by tho way-was Miss Agnes P
a girl Of about twenty-one, the daughter
of an old friend and patient of mine
Her mother widow, with no other
child than this resided in a village a
bout fifty miles from town--from which
she was expected, in few days time
to take her daughter back again into
The country. Miss P was without
exception tho most charming young
woman think I ever met with. The
beauty of her person but family showed
forth tho loveliness of her mind and the
amlabi!ity of her character. There was
n rich languor, or rather softness OF ex-
about her features. that to me
is enchanting, and constitutes the high
est and rarest style of feminine loveli-
ness. Her dark, pensive, searching
ewes, spoke a soul full Of feeling and
fancy. If you, reader, had but felt their
gaze-had seen them-now glistening
in liquid radiance upon you, from be-
meath their long dark lashes; and then
sparkling with enthusiasm, while the
flush Of excitement was on her beautiful
features, and her white hands hastily
folded back her auburn tresses from her
alabaster brow, your heart would have
thrilled as mine often has, and you
would with me have exclaimed in a sort
of cctscy-"Stor OF your sex J" The
tones of her voice, so mellow and vari-
ous-and her whole carriage and de-
meanour, were IN accordance with the
expression of her features. In person
she was little under the average height
but most exquisitely moulded and pro-
porlioned, and there was a Hebe-like
ease and grace about all her fea'ures.-
She excelled in almost all feminine ac-
complishments, but the "things wherein
her soul delighted" were music and ro-
nance. A more imaginative, ethereal
lied creature was surely never known.
1t required all the fond and anxious sur
veillance Of her friends to prevent her
carrying her tastes TO excess, and be-
coming i'm manner. unified for the
"dull commerce Of dull earth !" No
sooner had this fair being made her ap-
pearance in my house, and given token
of something like a prolonged stay, than
| became the most popular man in The
circle of my. acquaintance. Such assid-
uous calls to inquire after my health,
and that Of my family Such multi
tude of men-young ones, to boot-and
so embarrassed with consciousness OF
the poorness Of The pretence that drew
them to my house Such matronly in
quiries from mothers and elderly female
relatives. into the nature and extent OF
"sweet Miss P--'s expectations 7"
During a former stay at my house,
about six months before the period OF
which I am writing, Miss P sur
rendered her affections-(to the de-
lighted surprise Of all her friends and
relativss)-to the quietest and perhaps
wortbiest Of her claimants--a young
man, then preparing for orders at Ok
ford. Never, sure, was there n greater
coniras: between the tastes Of a pledged
couple, she all feeling, romance, enthu-
siasm, he serene, thoughtful and matter.
of-fsct. II was most amusing to wit
ness their ocesmonsI collisions on sub