South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1835-05-23
From sismondi's Fall ofthe Roman En-
pire.
END OF THE WORLD.

arrest our course, even had we intend
ed to pursue our narrative beyond it;
this is, the almost universal expectation
then entertained, of the approaching
end Of The world. So strong was this
belief, that it led the greater part Of
the contemporary writer's TO lay down
the pen for a while, silence was
complete for historians cared not to
write for a posterity whose existence
was so doubtful. Pious persons who
had endeavored 10 understand the A.
pocalypse, end to determine the time
ofthe accomplishment of its prophe-
cies, had been particularly struck with
the twelfth chaptsr, where it is an
nounced that, after the lapse Of thou.
sand years, Satan would be let loose to
deceive the nations but that after
little season, God would cause fire to
come down from heaven and devour
him. The accomplishment of all the
awful prophecies contained in this
book appeared, therefore, to be AT
hand and the end-of the world was
supposed TO be indicated by the de-
vouring fire, and by the first resurrec-
ton of the dead. The nearer the thou
sandth year from the birth Of Christ
approached, the more did panic aud
terror take possession Of every mind.
The archives Of all counties contain
grea, number of charters of the tenth
century beginning with these words
"Appropinquante fine mundi,"-(as
the end of The world is approaching
This almost universal belief redoubled
the ferver of religion, opened the least
liberal hands, and suggested various
acts of piety, by far the greater number
of which were donations to the clergy,
of possessions of which the testator ali
enated without regard from his family,
towhom the universal destruction would
render them useless. Others, howev-
er, we're of a more meritorious nature;
many enemies we're reconciied {; many
powerful men granted full pardon to
those who had been unhappy enough
to offend them several gave liberty
to their slaves, or ameliornied the con-
dition OF their poor and hitherto slight
ed dependents. We are struck with a
sort Of alright at the idea of the state
of Reorganization into which the belief
of the imminent approach of the end
of the world must have thrown society.
All the ordinary motives OF action we're
suspended, or superseded by contrary
ones /; every passion Of the mind was
hushed, and the present was lost 10 the
appalling future. The entire mass of
the Christian nations seemed to feel
that they stood in the situation Of a
condemned criminal, who has received
his sentence, and counts the hours
which still separates him from eterni-
ty. Every exertion of mind or body
was become objectless, save the labors
of the faithful to secure their salvation;
any provision for an earthly futurity
must have appeared absurd any
monument erected for an age which
was never to arrive, would have been
a contradiction !; any historical records
written for generation never to arise,
would have betrayed want of faith
1t is almost matter Of surprise, that q
belief so general as this appears to have
been, did not bring about It's own
dreadful fulfilment that it did moi
transform the West into one vast con.
vent, and by causing total cessation
from labor, deliver up the whole hu.
man race to universal and hopeless fa'
mine. But, doubtless, the force of ha.
bit was still stronger with many than
the disease ofthe Imagination besides,
some uncertainty as to chronology had
caused hesitation between two or three
different periods; and, though many
| charters attest "certain and evident
signs" which left no room for doubt
of the rapid approach of the end ofthe
world, yet the constant order of sea.
sons, the regularity of the laws of ma.
ture, the beni6cence OF Providence,
which continued to cover the earth
with its wonted frnit, raised questions
even in the most timid minds. Atlas,,
the extreme period fixed by the pro-
phecies was passed; the end of the
world had not arrived the terror was
gradually but entirely dissipated; and
it was universally acknowledged that
on this subject, the language OF the
sacred Scriptures had been misiater"
preted.
1 Dwarf Horses.-Mr. Balguy, o.
Derby, has had sent him as present
from the Shetland Isles, two horses, the
height of neither Of which exceeds SO