Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1839-10-17
M 8 C Z T. T. a ~ X /.


CHARLES LAME was not only one of the most
highly gifted men, intellectually, and one of the
most delightful of British Essayists, but he was a
man remarkable for the high tone of his moral prin-
oiples and sentiments, and for the gentleness and
sweetness Of his intercourse with his fellow men,
He fell the victim of intemperance-furnishing ano-
Their and most melancholy illustration Of the truth
that no power Of mind furnishes a security against
this rice.
who can read the following confession from the
pea Of Charles Lamb himself, without emotion and
without a distressing sense of hsman weakness -
LED. GAz.
'Could the youth to whom the naver Of his first
wine is delicious as the opening senses Of life, or
the entering upon some newly discovered paradise,
look into my desolation, and be made to understand
what a dseary thing it is when a man feels himself
going down a p~recipice with open eyes and n pas
si.e will-to see his destruction, and have no pow
er TO stop it, and yet 10 feel j, all the way emma
ting from himself; TO perceive all goodness emp
tied out Of hun, aud yet not be able to forget a
lime when it was otherwise to bear about the pr
teous spectacle Of his own selfruin; could he see
my fegercd ycs--feveiish with last nights drink
ing, and feverishly looking for this nights repeti-
ton of the folly; could be feel the body Of death
out of which ! cry hourly with feebler ou,cry to be
deiivered-it were enough TO make him dash the
sparkling beverage to the earth in all the pride Of
It's mantllng temptation.
Off n wish could transport me back to those
DAYS of youth, when a draught from the next clear
spring could slake any heats which summer suns
and Youthful exercise had power 10 stir UP in the
blood, how gladly would | return to thee, pure ele-
ment, the drink of children, and of child-like her
mits. In my dreams | could fancy the cool refresh
ment purling over my burning tongue. But my wa
king stomach rejects it. That which relreshes in
nocence only makes me sick and faint.
But is there no middle way botwixt total absti-
hence and the excess which kills you2 For your
sake reader, and that you may never attain to expe-
riencc, with pain ] must utter the dreadful truth.
that there is none, none that-I can find. In my
stage of habit, CT speak not of habits less confirm
ed; for some of them | believe to be prudential) in
the stage to which | have reached, to stop short of
that measure which is sufficient to draw on torpor
and sleep-the benumbling a~popletic sleep of a
drunkard-is to have taken none at all. The pain
Of self denial is all one. And what that is | had
rather the reader should believe on my credit than
know on his own trial. He viii come to know il
whenever he shall arrive at the state in which, par
adoxical as it may appear, reason shall only visit
him through intoxication for it is a fearful truth,
that the intellectual faculties, by repeated acts OF
intemperance, may be driven from their orderly
sphere Of action, their clear daylight ministries, until
they shall be brought at last to depend for the faint
manifestation Of their departing energies upon the
returning periods of the fatal madness to which
they owe their devastation. The drinking man is
never less himself than during his sober intervals.
Evil is so far good.
Behold me then, in the robust period of life, re-
duced 10 imbecility and decay. Hear me count
gain, and the profit | have derived from the mid
night cup.
M Ri -. -1.-rn.1 e N hao1sL.t
frame of mind and body. | was never strong, but
| think my constitution for a weak one, was as hap
PLY exempt from a tendency to any malady as 1t
was possible to he. | scarcely knew whatit was to
all ANYTHING. Now, except when | am losing my
self in a sea of drink, | am never free from those
uneasy sensations in the head and stomach, which
are much worse to bear than any definite pains and
aches.
Al that time I was seldom in bed after six in the
morning. ummer and winter. | awoke refreshed,
and seldom without some merry thoughts in my
head or some piece Of song to welcome the new
born day. Now the first feeling that besets me, al
ter stretching out the hours Of Remembrance to their
last possible extent, is a forecast Of the wearisome
day that lies before me, with a secret wish that |
could have lain on still or never walked.
Life itself, my awaking life, has much OF the con-
fusion, the trouble and obscure perplexity OF an idle
dream. In the day time | stumble upon the dark
mountains.
Business, which though never particularly adapt
ed TO nv nature, yet as something necessary TO be
oone through, and therefore best undertaken with
cheerfulness, / used to enter upon with some de-
gree Of alacrity, now wearies, ~afrights, perplexes
me. fancy all sorts Of discouragements, and am
ready to give up an occupation which gives me
bread, for a harrassing conceit oil incaPacity' Inc
slightest commission given me by friend, OF a small
duty | have to perform for myself as giving orders
p la.,rta mo MS lahnf fmnOsHfGle
20 90 through. So much the springs of action are
broken.
The same cowardice attends me on all my inter-
course with mankind. dare not promise that a
friends honor or his cause would be saie IN my
keeping. if | were put TO the expense OF any manly
resolution in defending it. So much springs OF mo-
raj action are deadened within me.
My favorite occupation in times past now ceases
to entertain. / can do nothing readily.
Application for ever so short a time kills me-
This poor abstract Of my condition was penned
st long intervals, with scarcely any connection OF
thought, which is now difficult TO me.
The noble passages which formerly interested me