The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1840-05-13
SELECTED TALES.
From the Philadelphia Caskst.
LIE Chirurgian de Marine.
from rHE rkIHcH or EaILE souvEsrRr.
BY W. Il. Yaileau.
cRAPrER 0.

caAprERL
IL vas one Of those cold. glosmy nights pc.
euiisr TO November. psder the sky Of Brittany
The city Of BrsH lay sleeping in the diesry
waste, and nsught could be heard save the
grsiing Of the heavy eordage OF the shipping
lying IN port, the roaring OF the surf, as il dssh-
ed against the solitary storshousss, and the
steady tread OF tho ssutinss on sbipbosrd. Ia
the distance. and os the left, . prison for gal.
ley slaves appeared CLEANING amid the dark and
undesirable masses which surrs sundsd il. From
one Of the apartments, however. tbs iig ht shons
with less brilisnny than tbs sthsn. This wal
the inhTmary for invalid slaves.
At one of the widows a young man in the
uniform OF a naval surgeon was leaning his
/ forehead against tho iron grating. ~rspt in a
profound meditation. Aftsr remsiuing 10 this
position for some timo, he cast his eyes upon n
sheet Of paper he held in his hand. which was
covered with erssures. a. if he had been sndea-
voring to collect iogsthsr the ph.ntssies which
his benish,ed vision had created. He com
msnced rsading 10 himself: What is life with
out happiness, and how attain happiness with
cut riches Riches This then 10 the goal.
As TO the means to acquire wealth, what mat
tsrs II, so tho end fails not. Become rich ut
once. Make one step from the path Of recti-
tuds and become rich. IL is bat tho dishonor
OF day. few years will oblitersts tho oh
loquy. Commit crime itself and gain wealth.
Conscience only becomes our accuser, Shen
Z lsa hava tE]o a q.
exist at all. let its torments CONS il cannot be
worse than The cravings Of un,atisfed desire.
At all events know not the unhappiness at
tending guilty conscience, but | have felt and
still feel the TIseTIss OF = lite ,f poverty. Rea.
sou then tells ina TO do any thing whereby ]
may gain riches. The poor live not, To live
is to possess tho mean, TO follow your own iu-
elinailons. ] am now twenty seven years OF
age, fond VI pleasure, and the society OF pretty
women, yet am obliged to pass my life like a
prisODer-cooped up 10 FIVE foot square be-
! tween decks. or confined to the unhealthy at
InosPhsre OF = hospital room, hearing nothing
but grosns and imPrscstions. Why is it that
] must endure such an existence What
have done 10 merit this unhappy DOOM
However, suppose | must submit 10 fate
Even II desired TO change my luckless life. by
attempting, what the world would call crime.
the occasion would not oifer-so rare 10 it that
an advantageous opportunity is met with. The
honesty OF three -fourihs OF msnk ind hold. good
only so far as they are prevented BY cirepm-
stances from becoming rogues."
Finishing the foregoing sqPhi'm, the young
man reflected some time upon the arguments
which hls perverted brain had .uggeEed-no~
striking the papers as If satisfied OF their cor
reetss.. and now shaking his head doub,fully.
To those who could st this Tina have read his
thoughts il would haVs been a curious study to
have obserysd ias workings Of mosbid mind
iDdigssnt at the impo'ency Of man in battling
With fate, and Demanding Of Hsuen an ae-
count for surrounding crime with So many dif-
6cultiss. Bpt further observation would un-
ideas had taken, resulted mere from an unset
tied state Of mind than any real deprsviiy Of
heart.
Edward Lsunsy was one Of those young mon
whose ambition far exceed their prospects, and
who pass the time in unavsilins regrets at, what
they consider, their bad fortune. Possessed Of
but limited means, he had .ith.rto remain poor,
or endea,or to surieb himself by the SLOW and
upeersin means Of his profession. neither Of
which he was disposed to do. lie loved rather
TO dlseIaim sgsinst the inequalities Of society.
HE ssphstieal resssoiugs had opened way tD
justify sny means which iend~d to the success
Of his al absorbing scheme. Yet for all ths,
il wanted but one spark Of pure and 'roes fire
to awaken the better feelings Of his nature. lie
vas like a rudd.rless vessel upon the rufied
sea. whose vide spread sails awaited The breeze.
ps,rdleu which way she was rspsIled by il.
LsEnsy had been for some time absorbed by
his reflections when he vas recalled 10 himself
BY the announcement that a galley slave was
dad. Making bis way through the doubls
ranges Of beds he thrs~ aside the covering fod
looked upon the face OF the corpse with more
than ordinary curiosity. All his previous
thoughts had now given plsee to scientific in
te,st. The instinct Of the surgeon va, re-
awakened at sight Of the dead body. lie passed
his hand lightly ever the prstubersness sfibe
neck, studied 40 ins,,n, the muscles OF the face,
then {" if he hsd spddesly made pp his mind
upon verifying certain eoseIosions or removing
certain doubts. he ordered the body 10 be taken
inis tn. dissse,iny rosm.
The deceased -u subjsei veil verify the
study OF disciple Of Gal or Lsv,r.. Con-
,ic,.d Of robbery on tbs highway, be bad bs'n
e.na.ms.1 to imprisonment for lds. Tsn
yesrs bad elapsed since bis ess6nemsst. the
.bol. Of Which time be bad spent 10 frDiflss'