Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-03-03
THE THUNDER.STRUCK.
FROM THE DIARY OF LONDON PHYSICAL

FROM THE DIARY OF A LONDON PHYSICIAN.
GAS there are great many specu'a,ions at1oat IN
regard to the time when this world TO have an enu'
the incidental illusions TO the subject in the following
thrilling narrative, makes its republication at this
time peculiarly appropriate. A number OF such pro-
pheces have been promulgated within the last centu-
ry or two, but they have all failed, and the prophes
have proved themselves to be faseprophets. Weare
told that the day of the Lord will come as THIEF
IN THE NIGHT in the which the heavens shall pass
away with grea, noise, and the elements shall melt
with fervent heat" &c.
In view, therefore, of the great uncertainty OF the
time when this solemn evenly will take place, and yet
of the great certainty that ii rW take place. sooner or
later we are admonshed to be dilgent, that we may
be found of Him in peace without spot and bameless"
We put no more faith in Parson Miller and his pro-
phecies, than do in any other agta,o and yet the
time may be on the day he mentions, or it may be
sooner, it may be at any other time hundreds of
years hence As individuals, we are liable every
ment to have the world TO an end, so far we
are concerned 1t therefore behooves all to faithfully
consider and observe the admonton above quoted,
"be diligent." &c.
self false or else prove the word of God false1 MI
Ter pretends to know precisely when the en- shal
come, whilst the Scripture says "tne day If j..
Lord will come thief in the night" which O.
course implies mans entire ignorance Of the time Of
its coming"
In the summer of lS-,London was visited
by one of the most tremendous thunder
storms that have been known in this climate.
Its character and effects will make me re-
member il to the latest hour of my life.
There was something portentous-a still
surcharged ar-about the whole of Tuesday
the 10th of July, 1S-, as though nature was
trembling and covering beneath the coming
shock. From about eleven o'clock at noon
the sky wore a lurid, threatening aspect, that
shot awe into the beholder; suggesting to
startled fancy the notion, that within the din
confines of the laboring air." mischief wa.
working to the world.
The heat was ntolerable, keeping almos
every body within doors. The very dogs
and the cattle in the streets, stood every
where painting and loath to move. There
was prodigious excitement, orrather agita
ton, difiused throughout the country, espe
cially London; for, strange TO say, (an'
thousands will recOllect the circumstance
had been for some time confidently foretol
by certain enthusiasts, religious as we'll a
phosophic, that the earth was to be destroy
ed that very day in short, that the awfl
Judgment was at hand
By the time reached home, late in the al
ternoon, felt a fever Of excitement.
found an air of apprehension throughout tn
whole house. My wife, children, and
young visitor, were all together in the parlo
looking out for me, through the window, an,
iously-and with paler faces than they migl
choose to own. The visitor Just alluded /,
by the way, was Miss Agnes p, 81
Of about twenty-one, the daughter of an o
friend and patient of mine. Her mother,
widow, with no other child than this,) res
ded in village about fifty miles from tow
from which she was expected in a fe
days time to take her daughter back in
the country. Miss P-was without g
ception the most charming young woman
think ever met with. The beauty of h
person but family showed forth the love
ness of her mind and amiabity of her cha
acter. The tones of her voice, so mellt
and various-and her carriage and demea
or, were in accordance with the expressi
of her features. In person she was a Iii,
- under the average height, but mos t exquisi
y ly moulded and proportioned. She excel
in almost all feminine accomplishments b
the ",hings wherein her soul delighted" We
music and romance. A more imapinati,
e,herealized creature was surely never know
II required all the fond aud anxious surve
lance of her friends 10 prevent her carryi
he- tastes TO excess, and becoming, in
manner, unified for the dull commerce
dull earth !" No sooner had this fair be
made her appearance in my house. and G
en- token of something like prolonged s.
than became the most popular man in
circle Of my acquaintance. Such assidu
calls to enquire after my health, and that
my family! Such a multitude Of met
young ones, to boot-and so embarras
with consciousness of the poorness of
pretence that drew them to my home s
matronly inquiries from mothers and eide
female relatives, into the nature and ext
Of" sweet Miss P--'s expectations 7"
During former stay at my house, ali
six moths before the period of which |
writing, Miss P surrendered her al
tions-(to the delighted surprise of all
friends and relatives)-, the quietes
perhaps wor,hiest of her claimants "a yo
man, then preparing for orders, at Oxr
Never, sure, was there greater contrast