Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1845-08-07


: ordinary providence. He soon found tI,s
$ Salem understood the Greek language. whic
: greatly facilitated the business. He furnish
ca Greek Testament; Salem spent his tim
: cheeriully IN reading it,; and Mr. Craig hi
leisure hours in explaining TO him the Gospe
: Oh Jesus CHRIST. In the space of about two
, weeks he obtained wha, Mr.. Craig es,eeme,
a competent knowledge of the Christian re
} iig'on. lie went to Mr.. Craig's house O
worship, made public profession of Christi.
anlty, and was baptized in the name of the
adorable Trinity.
Some time after this, Salem informed Mr.
Craig that he was DESTROYS to return to his
native country, and once more see his ma
rents and friends. Mr.. Craig reminded him,
that his friends and countrymen, being Ma
hons,ans, entertained strongprejudices agains,
the Christian religion; and that, as he nov
prolessed to be Christian, he would proba-
oiy DC used Ill on that account and that
mere IN America he might enjoy his religion
wuhout disturbance TO which Salem replied.
that MS iather was man of good estate. and
ne was his heir; that he had never been
brought up to labor, and knew no possible
way IN which he could obtain Subsistence
that he could not bear the thought of living
lille OF dependence upon strangers, and be.
ing burden to them that he was sensible
OF the strong prejudces of his friends aoains,
Christianity yet could not think, that after
all the calamities he had undergone, his "a.
theirs religious prejudices would so far pet
The better OF his humanity as to cause him to
use his son i'll on that account; and that at
all events he desired to make the experiment
Mr. Craig urged, that the favourable regard of
his friends and good estate on the one hand.
and life of poverty and distress on the 9th.
err, might prove too powerful temptation TO
renounce that religion he now protested to
believe true, and return again to Mahomaian-
ism. Salem said, whatever the event mioht
be, he was resolved never to deny Jesus.
When MIR. Craig found that he was fully
resolved, he applied TO some of his neighbors.
and with their assistance furnished Salem
with as much money as they supposed sufii-
cient TO defray his expenses to England: from
whence he said he could easily get MASSAGE
TO Africa. He furnished him also with let
ter to the Hon. Robert Carter, who then lived
In Williamsburg, and was noted for his be-
nehcence to the poor and afflicted, requesting
HIM TO procure for the bearer an agreeable
passage in some ship bound to England Mr.
Carter did more than was requested of him
ne furnished Salem plentifully with sea stores
Being thus provided for, he set sail for Eng
land with the flattering prospect of being once
more happy IN his own country, and in the
arms OF his afiectlonate parents. For MANY
months no more was heard of him bv his
American acquaintance.
How long after this do not recollect. ner-
haps some years, the poor unfortunate Salem
returned again TO Virginia, in a state of in
sanity. He came to Williamsburg, and to
the house OF his old benefactor, MIR. Carter.
HIS constant complaint was, that he had no
friend, and where should he find friend ,
From which complaint the cause of his pre-
sent very piliable situation was easily con-
Jectured; his father was not his friend -
Notwithstanding the arrangement of mental
powers, he had certain lucid intervals, IN
which he so far enjoyed his reason, as to be
able to give pretty distinct account of his
adventures after he left Virginia He said he
had speedy and safe passage to England,
and from thence TO Africa and that. ON his
arrival, he found his parents still alive bat
it was not in his power long to conceal il !
from them, that he had rehounced Mahome-
danism, and embraced the Christian relipion
and his father no sooner found this TO be the
n
turned him out of his house. Affection for
his parents, grief for their religious preiud
ces. and his own temporal rum, tormented
HIS tender heart. lie was now turned out in
10 Inc world; without money, without friend,
without any art by which he could obtain
subsistence lie left his own country, the
estate on which he expected to spend his life. !
and all his natural connexions, without the
most distant prospect OF ever seeing or en-
Joying them more. He went to England. in
hopes of there finding some way to live
where he could enjoy his religion, when ev-
cry other source Of comfort was dried IN.
But having no friend TO introduce him 10 the
plous and benevolent, he found no wav to
subsist IN that country {; on which he resolv-
ed to return to America, it being new coun-
try, where the poor could more easily find
the means of support. In his passage to Vir-
gina, while he had probably no pious friend
10 console him in his dislresses, nor 10 en-
courage and support him under them, and
while he had little to do but TO pore over his
wretched situation, he sunk under the weight
OF these complicated calamities into a. state
of insanity.
Though Salem's great distress was that he
mao no friend, and he was constantly rowing
ABOUT IN quest of one yet of friendship he
was incapable of enjoying the advantages
IN pursuit OF his object he went up to Col
Dickefson's; but to no purpose. From
thence he wandered away to the Warm
Springs, where was at that time young cer
gyman OF the name of Templeton, who hav-
ing understood something of his history; en-
tered into conversation with him. He asked
MN amongst other things whether he was ac-
qualnted with the Greek language. 10 winch