The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1853-08-10

ed at the change which had taken place
in his appearance. He was thin pale
and haggard, with wildness of eye that
almost indicated that his reason was un-
settled. He testified much Joy at see.
ing me, and desiring me to be seated be.
gan his communication.
Il have taken the liberty said he, 'of
desiring your company at this time, be.
cause you are the only person in London
to whom ] can venture to make applica-
tion and am goine to lay upon you
commission, to which l am sure you will |
not object. The circumstances of our
voyage to Marseilles will occur to your
mind without my repeating them. sold
my cargo upon the most advantageous
terms, and was rendered at once rich
man. The possession of wealth was new
TO me, and its enjoyment added in my
case, its usual qualification, the charm of
novelty. In the capital Of Paris, | spent
many weeks of the highest pleasure, un-
til one day entering II cafe, l took up a
gazette, and my eyes fell upon an ac
count of the burning of a British man of
war. The announcement fell upon me
like bolt of Heaven. My heart beat
and my frame shivered, but read eve.
ry word of the article. The vessel which
| had passed the day before had seen the
light from great distance, and imme
diately put back to render assistance, but
arrived too late to rescue more than two
of the crew. They reported that ves-
sci passed to the north of them within
half an hours sail, but paid no regard to
the repeated signals; upon the comman-
der of that ship, the article concluded,
must rest the loss of 200 persons
My peace of mind was gong forever
My ingenuity could devise no sophistry
which suggested comfort. Wherever |
went that day, I was haunted by rcmorse.
| retired to bed, that | might forget in
sleep the torture of the day; but ter
riblc dream brought before my mind the
whole scence OF the conilagration with
the roar of the signal guns awoke
with horror. Thrice on the same night
did I compose myself to sleep, and thrice
was l awakened by the repetition of tn e
dream. For many hours in the succeed
ing day, my spirits were shockingly de-
pressed, but the gay company which
frcqucnted, gradually restored me to Sc
rcnity, and by night l was tolerably
comfortable, but the evening agail
) brought terror the same vision rushot
upon my mind, and racked it to agony
whenever 1 fell into a deep slumbcr
) Pcrcciving that if yielded to this bant
: of tormentors should quickly be mad
) deued by suffering res solved to strug
gle with remorse, and to harden my
e heart against conscience. | succeeded
: always when awake, in mastering the c
motion, but no power on earth coult
shield me from the torments of sleep
Imagining at length that the prostrat
! position Of my bed might be one cause 0
= the vividncss of my dreams, took th
9 resolution of sleeping upright in chai
4 while my servant watched me. But N
+ sooner did my head drop upon my breaA
/ in incipicnt slumber than the fire agai
] tortured my brain, the booming gun a
5 gain rang on my inward ear. | sough
Il all diversions. | wandered over Eu
4 rope, seeking to relieve myself from tn
j dominion of this fancy, by perpctua
/ change of sights and sounds, but in vail
Daily the horrid picture more and NOR
enslaved my imagination, until at lengtl
l. even in walking, while my eyes rested o
! vacancy, burning ship was painted i
/, the air, and with my waking cars | hear
o the eternal guns. The horror has al
r sorbed my being am separated by
n circle of fire from the world | breath
= the stiffiiug air of hell. Eveu now,
|, see nothing but the sea and the ince'
n SAINT fame upon it; hear the agoni
!. ziDa gnals-boom, boom ?
3 The unfortunate man paused for me
: ment and Inever yet saw such an angus
!, upon human face. lie resumed for
d few moments his account.
This must soon end. AM dying o
q raging fever, but will have no advic
+ or assistance. The whole sum of none
y which I gained by my ships cargo is i
r the Bank of England. | shall order il
t my will that every cent shall be at you
r disposal. / wish you to discover tn
= families OF those who perishod in thi
= vessel you will learn their names b,
f inquiring at the Admirably. Distribute
!, to them every cent Of the money. Yo'
! will not deny the request of dying man
Promise me that you will faithfully per
, form my wish
I gave him the promise which he dc
J sired and left him.
That night Captain s. was nj
more.--Harper's Maga-ine.