Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1855-02-22

on deck, and reported Kemble to be dead. |
directed him 10 see that his messmates did
what was usual on such occasions, preparatory
to committing his remains to the deep. About
two hours after this, DR.. - again called
upon me, and said that Kemble had come TO
life, and was holding forth to the sailors in
strange way. l went down, when witnessed
one of the most remarkable and unaccountable
transactions, that perhaps has ever fallen to
the lot of man to behold. Kemble had awak-
ened, as ii were, from sleep, raised himself
up, called for his messmates in particular, and
those men who were not on duty, to attend to
his words. He then told them he had expe-
rienced death, but was allowed short space
of time to return, TO give them, as well as the
officers, some direction for their future con-
duct in life In this situation | found him
surrounded by the crew, all mute with aston
ishment, and paying the most serious at
tention to every word that escaped from his
| lips The oldest men in tears-not dry eve
was TO be seen, or whisper to be heard-all
was as solemn and as silent as the grave
His whole body was as cold as death could
make it. There was no pulsation in the
wrists, the temples or the chest, perceptible
His voice was clear and powerful his ewes
uncommonly brilliant and animated. After
a short and pertinent address TO the medical
gentlemen, he told me in peremptory man.
ner, ITO bring Commodore Rogers to him, as he
had something 10 say TO him before he finally
left US. The Commodore consented to 90
with me, when a scene was presented truly
novel and indescribable, and calculated to fill
with awe the stoutest heart. The sick bay,
Tor birth.) in which he lay is entirely set apart
to the use of those who are confined to their
beds by illness. Supported by the surgeons,
surrounded by his weeping and astonished
comrades, crowd OF spectators looking
through the lattice work which enclosed the
room, common japaned lamp, throwing out
sickly light, and a candle held opposite his
face by an attendant, was the situation of
things, when the worthy Commodore made his
appearance. And we'll does he remember the
effect produced by so uncommon a spectacle,
especially when followed by the utterance of
these words from the mouth of one long sup
posed to have been dead Commodore Rog-
ers, have sent for you all, sir, being COM
missioned by higher power to address you
for short time, and 10 deliver the message
entrusted to me, when was permitted to re-
visit the earth. Once / trembled in your pres
ence, and was eager to obey your commands;
but now am your superior, being no longer
an inhabtant of this earth. l have seen the
glories OF the world of spirits. am not per-
mitted 10 make known what have behed.
Indeed, were l not forbidden, language would
be inadequate to the task. IT'S enough for
you and the crew 10 know that l have been
sent back 10 the earth, to reanimate, for few
hours, nv lifeess body, commissioned by
God, 10 perform the work am now engaged
in He then, in language as chaste and ap-
propriate as would not have disgraced the lips
or the pen of divine, took a hasty view Of
all the moral and religious duties incumbent
upon the commander of a ship-of-war; he
reviewed the vices prevalent on board a ship;
pointed out the relative duties of officers and
men, and concluded bv urging the necessity of
reformation and repentance. He did not as
was feared by our brave Commodore, attempt
to prove the sinfulness of fighting and wars
but, on the contrary, warmly recommended to
the men the performance of their duty to their
country with courage and fidelity. His
speecnes occupied about three quarters of an
hour and if the whole could have been taken
down at the time, they would have made
considerable pamphlet, which would, no doubt,
have been in great demand. DR.. -, now
at Boston, heard all the addresses; | only the
last When he had finished with the Com
modore, his head dropped upon his breast, his
| eyes closed, and he appeared to pass through
second death; no pusation, nor the least
degree of warmth, could be perceived during
the time. he was speaking. | ordered him to
be laid aside, and left him.
was soon called into the cabin, where the
Commodore required from me an explanation
of the case on rational and philosophical prin-
ciples. This l endeavored TO give-I but in
part succeeded. 1t would swell this narr ai1nc
too much to repeat all said in endeavoridtsEisy q
elucidate the subject, at least it proved lame
attempt. For, when asked how this man,
without education or reading, or mixing with
other society than that of common sailors,
should acquire the command of the purest
language, properly arranged, and delivered
clearly, distinctly, with much animation and
great effect, gave no reply and it was, and
ever will remain, inexplicable, without admit
ting supernatural agency. The days of mira
cles are passed, and know shall be laughed
at by many for dwelling upon or repeating
this story. But never since ! arrived at the
years of discretion has anything taken a
stronger hold upon my mind; and that man
must have been made of strange materials,
who could have been an Indifferent spectator.
Was he divinely illuminated! Was he in
spired or was the whole the effect of natural
causes! These are questions which have
arisen in the minds of many, and must be left
for the learning of two professions to answer.
returned to bed deeply rejecting upon the