1108 subterHanean recessss.' 



words') distress,— if convulsions, fierce and demon-like, can indicate 

 a teiTible agitation in the soul, — then the feelings of my mother, on 

 hearing that he whom she loved as her own life was about to be 

 engaged in deadly combat, might be correctly read by those who 

 were near her. 1 never saw such a spectacle : when a worse catas- 

 trophe occurred — when her foreboding fears were confirmed, and she 

 was made a widow — there were no such outward indications, although 

 severe sufl!erings really were hers. You talk of insanity as the 

 prompter of those who engage in single combat : whether you are 

 correct or not, no doubt the fiend hovers near, for he took possession 

 of my mother. She raved fearfully after the fatal issue, and three 

 weeks after destroyed herself. The beginning and end of one month 

 formed a parenthesis, within which was included a succession of occur* 

 yences which blighted our hitherto happy family ; the parents were 

 consigned prematurely to the grave — the children were scattered, 

 floating smoothty as we had all been down what was to us a pleasant 

 stream, we suddenly were hunied down a cataract. Fiercely boiled 

 the foaming waters ; and had not the irrepressible buoyancy of youth 

 been on the side of my brothers and sisters and myself, all would 

 have been overwhelmed. On the day appointed for the combat, all 

 Herculaneum was in motion. Without the city, a large plain was 

 always the theatre of action. Here were assembled ten thousand 

 people, fonning a ring. In the centre stood my father and his 

 former friend, each armed with a dirk. The day was oppressively 

 hot, scaicely a breath of air stirring, and each wore an exceeding!}' 

 light garment. The graceful motions of my father, which I was 

 viewing for the last time, attracted particular attention. I say /, for 

 I was the only one of the family present, as no females are permitted 

 to attend. None know what I suffered on that dreadful morning. I 

 recollected my mother, and the terrible fit in which I had seen her. 

 I recollected the tender love which my father had shewn to all of us. 

 In the childishness of my heart, 1 said to my companion — * I think 

 I had better ask the man not to hurt poor father much : will you go 

 too ?' We attempted to approach them, but were driven back. My 

 tieart now overflowed ; — I burst into tears and loud lamentations, 

 exclaiming, ' Oh ! my poor father !' and similar expressions*. 



