CALAMITY. 211 



any civility in my power, for the very 

 kind but officer-like treatment I had 

 ever received at his hands. His fascinat- 

 ing manners, and conversation, at all times 

 interesting and agreeable, made him a 

 great favourite with all. 



It was not long after this that a 

 calamity befell him, and for some con- 

 siderable time removed him from our 

 locality. He had married a lady of 

 excellent family, and good personal and 

 mental accomplishments. On being ap- 

 pointed to the " Plant agenet," 74, then 

 lying in dock at Portsmouth, he took 

 his bride on board to see the ship, 

 when, looking down the hatchway, ter- 

 rible to relate, she was seized with a 

 sudden giddiness, fell the whole depth 

 of the vessel from the quarter-deck to 

 the keel, and was killed on the spot. 



It may be possible to conceive, but 

 not possible to describe, the revulsion 

 such a sudden and awful catastrophe 



