212 MELANCHOLY INCIDENT. 



would cause in a heart so sensitively 

 alive to all the tender passions and sym- 

 pathies of our nature as his. The 

 object of a long-cherished affection, which 

 absence had only rendered more dear, 

 was in a moment snatched away the 

 vows made with all the ardour of 

 youthful love, and faithfully kept, were 

 scarcely consummated when death dashed 

 the reward of his constancy to the ground, 

 and with it all his hopes of happiness 

 in this world. 



This melancholy accident caused a great 

 sensation through the fleet, as well as in 

 the town, and for a time deprived the Lieu- 

 tenant of his senses ; and though he was 

 eventually restored, I for one thought he 

 was never the same man afterwards. He 

 was constantly employed, and distinguished 

 himself as a brave and skilful officer, 

 when first-lieutenant of the " Revolu- 

 tionaire," forty-four gun frigate, in Basque 

 Roads, under peculiar circumstances. 



