xviii 



INTRODUCTORY SKETCH OF 



[1815. 



landed at Boston, and I lost no time in hastening to Stonington, where 

 I had the additional satisfaction of finding my parents and all the family 

 in perfect health. It was a joyful meeting, after an absence of more 

 than two years. 



As our country was now at peace, and my love of hardy enterprise 

 not yet satisfied, I soon began to look about for some active and manly 

 employment, congenial with my roving propensities. I therefore, after 

 taking an affectionate leave of my friends, repaired to New-York, where 

 I fell in with my old friend Captain Cartwright, who now commanded 

 the ship New-York Packet, and was bound to Bordeaux. Wishing 

 to see a little of France, I did not hesitate to ship myself on board his 

 vessel, which shortly proceeded on her voyage. 



In about three months we returned to New-York, where intelligence 

 of the most distressing nature awaited me. During my absence, four 

 of our family had perished in the most dreadful manner — namely, my 

 mother, my grandmother, my sister, and my cousin. This afflicting 

 dispensation happened in the great gale of September 23, 1815. 



This was the most tremendous and disastrous tornado ever witnessed 

 in the United States. It commenced at about four o'clock in the morn- 

 ing. At nine it blew a fresh gale from the east, with some rain. By 

 twelve the wind was south-east, and had increased to a perfect hurri- 

 cane. It drove the water into Providence River to the height of twelve 

 feet above its usual high-water mark, destroying much property and 

 many lives. But at Stonington, the home of my parents, sisters, and 

 brothers, the effects of this gale were most disastrously exhibited, and 

 most severely felt. At ten o'clock, A. M. the tide had risen so as to 

 sweep all the wharves. A vast number of stores and houses were de- 

 molished, blown to pieces, and washed away by the sea — and my 

 father's house among the rest.* Business had called him away from 

 his family at an early hour in the morning ; and when the danger be- 

 gan to be alarming, the water had risen to such a height that he could 

 not return ! He had advanced so far as to be in full view of his house ; 

 but an impassable gulf prevented his nearer approach. The house 

 was now surrounded and more than half-filled by the unnatural deluge, 

 the surface of which was covered with floating timbers, planks, and 

 other evidences of its ravages. The family had retreated to the roof. 

 Many attempts had been made to cross the raging whirlpool in boats, 

 with the vain hope of rescuing the ill-fated sufferers from their im- 

 pending destiny. My father rushed forward to succour the helpless 

 victims, with a desperation bordering on phrensy ; but was forcibly 

 restrained by his more considerate or less excited friends. There 

 stood the distracted husband and father, surrounded by his neighbours, 

 gazing on the heart-appalling scene, unable to afford relief ! He saw 

 the beings who were dearer to him than life, clinging to the chimney 

 of their habitation for support, and shrieking for assistance which 

 Heaven alone could give. He saw them, one by one, torn from their 

 hold by the relentless element ! He saw them perish, and could afford 

 no help ! 



m 



* The loss of property sustained by my father on this occasion was considerable. 



