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POETRY.
ATHUNDER STORM.
■fe giant winds! that from your gloomy
sleep;
lightnings! tliat are the mystic gleams of
Gorl,
That glanc'd when on the sacred mount
he trod;
And ye, ye thunders! that begird hm form,.
Peeling your loud Hosannah’s o’er the
6torm, .
Abound me rally in your mingled might,
And strike, my tieing with dr cud delight*
Sublimely musing let me pause and see,
And pour my awe struck soul, O God to
thee.
A thunder storm!—the eloquence of Hea
ven.
When every cloud is from its slumber
driven,
Who bath not paused in its hollow groan,
An 1 felt Omnipotence around him thrown!
With what a gloom the ush’ring scene ap
pears!
The leaves all fluttering with instinctive
fear,
A brcezelcss fervour around her creation
spread,
And last, flic heavy rain’s reluctant show-
to I |
With big dorps pattering on the tree and
bower,
While wizard shapes the low’ring sky de
form,
All mark the coming of the thunder storm!
till! now to be alone on some grand height,
Where II ;aven’s black curtains shadow
all the sight,
And watch the swollen clouds with bosom
clash,
While fleet and far the living lightnings
flash,—
To mark the caverns of the sky disclose
The furnace flames that in their wombs
repose,
And see the fiery arrows fall and rise,
In dizzy chase along the rattling skies;
How tirs llie spirit, while the echoes roll,
An J Ga isin thunder moves from pole to
pole. If. Montgomery.
THi<: LATE SUICI 1)E AT MONT
MORENCY.
We noticed a few days since a
♦hooking instance of murder, follow
ed by suieiJe, which took place at
Montmorency, near Paris. Le Vo-
lew, of the 20th insl. contains a very
extraordinary doenmant connected
with this case, in the shape of a com
munication from Stephane D., the su
icide himself, dated on the morning
of the catastrophe, and purporting to
be an exact account of his thoughts &
feelings during the last three days of
his life. The length of the article
precludes our giving entire this
melancholy record of the effects
of a morbid sensibility upon two young
persons, who have fallen victims to a
romantic temperament and overheat
ed imagination; but we extract the
most remarkable passages. The let
ter, which was received by the'"Edi
tor about noon on the 20th of April,
accompanied with a request fob its
immediate iinerlion, runs thus:
‘ And 1, too, am determined on
writing a work, the title of which, at
least, shall possess originality—*T(ie
Three Last Days of a suicide.’ It
needs no preface, and will be very
brief as f have actually no more than
three days to wiite it in, part of which
m .ist he employed in those occupations
which 1 shall have to engage in up to
the last moment. Nor will it he de
void of interest, as I am myself at
once its author and hero Since yes
terday, Thursday, the 23d of April,
I have decided on dying, and Monday
next, the 27th, is the day on which 1
have fixed for putting my design into
execution ll is far from my wish to
inflict on my readers the ennui which
is the bane of my own existence.—
My heart has incessantly been the
E rey of this vulture, which, insopara
le from its victim, has accompanied
me from the arms of one female to
those of another. Cut let ine not an
ticipate —
“l married Mademoiselle P ,
afior a courtship of eight months; she
was well adapted to make me happy,
had not the romance of my disposition
rendered happiness of impossible at
tainment.”
He then goes on to describe the
Commencement of his acquaintance
with Laura, to whom he was intro
duced by his friend D’A ; the lat
ter was attached to her, and request
ed him to keep an eye over the ob
ject of his affections during Ins ab
sence. Then we have (life old story
df Werther over again, ana even his
account of his first interview with
tiaura, together with I1I9 description
of her person, bear so strong a resem
blance to Gootho, that it is impossible
not to discover that he had begun to
identify himself with’that author’s he
ro. He falls violently in tovc~a Cor
respondence ensues, in the course of
wliich he ascertains that his passion
is returned: his friend discovers his
perfidy—reproaches him with it, and
represents to Laura, who has already
yielded to his rival’s desires, the con
fusion which their liaison will excite
in an innocent family. The same re
flection has by this time occurred to,
Stephane himself, and, as he profess-''
es still to feel a great regard for his
wife, ho is shocked at the pain her
knowledge of it will iiifliet upon her.
Then it is that the idea of suicide ap
pears first to have occurred to hid
mind, and lie hints it to Laura in some
verses; a conversation follows on the
subject, in which the matter is at first
treated lightly, when on the 21st of
April, he receives from her the fol-
lowing letter;—
“l look forward to the future with
alarm: If you really love me, you will
not hesitate; 1 hold life in detestation,
and see in it nothing but a continua
tion of torment; live without you is
impossible, I should forever be the
prey ot" inquietude, lie it so, tliei 1
must die; ‘1 feel a secret pleasure in
the thought. What have 1 to regret?
My relations? They will prefer the
intelligence of my death to that of
my dishonor. If you have any thing
to regret in this world remain in it.—
I shall complain no more; and l have
courage sufficient to quit a life which
is become insupportable, I have re
flected long and deeply; I can have no
enjoyment without you,‘every thing is
opposed to my happiness. I wish to
die. Reply to me on this subject.
“Your friend, LAURA.”
His reply was a brief one—
“You know my determination, it is
to follow you in all things—it is un
changeable.”
He then declares his intention cf
committing to writing an account of
the remainder of his time on earth,
and commences by a description of
his oivn person, as contained in a
passport granted him when at the age
of twenty, about a year since; the
portrait which he draws is, as in the
cash of his mistress, not without per
sonal advantages, and he then goes
on. Thursday,- April 23.
“At six this morning I was in la rue
Hanover', she did not keep me wait
ing. Her appearance was as if sleep
had been a stranger taker; her air was
nevertheless cheerful. On her ar
rival 1 was carelessly smoking a
cigar, hut removed it imme
diately, the smell of a pipe is unpleas
ant to a female. ‘Have you any news
for me?’ ‘Yes, I shall die on Mon
day.’ ‘And without ini?’ ‘I shall
not have that grief to suffer.’ ‘You
will die happy.?’ ‘Yes, on Monday’
Every tiling around from that mo
ment appeared idle in my sight, and
1 gazed with pily on the people whom
1 saw running about occupied with
their various concerns.”
*****
Tile conversation continues.
‘“You quit life, then,’ again I ask
ed, ‘without regret?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘And
without fear?’ ‘I do.’ ‘Of hell?’
‘I believe not in it—after death the
soul becomes resolved into nothing;
what think you of a future state?’ ‘My
fjiend, 1 hope, to return upon earth.’
‘I comprehend; you believe in the
Metempsychosis'. ‘Not exactly so;
the doctrine of the Metempsychosis
supposes the soul of man to- en
ter into the body of an infe
rior animal—My belief is, that it will
animate another human frame. 1
consider this world as a theatre in
which the same performers are re
appearing on the stage in various cha
racters having only changed llijfeir
dresses behind the scene.’” <
*****
“ ‘Let us change the subject; how
sliall we die? ‘I will shoot you first,
then turn against myself the weapon
that destroyed you!” ‘And if you
should miss me?’ ‘Fear not that;
my hand will he steady enough.’—
‘At least, do not point your pistol at
my head; it would disfigure me.’—
‘Ah, coquette to the last! no, I will
level it at your heart.’
“A nunnery maid passed with an ine
fant in her arms. ‘Alas!’ cried Lau
ra, with a deep sigh, ‘ivliat need of
this care? when that infant is grown
up, perhaps slie will become a sui
cide like us! unhappy parents, you
know not vvliat trouble you are heap;
ing up for yourselves!’ ‘Farewell!—
on Monday!’ She disappeared, and I
was on a desert.
“I applied to my task and wrote
for four hours; my wife entered.—
‘Paulina,’ said I, ‘I am going to take
a journey on Monday/’ ‘How?’ *£ur
one day only, and to a good purpose;
I shall obtain a situation.’ ‘Of val
ue?’ ‘Six thousand francs, at least.’
Impossible! you would he more cheer
ful were it so.’ ‘It is true.’ ‘Oh,
how happy it will make our relations;
how happy it will make ourselves!
all! had our dear little Stephanie liv
ed!’ 1 felt as if she had plunged a
dagger in my bosom.
“After dinner I fell asleep. ‘You
have awakened me from a singular
dream, said 1 to Pauline. ‘I thought
you were a widow and about to be
manied again.’ I wished to prepare
her for the event.”
He then goes to the theatre, and
.afterwards to a friend, whose assist
ance lie requests to make his will, on
the plea that he is about to be engaged
in a duel—then recommence writing,
and thus describes the sensations - which
lie experienced on hearing his uncon
scious wife laugh heartily at the com
edy which they had just left, and the
humor which had only served to con
firm his own perceptions. lie re
ceives a second letter from Laura.
“Stephane—all is decided; 1 am
more resolved than ever. 1 have en
tered upon a career too painful for
me not to seek to quit it. The more
1 consider, the more plainly l sec this
is the only way left us; otherwise I
must rcnounceyou. You know this to
be impossible; my determination then
is immoveable. I have hut one regret;
I wcplyesterday much on thinking up
on my latter; but to-day I am linn &
resigned. Adieu, my friend! At nine
on Monday^—think of me!
LAURA.
To this be replies:
“Laura,you wept! Have you not
over-rated you courage? To-mor
row you will sec your father—distrust
your own heart! My arrangements
are made—my weapons prepared.—
think that you have only to choose be
tween dying by the hand of your lov
er or your assassin.”
He then goes to purchase a pair of
pistols, and the thoughts of his aunt
and some other relations, cross his
mind, without, however, affecting any
change in bis purpose. They will,
prefer, he says, to hear of his death,
rather than of his disgrace. At six
lie again goes^to the theatre, and de
scribes himself as entering into the
spirit ol the scene, and conversing
cheerfully with a friend on the sub
ject of the piece, after it is over.—
At six the following morning he uses,
takes leave of his w ife, and sets out
on his pretended journey. His last
letter is dated “Montmorency, April
2Dth,” where he appears to have
been slaying two days with his mis
tress :—
“It is four o’clock; two weddings
are being celebrated in the room im
mediately beneath that which we
have not quilted since Monday even
ing. We hear the sounds of their mu-
sic and mirth, suuuds which will soon
be mingled with the repoit of the
weapons of death. Come M. C.
quick, get ready, an article which
may exhibit to the world the confu
sion among the waiters and the cooks
of the White Ilorse Hotel, flying
with precipitation from their stoves,
cautiously creeping to the place
whence these reports proceed. De
pict the consternation of the young
couples, which will so soon give w r ay
to an air of satisfaction, inasmuch as
this interruption to their hall will car
ry them the sooner to each others
arms. Re not amazed at the levity
of my tone, I cannot help it; my hand
and my glances rest with delight on
the weapon whichd am about to dis
charge into my own breast, after hav
ing pierced Laura, who is at this mo
ment smiling on me. Rut then, my
aunt, Pauline! Paul—Paul--Pauline!
adieu! adieu!”
Thus concludes this extraordinary
epistle; the editor states that a cou
rier was instantly despatched to
Montmorency, in the faint hope of
preventing this double crime. On
his arrival no noise had been heard in
the chamber, nor was it known wheth
er they were in it or whether they
had walked out. On knocking no an
swer was returned, and a difficulty
was round on opening the door, from
the circumstance of the bed having
been draw’n across on the inside; hut
when an entrance was effected a
dreadful scene presented itself. The
two bodies lay stretebed on the
ground covered with blood; two chairs
were near them, placed opposite
each other; a handkerchief was tied
over the eyes of Laura, whose heart
had been penetrated by a bullet,—
The hand of the wretched young man
appears afterwards to have become
unsteady; his wound was lower down
in the body, and he appeared to have
died in gretit agony, from the contor
tion of his features. The pistols
Were lying on the table unlained
with blood; near them was a note ad
dressed to the inn-keeper, apoligizing
for making his house the scene oftheir
destruction, and stating that they had
gone out with a view of accomplish
ing - their purpose in the neighboring
Wood, hut that the cold was so - se
vere Stephane had feared lest it
should render his hand unsteady; Ilia
nbte ended by bequeathing the shawl
of Laura to one of the chamber-maids.
The report of the pistol had been
drowned in the noise of the music,
nor had any one any notion of the pre
cise moment when the catastrophe
took place.
From the Boston Daily Advertiser.
Some account of the Siamese Hoys',
lately brought to Boston.
Dear Sir:—In compliance tvilli
your request, as well as in obedience
to what 1 consider to be a profession
al duty, I undertake to give some
acccount of the Siamese hoys, and
particularly of the medium by which
they are united together.
The hoys are supposed to be about
18 years old. They are of moderate
stature; though not as tall as hoys of
that age in this country. They have
the Chinese complexion and physiog
nomy. The forehead is more elevated
and less broad than that of the Chi
nese, owing to malformation. They
much resemble each other; yet not
so much hut that upon a little ob
servation, various points of dissimilari
ty may he noticed..
The substance by which they arc
connected is a mass two inches long
at its tipper edge, and about five in
the lower. Its breath from above
downwards may be four inches; and
its thickness in a horizontal direction
two inches. Of course it is not a
rounded cord, but thicker in the per
pendicular, than in the horizontal
direction. At its lower edge is per
ceived a single umbilicus, through
which passed a single mnbelical cord
to nourish both children in the fatal
state. Placing my hand on this sub
stance, which 1 will denominate the
cord. 1 was surprised to find it ex
tremely hard. On further examina
tion this hardness was found to exist
at the upper part of the cord only;
and to prolonged into the breast of
each boy. Tracing it upwards, I
found it to be constituted by a pro
longation - of the ensiform cartilage of
the sternum, or extremity ol the breast
boae. The bredth of this cartilage is
an inch and a half; as thickness may
be about tire eighth of an inch. The
cartilages proceeding from each ster
num meet at an angle, and then seem
to be connected by ligament, so as to
form a joint. This joint has a motion
upwards and downwards, and also a
lateral motion; the latter. operating
in such way, that when the hoys turn
in cither direction the edges of the
cartilage are found to open and shut.
The lower face of this cartilage is
concave; and under it is felt a round
ed cord, which may be the remains
of the mnbelical cord,—Besides this
there is nothing remarkable fell in the
connecting substance. I could dis
tinguish no pulsalifig vessels.
The whole of this cord is covered
by (he skin. - It is remarkably strong
and lias no great sensibility, tor they
allow themselves to be pulled by a
rope fastened to it, without exhibit
ing uneasiness. On ship hoard, one of
them sometimes climbed on the cap
tain of the vessel, the other .following
as well as lie could, without complain
ing.
When I first visited the hoys, I ex
pected to' see them pull on this cord
in different directions, as their atten
tion was attracted by different ob
jects. I soon perceived that this did
no happen. The slightest impulse of
one to move in any direction, is im
mediately followed by the other; so
that they would appear to bo influ
enced by the,same wish. This har
mony in their movement is not the re
mit of a volition, excited ot the same
moment. It is a habit, formed by
necessity. At an early period of life
it is probable they sometimes differed.
At present, this is so rarely the case
that the gentlemen who bi'o tight them
have noticed hut a single instance—
Having been accustomed to use the
cold bath one of them wished it when
the weather was cool, to which the
other objected. They were soon re
conciled by tho itfferference of (h<j
commander of the ship. They nevei
hold a consultation as to their move*
ments. In truth, I have never seen
them speak to each other, although
they conrcrsfef constantly with a
Siamese lad, wno is their companion.
They always face in one direction,
standing nearly side, by side, and'are
not able, without inconvenience, to
face in the opposite direction; so that
one is always at the right, the other
at the left. Although not .placed ex
actly in a paralles line, they are able
to run and leap yvifh surprising activi
ty. On some occasions a gentleman,
in sport, pursued them round the ship r
when they came'suddenly to the hatch-*
way, which lifcd; been inadvertently,
left open. The least check would
have thrown tlierri'dovvn the hatchway
and probably killed 011b or,both, but
they lenpt ever it without difficul
ty-
They are quite cheerful: appear
intelligent, attending whatever is pre
sented them, aud readily acknowdedg*
ing any civility. As a proof of tlieh* In
telligence it is stated, that Tn a few
days, they learned to play at drafts,
well enough to become antagonists of
those who had long been versbd in the
game.
The connexion between these two'
boys might present an opportunity for
some interesting observations in re
gard to_ physiology and pathology - .—.
There 19 no doubt, a network of blood
vessels and some minute nerves pass
ing from one to the oilier. How far
these parts are capable of transmit-
ting the action of medicines and dis
eases, and especially of what partic
ular medicines and what diseases,
are points well worthy of investign- j
tion. Captain Coffin informed me
they had never taken medicine since"
they had been under his care. Once
they were ili from dating too heartily,
hut were relieved ijy the efforts of
nature. He thinks that any indispo
sition of one extends to the other;
that they are inclined to sleep at one
time; eat about the same : quantity,
and perform other acts with great-
similarity. - Both lie and Mr. Hunt
er, the gentleman who united with
him in bringing them here, are ofo-
pinion that touching one of them when?
they are asleep, awakens both.
I he pulsations of the heart are ex
actly alike in both boys. I counted
seventy-three pulsation in a minute,"
while they were sitting; counting first
111 One hoy, then in the other. I then
placed my fingers on an arm of each
boy, and found the pulsations take
place exactly together. One of them
stooping suddenly to look at my watch,
his pulse became much quicker than
of the other; but' after he had return
ed to his former posture, in about a
quarter of a - minute, his pulse was
precisely like that of the other boy.
This happened repeatedly. Their
respirations are, " of consequence, ex
actly simultaneous. j
Ibis harmony of jfdlion in primary
functions show s a reciprocal influence'
which may lead to curious observa
tions and important deductions.—
Whether it will be in my power to
obtain any further information in re<
gard to them, is uncertain. If
some one else can better accomplish
the task. * 1
Let me add that there is nathim*
unpleasant in the aspect of tires© boy£
On the contrary, they must be view*
ed as presenting oue of the most inter
esting objects of natural l/istory w'hicU
have ever been known to scientific
men.
You are at liberty to emptoy the a-
bove statement in such way ” as you
think likely to be useful;
I have the honor to be, yours, &c,
JOHN C. WARREN.
Wm. Sturgis, Esq.
How to Cook Rice.——A writer in
the Charleston Courier says that vv©
Nortliernfers do not understand the art
of boiling rice. The following is the
ntethod practised at the south;—A*.
Y. Obs.
Put your rice in an open pot, cov
ering it with water: then put it on
the lire to boil—when it is boiled so
as to bfecome soft, (which is easily as
certained by means of a wooden ladle,
which we call a hominy stick) take it
off tho fire, drain off tihy water, and
cover the pot so as tn retain the
heat—then put it on coals, or hot bSh-
es, for about fifteen or twenty minutes,
so as to tlrow off tho steam, or as it
js usually called—to soak. Your riccr
\ .& then ready for the table,