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@@ -57,7 +57,9 @@ revolutionary war. The memoirs of Carwin, alluded to at the conclusion of the work, will be published or suppressed according to the reception which is given to the present attempt. -C. B. B. September 3, 1798. +C. B. B. + +_September 3, 1798_. @@ -1706,7 +1708,7 @@ regarded as the first link? Next day arose in darkness and storm. Torrents of rain fell during the whole day, attended with incessant thunder, which reverberated in stunning echoes from the opposite declivity. The inclemency of the air -would not allow me to walk-out. I had, indeed, no inclination to leave +would not allow me to walk out. I had, indeed, no inclination to leave my apartment. I betook myself to the contemplation of this portrait, whose attractions time had rather enhanced than diminished. I laid aside my usual occupations, and seating myself at a window, consumed the day @@ -2171,7 +2173,7 @@ this new acquaintance. On general topics he was highly intelligent and communicative. He had visited every corner of Spain, and could furnish the most accurate details respecting its ancient and present state. On topics of religion and of his own history, previous to his -TRANSFORMATION into a Spaniard, he was invariably silent. You could +_transformation_ into a Spaniard, he was invariably silent. You could merely gather from his discourse that he was English, and that he was well acquainted with the neighbouring countries. @@ -3058,8 +3060,8 @@ closet? By what inexplicable infatuation was I compelled to proceed? Yet my conduct was wise. Carwin, unable to comprehend my folly, ascribed my behaviour to my knowledge. He conceived himself previously detected, -and such detection being possible to flow only from MY heavenly friend, -and HIS enemy, his fears acquired additional strength. +and such detection being possible to flow only from _my_ heavenly +friend, and _his_ enemy, his fears acquired additional strength. He is apprized of the nature and intentions of this being. Perhaps he is a human agent. Yet, on that supposition his atchievements are @@ -4111,8 +4113,8 @@ committed an act like this. The slightest obstacle would have repelled me; but my eye glanced almost spontaneously upon the paper. I caught only parts of sentences; but my eyes comprehended more at a glance, because the characters were short-hand. I lighted on the words -SUMMER-HOUSE, MIDNIGHT, and made out a passage which spoke of the -propriety and of the effects to be expected from ANOTHER interview. +_summer-house_, _midnight_, and made out a passage which spoke of the +propriety and of the effects to be expected from _another_ interview. All this passed in less than a moment. I then checked myself, and made myself known to you, by a tap upon your shoulder. @@ -4534,7 +4536,7 @@ provided that conference has no witnesses, I will disclose to you particulars, the knowledge of which is of the utmost importance to your happiness. Farewell. -"CARWIN." +CARWIN." What a letter was this! A man known to be an assassin and robber; one @@ -4706,7 +4708,7 @@ lately been endangered, could be explained in no way favorable to my integrity. These reflections, if they did not change, at least suspended my -decision. In this state of uncertainty I alighted at the HUT. We gave +decision. In this state of uncertainty I alighted at the _hut_. We gave this name to the house tenanted by the farmer and his servants, and which was situated on the verge of my brother's ground, and at a considerable distance from the mansion. The path to the mansion was @@ -4852,14 +4854,14 @@ sufferer of these disasters? I have said that I cast a look behind. Some object was expected to be seen, or why should I have gazed in that direction? Two senses were at -once assailed. The same piercing exclamation of HOLD! HOLD! was uttered -within the same distance of my ear. This it was that I heard. The airy -undulation, and the shock given to my nerves, were real. Whether the -spectacle which I beheld existed in my fancy or without, might be -doubted. I had not closed the door of the apartment I had just left. The -stair-case, at the foot of which I stood, was eight or ten feet from -the door, and attached to the wall through which the door led. My view, -therefore, was sidelong, and took in no part of the room. +once assailed. The same piercing exclamation of _hold! hold!_ was +uttered within the same distance of my ear. This it was that I heard. +The airy undulation, and the shock given to my nerves, were real. +Whether the spectacle which I beheld existed in my fancy or without, +might be doubted. I had not closed the door of the apartment I had +just left. The stair-case, at the foot of which I stood, was eight or +ten feet from the door, and attached to the wall through which the door +led. My view, therefore, was sidelong, and took in no part of the room. Through this aperture was an head thrust and drawn back with so much swiftness, that the immediate conviction was, that thus much of a form, @@ -4960,13 +4962,13 @@ which had been reserved for me, but which, by some untoward chance, had befallen on another! I had not been terrified by empty menaces. Violation and death awaited -my entrance into this chamber. Some inscrutable chance had led HER +my entrance into this chamber. Some inscrutable chance had led _her_ hither before me, and the merciless fangs of which I was designed to -be the prey, had mistaken their victim, and had fixed themselves in HER -heart. But where was my safety? Was the mischief exhausted or flown? The -steps of the assassin had just been here; they could not be far off; in -a moment he would rush into my presence, and I should perish under the -same polluting and suffocating grasp! +be the prey, had mistaken their victim, and had fixed themselves in +_her_ heart. But where was my safety? Was the mischief exhausted or +flown? The steps of the assassin had just been here; they could not be +far off; in a moment he would rush into my presence, and I should perish +under the same polluting and suffocating grasp! My frame shook, and my knees were unable to support me. I gazed alternately at the closet door and at the door of my room. At one of @@ -4997,7 +4999,7 @@ the lips which were breathless. Her flowing drapery was discomposed. I restored it to order, and seating myself on the bed, again fixed stedfast eyes upon her countenance. I cannot distinctly recollect the ruminations of that moment. I saw confusedly, but forcibly, that every -hope was extinguished with the life of CATHARINE. All happiness and +hope was extinguished with the life of _Catharine_. All happiness and dignity must henceforth be banished from the house and name of Wieland: all that remained was to linger out in agonies a short existence; and leave to the world a monument of blasted hopes and changeable fortune. @@ -5196,7 +5198,7 @@ hand, with their mother!" "Dead!" replied I; "what, all?" -"All!" replied he: "he spared NOT ONE!" +"All!" replied he: "he spared _not one!_" Allow me, my friends, to close my eyes upon the after-scene. Why should I protract a tale which I already begin to feel is too long? Over this @@ -5215,7 +5217,7 @@ me of my last and miserable consolation. I sought not in her visage, for the tinge of the morning, and the lustre of heaven. These had vanished with life; but I hoped for liberty to print a last kiss upon her lips. This was denied me; for such had been the merciless blow that destroyed -her, that not a LINEAMENT REMAINED! +her, that not a _lineament remained!_ I was carried hence to the city. Mrs. Hallet was my companion and my nurse. Why should I dwell upon the rage of fever, and the effusions @@ -5757,18 +5759,18 @@ assassin had been here! "I will not dwell upon my lapse into desperate and outrageous sorrow. The breath of heaven that sustained me was withdrawn and I sunk into -MERE MAN. I leaped from the floor: I dashed my head against the wall: +_mere man_. I leaped from the floor: I dashed my head against the wall: I uttered screams of horror: I panted after torment and pain. Eternal fire, and the bickerings of hell, compared with what I felt, were music and a bed of roses. "I thank my God that this degeneracy was transient, that he deigned once more to raise me aloft. I thought upon what I had done as a sacrifice to -duty, and WAS CALM. My wife was dead; but I reflected, that though this -source of human consolation was closed, yet others were still open. If -the transports of an husband were no more, the feelings of a father had -still scope for exercise. When remembrance of their mother should excite -too keen a pang, I would look upon them, and BE COMFORTED. +duty, and _was calm_. My wife was dead; but I reflected, that though +this source of human consolation was closed, yet others were still open. +If the transports of an husband were no more, the feelings of a father +had still scope for exercise. When remembrance of their mother should +excite too keen a pang, I would look upon them, and _be comforted_. "While I revolved these ideas, new warmth flowed in upon my heart--I was wrong. These feelings were the growth of selfishness. Of this I was @@ -5856,9 +5858,9 @@ of deliberately surveying a scene of so much horror. I was prompted to return it to its place, but this resolution gave way, and I determined to peruse some part of it. I turned over the leaves till I came near the conclusion. The narrative of the criminal was finished. The verdict of -GUILTY reluctantly pronounced by the jury, and the accused interrogated -why sentence of death should not pass. The answer was brief, solemn, and -emphatical. +_guilty_ reluctantly pronounced by the jury, and the accused +interrogated why sentence of death should not pass. The answer was +brief, solemn, and emphatical. "No. I have nothing to say. My tale has been told. My motives have been truly stated. If my judges are unable to discern the purity of my @@ -6396,7 +6398,7 @@ I was tempted to relinquish my design, when it occurred to me that I had left among my papers a journal of transactions in shorthand. I was employed in this manuscript on that night when Pleyel's incautious curiosity tempted him to look over my shoulder. I was then recording my -adventure in THE RECESS, an imperfect sight of which led him into such +adventure in _the recess_, an imperfect sight of which led him into such fatal errors. I had regulated the disposition of all my property. This manuscript, @@ -6594,8 +6596,8 @@ face was that which I saw at the bottom of the stairs? Answer me truly." "I came to confess the truth. Your allusions are horrible and strange. Perhaps I have but faint conceptions of the evils which my infatuation -has produced; but what remains I will perform. It was my VOICE that you -heard! It was my FACE that you saw!" +has produced; but what remains I will perform. It was _my voice_ that +you heard! It was _my face_ that you saw!" For a moment I doubted whether my remembrance of events were not confused. How could he be at once stationed at my shoulder and shut up @@ -6682,8 +6684,8 @@ mankind, and discretion required me to shun their intercourse. For these reasons I long avoided the observation of your family, and chiefly visited these precincts at night. -"I was never weary of admiring the position and ornaments of THE -TEMPLE. Many a night have I passed under its roof, revolving no pleasing +"I was never weary of admiring the position and ornaments of _the +temple_. Many a night have I passed under its roof, revolving no pleasing meditations. When, in my frequent rambles, I perceived this apartment was occupied, I gave a different direction to my steps. One evening, when a shower had just passed, judging by the silence that no one @@ -6846,8 +6848,8 @@ resulting from my former act, was partly removed by assuring you that in all places but this you were safe. - * BILOQUIUM, or ventrilocution. Sound is varied according to - the variations of direction and distance. The art of the + * _Biloquium_, or ventrilocution. Sound is varied according + to the variations of direction and distance. The art of the ventriloquist consists in modifying his voice according to all these variations, without changing his place. See the work of the Abbe de la Chappelle, in which are accurately @@ -6995,8 +6997,8 @@ resolution to resist your efforts to open it. "Suddenly you receded from the door. This deportment was inexplicable, but the relief it afforded me was quickly gone. You returned, and I once more was thrown into perplexity. The expedient that suggested itself was -precipitate and inartificial. I exerted my organs and called upon you TO -HOLD. +precipitate and inartificial. I exerted my organs and called upon you +_to hold_. "That you should persist in spite of this admonition, was a subject of astonishment. I again resisted your efforts; for the first expedient @@ -7747,7 +7749,7 @@ Thus long had the power which controuled the scene forborne to interfere; but now his might was irresistible, and Wieland in a moment was disarmed of all his purposes. A voice, louder than human organs could produce, shriller than language can depict, burst from the -ceiling, and commanded him--TO HOLD! +ceiling, and commanded him--_to hold!_ Trouble and dismay succeeded to the stedfastness that had lately been displayed in the looks of Wieland. His eyes roved from one quarter to @@ -7791,7 +7793,8 @@ Fallen from his lofty and heroic station; now finally restored to the perception of truth; weighed to earth by the recollection of his own deeds; consoled no longer by a consciousness of rectitude, for the loss of offspring and wife--a loss for which he was indebted to his own -misguided hand; Wieland was transformed at once into the man OF SORROWS! +misguided hand; Wieland was transformed at once into the _man of +sorrows!_ He reflected not that credit should be as reasonably denied to the last, as to any former intimation; that one might as justly be ascribed to @@ -8001,7 +8004,7 @@ or caught up in the air by half-seen and gigantic forms, and thrown upon pointed rocks, or cast among the billows. Sometimes gleams of light were shot into a dark abyss, on the verge of which I was standing, and enabled me to discover, for a moment, its enormous depth and hideous -precipices. Anon, I was transported to some ridge of AEtna, and made a +precipices. Anon, I was transported to some ridge of Ætna, and made a terrified spectator of its fiery torrents and its pillars of smoke. However strange it may seem, I was conscious, even during my dream, of @@ -8022,7 +8025,7 @@ my danger. I was caught up, in an instant, by a pair of sinewy arms, borne to the window, and carried down a ladder which had been placed there. My uncle stood at the bottom and received me. I was not fully aware of my -situation till I found myself sheltered in the HUT, and surrounded by +situation till I found myself sheltered in the _Hut_, and surrounded by its inhabitants. By neglect of the servant, some unextinguished embers had been placed in @@ -8260,7 +8263,7 @@ I returned early in the evening to my lodgings. Preliminaries being settled between the combatants, Stuart had consented to spend the evening with us, and did not retire till late. On the way to his hotel he was exposed to no molestation, but just as he stepped within the -portico, a swarthy and malignant figure started from behind a column +portico, a swarthy and malignant figure started from behind a column, and plunged a stiletto into his body. The author of this treason could not certainly be discovered; but the |