Alida; or, Miscellaneous Sketches of Incidents During the Late American War.

Title: Alida; or, Miscellaneous Sketches of Incidents During the Late American War.

Author: Amelia Stratton Comfield

Release date: September 6, 2010 [eBook #33647]

Language: English

Other information and formats: www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/33647

Credits: Produced by Louise Hope

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The text of Alida is given twice. First it is presented “straight”, as printed. This is followed by the same text, shown in parallel with its sources where known; some significant errors of fact are also noted. Page numbers link between equivalent pages in the two versions.

Footnotes are in the original.

French and Italian quotations are shown as printed, retaining obvious errors. Most English spellings are unchanged, including:

fulfil; mattrass; visiter; pourtray; Genessee; wo

The use of “filial” for “parental” and the random variation between “meantime” and “mean time” are also unchanged. In Chapter XXVII, “team-boat” is not an error. Typographical errors are shown in the text with mouse-hover popups.

Contents Alida (text only) Poems and Subscribers Notes and Sources Parallel Text

Having read the new work entitled “Alida,” or Miscellaneous Sketches of Occurrences during the late American War, which abounds with elegance of language, sublime poetry, and useful lessons—as an American, I have a pride in saying, that our press has seldom been honoured with a work as improving and interesting to the reader, and as well written as any to be found either among the older or modern authors.

J. H. Hardenbrook.

It may be here proper to rectify a slight mistake in two of the complimentary pieces written on the contents of Alida, in which the work was innocently stated to have been expressly written for the aid of benevolent purposes; instead of which it should have read [expressly printed] for the aid of benevolent purposes. The truth is, some part was written as a journal of incidents, and to amuse leisure hours somewhat usefully; other parts to commemorate some particular facts for the gratification of the author and near relatives, not expecting any other eye to meet a single line of it. But on being looked over by an affectionate pious friend, the author was solicited to allow it to be printed. It was at length acceded to, on the ground that the proceeds, however little over the expenses attending it, should be appropriated to charitable purposes.

It is but just to embrace this opportunity to express the reciprocal kind feelings of the author, not only for the friendly and encouraging encomiums above alluded to, with other kind approvals which have appeared in print,—but for the call of a third edition so soon, being within the first year of its appearance. The favourable reception which the former editions of this work has met with from the public, in these trying times (when so many valuable works are permitted to lay useless on the shelves of the book-sellers,) encourages the editor to attempt the publication of another edition. The author has embraced the opportunity carefully to revise and correct the typographical mistakes in the former editions, and to enlarge the work with additional prose and poetry, which it is humbly hoped will be found both pleasing and useful.

ALIDA.

“Optimum vitæ genus eligito nam consuetudo faciet jucundissimum.”

ALIDA:

OR,

MISCELLANEOUS SKETCHES

OF

INCIDENTS

DURING THE LATE AMERICAN WAR.

FOUNDED ON FACT.

WITH POEMS.

BY AN UNKNOWN AUTHOR.

If I could gain, howe’er so little, to improve,

I’d give it to the world for benefit.

Third Edition, revised and improved.

NEW-YORK:

Printed for the Author, and for sale by the Booksellers.

M DCCC XLI.

The proceeds of this work, over the expenses of publishing, to be appropriated to charitable purposes.

Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1840,

BY HENRY LUDWIG,

In the Clerk’s Office of the Southern District of New-York.

THIS WORK

IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED

TO THE

AMIABLE, SENSIBLE, AND PIOUS

MISS CAROLINE SISSON,

NIECE TO HIS EXCELLENCY,

CHARLES COLLINS, GOVERNOR OF RHODE-ISLAND,

WHOSE HIGHLY EXEMPLARY CHARACTER,

WITH THAT OF HIS

EXCELLENT LADY,

MUST DESERVEDLY GAIN FOR THEM APPLAUSE AND RESPECT

WHEREVER THEY ARE KNOWN,

AND FROM PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE OF THIS MOST WORTHY FAMILY,

THE AUTHOR HAS REASON TO SUBSCRIBE HERSELF

THEIR VERY MUCH OBLIGED,

AFFECTIONATE FRIEND.

CONTENTS.

Chapter I.—The Parentage of Alida . . . . A description of her father’s residence . . . . She is sent to the village school.

Chapter II.—Alida loses her mother and one of her brothers.

Chapter III.—Alida is removed to a female seminary in New-York to finish her education . . . . A description of her only surviving brother.

Chapter IV.—A war is meditated between the United States and Great Britain . . . . Causes why it was expected to take place.

Chapter V.—War declared in a manifesto by the President of the United States against Great Britain . . . . Causes of the war stated.

Chapter VI.—An indissoluble friendship . . . . Celebration of a birth-day . . . . Description of a parish minister.

Chapter VII.—Entrance of a gentleman on professional study with an eminent attorney in New-York.

Chapter VIII.—Meeting of two rivals.

Chapter IX.—Disappointment of the rivals.

Chapter X.—An unexpected meeting.

Chapter XI.—Unexpected misfortune.

Chapter XII.—A separation.

Chapter XIII.—A second marriage . . . . Removal to New-York for the winter . . . . A hero joins the army under Colonel Van Rensselaer . . . . The battle of Queenstown—He is taken by the British, and sent with other prisoners to England . . . . Capture of York.

Chapter XIV.—Melancholy reflections.

Chapter XV.—Battle of Lake Erie and victory of Commodore Perry . . . . Battle of Detroit and victory of General Harrison.

Chapter XVI.—Passage in a steamboat from New-York to the village of * * * * . . . . A band of military music.

Chapter XVII.—Battle of Niagara—Colonel Miller’s achievement . . . . Description of the President . . . . Description of Mrs. Madison . . . . Battle of Bladensburgh.

Chapter XVIII.—Battle of New-Orleans . . . . Battle on Lake Champlain . . . . Hartford convention . . . . Conclusion of peace.

Chapter XIX.—The joyful celebration of peace in New-York.

Chapter XX.—A splendid entertainment to celebrate the event of peace.

Chapter XXI.—Proposal of an elopement and a clandestine marriage.

Chapter XXII.—Description of New-York . . . . Battery . . . . Castle Garden.

Chapter XXIII.—Alida’s return from the city to the country.

Chapter XXIV.—Alida returns to New-York and joins a party to visit the Falls of Niagara . . . . Scenery of the Hudson river . . . . Albany . . . . Schenectady . . . . Union College.

Chapter XXV.—Arrival at Utica . . . . Falls of Trenton . . . . Singular excavation of the rocks of these Falls . . . . Return to Utica . . . . Journey in a stage-coach . . . . Salt Lake . . . . Salt spring at Salina . . . . Arrival at Auburn . . . . Cayuga Lake . . . . Seneca Falls . . . . Geneva . . . . Canandaigua . . . . Arrival at Rochester . . . . Genessee river . . . . Arrival at Lockport . . . . Journey in a dearborn . . . . Grand Island.

Chapter XXVI.—Buffalo . . . . Arrival at Manchester . . . . Eagle Tavern . . . . Falls of Niagara . . . . Goat Island . . . . Camera obscura . . . . Cross from the Canada to the American side . . . . Forsyth’s Hotel.

Chapter XXVII.—Journey from Niagara to Lake Champlain . . . . Arrival at Caldwell . . . . Hudson or Glenn’s Falls . . . . Arrival at Saratoga . . . . Congress Hall . . . . Introduction to the Governor . . . . American character . . . . Journey from Saratoga to Albany . . . . Passage up the river to Catskill . . . . Pine Orchard . . . . Passage from Catskill to Hudson . . . . Passage from Hudson to West Point . . . . Military School at West Point . . . . Fort Putnam . . . . Passage from West Point to New-York . . . . Alida’s return to her native residence.

Chapter XXVIII.—Sickness and death of Alida’s father . . . . Reflections.

Chapter XXIX.—Albert, the only surviving brother of Alida, takes possession of the paternal estate.

Chapter XXX.—Effect of misrepresentation.

Chapter XXXI.—Return of a friend . . . . The joyful meeting.

Chapter XXXII.—Anticipated happiness.

Chapter XXXIII.—A candid confession.

Chapter XXXIV.—Restoration of former fortune.

POEMS.

Hymn . . . . Christian Institute . . . . Friendship . . . . To Maria . . . . The Sun . . . . The Voice of Time . . . . In Memory of Mrs. William Richards . . . . Invocation to Prayer.

Subscribers’ Names.

CHAPTER I.

“Rien n’est si contagieux qui l’exemple; et nous ne faisons jamais de grand biens: ni de grand maux, qui n’en produisent de semblables.”

The ancestry of Alida was of ancient date in English heraldry, some of whom emigrated to America a short time before the revolution, and settled in the southern provinces, while her father fixed his abode in the state of New-York.

In the calm retirement of the country, at a considerable distance from the bustle of the town, was situated his beautiful residence, which had every advantage in point of prospect that luxuriant nature could give when it is most lavish of its bounties.

The mind of its owner took particular delight in rural pleasures and amusements; in dissipating a part of his time in the innocent scenes of rustic life, and in attending to the cultivation of his estate, which was large and extensive.

Here he would contemplate, in all their variety, 14 the natural beauties of creation, when arrayed in its richest attire; in the inimitable splendour of the surrounding scenery; or amuse himself in attendance to diversified employments, some of which, as pastimes, served the two-fold purposes of recreation and amusement.

Thus his years glided on in the most harmonious tranquil­lity; where his cares were dissipated alternately in the bosom of his family, and the “tumults of life, real or imaginary, fleeted away in a mutual confidence and unreserved friendship.”

Here he would accustom himself to rise at early dawn, and dwell with particular pleasure on the morning scenery. The dappled, rosy-fingered, blushing morn, arrested his attention; those mild tints that particularly express the break of day, just awakening from repose; when the curtain of the night seems insensibly withdrawn, and the varied landscape exhibits itself by degrees, while the colours of the atmosphere yet seem doubtful, and the scene imperfect to the view; when the darkness is not entirely fled, nor the light of the new day is fully seen; when coolness sits upon the hills, and the dews hang trembling upon every leaf; when the groves begin to resound with the murmurs of warbling melody, and the valleys echo with reverberated sounds.

How pleasing at such a time to adore in his works the wonders of the Creator. That period when the sun begins to diffuse his early rays, to tip the mountains with light, and the breezes in the air mildly prognosticate the soft blushes of the morning:

“For far beyond the pageantry of power,

He lov’d the realms of Nature to explore;

With lingering gaze Edenian spring survey’d—

Morn’s fairy splendours—Night’s gay curtain’d shade—

The heaven-embosom’d sun—the rainbow’s dye,

Where lucid forms appear to Fancy’s eye;

The vernal flower, mild Autumn’s purpling glow,

The Summer’s thunder, and the winter’s snow.”

Or, when the evening approached, he would observe the twilight hour, which for a time hangs balanced between darkness and the pale rays of the western sky, communicating a solemn pleasure to every thing around. When evening began to throw her dusky mantle over the face of nature, and the warm glow of the summer sun had departed; when the stars were glistening in the heavens, and the moon had already risen, shedding its pale lustre over the opposite islands “that appeared to float dimly among the waves, the twinkling fire-fly arose from the surrounding verdure, and illumined the meadow below with a thousand transient gems.” The rustling breezes played among the trees of the wood, while the air 16 was filled with the fragrance of various flowers, and the sound of melodious music was wafted from the neighbouring village, rendered apparently more soft and sweet by the distance.

The buildings on the estate consisted of a large mansion-house, farm-house, and an ancient stone cottage that stood on the margin of the water, shaded by willow trees, and surrounded by romantic scenery.

The charming appearance which nature threw around the place on which the mansion-house was situated, was scarcely less interesting in winter than in the more gay and verdant months of the summer season. The falling of the snow and hail, and the sparkling icicles hanging upon the woods and shrubbery, sometimes almost conveyed the idea of enchantment to the imagination of the spectator.

The view on all sides was magnificent. The bay, gently winding, glided into the river beyond, where ships, steamboats, and craft of every description, floated upon the waters, and gave interest to the appearance of several beautiful villages that were seen at a little distance in the landscape.

This villa was separated about a mile from the flourishing village of ——, where the many white buildings, some of which might be called magnificent, had a remarkably pleasing and picturesque 17 appearance, forming a lively contrast with the evergreen trees with which they were interspersed.

The house of Alida’s father was the seat of hospitality;—scenes of festivity would sometimes have place within its walls;—“music and mirth would occasionally echo through its apartments.” He was kind, generous, and benevolent; while his independence, assisted by a charitable disposition, enabled him to contribute largely to the happiness of others. His manners were highly pleasing, his conversation was interesting, humorous, and instructive; and, although at this time he was rather advanced in years, yet the glow of health still shone upon his cheek and sparkled in his eye; and his fine expressive countenance still gave lustre to a peculiar dignity and energy in his personal appearance.

It was now many years since he had made this delightful spot his residence. He had married early in life a lady of engaging manners, and captivating beauty, who was amiable, sensible, and pious, and whose mind was a pattern of every female excellence, combined with a taste and judgment that had been properly directed by a suitable education; who had been taught to esteem no farther all the acquirements and qualities of which the human mind is capable than as they might be conducive to enable us to excel in the duties of the Christian religion, 18 and cause us more fully to experience “the blessings of the truth.”

These parents had reared up all their family except Alida, their youngest child, who at this time was placed at a boarding-school, at the village of ——, where she was taught, in addition to the different studies belonging to a Christian education, the French and Italian languages.

Their elder daughters had married, and were settled at some distance from them, and their two sons were engaged in mercantile business in New-York. It was their principal endeavour, as their thoughts often revolved in anxious solicitude for the welfare and future happiness of their children, to unite their efforts to persuade them, and inculcate in their minds all that was praiseworthy, by the immediate influence of their own example, considering that the precepts which they taught them, however wise and good, would avail but little unassisted by the aid of example.

“Le mauvais usage que nous faisons de la vie, la dérègle, et la rend malheureuse.”

It was their first care to exercise the minds of their children, in all the important moral and religious duties; to be careful in due time to regulate their natural propensities; to render their dispositions mild and tractable; to inspire them with the 19 love, respect, and implicit obedience due to parents, blended with a genuine affection for relations and friends.

“To endeavour to form their first ideas on principles of rectitude, being conscious of the infinite importance of first impressions, and beginning early to adhere to a proper system of education, that was principally the result of their own reflections and particular observations.”

Their children were assembled annually to celebrate the birthday of their father, together with other social friends and acquaintances, consisting chiefly of those whose beneficent feelings were in accordance with their own, in testifying their gratitude to their Creator for daily benefits, blended with a thankful cheerfulness, which is the offspring of moral excellence.

O, Thou enthroned where perfect day,

In brightest beams of glory, play

Around thy radiant throne;

Where angels strike celestial lyres,

And seraphs glow with sacred fires,

Address’d to thee alone.

Still may thy providential care,

With blessings crown the circling year,

Each human ill restrain:

O, may thy truth inspire my tongue,

And flow through all my varying song,

And shine in every strain.

Give me the calm, the soft serene,

Of summer, when it glads the scene,

And scatters peace around;

Bless’d image of the happy soul.

That does the heav’n-born mind control,

While conscious joys abound.

That this may be my bounteous share,

Ascends my ever constant prayer

To Thee, all-perfect Mind!

O, aid me in the gen’rous strife,

Through each inconstant scene of life,

To all thy ways resign’d.

CHAPTER II.

The scenes that once so brilliant shone are past, and can return no more to cheer the pensive heart; and memory recalls them with a tear; some lowering cloud succeeds, and all the gay delusive landscape fades.

While Alida remained at the village school, surrounded by the festive scenes of childhood, and pursuing her studies with assiduous emulation, with the hope of meriting, in future time, the praises of her fond parents, an unforeseen misfortune awaited her that no human foresight could have power to arrest.

The health of her mother had been long declining, and her illness at this time increased so far as to render medical assistance useless, and baffled the skill of the ablest physicians. A trial so new, so afflicting, and so grievous to her youthful mind, to lose one of her honoured parents, and to be unexpectedly summoned to her parental home to receive the last benediction of a beloved mother, and at this early period of her life to be deprived of her kind care and protection, was unfortunate in the extreme.

Every anxious solicitude and responsibility now rested alone upon a widowed father, who mourned deeply their common bereavement, while he felt conscious that all his fatherly care and caresses could never supply to Alida all the necessary requisitions 22 that she had unhappily lost in so dear and interested a friend. When he observed her spirits languish, and the tear frequently starting in her eye, and her former sprightly countenance shaded with the deep tinges of melancholy, he saw that the cheerfulness and gaiety of her natural disposition had received a powerful check, which promised to be lasting.