Here several pages of the manuscript were decayed with damp, and totally illegible. With much difficulty Adeline made out the following lines:
Three days have now passed in solitude and silence: the horrors of death are ever before my eyes, let me endeavour to prepare for the dreadful change! When I awake in the morning I think I shall not live to see another night; and when night returns, that I must never more unclose my eyes on morning. Why am I brought hither--why confined thus rigorously--but for death! Yet what action of my life has deserved this at the hand of a fellow-creature?--Of----
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O my children! O friends far distant! I shall never see you more--never more receive the parting look of kindness--never bestow a parting blessing!--Ye know not my wretched state--alas! ye cannot know it by human means. Ye believe me happy, or ye would fly to my relief. I know that what I now write cannot avail me, yet there is comfort in pouring forth my griefs; and I bless that man, less savage than his fellows, who has supplied me these means of recording them. Alas! he knows full well, that from this indulgence he has nothing to fear. My pen can call no friends to succour me, nor reveal my danger ere it is too late. O! ye, who may hereafter read what I now write, give a tear to my sufferings: I have wept often for the distresses of my fellow-creatures!
Adeline paused. Here the wretched writer appealed directly to her heart; he spoke in the energy of truth, and, by a strong illusion of fancy, it seemed as if his past suffering were at this moment present. She was for some time unable to proceed, and sat in musing sorrow. In these very apartments, said she, this poor sufferer was confined--here he--Adeline started, and thought she heard a sound; but the stillness of the night was undisturbed.--In these very chambers, said she, these lines were written--these lines, from which he then derived a comfort in believing they would hereafter be read by some pitying eye: this time is now come. Your miseries, O injured being! are lamented where they were endured. _Here_, where you suffered, I weep for your sufferings!