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⟨which⟩ ſeemed impoſſible to happen, which ⟨imagination⟩ might trifle with, but which reaſon would ⟨scarcely⟩ believe; in ſhort, were I to mention what ⟨I⟩ ⟨myſelf⟩ ſaw, and what numbers could witneſs; [(illegible text)uld be afraid to offer them to the ſerious regard ⟨of⟩ my readers, in the dread that I might be thought ⟨to⟩ ⟨inſult⟩ their underſtandings, and to advance as (illegible text)ion, what it would be very difficult, indeed, to (illegible text)dit as truth.
The diſteſſes of the miſerable inhabitants of ⟨Savanna-la-Mar⟩, during the period, and for a long ⟨time⟩ after the ceſſation; of the ſtorm, muſt have (illegible text)eeded the moſt nervous, as they would have (illegible text)paſſed the moſt melancholy powers of ⟨deſcription⟩. They were ſuch as ought to have affected (if ⟨public⟩ loſſes and private ſufferings can ever affect (illegible text) ſtony boſoms of the rapacious, and the icy ⟨bowels⟩ of the intereſted), they were ſuch, I ſay, as (illegible text)uld almoſt have melted the unfeeling, and have (illegible text)end the obdurate: but, alas! they could not, in (illegible text) many inſtances, divert the rigid purpoſe, and (illegible text)hold the rigorous hard of the man of buſineſs. ⟨Thoſe⟩ who the day before were poſſeſſed, not only (illegible text) every domeſtic comfort, but of every reaſonable (illegible text)ury of life, were now obliged to ſeek for ſhelter (illegible text) on a board; and were expoſed, in ſickneſs and (illegible text)iction, unſheltered and unprovided, to the noiſy (illegible text)ruſions of the wind and the cold, and the ⟨frequent⟩ viſitations of the ſhower.
Were I to enumerate private afflictions in this ⟨scene⟩ of general devaſtation and deſpair, I ſhould ⟨enquire⟩ the pathetic pen of that accompliſhed (illegible text)ter who has given a charm to grief, and a ⟨dinity⟩ to ſuffering, in the tender pages of Emma (illegible text)rbet: and who could ſo well have expreſſed (illegible text) correſponding ſentiment, by flowing language, (illegible text)d glowing truth, thoſe mighty ſorrows which the
