Alexandria Gazette & Daily Advertiser

CURIOUS FACTS.

The Charleston City Gazette contains the particulars of a "highly interesting fact," viz. a person born blind, receiving his sight at twenty years of age, by the operation of an oculist. Doctor Grant was the successful operator, who in the presence of sympathizing friends and kindred, instantly gave the patient a new sense:

"When the patient first received the dawn of light, there appeared such an ecstacy in his action, that he seemed ready to swoon away in the surprise of joy and wonder. The surgeon stood before him with his instruments in his hands. The patient observed him from head to foot, and then surveyed himself as carefully, & comparing the Doctor to himself, he observed both their hands were exactly alike, except the instruments, which he took for part of the Doctor's hands. When he had continued in this amazement for several minutes, his mother could no longer bear the agitations of so many passions as thronged upon her, but fell upon his neck, crying out, 'my son, my son!' The young gentleman knew her voice, and could say no more than "Oh me! are you my dear mother," and fainted! On his recovery, he heard the voice of his dear female friend, which had a surprising effect upon him. Having called her to him, he appeared to view her with admiration & delight; and then asked her what had been done to him? Whither, said he, am I carried? Is all this about me, the thing which I have heard so often of? Is this seeing? Were you always thus happy, when you said you were glad to see each other? Where is Tom who used to lead me? But me thinks I could go any where without him. He attempted to walk alone, but seemed terrified. When they saw this difficulty, they told him, that until he became better acquainted with his new being he must let the servant lead him. The boy being presented to him he was asked what sort of a creature he took Tom to be, before he had seen him. He answered 'he believed he was not as large as himself, but that he was the same sort of a creature.'

"The rumour of this sudden change made all the neighbours throng to see him. As he saw the crowd gathering, he asked his physician how many there were in all to be seen?" His physician replied, that it would be very proper for him to return to his late condition, and suffer his eyes to be covered for a few days, until they should receive strength, for he might well remember that by degrees he had by little and little, come to the strength he had at present, in his ability of walking, moving, &c. and that it was the same thing with his eyes, which he said would lose the power of continuing to him that wonderful transport he was now in, except he would be contented to lay aside the use of them, until they became strong enough to bear the light without so much feeling as he underwent at present. With much reluctance he was prevailed on to have his eyes covered, in which condition they kept him in a dark room, until it was proper to let the organ receive its objects without further precaution. After several days, it was thought proper to unbind his head. & the young lady to whom he was attached was instructed to perform this kind office in order to endear her still more to him, by so interesting a circumstance: and that she might moderate his ecstacies by the persuasion of a voice, which had so much power over him as hers ever had. When she began to take the bandage from his eyes, she addressed him as follows:

"William, I am now taking the binding off in order to give you sight; but when consider what I am doing, I tremble with the apprehension, that though I have from my childhood loved you, dark as you were and thought you had conceived a strong attachment for me, yet you will find that there is such a thing as beauty, which may ensnare you into a thousand passions of which you are now innocent, and take you from me forever. But before I put myself to that hazard, tell me in what manner that love you professed for me, entered your heart, for its usual admission is at the eyes."
"The young gentleman answered,

'Dear Lydia, if by seeing, I am to lose the soft pantings which I have always felt when I heard your voice: if I am no more to distinguish the steps of her I love, when she approaches me, but to change that sweet and frequent pleasure for such an amazement as I experienced the little time I lately saw: or if I have any thing besides, which may take from me the sense of what appeared most pleasing to me at that time (which apparition it seems was you) pull out these eyes before they lead me to be ungrateful to you, or undo myself. I wish for them, but to see you; pluck them from their sockets, if they are to make me forget you.'"

Lydia was extremely satisfied and delighted, with these assurances, & pleased herself with playing with his perplexities for a few moments, when she withdrew the bandage, and gave him sight, to his inexpressible joy and satisfaction.

"In all his conversation with her, he manifested very faint ideas of any thing which had not been received at the ears."