sword of vengeance hangs over your head, and will crush you to atoms in an unexpected time that justice may be satisfied." He first blushed, then became pale, and without replying left the house; and I saw him no more while I tarried there. My Cousin was very much pleased with my reception of him; but as the time I agreed with her was expired, I thought of going to see my Mother; so I took leave of her and embarked in a long-boat which was going that way: in four and twenty hours I was landed at Moutechristo where she resided, and was not long to find out the place of her dwelling, the Town being small. I will just let my reader know how I made my entrance: first, I knock'd at the door; when in, I asked her whether she knew me; she said no Sir; I asked her again whether she had not Children abroad; she said yes, "but, [giving a deep sigh,] all my hopes are vanished, for it is between thirteen and fourteen years since I have seen or heard from them." I then said to her, behold the youngest of them before you: she exclaimed in a transport of joy, "Oh! my Son is it you? my dear H.—— is still existing?" and then fainted: but was not long in that state, for her exceeding joy soon called her to her senses again. My hard heart was melted in an instant; I could no longer withstand that filial love; I threw myself into those arms which were so desirous and eager to welcome me to that breast which was so ardently panting for me: our joy was so great on both sides, that neither of us could utter a word. Our language was only by sighs: and those precious tears which bedewed my face when I first parted with her, were once more mixed with mine. Our arms interwove in each other as an emblem of the most affecting tenderness. In that posture we remained a long time, so much were our feelings affected, that we could not utter a single word.

Some time afterwards, she shewed me my little Brother and Sister, by her second husband; and dispatched my Brother to go and fetch my Father-in-law who was then at the farm, a little distance from the Town. In the mean time she said to me; "your Father-in-law is an honest man? he is not like many others, but he is a true Father that I have met with for you;" she then asked me where my Brothers were; I told her they were taken prisoners by the English and conveyed to England: at the same time my Father-in-law came into the house, which interrupted our conversation. He seemed to be very joyful of my arrival, and treated me with the greatest kindness. This was the happiest moment I ever enjoyed, being in the bosom of my friends. But all this happiness did not last long, for the Negroes rose up again, and killed every white man that fell into their hands.

I was then compelled to stand in my own defence, as a foot soldier; every night, alarms were given, for the blacks were at the gates of the Town: but having received reinforcement, they were repulsed. Afterwards I was sent to garrison, fifteen miles off, where I stay'd four and twenty days; at my return my little Brother fell sick of the fever, and died in two days after; which put my Mother and Father-in-law in such distress of mind, that I thought they would have followed, especially my Father-in-law, for he was a man of very tender feelings: but by degrees and length of time, their griefs were dispersed.

Five months were expired since my arrival at my Mother's. I was daily upon guard, or doing some other things respecting the warfaring business. One day being on guard, I was informed of the arrival of both my Brothers; I immediately ran home, and found it was so; my joy was inexpressible at the sight of them, particularly at the eldest, who was, and always has been my most intimate friend: it was then five years and some months since they were taken prisoners; during that time I never heard from them, which made me think many times that they were no more in this World. Soon after, the report of their arrival was spread in the Town; and coming to the ears of the commander of the place, they were sent for by his orders, and enrolled[20] them into a company of foot soldiers. The duty was hard, the rebels being daily about us, and almost every night there was some fighting or attempt. One day after a very bloody engagement that was fought at the advanced post, I was sent thither with the company which I was in to reinforce them, in case they should be attacked again: I stay'd there four and twenty days, and was relieved by my eldest Brother. The day after I took leave of him, and returned into the Town. As soon as I arrived, my Mother sent me to the Metropolis about some business. When there, the troubles were so great, that no one was in safety of their lives: three days after my arrival, a strong battle took place, and lasted from four o'Clock in the morning till six in the evening. The day after I was occupied in doing the errand for my Mother; and as soon as I had done, I wrote a letter to her, sending an account of all the business; and told her she must not expect me to return, nor perhaps see me more; telling her my reason was, that St. Domingo was a place too dangerous for me to remain in any longer: and told her not to be uneasy about me, for I had already taken shipping.

We set out the 3d of May 1803, from the harbour of St. Domingo: I bid my distressed Country once more Adieu; thinking to myself it is perhaps the last.

My intention when I embarked was, to go to St. Malo, and take shipping there for the coast of Africa. I had on board a small cargo consisting of Sugar and Coffee, which when sold would have enabled me to begin a trade according to my purpose. We steered for the place above mentioned; six days after we were at Sea, we had such a rough wind, that we were obliged to reef our main and fore top-sails: all our efforts seemed to be unsuccessful, for we were driven amidst dreadful Rocks; and the winds redoubled with such violence that nothing was seen before our eyes but terrors; every moment we expected our fatal end to take place; we fired guns of distress from time to time hoping that some Ship would hear us and come to our assistance, if there was any about: but our endeavours were in vain, and we were cast in the midst of the Rocks. The scene is too cutting for me to relate it in all its parts, for it was enough to unman the stoutest Sailor: every man was in the most profound consternation; nothing was seen before our eyes but Death, and that in dreadful forms. At every instant pieces of timber were swimming about the almost wrecked Ship; the water covered almost the deck. We were in that deplorable situation till morning; and to our great joy, a Ship offered itself to our view[21]; we immediately put the long-boat out to Sea, to go to the Ship for refuge: I flung myself into the boat with what I valued most, and five other men did likewise. As our boat was too small to carry all the people, several were obliged to remain upon the wreck of the Ship, till we could return with the other Ship's boat to save them. We rowed away the boat, and went to the Ship that was in view; when there, the Captain asked me if all the people were come; I told him no, because our boat was too small to carry them, and we came to beg his assistance, for those miserable Creatures which are now upon the remainder of the wreck. He said, "they may save themselves if they can, but as for me I cannot go, the weather is too favorable for me to lose a minutes time; you may go back if you like to save them; but as for me, I will go my way." So he sailed, and we went with him; the others remained upon the wreck of the Ship, in the midst of a wide Ocean, without either help or hope. The Ship which saved me was a French Ship, and steered for his own