the time of the mournful catastrophe which I have already described; this he did in such a simple and affecting manner, as not only caused him to shed tears himself, but also produced the same emotion in those who heard him. Some important papers belonging to my father were preserved by Mr. F., and given to the church warden. They consisted of old letters, and a journal which my father had kept from the time of his departure from Scotland till he left America, in which every particular connected with his history, during that eventful period, was carefully noted; but Mr. Scott, the church warden, without examination, pronounced them totally useless, and they were sent home to my nurse in the trunk with my clothes. The poor old woman was unable, herself, to ascertain their contents, nor did she ever think of shewing them to any intelligent person who could turn them to my advantage; she considered them mere waste paper, and used to light her pipe with them, and roll her flax, while spinning. A little playfellow of mine, who sought my company after school hours, for the purpose of getting me to tell stories to him, (for I was at that time famed over the neighbourhood for my legendary tales,) would occasionally read to me such scraps of my father's letters and journal, as he found scattered about the room. From this circumstance, I still remember the names of Generals Howe, Clinton, and Robinson, which occasionally occurred, and with whom my father had corresponded, during the course of his military services in America. Much blame has been attached to Mr. Robert Scott, for not having had my case more narrowly enquired into, while Captain Smith and Mr. Freeman were in Belfast. From the testimony of two such respectable individuals, and the information the above documents would probably have afforded, my claims might have been substantiated, and a compensation obtained for me in lieu of my father's services, and the losses he sustained during the revolutionary war. But Mr. Scott, being a man of the world, thought he had fulfilled his duty when he had provided me with a nurse, and seen me comfortably lodged. Some years after, on being spoken to respecting his conduct in this affair, he replied, "that he had enough business of his own to attend to, without giving himself unnecessary trouble." Thus was I neglected, at a time when something might have been done for me, by those whose duty it was to take care of me; but I was an infant, an orphan, and a stranger, and there was no one to step forward on my behalf. Mr. Freeman, to whom I owe so much, and whose memory I shall always cherish with the most grateful recollection, was so ill, during his stay in Belfast, that he was confined to his room. As soon as the vessel was refitted, he proceeded with his family to England, promising Mr. and Mrs. Palmer, on his departure, to write concerning me, and to take me back with him to America, having only come for the benefit of his health, and being about to return as soon as a change should take place for the better. His intention, he said, was to place me under a proper master, and have me taught music; but I never heard from him after, and from the state of his health, when he parted with me, I conclude that he has long been dead. The ship being now completely repaired, the benevolent Captain and kind-hearted crew left me in Belfast, a total stranger. No one knew me, or had ever heard any thing of my family. My situation at this time was truly pitiable, as I was deprived of my parents at the time I most required their care; still, however, I was under the protection of a merciful Providence, "who can temper the wind to the shorn lamb." In His word He has promised to be a father to the fatherless, and to me this gracious saying has certainly been fulfilled. Many of the first families in the kingdom I can rank among my kindest friends; and to nothing can I attribute this, but to the influence of His Providence, who inclines the hearts of men to that which is pleasing in His sight. My nurse was a good-natured old woman, and the anxiety which she shewed for my recovery, was much greater than could have been expected from a stranger; night after night she sat by me, attended to my calls and administered to my wants, with all that maternal tenderness which a fond mother manifests to the child of her bosom. The prayers which she offered up in my behalf, and the tears of sympathy which stole down her aged cheek, bespoke a heart that could feel for the miseries of a fellow-creature. Contrary to all expectation, I recovered, and in the course of a few months I was able to grope my way through the house alone. Shortly after this, my right eye was couched by the late Surgeon Wilson, and in consequence of this operation, I could soon discern surrounding objects and their various colours. This was certainly a great mercy, for, though the enjoyment did not continue long, yet the recollection of it affords me pleasure even to the present day. One day, when about seven years of age, as I crossed the street, I was attacked and dreadfully mangled by an ill-natured cow. This accident nearly cost me my life, and deprived me of that sight which was in a great degree restored, but which I have never since enjoyed. Thus it was the will of Providence to baffle the e orts of human skill, and to doom me to perpetual blindness; and it is this reflection which enables me to bear my misfortune without repining. "Fond memory here revives "Each dream-like image of the days gone by; "I chased the scaly brood, or mid the throng "The thunder of Britannia, in the race "Shoot past her rivals." When I was about eight or nine years of age, I was not only projector, but workman, for all the children in the neighbourhood. I amused myself occasionally in constructing little windmills, cars, and ships. A kind friend made me a present of a little ship, a perfect model of the Royal George, which was lost at Spithead, and this toy was esteemed by me as one of the most precious gifts I could possibly receive. Having made myself perfectly acquainted with its struc ture, I thought of making one for myself, upon the same principle. I procured a piece of wood, and with no other tools than an old knife, a chisel, and a hammer, completed (not, however, without the loss of some blood,) my first attempt at ship-building. This pleased my juvenile companions so well, that I had every day numerous applications for ships. They procured me the wood, and my ambition was not a little augmented, when I found that I was applied to by boys considerably my seniors, and possessing many advantages of which I never had to boast; before I resigned this trade, I completed my fourteenth ship. There was in the neighbourhood a piece of water, about one hundred feet in circumference, appropriated to the accommodation of some flocks of ducks and geese. In the evening we were accustomed to dispossess these hereditary occupiers of their native element, and form our fleet into two divisions; the English were distinguished by red and blue streamersthe French, by white. Two boys, with their breeches rolled up to their knees, were generally employed to direct the movements of each squadron, he on the right being distinguished by the name of Admiral, and the boy on the left by that of Commodore. The plan of attack was, that each ship should be so far from her companions, as to preserve the regular sailing distance, and at the commencement of the action, the English vessels were so placed as always to have the weather-gage of the enemy. Each English ship formed a triangle with her two French opponents, and so, when the wind blew, she passed between them, and this was called breaking the line. It was с |