allen into the hands of the
Indians near the English settlements in Virginia, and that I had
escaped and was, he believed, at James Town.

I considered it wise to make a communication like this at first, as
too sudden an announcement might be dangerous to one in so weak a
state of health as Philip stated my Amy to be from the letter he had
received from her father. I remained with him at Portsmouth until the
reply came. Mr. Trevannion wrote and told Philip that his
communication had, as it were, raised his daughter from the grave--as
she had fallen into a state of profound melancholy, which nothing
could remove--that he had very cautiously introduced the subject, and
by degrees told her what was reported, and eventually when he found
that she was more composed, that he had put Philip's letter into her
hand.

He concluded that he trusted that I would arrive, and soon, for if any
accident was now to happen to me it would be the death of his
daughter, who had not strength enough left to bear another reverse. At
my request Philip then wrote that he had received a letter from a
brother officer stating that I was well and safe on board, and that
they would be in England a few days after the receipt of the letter.

Leaving directions to Philip how to proceed, I now went off to London,
and having fitted myself out with every requisite of dress and toilet,
I called upon a celebrated Jew diamond merchant and showed him my
diamond, requesting that he would weigh it and then estimate its
value. He was much astonished at the sight of such a stone, as well he
might be, and after weighing it and examining it, he pronounced it
worth L47,000, provided a purchaser could be found for an article of
such value.

I told him that I was not a merchant, and could not be travelling
about to show the diamond to crowned heads, but if he would give me a
liberal price for it, I would abate a great deal, that he might
dispose of it to his own advantage. He requested that he might call
upon me with two of his friends, that they might see the diamond and
consult with him; and then he would give me an answer. We fixed the
time for twelve o'clock on the following day, and I took my leave.

The next day he called at the time appointed, accompanied by two
gentlemen of his own persuasion. They weighed the stone again very
carefully, examined it by the light of a powerful lamp to ascertain
its water, and to see if there were any flaws in it, calculated