red all
to withdraw except Theodore and his mother; when, with emotions that
spoke the painful feelings of his bosom, he thus addressed them:

[_A&M_:

Alonzo and his mother were much amazed at so strange a proceeding.
They could form no conjecture of its cause or its consequence.
Alonzo passed a sleepless night. His father's slumbers were
interrupted. He would frequently start up in bed, then sink in
restless sleep, with incoherent mutterings, and plaintive moans. In
the morning, when he appeared at breakfast, his countenance wore the
marks of dejection and anguish.

He scarcely spoke a word, and after the cloth was removed, he
ordered all to withdraw except his wife and Alonzo, when, with
emotions that spoke the painful feelings of his bosom, he thus
addressed them:]

"For more than thirty years I have been engaged in commerce, in order to
acquire independence for myself and my family. To accomplish this,
I became connected with some English importing merchants, in a seaport
town, and went largely into the English trade. Success crowned our
endeavours. On balancing our accounts, two years ago, we found that our
expectations were answered, and that we were sufficiently wealthy to
close business, which some proposed to do; it was, however, agreed to
make one effort more, as some favourable circumstances appeared to
offer, in which we adventured very largely, on a fair calculation of
liberal and extensive proceeds.

[_A&M_:

"For more than forty years I have toiled early and late to acquire
independence and ease for myself and my family. To accomplish this,
I became connected with some English importing merchants in a
seaport town, and went largely into the English trade. Success
crowned our endeavors; on balancing our accounts two years ago, we
found that our expectations were answered, and that we were now
sufficiently wealthy to close business, which some proposed to do;
it was, however, agreed to make one effort more, as some favorable
circumstances appeared to offer, in which we adventured very
largely, on a fair calculation of liberal and extensive proceeds.]

Before returns could be made, the war came on, embarrassments ensued,
and by indubitable intelligence lately received, we find that our
property in England has been sequestered; five of our ships, laden with
English goods, lying in English harbours, and just ready to sail for
America, have been seize