d as lawful prizes; added to this, three vessels
from the Indies, laden with island produce, have been taken on their
homeward bound voyage, and one lost on her return from Holland.

[_A&M_:

"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 harbors, and just
ready to sail for America, have been seized as lawful prizes. Added
to this, three vessels from the Indies, laden with island produce,
have been taken on their homeward bound voyage, and one lost on her
return from Holland.]

"This wreck of fortune I might have survived, had I to sustain only my
equal dividend of the loss; but of the merchants with whom I have been
connected, not one remains to share the fate of the event--all have
absconded or secreted themselves. To attempt to compound with my
creditors would be of little avail, so that the consequence to me is
inevitable ruin.

[_A&M_:

This wreck of fortune I might have survived, had I to sustain only
my equal dividend of the loss; but of the merchants with whom I have
been connected, not one remains to share the fate of the event; all
have absconded or secreted themselves. To attempt to compound with
my creditors would be of little avail, my whole fortune will not pay
one fourth of the debts, so that compound or not, the consequence to
me is inevitable ruin.]

"To abscond would not secure me, as most of my remaining property is
vested in real estate; and even if it would, I could not consent to it.
I could not consent to banish myself from my country, with the view to
defraud my creditors. No: I have lived honestly, and honestly will I
die. By fair application and industry my wealth has been obtained, and
it shall never justly be said that the reputation of my latter days were
sullied with acts of meanness. I have notified and procured a meeting of
the creditors, and have laid the matter before them. Some appeared
favourable to me, others insinuated that we were all connected in
fraudulent designs to swindle our creditors. To this I replied with
becoming spirit, and was in consequence threatened with immediate
prosecution.

[_A&M_:

"To abscond would not secure me, as most of my remaining property is
vested in real estate. And even if it would, I could not consent to