k a good deal of water, the
powder would be spoiled, and there would be no danger."

My father was satisfied with my proposal, and drank a tumbler of water
every half-hour, which the old nurse was obliged to supply as fast as he
called for it, and this satisfied him for three or four days, and I was
again left to the company of my dear Ellen, when my father again fell
into his stupor, and we wondered what would be his next fancy. I was
hastily summoned by the nurse; and found my poor father lying in bed,
and breathing in a very strange manner.

"What is the matter, my dear sir?" inquired I.

"Why, don't you see what is the matter? How is a poor little infant,
just born, to live, unless its mother is near to suckle it, and take
care of it?"

"Indeed, sir, do you mean to say that you are just born?"

"To be sure I do. I'm dying for the breast."

This was almost too absurd; but I gravely observed, "That it was all
very true, but unfortunately his mother had died in child-birth, and
that the only remedy was to bring him up by hand."

He agreed with me. I desired the nurse to make some gruel, with brandy,
and feed him: which she did, and he took the gruel just as if he were a
baby.

This fit lasted about six days; for he went to sleep, because a baby
always slept much; and I was in hopes it would last much longer: but he
again went off into his lethargic fit, and after a long sleep awoke with
a new fancy. My time had nearly expired, and I had written to my new
captain, requesting an extension of leave, but I received an answer
stating that it could not be granted, and requesting me to join the brig
immediately.

I was rather surprised at this, but of course was compelled to obey and,
embracing my dear sister once more, set off for Portsmouth. I advised
her to humour my father, and this advice she followed; but his fancies
were such, occasionally, as would have puzzled the most inventive genius
to combat, or to find the remedy which he might acknowledge to be
requisite. His health became certainly worse and worse, and his
constitution was evidently destroyed by a slow, undermining bodily and
mental fever. The situation of my poor sister was very distressing; and
I must say that I quitted her with melancholy forebodings.

I ought here to observe, that I received all my prize-money amounting to
1560 pounds, a large sum for a lieutenant. I put it into the funds, and
gave a power of attorney to Ellen, request