t 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 table 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 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
endeavours; 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 favourable 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 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; 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; to flee like a
felon; to skulk from society with the base view of defrauding my
creditors. No, I have lived honestly, and honestly will I die. By fair
application and long industry my wealth has been obtained; and it shall
never justly be said, that the reputation of my latter days was stained
with acts of baseness and meanness. I have notified