uld not
dispense with; and although I fully believed Mr. Thomas would never call
upon me to refund his disbursements on my account in St. George, I knew
human nature too well to suppose that Mr. Church would not deduct from
my salary the price of those genteel articles of dress, which were of no
more use to me than a marlinspike to a dandy. Indeed, had I indulged in
such unreasonable hopes, I should have been undeceived when a bill for
sundries from a trader came to hand, of an amount far exceeding my
expectations, with a polite request that I would transmit the money at
the earliest convenience!

There was no help; I had put my hand to the plough, and must go forward.
I thus found myself enchained to the island for at least twelve months.
Indeed, a longer period than that must elapse before I could expect,
by the closest economy, to pay off the debts I had incurred. I now, too
late, regretted that I had listened to the representations of Bohun, and
allowed him to manifest his GRATITUDE for my services, the consequences
of which served to embarrass me, and place me in a position which I did
not covet; for which I was not calculated by habit or inclination, but
from which I could see no means of escaping.

I returned to the Pearl estate and resumed my avocations. Months passed
away; and although an occasional chill, followed by fever, reminded
me that I was continually breathing an unhealthy atmosphere, I felt a
sanguine hope that I should not again be affected by diseases incident
to the climate, and that I had already qualified myself for the
honorary degree which was referred to by my friend Murray. My hopes were
fallacious. I was again attacked by a remittent fever of an obstinate
character. I was again conveyed to Bel-Air. The doctor was again
summoned, and he had a difficult task in restoring me to health. But he
protested against my return to the Pearl estate, declaring that another
attack would place me beyond the reach of medical assistance.

It chanced that Mr. Coxall, a rich merchant of St. George, who had a
lumber yard and depot of stores in Greenville, was in want of a clerk to
look after his affairs in that place, and in consequence of Mr. Church's
recommendation he gave me the situation. My duties were pleasant; and
I often visited the plantations in the neighborhood, where I acquired a
number of friends. My emoluments, however, were inconsiderable; I was in
debt, and the amount of my pecuniary obligatio