I I - American Memory

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Tny Circumftances to a very low Ebb ; about this Time
I had the Misfortune to loofe my Father, who left his
whole Effefts to my Mother for her Life, this you may
imagine was no Ways agreeable to the prefent Pofture
of my Affairs, which were daily growing worfe. I
found myfelf oblig'd to give over Houfe-keeping, which'
I not kept quite two Years, and I refolv'd on a Voyage
to the Wefi-Indies, having agreed with a Gentleman
here, to ferve a Surgeon on the Ifland of Antigua, for
which Place I ftiled from Crave/end March the 18th,
1730, and arriv'd there May the zd, I was receiv'd
there by the Gentlemen to whom I had recommenda-
tory Letters, with all poflible Marks of a hearty V/el-
come and Refpedl ; I now began to think myfelf as
happy as ever, and pafled over about eight Weeks with
much Satisfaftion, and was propofmg to fend for my
Wife, in order at leaft to fpend half a Score Years on
that agreeable Spot. But as neither that or any other
real Happinefs continued long in my Favour, this a-
greeable Profp^dl of Settlement was foon over fhadow'd,
by the following Accident. It being the Cuftom of
that Place to exercife their Militia every Week, when
each Officer takes it in his Turn to treat his Brother
Officers, and what other Friends he thinks proper, I
had an Invitation from Colonel Ker on his Day, when
after a very elegant Entertainment, and the Bottle had
pafled very briilcly round, myfelf and fome other Friends
attempted to take our Leave of the Company, but the
Colonel preffcd very ardently for us to ftay all Night,
urging that there were fcveral run away Negroes which
made it very dangerous for People to be out thereabouts
late at Night. We thought his Advice very feafonable
and confentcd to flay, bat when going to Bed I found
myfelf very hot, therefore prcferr'd the Hammock to
the Bed, and falling a-fleep very foon, it was not long
before I was wak'd by a Pain in my Bowels, occafion'd
by the thorough Air, the Houfe being neither Wain-
fcotted or White-wafh'd ; in Ihort, I imagin'd this
PJforder proceeded from the Punch I had drank, but
the
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