140 



A small body of rebels came down from the moun- 

 tains ; a few were killed on both sides ; four priso- 

 ners were immediately shot, and five others brought 

 into town, tried and condemned at a court martial, 

 and they are executing at this very moment. Such 

 things are so frequent, nobody wonders or seems 

 concerned. 



I fear you have lost your lively friend Dr. Gwynn. 

 You may imagine we have had little temptation for 

 botanical researches ; yet it was a solace to turn 

 one's thoughts to the subject: it served at least to 

 divert the attention from painful images. 



I should have taken a jaunt to England, but it 

 was neither decent nor safe to leave home and all 

 my little concerns, when the country was in a state 

 of confusion and trouble. 



I beg my most affectionate remembrance to your 

 mother and all your ladies, and am, 

 Dear Sir, 



Yours sincerely, 



A. Caldwell. 

 From the same. 



Christus natus est. 1798. 

 All the people of my neighbourhood are at their 

 devotions in church ; the streets are as silent as 

 midnight, and I seize the quiet hour to write to my 

 friend. It is a long interval since the date of your 

 last favour; but procrastination is not altogether 

 the fault ; — I sometimes restrain myself, fearing to 

 appear a troublesome, importunate correspondent. 



