2S8 THE LIFE OF 



againft him while in the government of Ris 

 Grande ; his Excellency replied, that after fuch 

 a promif e from me, itwas no longer neceffary 

 to keep Prater in confinement, for he was con- 

 fident that there was no danger of that gentleman's- 

 attacking me. He therefore ordered an Aid-du- 

 Camp to announce to him that he was at liber- 

 ty ; but that his appearance at the General's 

 table would be difpenfed with for the future. 



The next morning Prater fent to me to pro- 

 pofe to make any apology I might require ; I 

 anfwered him, that / could receive no apology 

 from him, but I thought he would do well to 

 apologize to the Governor for the impropriety 

 of his condudl. He accordingly fent to the ' 

 Colonel of engineers, the General's Aid-du- 

 Camp, and myfclf, and addrefhng himfelf to 

 them, he begged of them to afliire his Excel- 

 lency that he lamented his mifcondudl ; and 

 iblemnly declared thai what he had done pro- 

 ceeded from the effects of envy and wine. 

 This meflage was immediately delivered to the 

 General, who fmiled and faid, " Tell the poor 

 gentleman to come and dine at my table when 

 he pleafes ;" and Prater, to the utter af- 

 tonifliment of every one who knew the tranfac- 

 tion, never failed to appear at dinner as if no- 

 thing had happened. 



The province of Rio Grande lies about tho.. 



6th 





