5:6s THE LIF2 OF 



morning. Not chufing, however, to involve him- 

 felt'in any difagreeablc affair that might happen 

 to mc, he avoided going under preteice of 

 ficknefs, and thus miffed the honour of being 

 prefentcd. 



Next day I went, accompanied by an officer 

 of the fleet, to the palace, where the Viceroy 

 received me with much politenefs. I rcqucfted 

 his permidion to refide on fhore, with which he 

 readily complied, and informed me, that next 

 day he would give diredlions for a houfe to be 

 prepared for my accommodation. Having like- 

 wife a recommendation to the BiiTiop, I paid 

 way refpecfls to him, and was received by that 

 excelient Prelate with every mark of kindnefs; 

 I then went with the officer, who came with mc 

 from the fhip, to the houfe of the Interpreter, 

 where Minchin and his wife lodged. He 

 fi^emed almoft petrified with furprize at feeing 

 mc, and told me, it was generally fuppofed, 

 from the length of time we had been on the 

 road, we had found fome fl^ip bound for Europe 

 at St. Catharine's, and had embarked in her. 

 He complained in the moft bitter terms of the 

 Viceroy, who had, he faid, refufed to fee him, 

 and had only allowed him and his wife each 

 12 vintins (about lyi.) a day, to fubfift upon; 

 that the liime fum was given to the foldiers, 

 women, and children; and that he had he^rd 



that 



