69 



A Few days after, he sent me fifty dollars by 

 his servant. His place was in good order; 

 and showed, for America, a degree of neat- 

 ness which inspired me with hopes of suc- 

 cess. I pressed the gentleman very much 

 for cash, saying I was going to leave the 

 country. He expressed great uneasiness 

 at not being able to pay the money, but said 

 he would raise it by the sale of his negro 

 servant. I went with him to General Ridgely, 

 who agreed to purchase the negro. My ex- 

 pectations of payment appeared confirmed, 

 when I was again baulked for the Ge- 

 neral was to have the slave on liking. 

 Thus I was amused from time to time with 

 one evasion or other, but never received 

 the fifty dollars due to me, nor do I believe 

 ever shall. I suppose, however, that these 

 and similar transactions are rather the result 

 of necessity than inclination. A stranger 

 would have thought this friend of mine 

 worth thousands, by his manner of living : 

 he bore the title of esquire, was an attorney, 



possessed muchlanded property, paid taxes 

 M M 



