IN PRISON. 171 



All his energy of mind revived at the sight of dis- 

 tress and danger, and those who were ready to 

 perish experienced the consolation of such assist- 

 ance as he had it in his power to bestow. He sup- 

 plied their necessities and healed their wounds. 

 But his soul sickened at the sight of public mise- 

 ries on every side which he was unable to alleviate, 

 and at the end of some months he returned to 

 Paris, and procured a commission to visit North 

 America, in order to purchase corn from the United 

 States, and to fulfil some other commissions relative 

 to science and commerce. 



A tempest obliged him to take shelter at Guada- 

 lope, which ill-fated island was then in as distracted 

 a state as the mother country. Dombey, having 

 been sent out by the French Republic, was an 

 object of suspicion to the Eoyalist governor, and 

 being summoned to appear before him, judged it 

 prudent to retire on board a vessel bound for Phila- 

 delphia. 



Before however he could embark, he was seized 

 and thrown into prison. A proceeding so violent 

 and unjustifiable excited general indignation, and 

 the authorities thought proper to release him, but 

 not before a public commotion had been excited 

 on his behalf; and while trying to appease the 

 tumultuous mob which threatened vengeance on 

 his enemies, he was accidentally thrown into a 



