2 4 o TRAVELS THROUGH 



fpending an evening by myfelf in my apart* 

 ment, deliberated on my future life. To 

 flay at Paris was utter ruin : the army was 

 not open to me j and, as I could not wait 

 promotion, my half-pay would no where 

 fupport me. My brother was a confirmed 

 enemy ; his envy had done this, from feeing 

 me freely received in company, in which 

 he could not get admittance. I determined, 

 after about an hour's reflection, to fee what 

 Fortune would do for me in the Weft 

 Indies ; a refblution to which I was partly 

 induced, from having often obliged a mer- 

 chant at St. Maloes, who traded thither, by 

 fpeaking to people in office for fmall favours 

 for him, and partly from having heard 

 accounts of that part of the world which 

 feemed to promife fomething to adventurers 

 fuch as I was.- In two days I left Paris, 

 not owing a fingle livre there, and took the 

 Diligence for St. Malces. 



" Upon my arrival, I called on the M. 

 Deferes, the merchant I had obliged, with 

 fuch fentiments of the gratitude of mankind, 

 that I fully expe&ed he too would affume 

 the coldnefs of his fuperiors : but I was 

 miftaken ; the man was grateful, and even 



generous. 



