IN SOUTH AMERICA. 269 



offered him ; but the wretch, after dealing treacheroufly with me as he had done ; after 

 caufmg the death of eight perfons, including the American who was drowned, and all 

 the misfortunes which befel my wife ; in fhort, after diflipating the whole of the effects 

 I had entrufted with him, proved infolvent ; and, for my part, I judged it unneceffary 

 to augment the lolfes I had already fuftained by having to fupport him in prifon. 



I conceive. Sir, that I have now complied to the full with your requeft. The nar- 

 rative I have given, by recalling the mournful fcenes I have depifted, has cofl me in- nyjjM^i ti-- 

 finite anguifh. The law-fuit with Triftan, and the illnefs of my wife on reaching Cay- v 



enne, a confequence but too natural of the fufferings Ihe had undergone, did not admit 

 of my venturing to expofe her earlier than the prefent year (1773), to fo long a voyage sni ... 

 by fea. At" prefent fhe is, with her father, in the midfl of my family, by whom they 

 have been tenderly received. M. de GrandmaifOn had originally no intention of pro- 

 ceeding to France, but merely meant, by his voyage, to fee his daughter fafe on board 

 the Portuguefe veffel ; but finding old age creep on apace, and penetrated with the mofl 

 lively grief at the intelligence of the fad death of his children, he abandoned all, and 

 embarked with her, trufting the care of his property to his other fon-in-law, M. Savula, 

 who refides at Riobamba. For my wife, however folicitous all about her to enliven 

 her fpirits, fhe is conftantly fubjeft to melancholy, her horrible misfortunes being ever 

 prefent to her imagination. How much did it coll me to obtain from her the relations 

 requilite for the judges in the courfe of my lawfuit ! I can even readily conceive that, 

 from delicacy, fhe has abftained from entering into many details, the remembrance of 

 which fhe is anxious to lofe, and which, known, could but add to the pain I feel. Nay 

 fhe was even anxious that I fhould not profecute Triftan, compaffionating even that 

 wretch ; thus following the gentle impulfe of a heart infpired with the pureft benevo- 

 lence, and the genuine principles of religion ! 



