66 ILL-HEALTH 



establishment in his own line of business, at the cost of 

 several thousands of pounds, of the frothy gentleman 

 before spoken of, leaving my elder brother to superintend 

 the business in the country ; but he did not long remain 

 there. He very injudiciously, as it apjDeared, took in as 

 a partner the man Avho had not long before failed there ; ^ 

 and he, to the best of my memory, took the first oppor- 

 tunity of getting out without any material loss. Better 

 had it been for himself and his family if he had never 

 returned to it, which he unfortunately did some few years 

 afterwards. But let me not anticipate. 



The morning after my landing at Portsmouth I was 

 sent off to London; and arriving in the evening, my 

 father met me, and took me to his residence in the imme- 

 diate neighbourhood. I shall not attempt to describe the 

 emotions of my heart at once more being embraced by a 

 fond and excellent mother, as well as by my elder sister, 

 who had been my principal correspondent, and had been 

 attentive to all my requests. I remained in toAvn during" 

 the winter, almost daily visiting either Guy's or St. 

 Thomas's Hospital, but my malady was at length deemed 

 incurable. Consequently, my invalid-ticket was ex- 

 changed for a discharge from the Royal Navy, as I was 

 considered, from the state of my health, incapable of 

 serving his Majesty. My father, not satisfied with this, 

 took me to more than one eminent physician, all, however, 

 with the same result. Indeed, my malady seemed to set 

 all medical aid at defiance, and it was thought best to 

 let it take its course. 



During my residence in London the funeral of the 

 ^ The late George Boulton. 



