Illness. 55 



soon arrived, and we got on board. 1 immediately 

 took to my berth, very sick. About nine o'clock 

 they were obliged to have my sister (Mrs. Dale) sent 

 for, as I had fainted. Here was another trouble. 

 The passengers took fright, and as I had to be led 

 on deck by a couple of servants, they all took to 

 their heels, like a flock of frightened sheep, down 

 into the forward cabin ; but, having occasion to pass 

 through that way as the nearest to my berth, they 

 again took a fresh start. I believe if I had followed 

 them up, some of them would have jumped over- 

 board. When I got fairly into my berth, down 

 came the captain, sent by the passengers, to know 

 what kind of fever I had. I was afraid they meant 

 to land me on some desolate place, and so gave them 

 a full account of all that I had experienced. I heard 

 no more, but spent a most dreadful night. I was 

 glad to see the morning light of Sunday. 



August 12th. — Miss Martin had early written a 

 note to Mr. Mortimer, a kind friend, who had been 

 our traveling companion for many hundred miles. 

 He came immediately, and wanted to take me to his 

 house. This I declined, and was driven to Mrs. 

 Waldron's, in Broadway, whose kindness and sym- 

 pathy I shall ever have reason to remember. Dr. 

 Mott, one of the most skilful physicians in New 

 York, was called in. He immediately recommended 

 cupping — a horrible operation ; Vjut it greatly re- 

 lieved my head — the principal seat of the disease. 



ISth of August. — I awoke under the impression 

 that my fever was to be of short contiinumce. 

 That afternoon, however, it returned. 



On the 19th, my ej^e-sight was gone — the whole 

 world was shut up to me in darkness. I tried, some- 

 times, to convince myself that I was under a delu- 

 sion; but I soon knew that it was all a sad reality. 

 The conviction flashed over my mind — here your 



