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MEADVILLE. 



The incidents that occur in the hfe of a student of nature, are not all 

 of the agreeable kind, in proof of which, I shall present you, good reader, 

 with an extract from one of my journals. 



My money was one day stolen from me by a person, who perhaps 

 imagined that to a naturaUst it was of little importance. This happened 

 on the shores of Upper Canada. The affair was as unexpected as it well 

 could be, and as adroitly managed as if it had been planned and executed in 

 Cheapside. To have repined when the thing could not be helped, would 

 certes not have been acting manfully. I therefore told my companion 

 to keep a good heart, for I felt satisfied that Providence had some re- 

 lief in store for us. The whole amount of cash left with two individuals 

 fifteen hundred miles from home, was just seven dollars and a-half. Our 

 passage across the lake had fortunately been paid for. We embarked 

 and soon got to the entrance of Presque Isle Harbour, but could not 

 pass the bar, on account of a violent gale which came on as we approached 

 it. The anchor was dropped, and we remained on board during the 

 night, feeling at times very disagreeable, under the idea of having taken 

 so little care of our money. How long we might have remained at 

 anchor I cannot tell, had not that Providence, on whom I have never 

 ceased to rely, come to our aid. Through some means to me quite un- 

 known, Captain Judd of the United States Navy, then probably com- 

 mandant at Presque Isle, sent a gig with six men to our relief. It was 

 on the 29th of August 1824, and never shall I forget that morning. My 

 drawings were put into the boat with the greatest care. We shifted into 

 it, and seated ourselves according to directions politely given us. Our 

 brave fellows puUed hard, and every moment brought us nearer to the 

 American shore. I leaped upon it with elated heart. Mv drawings 

 were safely landed, and for any thing else I cared little at the moment. 

 I searched in vain for the officer of our navy, to whom I still feel grate- 

 ful, and gave one of our dollars to the sailors to drink the " freedom of the 

 waters ;" after which we betook ourselves to a humble inn to procure 

 bread and milk, and consider how we were to proceed. 



Our plans were soon settledj for to proceed was decidedly the best. 

 Our luggage was rather heavy, so we hired a cart to take it to Mead- 

 ville, for which we offered five dollars. This sum was accepted, and we 



