EPISODES 289 



MEADVILLE 



The incidents that occur in the life 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 naturalist 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 relief 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 for- 

 tunately been paid for. We embarked and soon got to the 

 entrance of Presque Isle Harbor, 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 disagree- 

 able, 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 unknown, Captain Judd, of the U. S. Navy, then 

 probably commandant 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 pulled hard, and every moment 

 brought us nearer to the American shore. I leaped upon 



VOL. II. — 19 



