ixxii 



AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



bound the wound up with my cravat. Then, cutting 

 off my coat pocket, I gave it to the captain, and 

 directed him to get it filled with poultice, in a house 

 where we saw a light at a distance. The next day 

 a strong fever came on ; so we stopped until it had 

 abated, and then we went on again; and stopped 

 again on account of the fever ; and again proceeded, 

 until at last we reached Paris ; the wound being in 

 a deplorable state. Here Doctor Marshall, a friend 

 from Demerara, took me under his care until I was 

 in a state to proceed to England. He showed 

 exquisite skill in his treatment of the wound, and 

 would have done wonders for it had I staid a suffi- 

 cient length of time with him. 



On my arrival in London, Father Scott, of the 

 Society of Jesus, came immediately to my assist- 

 ance. Having inspected the wound, he took his 

 departure without loss of time, and he brought back 

 with him the celebrated Mr. Carpue ; to whose con- 

 summate knowledge and incessant attention I owe 

 the preservation of the limb, and probably of life 

 too. The knee continued stiff for nearly two years ; 

 but, by constant exercise, and by refusing the aid of 

 a walkingstick, it lost at last all rigidity, and is now 

 as sound as though it had never been injured. I 

 have often thought since, that I should have laid 

 my bones in France, but for the unwearied exertions 

 of my friend Captain Alexander. 



In 1824, I caught so severe a cold, by having in- 

 cautiously taken a hot bath in the city of New 

 York, that all the skill of Doctor Hossack could not 

 have saved me from consumption, had I not, at his 



