he then asked me what money I had and I replied not a farthing, he seemed more astonished and
wondered my Father should let me go in such a manner he noticed my shoes,had no soles and my coat
quite ragged, he advised me to return back to my Father, as my journey would take me a fortnight
at least and provided as I was I must perish; I said I should be happy if the men would carry me
back, he then asked the men who consented to take me.
I got into the canoe and about 6 p.m. I was on board the Chatham with my Father.
The next morning my Father received the following note from the Colonel; very, different from the
former no my dear Father, no yours affectionately !!
"December 5th
Since January 6th. – nearly a twelvemonth – I have been maintaining you and your son and have
made every effort to put you into the way of being honorably useful to yourselves and the World,
my exertions and hopes have been thwarted by your running away to Jamaica and now abetting your son's
desertion of a good profession.
How long more am I to be burthened with you and him in idleness, inutility and disgrace?"
My Father went ashore often to see the Colonel but he avoided him and I kept out of his way: after
remaining 13 days
10th. December sailed from San Juan de Nicaragua on the Colonels coming on board, the first thing
he said was "what am I to do with such a scoundrel as you?" "there's nothing but to knock you down
and stamp your guts outs" he then called my Father down into the Cabin where he abused him so loud,
that the Capt. said he would not allow such a noise in his cabin. I was afraid to go near him, so I
kept close to my Father, which made the Colonel say my Father nursed me like a child.
We arrived at
Salt Creek in the night of 11th. December Sunday.
On Monday morning early, all the passengers went on shore and the Colonel with them and thank God
I have never seen him since and hope I never shall: James took his luggage and
joined the Colonel
the next day, now my Father and I were left alone, but I had not sufficient to eat of bread or biscuit
My Father was distracted as he did not know what to do, or how to act for the Colonel left him without
a farthing, altho my Father had done so much for him in Jamaica.