When I called on our late friends Mrs Dights, they ran away from me!! her Mother threatened to arrest my Father for a bill of £ 1O which he was obliged to owe her for our board etc. and she said she would charge his lodgings at £ 1. per week. Every thing and every body appeared altered! My Father was asked by nobody to dine out, or invited by his old friends Dr. Binns Mr. Lyne, Mr. Grindly, Mr. Levingston, Mr. Pacifico etc. etc. Having no money, we were compelled to eat and sleep on board; but when the vessel sailed, we slept on the floor in a room with a number of sailors and this cost us 1/6d night.
My Father now luckily saw Colonel Smith who promised to learn fencing and bring his officers; this made my Father take a most capital room at Mr.T. Edwards who sells Morison's pills, and whom my Father knew in Hampshire; we were now well off, as we had a room for our things, which had been left in the Wharfingers store, on the key and we made ourselves as comfortable as we could: my Father always uneasy and low spirited about my Mother.
I shall now keep a weekly Journal.
29th. January Sunday. Wrote home to my Mother. My Father tolerably successful, but not up to his expectations. Went to Mr.Pacifico's wharf and assisted him in his business.
5th. February, Sunday: My Father received a letter from Mr.Richings, but not one from my Mother which makes him very uneasy, Made a kite for Tommy and went and bathed with him. Obliged to take my 2 jackets unfinished from Mr. Lyne's school, as he is going to London.
12th. Sunday: There is no more publications of my Father's name in the Newspapers, he has likewise kept the Colonel's name from appearing, as he is very much disliked here. My friend Morrison called upon us twice and was very glad to see us; he is an exception to the rest of our friends.
19th. Sunday: My Father's scholars got into a row at the Playhouse, which prevented their taking lessons all the weeks My Father was dumned by young Edwards for the rent; Mr E. has gone to Montego Bay. The people here are afraid to send their children or go themselves to England as they say they all die of consumptions, from the bad foggs and cold climate and we in England say that this climate kills all Europeans. My Father is of the same opinin as the Creoles, but I am not, My Father says it is impossible for him to enjoy such good health in England as he does here.