instance, however, he is only unfortunate, and not in fault.

'About ten days ago, in cocking a pistol in the guard-room at Marcau,
he accidentally shot himself through the thigh. Two young Scotch
surgeons in the island were polite enough to propose taking off the
thigh at once, but to that he would not consent; and accordingly in
his wounded state was put on board a cutter and conveyed to Haslar
Hospital, at Gosport, where the bullet was extracted, and where he now
is, I hope, in a fair way of doing well. The surgeon of the hospital
wrote to the family on the occasion, and John Harwood went down to him
immediately, attended by James, {62} whose object in going was to be
the means of bringing back the earliest intelligence to Mr. and Mrs.
Harwood, whose anxious sufferings, particularly those of the latter,
have of course been dreadful. They went down on Tuesday, and James
came back the next day, bringing such favourable accounts as greatly
to lessen the distress of the family at Deane, though it will probably
be a long while before Mrs. Harwood can be quite at ease. _One_ most
material comfort, however, they have; the assurance of its being
really an accidental wound, which is not only positively declared by
Earle himself, but is likewise testified by the particular direction
of the bullet. Such a wound could not have been received in a duel.
At present he is going on very well, but the surgeon will not declare
him to be in no danger. {63} Mr. Heathcote met with a genteel little
accident the other day in hunting. He got off to lead his horse over
a hedge, or a house, or something, and his horse in his haste trod
upon his leg, or rather ancle, I believe, and it is not certain
whether the small bone is not broke. Martha has accepted Mary's
invitation for Lord Portsmouth's ball. He has not yet sent out his
own invitations, but _that_ does not signify; Martha comes, and a ball
there is to be. I think it will be too early in her mother's absence