whom I had borrowed the money; he thought that I intended to leave
the kingdom without taking up my bonds, and immediately repaired to
Mr Evelyn's counting-house, to communicate with the head clerk, and
ascertain if the report was correct, stating also the sums I was
indebted to him. The head clerk informed Mr Evelyn, and on the day
upon which I became twenty-one years of age, he sent for me into his
private room, and, after some remonstrances, to which I replied very
haughtily, it ended in my being dismissed. The fact was, that Mr
Evelyn had, since his last interview with me, made inquiries, and
finding out I had been living a very riotous life, he had determined
upon my leaving his service. As soon as my first burst of indignation
was over, I felt what I had lost; my attachment to Miss Evelyn was
stronger than ever, and I bitterly deplored my folly, but after a
time, as usual, I had recourse to the bottle, and to drowning my
cares in intemperance. I tried very hard to obtain an interview with
Miss Evelyn previous to my quitting the house, but this Mr Evelyn
would not permit, and a few days after, sent his daughter away, to
reside, for a time with a relation in the country. I embarked my
capital in the wine trade, and, could I have restrained myself from
drinking, should have been successful, and in a short time might have
doubled my property, as I stated to Mr Evelyn; but now, I had become
an irreclaimable drunkard, and when that is the case, all hope is
over. My affairs soon became deranged, and, at the request of my
partner, they were wound up, and I found myself with my capital of
L1500 reduced to L1000. With this, I resolved to try my fortune in
shipping; I procured a share in a brig, and sailed in her myself.
After a time, I was sufficiently expert to take the command of her,
and might have succeeded, had not my habit of drinking been so
confirmed. When at Ceylon, I fell sick, and was left behind. The brig
was lost, and as I had forgotten to insure my portion of her, I was