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dead; and the sooner he can be put into the ground the better. Run to C-m, for I know he always keeps New England coffins by him ready made; and, do you hear, bring him a coffin of the largest size, for your master makes a stout corpse, and having died last night, and the weather being warm, he will not keep long."

Away went the servant, and soon returned with a proper coffin. The wife and family, having got their lesson from the doctor, gathered round him, and howled not a little while they were putting the body in the coffin. Presently the pall-bearers, who were quickly provided, and let into the secret started with the hypochondriac for the churchyard. They had not gone far before they were met by one of the townspeople, who, having been properly drilled by Stevenson, cried out, "Ah doctor, what poor soul have you got there?”

"Poor Mr. B-" sighed the doctor, "left us last night."

"Great pity he had not left us twenty years ago,” replied the other, "he was a bad man."

Presently another of the townsmen met them with the same question, " And what poor soul have you got there, doctor."

"Poor Mr. B- "answered the doctor again," is dead."

"Ah! indeed," said the other," and so he is gone to meet his deserts at last."

"Oh, villain!" exclaimed the man in the coffin.

Soon after this, while the pall-bearers were (resting themselves near the churchyard, another stepped up with the old question again, "What poor soul have you got there, doctor?"

"Poor Mr. B-" he replied, " is gone."

A chase

"Yes, and to the bottomless pit," said the other; " for if he is not gone there, I see not what use there is for such a place." Here the dead man bursting off the lid of the coffin, which had been purposely left loose, leaped out, exclaiming, "O you villain! I am gone to the bottomless pit, am I? Well, I have come back again, to pay such ungrateful rascals as you are." was immediately commenced by the dead man after the living, to the petrifying consternation of many of the spectators, at sight of a corpse, in all the horrors of the winding sheet, running through the streets. After having exercised himself into a copious perspiration by the fantastic race, the hypochondriac was brought home by Dr. Stevenson, freed from all his complaints; and by strengthening food, generous wine, cheerful company, and moderate exercise, was soon restored to perfect health.

A POTENT CHARM.

In the Charity House at Haerlem, a girl, under an impression of terror, fell into a convulsive disease, which returned in regular paroxysms. One of the by-standers, intent upon assisting her, was seized by a similar fit, which also recurred at intervals. On the day following, another was attacked. In short, almost the whole of the children, both girls and boys, became affected with these convulsions. No sooner was one seized, than the sight brought on the paroxysm in almost all the rest at the same time. Under these distressing circumstances, the physicians exhibited all the powerful antiseptic medicines with which their art furnished them, but in vain. Application was made to the celebrated Boerhaave, who compassionating the wretched condition of the poor children, repaired to Haerlem. At the very moment he was inquiring into the matter, one of them was seized with a fit, and immediately he saw several

others attacked with a species of epileptic convulsion. It presently occurred to Boerhaave, that as the propagation of the disease from one to another appeared to depend on the imagination, by preventing this impression upon the mind, the disease might be cured; and this suggestion he successfully followed up. Having previously apprised the magistrates of his views, he ordered, in the hearing of all the children, that some rons should be made red-hot, observing that all medicines were of no use in their case, and that the only remedy with which he was acquainted, was, that the first who should be seized with a fit, whether boy or girl, must be burnt in the arm to the very bone by a redhot iron. He spoke this with great dignity and gravity; and the children, terrified at the thought of so cruel a remedy, when they perceived any tendency to the recurrence of the paroxysm, immediately exerted all their strength of mind to subdue it; and in a short time they got all completely better of their morbid propensity.

THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN WINTERFIELD.

(Concluded from page 768.)

The Captain's name was Thomas Ayres, of the American ship Susanna, who was returning from Virginia to London. I had not been on board three or four days, when I found some little inclination to eat, the rest which I had taken during that interval giving me some distant dawnings of an appetite; I therefore hinted my desire to the captain, who had repeatedly solicited me to take a little food, and he immediately ordered some sago to be boiled, of which I ate without finding any relish whatever, my taste being rendered insensible, as I apprehend, from so long a discontinuance of sustenance. The undeviating tenderness which the worthy captain shewed to every thing which concerned my case, or tended to the recovery of my health, in a short time made me able to crawl upon deck by myself, though at first I could by no means face the wind. The air, however, did me incredible service; and I continued daily increasing in my strength.

We had not, however, long enjoyed this happy transition of fortune, before a fresh calamity seemed ready to befal us; and threatened, not only to fall upon my people and myself, but in some measure, through our means, upon Captain Ayres, his passengers, and ship's company. The ship, it seems, a few days before she took us up, had been attacked by a hard gale of wind, in which, shipping a heavy sea, they lost four hogs, four or five hogsheads of fresh water, forty or fifty head of fowls and twenty or thirty geese and turkies. She had also lost her cabouse and copper; and, in short, had suffered not a little, although, to the infinite honour of her commander, these misfortunes did not occasion any diminution of his humanity when he was called to by the voice of distress. These losses, together with the unexpected addition of nine persons, and a long series of very bad weather, obliged the captain to set all hands to an allowance, which was established at two pounds and a half of bread per week, a quart of water, and half a pound of salt provision a day, for each man on board. In this situation, with a head wind, and the pumps continually at work, his ship being very leaky, we began to keep as good a look-out as possible, in hopes of meeting with some vessel which might oblige us with a salutary supply of provisions. No vessel, however, encountered us but a Frenchman, from Cape Francois, who stood as much in want of necessaries as ourselves. The next day we fell in with a ship, a Dutchman, outward

bound, who, to our great comfort, informed us we were near Oporto, but tha? if we did not keep a good look-out, we should certainly be made a prize of by three Algerine gallies, which were then cruising in those seas. The master affirmed this upon his word, and after giving us what ammunition he could spare, proceeded on his voyage.

It fell hazy about three o'clock the next morning, and at ten o'clock at night we plainly heard the firing of guns, which seemed at no great distance. This alarm made us prepare for an engagement in case of the worst; that is, meeting a corsair, to whom we were resolved not to surrender tamely. By break of day next morning, we discovered three ships about three or four leagues to leeward. Captain Ayres presently consulted what was most advisable, whether to stay and speak with them, or to make the best of our way, At last (upon what reasons I knew not) it was determined that we should stay, It was not long before we discovered these three Algerine ships to be men of war, who, espying their prey, endeavoured to come up with us, which about night they effected. Whilst they were coming up, Captain Ayres seemed resolved to fight them, and accordingly made preparations to receive them; but in the night his company altered their counsels, let their resolutions die, and agreed to run for it. The Algerines perceiving our design, sent one of their number to chase us, which they did till the morning. At break of day they began to fire, and after a short conflict, boarded and took us. We had six slain and many wounded.

The smiles of fortune were but as a gleam of sunshine in a distant latitude in the winter; for the transitory Elysium which we found on board the Susanna, from the humane Captain Ayres, was succeeded by a terrible reverse, We found many Englishmen in those ships, slaves like ourselves: from them we learnt a smattering of the common language, which would be of some use to us when we arrived at Algiers, where, after a passage of five or six weeks, we were landed.

As soon as we were put ashore, for the first night, we were locked down in a deep and nasty dungeon. The next day we were carried or rather driven to the bashaw's palace, who, according to custom, claims the tenth man as his dividend of the slaves,

When the next market day came we were exposed for sale. I was sold the same day to a Tangareen, and the first adventure I met with after I was brought to my patron's house (for so I must now call him) had well nigh cost me my life. His father, being desirous to see his son's purchase, commanded me up into a gallery which looked into the court, when he began to insult me, and taunt me with being a Christian. My neck was not yet bowed, nor my heart broken to the yoke of bondage. I could not well brook such language; and expressed my indignation by signs; signifying that their prophet was but a cobbler. Enraged at this, he beat me most unmercifully; and my cries and entreaties did but increase his choler; so that I had no other remedy but to make an offer to leap out of the gallery into the court; and, therefore, placing my hands upon the rails, as if I would throw myself headlong over them, he presently assuaged, if not his rage, yet the execution of it. The old gentleman knew my value too well to force me to destroy myself, and therefore he respited my further punishment till my patron's return; and then, indeed, this reputed blasphemy of mine was carried with full cry to his ears, My patron being naturally a very passionate man, said nothing, but immediately drew out his long knife, (which they constantly wear by their sides), and made

at me, and had doubtless put an end to my life and captivity at once, had not his wife, who was then seasonably present, prevented him, and sweetened him into a more moderate temper. When the storm was over, my employment was assigned me, and for about half a year it lay in drudging on errands, bearing burdens, and discharging other domestic services, equally galling to one who was used rather to command than to serve.

At this time my patron had a part in a man of war, which carried twelve guns. She being at sea (with some others of the same place) met with an American ship, laden with dollars, and other commodities from Spain, and bound for France, one Jones being master, and, after a very sharp, though short contest, the Algerines carried her, and brought her safe home. The ad/enturers divided their booty, and being high flown with their success, they resolved to fit her out again to carry more guns; and from this grew my employment. I attended on the carpenters; waited on the smiths, to get the iron work fitted and finished; and he paid me liberally.

When this ship was newly fitted out for another adventure, my patron told me I must go in her. I pleaded that I was no seaman, understood nothing of the mariner's art; and as he could expect little service from me in that kind, so I must expect more rigorous treatment, because I could not acquit myself in the service as well as others. He removed my pleas, and promising I should not be wronged, I was compelled to acquiesce.

Nine weeks we were at sea, within and without the streights, cruising and pickarooning up and down. At last we met with one poor American, whom we took, and so returned. My patron having been at great charges in fitting out this ship, and the reprisals so slowly returning his great cost, he insisted that I should live ashore, and allow him two dollars per month, get it where I could. This was a dilemma: it was difficult to raise increase out of no stock, and to pay interest out of no principal.

In this embarrassing situation, I wandered, but neither knew nor much cared whither, when Providence directed me to an Englishman, who was sitting in a little shop. He asked me what news; and I presently related the story of my deplorable condition. He heard and pitied my condition, and invited me to come and sit in the shop with him; but seeing nothing but bare walls, I asked him to what end? What trade could he drive there? There was not much difference between starving in the streets and in the shop. "Countryman," said he, "I drive an unknown trade: here I sell lead, iron, shot, strong waters, tobacco, and many other articles." Upon receiving this information, I joyfully accepted his offer.

1

Having acquainted my patron with my design, and persuaded him to lend me a small sum, with which to purchase a stock, I began to trade. That very night I bought a parcel of tobacco: the next morning we dressed it for sale: and the world seemed to smile on me again. In this state of partnership we continued for some time; but it is difficult to maintain moderation in an exalted state. My partner being elevated with our good success, grew a good fellow and a bad husband, went tippling, neglected his business, and the concerns of the trade lay wholly upon me.

It happened at this time that one John Randall, who, with his wife and child, were taken in the Susanna, being put to the same shifts with me, and, as is very common, having a monthly tax imposed upon him, went up and down seeking for relief: at last the poor fellow straggled to our shop. His case made a great impression upon me; so I bade him come in; and finding

him to be a glover by trade, advised him to learn to make canvas clothes for seamen that are slaves, and for my part he should sit free from rent, but if my party insisted upon his moiety, he must satisfy him.

There was

Whilst I was managing my trade very stoutly and successfully (John Randall working with me) my partner having now declined business, and left all to me, one day I changed a twenty shilling piece of gold for silver with a friend, and having the money chinking in my hand, John Randall asked me what I did with so much money? I desired him to keep it for me till our return, and he should know: for he not being very well, we had agreed to walk out of the town to take the fresh air; a liberty which, to the extent of a mile, is allowed to the slaves. When we had walked almost to the end of our tedder, I was desirous to walk a little farther, to view the coasts, if, perhaps, any advantage might offer itself afterwards for an escape. As we were prying about the sca-side, one of the spies, appointed constantly to watch, in case any of the slaves should attempt to run away, came to us, and charged us with an attempt to escape. We flatly denied it, but he laid hold on us. no resisting, and accordingly we attended him towards the city but the viceroy, gathering from circumstances, and induced to believe us by our constant and resolute denial of the fact, omitted at present any further punishment, and only commanded us to be laid in chains in the viceroy's prison till our patron's should demand our liberties; and the next day we were both delivered, though with different fates. John Randall's patron being very termagant, used that absolute and unlimited sovereignty which they have over their slaves, and commanded him to receive three hundred blows upon his feet, with the batoon, in the usual barbarous manner. As for myself, when I was brought home, the spy that seized us came and demanded money of my patron for his good service, which put him in a most desperate fit of passion; and, calling me dog and Jew, commanded me to go to work in the looms with two other English slaves, who were linen and cloth weavers. But alas! I was but a bungler; and from my ignorance of the art, spoiled all I laid my hands upon. My patron, seeing that my labour in this way turned to no account, rated me as a loggerhead, and ordered me to fill quills for the other two. At this I continued about a month; not daring to hint a desire to return to my shop and former employment. At length he asked me to return him the money I had borrowed to begin trade with. I answered submissively, that I had not a farthing; all my small estate lay in a few goods, and until these were sold, I could not repay him. He called one of his slaves, a Dutchman, and commanded him to go with me, and turn all into cash, and bring it to him. When I came to my shop, there was the nest, but the birds were flown; for, in my absence, poor John Randall, being lame, and not able to work, and I confined to another employment, some rascals had broken open my shop, and thence carried away the best of my goods. What money I had, however, was safe, as I had taken the precaution to hide it under ground. We returned to our patron with this unpleasant news, and he remanded me to my shop, upon the same conditions as before.

My patron had been sinking in his estate for some time past. The last ship he had put to sea broke his back. At last he was grown insensibly so low as to be forced to sell his slaves to pay his debts. I had the good fortune to be purchased by a grave old gentleman, a cap-maker, who had the reputation of being a good-natured and moderate man. From my new patron, indeed, I met with considerable kindness. He had a small farm in the country, whither he took me along with him. We also visited the markets; and at our return

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