Directory_and_Chronicle_1841 — Page 213

1841.

Loss of the Ship Kite.

199

the British delegate was really captain Elliot, and, if this was not the case, the individual who dared to appear under an assumed name was to be taken.

On the 14th, they sent another woman to wait on me, with a little cross boy about four years old, who cried the whole day long. This I felt to be a great trial, as 1 could not have a moment to myself. The other old woman brought also her girl, so that there were four dirty creatures in my dirty hovel. This was scarcely endurable, but, after many intreaties and the lapse of a considerable time, both the children were removed. On Sunday the 18th, I heard the melancholy tidings of one of our sailors being removed by the hand of death. I had seen the poor boy several times, and, as I felt sure he could never recover, the few moments we were allowed to speak, were spent in dwelling upon solemn subjects. Though he was a mere skeleton and weak as a child, still he wore his irons to the last. A day or two before his death, he told me he knew that he would never be well again, but his mind was calm, and I fervently hope that the Savior was present with him. As we parted for the last time, he said with much earnestness "God bless you, Mistress;" these words I still remember, they have been fulfilled, and God has remembered me. The two sick marines were much distressed at the death of the poor boy, and I was delighted to afford them some comfort, temporal as well as spiritual.

On the 26th, we were all summoned by the superior mandarins. I felt much grieved on my way being entirely alone,-little thinking what joy was in store for me. Clothes and letters had arrived from Chusan, clothes in abundance for myself and also for my dear boy, which I had not the least reason to expect, but for which, as I sub- sequently heard, I was indebted to dear Mrs. Proudfoot. The sight of clothes, intended for my dear lost one, was overwhelming. May the Almighty reward the kind donor, and, by his gracious and merci- ful providence, ever protect her from requiring such a comfort as she bestowed upon me. Among the above, I received a very kind note, with an acceptable present of shoes, from my friend captain Baily. The gentlemen received large supplies of clothes, wine, ale, and other articles, with 300 dollars from the plenipotentiaries; and all the prisoners had clothes given to them. All the Englishmen, except the two sick, were present, and to our great satisfaction our fetters were struck off; we were also informed, that we should be free within five or six days for a certainty. Gladness then pervaded every breast, but, as usual, mine was mixed with bitter grief,-to think how short