59 
„One evening, by a French surgeon’s mate of our ship, a 
young gentleman was introduced to me, a native of Belleisle; he 
was extremely polite, and seemed to be possessed of a more 
than ordinary share of good manners; he sung extremely sweet, 
tho’ more like the voice of a Senesino than a Lowe; he danced 
beyond description, and traversed with the most familiär ease 
and dignity thro’ the different Steps of the minuets, rigadoons, 
country-dances, and jiggs: he was perfect in the ltaüan and 
Spanish languages, and tolerably acquainted with the Latin. He 
shewed me two or three songs of his own composition; love 
was the subject. I was informed by himself, as well as several 
others, that his father was a very considerable physician in Belle 
isle ; the report to everybody was, that he came over to England 
to get a commission, which, it was supposed, he enjoyed in the 
French Service. A very great intimacy was soon contracted 
between me and this French youth, when, one forenoon, he 
talked to me in words to this effect, in broken English: „Sir, I 
have, ’tis true, but a slender acquaintance with you, but from 
the opinion I have formed of your honour, 1 think I may trust 
you with a secret, which is of the last importance to me; 
although you see me usually very gay, I assure you gaiety is 
far from my thought: 1 am at this day, one of the most unhappy 
wretches on earth.“ 
Such serious and steady discourse, I must confess, greatly 
surprised me, from a youth, who at most, I could not think, 
exceeded 18 years of age. „Sir,“ he proceeded, „the sword I wear 
does not properly belong my Situation; the cause of my leaving 
France is love; the object of my love is gone to face the most 
imminent danger that the English have opposed this war, I mean, 
Sir, to the siege of the Havannah.“ How, Sir? I replied, what 
lady, — „Mistake me not, Sir, replied my answerer, the person 
to whom I am engaged by the most solemn ties, is a man, and 
col. T—s his name. 1 am not of your sex.“ 
Heaven and earth, I don’t know that I ever was more 
surprised in my life 1 Admiration made me speechless! „Sir, 
said she, col. T—s was desperately wounded in Belleisle, and 
received the due attendance, at my father’s house, which humanity 
dictated; and when he was almost recovered of his wounds, he 
paid his addresses to me. Fatal event! 1 loved again, and was