I am at liberty, to relate the particulars of my
conduct. Of the latter, I can say but little; and only entreat you will
not judge or condemn me by appearances.

"Mr. Talton, I presume, has already acquainted you with the marriage of
my parents; of which I am the only offspring: the offspring, indeed, of
indifference! Since reason dawned, I have drunk the bitter draught of
unhappiness: my childhood passed in sorrow; parental hatred still
pursued me--and the events of one night, soon after the death of my
father, I acknowledge, nearly bereft me of reason! To fly from scenes I
had not strength of mind to support, I left my home, and sought relief
in the bosom of friendship; till a mother's tears won me to return, when
again I became the prey of midnight horrors!

"Long I sustained them; till nature sunk beneath their influence, and
nearly resigned me to the grave! Again I resolved to fly.--'Seek my
Edward,' said your Ellenor; 'his generous hand will sustain thee, and
hereafter bear thy character open to the world!' She accordingly wrote,
and, with the assistance of a gypsey, from whom I procured an humble
disguise, I eluded the watchfulness of my mother, and again became an
itinerant.

"I was nearly three weeks, in the weak state of my health, crossing the
kingdom; as I had gained intelligence you were stationed at Yarmouth;
where I was inquiring if any of your crew were on shore, when the
appearance of Mr. Talton nearly annihilated me! Imagining he was in
quest of me, I heeded not the answer to my question; but fled--and
Providence conducted me to your nephew. Not wishing to be known to any
other than the Captain Howard, whom I sought, I assumed the name of my
friend, which shame afterwards withheld me from resigning, or delivering
the letter I had received from Ellenor.--Refused your protection when
discovered by Mr. Talton, and fearing, if persuasion failed, he would
force me to return with him, I had no alternative but to leave the ship.
Scarcely knowing what I did, I gave the letter to one of the men, and,
hastily descending to the boat, was conveyed on shore. I pursued my way
toward Lowestoff, when, recollecting Talton probably would endeavour to
trace me, I changed clothes with a lad I overtook, and, giving him my
watch, he promised secrecy, should any inquiries respecting me be made.
My intention then was to have proceeded to Harwich; whence I thought it
probable I might find some vessel going to the Continent: