ease them
from the communications of others.

He became an ensign of the Royals and married not long after. He was
sent with his corps to the Mediterranean, and stationed either with his
regiment or a detachment of his regiment, at Minorca; there, under the
influence of an ardent feeling of religion, which he owed to the anxious
inculcations of his mother, from whom he received the rudiments of
education, he is said in the absence of the chaplain, to have composed
more than one sermon, and to have delivered them to the assembled
officers and privates of his regiment. It never occurred to me to ask
him whether there was truth in this report; but he has frequently talked
to me of anecdotes which were circulated of him, some of which he
confirmed while he contradicted others, and never spoke of this as
unfounded; from my knowledge of his character it is highly probable, and
I believe it is true. About three years ago he was at Tunbridge Wells
with Mr. Coutts, and while there, pointed out to a friend of mine a
building, and said, "There, when it was a public room, I preached a
sermon of my own composition to the company;" this was for a wager. He
returned to England in 17-- with his regiment, the father of three
children. The anxiety of his mother, whose affections and care for her
family rendered her most estimable, and have endeared her memory to her
descendants, was excited by Thomas, who had nothing but his pay for the
support of his wife and his children, likely soon to become more
numerous. Her prudence suggested to her another profession for him by
the gains of which he might avoid the destitution which she saw hanging
over his head. With this design, she sent for Mr. Adam, the barrister
(now the Commissioner of the Scotch jury courts), that she might receive
the assistance of his experience and advice. On his arrival she said,
"My son Tom has been thoughtless enough to marry a woman without fortune,
and she has brought him a family which he cannot support himself, nor I
for him,--what is to be done? And I have been thinking that he must sell
his commission, go to the bar, and be Lord Chancellor." It is
interesting to reflect, that while this excellent woman was endeavouring
to conceal the bitterness of an affectionate mother's anguish for her
son's imprudence, she was unconsciously pronouncing a prophecy. Nor will
it be less to see how trifling an event would have prevented its
accomplishment; Mr. Adam to