y life. I ate a hearty breakfast in the
kitchen, the servants asking me a number of impertinent questions. After
breakfast, I counted my riches, and found that I had ten shillings, at
least, in my leathers, into the pockets of which I every moment
introduced my hand, to feel if all was safe. In the afternoon I was
ordered dinner, and at last placed in the charge of a sergeant, who
inquired who and what I was. I slept with him, and slept most soundly
too, thinking I was a soldier. Early the next morning I was awoke, when
the sergeant showed me a note from the good-natured colonel to my
master, whose name and address he had pumped me out of the evening
before. The sergeant was proceeding to Woodbridge Barracks, and he had
directions to take me over to my master, as well as to deliver the
colonel's note, which was open, and contained a most earnest request
that, for his sake, my master would not flog me. The generous colonel
had also given the sergeant five shillings for me, which he gave me
before I started from Beccles. About three o'clock in the afternoon I
arrived at my master's, who was at home. The kind message of the colonel
was communicated to him, and he faithfully promised the sergeant, that
all should be forgiven and forgotten. I was lured, under this promise,
to return to my work, resolved to do better in future; and I began to
think that I really had not much reason to complain; for, on counting my
money, I found I had fifteen shillings and sixpence left, after treating
the sergeant on the way home. Scarcely, however, had the sun risen on
the following day, when my master seized me by the neck, and dragged my
clothes off my back. He had with him a double-handed whip, such as is
used by colliers, and with this he lashed me so unmercifully, that I
have no hesitation in saying, that, had not a man, who was labouring in
an adjoining field, interfered, he would have killed me. He was the most
inhuman man I ever saw; and if he was not dead, and his family in abject
poverty, I should, before this, have published his name; but, not to add
to their present calamities, I will bury such feelings with their
father, and begin a fresh chapter, with accounts more interesting to my
readers; first entreating their forgiveness for having dwelt so long on
the scenes of my boyhood.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

FOOTNOTES:

[2] The sexton of the parish.

CHAPTER II.

About this period (1797) the three experiment