e, had I patiently
submitted to their rancour, and borne without murmuring the rigour of
their unreasonable hate; for I have found by experience, that though
small favours may be acknowledged and slight injuries atoned, there is
no wretch so ungrateful as he whom you have most generously obliged, and
no enemy so implacable as those who have done you the greatest wrong.
These good-natured creatures, therefore, had recourse to a scheme which
conspired with a piece of bad news I soon after received, to give them
all the satisfaction they desired: this plan was to debauch the faith of
my companion and confidant, who betrayed the trust I reposed in him,
by imparting to them the particulars of my small amours, which they
published with such exaggerations that I suffered very much in the
opinion of everybody, and was utterly discarded by the dear creatures
whose names had been called in question.

While I was busy in tracing out the author of this treachery, that I
might not only be revenged on him, but also vindicate my character to my
friends, I one day perceived the looks of my landlady much altered, when
I went home to my dinner, and inquiring into the cause, she screwed up
her mouth, and fixed her eyes on the ground, told me her husband had
received a letter from Mr. Bowling, with one inclosed for me. She was
very sorry for what had happened, both for my sake and his own--people
should be more cautious of their conduct--she was always afraid his
brutal behaviour would bring him into some misfortune or other. As for
her part, she should be very ready to befriend me; but she had a small
family of her own to maintain. The world would do nothing for her if she
should come to want--charity begins at home: she wished I had been bound
to some substantial handicraft, such as a weaver or a shoemaker, rather
than loiter away my time in learning foolish nonsense, that would never
bring me in a penny but some folks are wise, and some are otherwise.

I was listening to this mysterious discourse with great amazement, when
her husband entered, and, without speaking a syllable, put both the
letters into my hand. I received them trembling, and read what follows:

'To Mr. Roger Potion
'Sir,
'This is to let you know that I have quitted the Thunder
man of war, being obliged to sheer off for killing my
captain, which I did fairly on the beach, at Cape
Tiberoon, in the Island of Hispaniola; having received
his