vade
their territories! and if they had invaded England, we should have
done the same by them. My life was spared, because, having gained
some little strength in my hand during the voyage, I pleased their
king when I arrived there with playing on my violin.

"They spared my child too, in pity to my lamentations, when they were
going to put him to death. Now, dear brother, before I say any more
to you concerning my child, I will first ask your pardon for any
offence I may have ever given you in all the time we lived so long
together. I know you have often found fault with me, and I dare say I
have been very often to blame; but I here solemnly declare that I
never did anything purposely to offend you, but mostly, all I could to
oblige you--and I can safely declare that I never bore you above a
quarter of an hour's resentment for anything you might say to me which
I thought harsh.

"Now, dear William, after being in this island eleven years, the
weakness in my hand has unfortunately returned; and yet there being no
appearance of complaint, the uninformed islanders think it is all my
obstinacy, and that I _will not_ entertain them with my music, which
makes me say that I _cannot_; and they have imprisoned me, and
threaten to put my son to death if I persist in my stubbornness any
longer.

"The anguish I feel in my mind takes away all hope of the recovery of
strength in my hand; and I have no doubt but that they intend in a few
days to put their horrid threat into execution.

"Therefore, dear brother William, hearing in my prison of a most
uncommon circumstance, which is, that an English vessel is lying at a
small distance from the island, I have entrusted a faithful negro to
take my child to the ship, and deliver him to the captain, with a
request that he may be sent (with this letter) to you on the ship's
arrival in England.

"Now my dear, dear brother William, in case the poor boy should live
to come to you, I have no doubt but you will receive him; yet excuse a
poor, fond father, if I say a word or two which I hope may prove in
his favour.

"Pray, my dear brother, do not think it the child's fault, but mine,
that you will find him so ignorant--he has always shown a quickness
and a willingness to learn, and would, I dare say, if he had been
brought up under your care, have been by this time a good sc