this after being declared the purchaser of the estate, I sat down to draw bills of exchange for the deposits. While thus occupied, Mr. Mills came and looked over me, and observing that the bills were at ninety days' sight, objected to them, and asked if I knew what I was about? at the same time insisting that the bills should be drawn at a shorter date. I answered, He must know that bills for such an amount were always drawn at a long sight; besides, he had no right to make objections, if the marshal agreed to accept the bills as they were drawn.' Mr. Mills replied, Sir, you are an impertinent puppy.' Of this I took no notice till the bills were finished, and then I drew him aside, and said, that I little expected to receive such treatment from a gentleman of his known politeness and good breeding, and as I was not conscious of deserving it, he must apologize.' Mr. Mills declared 'he would make no apology; if I thought myself injured, he was at my service when properly called upon.' I made no answer, but immediately left him, and on the Thursday following wrote him a note to this effect-That since he had done me the honor to assure me, he would be at my service, whenever I should call upon him, I expected he would meet me at dawn the next day, near Lowland church, armed with pistols only.' Mr. Mills replied in turn, and six letters passed between us, three from him and three from my self, the contents of which I do not accurately recollect, for I destroyed them, though I can repeat the substance of them. The last I received was to appoint a meeting in Frigate Bay. The night before the duel, I made my will at O'Donnell's, and delivered it to Dr. Webbe, who put it in his pocket without reading it. We then adjourned to the doctor's house, where I went to bed almost immediately. About one in the morning I heard the doctor rise; I called to him; he answered me, and went out of the house. When he returned to bed, I got up and saddled a horse; and directing a boy to follow as fast as he could, I galloped hard till I reached Molton's Bay, where I had appointed a canoe to be in waiting. At first I could not perceive the negroes; but on looking round, saw them lying under a sail. They got ready in a moment, and I jumped into the canoe, sending the boy and horse round to Bridgewater's. The weather was very rough, and the canoe several times nearly filled with water. I had a phial of rum with me, which the excessive cold rendered very acceptable. On reaching Frigate Bay, I left the canoe and ordered the boy to follow me with the pistols. I sat down under a privet hedge, and sent him forward to watch for Mr. Mills. Meantime, I examined the weapons, and fresh primed one of them. It was scarcely done before Mr. Mills arrived. We saluted each other; he alighted instantly, and primed both his pistols. While thus engaged, and with his horse's head between us, I offered to return the letters he had sent me, demanding, in return, mine to him. He made no answer, but hastily ordered his boy to lead away his horse, and then, placing himself on the defensive, presented his pistol at me. I gave the letters to my boy, with orders to give them to Mr. Mills should I drop, and then directly presented at Mr. Mills. He observed the motion and cried, 'Stay! stay! let me give the letters to the negro!' which he did, and then resumed his attitude. We were standing opposite each other, merely separated by the road. In four or five seconds I fired; Mr. Mills exclaimed, 'Sir, you have killed me!— you have killed me, sir!' I advanced to him and said, 'Sir, I am heartily sorry ; I pray God to bless you, but I can stay no longer.' Hastily desiring his boy to take care of him, I made off in the canoe as fast as possible. In answer to my inquiries if Mr. Mills's pistol had snapped, my boy said it did; but for my part, I neither heard it snap, nor saw the flash. I am obliged to your honors for the candor and impartiality shown in the course of my trial. You, gentlemen of the jury, I must acknowledge, have acted like upright, honest men. Had I been in your place, I should have returned the same verdict. I have nothing now to ask of your honors, but that you will allow me a little time to settle my affairs, and make my peace with God." On Saturday the 20th January, 1753, the prisoner was executed at Basseterre, according to the sentence pronounced against him. This unfortunate man had received a good school education, was well read in Latin, and spoke French fluently. He had made some progress in mathematical science, and was tolerably acquainted with music. His taste in literature was above mediocrity, and his acquaintance with general light reading, extensive. On the other hand, his judgment was by no means sound, and his mind was decidedly tinctured with romance. In either sense of the phrase, he was a very ready writer, possessing great freedom and quickness of hand, with much fluency of expression. His manner was courteous, but tinged with a priggish flippancy, which his diminutive figure rendered more observable. And this man might have been happy; had many blessings, fair prospects, bright hopes: all forfeited in an unguarded hour, for an angry word! "Earthly things," says an old author, "are such as the worst of men may have, and the best of men may be without; yet he who hath them not may be happy without them; and he that hath them, may be miserable with them." L'ENVOI. My task, gentle reader, is done. If my Gallery of Portraits be gloomy, heed the lesson which each narrative of suffering conveys. But let no cheerless, or ascetic, or misanthropic view of human nature be yours. Around you are your brethren; erring,—fallen-degraded-but your brethren still! Elevate them: educate them: cheer them: struggle for them: benefit them. Your Reward is on High. Glean it from the Eastern Apologue, with which I venture to conclude. ABON BEN ADHEM AND THE ANGEL. Abon Ben Adhem (may his tribe increase!) "What writest thou?" The vision raised its head, |