 heard me mention him
with great regard, and in a few hours reached the place of his habitation.
    I should much wrong the delicacy of Mr. Thomson's sentiments, to say barely
he was glad to see me: He felt all that the most sensible and disinterested
friendship could feel on this occasion, introduced me to his wife, a very
amiable young lady, who had already blessed him with two fine children; and
being as yet ignorant of my circumstances, frankly offered me the assistance of
his purse and interest. I thanked him for his generous intention, and made him
acquainted with my situation, on which he congratulated me with great joy, and
after I had staid with him a whole day and night, accompanied me back to
Kingston to wait upon my father, whom he invited to his house: Don Rodriguez
complied with his request, and having been handsomely entertained during the
space of a week, returned extremely well satisfied with the behaviour of my
friend and his lady, to whom at parting, he presented a valuable diamond ring,
as a token of his esteem. During the course of my conversation with Mr. Thomson,
he let me know, that his and my old commander captain Oakhum was dead some
months, and that immediately after his death, a discovery had been made of some
valuable effects that he had feloniously secreted out of a prize, by the
assistance of Dr. Mackshane, who was now actually in prison on that account, and
being destitute of friends, subsisted solely on the charity of my friend, whose
bounty he had implored in the most abject manner, after having been the
barbarous occasion of driving him to that terrible extremity on board of the
Thunder, which we have formerly related. - Whatsoever this wretch might have
been guilty of, I applauded Mr. Thomson's generosity towards him in his
distress, which wrought so much upon me also, that I sent him ten pistoles, in
such a private manner, that he could never know his benefactor.
    While my father and I were caressed among the gentlemen on shore, captain
Bowling had wrote to his owners, by the packet, which sailed a few days after
our arrival, signifying his prosperous voyage hitherto, and desiring them to
ensure his ship and cargo homeward bound; after which he applied himself so
heartily to the loading his ship, that with the assistance of Mr. Thomson, she
was full in less than six weeks. This kind gentleman likewise procured for Don
Rodriguez, bills upon London for the greatest part of his gold and silver, by
which means it was secured against the
