father for payment of your bill of 250 dollars, contracted here during the last three weeks, but he says he cannot and will not pay any more for you. And that I know from your father's friend, Captain Bell of the ship Homer, now in port." After this, the colonel looked thoughtful, and requested I would accompany him to the captain. I did so. After the captain had politely spread out his brandy, the colonel, with pistols in his hand, said, "If you will not meet me I will shoot you instantly." The captain, with an angry laugh, replied, "O fear not! I am ready with either sword or pistol, and to-morrow morning, at ten, expect me at the hotel." He fulfilled his promise, but the colonel had cooled and fled. After our return from the ship, the colonel wanted to shoot the landlord, and then attempted to shoot himself, but had no prime. He then begged round for prime, but could get none. I endeavoured to reason with him, but with as much effect as with a woman possessed with seven devils. "I have a right, sir," said he, "to do as Brutus did. 'What Cato did, and Addison approved, cannot be wrong.' I am a blasted lily and a blighted heath." This young gentleman, naturally witty and highly gifted, has married and abandoned three wives, and yet is only 22 years of age.
7th.—Visited the supreme court, over which preside six judges on the bench, but, from my {49} not understanding the nature of the cases under consideration, the speeches of the several young advocates seemed jargon, and little short of nonsense. In court I met Patrick Duncan, Esq., who knew a young gentleman, who once bought a negro wench, the only slave he ever purchased; but, at his death, his heirs divided 70 slaves amongst them, all her offspring and posterity, during a period of
