Though I was so young, the impression of the Death of my Father plunged me into such a melancholy state, that soon after I was seized with a violent fever; no rest was to be found for a long while: in the strongest of my pain I used to get out of my bed and run about the chamber like a madman, crying out, "Oh! my Father! my Father is no more." I was in that state for six months, before my health was established. As my Father's desire was to give us a good education, he told my Mother when on his Death-bed, that we must be removed as soon as possible to the College: accordingly we were sent into the South of _France_, at the distance of two-hundred and twenty miles from _Bordeaux_, to the College of _Soreze_, one of the most eminent places of teaching that ever existed since the World began; for every thing, consisting of Arts and Sciences was to be learned. Here is an account of what the College consisted. Teaching Masters, ninety; besides ten prefects to maintain the police into the yards: and twelve-hundred scholars. Instruments of Music of all sorts to be learned; Latin, Greek, German, Spanish, English, Italian, and French tongues to be learned; Writing of different sorts; Reading, Arithmetic; Drawing of all kinds, both of Human-likeness, as also the Landscape: Dancing, both French and English; Ancient History, Chronology, Literature, Declamation, Fortification, Structure, Poesy, Rhetoric, Philosophy, Natural History, Geometry, Geography, Trigonometry, Statics, Fencing, Riding, Military Exercise, Natation, Architecture, Algebra, Mythology, Theology, Cosmography, &c. I took such a delight in learning, that all my Masters were pleased with my conduct; but this did not last long, for one evening the Director of the College called me and my Brothers, and said, "here is a letter from your Mother that I have just received." On opening the letter I saw these words. _My most beloved Children, it is with grief and sorrow, that I took the pen to inform you of all the misfortunes which have destroyed St. Domingo; your fortune[3] is lost for ever, it is only in your Education, that you will be able to recover it: my long silence would perhaps make you think that I have perished among so many Victims which were destroyed in that unhappy Island, no! the LORD was pleased to save me from so many dangers, that I might be useful again to you; and I hope that by his Mighty Power, He will restore you again to the bosom of a languishing Mother, whose arms are always open to receive your tender embraces._ [3] Behold, He taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, what doest thou? Job. chap. 9. ver. 12.