On our landing, there was a great crowd assembled, and they looked very
hard at me, as I was dressed in my lace coat and a cocked-up hat, also
bound with broad gold lace. On our arrival in the presence of the
governor, we were received with much urbanity; and as I had brought the
Jacobite gentlemen in my schooner, it was presumed that I was favourable
to the cause, and I was very politely treated. The governor invited us
all to dine with him on that day. I made some excuse, saying, that I
was anxious to return to Liverpool, that I might fit out for the coast
of Africa, in which service I was to be employed by my owners; but the
passengers insisted upon my staying a day or two, and the governor added
to their solicitations his own.
I therefore accepted, not only because I was glad to have an opportunity
to see so celebrated a town, but because it would meet the views of
Captain Levee. We took leave of the governor, and went to an hotel, and
I then sent my boat on board for necessaries, and hired a handsome
apartment in the hotel. I had not been there half an hour, when the
priest came to me and said, "Captain, you are not aware of the rank and
consequence of the three gentlemen whom you have been so successful in
escorting to a place of safety. I am requested by them to make you a
handsome remuneration for your kindness and skilful conduct on this
occasion."
"Sir," I replied, "this must not be. I am most happy in having assisted
in the escape of unfortunate gentlemen; and all the pleasure I feel at
having so done would be destroyed if I were to accept of what you offer.
It is useless to repeat it; and if you do, I shall consider it an
insult, and immediately repair on board of my vessel. You will
therefore tender my best thanks and my refusal, with ardent wishes for
their future welfare."
"After what you have said, Captain Elrington, I will, of course, not
resume the offer. I will tell my fellow-passengers what you have said,
and I am sure that they will, as I do, admire your high sense of
honour."--The priest shook me by the hand, and then quitted my
apartment. I did not see the other passengers till it was the hour to
go to dine at the governor's, when they embraced me cordially, and the
one calling himself Campbell said, "Should you ever be in distress or a
prisoner in this country, recollect you have a friend who is ready to
serve you. Here is an address to a lady, to whom you must write, and
say that you wish the assistance of your passenger to Bordeaux--that
will be sufficient--I trust you may never require it."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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