Transcriber’s Note:
New original cover art included with this eBook is granted to the public domain.
——I will not attempt to describemy agitations!—“In order to relievethese emotions,” continued he, “Iwill ease your suspence. I have seen aperson who has brought me intelligence ofDuncan. A stranger was introduced tome, at a coffee-house last night, as wantingto know and speak to me. He announcedhimself as the super-cargo of aDutch ship, now in the Thames, andsaid, that he was charged with a commissionfor me, by a gentleman whom he had4known at Surinam. I instantly ordered aprivate room, and he informed me, thathe had first seen Duncan at Amsterdam;had there learned enough of his story topity him; and that he made the voyageto Surinam with him. His unfortunatecondition and deep dejection, during ourpassage,” added this man, “more and moreinterested my feelings, for one whose educationand manners had promised a verydifferent career. I was happily disposedto befriend him; and as, fortunately, Ihad the means of so doing, for I recommendedhim to a merchant there, who receivedhim into his counting house. Butthe fever of the climate seized him beforehe had been a fortnight on shore. He sawhis danger, and had, as it appears, beenpreparing for it. He gave into my handsthe picture of a young lady, which hewore in his bosom, with a parcel, in whichhe informed me was contained some lettersof the lady’s, with one for you. He conjured5me to deliver these to you in person,knowing that our ship was bound tothis port on her return. I promised to observehis instructions, and I have onlyfurther to add, Sir, that knowing, as I do,the love he cherished for the lady, whomhe blessed with his last breath, I think itright to hint to you some precautions inacquainting her with my poor friend’sdeath.” “You may suppose I satisfiedhim on this point,” continued my brother,and I endeavoured to sift out of him,whether he knew the whole of Duncan’sadventures and secrets. “It was an unhappybusiness,” observed I,