Read Ebook: A short account of the extraordinary life and travels of H. L. L.---- native of St. Domingo now a prisoner of war at Ashbourn in Derbyshire shewing the remarkable steps of Divine providence towards him and the means of his conversion to God by H L L

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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.

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.

Behold, He taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, what doest thou? Job. chap. 9. ver. 12.

Being Persued by the Negroes, and as he was escaping over an hedge, his Horse alighted; where the Barbarous Negroes cut him in small pieces with their Swords.

Never was a sentence more dreadful to me than this; torrents of tears fell from my eyes; my Heart was almost broken: I was in such a deplorable situation concerning these sad tidings that I thought I should never be able to see the returning of the Day. Clouds of Gloominess hung upon my mind; all the night long no rest was to be found, neither in mind or body; and was forced to rise up, as I layed me down.

Alluding to the French Revolution.

This was the first time I ever dar'd to contend with him, but the remembrance of my Father and former state rose in me such a violent spirit, that I spoke to him with such a Gloomy tone of voice, that all those that were present could not help but pity my situation.

No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper. Isaiah chap. 54. ver. 17.

This passenger was a Captain which understood the Navigable part of the river.

My eldest Brother being a young man grown up, he made him a proposal to stay with him as a Clerk, and said that he would satisfy him according to his behaviour: my Brother accepted his kind offer willingly. As for me and my other Brother, being too young for any kind of business, we were recommended to an old Lady who received us with much humanity; for she maintained us for six months or thereabouts. In the mean time I began to tire of being without employ, and acquainted my old benefactress of my disposition, which was to go upon the Sea and learn to be a Sea-man; she said, "if that is your resolution, I will recommend you to a Captain that I know;" accordingly she did, and I went on board of a Privateer as a cabin boy: and a Clerk's place was provided for my other Brother; so we began our course of Life in the like manner as it is described. My rank being a cabin boy as before mentioned, I was to clean the chamber, wash the dishes, and sweep the deck twice a day.

Called in Sea terms a Cabin.

Though we did not come from that place, we applyed the untruth as you see above, only that we might deceive them and pass for an English Ship; for our Ship was a great deal less then theirs: besides that we were much damaged, both by the Sea, and by Fighting.

They were come from Demerara themselves, and they knew that there was no Ship of war in that Harbour. We heard after that the name of the Ship was the Pelican, and carried eighteen Guns of nine Pounders, which were a great advantage over us, who carried but twelve Guns of four Pounders.

I went to see my Brothers as soon as I was landed; the eldest was removed to another place where he thought he could do better, and the other took example from me, for he was just going out of the Harbour when I entered in.

This is a real Mariners principle.

In famine he shall Redeem thee from Death. Job chap. 5. ver. 20.

I was again hardened, and broke the Oath that I had made to GOD, by going again upon the Sea. About the eighteenth day that we were on the Sea we saw a Ship, and chased her; in the mean time that we were chasing, arms were prepared for the battle: and the Captain of Volunteers called me to take care of the arms which were upon a large box; so I kneeled down and clip'd a great quantity of pistols and muskets to prevent them from falling, and all their mouths were fixed towards my breast. Not long before I was in that posture, the Doctor who was below called me; I instantly quitted my post and ran to his orders: no sooner had I left my position in which I was before, than a pistol went off unexpected, and wounded the Captain of Volunteers in the knee. I was so surprised at this, that I thought, that it was GOD's mercy to spare me; for in the posture that I was as before mentioned, I could not have escaped being killed upon the spot.

He shall deliver thee in six troubles; yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee. In famine He shall Redeem thee from Death; and in war from the power of the sword. Job chap. 5. ver. 19 & 20.

The Ship that we were chasing, when near proved to be a large man of war, and we being too small to attack her, were forced to run away, and happily escaped.

I return, to the Captain of Volunteers, whose wound made such a progress that he was obliged to have his leg, and a part of his thigh cut off; and I, being assistant to the Doctor, assisted to hold his leg while he was performing the operation: all that did not prolong his life many days, for his time was come; he departed eight days after the amputation.

My eldest Brother was in his place still, but a misfortune happened unto him while I was on shore; the Gentleman and the Lady where he was at; were at variance on his account, for his Master was jealous of him, and he was obliged to quit; having nothing to do, he determined to follow our example; and embarked in the same Ship where my other Brother was; they wanted me to go with them, saying, "if we perish, we shall perish in the arms of each other, and if we have good luck, we can work and live together in union:" but I could not be persuaded, I wanted to have my own way, for I knew that it was enough for me to bear my own misfortunes, without adding to those of my Brothers: so they both took leave of me, and went to seek their fortune.

During our stay there the Lieutenant of the Ship and two men went to take a walk on shore, and were taken up, and put in the inquisition, because they did not bow to the HOST: for as it was related to us by them, that when they were passing through the streets they saw a great procession of Clergymen, going with a large silver Cross, to give the Extreme-Unction to a sick person; they not knowing the rules of the Country, passed by, and took no notice: when they were examined, and found under French colours, the inquisitioner could do nothing at them, but release them.

She kept a linen drapery shop where he boarded and lodg'd.

I was very much affected at the Death of so near a relation, and went in the Country for a month to alleviate my sorrows: when I returned to Town, I went and asked her for my money, that I wanted it to begin some business: she said I will satisfy your request. And went to her desk, she brought me five and twenty Portugueses which she laid on the table, saying, "this is the remainder of your money, here is a bill of what I have paid for your Cousin." I took the bill and read it: there was so much for physic, and the Doctor's trouble, for board and lodging, for the funeral, and for goods of different sorts, &c. It was the most shameful bill I ever saw; I began to fly into a passion, saying "this bill does not concern me at all, besides, I am not compelled to pay the debts of my Cousin." She then began to grin, saying, "if you are so impudent and insolent you shall have nothing at all, because I am ignorant whether the money was yours." I was so irritated that I thought my anger would have choaked me, I did not know what to do, having neither attestation nor receipt; so I was forced with great reluctance to take the five and twenty Portugueses, and to leave the rest to her.

A Gold coin worth thirty-six shillings.

It was a forged one as I heard after, as the Doctor did not charge any thing for his trouble.

Being excessively harassed by fatigue and hunger, we endeavoured to see whether we could find some wild fruit to satisfy our inward wants, but all our efforts were in vain, for nothing was to be found through the darkness of the night; and as morning was coming on apace, we retired to an adjacent wood. In the pitiful and perishing situation in which we were, I could not help but lament my deplorable fate and condition; when on a sudden I felt for the first time, a glimpse of the love of GOD, and many ideas came into my mind such as this? rely on GOD, and He will help thee, and stand by thee. With all these thoughts I fell upon my knees, and began to pray in the midst of the wood, saying, as well as I could.

"Now, O! GOD that I am in distress I call upon thy power and goodness, because I know that there is no other that can alleviate my pain but thou. O! GOD, though I am in trouble, yet I feel that it is good for me to be so, for I have a comforter to fly to; but forgive me that I have liv'd so long without doing the duty which I ought to have done towards thee, for it was nothing else but the pleasures of this perverse World which banished me from thee, and my misery and trouble has drawn me near unto thee: do help me, and guide my steps that I may fall into no dangers, and bring me safe back to the land where I come from; and with thy help O! GOD, I vow to serve thee according to my knowledge all the days of my life here on Earth, and hope to praise thee above when time shall be no more." AMEN.

I did not quit my position till I thought I had full assurance that GOD would protect me under all my troubles and trials.

As night was drawing nigh, we began our nocturnal journey as usual. Two days and nights were gone without having tasted either food or rest; when passing through a Village, an old Woman who was sitting before the door of her house, called us: I did not know whether I should go or not, but I said to the comrade of my misfortunes, let us go and see what she wants. Coming near to her, she said, "I know my friends that you are deserters from prison? be not afraid I will do you no harm, knowing what it is myself, for my Son is a prisoner in a French Country, and I should not like that any one should ill use him if he was in the same case as you are now." She questioned us upon many subjects concerning the state of her Son, and at last she said, "I think you must be wanting of food, since you left prison?" I answered that for two days we had not had any: immediately she went into the house, and beckoned us to follow her. Being in the house she told us to sit down, while she dressed some meat, which she did with great dexterity: and presenting the same to us, I said, "O GOD! since thou hast been pleased to provide food for us this night, bless it we beseech thee with thine own power and will." AMEN.

After we had refreshed ourselves, I tied up carefully the remainder of our food, and said to him, if you desire to take a little rest, I will watch in the mean time: he did so, and when asleep, I went a few yards further and rested myself in prayers, for they were the best refreshment I ever could take; after my duty was performed, I was easy and full of an unknown joy which I could not describe.

As I had nothing do and no desire to go to Sea any more, I went again to my late master who was very glad to see me, and encouraged me by raising my wages, which made me apply the more to my business.

As I did not yet forget my Maker, I daily performed my duty towards him who had been so gracious unto me. My master soon perceived a great change in me, which he did not know what to attribute it to; at last he knew by some of the servants who watched me, that I was in the ways of Christianity: some times he used to plague me about it, for fun, but for all that he did not esteem me the less.

One day having some company at home, that were invited to spend two or three weeks with us; I retired as usual after supper to bed, and knelt down: at the time I was pouring out my soul unto GOD in prayers, a young lady inadvertently passed by, and seeing my chamber door half open, stepped in; and finding me in the posture as before mentioned, she bursted into a loud laugh and rushed out of the room, and in a few minutes I had the whole company round me making all sorts of jests, some laughing till they fell down on the floor, others holding their sides with laughing, and others jumping and stamping, &c. It was indeed such a noise as I never heard before, for it was both a tragedy, and comedy. In all that disturbance I was as firm as a rock, and did not move from the place in which I was, untill I had fulfilled my duty towards my SAVIOUR. I told them it was very unmannerly to disturb me thus, in my most precious time: for prayers were my best delight and comfort, and without them I could not rest nor be happy. The tale soon spread in the neighbourhood about me being a devout, so that I was persecuted daily by my own friends, but as I did not mind them, they were soon tired, and at last were obliged to let me be quiet, seeing they could not get master over me.

In England, if any profess Christianity, he is called a methodist, and in France or any other dominions appertaining to the same, a Devout.

Three weeks after that scandalous scene, I was taken very ill, of the putrid and malign fever; three days after the Doctor gave me up, for I was so ill that he thought I could not recover.

One day my master called me, and said, "the Negroes are in rebellion, and you must go to war and fight." He provided horse and arms for me, and sent me to join the cavalry that were encamped at a little distance from where we lived. Some days after I was at the camp, the Captain ordered me to go into the Town to carry some dispatches; I made some excuse, telling him to send some others; but he said, "you are appointed to go and you must for I dare not trust any other." I obeyed and went out of the camp, and rode to Town which was nine or ten miles distance from the place above mentioned; and not being able to return the same day, I waited till morning: but what was my great surprise at the moment I was putting my foot in the stirrup to return? an alarm was given that the whole camp were murdered in the night, except one who escaped having on nothing but his shirt. We being the only persons that were spared, we were put into another company, and marched on the same day against the rebels, and were successful in all our attempts. I was for three weeks night and day fighting, some times wet through with rain, and at other times suffocated with the heat: all that while, I never knew what it was to lay down or take rest; neither having an opportunity to put clean linen on: but at last we returned into the Town, where we took some refreshment and put clean linen on, for we had need of it. No sooner was I refreshed, but I was ordered to carry some letters of consequence to a camp nine miles off; but as the road was very dangerous, I asked one of my comrades to go with me, which he did with great pleasure; we arrived at the camp without the least injury or danger: but it was not with the same luck we went back, for as we were passing through a dark Wood, a shower of musket balls were fired at us, which unexpected noise and hissing, so much frighted our horses, that it was impossible for us to lead them; they rushed through brambles and briers, and at last plunged into a dead Lake, where we had like to have been drowned; but our horses being stout animals, they swam and gained the other side in a few minutes. We made the best of our way through woods and thickets to escape the fury of the balls which were continually flying about us, and after having wandered a great while through unpracticable places, we found again the road, and rode as fast as we could to the Town: since that affair I have been in many obstinate and bloody engagements.

Oh! reader consider and meditate? see how GOD was pleased to spare such a rebellious Creature as I; and how Divine Providence distinguished itself by calling me alone, though I, with obstinacy refused to comply to its orders: but who can resist the power of the LORD when he says, I will and they shall, &c. "Oh! bless the LORD O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name: for the LORD has done wondrous things. He has lifted me up, and has not made my foes to rejoice over me."

Some time afterwards, she shewed me my little Brother and Sister, by her second husband; and dispatched my Brother to go and fetch my Father-in-law who was then at the farm, a little distance from the Town. In the mean time she said to me; "your Father-in-law is an honest man? he is not like many others, but he is a true Father that I have met with for you;" she then asked me where my Brothers were; I told her they were taken prisoners by the English and conveyed to England: at the same time my Father-in-law came into the house, which interrupted our conversation. He seemed to be very joyful of my arrival, and treated me with the greatest kindness. This was the happiest moment I ever enjoyed, being in the bosom of my friends. But all this happiness did not last long, for the Negroes rose up again, and killed every white man that fell into their hands.

I was then compelled to stand in my own defence, as a foot soldier; every night, alarms were given, for the blacks were at the gates of the Town: but having received reinforcement, they were repulsed. Afterwards I was sent to garrison, fifteen miles off, where I stay'd four and twenty days; at my return my little Brother fell sick of the fever, and died in two days after; which put my Mother and Father-in-law in such distress of mind, that I thought they would have followed, especially my Father-in-law, for he was a man of very tender feelings: but by degrees and length of time, their griefs were dispersed.

May it please GOD to enrol them in the Royal Regiment of Saints, commanded by his most truly and Honorable Son, the LORD JESUS CHRIST.

When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee. Isaiah. chap. 43, ver. 2.

I was for several days in a such distressed state of mind, that I had not courage enough to go out; for I thought every body knew what was the matter with me; and to appease my wounded conscience, I thought that a reformation would have been sufficient to justify me in the sight of GOD: so that I began to build, as it is said upon a sandy foundation, by performing a few formal duties; thinking that by my good works, I should merit the favours of GOD so as to forgive me all my trespasses. The plan I had formed was this: having a Roman Catholic prayer book, I thought it was all-sufficient to calm my troubled breast, and to bring me to a perfect state of happiness. So every night and morning I used to kneel down, and taking the prayer book I read the morning and evening prayer; this performance I thought would please GOD, and get me from under the terrors of an accused conscience: but in all these vain duties I never looked to JESUS for forgiveness or remission of sins, neither to his precious and cleansing blood, nor could I perceive the depravity of my corrupted nature: but I depended wholly upon my best endeavours and good works. I continued but a little time in doing those erroneous duties, and felt insensibly at last that all my fears were vanished away; I was like the dog, returning to his vomit again: for I begun the same method as before, keeping all sorts of bad company, and breaking the sabbath with drinking, swearing and fighting &c. I was at the least five days drunk in the week, and always quarrelling.

One day in one of my mad fits, I resolved to delay no longer to put an end to my miserable existence; for that purpose I went into a garden near by: the same instrument that had been lifted up before, was again employed; I was in such great despair, that I was relentless towards my own life and happiness; so that I lifted up my sanguinary hand and struck my left breast twice.--I fell down senseless; some persons who were near, hearing the exclamation I made, which was, Oh! Mother, I shall never see thee again! came to see what was the matter; and to their great surprise, found me wallowing in my own blood. They carried me into my room for dead, and some person went to fetch the Doctor. As soon as the Doctor saw my wounds, which were through my lungs, he said, I can be of no use to him, for he has not ten minutes to live; but if he does, I may be of service to him: and went away. But he was soon fetched back again for I was not dead. When he came the second time, he gave me something to drink which recalled me to my senses: my inside being full of blood, he thought it would be proper to bleed me, it might ease me a little, for I could hardly breathe. After I was bled I fell into a swoon; the Doctor then said, if he lives till one o'Clock it will be a wonder. Some-body went to fetch a Catholic Minister, who lived in the same Town; when he saw me, he told me to recommend my soul to GOD, saying, that I had but a few minutes to live: and after this short exhortation he went out of the room, saying, it was too much for him to see.

I have sinned: what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself. Job, chap. 7. ver. 20.

I did not know for what purpose they went for him; but I supposed it was to administer unto me the Extreme-Unction; for as it is reported among the Roman Catholic that a man or woman dying without having received the Extreme-Unction, must either go to Hell, or in Purgatory.

I was restless all the night, for I could not sleep on account of the soreness of my wounds. When morning came I was so weak and so feverish, that the Doctor thought I could not live to see the sun set. Night came, and yet alive: but I was so tormented with ideas as before mentioned, that I durst not shut my eyes for fear I should awake in Hell. I was three nights without taking the least rest; for I was afraid to fall asleep, as I made it a sure thing in my mind, that if I fell asleep, I should awake no more. I felt myself in such a miserable condition, that I thought GOD would never forgive me. All the time I was in bed, I lay upon thorns as it were; for I was so filled with grief and sorrow, occasioned by my misbehaviour towards the everlasting being, that my life was quite miserable.

During the time of my affliction, I had such ideas and thoughts concerning my state, that I appeared to myself the vilest of men; but for all that I did not know from whence came these thoughts and ideas.

I was six or seven weeks before I could walk out; and was a great while before I could get any strength. I was five months in the most distressing state of mind, and continually tormented by some thing or other, which I could not discern. Some times I went out to meditate a little, but no sooner was I out, but was forced to return home again; because I could not rest any where. One day after many dreadful and frightful ideas, I felt some thing extraordinary in me; and then for the first time, I perceived that I was a sinner; and one beyond expression: I saw the horrible state in which I was plunged; I felt that I was upon the very brink of destruction: and felt also, that no one could alleviate my pains but GOD. For that purpose I went to church; when there, I could hear nothing that could do me any good. At night I went to the Methodist Chapel; there I did not find any comfort so as to set me free. When at home, I went to prayer; but could say nothing but the LORD's prayer, which I knew from my infancy.

Though I had had a taste and a view of the love of GOD, and a great desire to serve and worship him; yet I did not feel the corruption of my fallen nature, neither the great weight and burden of my inveterate sins and transgressions: I was far from thinking of the inestimable worth and want of a precious SAVIOUR. I had a zeal, but not according to knowledge; I was like that sect which the Apostle Paul speaks of in the tenth chapter of Romans and the third verse: for they, being ignorant of GOD's Righteousness, and going about to establish their own Righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the Righteousness of GOD.

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