Page:Life and unparalleled voyages and adventures of Ambrose Gwinnett (1).pdf/14

 myself, and were then on their return home. I had, therefore, now an opportunity of taking notice of the man whose face I thought I knew, and I was more and more convinced that I was not mistaken; in a word, I verily thought this man was the person for whose supposed murder I had suffered so much in England, and the thought was so strong in my head, that I could not sleep a wink all night.

On the morning after their arrival, I told them that if any of them wished to walk about and see the town, I could procure them permission, and go along with them. This man said he would go, and this was what I wished. Three other prisoners, who went out along with us, walked a little in advance. I now took the opportunity, and looking in his face, "Sir," said I, "were you ever at Deal?" I believe he, at that instant, had some recollection of me, for, putting his hand upon my shoulder, tears burst into his eyes. "If you have," said I, "and you be the man I take you for, you here see before you one of the most unfortunate of human kind. Sir, is your name Collins?" He answered it was. "Richard Collins?" said I. He replied, yes. "Then," said I, "I was hanged and gibbeted on your account in England."

After our mutual surprise was over, he made me give him a circumstantial detail of everything that happened to me in England from the moment we parted. I never saw any man express such concern as he did while I was pursuing my melancholy adventures; but when I came to the circumstance of my being hanged, and afterwards hung in chains, I could hardly prevail on him to believe my relation till backed by the most serious asseverations, pronounced in the most solemn manner. When I had done, "Well," said he, "young man, (for I was then but in my five-and-twentieth year; Mr Collins might be about three-and-forty,) if you have sustained any misfortunes upon my account, do not imagine, though