Page:Reminiscences of Alexander Berry.djvu/3

 To me he always behaved like a brother. In those days the surgeons and officers of the Indiamen were all traders, and were allowed by the company a certain tonnage. Generally speaking, they all became mercantile men. Fortunately for me, I, on this occasion, only availed myself of my credit to a limited extent and merely purchased dollars to take to China. On our arrival in that country the market was found to be very bad, and all those who took out large investments suffered severe losses.

On my return from China I was appointed surgeon of the company's ship "Lord Hawkesbury"; and, on this occasion, I availed myself of my opportunities, and took a considerable investment to India, which I sold to good advantage. The "Lord Hawkesbury" carried out a large detachment of the 17th Regiment; —I think, including women and children, 300 individuals, besides the ship's crew.

At that time I was an enthusiast in my profession as a medical man, although I clearly saw that my success in life must depend on commerce. I had heard of some ships having made a voyage to India and back without any deaths, and I therefore determined, if possible, that the same should be the case with the "Lord Hawkesbury."