'A voyage from England to India, in the year 1754, and an historical narrative of the operations of the squadron and army in India, under the command of Vice-Admiral Watson and Colonel Clive, in the years 1755, 1756, 1757 ... Also a journey from Persia to England by an unusual route. With an appendix, containing an account of the diseases prevalent in Admiral Watson's squadron, etc.' [‎134] (171/562)

[ 134 ]
Billy may remain in a ft ate of uncertainty?" I replied, that " If he lived
> to the 15th day from the operation, there would be the ftrongeft hopes
of his recovery." On the 13th however he died; and on the 16th the
brave man looking me ftedfaftly in the face, faid, " Well, Ives, how fares
" it with my hoy ?" I could make him no reply ; and he immediately
^attributed my filence to the real caufe. He cried bitterly, fqueezed me
by the hand, and begged me to leave him for one half hour, when he
wifhed to fee me again ; and aflured me, that I fhould find him with a
different countenance, from that he troubled me with at prefent.—Thefe
were his obliging expreflions.—I pundually complied with his defire; and
when I returned to him, he appeared, as he ever after did, perfedly calm
and ferene.
The dear youth had been delirious the evening preceding the day on
which he died-, and at two o'clock in the .morning, in the utmoft diftrefs of
mind, he lent me an incorred note, written by himfelf with a pencil, of
which the following is an exad copy. " If Mr. Ives will confider the diforder
" a fon muft be in, when he is told he is dying, and is yet in doubt whether his
" father is net in as good a ft ate of health. If Mr. Ives is not too hufte to honour
this chitt *, which nothing hut the great eft uneafinefs could draw from me.
The boy waits an anfwer" Immediately on the receipt of this note, I
vifited him, and he had ftill fenfe enough left to know who I was. He then
began with me.—" And is he dead? —Who my dear? My father. Sir" No,
my love; nor is he in any danger, I aflure you ; he is almoft well. " Thank
" God!—then why did they tell me fo? I am now fatisfied, and ready to die."
At that time he had a locked jaw, and was in great diftrefs, but I under-
llood every word he fb inarticulately uttered: he begged my pardon, for
having (as he obligingly and tenderly expreffed himfelt) difturbed me at fo
early an hour, and before the day was ended, furrendered up a valuable
life.
The following exquifite fimile fo finely illuftrates the beauty and un
timely death of this incomparable young man, that I am perfuaded every
good-natured reader will excufe my inferting it.
As a gay flower, with blooming beauties crown'd,
Cut by the fhare, lies languid on the ground:
Or fome tall poppy, that o'ercharg'd with rain
Bends the taint head, and finks upon the plain;
" So fair, fo languifhingly fweet he lies.
His head declin'd, and drooping as he dies -f"
* A Note in India is called a Chitt.
■f Purpureus veluti cum flos fuccifus aratro
Languefcit moriens; laflbve papavera collo
Demifere caput, pluvia cum forte gravantur.
V irg. den. y.
Captain