I therefore left Greenock at the Whitsunday term, and finding myself still in the same delicate state, I went to Dr. B——, who received me with great expressions of kindness. He inquired very particularly into every circumstance with regard to my health since I left India; which gave me an opportunity of relating the various modes of treatment which had been prescribed to me by different medical men to whom I had applied without finding any permanent benefit. After having satisfied all his inquiries as well as I could, he said that he was afraid that their mode of treatment was calculated rather to do harm than good, but that he would call at my lodgings in a day or two. He accordingly came most punctually; and, after having made all due inquiry for ascertaining the true nature of my complaint, he told me that my liver was in a very bad state, and that he would strongly recommend me to submit to a course of mercury, &c. With this proposal I readily complied; and, having undergone that course of treatment which his superior skill thought proper to administer, I derived unspeakable benefit from it. A short time after I was able to go abroad with safety, I went to his house, at his desire, and called upon him, to let him know how well I was coming on. I was also, no doubt, anxious by this time to know the amount of his bill, which, I thought must be considerable, when I took into the account his own personal attendance, for about nine weeks; but how was my astonishment excited, when he told me that, as I was an old fellow-traveller, and brother soldier, the amount of my bill was nothing; but that I was perfectly welcome to all that he had done for me; and, moreover, that he would be very happy to serve me, or my family, at any time when medical attendance was necessary.
I confess I am unable, my dear reader, to express, in words, a proper sense of this gentleman's kindness; I therefore think it the best way of manifesting my gratitude, by being silent, and desiring that the generous reader would place himself, as it were, in my situation, and try what he would think or feel upon such an occasion: but this I will say, that I have, since the time referred to, enjoyed a better state of health than ever I have had these nine years past, and I trust I will carry the grateful remembrance of Dr. B.'s beneficial benevolence to my last hour.
There is just one other circumstance that I will mention, as it is rather singular, and then come to a conclusion. After I settled in Edinburgh, there was a meeting of our family, consisting of eight children, all being present on this occasion but one, who was a mason in England. Now it is somewhat remarkable, that of these now present, four had been but a little time before scattered very widely all over the world. My oldest brother at that time belonged to the artillery, and was in America; I myself, who am next in the order of time, was in India; the third was in Spain with the 94th, having been engaged in all the actions to which that gallant regiment was called; the last and youngest of the four, was in Ireland, with the Renfrewshire militia; yet, by the kind providence of God, our aged parents saw us now all under one roof; all out of the army, each rewarded according to his various services, and all settled in a way of doing, in or near Edinburgh, each of us according to our ability at this time engaging to add to their future comfort, which you cannot doubt made them a happy couple, and you need not wonder at them adopting language similar to that of the ancient and venerable Patriarch, when his son Joseph was restored to his embraces in safety, after he had long lost all hope of his being in life: "Now Lord let us die in peace, since we have seen our children's faces, and because that they are yet alive."
My wife has still retained an excellent state of health, notwithstanding all her former hard marches, being blessed with one of the best constitutions I have ever known any woman possessed of; and the poor little invalid that cost her so much nursing, is also a very fine healthy child. The other child, who went to Kilmarnock, we have heard lately is also in perfect good health. My wife's daughter, who came to us in Greenock, is also quite well, and still forms a part of our little family. "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits." And when I consider all the way that the Lord our God has led us, for so many years in the wilderness, I am here disposed, with Jacob, to set up my monument of gratitude with this inscription—
"HITHERTO THE LORD HATH HELPED US."
FINIS.
Printed by Balfour & Clarke,
Edinburgh, 1823.