Tuggeridge vowed that I should finish my days there, when he put me in
prison. It appears that we both had reason to be ashamed of ourselves,
and were, thank God! I learned to be sorry for my bad feelings towards
him, and he actually wrote to me, to say,—
"Sir,—I think you have suffered enough for faults which, I believe, do
not lie with you, so much as your wife; and I have withdrawn my claims
which I had against you while you were in wrongful possession of my
father's estates. You must remember that when, on examination of my
father's papers, no will was found, I yielded up his property, with
perfect willingness, to those who I fancied were his legitimate heirs.
For this I received all sorts of insults from your wife and yourself
(who acquiesced in them); and when the discovery of a will in India
proved _my_ just claims you must remember how they were met, and the
vexatious proceedings with which you sought to oppose them.
"I have discharged your lawyer's bill; and, as I believe you are more
fitted for the trade you formerly exercised than for any other, I will
give five hundred pounds for the purchase of a stock and shop when you
shall find one to suit you.
"I enclose a draft for twenty pounds, to meet your present expenses. You
have, I am told, a son, a boy of some spirit; if he likes to try his
fortune abroad, and go on board an Indiaman, I can get him an
appointment; and am, Sir, your obedient servant,