IN PRISON. 171

All his energy of mind revived at the sight of dis-
tress and danger, and those who were ready to
perish experienced the consolation of such assist-
ance as he had it in his power to bestow. He sup-
pled their necessities and healed their wounds.
But his soul sickened at the sight of public mise-
ries on every side which he was unable to alleviate,
and at the end of some months he returned to
Paris, and procured a commission to visit North
America, in order to purchase corn from the United
States, and to fulfil some other commissions relative
to science and commerce.

A tempest obliged him to take shelter at Guada-
lope, which ill-fated island was then in as distracted
a state as the mother country. Dombey, having
been sent out by the French Republic, was an
object of suspicion to the Royalist governor, and
being summoned to appear before him, judged it
prudent to retire on board a vessel bound for Phila-
delphia.

Before however he could embark, he was seized
and thrown into prison. A proceeding so violent
and unjustifiable excited general indignation, and
the authorities thought proper to release him, but
not before a public commotion had been excited
on his behalf; and while trying to appease the
tumultuous mob which threatened vengeance on
his enemies, he was accidentally thrown into a