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it his duty as an honest man to draw from the stores and granaries of
foreign countries； by which he was sure he would serve his country； and
be abundantly rewarded。 In short； we all reckoned him another Joseph
when he opened his garnels at the cotton…mill； and； after distributing a
liberal portion to the poor and needy； selling the remainder at an easy rate
to the generality of the people。 Some of the neighbouring parishes；
however； were angry that he would not serve them likewise； and called
him a wicked and extortionate forestaller； but he made it plain to the
meanest capacity； that if he did not circumscribe his dispensation to our
own bounds it would be as nothing。 So that； although he brought a
wonderful prosperity in by the cotton…mill； and a plenteous supply of corn
in a time of famine； doing more in these things for the people than all the
other heritors had done from the beginning of time； he was much reviled；
even his bounty was little esteemed by my people； because he took a
moderate profit on what he sold to them。 Perhaps； however； these
prejudices might be partly owing to their dislike of his hasty temper； at
least I am willing to think so； for it would grieve me if they were really
ungrateful for a benefit that made the pressure of the time lie but lightly on
them。
The alarm of the Irish rebellion in this year was likewise another
source of affliction to us； for many of the gentry coming over in great
straits； especially ladies and their children； and some of them in the hurry
of their flight having but little ready money； were very ill off。 Some four
or five families came to the Cross… Keys in this situation； and the conduct
of Mr Cayenne to them was most exemplary。 He remembered his own
haste with his family from Virginia； when the Americans rebelled； and
immediately on hearing of these Irish refugees； he waited on them with his
wife and daughter； supplied them with money； invited them to his house；
made ploys to keep up their spirits； while the other gentry stood back till
they knew something of the strangers。
Among these destitute ladies was a Mrs Desmond and her two
daughters； a woman of most august presence； being indeed more like one
ordained to reign over a kingdom； than for household purposes。 The Miss
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Desmonds were only entering their teens； but they also had no ordinary
stamp upon them。 What made this party the more particular； was on
account of Mr Desmond； who was supposed to be a united man with the
rebels； and it was known his son was deep in their plots； yet although this
was all told to Mr Cayenne； by some of the other Irish ladies who were of
the loyal connexion； it made no difference with him； but； on the contrary；
he acted as if he thought the Desmonds the most of all the refugees
entitled to his hospitable civilities。 This was a wonderment to our strait…
laced narrow lairds； as there was not a man of such strict government
principles in the whole country side as Mr Cayenne： but he said he
carried his political principles only to the camp and the council。 〃To the
hospital and the prison；〃 said he； 〃I take those of a man〃 which was
almost a Christian doctrine； and from that declaration Mr Cayenne and me
began again to draw a little more cordially together； although he had still a
very imperfect sense of religion； which I attributed to his being born in
America； where even as yet； I am told； they have but a scanty sprinkling of
grace。
But before concluding this year； I should tell the upshot of the
visitation of the Irish； although it did not take place until some time after
the peace with France。
In the putting down of the rebels Mr Desmond and his son made their
escape to Paris； where they stayed till the treaty was signed； by which； for
several years after the return to Ireland of the grand lady and her daughters；
as Mrs Desmond was called by our commonalty； we heard nothing of
them。 The other refugees repaid Mr Cayenne his money with
thankfulness； and； on their restoration to their homes； could not
sufficiently express their sense of his kindness。 But the silence and
seeming ingratitude of the Desmonds vexed him； and he could not abide to
hear the Irish rebellion mentioned without flying into a passion against the
rebels； which every body knew was owing to the ill return he had received
from that family。 However； one afternoon； just about half an hour before
his wonted dinner hour； a grand equipage； with four horses and outriders；
stopped at his door； and who was in it but Mrs Desmond and an elderly
man； and a young gentleman with an aspect like a lord。 It was her
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husband and son。 They had come from Ireland in all their state on purpose
to repay with interest the money Mr Cayenne had counted so long lost；
and to express in person the perpetual obligation which he had conferred
upon the Desmond family； in all time coming。 The lady then told him；
that she had been so straitened in helping the poor ladies； that it was not in
her power to make repayment till Desmond； as she called her husband；
came home； and not choosing to assign the true reason； lest it might cause
trouble； she rather submitted to be suspected of ingratitude than to an
improper thing。
Mr Cayenne was transported with this unexpected return； and a
friendship grew up between the families； which was afterwards cemented
into relationship by the marriage of the young Desmond with Miss
Caroline Cayenne。 Some in the parish objected to this match； Mrs
Desmond being a papist： but as Miss Caroline had received an
episcopalian education； I thought it of no consequence； and married them
after their family chaplain from Ireland； as a young couple both by beauty
and fortune well matched； and deserving of all conjugal felicity。
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CHAPTER XL YEAR 1799
There are but two things to make me remember this year； the first was
the marriage of my daughter Janet with the reverend Dr。 Kittlewood of
Swappington； a match in every way commendable； and on the advice of
the third Mrs Balwhidder； I settled a thousand pounds down； and promised
five hundred more at my death if I died before my spouse； and a thousand
at her death if she survived me； which was the greatest portion ever
minister's daughter had in our country side。 In this year likewise I
advanced fifteen hundred pounds for my son in a concern in Glasgow；all
was the gathering of that indefatigable engine of industry the second Mrs
Balwhidder； whose talents her successor said were a wonder； when she
considered the circumstances in which I had been left at her death； and
made out of a narrow stipend。
The other memorable was the death of Mrs Malcolm。 If ever there
was a saint on this earth； she was surely one。 She had been for some time
bedfast； having all her days from the date of her widowhood been a tender
woman； but no change made any alteration on the Christian contentment
of her mind。 She bore adversity with an honest pride； she toiled in the
day of penury and affliction with thankfulness for her earnings； although
ever so little。 She bent her head to the Lord in resignation when her first…
born fell in battle； nor was she puffed up with vanity when her daughters
were married； as it was said； so far above their degree； though they
showed it was but into their proper sphere by their demeanour a