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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Narrative.
NARRATIVE .
I WAS born at Bern , in Switzerland , and am by profession a Lapidary . I accompanied my father at a very early age into a country far distant from my native place '; the desire of attaining perfection in his profession , which was Surgery , and the hopes of thereby advancing his family , - determined him to go to France , where ' he had powerful patrons but therehoweverhis stay was but
; , , short . The rigorous edict of Louis XIV . which obliged all persons but those professing the Roman Catholic Religion , to quit the kingdom in a very short and prescribed time , obliged my father to become a refugee , though , in truth , not without concern and reluctance , as he was then in a situation of supporting himself in credit and respect : it was however necessary to determine on some place
of retreat , and he , as many others did , preferred England , and repaired with his whole family to London , where soon after his arrival he got naturalized and settled . As to myself , after a constant residence of two and twenty years in that capital , under the eyes of my parent , I went to Paris at the solicitation of one of my friends , to work in the gallery of the
Louvre . I remained there five years , and passed my time most agreeably : would to Heaven I had staid there all my life ! but my unhappy lot drove me elsewhere , in spite of myself . I formed the design of trying my fortune at the Brazils ; and as this country was under the dominion of the King of Portugal , whose permission was to be obtained 1 made a voyage to Lisbon for that
necessary , purpose ; but this monarch having received information of my skill and knowledge in precious stones , by the advice of his council , refused to grant my request , perhaps thinking me too skilful to be permitted to visit a country , where policy required the natives should be kept in complete ignorance of the treasures which , every where
surrounded them . While I was thus waiting the determination of government as to my departure , I formed an acquaintance with several merchants and jewellers , as well as with others in high credit and reputation , who offered me considerable advantages to induce me to remain at Lisbon ; but finding there was no prospect of my being able to succeed in the lan I had formed for settling at the BrazilsI accepted these
p , offers , and there fixed my quarters , where for a time Fortune showered her smiles upon me , with equal satisfaction and success to myself , both as to business and friends . But how fickle and inconstants this goddess ! at the moment she appeared profuse in her favours , and heaping her benefits upon me , she at once precipitated into abyss of miseryCan there be a more unfortunate
situme an . ation , than that of falling within the grip of the merciless Inquisition , since the least of its fatal consequences is total ruin . It is too well known this horrid tribunal exercises despotic power in Spain , hut in Portugal if excels in tyranny ; even kings are but
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Narrative.
NARRATIVE .
I WAS born at Bern , in Switzerland , and am by profession a Lapidary . I accompanied my father at a very early age into a country far distant from my native place '; the desire of attaining perfection in his profession , which was Surgery , and the hopes of thereby advancing his family , - determined him to go to France , where ' he had powerful patrons but therehoweverhis stay was but
; , , short . The rigorous edict of Louis XIV . which obliged all persons but those professing the Roman Catholic Religion , to quit the kingdom in a very short and prescribed time , obliged my father to become a refugee , though , in truth , not without concern and reluctance , as he was then in a situation of supporting himself in credit and respect : it was however necessary to determine on some place
of retreat , and he , as many others did , preferred England , and repaired with his whole family to London , where soon after his arrival he got naturalized and settled . As to myself , after a constant residence of two and twenty years in that capital , under the eyes of my parent , I went to Paris at the solicitation of one of my friends , to work in the gallery of the
Louvre . I remained there five years , and passed my time most agreeably : would to Heaven I had staid there all my life ! but my unhappy lot drove me elsewhere , in spite of myself . I formed the design of trying my fortune at the Brazils ; and as this country was under the dominion of the King of Portugal , whose permission was to be obtained 1 made a voyage to Lisbon for that
necessary , purpose ; but this monarch having received information of my skill and knowledge in precious stones , by the advice of his council , refused to grant my request , perhaps thinking me too skilful to be permitted to visit a country , where policy required the natives should be kept in complete ignorance of the treasures which , every where
surrounded them . While I was thus waiting the determination of government as to my departure , I formed an acquaintance with several merchants and jewellers , as well as with others in high credit and reputation , who offered me considerable advantages to induce me to remain at Lisbon ; but finding there was no prospect of my being able to succeed in the lan I had formed for settling at the BrazilsI accepted these
p , offers , and there fixed my quarters , where for a time Fortune showered her smiles upon me , with equal satisfaction and success to myself , both as to business and friends . But how fickle and inconstants this goddess ! at the moment she appeared profuse in her favours , and heaping her benefits upon me , she at once precipitated into abyss of miseryCan there be a more unfortunate
situme an . ation , than that of falling within the grip of the merciless Inquisition , since the least of its fatal consequences is total ruin . It is too well known this horrid tribunal exercises despotic power in Spain , hut in Portugal if excels in tyranny ; even kings are but