CHAP. IX - RETURN TO ENGLAND—DEATH

Summary

The passage for England had been engaged on board the Sir William Pulteney, and on the 15th September, 1806, Calcutta was left for good. In descending the Hoogly, to join the Sir William, which lay a few miles below, and on the point of sailing, he had the mortification to find himself too late—the vessel was gone, all owing to want of attention on the part of the boatmen, who should have started some hours sooner. Among a variety of doubtful reports, it was considered probable to overtake the Sir William, or some other vessel, but the attempt was hazardous should the winds arise, which was not at all unlikely. However, with much anxiety, the boatmen went to work, and rowing hard for two successive days and nights, the Doctor was safety placed in his own cabin, and through the most troublesome part of a voyage homeward-bound. Some agreeable time was spent at Madras and the Cape of Good Hope, beyond which little transpired to vary the monotony of the voyage, which terminated at Blackwall, on the 15th April, 1807.

Home to him who has been long and far away is generally attractive, as it proved to Dr. Dinwiddie, who arrived at a period when the pursuit of knowledge seemed to merit the attention its importance demanded. Institutions for the progress of science, or the improvement of arts and manufactures, were rapidly rising into existence all over the country.