Letters--and remittances--came from him from the most surprising quarters of the globe.

His profession was that of speculator at large, and, with small encouragement of any kind, he toiled unceasingly to support his wife and daughters in their elegant leisure.

At one time he was eagerly engaged in a project for making starch from potatoes in the south of Ireland.

When this failed, he utilized a knowledge of Spanish--casually picked up, like all his acquirements--and was next heard of at Veer Cruz, where he dealt in cochineal, indigo, sarsaparilla, and logwood.

Yellow fever interfered with his activity, and after a brief sojourn with his family in the United States, where they had joined him with the idea of making a definite settlement, he heard of something promising in Egypt, and thither repaired.