quired for me, came up, and with a condescension and politeness I had been quite unused to, made me many compliments, desired to be acquainted with me; blamed me kindly for not having made myself known to him, when I first came to the place, and would have me away with him to the tavern, where he was going with colonel French to taste, as he said, some excellent Madeira. I was not a little surprised, and Keimer stared with astonishment. I went however with the governor and colonel French to a tavern the corner of Third-street, and over the Madeira he proposed my setting up my business. He stated the probabilities of my success, and both he and colonel French assured me I should have their interest and influence to obtain for me the public business of both governments. And as I expressed doubts that my father would assist me in it, sir William said he would give me a letter to him, in which he would set forth the advantages, and he did not doubt he should determine him to comply. So it was concluded I should return to Boston by the first vessel, with the governor's letter to my father. In the mean time it was to be kept a secret, and I went on working with Keimer as usual. The governor sent for me now and then to dine with him, which I considered a great honour, more particularly as he conversed with me in the most affable, familiar, and friendly man

ner.

one of them asking what kind of money we had there, I produced an handful of silver, and spread it before them, which was a kind of raree-show they had not been used to, paper being the money of Boston. Then I took an opportunity of letting them see my watch; and lastly (my brother still grum and sullen) gave them a dollar to drink and took my leave. This visit of mine offended him extremely. For when my mother sometime after spoke to him of a reconciliation, and of her wish to see us on good terms together, and that we might live for the future as brothers; he said I had insulted him in such a manner before his people, that he could never forget or forgive it. In this, however, he was mistaken.

My father received the governor's letter with some surprise; but said little of it to me for some time. Captain Holmes returning, he shewed it to him, and asked him if he knew sir William Keith, and what kind of a man he was; adding, that he must be of small discretion, to think of setting a youth up in business who wanted three years to arrive at man's estate. Holmes said what he could in favour of the project, but my father was decidedly against it, and at last gave a flat denial. He wrote a civil letter to sir William, thanking him for the patronage he had so kindly offered me, and declining to assist me as yet in setting up, I being, in his opinion, too young to be trusted with the management of an undertaking so important, and for which the preparation required a considerable expenditure.

My old companion Collins, who was a clerk in the Post Office, pleased with the account I gave him of my new country, determined to go thither also; and while I waited for my father's determination, he set out before me by land to Rhode-Island, leaving his books, which were a pretty collection in mathematics and natural philosophy, to come with mine and me to New York, where he proposed to wait for me.

About the end of April, 1724, a little vessel offered for Boston. I took leave of Keimer, as going to see my friends. The governor gave me an ample letter, saying many flattering things of me to my father, and strongly recommending the project of my setting up at Philadelphia, as a thing that would make my fortune. We struck on a shoal in going down the bay, and sprung a leak; we had a blustering time at sea, and were obliged to pump almost continually, at which I took my turn. We arrived safe, however, at Boston, in about a fortnight. I My father, though he did not approve sir had been absent seven months, and my friends William's proposition, was yet pleased that I had heard nothing of me; for my brother had been able to obtain so advantageous a chaHolmes was not yet returned, and had not racter from a person of such note where I had written about me. My unexpected appear-resided; and that I had been so industrious ance surprised the family; all were, however, very glad to see me, and made me welcome, except my brother: I went to see him at his printing house. I was better dressed than ever while in his service, having a genteel new suit from head to foot, a watch, and my pockets lined with near five pounds sterling in silver. He received me not very frankly, looked me all over, and turned to his work again. The journeymen were inquisitive where I had been, what sort of a country it was, and how I liked it. I praised it much, and the happy life I led in it, expressing strongly my intention of returning to it; and

and careful as to equip myself so handsomely in so short a time; therefore, seeing no prospect of an accommodation between my brother and me, he gave his consent to my returning again to Philadelphia, advised me to behave respectfully to the people there, endeavour to obtain the general esteem, and avoid lampooning and libelling, to which he thought I had too much inclination; telling me, that by steady industry and prudent parsimony, I might save enough by the time I was one-andtwenty, to set me up; and that if I came near the matter he would help me out with the rest. This was all I could obtain except some small

gifts as tokens of his and my mother's love, was much respected for his learning by several when I embarked again for New York, now of the clergy and other gentlemen, and seemed with their approbation and their blessing. to promise making a good figure in life. But The sloop putting in at Newport, Rhode Is- during my absence he had acquired a habit of land, I visited my brother John, who had been drinking of brandy, and I found by his own acmarried and settled there some years. He re- count, as well as that of others, that he had ceived me very affectionately, for he always been drunk every day since his arrival at New loved me. A friend of his, one Vernon, hav- York, and behaved himself in a very extravaing some money due him in Pennsylvania, gant manner. He had gamed too, and lost his (about thirty-five pounds currency,) desired I money, so that I was obliged to discharge his would recover it for him, and keep it till I had lodgings, and defray his expenses on the road, his directions what to employ it in. Accord- and at Philadelphia; which proved a great ingly he gave me an order to receive it. This burden to me. The then govenor of New business afterwards occasioned me a good York, Burnet, (son of bishop Burnet,) hearing deal of uneasiness. from the captain, that one of the passengers had a great many books on board, desired him to bring me to see him. I waited on him, and should have taken Collins with me had he been sober. The governor received me with great civility, shewed me his library, which was a considerable one, and we had a good deal of conversation relative to books and authors. This was the second governor who had done me the honour to take notice of me; and for a poor boy like me, was very pleasing. We proceeded to Philadelphia, I received in the way Vernon's money, without which we could hardly have finished our journey. Collins wished to be employed in some counting house; but whether they discovered his dram drinking by his breath or by his behaviour, though he had some recommendations, he met with no success in any application, and continued lodging and boarding at the same house with me, and at my expense. Knowing that I had that money of Vernon's, he was continually borrowing of me, still promising repayment, as soon as he should be in business. At length he had got so much of it, that I was distressed to think what I should do, in case of being called on to remit it. His drinking continued, about which we sometimes quarrelled: for when a little intoxicated, he was very irritable. Once, in a boat on the Delaware with some other young men, he refused to row in his turn: " I will be rowed home," said he. "We will not row you," said I. "You must," said he, or stay all night on the water, just as you please." The others said, · Let us row, what signifies it?" But my mind being soured with his other conduct, I continued to refuse. So he swore he would make me row, or throw me overboard; and coming along stepping on the thwarts towards me, when he came up and struck at me, I clapt my hand under his thighs, and rising, pitched him head foremost into the river. I knew he was a good swimmer, and so was under little concern about him; but before he could get round to lay hold of the boat, we had with a few strokes pulled her out of his reach, and whenever he drew near the boat, we asked him if he would row, striking a few strokes to slide her away from him. He was ready to stifle with vexa

At Newport we took in a number of passengers, amongst which were two young women travelling together, and a sensible matron-like quaker lady, with her servants. I had shewn an obliging disposition to render her some little services, which probably impressed her with sentiments of good will towards me; for, when she witnessed the daily growing familiarity between the young women and myself, which they appeared to encourage, she took me aside, and said, "Young man, I am concerned for thee, as thou hast no friend with thee, and seem'st not to know much of the world, or of the snares youth is exposed to: depend upon it these are very bad women, I can see it by all their actions; and if thou art not upon thy guard, they will draw thee into some danger: they are strangers to thee, and I advise thee, in a friendly concern for thy welfare, to have no acquaintance with them." As I seemed at first not to think so ill of them as she did, she mentioned some things she had observed and heard that had escaped my notice, but now convinced me she was right. I thanked her for her kind advice, and promised to follow it. When we arrived at New York, they told me where they lived, and invited me to come and see them, but I avoided it, and it was well I did; for the next day the captain missed a silver spoon and some other things that had been taken out of his cabin, and knowing that these were a couple of strumpets, he got a warrant to search their lodgings, found the stolen goods, and had the thieves punished.So, though we had escaped a sunken rock, which we scraped upon in the passage, I thought this escape of rather more importance

to me.

At New York I found my friend Collins, who had arrived there some time before me. We had been intimate from children, and had read the same books together: but he had the advantage of more time for reading and studying, and a wonderful genius for mathematical learning, in which he far outstript me. While I lived in Boston, most of my hours of leisure for conversation were spent with him, and he continued a sober as well as industrious lad;

tion, and obstinately would not promise to row. | being becalmed off Block Island, our crew Finding him at last beginning to tire, we drew employed themselves in catching cod, and him into the boat, and brought him home drip- hauled up a great number. Till then I had ping wet. We hardly exchanged a civil word stuck to my resolution to eat nothing that had after this adventure. At length a West India had life; and on this occasion I considered, captain, who had a commission to procure a according to my master Tryon, the taking preceptor for the sons of a gentleman at Bar- every fish, as a kind of unprovoked murder, badoes, met with him, and proposed to carry since none of them had nor could do us any him thither to fill that situation. He accept- injury that might justify this massacre. All ed, and promised to remit me what he owed this seemed very reasonable. But I had been me out of the first money he should receive; formerly a great lover of fish, and when it came but I never heard of him after. The viola- out of the frying-pan it smelt admirably well. tion of my trust, respecting Vernon's money, I balanced some time between principle and was one of the first great errata of my life; inclination, till, recollecting that when fish and this shewed that my father was not much were opened I saw smaller fish taken out of out in his judgment, when he considered me their stomachs; then thought I, "If you eat one as too young to manage business. But sir another, I don't see why we may not eat you." William, on reading his letter, said he was So I dined upon cod very heartily, and have too prudent, that there was a great difference since continued to eat as other people; returnin persons; and discretion did not always ac-ing only now and then occasionally to a vegecompany years, nor was youth always without table diet. So convenient a thing it is to be a it. "But since he will not set you up, I will do reasonable creature, since it enables one to it myself. Give me an inventory of the things find or make a reason for every thing one has necessary to be had from England, and I will a mind to do. send for them. You shall repay me when Keimer and I lived on a pretty good familiar you are able; I am resolved to have a good footing, and agreed tolerably well; for he susprinter here, and I am sure you must suc-pected nothing of my setting up. He retainceed." This was spoken with such an appear- ed a great deal of his old enthusiasm, and ance of cordiality, that I had not the least loved argumentation. We therefore had many doubt of his meaning what he said. I had disputations. I used to work him so with my hitherto kept the proposition of my setting Socratic method, and had trepanned him so up a secret in Philadelphia, and I still kept often by questions apparently so distant from it. Had it been known that I depended on any point we had in hand, yet by degress leadthe governor, probably some friend that knew ing to the point, and bringing him into diffihim better, would have advised me not to re-culties and contradictions, that at last he grew ly on him; as I afterwards heard it as his known character, to be liberal of promises which he never meant to keep; yet, unsolicited as he was by me, how could I think his generous offers insincere? I believed him one

of the best men in the world.

ridiculously cautious, and would hardly answer me the most common questions, without asking first, "What do you intend to infer from that?" However, it gave him so high an opinion of my abilities in the confuting way, that he seriously proposed my being his colI presented him an inventory of a little league in a project he had of setting up a new printing house, amounting by my computation sect. He was to preach the doctrines, and I to about one hundred pounds sterling. He was to confound all opponents. When he liked it, but asked me if my being on the spot came to explain with me upon the doctrines, in England to choose the types, and see that I found several conundrums, which I objected every thing was good of the kind, might not to, unless I might have my way a little too, be of some advantage; "then," said he, and introduce some of mine. Keimer wore when there you may make acquaintance, and his beard at full length, because somewhere establish cerrespondences in the bookselling in the Mosaic law, it is said, "Thou shalt not and stationary way." I agreed, that this might mar the corners of thy beard." He likewise be advantageous. "Then,' said he, "get kept the seventh day Sabbath; and these two yourself ready to go with Annis;" which was points were essential with him. I disliked the annual ship, and the only one at that time both; but agreed to them on condition of his usually passing between London and Phila- adopting the doctrine of not using animal food. delphia. But as it would be some months be- I doubt, said he, my constitution will not bear fore Annis sailed, I continued working with it. I assured him it would, and that he would Keimer, fretting extremely about the money be the better for it. He was usually a great Collins had got from me, and in great appre-eater, and I wished to give myself some dihensions of being called upon for it by Vernon; version in half starving him. He consented this however did not happen for some years after.

66

I believe I have omitted mentioning, that in my first voyage from Boston to Philadelphia,

to try the practice if I would keep him company: I did so, and we held it for three months. Our provisions were purchased, cooked, and brought to us regularly by a wo

man in the neighbourhood, who had from me no stock, he might by his diligence and a list of forty dishes, which she prepared for punctuality recommend himself to employus at different times, in which there entered ment as a factor, and in time acquire whereneither fish, flesh nor fowl. This whim suited with to trade on his own account." I approvme the better at this time, from the cheapness ed, for my part, the amusing oneself with poetof it, not costing us above eighteen pence ry now and then, so far as to improve one's sterling each per week. I have since kept language, but no further. On this it was proseveral lents most strictly, leaving the com- posed that we should each of us at our next mon diet for that and that for the common, meeting produce a piece of our own composabruptly, without the least inconvenience. So ing, in order to improve by our mutual obserthat I think there is little in the advice of vations, critcisms, and corrections. As lanmaking those changes by easy gradations. Iguage and expression was what we had in view, went on pleasantly, but poor Keimer suffered grievously, grew tired of the project, longed for the flesh-pots of Egypt, and ordered a roast pig. He invited me and two women friends to dine with him, but it being brought too soon upon table, he could not resist the temptation, and ate the whole before we came.

continued scribbling verses till Pope cured with a birth in the steerage, and none on board

him. He became however a pretty good prose writer. More of him hereafter. But as I may not have occasion to mention the other two, I shall just remark here, that Watson died in my arms a few years after, much lamented, being the best of our set. Osborne went to the West Indies, where he became an eminent lawyer and made money, but died young. He and I had made a serious agreement that the one who happened first to die should, if possible, make a friendly visit to the other, and acquaint him how he found things in that separate state. But he never fulfilled his promise.

The governor seeming to like my company, had me frequently at his house, and his setting me up was always mentioned as a fixed thing. I was to take with me letters recommendatory to a number of his friends, besides the letter of credit to furnish me with the necessary money for purchasing the press, types, paper, &c. For these letters I was appointed to call at different times, when they were to be ready, but a future time was still named. Thus we went on till the ship (whose departure too had been several times postponed) was on the point of sailing. Then when I called to take my leave and receive the letters, his secretary, Dr. Baird, came out to me and said the governor was extremely busy in writing, but would be down at Newcastle before the ship, and then the letters would be delivered to me.

Ralph, though married, and having one child, had determined to accompany me in this voyage. It was thought he intended to establish a correspondence and obtain goods to sell on commission; but I found after, that having some cause of discontent with his wife's relations, he proposed to leave her on their hands and never return to America. Having taken leave of my friends, and exchanged promises with Miss Read, I quitted Philadelphia, in the ship, which anchored at Newcastle. The governor was there, but when I went to his lodging, his secretary came to me from him with expressions of the greatest regret that he could not then see me, being engaged in business of importance; but that he would send the letters to me on board, wishing me heartily a good voyage and a speedy return, &c. I returned on board a little puzzled, but still not doubting.

knowing us, were considered as ordinary persons. But Mr. Hamilton and his son (it was James, since governor) returned from Newcastle to hiladelphia, the father being recalled by a great fee to plead for a seized ship. And just before we sailed, colonel French coming on board, and shewing me great respect, I was more taken notice of; and with my friend Ralph invited by the other gentlemen to come into the cabin, there being now room; accordingly we removed thither.

Understanding that colonel French had brought on board the governor's dispatches, I asked the captain for those letters that were to be under my care; he said all were put into the bag together, and he could not then come at them, but before we landed in England I should have an opportunity of picking them out; so I was satisfied for the present, and we proceeded on our voyage. We had a sociable company in the cabin, and lived uncommonly well, having the addition of all Mr. Hamilton's stores, who had laid in plentifully. In this passage Mr. Denham contracted a friendship for me, that continued during his life. The voyage was otherwise not a pleasant one, as we had a great deal of bad weather.

When we came into the Channel, the captain kept his word with me, and gave me an opportunity of examining the bag for the governor's letters; I found some upon which my name was put, as under my care: I picked out six or seven, that by the hand-writing I thought might be the promised letters, especially as one of them was addressed to Basket, the king's printer, and another to some stationer. We arrived in London the 24th December, 1724. I waited upon the stationer, who came first in my way, delivering the letter as from governor Keith. I don't know such a person, said he : but opening the letter, O! this is from Riddlesden. I have lately found him to be a complete rascal, and I will have nothing to do with him, nor receive any letters from him. So putting the letter into my hand, he turned on his heel and left me to serve some customer. I was surprised to find these were not the governor's letters; and, after recollecting and comparing circumstances, I began to doubt his sincerity. I found my friend Denham, and opened the whole affair to him. He let me into Keith's Mr. Andrew Hamilton, a celebrated lawyer character, told me there was not the least of Philadelphia, had taken his passage in the probability that he had written any letters for same ship for himself and son, with Mr. Den-me; that no one who knew him, had the ham, a Quaker merchant, and Messrs. Oniam and Russel, (masters of an Iron Work in Maryland,) who had engaged the great cabin; so that Ralph and I were forced to take up

"Silence, ye Wolves, while Ralph to Cynthia howls, And makes night hidious:-answer him ye Owls!" POPE'S DUNCIAD, b. iii. v. 165.

smallest dependence on him; and he laughed at the idea of the governor's giving me a letter of credit, having, as he said, no credit to give. On my expressing some concern about what I should do, he advised me to endeavour getting some employment in the way of my business. Among the printers here, said he,