He was not without some employment, and earned sufficient for their mutual maintenance by working as a rigger on board of the ships fitting for sea; and he adhered to this means of livelihood until something better should present itself.  Had Newton been alone in the world, or his father able to support himself, he would have immediately applied to Captain Carrington to receive him in some capacity on board of his frigate, or have entered on board of some other man-of-war.  Newton’s heart was too generous, and his mind too truly English, not to bound when he read or heard of the gallant encounters between the vessels of the rival nations, and he longed to be one of the many thousands so diligently employed in twining the wreath of laurel round their country’s brow.

Nearly one year of constant fatigue, constant expectation, and constant disappointment was thus passed away; affairs grew daily worse, employment scarce, money scarcer.  Newton, who had been put off from receiving his wages until the ensuing day, which, as they had no credit, was in fact putting off their dinner also to the morrow, went home, and dropped on a chair in a despondent mood, at the table where Nicholas was already seated.

“Well, Newton, what’s for dinner?” said Nicholas, drawing his chair close to the table in preparation.

“I have not been paid the money due to me,” replied Newton; “and, father, I’m afraid there’s nothing.”

Nicholas backed his chair from the table again, with an air of resignation, as Newton continued: 

“Indeed, father, I think we must try our fortune elsewhere.  What’s the use of staying where we cannot get employment?  Everything is now gone, except our wearing apparel.  We might raise some money upon mine, it is true; but had we not better, before we spend it, try if fortune will be more favourable to us in some other place?”

“Why, yes, Newton, I’ve been thinking that if we were to go to London, my improvement on the duplex—­”

“Is that our only chance there, sir?” replied Newton, half smiling.

“Why no; now I think of it, I’ve a brother there, John Forster, or Jack, as we used to call him.  It’s near thirty years since I heard of him; but somebody told me, when you were in the West Indies, that he had become a great lawyer, and was making a large fortune.  I quite forgot the circumstance till just now.”

Newton had before heard his father mention that he had two brothers, but whether dead or alive he could not tell.  The present intelligence appeared to hold out some prospect of relief, for Newton could not for a moment doubt that if his uncle was in such flourishing circumstances, he would not refuse assistance to his brother.  He therefore resolved not to wait until their means were totally exhausted:  the next day he disposed of all his clothes except one suit, and found himself richer than he had imagined.  Having paid his landlord the trifle due for rent, without any other incumbrance than the packet of articles picked up in the trunk at sea, three pounds sterling in his pocket, and the ring of Madame de Fontanges on his little finger, Newton, with his father, set off on foot for the metropolis.