Newton having appeased his hunger, went upstairs, and found all his wearing apparel had been forwarded by Mr Hilton, who supposed him dead, and that he was enabled to make a more respectable appearance than what the privateer’s people had hitherto permitted him.  In a few days he felt quite recovered from his fatigue, and sallied forth in search of employment.  On the day after his arrival at Liverpool he had written to the asylum, to inquire the fate of his mother.  The answer which he received was, that Mrs Forster had recovered, and remained many months in the establishment as nurse; but that ten days back she had quitted the asylum, and that her address was not known.

Newton, who had no means of prosecuting further inquiry, was obliged to be satisfied with the intelligence that his mother was alive and well.  He communicated the information to Nicholas, who observed: 

“Poor thing! she’s looking for us, depend upon it, Newton, and will be here very soon:”  and this expectation was revived whenever Nicholas thought of his wife; and he continued satisfied.

We must allow many months to pass away in one paragraph—­months of ineffectual struggle against poverty and want of employment, which Newton made every exertion to obtain as mate of a merchant vessel.  The way in which he had been impressed had caused a dread of the king’s service, which he could not overcome; and although he had but to choose his ship as a sailor before the mast, he could not prevail upon himself to accept a berth which was not protected from the impress.  Without recommendation he could not obtain the situation of mate, and he continued to work as a rigger in the docks, until his hand was unfortunately severely jammed by the heel of a topmast, and he was laid up for many weeks.  Each day their fare became scantier, and they were reduced to their last shilling, when Newton was again able to go out and seek employment.

It was a rough day, blowing hard from the S.E., when Newton, who had tried his fortune on board of every vessel (crowded as they were in the docks) without success, walked in a melancholy and disappointed mood along the splendid pier which lines the river-side.  Few people were out, for the gusts of wind were accompanied by smart driving showers of rain.  Here and there was to be seen a boat pulling up inshore to fetch the shipping in the stream, who with a heavy strain on their cables were riding to the S.E. gale, and a strong ebb-tide.  Newton had made up his mind to enter on board of one of these vessels about to sail, provided they would advance him a part of his wages for his father’s support; when, as a heavy squall cleared away, he perceived that a boat had broken adrift from the outermost vessel (a large brig), with only one man in it, who was carried away by the rapid current, assisted by the gale blowing down the river, so as to place him in considerable risk.  The man in the boat tossed out his oar, and pulling first on one side, and then on the other, tried to make for the shore; but in vain.  He was swept away with a rapidity which threatened in less than an hour to carry him out to sea, unless assistance were afforded him.