At this time a very worthy Gentleman, a Wine Merchant, his name Dunscum, took me under his protection, and would have recovered my money for me if I had chose it; but I told him to let it alone; that I wou’d rather be quiet.—­I believed that it would not prosper with him, and so it happen’d, for by a series of losses and misfortunes he became poor, and was soon after drowned, as he was on a party of pleasure.—­The vessel was driven out to sea, and struck against a rock by which means every soul perished.

I was very much distress’d when I heard it, and felt greatly for his family who were reduc’d to very low circumstances.—­I never knew how to set a proper value on money.  If I had but a little meat and drink to supply the present necessaries of life, I never wish’d for more; and when I had any I always gave it if ever I saw an object in distress.  If it was not for my dear Wife and Children I should pay as little regard to money now as I did at that time.—­I continu’d some time with Mr. Dunscum as his servant; he was very kind to me.—­But I had a vast inclination to visit England, and wish’d continually that it would please Providence to make a clear way for me to see this Island.  I entertain’d a notion that if I could get to England I should never more experience either cruelty or ingratitude, so that I was very desirous to get among Christians.  I knew Mr. Whitefield very well.—­I had heard him preach often at New-York.  In this disposition I listed in the twenty-eighth Regiment of Foot, who were design’d for Martinico in the late war.—­We went in Admiral Pocock’s fleet from New-York to Barbadoes; from thence to Martinico.—­When that was taken we proceeded to the Havannah, and took that place likewise.—­There I got discharged.

I was then worth about thirty pounds, but I never regarded money in the least, nor would I tarry to receive my prize-money least I should lose my chance of going to England.—­I went with the Spanish prisoners to Spain; and came to Old-England with the English prisoners.—­I cannot describe my joy when we were within sight of Portsmouth.  But I was astonished when we landed to hear the inhabitants of that place curse and swear, and otherwise profane.  I expected to find nothing but goodness, gentleness and meekness in this Christian Land, I then suffer’d great perplexities of mind.

I enquir’d if any serious Christian people resided there, the woman I made this enquiry of, answer’d me in the affirmative; and added that she was one of them.—­I was heartily glad to hear her say so.  I thought I could give her my whole heart:  she kept a Public-House.  I deposited with her all the money that I had not an immediate occasion for; as I thought it would be safer with her.—­It was 25 guineas but 6 of them I desired her to lay out to the best advantage, to buy me some shirts, hat and some other necessaries.  I made her a present of a very handsome large looking glass that I brought with me from Martinico, in order to recompence her for the trouble I had given her.  I must do this woman the justice to acknowledge that she did lay out some little for my use, but the 19 guineas and part of the 6, with my watch, she would not return, but denied that I ever gave it her.