I soon perceived that I was got among bad people, who defrauded me of my money and watch; and that all my promis’d happiness was blasted, I had no friend but GOD and I pray’d to Him earnestly.  I could scarcely believe it possible that the place where so many eminent Christians had lived and preached could abound with so much wickedness and deceit.  I thought it worse than Sodom (considering the great advantages they have) I cryed like a child and that almost continually:  at length GOD heard my prayers and rais’d me a friend indeed.

This publican had a brother who lived on Portsmouth-common, his wife was a very serious good woman.—­When she heard of the treatment I had met with, she came and enquired into my real situation and was greatly troubled at the ill usage I had received, and took me home to her own house.—­I began now to rejoice, and my prayer was turned into praise.  She made use of all the arguments in her power to prevail on her who had wronged me, to return my watch and money, but it was to no purpose, as she had given me no receipt and I had nothing to show for it, I could not demand it.—­My good friend was excessively angry with her and obliged her to give me back four guineas, which she said she gave me out of charity:  Though in fact it was my own, and much more.  She would have employed some rougher means to oblige her to give up my money, but I would not suffer her, let it go says I “My GOD is in heaven.”  Still I did not mind my loss in the least; all that grieved me was, that I had been disappointed in finding some Christian friends, with whom I hoped to enjoy a little sweet and comfortable society.

I thought the best method that I could take now, was to go to London, and find out Mr. Whitefield, who was the only living soul I knew in England, and get him to direct me to some way or other to procure a living without being troublesome to any Person.—­I took leave of my Christian friend at Portsmouth, and went in the stage to London.—­A creditable tradesman in the City, who went up with me in the stage, offer’d to show me the way to Mr. Whitefield’s Tabernacle.  Knowing that I was a perfect stranger, I thought it very kind, and accepted his offer; but he obliged me to give him half-a-crown for going with me, and likewise insisted on my giving him five shillings more for conducting me to Dr. Gifford’s Meeting.

I began now to entertain a very different idea of the inhabitants of England than what I had figur’d to myself before I came amongst them.—­Mr. Whitefield receiv’d me very friendly, was heartily glad to see me, and directed me to a proper place to board and lodge in Petticoat-Lane, till he could think of some way to settle me in, and paid for my lodging, and all my expences.  The morning after I came to my new lodging, as I was at breakfast with the gentlewoman of the house, I heard the noise of some looms over our heads:  I enquir’d what it was; she told me a person was weaving silk.—­I