I did not bring my wife with me:  I came first alone and it was my design, if things answered according to our wishes, to send for her—­I was now thinking to desire her to come to me when I receiv’d a letter to inform me she was just brought to bed and in want of many necessaries.—­This news was a great trial to me and a fresh affliction:  but my God, faithful and abundant in mercy, forsook me not in this trouble.—­As I could not read English, I was obliged to apply to some one to read the letter I received, relative to my wife.  I was directed by the good Providence of God to a worthy young gentleman, a Quaker, and friend of my Master.—­I desired he would take the trouble to read my letter for me, which he readily comply’d with and was greatly moved and affected at the contents; insomuch that he said he would undertake to make a gathering for me, which he did and was the first to contribute to it himself.  The money was sent that evening to London by a person who happen’d to be going there:  nor was this All the goodness that I experienced from these kind friends, for, as soon as my wife came about and was fit to travel, they sent for her to me, and were at the whole expence of her coming; so evidently has the love and mercy of God appeared through every trouble that ever I experienced.  We went on very comfortably all the summer.—­We lived in a little cottage near Mr. Handbarrar’s House; but when the winter came on I was discharged, as he had no further occasion for me.  And now the prospect began to darken upon us again.  We thought it most adviseable to move our habitation a little nearer to the Town, as the house we lived in was very cold, and wet, and ready to tumble down.

The boundless goodness of GOD to me has been so very great, that with the most humble gratitude I desire to prostrate myself before Him; for I have been wonderfully supported in every affliction.  My GOD never left me.  I perceived light still through the thickest darkness.

My dear wife and I were now both unemployed, we could get nothing to do.  The winter prov’d remarkably severe, and we were reduc’d to the greatest distress imaginable.—­I was always very shy of asking for any thing; I could never beg; neither did I chuse to make known our wants to any person, for fear of offending as we were entire strangers; but our last bit of bread was gone, and I was obliged to think of something to do for our support.—­I did not mind for myself at all; but to see my dear wife and children in want pierc’d me to the heart.—­I now blam’d myself for bringing her from London, as doubtless had we continued there we might have found friends to keep us from starving.  The snow was at this season remarkably deep; so that we could see no prospect of being relieved.  In this melancholy situation, not knowing what step to pursue, I resolved to make my case known to a Gentleman’s Gardiner that lived near us, and entreat him to employ me:  but when I came to him, my courage failed