However, all my alarms began to subside when we got sight of land; and at last the ship arrived at Falmouth, after a passage of thirteen weeks.  Every heart on board seemed gladdened on our reaching the shore, and none more than mine.  The captain immediately went on shore, and sent on board some fresh provisions, which we wanted very much:  we made good use of them, and our famine was soon turned into feasting, almost without ending.  It was about the beginning of the spring 1757 when I arrived in England, and I was near twelve years of age at that time.  I was very much struck with the buildings and the pavement of the streets in Falmouth; and, indeed, any object I saw filled me with new surprise.  One morning, when I got upon deck, I saw it covered all over with the snow that fell over-night:  as I had never seen any thing of the kind before, I thought it was salt; so I immediately ran down to the mate and desired him, as well as I could, to come and see how somebody in the night had thrown salt all over the deck.  He, knowing what it was, desired me to bring some of it down to him:  accordingly I took up a handful of it, which I found very cold indeed; and when I brought it to him he desired me to taste it.  I did so, and I was surprised beyond measure.  I then asked him what it was; he told me it was snow:  but I could not in anywise understand him.  He asked me if we had no such thing in my country; and I told him, No.  I then asked him the use of it, and who made it; he told me a great man in the heavens, called God:  but here again I was to all intents and purposes at a loss to understand him; and the more so, when a little after I saw the air filled with it, in a heavy shower, which fell down on the same day.  After this I went to church; and having never been at such a place before, I was again amazed at seeing and hearing the service.  I asked all I could about it; and they gave me to understand it was worshipping God, who made us and all things.  I was still at a great loss, and soon got into an endless field of inquiries, as well as I was able to speak and ask about things.  However, my little friend Dick used to be my best interpreter; for I could make free with him, and he always instructed me with pleasure:  and from what I could understand by him of this God, and in seeing these white people did not sell one another, as we did, I was much pleased; and in this I thought they were much happier than we Africans.  I was astonished at the wisdom of the white people in all things I saw; but was amazed at their not sacrificing, or making any offerings, and eating with unwashed hands, and touching the dead.  I likewise could not help remarking the particular slenderness of their women, which I did not at first like; and I thought they were not so modest and shamefaced as the African women.

I had often seen my master and Dick employed in reading; and I had a great curiosity to talk to the books, as I thought they did; and so to learn how all things had a beginning:  for that purpose I have often taken up a book, and have talked to it, and then put my ears to it, when alone, in hopes it would answer me; and I have been very much concerned when I found it remained silent.