or stop firing; and I think one or two guns had been let off, but happily they did no mischief.  We had hailed them several times; but they not hearing, we received no answer, which was the cause of our firing.  The boat was then sent on board of her, and she proved to be the Ambuscade man of war, to my no small disappointment.  We returned to Portsmouth, without having been in any action, just at the trial of Admiral Byng (whom I saw several times during it):  and my master having left the ship, and gone to London for promotion, Dick and I were put on board the Savage sloop of war, and we went in her to assist in bringing off the St. George man of war, that had ran ashore somewhere on the coast.  After staying a few weeks on board the Savage, Dick and I were sent on shore at Deal, where we remained some short time, till my master sent for us to London, the place I had long desired exceedingly to see.  We therefore both with great pleasure got into a waggon, and came to London, where we were received by a Mr. Guerin, a relation of my master.  This gentleman had two sisters, very amiable ladies, who took much notice and great care of me.  Though I had desired so much to see London, when I arrived in it I was unfortunately unable to gratify my curiosity; for I had at this time the chilblains to such a degree that I could not stand for several months, and I was obliged to be sent to St. George’s Hospital.  There I grew so ill, that the doctors wanted to cut my left leg off at different times, apprehending a mortification; but I always said I would rather die than suffer it; and happily (I thank God) I recovered without the operation.  After being there several weeks, and just as I had recovered, the small-pox broke out on me, so that I was again confined; and I thought myself now particularly unfortunate.  However I soon recovered again; and by this time my master having been promoted to be first lieutenant of the Preston man of war of fifty guns, then new at Deptford, Dick and I were sent on board her, and soon after we went to Holland to bring over the late Duke of ——­ to England.—­While I was in this ship an incident happened, which, though trifling, I beg leave to relate, as I could not help taking particular notice of it, and considering it then as a judgment of God.  One morning a young man was looking up to the fore-top, and in a wicked tone, common on shipboard, d——­d his eyes about something.  Just at the moment some small particles of dirt fell into his left eye, and by the evening it was very much inflamed.  The next day it grew worse; and within six or seven days he lost it.  From this ship my master was appointed a lieutenant on board the Royal George.  When he was going he wished me to stay on board the Preston, to learn the French horn; but the ship being ordered for Turkey I could not think of leaving my master, to whom I was very warmly attached; and I told him if he left me behind it would break my heart.  This prevailed on him to take me with him; but he left