year 1758-9, we got safe to St. Helen’s.  Here the Namur ran aground; and also another large ship astern of us; but, by starting our water, and tossing many things overboard to lighten her, we got the ships off without any damage.  We stayed for a short time at Spithead, and then went into Portsmouth harbour to refit; from whence the admiral went to London; and my master and I soon followed, with a press-gang, as we wanted some hands to complete our complement.

CHAP.  IV.

The author is baptized—­Narrowly escapes drowning—­Goes on an expedition to the Mediterranean—­Incidents he met with there—­Is witness to an engagement between some English and French ships—­A particular account of the celebrated engagement between Admiral Boscawen and Mons. Le Clue, off Cape Logas, in August 1759—­Dreadful explosion of a French ship—­The author sails for England—­His master appointed to the command of a fire-ship—­Meets a negro boy, from whom he experiences much benevolence—­Prepares for an expedition against Belle-Isle—­A remarkable story of a disaster which befel his ship—­Arrives at Belle-Isle—­Operations of the landing and siege—­The author’s danger and distress, with his manner of extricating himself—–­ Surrender of Belle-Isle—­Transactions afterwards on the coast of France—­Remarkable instance of kidnapping—­The author returns to England—­Hears a talk of peace, and expects his freedom—­His ship sails for Deptford to be paid off, and when he arrives there he is suddenly seized by his master and carried forcibly on board a West India ship and sold.

It was now between two and three years since I first came to England, a great part of which I had spent at sea; so that I became inured to that service, and began to consider myself as happily situated; for my master treated me always extremely well; and my attachment and gratitude to him were very great.  From the various scenes I had beheld on shipboard, I soon grew a stranger to terror of every kind, and was, in that respect at least, almost an Englishman.  I have often reflected with surprise that I never felt half the alarm at any of the numerous dangers I have been in, that I was filled with at the first sight of the Europeans, and at every act of theirs, even the most trifling, when I first came among them, and for some time afterwards.  That fear, however, which was the effect of my ignorance, wore away as I began to know them.  I could now speak English tolerably well, and I perfectly understood every thing that was said.  I now not only felt myself quite easy with these new countrymen, but relished their society and manners.  I no longer looked upon them as spirits, but as men superior to us; and therefore I had the stronger desire to resemble them; to imbibe their spirit, and imitate their manners; I therefore embraced every occasion of improvement; and every new thing that I observed I treasured up in my memory.