said, if they pleased, I would be their servant; but if not, as I had thirty-seven guineas, which would support me for some time, I would be much obliged to them to recommend me to some person who would teach me a business whereby I might earn my living.  They answered me very politely, that they were sorry it did not suit them to take me as their servant, and asked me what business I should like to learn?  I said, hair-dressing.  They then promised to assist me in this; and soon after they recommended me to a gentleman whom I had known before, one Capt.  O’Hara, who treated me with much kindness, and procured me a master, a hair-dresser, in Coventry-court, Haymarket, with whom he placed me.  I was with this man from September till the February following.  In that time we had a neighbour in the same court who taught the French horn.  He used to blow it so well that I was charmed with it, and agreed with him to teach me to blow it.  Accordingly he took me in hand, and began to instruct me, and I soon learned all the three parts.  I took great delight in blowing on this instrument, the evenings being long; and besides that I was fond of it, I did not like to be idle, and it filled up my vacant hours innocently.  At this time also I agreed with the Rev. Mr. Gregory, who lived in the same court, where he kept an academy and an evening-school, to improve me in arithmetic.  This he did as far as barter and alligation; so that all the time I was there I was entirely employed.  In February 1768 I hired myself to Dr. Charles Irving, in Pall-mall, so celebrated for his successful experiments in making sea water fresh; and here I had plenty of hair-dressing to improve my hand.  This gentleman was an excellent master; he was exceedingly kind and good tempered; and allowed me in the evenings to attend my schools, which I esteemed a great blessing; therefore I thanked God and him for it, and used all my diligence to improve the opportunity.  This diligence and attention recommended me to the notice and care of my three preceptors, who on their parts bestowed a great deal of pains in my instruction, and besides were all very kind to me.  My wages, however, which were by two thirds less than I ever had in my life (for I had only 12l. per annum) I soon found would not be sufficient to defray this extraordinary expense of masters, and my own necessary expenses; my old thirty-seven guineas had by this time worn all away to one.  I thought it best, therefore, to try the sea again in quest of more money, as I had been bred to it, and had hitherto found the profession of it successful.  I had also a very great desire to see Turkey, and I now determined to gratify it.  Accordingly, in the month of May, 1768, I told the doctor my wish to go to sea again, to which he made no opposition; and we parted on friendly terms.  The same day I went into the city in quest of a master.  I was extremely fortunate in my inquiry; for I soon heard of a gentleman who had a ship going to Italy