"I need not tell you, Sir, how happy "they returned home, at least William ; "for my aunt was rather at a lofs to "choofe; fhe was unwilling to let her fon

''

go to fea, yet fhe well knew the value "of the Captain's word, when he said "he would be his friend, for he always

performed yet more than he promised : my coufin too plainly fhewed which way his wishes tended, for the Captain's "goodnefs had quite gained his heart.

"In the evening I called to know the refult of their walk to town, and am afhamed to confefs, that though I loved "my cousin, I envied his fuccefs, and

inftantly formed the refolution that I "alfo would go to fea; never confidering "that I had no one to recommend me, ' nor yet that I fhould take the curfe of "difobedience with me.-Not to intrude "on your patience, Sir, my aunt at length "confented to let William go. Before he "failed he came to pay us a farewel vifit; "fo smart and gay in his new jacket and trowsers, that if I was envious before,

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. I was

"I was now doubly fo; and to complete "the whole, he had not only plenty of

money in his pocket, but an order for "his mother to receive a guinea every "month of the Captain's agent during his "abfence. Both wept bitterly at parting, " and William declared, he would willingly give up all, rather than fee her fo diftref"fed. At length, finding her fomewhat more "compofed, he faid, Blefs me, my dear "mother! with God's guidance, and fo good a mafter, I can apprehend nothing:

keep up your fpirits, I have no fear of returning well and happy.'

'I truft you will,' answered my aunt, ⚫ for you have ever been a dutiful, induftrious child, and God's bleffing will reft upon you.-Go, then, be profperous ⚫ and happy.

"As fhe spoke fhe loofed him from her, "and, unable to fay farewel, he waved his "hand and left us.

My whole thoughts were. now employed how to get away to fea; neither "the kindness of my mafter, nor the dif

"tress

"trefs my mother muft fuffer on my account, had the leaft weight with me; and one fine morning, taking my best clothes, and about half a guinea I had "fayed for this purpose, I fet off for "London unknown to any one. I foon

inquired out the fhipping, and meeting

a fea-faring man, told him my business, " and as he advifed, I entered; on which "h gave me a guinea, and kept me to << dinner.

"This fpecimen delighted me; I thought my fortune made; and the day paffed jovially, drinking more than ever I had "done in my life; fo that towards even"ing I was intoxicated, and in that state "took on board of fhip. The liquor "I had drank made me fleep foundly till "morning, when I awoke much disor"dered I had been accuftomed to the "utmoft regularity, a clean bed, and a good breakfaft;-here I had drank like

a beast, and been thrown into a dirty "hammock with my clothes on, and no breakfast offered me; and to complete

"all,

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all, could fcarcely ftand from the ago"nies I fuffered in my head and stomach, the natural confequences of my intem

perance. I however put as good a face "on the matter as poffible, and was or"dered to work, for we were fitting for fea, until before night I was completely

16

weary, and began to repent my folly; "but repentance was too late, for I could

not now even get a line to my mother; "the newly entered failors being all closely "watched for fear of desertion; what put it yet more out of my power was, that in a few days we cleared the river and "went to fea. William's Captain, I have already told you, Sir, was the best of men; mine was one of the most violent "and fevere in the whole navy; and, for

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my own part, having been accustomed

to indulgence, and naturally a lover of "idleness, I found my fituation dreadful beyond description; for I was forced to "labour hard, rife at all hours, face every inclemency of the weather; and yet, "however careful, met many kicks, and "ftrokes

"ftrokes across the fhoulders with a

rope's-end, for my awkwardness, in the "courfe of the day;---and what was yet (" more bitter than the blows, I could not "avoid reflecting that the fituation was "of my own fabricating, and my punish"ment richly deserved.

"Our destination was the West Indies, "where I caught the yellow fever, and had "nearly loft my life.-As we were fta"tioned for a year and a half, I found an "opportunity to write to my mother, "craving her pardon, and promifing, if "ever I got back, to make amends for all "my former follies; but to this I never "received any answer and though I "wrote several other letters, I was equally "unfuccessful. Doubtlefs the war, and "other difaftrous events, prevented their "coming fafe to hand.

"At length we had orders to return "home, which was very pleafing to me, "though my fituation was not in reality "fo irksome as formerly; for though the "effort had cost me many an aching heart "and

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