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curiofities. On our return, at the request of the company, whofe curiofity Wygate had excited, I undreffed myfelf and leaped into the river. fwam from near Chelfea the whole way to Blackfriars Bridge, exhibiting during my course, a variety of feats of activity and addrefs, both upon the furface of the water, as well as under it. This fight occafioned much aftonishment and pleasure to thofe to whom it was new. In my youth I took great delight in this exercife. I knew, and could execute, all the evolutions and pofitions of Thevenot; and I added to them fome of my own invention, in which I endeavoured to unite gracefulness and utility. I took a pleafure in difplaying them all on this occafion, and was highly flattered with the admiration they excited.

Wygate, befides his being defirous of perfecting himfelf in this art, was the more attached to me from their being, in other refpects, a conformity in our taftes and ftudies. He at length propofed to me to make the tour of Europe with him, maintaining ourfelves at the fame time by working at our profeffion. I was on the point of confenting, when I mentioned it to my friend Denham, with whom I was glad to pass an hour whenever I had leifure. He diffuaded me from the project, and advifed me to return to Philadelphia, which he was about to do himself. I must relate in this place a trait of this worthy man's character.

He had formerly been in bufinefs at Bristol, but failing, he compounded with his creditors, and departed for America, where, by affiduous application as a merchant, he acquired in a few years a very confiderable fortune. Returning to England in the fame veffel with my felf, as I have related

above, he invited all his old creditors to a feast. When affembled, he thanked them for the readinefs with which they had received his fmall compofition; and, while they expected nothing more than a fimple entertainment, each found under his plate when it came to be removed, a draft upon a banker for the refidue of his debt with intereft.

He told me it was his intention to carry back with him to Philadelphia a great quantity of goods, in order to open a ftore; and he offered to take me with him in the capacity of clerk, to keep his books, in which he would inftruct me, copy letters, and fuperintend the ftore. He added, that, as foon as I had acquired a knowledge of mercantile tranfactions, he would improve my fituation, by fending me with a cargo of corn and flour to the American islands, and by procuring me other lucrative commiffions; fo that, with good management and economy, I might in time begin bufinefs with advantage for myfelf.

I relished these proposals. London began to tire me; the agreeable hours I had paffed at Philadelphia prefented themselves to my mind, and I wished to fee them revive. I confequently engagedmyself to Mr. Denham, at a falary of fifty pounds a year. This was indeed lefs than I earned as a compofitor, but then I had a fairer much profpect. I took leave, therefore, as I believed forever, of printing, and gave myfelf up entirely to my new occupation, fpending all my time either in going from houfe to house with Mr. Denham to purchase goods, or in packing them up, or in expediting the workmen, &c. &c. When every thing however was on board, I had at last a few days leifure.

During this interval, I was one day fent for by

a gentleman, whom I knew only by name. It was Sir William Wyndham. I went to his houfe. He had by fome means heard of my performances between Chelsea and Blackfriars, and that I had taught the art of fwiniming to Wygate and another young man in the courfe of a few hours. His two fons were on the point of fetting out on their travels; he was defirous that they should previ oufly learn to fwim, and offered me a very liberal reward if I would undertake to inftruct them. They were not yet arrived in town, and the stay I hould make myself was uncertain; Icould not therefore accept his propofal. I was led however to fuppofe from this incident, that if I had wished to remain in London and open a fwimming-fchool, I fhould perhaps have gained a great deal of money. This idea ftruck me fo forcibly, that, had the offer been made fooner, I fhould have difmiffed the thought of returning as yet to America.

Some

years after, you and I had a more important bufinefs to fettle with one of the fons of Sir William Wyndham, then Lord Egremont. But let us not anticipate events.

I thus paffed about eighteen months in London, working almoft without intermiffion at my trade, avoiding all expence on my own account, except going now and then to the play and purchafing a few books. But my friend Ralph kept me poor. He owed me about twenty-feven pounds, which was fo much money loft; and when confidered as taken from my little favings, was a very great fum. I had notwithtanding this a regard for him, as he poffeffed many amiable qualities. But though I had done nothing for myfeit in point of fortune, I had increased my ftock of knowledge, either by

the many excellent books I had read, or the converfation of learned and literary perfons with whom I was acquainted.

We failed from Gravefend the 23d of July 1726. For the incidents of my voyage I refer you to my Journal, where you will find all the circumstances minutely related. We landed at Philadelphia on the 11th of the following October.

Keith had been deprived of his office of governor, and was fucceeded by Major Gordon. I met him walking in the streets as a private individual. He appeared a little afhamed at feeing me, but paffed on without faying any thing,

I should have been equally afhamed myself at meeting Mifs Read, had not her family, jully defpairing of my return after reading my letter, advifed her to give me up, and marry a potter, of the name of Rogers; to which the confented: but he never made her happy, and she soon separated from him, refufing to cohabit with him, or even bear bis name, on account of a report which prevailed, of his having another wife. His skill in his profeffion had feduced Mifs Read's parents; but he was as bad a fubject as he was excellent as a workman. He involved himfelf in debt, and fled, in the y ar 1727 or 1728, to the Weft Indies, where he died.

During my abfence Keimer had taken a more confiderable house, in which he kept a fhop, that was well fupplied with paper, and various other articles. He had procured fome new types, and a number of workmen; among whom, however there was not one who was good for any thing; and he appeared not to want bufi efs.

M. Denham t ok a warehoufe in Water-freet. where we exhibited our commodities. I applied

myfelf clofely, ftudied accounts, and became in a short time very expert in trade. We lodged and cat together. He was fincerely attached to me, and acted towards me as if he had been my father. On my fide, I refpected and loved him. My fituation was happy ; but it was a happinels of no long duration.

Early in February 1727, when I entered into my twenty-fecord year, we were both taken ill. I was attacked with a pleurify, which had nearly carried me off; I fuffered terribly, and confidered it as all over with me. I felt indeed a fort of dif appointment when I found myself likely to recover, and regretted that I had fill to experience, fooner or later, the fame difagreeable fcene again.

I have forgotten what was Mr. Denham's diforder; but it was a tedious one, and he at last funk under it. He left me a small legacy in his will, as a teftimony of his friendship; and I was once more abandoned to myfelf in the wide world, the warehouse being confided to the care of the teftamentary executor, who difmiffed me.

My brother-in-law, Holmes, who happened to be at Philadelphia, advised me to return to my former profeffion; and Keimer offered me a very confiderable falary if I would undertake the management of his printing-office, that he might devote himself entirely to the fuperintendance of his fhop. His wife and relations in London had given me a bad character of him; and i was loath, for the prefent, to have any concern with him. I endeavoured to get employment as a clerk to a mer chant; but not readily finding a fituation, I was induced to accept Keimer's propofal.

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