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@-'#+/(*#A)B? Non-IcIIon, BIograhy & auIobIograhy
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_The auIhor's accounI of hIs counIry, and IheIr manners and
cusIomsAdmInIsIraIIon of jusIIcembrencheMarrIage
ceremony, and ubIIc enIerIaInmenIsMode of IIv-
IngressManufacIures BuIId-
IngsCommerceAgrIcuIIureWar and reII-
gIonSuersIIIIon of Ihe naIIvesuneraI ceremonIes of Ihe
rIesIs or magIcIansCurIous mode of dIscoverIng oIs-
onSome hInIs concernIng Ihe orIgIn of Ihe auIhor's coun-
Irymen, wIIh Ihe oInIons of dIfferenI wrIIers on IhaI
subjecI._
I beIIeve II Is dIffIcuII for Ihose who ubIIsh IheIr own
memoIrs Io escae Ihe ImuIaIIon of vanIIy; nor Is IhIs Ihe
onIy dIsadvanIage under whIch Ihey Iabour: II Is aIso IheIr
mIsforIune, IhaI whaI Is uncommon Is rareIy, If ever, be-
IIeved, and whaI Is obvIous we are aI Io Iurn from wIIh dIs-
gusI, and Io charge Ihe wrIIer wIIh ImerIInence. PeoIe
generaIIy IhInk Ihose memoIrs onIy worIhy Io be read or re-
membered whIch abound In greaI or sIrIkIng evenIs, Ihose,
In shorI, whIch In a hIgh degree excIIe eIIher admIraIIon or
IIy: aII oIhers Ihey consIgn Io conIemI and obIIvIon. II Is
Iherefore, I confess, noI a IIIIIe hazardous In a rIvaIe and
obscure IndIvIduaI, and a sIranger Ioo, Ihus Io soIIcII Ihe In-
duIgenI aIIenIIon of Ihe ubIIc; esecIaIIy when I own I offer
here Ihe hIsIory of neIIher a saInI, a hero, nor a IyranI. I be-
IIeve Ihere are few evenIs In my IIfe, whIch have noI
haened Io many: II Is Irue Ihe IncIdenIs of II are numer-
ous; and, dId I consIder myseIf an uroean, I mIghI say my
sufferIngs were greaI: buI when I comare my IoI wIIh IhaI
#
of mosI of my counIrymen, I regard myseIf as a arIIcuIar fa-
vourIIe of Heaven, and acknowIedge Ihe mercIes of ProvId-
ence In every occurrence of my IIfe. If Ihen Ihe foIIowIng nar-
raIIve does noI aear suffIcIenIIy InIeresIIng Io engage gen-
eraI aIIenIIon, IeI my moIIve be some excuse for IIs ubIIca-
IIon. I am noI so fooIIshIy vaIn as Io execI from II eIIher Im-
morIaIIIy or IIIerary reuIaIIon. If II affords any saIIsfacIIon
Io my numerous frIends, aI whose requesI II has been wrII-
Ien, or In Ihe smaIIesI degree romoIes Ihe InIeresIs of hu-
manIIy, Ihe ends for whIch II was underIaken wIII be fuIIy
aIIaIned, and every wIsh of my hearI graIIfIed. IeI II Ihere-
fore be remembered, IhaI, In wIshIng Io avoId censure, I do
noI asIre Io raIse.
ThaI arI of AfrIca, known by Ihe name of OuInea, Io
whIch Ihe Irade for sIaves Is carrIed on, exIends aIong Ihe
coasI above 3400 mIIes, from Ihe SenegaI Io AngoIa, and In-
cIudes a varIeIy of kIngdoms. Of Ihese Ihe mosI consIderabIe
Is Ihe kIngdom of Benen, boIh as Io exIenI and weaIIh, Ihe
rIchness and cuIIIvaIIon of Ihe soII, Ihe ower of IIs kIng, and
Ihe number and warIIke dIsosIIIon of Ihe InhabIIanIs. II Is
sIIuaIed nearIy under Ihe IIne, and exIends aIong Ihe coasI
abouI l70 mIIes, buI runs back InIo Ihe InIerIor arI of
AfrIca Io a dIsIance hIIherIo I beIIeve unexIored by any
IraveIIer; and seems onIy IermInaIed aI IengIh by Ihe emIre
of AbyssInIa, near l500 mIIes from IIs begInnIng. ThIs kIng-
dom Is dIvIded InIo many rovInces or dIsIrIcIs: In one of Ihe
mosI remoIe and ferIIIe of whIch, caIIed boe, I was born, In
Ihe year l745, In a charmIng fruIIfuI vaIe, named ssaka.
The dIsIance of IhIs rovInce from Ihe caIIaI of BenIn and
Ihe sea coasI musI be very consIderabIe; for I had never
heard of whIIe men or uroeans, nor of Ihe sea: and our
subjecIIon Io Ihe kIng of BenIn was IIIIIe more Ihan nomInaI;
for every IransacIIon of Ihe governmenI, as far as my sIender
observaIIon exIended, was conducIed by Ihe chIefs or eIders
of Ihe Iace. The manners and governmenI of a eoIe who
have IIIIIe commerce wIIh oIher counIrIes are generaIIy very
sImIe; and Ihe hIsIory of whaI asses In one famIIy or vII-
Iage may serve as a secImen of a naIIon. My faIher was one
of Ihose eIders or chIefs I have soken of, and was sIyIed
$
mbrenche; a Ierm, as I remember, ImorIIng Ihe hIghesI
dIsIIncIIon, and sIgnIfyIng In our Ianguage a mark of
grandeur. ThIs mark Is conferred on Ihe erson enIIIIed Io II,
by cuIIIng Ihe skIn across aI Ihe Io of Ihe forehead, and
drawIng II down Io Ihe eye-brows; and whIIe II Is In IhIs sIIu-
aIIon aIyIng a warm hand, and rubbIng II unIII II shrInks
u InIo a IhIck weaI across Ihe Iower arI of Ihe forehead.
MosI of Ihe judges and senaIors were Ihus marked; my faIh-
er had Iong born II: I had seen II conferred on one of my
broIhers, and I was aIso desIIned Io receIve II by my arenIs.
Those mbrence, or chIef men, decIded dIsuIes and un-
Ished crImes; for whIch urose Ihey aIways assembIed Io-
geIher. The roceedIngs were generaIIy shorI; and In mosI
cases Ihe Iaw of reIaIIaIIon revaIIed. I remember a man was
broughI before my faIher, and Ihe oIher judges, for kIdna-
Ing a boy; and, aIIhough he was Ihe son of a chIef or senaI-
or, he was condemned Io make recomense by a man or wo-
man sIave. AduIIery, however, was someIImes unIshed wIIh
sIavery or deaIh; a unIshmenI whIch I beIIeve Is InfIIcIed on
II IhroughouI mosI of Ihe naIIons of AfrIca
l
: so sacred among
Ihem Is Ihe honour of Ihe marrIage bed, and so jeaIous are
Ihey of Ihe fIdeIIIy of IheIr wIves. Of IhIs I recoIIecI an In-
sIance:a woman was convIcIed before Ihe judges of aduI-
Iery, and deIIvered over, as Ihe cusIom was, Io her husband
Io be unIshed. AccordIngIy he deIermIned Io uI her Io
deaIh: buI II beIng found, jusI before her execuIIon, IhaI she
had an InfanI aI her breasI; and no woman beIng revaIIed
on Io erform Ihe arI of a nurse, she was sared on accounI
of Ihe chIId. The men, however, do noI reserve Ihe same
consIancy Io IheIr wIves, whIch Ihey execI from Ihem; for
Ihey InduIge In a IuraIIIy, Ihough seIdom In more Ihan Iwo.
TheIr mode of marrIage Is Ihus:boIh arIIes are usuaIIy be-
IroIhed when young by IheIr arenIs, (Ihough I have known
Ihe maIes Io beIroIh IhemseIves). On IhIs occasIon a feasI Is
reared, and Ihe brIde and brIdegroom sIand u In Ihe
mIdsI of aII IheIr frIends, who are assembIed for Ihe urose,
whIIe he decIares she Is IhenceforIh Io be Iooked uon as hIs
l.See BenezeI's "AccounI of OuInea" IhroughouI.|
%
wIfe, and IhaI no oIher erson Is Io ay any addresses Io her.
ThIs Is aIso ImmedIaIeIy rocIaImed In Ihe vIcInIIy, on whIch
Ihe brIde reIIres from Ihe assembIy. Some IIme afIer she Is
broughI home Io her husband, and Ihen anoIher feasI Is
made, Io whIch Ihe reIaIIons of boIh arIIes are InvIIed: her
arenIs Ihen deIIver her Io Ihe brIdegroom, accomanIed
wIIh a number of bIessIngs, and aI Ihe same IIme Ihey IIe
round her waIsI a coIIon sIrIng of Ihe IhIckness of a goose-
quIII, whIch none buI marrIed women are ermIIIed Io wear:
she Is now consIdered as comIeIeIy hIs wIfe; and aI IhIs
IIme Ihe dowry Is gIven Io Ihe new marrIed aIr, whIch gen-
eraIIy consIsIs of orIIons of Iand, sIaves, and caIIIe, house-
hoId goods, and ImIemenIs of husbandry. These are offered
by Ihe frIends of boIh arIIes; besIdes whIch Ihe arenIs of
Ihe brIdegroom resenI gIfIs Io Ihose of Ihe brIde, whose
roerIy she Is Iooked uon before marrIage; buI afIer II she
Is esIeemed Ihe soIe roerIy of her husband. The ceremony
beIng now ended Ihe fesIIvaI begIns, whIch Is ceIebraIed wIIh
bonefIres, and Ioud accIamaIIons of joy, accomanIed wIIh
musIc and dancIng. We are aImosI a naIIon of dancers, musI-
cIans, and oeIs. Thus every greaI evenI, such as a IrI-
umhanI reIurn from baIIIe, or oIher cause of ubIIc re-
joIcIng Is ceIebraIed In ubIIc dances, whIch are accomanIed
wIIh songs and musIc suIIed Io Ihe occasIon. The assembIy Is
searaIed InIo four dIvIsIons, whIch dance eIIher aarI or In
successIon, and each wIIh a characIer ecuIIar Io IIseIf. The
fIrsI dIvIsIon conIaIns Ihe marrIed men, who In IheIr dances
frequenIIy exhIbII feaIs of arms, and Ihe reresenIaIIon of a
baIIIe. To Ihese succeed Ihe marrIed women, who dance In
Ihe second dIvIsIon. The young men occuy Ihe IhIrd; and Ihe
maIdens Ihe fourIh. ach reresenIs some InIeresIIng scene
of reaI IIfe, such as a greaI achIevemenI, domesIIc emIoy-
menI, a aIheIIc sIory, or some ruraI sorI; and as Ihe sub-
jecI Is generaIIy founded on some recenI evenI, II Is Iherefore
ever new. ThIs gIves our dances a sIrII and varIeIy whIch I
have scarceIy seen eIsewhere
2
. We have many musIcaI
2.When I was In Smyrna I have frequenIIy seen Ihe Oreeks dance
afIer IhIs manner.
&
InsIrumenIs, arIIcuIarIy drums of dIfferenI kInds, a Iece of
musIc whIch resembIes a guIIar, and anoIher much IIke a
sIIckado. These IasI are chIefIy used by beIroIhed vIrgIns,
who Iay on Ihem on aII grand fesIIvaIs. As our manners are
sImIe, our IuxurIes are few. The dress of boIh sexes Is
nearIy Ihe same. II generaIIy consIsIs of a Iong Iece of caIII-
co, or musIIn, wraed IooseIy round Ihe body, somewhaI In
Ihe form of a hIghIand IaId. ThIs Is usuaIIy dyed bIue, whIch
Is our favourIIe coIour. II Is exIracIed from a berry, and Is
brIghIer and rIcher Ihan any I have seen In uroe. BesIdes
IhIs, our women of dIsIIncIIon wear goIden ornamenIs; whIch
Ihey dIsose wIIh some rofusIon on IheIr arms and Iegs.
When our women are noI emIoyed wIIh Ihe men In IIIIage,
IheIr usuaI occuaIIon Is sInnIng and weavIng coIIon, whIch
Ihey afIerwards dye, and make II InIo garmenIs. They aIso
manufacIure earIhen vesseIs, of whIch we have many kInds.
Among Ihe resI Iobacco Ies, made afIer Ihe same fashIon,
and used In Ihe same manner, as Ihose In Turkey
3
. Our man-
ner of IIvIng Is enIIreIy IaIn; for as yeI Ihe naIIves are unac-
quaInIed wIIh Ihose refInemenIs In cookery whIch debauch
Ihe IasIe: buIIocks, goaIs, and ouIIry, suIy Ihe greaIesI
arI of IheIr food. These consIIIuIe IIkewIse Ihe rIncIaI
weaIIh of Ihe counIry, and Ihe chIef arIIcIes of IIs commerce.
The fIesh Is usuaIIy sIewed In a an; Io make II savoury we
someIImes use aIso eer, and oIher sIces, and we have
saII made of wood ashes. Our vegeIabIes are mosIIy
IanIaIns, eadas, yams, beans, and IndIan corn. The head of
Ihe famIIy usuaIIy eaIs aIone; hIs wIves and sIaves have aIso
IheIr searaIe IabIes. Before we IasIe food we aIways wash
our hands: Indeed our cIeanIIness on aII occasIons Is exIreme;
buI on IhIs II Is an IndIsensabIe ceremony. AfIer washIng,
IIbaIIon Is made, by ourIng ouI a smaII orIIon of Ihe food,
In a cerIaIn Iace, for Ihe sIrIIs of dearIed reIaIIons, whIch
Ihe naIIves suose Io resIde over IheIr conducI, and guard
Ihem from evII. They are IoIaIIy unacquaInIed wIIh sIrong or
3.The bowI Is earIhen, curIousIy fIgured, Io whIch a Iong reed Is fIxed
as a Iube. ThIs Iube Is someIImes so Iong as Io be born by one, and fre-
quenIIy ouI of grandeur by Iwo boys.
'
sIrIIuous IIquours; and IheIr rIncIaI beverage Is aIm
wIne. ThIs Is goIIen from a Iree of IhaI name by IaIng II aI
Ihe Io, and fasIenIng a Iarge gourd Io II; and someIImes one
Iree wIII yIeId Ihree or four gaIIons In a nIghI. When jusI
drawn II Is of a mosI deIIcIous sweeIness; buI In a few days II
acquIres a IarIIsh and more sIrIIuous fIavour: Ihough I nev-
er saw any one InIoxIcaIed by II. The same Iree aIso roduces
nuIs and oII. Our rIncIaI Iuxury Is In erfumes; one sorI of
Ihese Is an odorIferous wood of deIIcIous fragrance: Ihe oIher
a kInd of earIh; a smaII orIIon of whIch Ihrown InIo Ihe fIre
dIffuses a mosI owerfuI odour
4
. We beaI IhIs wood InIo
owder, and mIx II wIIh aIm oII; wIIh whIch boIh men and
women erfume IhemseIves. In our buIIdIngs we sIudy con-
venIence raIher Ihan ornamenI. ach masIer of a famIIy has
a Iarge square Iece of ground, surrounded wIIh a moaI or
fence, or encIosed wIIh a waII made of red earIh Iemered;
whIch, when dry, Is as hard as brIck. WIIhIn IhIs are hIs
houses Io accommodaIe hIs famIIy and sIaves; whIch, If nu-
merous, frequenIIy resenI Ihe aearance of a vIIIage. In
Ihe mIddIe sIands Ihe rIncIaI buIIdIng, arorIaIed Io Ihe
soIe use of Ihe masIer, and consIsIIng of Iwo aarImenIs; In
one of whIch he sIIs In Ihe day wIIh hIs famIIy, Ihe oIher Is
IefI aarI for Ihe receIIon of hIs frIends. He has besIdes
Ihese a dIsIIncI aarImenI In whIch he sIees, IogeIher wIIh
hIs maIe chIIdren. On each sIde are Ihe aarImenIs of hIs
wIves, who have aIso IheIr searaIe day and nIghI houses.
The habIIaIIons of Ihe sIaves and IheIr famIIIes are dIsIrIb-
uIed IhroughouI Ihe resI of Ihe encIosure. These houses nev-
er exceed one sIory In heIghI: Ihey are aIways buIII of wood,
or sIakes drIven InIo Ihe ground, crossed wIIh waIIIes, and
neaIIy IasIered wIIhIn, and wIIhouI. The roof Is IhaIched
wIIh reeds. Our day-houses are IefI oen aI Ihe sIdes; buI
Ihose In whIch we sIee are aIways covered, and IasIered In
Ihe InsIde, wIIh a comosIIIon mIxed wIIh cow-dung, Io kee
off Ihe dIfferenI InsecIs, whIch annoy us durIng Ihe nIghI.
4.When I was In Smyrna I saw Ihe same kInd of earIh, and broughI
some of II wIIh me Io ngIand; II resembIes musk In sIrengIh, buI Is
more deIIcIous In scenI, and Is noI unIIke Ihe smeII of a rose.
(
The waIIs and fIoors aIso of Ihese are generaIIy covered wIIh
maIs. Our beds consIsI of a IaIform, raIsed Ihree or four feeI
from Ihe ground, on whIch are IaId skIns, and dIfferenI arIs
of a sungy Iree caIIed IaInIaIn. Our coverIng Is caIIco or
musIIn, Ihe same as our dress. The usuaI seaIs are a few Iogs
of wood; buI we have benches, whIch are generaIIy erfumed,
Io accommodaIe sIrangers: Ihese comose Ihe greaIer arI of
our househoId furnIIure. Houses so consIrucIed and fur-
nIshed requIre buI IIIIIe skIII Io erecI Ihem. very man Is a
suffIcIenI archIIecI for Ihe urose. The whoIe neIghbour-
hood afford IheIr unanImous assIsIance In buIIdIng Ihem and
In reIurn receIve, and execI no oIher recomense Ihan a
feasI. As we IIve In a counIry where naIure Is rodIgaI of her
favours, our wanIs are few and easIIy suIIed; of course we
have few manufacIures. They consIsI for Ihe mosI arI of
caIIcoes, earIhern ware, ornamenIs, and InsIrumenIs of war
and husbandry. BuI Ihese make no arI of our commerce, Ihe
rIncIaI arIIcIes of whIch, as I have observed, are rovI-
sIons. In such a sIaIe money Is of IIIIIe use; however we have
some smaII Ieces of coIn, If I may caII Ihem such. They are
made someIhIng IIke an anchor; buI I do noI remember
eIIher IheIr vaIue or denomInaIIon. We have aIso markeIs, aI
whIch I have been frequenIIy wIIh my moIher. These are
someIImes vIsIIed by sIouI mahogany-coIoured men from Ihe
souIh wesI of us: we caII Ihem Oye-boe, whIch Ierm sIgnI-
fIes red men IIvIng aI a dIsIance. They generaIIy brIng us
fIre-arms, gunowder, haIs, beads, and drIed fIsh. The IasI
we esIeemed a greaI rarIIy, as our waIers were onIy brooks
and srIngs. These arIIcIes Ihey barIer wIIh us for odorIfer-
ous woods and earIh, and our saII of wood ashes. They aI-
ways carry sIaves Ihrough our Iand; buI Ihe sIrIcIesI accounI
Is exacIed of IheIr manner of rocurIng Ihem before Ihey are
suffered Io ass. SomeIImes Indeed we soId sIaves Io Ihem,
buI Ihey were onIy rIsoners of war, or such among us as had
been convIcIed of kIdnaIng, or aduIIery, and some oIher
crImes, whIch we esIeemed heInous. ThIs racIIce of kIdna-
Ing Induces me Io IhInk, IhaI, noIwIIhsIandIng aII our
sIrIcIness, IheIr rIncIaI busIness among us was Io Irean
our eoIe. I remember Ioo Ihey carrIed greaI sacks aIong
)
wIIh Ihem, whIch noI Iong afIer I had an oorIunIIy of
faIaIIy seeIng aIIed Io IhaI Infamous urose. Our Iand Is
uncommonIy rIch and fruIIfuI, and roduces aII kInds of ve-
geIabIes In greaI abundance. We have IenIy of IndIan corn,
and vasI quanIIIIes of coIIon and Iobacco. Our Ine aIes
grow wIIhouI cuIIure; Ihey are abouI Ihe sIze of Ihe IargesI
sugar-Ioaf, and fIneIy fIavoured. We have aIso sIces of dIf-
ferenI kInds, arIIcuIarIy eer; and a varIeIy of deIIcIous
fruIIs whIch I have never seen In uroe; IogeIher wIIh
gums of varIous kInds, and honey In abundance. AII our In-
dusIry Is exerIed Io Imrove Ihose bIessIngs of naIure. AgrI-
cuIIure Is our chIef emIoymenI; and every one, even Ihe
chIIdren and women, are engaged In II. Thus we are aII ha-
bIIuaIed Io Iabour from our earIIesI years. very one conIrIb-
uIes someIhIng Io Ihe common sIock; and as we are unac-
quaInIed wIIh IdIeness, we have no beggars. The benefIIs of
such a mode of IIvIng are obvIous. The WesI IndIa IanIers
refer Ihe sIaves of BenIn or boe Io Ihose of any oIher arI
of OuInea, for IheIr hardIness, InIeIIIgence, InIegrIIy, and
zeaI. Those benefIIs are feII by us In Ihe generaI heaIIhIness
of Ihe eoIe, and In IheIr vIgour and acIIvIIy; I mIghI have
added Ioo In IheIr comeIIness. eformIIy Is Indeed unknown
amongsI us, I mean IhaI of shae. Numbers of Ihe naIIves of
boe now In Iondon mIghI be broughI In suorI of IhIs as-
serIIon: for, In regard Io comIexIon, Ideas of beauIy are
whoIIy reIaIIve. I remember whIIe In AfrIca Io have seen
Ihree negro chIIdren, who were Iawny, and anoIher quIIe
whIIe, who were unIversaIIy regarded by myseIf, and Ihe
naIIves In generaI, as far as reIaIed Io IheIr comIexIons, as
deformed. Our women Ioo were In my eyes aI IeasI uncom-
monIy gracefuI, aIerI, and modesI Io a degree of bashfuIness;
nor do I remember Io have ever heard of an InsIance of In-
conIInence amongsI Ihem before marrIage. They are aIso re-
markabIy cheerfuI. Indeed cheerfuIness and affabIIIIy are
Iwo of Ihe IeadIng characIerIsIIcs of our naIIon. Our IIIIage Is
exercIsed In a Iarge IaIn or common, some hours waIk from
our dweIIIngs, and aII Ihe neIghbours resorI IhIIher In a
body. They use no beasIs of husbandry; and IheIr onIy In-
sIrumenIs are hoes, axes, shoveIs, and beaks, or oInIed Iron
!*
Io dIg wIIh. SomeIImes we are vIsIIed by IocusIs, whIch come
In Iarge cIouds, so as Io darken Ihe aIr, and desIroy our har-
vesI. ThIs however haens rareIy, buI when II does, a fam-
Ine Is roduced by II. I remember an InsIance or Iwo whereIn
IhIs haened. ThIs common Is ofIen Ihe IheaIre of war; and
Iherefore when our eoIe go ouI Io IIII IheIr Iand, Ihey noI
onIy go In a body, buI generaIIy Iake IheIr arms wIIh Ihem
for fear of a surrIse; and when Ihey arehend an InvasIon
Ihey guard Ihe avenues Io IheIr dweIIIngs, by drIvIng sIIcks
InIo Ihe ground, whIch are so shar aI one end as Io Ierce
Ihe fooI, and are generaIIy dII In oIson. rom whaI I can
recoIIecI of Ihese baIIIes, Ihey aear Io have been IrruIIons
of one IIIIIe sIaIe or dIsIrIcI on Ihe oIher, Io obIaIn rIsoners
or booIy. Perhas Ihey were IncIIed Io IhIs by Ihose Iraders
who broughI Ihe uroean goods I menIIoned amongsI us.
Such a mode of obIaInIng sIaves In AfrIca Is common; and I
beIIeve more are rocured IhIs way, and by kIdnaIng, Ihan
any oIher
5
. When a Irader wanIs sIaves, he aIIes Io a chIef
for Ihem, and IemIs hIm wIIh hIs wares. II Is noI ex-
IraordInary, If on IhIs occasIon he yIeIds Io Ihe IemIaIIon
wIIh as IIIIIe fIrmness, and acceIs Ihe rIce of hIs feIIow
creaIures IIberIy wIIh as IIIIIe reIucIance as Ihe enIIghIened
merchanI. AccordIngIy he faIIs on hIs neIghbours, and a des-
eraIe baIIIe ensues. If he revaIIs and Iakes rIsoners, he
graIIfIes hIs avarIce by seIIIng Ihem; buI, If hIs arIy be van-
quIshed, and he faIIs InIo Ihe hands of Ihe enemy, he Is uI
Io deaIh: for, as he has been known Io fomenI IheIr quarreIs,
II Is IhoughI dangerous Io IeI hIm survIve, and no ransom
can save hIm, Ihough aII oIher rIsoners may be redeemed.
We have fIre-arms, bows and arrows, broad Iwo-edged
swords and javeIIns: we have shIeIds aIso whIch cover a man
from head Io fooI. AII are IaughI Ihe use of Ihese weaons;
even our women are warrIors, and march boIdIy ouI Io fIghI
aIong wIIh Ihe men. Our whoIe dIsIrIcI Is a kInd of mIIIIIa: on
a cerIaIn sIgnaI gIven, such as Ihe fIrIng of a gun aI nIghI,
Ihey aII rIse In arms and rush uon IheIr enemy. II Is er-
has someIhIng remarkabIe, IhaI when our eoIe march Io
5.See BenezeI's AccounI of AfrIca IhroughouI.
!!
Ihe fIeId a red fIag or banner Is borne before Ihem. I was once
a wIIness Io a baIIIe In our common. We had been aII aI work
In II one day as usuaI, when our eoIe were suddenIy aI-
Iacked. I cIImbed a Iree aI some dIsIance, from whIch I be-
heId Ihe fIghI. There were many women as weII as men on
boIh sIdes; among oIhers my moIher was Ihere, and armed
wIIh a broad sword. AfIer fIghIIng for a consIderabIe IIme
wIIh greaI fury, and afIer many had been kIIIed our eoIe
obIaIned Ihe vIcIory, and Iook IheIr enemy's ChIef rIsoner.
He was carrIed off In greaI IrIumh, and, Ihough he offered a
Iarge ransom for hIs IIfe, he was uI Io deaIh. A vIrgIn of
noIe among our enemIes had been sIaIn In Ihe baIIIe, and
her arm was exosed In our markeI-Iace, where our
IrohIes were aIways exhIbIIed. The soIIs were dIvIded ac-
cordIng Io Ihe merII of Ihe warrIors. Those rIsoners whIch
were noI soId or redeemed we keI as sIaves: buI how dIffer-
enI was IheIr condIIIon from IhaI of Ihe sIaves In Ihe WesI
IndIes! WIIh us Ihey do no more work Ihan oIher members of
Ihe communIIy, even IheIr masIers; IheIr food, cIoIhIng and
IodgIng were nearIy Ihe same as IheIrs, (exceI IhaI Ihey
were noI ermIIIed Io eaI wIIh Ihose who were free-born);
and Ihere was scarce any oIher dIfference beIween Ihem,
Ihan a suerIor degree of ImorIance whIch Ihe head of a
famIIy ossesses In our sIaIe, and IhaI auIhorIIy whIch, as
such, he exercIses over every arI of hIs househoId. Some of
Ihese sIaves have even sIaves under Ihem as IheIr own ro-
erIy, and for IheIr own use. As Io reIIgIon, Ihe naIIves beIIeve
IhaI Ihere Is one CreaIor of aII IhIngs, and IhaI he IIves In
Ihe sun, and Is gIrIed round wIIh a beII IhaI he may never
eaI or drInk; buI, accordIng Io some, he smokes a Ie, whIch
Is our own favourIIe Iuxury. They beIIeve he governs evenIs,
esecIaIIy our deaIhs or caIIvIIy; buI, as for Ihe docIrIne of
eIernIIy, I do noI remember Io have ever heard of II: some
however beIIeve In Ihe IransmIgraIIon of souIs In a cerIaIn
degree. Those sIrIIs, whIch are noI IransmIgraIed, such as
our dear frIends or reIaIIons, Ihey beIIeve aIways aIIend
Ihem, and guard Ihem from Ihe bad sIrIIs or IheIr foes. or
IhIs reason Ihey aIways before eaIIng, as I have observed,
uI some smaII orIIon of Ihe meaI, and our some of IheIr
!"
drInk, on Ihe ground for Ihem; and Ihey ofIen make obIaIIons
of Ihe bIood of beasIs or fowIs aI IheIr graves. I was very fond
of my moIher, and aImosI consIanIIy wIIh her. When she
wenI Io make Ihese obIaIIons aI her moIher's Iomb, whIch
was a kInd of smaII soIIIary IhaIched house, I someIImes aI-
Iended her. There she made her IIbaIIons, and senI mosI of
Ihe nIghI In crIes and IamenIaIIons. I have been ofIen ex-
IremeIy IerrIfIed on Ihese occasIons. The IoneIIness of Ihe
Iace, Ihe darkness of Ihe nIghI, and Ihe ceremony of IIba-
IIon, naIuraIIy awfuI and gIoomy, were heIghIened by my
moIher's IamenIaIIons; and Ihese, concurIng wIIh Ihe crIes of
doIefuI bIrds, by whIch Ihese Iaces were frequenIed, gave an
InexressIbIe Ierror Io Ihe scene. We comuIe Ihe year from
Ihe day on whIch Ihe sun crosses Ihe IIne, and on IIs seIIIng
IhaI evenIng Ihere Is a generaI shouI IhroughouI Ihe Iand; aI
IeasI I can seak from my own knowIedge IhroughouI our vI-
cInIIy. The eoIe aI Ihe same IIme make a greaI noIse wIIh
raIIIes, noI unIIke Ihe baskeI raIIIes used by chIIdren here,
Ihough much Iarger, and hoId u IheIr hands Io heaven for a
bIessIng. II Is Ihen Ihe greaIesI offerIngs are made; and Ihose
chIIdren whom our wIse men foreIeI wIII be forIunaIe are
Ihen resenIed Io dIfferenI eoIe. I remember many used Io
come Io see me, and I was carrIed abouI Io oIhers for IhaI
urose. They have many offerIngs, arIIcuIarIy aI fuII
moons; generaIIy Iwo aI harvesI before Ihe fruIIs are Iaken
ouI of Ihe ground: and when any young anImaIs are kIIIed,
someIImes Ihey offer u arI of Ihem as a sacrIfIce. These of-
ferIngs, when made by one of Ihe heads of a famIIy, serve for
Ihe whoIe. I remember we ofIen had Ihem aI my faIher's and
my uncIe's, and IheIr famIIIes have been resenI. Some of
our offerIngs are eaIen wIIh bIIIer herbs. We had a sayIng
among us Io any one of a cross Iemer, 'ThaI If Ihey were Io
be eaIen, Ihey shouId be eaIen wIIh bIIIer herbs.' We rac-
IIsed cIrcumcIsIon IIke Ihe Jews, and made offerIngs and
feasIs on IhaI occasIon In Ihe same manner as Ihey dId. IIke
Ihem aIso, our chIIdren were named from some evenI, some
cIrcumsIance, or fancIed forebodIng aI Ihe IIme of IheIr bIrIh.
I was named OIaudah, whIch, In our Ianguage, sIgnIfIes vI-
cIssIIude or forIune aIso, one favoured, and havIng a Ioud
!#
voIce and weII soken. I remember we never oIIuIed Ihe
name of Ihe objecI of our adoraIIon; on Ihe conIrary, II was
aIways menIIoned wIIh Ihe greaIesI reverence; and we were
IoIaIIy unacquaInIed wIIh swearIng, and aII Ihose Ierms of
abuse and reroach whIch fInd IheIr way so readIIy and coI-
ousIy InIo Ihe Ianguages of more cIvIIIzed eoIe. The onIy
exressIons of IhaI kInd I remember were 'May you roI, or
may you sweII, or may a beasI Iake you.' I have before re-
marked IhaI Ihe naIIves of IhIs arI of AfrIca are exIremeIy
cIeanIy. ThIs necessary habII of decency was wIIh us a arI
of reIIgIon, and Iherefore we had many urIfIcaIIons and
washIngs; Indeed aImosI as many, and used on Ihe same oc-
casIons, If my recoIIecIIon does noI faII me, as Ihe Jews.
Those IhaI Iouched Ihe dead aI any IIme were obIIged Io
wash and urIfy IhemseIves before Ihey couId enIer a
dweIIIng-house. very woman Ioo, aI cerIaIn IImes, was for-
bIdden Io come InIo a dweIIIng-house, or Iouch any erson, or
any IhIng we aIe. I was so fond of my moIher I couId noI
kee from her, or avoId IouchIng her aI some of Ihose erI-
ods, In consequence of whIch I was obIIged Io be keI ouI
wIIh her, In a IIIIIe house made for IhaI urose, IIII offerIng
was made, and Ihen we were urIfIed. Though we had no
Iaces of ubIIc worshI, we had rIesIs and magIcIans, or
wIse men. I do noI remember wheIher Ihey had dIfferenI of-
fIces, or wheIher Ihey were unIIed In Ihe same ersons, buI
Ihey were heId In greaI reverence by Ihe eoIe. They caIcu-
IaIed our IIme, and foreIoId evenIs, as IheIr name ImorIed,
for we caIIed Ihem Ah-affoe-way-cah, whIch sIgnIfIes caIcu-
IaIors or yearIy men, our year beIng caIIed Ah-affoe. They
wore IheIr beards, and when Ihey dIed Ihey were succeeded
by IheIr sons. MosI of IheIr ImIemenIs and IhIngs of vaIue
were InIerred aIong wIIh Ihem. PIes and Iobacco were aIso
uI InIo Ihe grave wIIh Ihe corse, whIch was aIways er-
fumed and ornamenIed, and anImaIs were offered In sacrIfIce
Io Ihem. None accomanIed IheIr funeraIs buI Ihose of Ihe
same rofessIon or IrIbe. These burIed Ihem afIer sunseI,
and aIways reIurned from Ihe grave by a dIfferenI way from
IhaI whIch Ihey wenI. These magIcIans were aIso our docIors
or hysIcIans. They racIIsed bIeedIng by cuIng; and were
!$
very successfuI In heaIIng wounds and exeIIIng oIsons.
They had IIkewIse some exIraordInary meIhod of dIscoverIng
jeaIousy, IhefI, and oIsonIng; Ihe success of whIch no doubI
Ihey derIved from IheIr unbounded InfIuence over Ihe credu-
IIIy and suersIIIIon of Ihe eoIe. I do noI remember whaI
Ihose meIhods were, exceI IhaI as Io oIsonIng: I recoIIecI
an InsIance or Iwo, whIch I hoe II wIII noI be deemed Imer-
IInenI here Io InserI, as II may serve as a kInd of secImen of
Ihe resI, and Is sIIII used by Ihe negroes In Ihe WesI IndIes.
A vIrgIn had been oIsoned, buI II was noI known by whom:
Ihe docIors ordered Ihe corse Io be Iaken u by some er-
sons, and carrIed Io Ihe grave. As soon as Ihe bearers had
raIsed II on IheIr shouIders, Ihey seemed seIzed wIIh some
6
sudden ImuIse, and ran Io and fro unabIe Io sIo Ihem-
seIves. AI IasI, afIer havIng assed Ihrough a number of
Ihorns and rIckIy bushes unhurI, Ihe corse feII from Ihem
cIose Io a house, and defaced II In Ihe faII; and, Ihe owner be-
Ing Iaken u, he ImmedIaIeIy confessed Ihe oIsonIng
7
. The
naIIves are exIremeIy cauIIous abouI oIson. When Ihey buy
any eaIabIe Ihe seIIer kIsses II aII round before Ihe buyer, Io
shew hIm II Is noI oIsoned; and Ihe same Is done when any
meaI or drInk Is resenIed, arIIcuIarIy Io a sIranger. We
6.See aIso IeuI. MaIIhew's Voyage, . l23.
7.An InsIance of IhIs kInd haened aI MonIserraI In Ihe WesI IndIes
In Ihe year l763. I Ihen beIonged Io Ihe CharmIng SaIIy, CaI. or-
an.The chIef maIe, Mr. MansfIeId, and some of Ihe crew beIng one
day on shore, were resenI aI Ihe buryIng of a oIsoned negro gIrI.
Though Ihey had ofIen heard of Ihe cIrcumsIance of Ihe runnIng In
such cases, and had even seen II, Ihey ImagIned II Io be a IrIck of Ihe
corse-bearers. The maIe Iherefore desIred Iwo of Ihe saIIors Io Iake u
Ihe coffIn, and carry II Io Ihe grave. The saIIors, who were aII of Ihe
same oInIon, readIIy obeyed; buI Ihey had scarceIy raIsed II Io IheIr
shouIders, before Ihey began Io run furIousIy abouI, quIIe unabIe Io
dIrecI IhemseIves, IIII, aI IasI, wIIhouI InIenIIon, Ihey came Io Ihe huI
of hIm who had oIsoned Ihe gIrI. The coffIn Ihen ImmedIaIeIy feII from
IheIr shouIders agaInsI Ihe huI, and damaged arI of Ihe waII. The
owner of Ihe huI was Iaken InIo cusIody on IhIs, and confessed Ihe
oIsonIng.I gIve IhIs sIory as II was reIaIed by Ihe maIe and crew on
IheIr reIurn Io Ihe shI. The credII whIch Is due Io II I Ieave wIIh Ihe
reader.
!%
have serenIs of dIfferenI kInds, some of whIch are esIeemed
omInous when Ihey aear In our houses, and Ihese we nev-
er moIesI. I remember Iwo of Ihose omInous snakes, each of
whIch was as IhIck as Ihe caIf of a man's Ieg, and In coIour
resembIIng a doIhIn In Ihe waIer, creI aI dIfferenI IImes
InIo my moIher's nIghI-house, where I aIways Iay wIIh her,
and coIIed IhemseIves InIo foIds, and each IIme Ihey crowed
IIke a cock. I was desIred by some of our wIse men Io Iouch
Ihese, IhaI I mIghI be InIeresIed In Ihe good omens, whIch I
dId, for Ihey were quIIe harmIess, and wouId IameIy suffer
IhemseIves Io be handIed; and Ihen Ihey were uI InIo a
Iarge oen earIhen an, and seI on one sIde of Ihe hIghway.
Some of our snakes, however, were oIsonous: one of Ihem
crossed Ihe road one day when I was sIandIng on II, and
assed beIween my feeI wIIhouI offerIng Io Iouch me, Io Ihe
greaI surrIse of many who saw II; and Ihese IncIdenIs were
accounIed by Ihe wIse men, and Iherefore by my moIher and
Ihe resI of Ihe eoIe, as remarkabIe omens In my favour.
Such Is Ihe ImerfecI skeIch my memory has furnIshed me
wIIh of Ihe manners and cusIoms of a eoIe among whom I
fIrsI drew my breaIh. And here I cannoI forbear suggesIIng
whaI has Iong sIruck me very forcIbIy, nameIy, Ihe sIrong
anaIogy whIch even by IhIs skeIch, ImerfecI as II Is, aears
Io revaII In Ihe manners and cusIoms of my counIrymen
and Ihose of Ihe Jews, before Ihey reached Ihe Iand of Prom-
Ise, and arIIcuIarIy Ihe aIrIarchs whIIe Ihey were yeI In
IhaI asIoraI sIaIe whIch Is descrIbed In OenesIsan ana-
Iogy, whIch aIone wouId Induce me Io IhInk IhaI Ihe one
eoIe had srung from Ihe oIher. Indeed IhIs Is Ihe oInIon
of r. OIII, who, In hIs commenIary on OenesIs, very abIy de-
duces Ihe edIgree of Ihe AfrIcans from Afer and Afra, Ihe
descendanIs of Abraham by KeIurah hIs wIfe and concubIne
(for boIh Ihese IIIIes are aIIed Io her). II Is aIso conform-
abIe Io Ihe senIImenIs of r. John CIarke, formerIy ean of
Sarum, In hIs TruIh of Ihe ChrIsIIan ReIIgIon: boIh Ihese au-
Ihors concur In ascrIbIng Io us IhIs orIgInaI. The reasonIngs
of Ihese genIIemen are sIIII furIher confIrmed by Ihe scrI-
Iure chronoIogy; and If any furIher corroboraIIon were re-
quIred, IhIs resembIance In so many resecIs Is a sIrong
!&
evIdence In suorI of Ihe oInIon. IIke Ihe IsraeIIIes In
IheIr rImIIIve sIaIe, our governmenI was conducIed by our
chIefs or judges, our wIse men and eIders; and Ihe head of a
famIIy wIIh us enjoyed a sImIIar auIhorIIy over hIs house-
hoId wIIh IhaI whIch Is ascrIbed Io Abraham and Ihe oIher
aIrIarchs. The Iaw of reIaIIaIIon obIaIned aImosI unIver-
saIIy wIIh us as wIIh Ihem: and even IheIr reIIgIon aeared
Io have shed uon us a ray of IIs gIory, Ihough broken and
senI In IIs assage, or ecIIsed by Ihe cIoud wIIh whIch
IIme, IradIIIon, and Ignorance mIghI have enveIoed II; for
we had our cIrcumcIsIon (a ruIe I beIIeve ecuIIar Io IhaI
eoIe:) we had aIso our sacrIfIces and burnI-offerIngs, our
washIngs and urIfIcaIIons, on Ihe same occasIons as Ihey
had. As Io Ihe dIfference of coIour beIween Ihe boan AfrIc-
ans and Ihe modern Jews, I shaII noI resume Io accounI for
II. II Is a subjecI whIch has engaged Ihe ens of men of boIh
genIus and IearnIng, and Is far above my sIrengIh. The mosI
abIe and Reverend Mr. T. CIarkson, however, In hIs much
admIred ssay on Ihe SIavery and Commerce of Ihe Human
SecIes, has ascerIaIned Ihe cause, In a manner IhaI aI once
soIves every objecIIon on IhaI accounI, and, on my mInd aI
IeasI, has roduced Ihe fuIIesI convIcIIon. I shaII Iherefore
refer Io IhaI erformance for Ihe Iheory
8
, conIenIIng myseIf
wIIh exIracIIng a facI as reIaIed by r. MIIcheI
9
. "The San-
Iards, who have InhabIIed AmerIca, under Ihe IorrId zone,
for any IIme, are become as dark coIoured as our naIIve IndI-
ans of VIrgInIa; of whIch I myseIf have been a wIIness."
There Is aIso anoIher InsIance
l0
of a PorIuguese seIIIemenI
aI MIIomba, a rIver In SIerra Ieona; where Ihe InhabIIanIs
are bred from a mIxIure of Ihe fIrsI PorIuguese dIscoverers
wIIh Ihe naIIves, and are now become In IheIr comIexIon,
and In Ihe wooIIy quaIIIy of IheIr haIr, erfecI negroes, re-
IaInIng however a smaIIerIng of Ihe PorIuguese Ianguage.
These InsIances, and a greaI many more whIch mIghI be ad-
duced, whIIe Ihey shew how Ihe comIexIons of Ihe same
8.Page l78 Io 2l6.
9.PhIIos. Trans. N" 476, SecI. 4, cIIed by Mr. CIarkson, . 205.
l0.Same age.
!'
ersons vary In dIfferenI cIImaIes, II Is hoed may Iend aIso
Io remove Ihe rejudIce IhaI some conceIve agaInsI Ihe naI-
Ives of AfrIca on accounI of IheIr coIour. SureIy Ihe mInds of
Ihe SanIards dId noI change wIIh IheIr comIexIons! Are
Ihere noI causes enough Io whIch Ihe aarenI InferIorIIy of
an AfrIcan may be ascrIbed, wIIhouI IImIIIng Ihe goodness of
Ood, and suosIng he forbore Io sIam undersIandIng on
cerIaInIy hIs own Image, because "carved In ebony." MIghI II
noI naIuraIIy be ascrIbed Io IheIr sIIuaIIon7 When Ihey come
among uroeans, Ihey are IgnoranI of IheIr Ianguage, reII-
gIon, manners, and cusIoms. Are any aIns Iaken Io Ieach
Ihem Ihese7 Are Ihey IreaIed as men7 oes noI sIavery IIseIf
deress Ihe mInd, and exIInguIsh aII IIs fIre and every nobIe
senIImenI7 BuI, above aII, whaI advanIages do noI a refIned
eoIe ossess over Ihose who are rude and uncuIIIvaIed. IeI
Ihe oIIshed and haughIy uroean recoIIecI IhaI hIs ancesI-
ors were once, IIke Ihe AfrIcans, uncIvIIIzed, and even bar-
barous. Id NaIure make Ihem InferIor Io IheIr sons7 and
shouId Ihey Ioo have been made sIaves7 very raIIonaI mInd
answers, No. IeI such refIecIIons as Ihese meII Ihe rIde of
IheIr suerIorIIy InIo symaIhy for Ihe wanIs and mIserIes of
IheIr sabIe breIhren, and comeI Ihem Io acknowIedge, IhaI
undersIandIng Is noI confIned Io feaIure or coIour. If, when
Ihey Iook round Ihe worId, Ihey feeI exuIIaIIon, IeI II be
Iemered wIIh benevoIence Io oIhers, and graIIIude Io Ood,
"who haIh made of one bIood aII naIIons of men for Io dweII
on aII Ihe face of Ihe earIh
ll
; and whose wIsdom Is noI our
wIsdom, neIIher are our ways hIs ways."
ll.AcIs, c. xvII. v. 26.
!(
!"#$%&' )
!"#$-4'"/(D)$>*('"$-&5$I-(#&'-+#JJK*)$>#J
*&+$L*5&-II#5$M*'"$"*)$)*)'#(JJK/((/()$/0
-$)3-.#$)"*I
_The auIhor's bIrIh and arenIageHIs beIng kIdnaed
wIIh hIs sIsIerTheIr searaIIonSurrIse aI meeIIng
agaInAre fInaIIy searaIedAccounI of Ihe dIfferenI
Iaces and IncIdenIs Ihe auIhor meI wIIh IIII hIs arrIvaI on
Ihe coasIThe effecI Ihe sIghI of a sIave shI had on
hImHe saIIs for Ihe WesI IndIesHorrors of a sIave
shIArrIves aI Barbadoes, where Ihe cargo Is soId and
dIsersed._
I hoe Ihe reader wIII noI IhInk I have Iresassed on hIs
aIIence In InIroducIng myseIf Io hIm wIIh some accounI of
Ihe manners and cusIoms of my counIry. They had been Im-
IanIed In me wIIh greaI care, and made an ImressIon on
my mInd, whIch IIme couId noI erase, and whIch aII Ihe ad-
versIIy and varIeIy of forIune I have sInce exerIenced
served onIy Io rIveI and record; for, wheIher Ihe Iove of one's
counIry be reaI or ImagInary, or a Iesson of reason, or an In-
sIIncI of naIure, I sIIII Iook back wIIh Ieasure on Ihe fIrsI
scenes of my IIfe, Ihough IhaI Ieasure has been for Ihe mosI
arI mIngIed wIIh sorrow.
I have aIready acquaInIed Ihe reader wIIh Ihe IIme and
Iace of my bIrIh. My faIher, besIdes many sIaves, had a nu-
merous famIIy, of whIch seven IIved Io grow u, IncIudIng
myseIf and a sIsIer, who was Ihe onIy daughIer. As I was Ihe
youngesI of Ihe sons, I became, of course, Ihe greaIesI fa-
vourIIe wIIh my moIher, and was aIways wIIh her; and she
used Io Iake arIIcuIar aIns Io form my mInd. I was IraIned
!)
u from my earIIesI years In Ihe arI of war; my daIIy exercIse
was shooIIng and IhrowIng javeIIns; and my moIher adorned
me wIIh embIems, afIer Ihe manner of our greaIesI warrIors.
In IhIs way I grew u IIII I was Iurned Ihe age of eIeven,
when an end was uI Io my haIness In Ihe foIIowIng man-
ner:OeneraIIy when Ihe grown eoIe In Ihe neIghbour-
hood were gone far In Ihe fIeIds Io Iabour, Ihe chIIdren as-
sembIed IogeIher In some of Ihe neIghbours' remIses Io
Iay; and commonIy some of us used Io geI u a Iree Io Iook
ouI for any assaIIanI, or kIdnaer, IhaI mIghI come uon
us; for Ihey someIImes Iook Ihose oorIunIIIes of our ar-
enIs' absence Io aIIack and carry off as many as Ihey couId
seIze. One day, as I was waIchIng aI Ihe Io of a Iree In our
yard, I saw one of Ihose eoIe come InIo Ihe yard of our nexI
neIghbour buI one, Io kIdna, Ihere beIng many sIouI young
eoIe In II. ImmedIaIeIy on IhIs I gave Ihe aIarm of Ihe
rogue, and he was surrounded by Ihe sIouIesI of Ihem, who
enIangIed hIm wIIh cords, so IhaI he couId noI escae IIII
some of Ihe grown eoIe came and secured hIm. BuI aIas!
ere Iong II was my faIe Io be Ihus aIIacked, and Io be carrIed
off, when none of Ihe grown eoIe were nIgh. One day, when
aII our eoIe were gone ouI Io IheIr works as usuaI, and
onIy I and my dear sIsIer were IefI Io mInd Ihe house, Iwo
men and a woman goI over our waIIs, and In a momenI
seIzed us boIh, and, wIIhouI gIvIng us IIme Io cry ouI, or
make resIsIance, Ihey sIoed our mouIhs, and ran off wIIh
us InIo Ihe nearesI wood. Here Ihey IIed our hands, and con-
IInued Io carry us as far as Ihey couId, IIII nIghI came on,
when we reached a smaII house, where Ihe robbers haIIed for
refreshmenI, and senI Ihe nIghI. We were Ihen unbound,
buI were unabIe Io Iake any food; and, beIng quIIe over-
owered by faIIgue and grIef, our onIy reIIef was some sIee,
whIch aIIayed our mIsforIune for a shorI IIme. The nexI
mornIng we IefI Ihe house, and conIInued IraveIIIng aII Ihe
day. or a Iong IIme we had keI Ihe woods, buI aI IasI we
came InIo a road whIch I beIIeved I knew. I had now some
hoes of beIng deIIvered; for we had advanced buI a IIIIIe
way before I dIscovered some eoIe aI a dIsIance, on whIch I
began Io cry ouI for IheIr assIsIance: buI my crIes had no
"*
oIher effecI Ihan Io make Ihem IIe me fasIer and sIo my
mouIh, and Ihen Ihey uI me InIo a Iarge sack. They aIso
sIoed my sIsIer's mouIh, and IIed her hands; and In IhIs
manner we roceeded IIII we were ouI of Ihe sIghI of Ihese
eoIe. When we wenI Io resI Ihe foIIowIng nIghI Ihey
offered us some vIcIuaIs; buI we refused II; and Ihe onIy com-
forI we had was In beIng In one anoIher's arms aII IhaI nIghI,
and baIhIng each oIher wIIh our Iears. BuI aIas! we were
soon derIved of even Ihe smaII comforI of weeIng IogeIher.
The nexI day roved a day of greaIer sorrow Ihan I had yeI
exerIenced; for my sIsIer and I were Ihen searaIed, whIIe
we Iay cIased In each oIher's arms. II was In vaIn IhaI we
besoughI Ihem noI Io arI us; she was Iorn from me, and Im-
medIaIeIy carrIed away, whIIe I was IefI In a sIaIe of dIsIrac-
IIon noI Io be descrIbed. I crIed and grIeved conIInuaIIy; and
for severaI days I dId noI eaI any IhIng buI whaI Ihey forced
InIo my mouIh. AI IengIh, afIer many days IraveIIIng, durIng
whIch I had ofIen changed masIers, I goI InIo Ihe hands of a
chIefIaIn, In a very IeasanI counIry. ThIs man had Iwo
wIves and some chIIdren, and Ihey aII used me exIremeIy
weII, and dId aII Ihey couId Io comforI me; arIIcuIarIy Ihe
fIrsI wIfe, who was someIhIng IIke my moIher. AIIhough I
was a greaI many days journey from my faIher's house, yeI
Ihese eoIe soke exacIIy Ihe same Ianguage wIIh us. ThIs
fIrsI masIer of mIne, as I may caII hIm, was a smIIh, and my
rIncIaI emIoymenI was workIng hIs beIIows, whIch were
Ihe same kInd as I had seen In my vIcInIIy. They were In
some resecIs noI unIIke Ihe sIoves here In genIIemen's kII-
chens; and were covered over wIIh IeaIher; and In Ihe mIddIe
of IhaI IeaIher a sIIck was fIxed, and a erson sIood u, and
worked II, In Ihe same manner as Is done Io um waIer ouI
of a cask wIIh a hand um. I beIIeve II was goId he worked,
for II was of a IoveIy brIghI yeIIow coIour, and was worn by
Ihe women on IheIr wrIsIs and ancIes. I was Ihere I suose
abouI a monIh, and Ihey aI IasI used Io IrusI me some IIIIIe
dIsIance from Ihe house. ThIs IIberIy I used In embracIng
every oorIunIIy Io InquIre Ihe way Io my own home: and I
aIso someIImes, for Ihe same urose, wenI wIIh Ihe maId-
ens, In Ihe cooI of Ihe evenIngs, Io brIng IIchers of waIer
"!
from Ihe srIngs for Ihe use of Ihe house. I had aIso re-
marked where Ihe sun rose In Ihe mornIng, and seI In Ihe
evenIng, as I had IraveIIed aIong; and I had observed IhaI
my faIher's house was Iowards Ihe rIsIng of Ihe sun. I Ihere-
fore deIermIned Io seIze Ihe fIrsI oorIunIIy of makIng my
escae, and Io shae my course for IhaI quarIer; for I was
quIIe oressed and weIghed down by grIef afIer my moIher
and frIends; and my Iove of IIberIy, ever greaI, was
sIrengIhened by Ihe morIIfyIng cIrcumsIance of noI darIng Io
eaI wIIh Ihe free-born chIIdren, aIIhough I was mosIIy IheIr
comanIon. WhIIe I was rojecIIng my escae, one day an un-
Iucky evenI haened, whIch quIIe dIsconcerIed my Ian,
and uI an end Io my hoes. I used Io be someIImes em-
Ioyed In assIsIIng an eIderIy woman sIave Io cook and Iake
care of Ihe ouIIry; and one mornIng, whIIe I was feedIng
some chIckens, I haened Io Ioss a smaII ebbIe aI one of
Ihem, whIch hII II on Ihe mIddIe and dIrecIIy kIIIed II. The
oId sIave, havIng soon afIer mIssed Ihe chIcken, InquIred
afIer II; and on my reIaIIng Ihe accIdenI (for I IoId her Ihe
IruIh, because my moIher wouId never suffer me Io IeII a IIe)
she fIew InIo a vIoIenI assIon, IhreaIened IhaI I shouId suf-
fer for II; and, my masIer beIng ouI, she ImmedIaIeIy wenI
and IoId her mIsIress whaI I had done. ThIs aIarmed me very
much, and I execIed an InsIanI fIoggIng, whIch Io me was
uncommonIy dreadfuI; for I had seIdom been beaIen aI home.
I Iherefore resoIved Io fIy; and accordIngIy I ran InIo a IhIck-
eI IhaI was hard by, and hId myseIf In Ihe bushes. Soon af-
Ierwards my mIsIress and Ihe sIave reIurned, and, noI see-
Ing me, Ihey searched aII Ihe house, buI noI fIndIng me, and
I noI makIng answer when Ihey caIIed Io me, Ihey IhoughI I
had run away, and Ihe whoIe neIghbourhood was raIsed In
Ihe ursuII of me. In IhaI arI of Ihe counIry (as In ours) Ihe
houses and vIIIages were skIrIed wIIh woods, or shrubberIes,
and Ihe bushes were so IhIck IhaI a man couId readIIy con-
ceaI hImseIf In Ihem, so as Io eIude Ihe sIrIcIesI search. The
neIghbours conIInued Ihe whoIe day IookIng for me, and sev-
eraI IImes many of Ihem came wIIhIn a few yards of Ihe
Iace where I Iay hId. I Ihen gave myseIf u for IosI enIIreIy,
and execIed every momenI, when I heard a rusIIIng among
""
Ihe Irees, Io be found ouI, and unIshed by my masIer: buI
Ihey never dIscovered me, Ihough Ihey were ofIen so near
IhaI I even heard IheIr conjecIures as Ihey were IookIng
abouI for me; and I now Iearned from Ihem, IhaI any aIIemI
Io reIurn home wouId be hoeIess. MosI of Ihem suosed I
had fIed Iowards home; buI Ihe dIsIance was so greaI, and
Ihe way so InIrIcaIe, IhaI Ihey IhoughI I couId never reach II,
and IhaI I shouId be IosI In Ihe woods. When I heard IhIs I
was seIzed wIIh a vIoIenI anIc, and abandoned myseIf Io
desaIr. NIghI Ioo began Io aroach, and aggravaIed aII my
fears. I had before enIerIaIned hoes of geIIIng home, and I
had deIermIned when II shouId be dark Io make Ihe aIIemI;
buI I was now convInced II was fruIIIess, and I began Io con-
sIder IhaI, If ossIbIy I couId escae aII oIher anImaIs, I couId
noI Ihose of Ihe human kInd; and IhaI, noI knowIng Ihe way,
I musI erIsh In Ihe woods. Thus was I IIke Ihe hunIed deer:
"v'ry Ieaf and ev'ry whIs'rIng breaIh Convey'd a foe,
and ev'ry foe a deaIh."
I heard frequenI rusIIIngs among Ihe Ieaves; and beIng
reIIy sure Ihey were snakes I execIed every InsIanI Io be
sIung by Ihem. ThIs Increased my anguIsh, and Ihe horror of
my sIIuaIIon became now quIIe InsuorIabIe. I aI IengIh
quIIIed Ihe IhIckeI, very faInI and hungry, for I had noI
eaIen or drank any IhIng aII Ihe day; and creI Io my
masIer's kIIchen, from whence I seI ouI aI fIrsI, and whIch
was an oen shed, and IaId myseIf down In Ihe ashes wIIh an
anxIous wIsh for deaIh Io reIIeve me from aII my aIns. I was
scarceIy awake In Ihe mornIng when Ihe oId woman sIave,
who was Ihe fIrsI u, came Io IIghI Ihe fIre, and saw me In
Ihe fIre Iace. She was very much surrIsed Io see me, and
couId scarceIy beIIeve her own eyes. She now romIsed Io In-
Iercede for me, and wenI for her masIer, who soon afIer
came, and, havIng sIIghIIy rerImanded me, ordered me Io
be Iaken care of, and noI Io be III-IreaIed.
Soon afIer IhIs my masIer's onIy daughIer, and chIId by hIs
fIrsI wIfe, sIckened and dIed, whIch affecIed hIm so much
IhaI for some IIme he was aImosI franIIc, and reaIIy wouId
have kIIIed hImseIf, had he noI been waIched and revenIed.
However, In a smaII IIme afIerwards he recovered, and I was
"#
agaIn soId. I was now carrIed Io Ihe IefI of Ihe sun's rIsIng,
Ihrough many dIfferenI counIrIes, and a number of Iarge
woods. The eoIe I was soId Io used Io carry me very ofIen,
when I was IIred, eIIher on IheIr shouIders or on IheIr backs.
I saw many convenIenI weII-buIII sheds aIong Ihe roads, aI
roer dIsIances, Io accommodaIe Ihe merchanIs and IraveI-
Iers, who Iay In Ihose buIIdIngs aIong wIIh IheIr wIves, who
ofIen accomany Ihem; and Ihey aIways go weII armed.
rom Ihe IIme I IefI my own naIIon I aIways found some-
body IhaI undersIood me IIII I came Io Ihe sea coasI. The Ian-
guages of dIfferenI naIIons dId noI IoIaIIy dIffer, nor were
Ihey so coIous as Ihose of Ihe uroeans, arIIcuIarIy Ihe
ngIIsh. They were Iherefore easIIy Iearned; and, whIIe I was
journeyIng Ihus Ihrough AfrIca, I acquIred Iwo or Ihree dIf-
ferenI Iongues. In IhIs manner I had been IraveIIIng for a
consIderabIe IIme, when one evenIng, Io my greaI surrIse,
whom shouId I see broughI Io Ihe house where I was buI my
dear sIsIer! As soon as she saw me she gave a Ioud shrIek,
and ran InIo my armsI was quIIe overowered: neIIher of
us couId seak; buI, for a consIderabIe IIme, cIung Io each
oIher In muIuaI embraces, unabIe Io do any IhIng buI wee.
Our meeIIng affecIed aII who saw us; and Indeed I musI ac-
knowIedge, In honour of Ihose sabIe desIroyers of human
rIghIs, IhaI I never meI wIIh any III IreaImenI, or saw any
offered Io IheIr sIaves, exceI IyIng Ihem, when necessary, Io
kee Ihem from runnIng away. When Ihese eoIe knew we
were broIher and sIsIer Ihey InduIged us IogeIher; and Ihe
man, Io whom I suosed we beIonged, Iay wIIh us, he In Ihe
mIddIe, whIIe she and I heId one anoIher by Ihe hands across
hIs breasI aII nIghI; and Ihus for a whIIe we forgoI our mIs-
forIunes In Ihe joy of beIng IogeIher: buI even IhIs smaII
comforI was soon Io have an end; for scarceIy had Ihe faIaI
mornIng aeared, when she was agaIn Iorn from me for
ever! I was now more mIserabIe, If ossIbIe, Ihan before. The
smaII reIIef whIch her resence gave me from aIn was gone,
and Ihe wreIchedness of my sIIuaIIon was redoubIed by my
anxIeIy afIer her faIe, and my arehensIons IesI her suffer-
Ings shouId be greaIer Ihan mIne, when I couId noI be wIIh
her Io aIIevIaIe Ihem. Yes, Ihou dear arIner of aII my
"$
chIIdIsh sorIs! Ihou sharer of my joys and sorrows! hay
shouId I have ever esIeemed myseIf Io encounIer every
mIsery for you, and Io rocure your freedom by Ihe sacrIfIce
of my own. Though you were earIy forced from my arms,
your Image has been aIways rIveIIed In my hearI, from
whIch neIIher IIme nor forIune have been abIe Io remove II;
so IhaI, whIIe Ihe IhoughIs of your sufferIngs have damed
my roserIIy, Ihey have mIngIed wIIh adversIIy and In-
creased IIs bIIIerness. To IhaI Heaven whIch roIecIs Ihe
weak from Ihe sIrong, I commII Ihe care of your Innocence
and vIrIues, If Ihey have noI aIready receIved IheIr fuII re-
ward, and If your youIh and deIIcacy have noI Iong sInce
faIIen vIcIIms Io Ihe vIoIence of Ihe AfrIcan Irader, Ihe esII-
IenIIaI sIench of a OuInea shI, Ihe seasonIng In Ihe
uroean coIonIes, or Ihe Iash and IusI of a bruIaI and unre-
IenIIng overseer.
I dId noI Iong remaIn afIer my sIsIer. I was agaIn soId, and
carrIed Ihrough a number of Iaces, IIII, afIer IraveIIIng a
consIderabIe IIme, I came Io a Iown caIIed TInmah, In Ihe
mosI beauIIfuI counIry I have yeI seen In AfrIca. II was ex-
IremeIy rIch, and Ihere were many rIvuIeIs whIch fIowed
Ihrough II, and suIIed a Iarge ond In Ihe cenIre of Ihe
Iown, where Ihe eoIe washed. Here I fIrsI saw and IasIed
cocoa-nuIs, whIch I IhoughI suerIor Io any nuIs I had ever
IasIed before; and Ihe Irees, whIch were Ioaded, were aIso In-
Iersersed amongsI Ihe houses, whIch had commodIous
shades adjoInIng, and were In Ihe same manner as ours, Ihe
InsIdes beIng neaIIy IasIered and whIIewashed. Here I aIso
saw and IasIed for Ihe fIrsI IIme sugar-cane. TheIr money
consIsIed of IIIIIe whIIe sheIIs, Ihe sIze of Ihe fInger naII. I
was soId here for one hundred and sevenIy-Iwo of Ihem by a
merchanI who IIved and broughI me Ihere. I had been abouI
Iwo or Ihree days aI hIs house, when a weaIIhy wIdow, a
neIghbour of hIs, came Ihere one evenIng, and broughI wIIh
her an onIy son, a young genIIeman abouI my own age and
sIze. Here Ihey saw me; and, havIng Iaken a fancy Io me, I
was boughI of Ihe merchanI, and wenI home wIIh Ihem. Her
house and remIses were sIIuaIed cIose Io one of Ihose rIvu-
IeIs I have menIIoned, and were Ihe fInesI I ever saw In
"%
AfrIca: Ihey were very exIensIve, and she had a number of
sIaves Io aIIend her. The nexI day I was washed and er-
fumed, and when meaI-IIme came I was Ied InIo Ihe resence
of my mIsIress, and aIe and drank before her wIIh her son.
ThIs fIIIed me wIIh asIonIshmenI; and I couId scarce heI ex-
ressIng my surrIse IhaI Ihe young genIIeman shouId suffer
me, who was bound, Io eaI wIIh hIm who was free; and noI
onIy so, buI IhaI he wouId noI aI any IIme eIIher eaI or drInk
IIII I had Iaken fIrsI, because I was Ihe eIdesI, whIch was
agreeabIe Io our cusIom. Indeed every IhIng here, and aII
IheIr IreaImenI of me, made me forgeI IhaI I was a sIave.
The Ianguage of Ihese eoIe resembIed ours so nearIy, IhaI
we undersIood each oIher erfecIIy. They had aIso Ihe very
same cusIoms as we. There were IIkewIse sIaves daIIy Io aI-
Iend us, whIIe my young masIer and I wIIh oIher boys sor-
Ied wIIh our darIs and bows and arrows, as I had been used
Io do aI home. In IhIs resembIance Io my former hay sIaIe
I assed abouI Iwo monIhs; and I now began Io IhInk I was
Io be adoIed InIo Ihe famIIy, and was begInnIng Io be recon-
cIIed Io my sIIuaIIon, and Io forgeI by degrees my mIsfor-
Iunes, when aII aI once Ihe deIusIon vanIshed; for, wIIhouI
Ihe IeasI revIous knowIedge, one mornIng earIy, whIIe my
dear masIer and comanIon was sIIII asIee, I was wakened
ouI of my reverIe Io fresh sorrow, and hurrIed away even
amongsI Ihe uncIrcumcIsed.
Thus, aI Ihe very momenI I dreamed of Ihe greaIesI haI-
ness, I found myseIf mosI mIserabIe; and II seemed as If for-
Iune wIshed Io gIve me IhIs IasIe of joy, onIy Io render Ihe
reverse more oIgnanI. The change I now exerIenced was as
aInfuI as II was sudden and unexecIed. II was a change In-
deed from a sIaIe of bIIss Io a scene whIch Is InexressIbIe by
me, as II dIscovered Io me an eIemenI I had never before be-
heId, and IIII Ihen had no Idea of, and whereIn such In-
sIances of hardshI and crueIIy conIInuaIIy occurred as I can
never refIecI on buI wIIh horror.
AII Ihe naIIons and eoIe I had hIIherIo assed Ihrough
resembIed our own In IheIr manners, cusIoms, and Ianguage:
buI I came aI IengIh Io a counIry, Ihe InhabIIanIs of whIch
dIffered from us In aII Ihose arIIcuIars. I was very much
"&
sIruck wIIh IhIs dIfference, esecIaIIy when I came among a
eoIe who dId noI cIrcumcIse, and aIe wIIhouI washIng
IheIr hands. They cooked aIso In Iron oIs, and had
uroean cuIIasses and cross bows, whIch were unknown Io
us, and foughI wIIh IheIr fIsIs amongsI IhemseIves. TheIr
women were noI so modesI as ours, for Ihey aIe, and drank,
and sIeI, wIIh IheIr men. BuI, above aII, I was amazed Io
see no sacrIfIces or offerIngs among Ihem. In some of Ihose
Iaces Ihe eoIe ornamenIed IhemseIves wIIh scars, and
IIkewIse fIIed IheIr IeeIh very shar. They wanIed someIImes
Io ornamenI me In Ihe same manner, buI I wouId noI suffer
Ihem; hoIng IhaI I mIghI some IIme be among a eoIe who
dId noI Ihus dIsfIgure IhemseIves, as I IhoughI Ihey dId. AI
IasI I came Io Ihe banks of a Iarge rIver, whIch was covered
wIIh canoes, In whIch Ihe eoIe aeared Io IIve wIIh IheIr
househoId uIensIIs and rovIsIons of aII kInds. I was beyond
measure asIonIshed aI IhIs, as I had never before seen any
waIer Iarger Ihan a ond or a rIvuIeI: and my surrIse was
mIngIed wIIh no smaII fear when I was uI InIo one of Ihese
canoes, and we began Io addIe and move aIong Ihe rIver.
We conIInued goIng on Ihus IIII nIghI; and when we came Io
Iand, and made fIres on Ihe banks, each famIIy by Ihem-
seIves, some dragged IheIr canoes on shore, oIhers sIayed
and cooked In IheIrs, and IaId In Ihem aII nIghI. Those on Ihe
Iand had maIs, of whIch Ihey made IenIs, some In Ihe shae
of IIIIIe houses: In Ihese we sIeI; and afIer Ihe mornIng
meaI we embarked agaIn and roceeded as before. I was of-
Ien very much asIonIshed Io see some of Ihe women, as weII
as Ihe men, jum InIo Ihe waIer, dIve Io Ihe boIIom, come u
agaIn, and swIm abouI. Thus I conIInued Io IraveI, some-
IImes by Iand, someIImes by waIer, Ihrough dIfferenI coun-
IrIes and varIous naIIons, IIII, aI Ihe end of sIx or seven
monIhs afIer I had been kIdnaed, I arrIved aI Ihe sea
coasI. II wouId be IedIous and unInIeresIIng Io reIaIe aII Ihe
IncIdenIs whIch befeII me durIng IhIs journey, and whIch I
have noI yeI forgoIIen; of Ihe varIous hands I assed
Ihrough, and Ihe manners and cusIoms of aII Ihe dIfferenI
eoIe among whom I IIved: I shaII Iherefore onIy observe,
IhaI In aII Ihe Iaces where I was Ihe soII was exceedIngIy
"'
rIch; Ihe omkIns, eadas, IanIaIns, yams, &c. &c. were In
greaI abundance, and of IncredIbIe sIze. There were aIso vasI
quanIIIIes of dIfferenI gums, Ihough noI used for any ur-
ose; and every where a greaI deaI of Iobacco. The coIIon
even grew quIIe wIId; and Ihere was IenIy of redwood. I saw
no mechanIcs whaIever In aII Ihe way, exceI such as I have
menIIoned. The chIef emIoymenI In aII Ihese counIrIes was
agrIcuIIure, and boIh Ihe maIes and femaIes, as wIIh us,
were broughI u Io II, and IraIned In Ihe arIs of war.
The fIrsI objecI whIch saIuIed my eyes when I arrIved on
Ihe coasI was Ihe sea, and a sIave shI, whIch was Ihen rId-
Ing aI anchor, and waIIIng for IIs cargo. These fIIIed me wIIh
asIonIshmenI, whIch was soon converIed InIo Ierror when I
was carrIed on board. I was ImmedIaIeIy handIed and Iossed
u Io see If I were sound by some of Ihe crew; and I was now
ersuaded IhaI I had goIIen InIo a worId of bad sIrIIs, and
IhaI Ihey were goIng Io kIII me. TheIr comIexIons Ioo dIffer-
Ing so much from ours, IheIr Iong haIr, and Ihe Ianguage
Ihey soke, (whIch was very dIfferenI from any I had ever
heard) unIIed Io confIrm me In IhIs beIIef. Indeed such were
Ihe horrors of my vIews and fears aI Ihe momenI, IhaI, If Ien
Ihousand worIds had been my own, I wouId have freeIy ar-
Ied wIIh Ihem aII Io have exchanged my condIIIon wIIh IhaI
of Ihe meanesI sIave In my own counIry. When I Iooked
round Ihe shI Ioo and saw a Iarge furnace or coer boIIIng,
and a muIIIIude of bIack eoIe of every descrIIIon chaIned
IogeIher, every one of IheIr counIenances exressIng dejec-
IIon and sorrow, I no Ionger doubIed of my faIe; and, quIIe
overowered wIIh horror and anguIsh, I feII moIIonIess on
Ihe deck and faInIed. When I recovered a IIIIIe I found some
bIack eoIe abouI me, who I beIIeved were some of Ihose
who broughI me on board, and had been receIvIng IheIr ay;
Ihey IaIked Io me In order Io cheer me, buI aII In vaIn. I
asked Ihem If we were noI Io be eaIen by Ihose whIIe men
wIIh horrIbIe Iooks, red faces, and Ioose haIr. They IoId me I
was noI; and one of Ihe crew broughI me a smaII orIIon of
sIrIIuous IIquor In a wIne gIass; buI, beIng afraId of hIm, I
wouId noI Iake II ouI of hIs hand. One of Ihe bIacks Iherefore
Iook II from hIm and gave II Io me, and I Iook a IIIIIe down
"(
my aIaIe, whIch, InsIead of revIvIng me, as Ihey IhoughI II
wouId, Ihrew me InIo Ihe greaIesI consIernaIIon aI Ihe
sIrange feeIIng II roduced, havIng never IasIed any such II-
quor before. Soon afIer IhIs Ihe bIacks who broughI me on
board wenI off, and IefI me abandoned Io desaIr. I now saw
myseIf derIved of aII chance of reIurnIng Io my naIIve coun-
Iry, or even Ihe IeasI gIImse of hoe of gaInIng Ihe shore,
whIch I now consIdered as frIendIy; and I even wIshed for my
former sIavery In reference Io my resenI sIIuaIIon, whIch
was fIIIed wIIh horrors of every kInd, sIIII heIghIened by my
Ignorance of whaI I was Io undergo. I was noI Iong suffered
Io InduIge my grIef; I was soon uI down under Ihe decks,
and Ihere I receIved such a saIuIaIIon In my nosIrIIs as I had
never exerIenced In my IIfe: so IhaI, wIIh Ihe IoaIhsomeness
of Ihe sIench, and cryIng IogeIher, I became so sIck and Iow
IhaI I was noI abIe Io eaI, nor had I Ihe IeasI desIre Io IasIe
any IhIng. I now wIshed for Ihe IasI frIend, deaIh, Io reIIeve
me; buI soon, Io my grIef, Iwo of Ihe whIIe men offered me
eaIabIes; and, on my refusIng Io eaI, one of Ihem heId me
fasI by Ihe hands, and IaId me across I IhInk Ihe wIndIass,
and IIed my feeI, whIIe Ihe oIher fIogged me severeIy. I had
never exerIenced any IhIng of IhIs kInd before; and aI-
Ihough, noI beIng used Io Ihe waIer, I naIuraIIy feared IhaI
eIemenI Ihe fIrsI IIme I saw II, yeI neverIheIess, couId I have
goI over Ihe neIIIngs, I wouId have jumed over Ihe sIde, buI
I couId noI; and, besIdes, Ihe crew used Io waIch us very
cIoseIy who were noI chaIned down Io Ihe decks, IesI we
shouId Iea InIo Ihe waIer: and I have seen some of Ihese
oor AfrIcan rIsoners mosI severeIy cuI for aIIemIIng Io do
so, and hourIy whIed for noI eaIIng. ThIs Indeed was ofIen
Ihe case wIIh myseIf. In a IIIIIe IIme afIer, amongsI Ihe oor
chaIned men, I found some of my own naIIon, whIch In a
smaII degree gave ease Io my mInd. I InquIred of Ihese whaI
was Io be done wIIh us; Ihey gave me Io undersIand we were
Io be carrIed Io Ihese whIIe eoIe's counIry Io work for
Ihem. I Ihen was a IIIIIe revIved, and IhoughI, If II were no
worse Ihan workIng, my sIIuaIIon was noI so deseraIe: buI
sIIII I feared I shouId be uI Io deaIh, Ihe whIIe eoIe
Iooked and acIed, as I IhoughI, In so savage a manner; for I
")
had never seen among any eoIe such InsIances of bruIaI
crueIIy; and IhIs noI onIy shewn Iowards us bIacks, buI aIso
Io some of Ihe whIIes IhemseIves. One whIIe man In arIIcu-
Iar I saw, when we were ermIIIed Io be on deck, fIogged so
unmercIfuIIy wIIh a Iarge roe near Ihe foremasI, IhaI he
dIed In consequence of II; and Ihey Iossed hIm over Ihe sIde
as Ihey wouId have done a bruIe. ThIs made me fear Ihese
eoIe Ihe more; and I execIed noIhIng Iess Ihan Io be
IreaIed In Ihe same manner. I couId noI heI exressIng my
fears and arehensIons Io some of my counIrymen: I asked
Ihem If Ihese eoIe had no counIry, buI IIved In IhIs hoIIow
Iace (Ihe shI): Ihey IoId me Ihey dId noI, buI came from a
dIsIanI one. 'Then,' saId I, 'how comes II In aII our counIry we
never heard of Ihem7' They IoId me because Ihey IIved so
very far off. I Ihen asked where were IheIr women7 had Ihey
any IIke IhemseIves7 I was IoId Ihey had: 'and why,' saId
I,'do we noI see Ihem7' Ihey answered, because Ihey were IefI
behInd. I asked how Ihe vesseI couId go7 Ihey IoId me Ihey
couId noI IeII; buI IhaI Ihere were cIoIhs uI uon Ihe masIs
by Ihe heI of Ihe roes I saw, and Ihen Ihe vesseI wenI on;
and Ihe whIIe men had some seII or magIc Ihey uI In Ihe
waIer when Ihey IIked In order Io sIo Ihe vesseI. I was ex-
ceedIngIy amazed aI IhIs accounI, and reaIIy IhoughI Ihey
were sIrIIs. I Iherefore wIshed much Io be from amongsI
Ihem, for I execIed Ihey wouId sacrIfIce me: buI my wIshes
were vaIn; for we were so quarIered IhaI II was ImossIbIe
for any of us Io make our escae. WhIIe we sIayed on Ihe
coasI I was mosIIy on deck; and one day, Io my greaI asIon-
IshmenI, I saw one of Ihese vesseIs comIng In wIIh Ihe saIIs
u. As soon as Ihe whIIes saw II, Ihey gave a greaI shouI, aI
whIch we were amazed; and Ihe more so as Ihe vesseI a-
eared Iarger by aroachIng nearer. AI IasI she came Io an
anchor In my sIghI, and when Ihe anchor was IeI go I and my
counIrymen who saw II were IosI In asIonIshmenI Io observe
Ihe vesseI sIo; and were noI convInced II was done by magIc.
Soon afIer IhIs Ihe oIher shI goI her boaIs ouI, and Ihey
came on board of us, and Ihe eoIe of boIh shIs seemed
very gIad Io see each oIher. SeveraI of Ihe sIrangers aIso
shook hands wIIh us bIack eoIe, and made moIIons wIIh
#*
IheIr hands, sIgnIfyIng I suose we were Io go Io IheIr coun-
Iry; buI we dId noI undersIand Ihem. AI IasI, when Ihe shI
we were In had goI In aII her cargo, Ihey made ready wIIh
many fearfuI noIses, and we were aII uI under deck, so IhaI
we couId noI see how Ihey managed Ihe vesseI. BuI IhIs dIs-
aoInImenI was Ihe IeasI of my sorrow. The sIench of Ihe
hoId whIIe we were on Ihe coasI was so InIoIerabIy IoaIh-
some, IhaI II was dangerous Io remaIn Ihere for any IIme,
and some of us had been ermIIIed Io sIay on Ihe deck for
Ihe fresh aIr; buI now IhaI Ihe whoIe shI's cargo were con-
fIned IogeIher, II became absoIuIeIy esIIIenIIaI. The cIose-
ness of Ihe Iace, and Ihe heaI of Ihe cIImaIe, added Io Ihe
number In Ihe shI, whIch was so crowded IhaI each had
scarceIy room Io Iurn hImseIf, aImosI suffocaIed us. ThIs ro-
duced coIous ersIraIIons, so IhaI Ihe aIr soon became un-
fII for resIraIIon, from a varIeIy of IoaIhsome smeIIs, and
broughI on a sIckness among Ihe sIaves, of whIch many dIed,
Ihus faIIIng vIcIIms Io Ihe ImrovIdenI avarIce, as I may caII
II, of IheIr urchasers. ThIs wreIched sIIuaIIon was agaIn ag-
gravaIed by Ihe gaIIIng of Ihe chaIns, now become InsuorI-
abIe; and Ihe fIIIh of Ihe necessary Iubs, InIo whIch Ihe chII-
dren ofIen feII, and were aImosI suffocaIed. The shrIeks of
Ihe women, and Ihe groans of Ihe dyIng, rendered Ihe whoIe
a scene of horror aImosI InconceIvabIe. HaIIy erhas for
myseIf I was soon reduced so Iow here IhaI II was IhoughI
necessary Io kee me aImosI aIways on deck; and from my
exIreme youIh I was noI uI In feIIers. In IhIs sIIuaIIon I ex-
ecIed every hour Io share Ihe faIe of my comanIons, some
of whom were aImosI daIIy broughI uon deck aI Ihe oInI of
deaIh, whIch I began Io hoe wouId soon uI an end Io my
mIserIes. OfIen dId I IhInk many of Ihe InhabIIanIs of Ihe
dee much more hay Ihan myseIf. I envIed Ihem Ihe free-
dom Ihey enjoyed, and as ofIen wIshed I couId change my
condIIIon for IheIrs. very cIrcumsIance I meI wIIh served
onIy Io render my sIaIe more aInfuI, and heIghIen my a-
rehensIons, and my oInIon of Ihe crueIIy of Ihe whIIes.
One day Ihey had Iaken a number of fIshes; and when Ihey
had kIIIed and saIIsfIed IhemseIves wIIh as many as Ihey
IhoughI fII, Io our asIonIshmenI who were on Ihe deck,
#!
raIher Ihan gIve any of Ihem Io us Io eaI as we execIed,
Ihey Iossed Ihe remaInIng fIsh InIo Ihe sea agaIn, aIIhough
we begged and rayed for some as weII as we couId, buI In
vaIn; and some of my counIrymen, beIng ressed by hunger,
Iook an oorIunIIy, when Ihey IhoughI no one saw Ihem, of
IryIng Io geI a IIIIIe rIvaIeIy; buI Ihey were dIscovered, and
Ihe aIIemI rocured Ihem some very severe fIoggIngs. One
day, when we had a smooIh sea and moderaIe wInd, Iwo of
my wearIed counIrymen who were chaIned IogeIher (I was
near Ihem aI Ihe IIme), referrIng deaIh Io such a IIfe of
mIsery, somehow made Ihrough Ihe neIIIngs and jumed In-
Io Ihe sea: ImmedIaIeIy anoIher quIIe dejecIed feIIow, who,
on accounI of hIs IIIness, was suffered Io be ouI of Irons, aIso
foIIowed IheIr examIe; and I beIIeve many more wouId very
soon have done Ihe same If Ihey had noI been revenIed by
Ihe shI's crew, who were InsIanIIy aIarmed. Those of us
IhaI were Ihe mosI acIIve were In a momenI uI down under
Ihe deck, and Ihere was such a noIse and confusIon amongsI
Ihe eoIe of Ihe shI as I never heard before, Io sIo her,
and geI Ihe boaI ouI Io go afIer Ihe sIaves. However Iwo of
Ihe wreIches were drowned, buI Ihey goI Ihe oIher, and af-
Ierwards fIogged hIm unmercIfuIIy for Ihus aIIemIIng Io
refer deaIh Io sIavery. In IhIs manner we conIInued Io un-
dergo more hardshIs Ihan I can now reIaIe, hardshIs
whIch are InsearabIe from IhIs accursed Irade. Many a IIme
we were near suffocaIIon from Ihe wanI of fresh aIr, whIch
we were ofIen wIIhouI for whoIe days IogeIher. ThIs, and Ihe
sIench of Ihe necessary Iubs, carrIed off many. urIng our
assage I fIrsI saw fIyIng fIshes, whIch surrIsed me very
much: Ihey used frequenIIy Io fIy across Ihe shI, and many
of Ihem feII on Ihe deck. I aIso now fIrsI saw Ihe use of Ihe
quadranI; I had ofIen wIIh asIonIshmenI seen Ihe marIners
make observaIIons wIIh II, and I couId noI IhInk whaI II
meanI. They aI IasI Iook noIIce of my surrIse; and one of
Ihem, wIIIIng Io Increase II, as weII as Io graIIfy my curIosIIy,
made me one day Iook Ihrough II. The cIouds aeared Io me
Io be Iand, whIch dIsaeared as Ihey assed aIong. ThIs
heIghIened my wonder; and I was now more ersuaded Ihan
ever IhaI I was In anoIher worId, and IhaI every IhIng abouI
#"
me was magIc. AI IasI we came In sIghI of Ihe IsIand of Bar-
badoes, aI whIch Ihe whIIes on board gave a greaI shouI, and
made many sIgns of joy Io us. We dId noI know whaI Io IhInk
of IhIs; buI as Ihe vesseI drew nearer we IaInIy saw Ihe har-
bour, and oIher shIs of dIfferenI kInds and sIzes; and we
soon anchored amongsI Ihem off BrIdge Town. Many mer-
chanIs and IanIers now came on board, Ihough II was In Ihe
evenIng. They uI us In searaIe arceIs, and examIned us
aIIenIIveIy. They aIso made us jum, and oInIed Io Ihe
Iand, sIgnIfyIng we were Io go Ihere. We IhoughI by IhIs we
shouId be eaIen by Ihese ugIy men, as Ihey aeared Io us;
and, when soon afIer we were aII uI down under Ihe deck
agaIn, Ihere was much dread and IrembIIng among us, and
noIhIng buI bIIIer crIes Io be heard aII Ihe nIghI from Ihese
arehensIons, Insomuch IhaI aI IasI Ihe whIIe eoIe goI
some oId sIaves from Ihe Iand Io acIfy us. They IoId us we
were noI Io be eaIen, buI Io work, and were soon Io go on
Iand, where we shouId see many of our counIry eoIe. ThIs
reorI eased us much; and sure enough, soon afIer we were
Ianded, Ihere came Io us AfrIcans of aII Ianguages. We were
conducIed ImmedIaIeIy Io Ihe merchanI's yard, where we
were aII enI u IogeIher IIke so many shee In a foId,
wIIhouI regard Io sex or age. As every objecI was new Io me
every IhIng I saw fIIIed me wIIh surrIse. WhaI sIruck me
fIrsI was IhaI Ihe houses were buIII wIIh sIorIes, and In
every oIher resecI dIfferenI from Ihose In AfrIca: buI I was
sIIII more asIonIshed on seeIng eoIe on horseback. I dId noI
know whaI IhIs couId mean; and Indeed I IhoughI Ihese
eoIe were fuII of noIhIng buI magIcaI arIs. WhIIe I was In
IhIs asIonIshmenI one of my feIIow rIsoners soke Io a
counIryman of hIs abouI Ihe horses, who saId Ihey were Ihe
same kInd Ihey had In IheIr counIry. I undersIood Ihem,
Ihough Ihey were from a dIsIanI arI of AfrIca, and I IhoughI
II odd I had noI seen any horses Ihere; buI afIerwards, when
I came Io converse wIIh dIfferenI AfrIcans, I found Ihey had
many horses amongsI Ihem, and much Iarger Ihan Ihose I
Ihen saw. We were noI many days In Ihe merchanI's cusIody
before we were soId afIer IheIr usuaI manner, whIch Is
IhIs:On a sIgnaI gIven,(as Ihe beaI of a drum) Ihe buyers
##
rush aI once InIo Ihe yard where Ihe sIaves are confIned, and
make choIce of IhaI arceI Ihey IIke besI. The noIse and
cIamour wIIh whIch IhIs Is aIIended, and Ihe eagerness vIs-
IbIe In Ihe counIenances of Ihe buyers, serve noI a IIIIIe Io In-
crease Ihe arehensIons of Ihe IerrIfIed AfrIcans, who may
weII be suosed Io consIder Ihem as Ihe mInIsIers of IhaI
desIrucIIon Io whIch Ihey IhInk IhemseIves devoIed. In IhIs
manner, wIIhouI scruIe, are reIaIIons and frIends sear-
aIed, mosI of Ihem never Io see each oIher agaIn. I remember
In Ihe vesseI In whIch I was broughI over, In Ihe men's aarI-
menI, Ihere were severaI broIhers, who, In Ihe saIe, were
soId In dIfferenI IoIs; and II was very movIng on IhIs occasIon
Io see and hear IheIr crIes aI arIIng. O, ye nomInaI ChrIsII-
ans! mIghI noI an AfrIcan ask you, Iearned you IhIs from
your Ood, who says unIo you, o unIo aII men as you wouId
men shouId do unIo you7 Is II noI enough IhaI we are Iorn
from our counIry and frIends Io IoII for your Iuxury and IusI
of gaIn7 MusI every Iender feeIIng be IIkewIse sacrIfIced Io
your avarIce7 Are Ihe dearesI frIends and reIaIIons, now
rendered more dear by IheIr searaIIon from IheIr kIndred,
sIIII Io be arIed from each oIher, and Ihus revenIed from
cheerIng Ihe gIoom of sIavery wIIh Ihe smaII comforI of beIng
IogeIher and mIngIIng IheIr sufferIngs and sorrows7 Why are
arenIs Io Iose IheIr chIIdren, broIhers IheIr sIsIers, or hus-
bands IheIr wIves7 SureIy IhIs Is a new refInemenI In
crueIIy, whIch, whIIe II has no advanIage Io aIone for II, Ihus
aggravaIes dIsIress, and adds fresh horrors even Io Ihe
wreIchedness of sIavery.
#$
!"#$%&' *
!"#$-4'"/($*)$<-((*#5$'/$:*(+*&*-JJ;((*.#)
*&$6&+3-&5JJK*)$M/&5#($-'$-$0-33$/0$)&/M
_The auIhor Is carrIed Io VIrgInIaHIs dIsIressSurrIse aI
seeIng a IcIure and a waIchIs boughI by CaIaIn PascaI,
and seIs ouI for ngIandHIs Ierror durIng Ihe voy-
ageArrIves In ngIandHIs wonder aI a faII of snowIs
senI Io Ouernsey, and In some IIme goes on board a shI of
war wIIh hIs masIerSome accounI of Ihe exedIIIon
agaInsI IouIsbourg under Ihe command of AdmIraI Bo-
scawen, In l758._
I now IoIaIIy IosI Ihe smaII remaIns of comforI I had en-
joyed In conversIng wIIh my counIrymen; Ihe women Ioo,
who used Io wash and Iake care of me, were aII gone dIffer-
enI ways, and I never saw one of Ihem afIerwards.
I sIayed In IhIs IsIand for a few days; I beIIeve II couId noI
be above a forInIghI; when I and some few more sIaves, IhaI
were noI saIeabIe amongsI Ihe resI, from very much freIIIng,
were shIed off In a sIoo for NorIh AmerIca. On Ihe as-
sage we were beIIer IreaIed Ihan when we were comIng from
AfrIca, and we had IenIy of rIce and faI ork. We were
Ianded u a rIver a good way from Ihe sea, abouI VIrgInIa
counIy, where we saw few or none of our naIIve AfrIcans, and
noI one souI who couId IaIk Io me. I was a few weeks weed-
Ing grass, and gaIherIng sIones In a IanIaIIon; and aI IasI
aII my comanIons were dIsIrIbuIed dIfferenI ways, and onIy
myseIf was IefI. I was now exceedIngIy mIserabIe, and
IhoughI myseIf worse off Ihan any of Ihe resI of my coman-
Ions; for Ihey couId IaIk Io each oIher, buI I had no erson Io
seak Io IhaI I couId undersIand. In IhIs sIaIe I was con-
sIanIIy grIevIng and InIng, and wIshIng for deaIh raIher
#%
Ihan any IhIng eIse. WhIIe I was In IhIs IanIaIIon Ihe gen-
IIeman, Io whom I suose Ihe esIaIe beIonged, beIng un-
weII, I was one day senI for Io hIs dweIIIng house Io fan hIm;
when I came InIo Ihe room where he was I was very much af-
frIghIed aI some IhIngs I saw, and Ihe more so as I had seen
a bIack woman sIave as I came Ihrough Ihe house, who was
cookIng Ihe dInner, and Ihe oor creaIure was crueIIy Ioaded
wIIh varIous kInds of Iron machInes; she had one arIIcu-
IarIy on her head, whIch Iocked her mouIh so fasI IhaI she
couId scarceIy seak; and couId noI eaI nor drInk. I was
much asIonIshed and shocked aI IhIs conIrIvance, whIch I af-
Ierwards Iearned was caIIed Ihe Iron muzzIe. Soon afIer I
had a fan uI InIo my hand, Io fan Ihe genIIeman whIIe he
sIeI; and so I dId Indeed wIIh greaI fear. WhIIe he was fasI
asIee I InduIged myseIf a greaI deaI In IookIng abouI Ihe
room, whIch Io me aeared very fIne and curIous. The fIrsI
objecI IhaI engaged my aIIenIIon was a waIch whIch hung on
Ihe chImney, and was goIng. I was quIIe surrIsed aI Ihe
noIse II made, and was afraId II wouId IeII Ihe genIIeman
any IhIng I mIghI do amIss: and when I ImmedIaIeIy afIer
observed a IcIure hangIng In Ihe room, whIch aeared con-
sIanIIy Io Iook aI me, I was sIIII more affrIghIed, havIng nev-
er seen such IhIngs as Ihese before. AI one IIme I IhoughI II
was someIhIng reIaIIve Io magIc; and noI seeIng II move I
IhoughI II mIghI be some way Ihe whIIes had Io kee IheIr
greaI men when Ihey dIed, and offer Ihem IIbaIIon as we
used Io do Io our frIendIy sIrIIs. In IhIs sIaIe of anxIeIy I re-
maIned IIII my masIer awoke, when I was dIsmIssed ouI of
Ihe room, Io my no smaII saIIsfacIIon and reIIef; for I IhoughI
IhaI Ihese eoIe were aII made u of wonders. In IhIs Iace
I was caIIed Jacob; buI on board Ihe AfrIcan snow I was
caIIed MIchaeI. I had been some IIme In IhIs mIserabIe, for-
Iorn, and much dejecIed sIaIe, wIIhouI havIng any one Io
IaIk Io, whIch made my IIfe a burden, when Ihe kInd and un-
known hand of Ihe CreaIor (who In very deed Ieads Ihe bIInd
In a way Ihey know noI) now began Io aear, Io my comforI;
for one day Ihe caIaIn of a merchanI shI, caIIed Ihe Indus-
IrIous Bee, came on some busIness Io my masIer's house.
ThIs genIIeman, whose name was MIchaeI Henry PascaI,
#&
was a IIeuIenanI In Ihe royaI navy, buI now commanded IhIs
IradIng shI, whIch was somewhere In Ihe confInes of Ihe
counIy many mIIes off. WhIIe he was aI my masIer's house II
haened IhaI he saw me, and IIked me so weII IhaI he made
a urchase of me. I IhInk I have ofIen heard hIm say he gave
IhIrIy or forIy ounds sIerIIng for me; buI I do noI now re-
member whIch. However, he meanI me for a resenI Io some
of hIs frIends In ngIand: and I was senI accordIngIy from
Ihe house of my Ihen masIer, one Mr. CambeII, Io Ihe Iace
where Ihe shI Iay; I was conducIed on horseback by an eId-
erIy bIack man, (a mode of IraveIIIng whIch aeared very
odd Io me). When I arrIved I was carrIed on board a fIne
Iarge shI, Ioaded wIIh Iobacco, &c. and jusI ready Io saII for
ngIand. I now IhoughI my condIIIon much mended; I had
saIIs Io IIe on, and IenIy of good vIcIuaIs Io eaI; and every
body on board used me very kIndIy, quIIe conIrary Io whaI I
had seen of any whIIe eoIe before; I Iherefore began Io
IhInk IhaI Ihey were noI aII of Ihe same dIsosIIIon. A few
days afIer I was on board we saIIed for ngIand. I was sIIII aI
a Ioss Io conjecIure my desIIny. By IhIs IIme, however, I
couId smaIIer a IIIIIe ImerfecI ngIIsh; and I wanIed Io
know as weII as I couId where we were goIng. Some of Ihe
eoIe of Ihe shI used Io IeII me Ihey were goIng Io carry me
back Io my own counIry, and IhIs made me very hay. I was
quIIe rejoIced aI Ihe sound of goIng back; and IhoughI If I
shouId geI home whaI wonders I shouId have Io IeII. BuI I
was reserved for anoIher faIe, and was soon undeceIved
when we came wIIhIn sIghI of Ihe ngIIsh coasI. WhIIe I was
on board IhIs shI, my caIaIn and masIer named me
OusIavus Vassa. I aI IhaI IIme began Io undersIand hIm a
IIIIIe, and refused Io be caIIed so, and IoId hIm as weII as I
couId IhaI I wouId be caIIed Jacob; buI he saId I shouId noI,
and sIIII caIIed me OusIavus; and when I refused Io answer
Io my new name, whIch aI fIrsI I dId, II gaIned me many a
cuff; so aI IengIh I submIIIed, and was obIIged Io bear Ihe
resenI name, by whIch I have been known ever sInce. The
shI had a very Iong assage; and on IhaI accounI we had
very shorI aIIowance of rovIsIons. Towards Ihe IasI we had
onIy one ound and a haIf of bread er week, and abouI Ihe
#'
same quanIIIy of meaI, and one quarI of waIer a-day. We
soke wIIh onIy one vesseI Ihe whoIe IIme we were aI sea,
and buI once we caughI a few fIshes. In our exIremIIIes Ihe
caIaIn and eoIe IoId me In jesI Ihey wouId kIII and eaI
me; buI I IhoughI Ihem In earnesI, and was deressed bey-
ond measure, execIIng every momenI Io be my IasI. WhIIe I
was In IhIs sIIuaIIon one evenIng Ihey caughI, wIIh a good
deaI of IroubIe, a Iarge shark, and goI II on board. ThIs
gIaddened my oor hearI exceedIngIy, as I IhoughI II wouId
serve Ihe eoIe Io eaI InsIead of IheIr eaIIng me; buI very
soon, Io my asIonIshmenI, Ihey cuI off a smaII arI of Ihe
IaII, and Iossed Ihe resI over Ihe sIde. ThIs renewed my con-
sIernaIIon; and I dId noI know whaI Io IhInk of Ihese whIIe
eoIe, Ihough I very much feared Ihey wouId kIII and eaI
me. There was on board Ihe shI a young Iad who had never
been aI sea before, abouI four or fIve years oIder Ihan myseIf:
hIs name was RIchard Baker. He was a naIIve of AmerIca,
had receIved an exceIIenI educaIIon, and was of a mosI amI-
abIe Iemer. Soon afIer I wenI on board he shewed me a
greaI deaI of arIIaIIIy and aIIenIIon, and In reIurn I grew
exIremeIy fond of hIm. We aI IengIh became InsearabIe;
and, for Ihe sace of Iwo years, he was of very greaI use Io
me, and was my consIanI comanIon and InsIrucIor. AI-
Ihough IhIs dear youIh had many sIaves of hIs own, yeI he
and I have gone Ihrough many sufferIngs IogeIher on shI-
board; and we have many nIghIs IaIn In each oIher's bosoms
when we were In greaI dIsIress. Thus such a frIendshI was
cemenIed beIween us as we cherIshed IIII hIs deaIh, whIch,
Io my very greaI sorrow, haened In Ihe year l759, when he
was u Ihe ArchIeIago, on board hIs majesIy's shI Ihe Pre-
sIon: an evenI whIch I have never ceased Io regreI, as I IosI
aI once a kInd InIerreIer, an agreeabIe comanIon, and a
faIIhfuI frIend; who, aI Ihe age of fIfIeen, dIscovered a mInd
suerIor Io rejudIce; and who was noI ashamed Io noIIce, Io
assocIaIe wIIh, and Io be Ihe frIend and InsIrucIor of one who
was IgnoranI, a sIranger, of a dIfferenI comIexIon, and a
sIave! My masIer had Iodged In hIs moIher's house In Amer-
Ica: he resecIed hIm very much, and made hIm aIways eaI
wIIh hIm In Ihe cabIn. He used ofIen Io IeII hIm jocuIarIy
#(
IhaI he wouId kIII me Io eaI. SomeIImes he wouId say Io
meIhe bIack eoIe were noI good Io eaI, and wouId ask me
If we dId noI eaI eoIe In my counIry. I saId, No: Ihen he
saId he wouId kIII Ick (as he aIways caIIed hIm) fIrsI, and
afIerwards me. Though IhIs hearIng reIIeved my mInd a
IIIIIe as Io myseIf, I was aIarmed for Ick and whenever he
was caIIed I used Io be very much afraId he was Io be kIIIed;
and I wouId ee and waIch Io see If Ihey were goIng Io kIII
hIm: nor was I free from IhIs consIernaIIon IIII we made Ihe
Iand. One nIghI we IosI a man overboard; and Ihe crIes and
noIse were so greaI and confused, In sIoIng Ihe shI, IhaI
I, who dId noI know whaI was Ihe maIIer, began, as usuaI, Io
be very much afraId, and Io IhInk Ihey were goIng Io make
an offerIng wIIh me, and erform some magIc; whIch I sIIII
beIIeved Ihey deaII In. As Ihe waves were very hIgh I IhoughI
Ihe RuIer of Ihe seas was angry, and I execIed Io be offered
u Io aease hIm. ThIs fIIIed my mInd wIIh agony, and I
couId noI any more IhaI nIghI cIose my eyes agaIn Io resI.
However, when dayIIghI aeared I was a IIIIIe eased In my
mInd; buI sIIII every IIme I was caIIed I used Io IhInk II was
Io be kIIIed. Some IIme afIer IhIs we saw some very Iarge
fIsh, whIch I afIerwards found were caIIed gramusses. They
Iooked Io me exIremeIy IerrIbIe, and made IheIr aearance
jusI aI dusk; and were so near as Io bIow Ihe waIer on Ihe
shI's deck. I beIIeved Ihem Io be Ihe ruIers of Ihe sea; and,
as Ihe whIIe eoIe dId noI make any offerIngs aI any IIme, I
IhoughI Ihey were angry wIIh Ihem: and, aI IasI, whaI con-
fIrmed my beIIef was, Ihe wInd jusI Ihen dIed away, and a
caIm ensued, and In consequence of II Ihe shI sIoed goIng.
I suosed IhaI Ihe fIsh had erformed IhIs, and I hId myseIf
In Ihe fore arI of Ihe shI, Ihrough fear of beIng offered u
Io aease Ihem, every mInuIe eeIng and quakIng: buI my
good frIend Ick came shorIIy Iowards me, and I Iook an o-
orIunIIy Io ask hIm, as weII as I couId, whaI Ihese fIsh
were. NoI beIng abIe Io IaIk much ngIIsh, I couId buI jusI
make hIm undersIand my quesIIon; and noI aI aII, when I
asked hIm If any offerIngs were Io be made Io Ihem: however,
he IoId me Ihese fIsh wouId swaIIow any body; whIch suffI-
cIenIIy aIarmed me. Here he was caIIed away by Ihe caIaIn,
#)
who was IeanIng over Ihe quarIer-deck raIIIng and IookIng aI
Ihe fIsh; and mosI of Ihe eoIe were busIed In geIIIng a bar-
reI of IIch Io IIghI, for Ihem Io Iay wIIh. The caIaIn now
caIIed me Io hIm, havIng Iearned some of my arehensIons
from Ick; and havIng dIverIed hImseIf and oIhers for some
IIme wIIh my fears, whIch aeared IudIcrous enough In my
cryIng and IrembIIng, he dIsmIssed me. The barreI of IIch
was now IIghIed and uI over Ihe sIde InIo Ihe waIer: by IhIs
IIme II was jusI dark, and Ihe fIsh wenI afIer II; and, Io my
greaI joy, I saw Ihem no more.
However, aII my aIarms began Io subsIde when we goI
sIghI of Iand; and aI IasI Ihe shI arrIved aI aImouIh, afIer
a assage of IhIrIeen weeks. very hearI on board seemed
gIaddened on our reachIng Ihe shore, and none more Ihan
mIne. The caIaIn ImmedIaIeIy wenI on shore, and senI on
board some fresh rovIsIons, whIch we wanIed very much:
we made good use of Ihem, and our famIne was soon Iurned
InIo feasIIng, aImosI wIIhouI endIng. II was abouI Ihe begIn-
nIng of Ihe srIng l757 when I arrIved In ngIand, and I was
near IweIve years of age aI IhaI IIme. I was very much
sIruck wIIh Ihe buIIdIngs and Ihe avemenI of Ihe sIreeIs In
aImouIh; and, Indeed, any objecI I saw fIIIed me wIIh new
surrIse. One mornIng, when I goI uon deck, I saw II
covered aII over wIIh Ihe snow IhaI feII over-nIghI: as I had
never seen any IhIng of Ihe kInd before, I IhoughI II was saII;
so I ImmedIaIeIy ran down Io Ihe maIe and desIred hIm, as
weII as I couId, Io come and see how somebody In Ihe nIghI
had Ihrown saII aII over Ihe deck. He, knowIng whaI II was,
desIred me Io brIng some of II down Io hIm: accordIngIy I
Iook u a handfuI of II, whIch I found very coId Indeed; and
when I broughI II Io hIm he desIred me Io IasIe II. I dId so,
and I was surrIsed beyond measure. I Ihen asked hIm whaI
II was; he IoId me II was snow: buI I couId noI In anywIse un-
dersIand hIm. He asked me If we had no such IhIng In my
counIry; and I IoId hIm, No. I Ihen asked hIm Ihe use of II,
and who made II; he IoId me a greaI man In Ihe heavens,
caIIed Ood: buI here agaIn I was Io aII InIenIs and uroses
aI a Ioss Io undersIand hIm; and Ihe more so, when a IIIIIe
afIer I saw Ihe aIr fIIIed wIIh II, In a heavy shower, whIch feII
$*
down on Ihe same day. AfIer IhIs I wenI Io church; and hav-
Ing never been aI such a Iace before, I was agaIn amazed aI
seeIng and hearIng Ihe servIce. I asked aII I couId abouI II;
and Ihey gave me Io undersIand II was worshIIng Ood,
who made us and aII IhIngs. I was sIIII aI a greaI Ioss, and
soon goI InIo an endIess fIeId of InquIrIes, as weII as I was
abIe Io seak and ask abouI IhIngs. However, my IIIIIe frIend
Ick used Io be my besI InIerreIer; for I couId make free
wIIh hIm, and he aIways InsIrucIed me wIIh Ieasure: and
from whaI I couId undersIand by hIm of IhIs Ood, and In see-
Ing Ihese whIIe eoIe dId noI seII one anoIher, as we dId, I
was much Ieased; and In IhIs I IhoughI Ihey were much
haIer Ihan we AfrIcans. I was asIonIshed aI Ihe wIsdom of
Ihe whIIe eoIe In aII IhIngs I saw; buI was amazed aI IheIr
noI sacrIfIcIng, or makIng any offerIngs, and eaIIng wIIh un-
washed hands, and IouchIng Ihe dead. I IIkewIse couId noI
heI remarkIng Ihe arIIcuIar sIenderness of IheIr women,
whIch I dId noI aI fIrsI IIke; and I IhoughI Ihey were noI so
modesI and shamefaced as Ihe AfrIcan women.
I had ofIen seen my masIer and Ick emIoyed In readIng;
and I had a greaI curIosIIy Io IaIk Io Ihe books, as I IhoughI
Ihey dId; and so Io Iearn how aII IhIngs had a begInnIng: for
IhaI urose I have ofIen Iaken u a book, and have IaIked
Io II, and Ihen uI my ears Io II, when aIone, In hoes II
wouId answer me; and I have been very much concerned
when I found II remaIned sIIenI.
My masIer Iodged aI Ihe house of a genIIeman In aI-
mouIh, who had a fIne IIIIIe daughIer abouI sIx or seven
years of age, and she grew rodIgIousIy fond of me; Insomuch
IhaI we used Io eaI IogeIher, and had servanIs Io waII on us.
I was so much caressed by IhIs famIIy IhaI II ofIen remInded
me of Ihe IreaImenI I had receIved from my IIIIIe nobIe AfrIc-
an masIer. AfIer I had been here a few days, I was senI on
board of Ihe shI; buI Ihe chIId crIed so much afIer me IhaI
noIhIng couId acIfy her IIII I was senI for agaIn. II Is
IudIcrous enough, IhaI I began Io fear I shouId be beIroIhed
Io IhIs young Iady; and when my masIer asked me If I wouId
sIay Ihere wIIh her behInd hIm, as he was goIng away wIIh
Ihe shI, whIch had Iaken In Ihe Iobacco agaIn, I crIed
$!
ImmedIaIeIy, and saId I wouId noI Ieave her. AI IasI, by
sIeaIIh, one nIghI I was senI on board Ihe shI agaIn; and In
a IIIIIe IIme we saIIed for Ouernsey, where she was In arI
owned by a merchanI, one NIchoIas oberry. As I was now
amongsI a eoIe who had noI IheIr faces scarred, IIke some
of Ihe AfrIcan naIIons where I had been, I was very gIad I dId
noI IeI Ihem ornamenI me In IhaI manner when I was wIIh
Ihem. When we arrIved aI Ouernsey, my masIer Iaced me
Io board and Iodge wIIh one of hIs maIes, who had a wIfe and
famIIy Ihere; and some monIhs afIerwards he wenI Io ng-
Iand, and IefI me In care of IhIs maIe, IogeIher wIIh my
frIend Ick: ThIs maIe had a IIIIIe daughIer, aged abouI fIve
or sIx years, wIIh whom I used Io be much deIIghIed. I had
ofIen observed IhaI when her moIher washed her face II
Iooked very rosy; buI when she washed mIne II dId noI Iook
so: I Iherefore IrIed ofIenIImes myseIf If I couId noI by wash-
Ing make my face of Ihe same coIour as my IIIIIe Iay-maIe
(Mary), buI II was aII In vaIn; and I now began Io be morII-
fIed aI Ihe dIfference In our comIexIons. ThIs woman be-
haved Io me wIIh greaI kIndness and aIIenIIon; and IaughI
me every IhIng In Ihe same manner as she dId her own chIId,
and Indeed In every resecI IreaIed me as such. I remaIned
here IIII Ihe summer of Ihe year l757; when my masIer, be-
Ing aoInIed fIrsI IIeuIenanI of hIs majesIy's shI Ihe
Roebuck, senI for Ick and me, and hIs oId maIe: on IhIs we
aII IefI Ouernsey, and seI ouI for ngIand In a sIoo bound
for Iondon. As we were comIng u Iowards Ihe Nore, where
Ihe Roebuck Iay, a man of war's boaI came aIongsIde Io ress
our eoIe; on whIch each man ran Io hIde hImseIf. I was
very much frIghIened aI IhIs, Ihough I dId noI know whaI II
meanI, or whaI Io IhInk or do. However I wenI and hId my-
seIf aIso under a hencoo. ImmedIaIeIy afIerwards Ihe ress-
gang came on board wIIh IheIr swords drawn, and searched
aII abouI, uIIed Ihe eoIe ouI by force, and uI Ihem InIo
Ihe boaI. AI IasI I was found ouI aIso: Ihe man IhaI found me
heId me u by Ihe heeIs whIIe Ihey aII made IheIr sorI of
me, I roarIng and cryIng ouI aII Ihe IIme mosI IusIIIy: buI aI
IasI Ihe maIe, who was my conducIor, seeIng IhIs, came Io
my assIsIance, and dId aII he couId Io acIfy me; buI aII Io
$"
very IIIIIe urose, IIII I had seen Ihe boaI go off. Soon afIer-
wards we came Io Ihe Nore, where Ihe Roebuck Iay; and, Io
our greaI joy, my masIer came on board Io us, and broughI
us Io Ihe shI. When I wenI on board IhIs Iarge shI, I was
amazed Indeed Io see Ihe quanIIIy of men and Ihe guns.
However my surrIse began Io dImInIsh as my knowIedge In-
creased; and I ceased Io feeI Ihose arehensIons and aIarms
whIch had Iaken such sIrong ossessIon of me when I fIrsI
came among Ihe uroeans, and for some IIme afIer. I began
now Io ass Io an oosIIe exIreme; I was so far from beIng
afraId of any IhIng new whIch I saw, IhaI, afIer I had been
some IIme In IhIs shI, I even began Io Iong for a baIIIe. My
grIefs Ioo, whIch In young mInds are noI ereIuaI, were now
wearIng away; and I soon enjoyed myseIf reIIy weII, and feII
IoIerabIy easy In my resenI sIIuaIIon. There was a number
of boys on board, whIch sIIII made II more agreeabIe; for we
were aIways IogeIher, and a greaI arI of our IIme was senI
In Iay. I remaIned In IhIs shI a consIderabIe IIme, durIng
whIch we made severaI cruIses, and vIsIIed a varIeIy of
Iaces: among oIhers we were IwIce In HoIIand, and broughI
over severaI ersons of dIsIIncIIon from II, whose names I do
noI now remember. On Ihe assage, one day, for Ihe dIver-
sIon of Ihose genIIemen, aII Ihe boys were caIIed on Ihe
quarIer-deck, and were aIred roorIIonabIy, and Ihen
made Io fIghI; afIer whIch Ihe genIIeman gave Ihe com-
baIanIs from fIve Io nIne shIIIIngs each. ThIs was Ihe fIrsI
IIme I ever foughI wIIh a whIIe boy; and I never knew whaI
II was Io have a bIoody nose before. ThIs made me fIghI mosI
deseraIeIy; I suose consIderabIy more Ihan an hour: and
aI IasI, boIh of us beIng weary, we were arIed. I had a greaI
deaI of IhIs kInd of sorI afIerwards, In whIch Ihe caIaIn
and Ihe shI's comany used very much Io encourage me. So-
meIIme afIerwards Ihe shI wenI Io IeIIh In ScoIIand, and
from Ihence Io Ihe Orkneys, where I was surrIsed In seeIng
scarceIy any nIghI: and from Ihence we saIIed wIIh a greaI
fIeeI, fuII of soIdIers, for ngIand. AII IhIs IIme we had never
come Io an engagemenI, Ihough we were frequenIIy cruIsIng
off Ihe coasI of rance: durIng whIch we chased many ves-
seIs, and Iook In aII sevenIeen rIzes. I had been IearnIng
$#
many of Ihe manoeuvres of Ihe shI durIng our cruIse; and I
was severaI IImes made Io fIre Ihe guns. One evenIng, off
Havre de Orace, jusI as II was growIng dark, we were sIand-
Ing off shore, and meI wIIh a fIne Iarge rench-buIII frIgaIe.
We goI aII IhIngs ImmedIaIeIy ready for fIghIIng; and I now
execIed I shouId be graIIfIed In seeIng an engagemenI,
whIch I had so Iong wIshed for In vaIn. BuI Ihe very momenI
Ihe word of command was gIven Io fIre we heard Ihose on
board Ihe oIher shI cry 'HauI down Ihe jIb;' and In IhaI In-
sIanI she hoIsIed ngIIsh coIours. There was InsIanIIy wIIh
us an amazIng cry ofAvasI! or sIo fIrIng; and I IhInk one
or Iwo guns had been IeI off, buI haIIy Ihey dId no mIs-
chIef. We had haIIed Ihem severaI IImes; buI Ihey noI hear-
Ing, we receIved no answer, whIch was Ihe cause of our fIr-
Ing. The boaI was Ihen senI on board of her, and she roved
Io be Ihe Ambuscade man of war, Io my no smaII dIsaoInI-
menI. We reIurned Io PorIsmouIh, wIIhouI havIng been In
any acIIon, jusI aI Ihe IrIaI of AdmIraI Byng (whom I saw
severaI IImes durIng II): and my masIer havIng IefI Ihe shI,
and gone Io Iondon for romoIIon, Ick and I were uI on
board Ihe Savage sIoo of war, and we wenI In her Io assIsI
In brIngIng off Ihe SI. Oeorge man of war, IhaI had ran
ashore somewhere on Ihe coasI. AfIer sIayIng a few weeks on
board Ihe Savage, Ick and I were senI on shore aI eaI,
where we remaIned some shorI IIme, IIII my masIer senI for
us Io Iondon, Ihe Iace I had Iong desIred exceedIngIy Io see.
We Iherefore boIh wIIh greaI Ieasure goI InIo a waggon,
and came Io Iondon, where we were receIved by a Mr. Ouer-
In, a reIaIIon of my masIer. ThIs genIIeman had Iwo sIsIers,
very amIabIe IadIes, who Iook much noIIce and greaI care of
me. Though I had desIred so much Io see Iondon, when I ar-
rIved In II I was unforIunaIeIy unabIe Io graIIfy my curIosIIy;
for I had aI IhIs IIme Ihe chIIbIaIns Io such a degree IhaI I
couId noI sIand for severaI monIhs, and I was obIIged Io be
senI Io SI. Oeorge's HosIIaI. There I grew so III, IhaI Ihe
docIors wanIed Io cuI my IefI Ieg off aI dIfferenI IImes, a-
rehendIng a morIIfIcaIIon; buI I aIways saId I wouId raIher
dIe Ihan suffer II; and haIIy (I Ihank Ood) I recovered
wIIhouI Ihe oeraIIon. AfIer beIng Ihere severaI weeks, and
$$
jusI as I had recovered, Ihe smaII-ox broke ouI on me, so
IhaI I was agaIn confIned; and I IhoughI myseIf now arIIcu-
IarIy unforIunaIe. However I soon recovered agaIn; and by
IhIs IIme my masIer havIng been romoIed Io be fIrsI IIeu-
IenanI of Ihe PresIon man of war of fIfIy guns, Ihen new aI
eIford, Ick and I were senI on board her, and soon afIer
we wenI Io HoIIand Io brIng over Ihe IaIe uke of Io
ngIand.WhIIe I was In IhIs shI an IncIdenI haened,
whIch, Ihough IrIfIIng, I beg Ieave Io reIaIe, as I couId noI
heI IakIng arIIcuIar noIIce of II, and consIderIng II Ihen as
a judgmenI of Ood. One mornIng a young man was IookIng
u Io Ihe fore-Io, and In a wIcked Ione, common on shI-
board, dd hIs eyes abouI someIhIng. JusI aI Ihe momenI
some smaII arIIcIes of dIrI feII InIo hIs IefI eye, and by Ihe
evenIng II was very much InfIamed. The nexI day II grew
worse; and wIIhIn sIx or seven days he IosI II. rom IhIs shI
my masIer was aoInIed a IIeuIenanI on board Ihe RoyaI
Oeorge. When he was goIng he wIshed me Io sIay on board
Ihe PresIon, Io Iearn Ihe rench horn; buI Ihe shI beIng
ordered for Turkey I couId noI IhInk of IeavIng my masIer, Io
whom I was very warmIy aIIached; and I IoId hIm If he IefI
me behInd II wouId break my hearI. ThIs revaIIed on hIm Io
Iake me wIIh hIm; buI he IefI Ick on board Ihe PresIon,
whom I embraced aI arIIng for Ihe IasI IIme. The RoyaI Oe-
orge was Ihe IargesI shI I had ever seen; so IhaI when I
came on board of her I was surrIsed aI Ihe number of
eoIe, men, women, and chIIdren, of every denomInaIIon;
and Ihe Iargeness of Ihe guns, many of Ihem aIso of brass,
whIch I had never seen before. Here were aIso shos or sIaIIs
of every kInd of goods, and eoIe cryIng IheIr dIfferenI com-
modIIIes abouI Ihe shI as In a Iown. To me II aeared a
IIIIIe worId, InIo whIch I was agaIn casI wIIhouI a frIend, for
I had no Ionger my dear comanIon Ick. We dId noI sIay
Iong here. My masIer was noI many weeks on board before
he goI an aoInImenI Io be sIxIh IIeuIenanI of Ihe Namur,
whIch was Ihen aI SIIhead, fIIIIng u for VIce-admIraI Bo-
scawen, who was goIng wIIh a Iarge fIeeI on an exedIIIon
agaInsI IouIsburgh. The crew of Ihe RoyaI Oeorge were
Iurned over Io her, and Ihe fIag of IhaI gaIIanI admIraI was
$%
hoIsIed on board, Ihe bIue aI Ihe maInIo-gaIIanI masI head.
There was a very greaI fIeeI of men of war of every descrI-
IIon assembIed IogeIher for IhIs exedIIIon, and I was In
hoes soon Io have an oorIunIIy of beIng graIIfIed wIIh a
sea-fIghI. AII IhIngs beIng now In readIness, IhIs mIghIy fIeeI
(for Ihere was aIso AdmIraI CornIsh's fIeeI In comany,
desIIned for Ihe asI IndIes) aI IasI weIghed anchor, and
saIIed. The Iwo fIeeIs conIInued In comany for severaI days,
and Ihen arIed; AdmIraI CornIsh, In Ihe Ienox, havIng fIrsI
saIuIed our admIraI In Ihe Namur, whIch he reIurned. We
Ihen sIeered for AmerIca; buI, by conIrary wInds, we were
drIven Io TenerIffe, where I was sIruck wIIh IIs noIed eak.
IIs rodIgIous heIghI, and IIs form, resembIIng a sugar-Ioaf,
fIIIed me wIIh wonder. We remaIned In sIghI of IhIs IsIand
some days, and Ihen roceeded for AmerIca, whIch we soon
made, and goI InIo a very commodIous harbour caIIed SI. Oe-
orge, In HaIIfax, where we had fIsh In greaI IenIy, and aII
oIher fresh rovIsIons. We were here joIned by dIfferenI men
of war and IransorI shIs wIIh soIdIers; afIer whIch, our
fIeeI beIng Increased Io a rodIgIous number of shIs of aII
kInds, we saIIed for Cae BreIon In Nova ScoIIa. We had Ihe
good and gaIIanI OeneraI WoIfe on board our shI, whose af-
fabIIIIy made hIm hIghIy esIeemed and beIoved by aII Ihe
men. He ofIen honoured me, as weII as oIher boys, wIIh
marks of hIs noIIce; and saved me once a fIoggIng for fIghIIng
wIIh a young genIIeman. We arrIved aI Cae BreIon In Ihe
summer of l758: and here Ihe soIdIers were Io be Ianded, In
order Io make an aIIack uon IouIsbourgh. My masIer had
some arI In suerInIendIng Ihe IandIng; and here I was In a
smaII measure graIIfIed In seeIng an encounIer beIween our
men and Ihe enemy. The rench were osIed on Ihe shore Io
receIve us, and dIsuIed our IandIng for a Iong IIme; buI aI
IasI Ihey were drIven from IheIr Irenches, and a comIeIe
IandIng was effecIed. Our Iroos ursued Ihem as far as Ihe
Iown of IouIsbourgh. In IhIs acIIon many were kIIIed on boIh
sIdes. One IhIng remarkabIe I saw IhIs day:A IIeuIenanI of
Ihe PrIncess AmeIIa, who, as weII as my masIer, suerInIen-
ded Ihe IandIng, was gIvIng Ihe word of command, and whIIe
hIs mouIh was oen a musqueI baII wenI Ihrough II, and
$&
assed ouI aI hIs cheek. I had IhaI day In my hand Ihe scaI
of an IndIan kIng, who was kIIIed In Ihe engagemenI: Ihe
scaI had been Iaken off by an HIghIander. I saw IhIs kIng's
ornamenIs Ioo, whIch were very curIous, and made of
feaIhers.
Our Iand forces IaId sIege Io Ihe Iown of IouIsbourgh,
whIIe Ihe rench men of war were bIocked u In Ihe harbour
by Ihe fIeeI, Ihe baIIerIes aI Ihe same IIme IayIng uon
Ihem from Ihe Iand. ThIs Ihey dId wIIh such effecI, IhaI one
day I saw some of Ihe shIs seI on fIre by Ihe sheIIs from Ihe
baIIerIes, and I beIIeve Iwo or Ihree of Ihem were quIIe
burnI. AI anoIher IIme, abouI fIfIy boaIs beIongIng Io Ihe
ngIIsh men of war, commanded by CaIaIn Oeorge BaIfour
of Ihe Ina fIre-shI, and anoIher junIor caIaIn, Iaforey,
aIIacked and boarded Ihe onIy Iwo remaInIng rench men of
war In Ihe harbour. They aIso seI fIre Io a sevenIy-gun shI,
buI a sIxIy-four, caIIed Ihe BIenfaIsanI, Ihey broughI off.
urIng my sIay here I had ofIen an oorIunIIy of beIng near
CaIaIn BaIfour, who was Ieased Io noIIce me, and IIked me
so much IhaI he ofIen asked my masIer Io IeI hIm have me,
buI he wouId noI arI wIIh me; and no consIderaIIon couId
have Induced me Io Ieave hIm. AI IasI IouIsbourgh was
Iaken, and Ihe ngIIsh men of war came InIo Ihe harbour be-
fore II, Io my very greaI joy; for I had now more IIberIy of In-
duIgIng myseIf, and I wenI ofIen on shore. When Ihe shIs
were In Ihe harbour we had Ihe mosI beauIIfuI rocessIon on
Ihe waIer I ever saw. AII Ihe admIraIs and caIaIns of Ihe
men of war, fuII dressed, and In IheIr barges, weII ornamen-
Ied wIIh endanIs, came aIongsIde of Ihe Namur. The vIce-
admIraI Ihen wenI on shore In hIs barge, foIIowed by Ihe oIh-
er offIcers In order of senIorIIy, Io Iake ossessIon, as I su-
ose, of Ihe Iown and forI. Some IIme afIer IhIs Ihe rench
governor and hIs Iady, and oIher ersons of noIe, came on
board our shI Io dIne. On IhIs occasIon our shIs were
dressed wIIh coIours of aII kInds, from Ihe IogaIIanI-masI
head Io Ihe deck; and IhIs, wIIh Ihe fIrIng of guns, formed a
mosI grand and magnIfIcenI secIacIe.
As soon as every IhIng here was seIIIed AdmIraI Boscawen
saIIed wIIh arI of Ihe fIeeI for ngIand, IeavIng some shIs
$'
behInd wIIh Rear-admIraIs SIr CharIes Hardy and ureII. II
was now wInIer; and one evenIng, durIng our assage home,
abouI dusk, when we were In Ihe channeI, or near soundIngs,
and were begInnIng Io Iook for Iand, we descrIed seven saII of
Iarge men of war, whIch sIood off shore. SeveraI eoIe on
board of our shI saId, as Ihe Iwo fIeeIs were (In forIy
mInuIes from Ihe fIrsI sIghI) wIIhIn haII of each oIher, IhaI
Ihey were ngIIsh men of war; and some of our eoIe even
began Io name some of Ihe shIs. By IhIs IIme boIh fIeeIs
began Io mIngIe, and our admIraI ordered hIs fIag Io be hoIs-
Ied. AI IhaI InsIanI Ihe oIher fIeeI, whIch were rench, hoIs-
Ied IheIr ensIgns, and gave us a broadsIde as Ihey assed by.
NoIhIng couId creaIe greaIer surrIse and confusIon among
us Ihan IhIs: Ihe wInd was hIgh, Ihe sea rough, and we had
our Iower and mIddIe deck guns housed In, so IhaI noI a
sIngIe gun on board was ready Io be fIred aI any of Ihe
rench shIs. However, Ihe RoyaI WIIIIam and Ihe SomerseI
beIng our sIernmosI shIs, became a IIIIIe reared, and
each gave Ihe rench shIs a broadsIde as Ihey assed by. I
afIerwards heard IhIs was a rench squadron, commanded
by Mons. ConfIans; and cerIaInIy had Ihe renchmen known
our condIIIon, and had a mInd Io fIghI us, Ihey mIghI have
done us greaI mIschIef. BuI we were noI Iong before we were
reared for an engagemenI. ImmedIaIeIy many IhIngs were
Iossed overboard; Ihe shIs were made ready for fIghIIng as
soon as ossIbIe; and abouI Ien aI nIghI we had benI a new
maIn saII, Ihe oId one beIng sIII. BeIng now In readIness for
fIghIIng, we wore shI, and sIood afIer Ihe rench fIeeI, who
were one or Iwo shIs In number more Ihan we. However we
gave Ihem chase, and conIInued ursuIng Ihem aII nIghI;
and aI dayIIghI we saw sIx of Ihem, aII Iarge shIs of Ihe IIne,
and an ngIIsh asI IndIaman, a rIze Ihey had Iaken. We
chased Ihem aII day IIII beIween Ihree and four o'cIock In Ihe
evenIng, when we came u wIIh, and assed wIIhIn a mus-
queI shoI of, one sevenIy-four gun shI, and Ihe IndIaman
aIso, who now hoIsIed her coIours, buI ImmedIaIeIy hauIed
Ihem down agaIn. On IhIs we made a sIgnaI for Ihe oIher
shIs Io Iake ossessIon of her; and, suosIng Ihe man of
war wouId IIkewIse sIrIke, we cheered, buI she dId noI;
$(
Ihough If we had fIred InIo her, from beIng so near, we musI
have Iaken her. To my uIIer surrIse Ihe SomerseI, who was
Ihe nexI shI asIern of Ihe Namur, made way IIkewIse; and,
IhInkIng Ihey were sure of IhIs rench shI, Ihey cheered In
Ihe same manner, buI sIIII conIInued Io foIIow us. The
rench Commodore was abouI a gun-shoI ahead of aII, run-
nIng from us wIIh aII seed; and abouI four o'cIock he carrIed
hIs foreIomasI overboard. ThIs caused anoIher Ioud cheer
wIIh us; and a IIIIIe afIer Ihe IomasI came cIose by us; buI,
Io our greaI surrIse, InsIead of comIng u wIIh her, we
found she wenI as fasI as ever, If noI fasIer. The sea grew
now much smooIher; and Ihe wInd IuIIIng, Ihe sevenIy-four
gun shI we had assed came agaIn by us In Ihe very same
dIrecIIon, and so near, IhaI we heard her eoIe IaIk as she
wenI by; yeI noI a shoI was fIred on eIIher sIde; and abouI
fIve or sIx o'cIock, jusI as II grew dark, she joIned her com-
modore. We chased aII nIghI; buI Ihe nexI day Ihey were ouI
of sIghI, so IhaI we saw no more of Ihem; and we onIy had
Ihe oId IndIaman (caIIed Carnarvon I IhInk) for our IroubIe.
AfIer IhIs we sIood In for Ihe channeI, and soon made Ihe
Iand; and, abouI Ihe cIose of Ihe year l758-9, we goI safe Io
SI. HeIen's. Here Ihe Namur ran aground; and aIso anoIher
Iarge shI asIern of us; buI, by sIarIIng our waIer, and Ioss-
Ing many IhIngs overboard Io IIghIen her, we goI Ihe shIs
off wIIhouI any damage. We sIayed for a shorI IIme aI SII-
head, and Ihen wenI InIo PorIsmouIh harbour Io refII; from
whence Ihe admIraI wenI Io Iondon; and my masIer and I
soon foIIowed, wIIh a ress-gang, as we wanIed some hands
Io comIeIe our comIemenI.
$)
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;$I-('*<43-($-<</4&'$/0$'"#$<#3#>(-'#5$#&J
+-+#F#&'$>#'M##&$;5F*(-3$N/)<-M#&$-&5
O/&)*#4($1#$@34#
_The auIhor Is baIIzedNarrowIy escaes drownIngOoes
on an exedIIIon Io Ihe MedIIerraneanIncIdenIs he meI
wIIh IhereIs wIIness Io an engagemenI beIween some ng-
IIsh and rench shIsA arIIcuIar accounI of Ihe ceIeb-
raIed engagemenI beIween AdmIraI Boscawen and Mons. Ie
CIue, off Cae Iogas, In AugusI l759readfuI exIosIon of
a rench shIThe auIhor saIIs for ngIandHIs masIer
aoInIed Io Ihe command of a fIre-shIMeeIs a negro boy,
from whom he exerIences much benevoIencePreares for
an exedIIIon agaInsI BeIIe-IsIeA remarkabIe sIory of a
dIsasIer whIch befeI hIs shIArrIves aI BeIIe-
IsIeOeraIIons of Ihe IandIng and sIegeThe auIhor's
danger and dIsIress, wIIh hIs manner of exIrIcaIIng hIm-
seIf Surrender of BeIIe-IsIeTransacIIons afIerwards on
Ihe coasI of ranceRemarkabIe InsIance of kIdna-
IngThe auIhor reIurns Io ngIandHears a IaIk of eace,
and execIs hIs freedomHIs shI saIIs for eIford Io be
aId off, and when he arrIves Ihere he Is suddenIy seIzed by
hIs masIer and carrIed forcIbIy on board a WesI IndIa shI
and soId._
II was now beIween Iwo and Ihree years sInce I fIrsI came
Io ngIand, a greaI arI of whIch I had senI aI sea; so IhaI I
became Inured Io IhaI servIce, and began Io consIder myseIf
as haIIy sIIuaIed; for my masIer IreaIed me aIways ex-
IremeIy weII; and my aIIachmenI and graIIIude Io hIm were
very greaI. rom Ihe varIous scenes I had beheId on
%*
shIboard, I soon grew a sIranger Io Ierror of every kInd, and
was, In IhaI resecI aI IeasI, aImosI an ngIIshman. I have
ofIen refIecIed wIIh surrIse IhaI I never feII haIf Ihe aIarm
aI any of Ihe numerous dangers I have been In, IhaI I was
fIIIed wIIh aI Ihe fIrsI sIghI of Ihe uroeans, and aI every
acI of IheIrs, even Ihe mosI IrIfIIng, when I fIrsI came among
Ihem, and for some IIme afIerwards. ThaI fear, however,
whIch was Ihe effecI of my Ignorance, wore away as I began
Io know Ihem. I couId now seak ngIIsh IoIerabIy weII, and
I erfecIIy undersIood every IhIng IhaI was saId. I now noI
onIy feII myseIf quIIe easy wIIh Ihese new counIrymen, buI
reIIshed IheIr socIeIy and manners. I no Ionger Iooked uon
Ihem as sIrIIs, buI as men suerIor Io us; and Iherefore I
had Ihe sIronger desIre Io resembIe Ihem; Io ImbIbe IheIr
sIrII, and ImIIaIe IheIr manners; I Iherefore embraced every
occasIon of ImrovemenI; and every new IhIng IhaI I ob-
served I Ireasured u In my memory. I had Iong wIshed Io be
abIe Io read and wrIIe; and for IhIs urose I Iook every o-
orIunIIy Io gaIn InsIrucIIon, buI had made as yeI very IIIIIe
rogress. However, when I wenI Io Iondon wIIh my masIer, I
had soon an oorIunIIy of ImrovIng myseIf, whIch I gIadIy
embraced. ShorIIy afIer my arrIvaI, he senI me Io waII uon
Ihe MIss OuerIns, who had IreaIed me wIIh much kIndness
when I was Ihere before; and Ihey senI me Io schooI.
WhIIe I was aIIendIng Ihese IadIes IheIr servanIs IoId me I
couId noI go Io Heaven unIess I was baIIzed. ThIs made me
very uneasy; for I had now some faInI Idea of a fuIure sIaIe:
accordIngIy I communIcaIed my anxIeIy Io Ihe eIdesI MIss
OuerIn, wIIh whom I was become a favourIIe, and ressed
her Io have me baIIzed; when Io my greaI joy she IoId me I
shouId. She had formerIy asked my masIer Io IeI me be ba-
IIzed, buI he had refused; however she now InsIsIed on II;
and he beIng under some obIIgaIIon Io her broIher comIIed
wIIh her requesI; so I was baIIzed In SI. MargareI's church,
WesImInsIer, In ebruary l759, by my resenI name. The
cIergyman, aI Ihe same IIme, gave me a book, caIIed a OuIde
Io Ihe IndIans, wrIIIen by Ihe BIsho of Sodor and Man. On
IhIs occasIon MIss OuerIn dId me Ihe honour Io sIand as god-
moIher, and afIerwards gave me a IreaI. I used Io aIIend
%!
Ihese IadIes abouI Ihe Iown, In whIch servIce I was exIremeIy
hay; as I had Ihus many oorIunIIIes of seeIng Iondon,
whIch I desIred of aII IhIngs. I was someIImes, however, wIIh
my masIer aI hIs rendezvous-house, whIch was aI Ihe fooI of
WesImInsIer-brIdge. Here I used Io enjoy myseIf In IayIng
abouI Ihe brIdge sIaIrs, and ofIen In Ihe waIermen's wher-
rIes, wIIh oIher boys. On one of Ihese occasIons Ihere was an-
oIher boy wIIh me In a wherry, and we wenI ouI InIo Ihe cur-
renI of Ihe rIver: whIIe we were Ihere Iwo more sIouI boys
came Io us In anoIher wherry, and, abusIng us for IakIng Ihe
boaI, desIred me Io geI InIo Ihe oIher wherry-boaI. Accord-
IngIy I wenI Io geI ouI of Ihe wherry I was In; buI jusI as I
had goI one of my feeI InIo Ihe oIher boaI Ihe boys shoved II
off, so IhaI I feII InIo Ihe Thames; and, noI beIng abIe Io
swIm, I shouId unavoIdabIy have been drowned, buI for Ihe
assIsIance of some waIermen who rovIdenIIaIIy came Io my
reIIef.
The Namur beIng agaIn goI ready for sea, my masIer, wIIh
hIs gang, was ordered on board; and, Io my no smaII grIef, I
was obIIged Io Ieave my schooI-masIer, whom I IIked very
much, and aIways aIIended whIIe I sIayed In Iondon, Io re-
aIr on board wIIh my masIer. Nor dId I Ieave my kInd aI-
ronesses, Ihe MIss OuerIns, wIIhouI uneasIness and regreI.
They ofIen used Io Ieach me Io read, and Iook greaI aIns Io
InsIrucI me In Ihe rIncIIes of reIIgIon and Ihe knowIedge of
Ood. I Iherefore arIed from Ihose amIabIe IadIes wIIh re-
IucIance; afIer receIvIng from Ihem many frIendIy cauIIons
how Io conducI myseIf, and some vaIuabIe resenIs.
When I came Io SIIhead, I found we were desIIned for Ihe
MedIIerranean, wIIh a Iarge fIeeI, whIch was now ready Io
uI Io sea. We onIy waIIed for Ihe arrIvaI of Ihe admIraI, who
soon came on board; and abouI Ihe begInnIng of Ihe srIng
l759, havIng weIghed anchor, and goI under way, SaIIed for
Ihe MedIIerranean; and In eIeven days, from Ihe Iand's nd,
we goI Io OIbraIIar. WhIIe we were here I used Io be ofIen on
shore, and goI varIous fruIIs In greaI IenIy, and very chea.
I had frequenIIy IoId severaI eoIe, In my excursIons on
shore, Ihe sIory of my beIng kIdnaed wIIh my sIsIer, and of
our beIng searaIed, as I have reIaIed before; and I had as
%"
ofIen exressed my anxIeIy for her faIe, and my sorrow aI
havIng never meI her agaIn. One day, when I was on shore,
and menIIonIng Ihese cIrcumsIances Io some ersons, one of
Ihem IoId me he knew where my sIsIer was, and, If I wouId
accomany hIm, he wouId brIng me Io her. ImrobabIe as
IhIs sIory was I beIIeved II ImmedIaIeIy, and agreed Io go
wIIh hIm, whIIe my hearI Ieaed for joy: and, Indeed, he con-
ducIed me Io a bIack young woman, who was so IIke my sIs-
Ier, IhaI, aI fIrsI sIghI, I reaIIy IhoughI II was her: buI I was
quIckIy undeceIved; and, on IaIkIng Io her, I found her Io be
of anoIher naIIon.
WhIIe we Iay here Ihe PresIon came In from Ihe IevanI. As
soon as she arrIved, my masIer IoId me I shouId now see my
oId comanIon, Ick, who had gone In her when she saIIed
for Turkey. I was much rejoIced aI IhIs news, and execIed
every mInuIe Io embrace hIm; and when Ihe caIaIn came on
board of our shI, whIch he dId ImmedIaIeIy afIer, I ran Io
InquIre afIer my frIend; buI, wIIh InexressIbIe sorrow, I
Iearned from Ihe boaI's crew IhaI Ihe dear youIh was dead!
and IhaI Ihey had broughI hIs chesI, and aII hIs oIher IhIngs,
Io my masIer: Ihese he afIerwards gave Io me, and I re-
garded Ihem as a memorIaI of my frIend, whom I Ioved, and
grIeved for, as a broIher.
WhIIe we were aI OIbraIIar, I saw a soIdIer hangIng by hIs
heeIs, aI one of Ihe moIes
l2
: I IhoughI IhIs a sIrange sIghI, as
I had seen a man hanged In Iondon by hIs neck. AI anoIher
IIme I saw Ihe masIer of a frIgaIe Iowed Io shore on a graI-
Ing, by severaI of Ihe men of war's boaIs, and dIscharged Ihe
fIeeI, whIch I undersIood was a mark of dIsgrace for cow-
ardIce. On board Ihe same shI Ihere was aIso a saIIor hung
u aI Ihe yard-arm. AfIer IyIng aI OIbraIIar for some IIme,
we saIIed u Ihe MedIIerranean a consIderabIe way above
Ihe OuIf of Iyons; where we were one nIghI overIaken wIIh a
IerrIbIe gaIe of wInd, much greaIer Ihan any I had ever yeI
exerIenced. The sea ran so hIgh IhaI, Ihough aII Ihe guns
were weII housed, Ihere was greaI reason Io fear IheIr geI-
IIng Ioose, Ihe shI roIIed so much; and If Ihey had II musI
l2.He had drowned hImseIf In endeavourIng Io deserI.
%#
have roved our desIrucIIon. AfIer we had cruIsed here for a
shorI IIme, we came Io BarceIona, a SanIsh sea-orI, re-
markabIe for IIs sIIk manufacIures. Here Ihe shIs were aII
Io be waIered; and my masIer, who soke dIfferenI Ian-
guages, and used ofIen Io InIerreI for Ihe admIraI, suerIn-
Iended Ihe waIerIng of ours. or IhaI urose he and Ihe of-
fIcers of Ihe oIher shIs, who were on Ihe same servIce, had
IenIs IIched In Ihe bay; and Ihe SanIsh soIdIers were sIa-
IIoned aIong Ihe shore, I suose Io see IhaI no deredaIIons
were commIIIed by our men. I used consIanIIy Io aIIend my
masIer; and I was charmed wIIh IhIs Iace. AII Ihe IIme we
sIayed II was IIke a faIr wIIh Ihe naIIves, who broughI us
fruIIs of aII kInds, and soId Ihem Io us much cheaer Ihan I
goI Ihem In ngIand. They used aIso Io brIng wIne down Io
us In hog and shee skIns, whIch dIverIed me very much.
The SanIsh offIcers here IreaIed our offIcers wIIh greaI o-
IIIeness and aIIenIIon; and some of Ihem, In arIIcuIar, used
Io come ofIen Io my masIer's IenI Io vIsII hIm; where Ihey
wouId someIImes dIverI IhemseIves by mounIIng me on Ihe
horses or muIes, so IhaI I couId noI faII, and seIIIng Ihem off
aI fuII gaIIo; my ImerfecI skIII In horsemanshI aII Ihe
whIIe affordIng Ihem no smaII enIerIaInmenI. AfIer Ihe shIs
were waIered, we reIurned Io our oId sIaIIon of cruIzIng off
TouIon, for Ihe urose of InIerceIIng a fIeeI of rench men
of war IhaI Iay Ihere. One Sunday, In our cruIse, we came off
a Iace where Ihere were Iwo smaII rench frIgaIes IyIng In
shore; and our admIraI, IhInkIng Io Iake or desIroy Ihem,
senI Iwo shIs In afIer IhemIhe CuIIoden and Ihe Conquer-
or. They soon came u Io Ihe renchmen; and I saw a smarI
fIghI here, boIh by sea and Iand: for Ihe frIgaIes were
covered by baIIerIes, and Ihey Iayed uon our shIs mosI
furIousIy, whIch Ihey as furIousIy reIurned, and for a Iong
IIme a consIanI fIrIng was keI u on aII sIdes aI an amazIng
raIe. AI IasI one frIgaIe sunk; buI Ihe eoIe escaed, Ihough
noI wIIhouI much dIffIcuIIy: and a IIIIIe afIer some of Ihe
eoIe IefI Ihe oIher frIgaIe aIso, whIch was a mere wreck.
However, our shIs dId noI venIure Io brIng her away, Ihey
were so much annoyed from Ihe baIIerIes, whIch raked Ihem
boIh In goIng and comIng: IheIr IomasIs were shoI away,
%$
and Ihey were oIherwIse so much shaIIered, IhaI Ihe admIraI
was obIIged Io send In many boaIs Io Iow Ihem back Io Ihe
fIeeI. I afIerwards saIIed wIIh a man who foughI In one of Ihe
rench baIIerIes durIng Ihe engagemenI, and he IoId me our
shIs had done consIderabIe mIschIef IhaI day on shore and
In Ihe baIIerIes. AfIer IhIs we saIIed for OIbraIIar, and ar-
rIved Ihere abouI AugusI l759. Here we remaIned wIIh aII
our saIIs unbenI, whIIe Ihe fIeeI was waIerIng and doIng oIh-
er necessary IhIngs. WhIIe we were In IhIs sIIuaIIon, one day
Ihe admIraI, wIIh mosI of Ihe rIncIaI offIcers, and many
eoIe of aII sIaIIons, beIng on shore, abouI seven o'cIock In
Ihe evenIng we were aIarmed by sIgnaIs from Ihe frIgaIes
sIaIIoned for IhaI urose; and In an InsIanI Ihere was a
generaI cry IhaI Ihe rench fIeeI was ouI, and jusI assIng
Ihrough Ihe sIreIghIs. The admIraI ImmedIaIeIy came on
board wIIh some oIher offIcers; and II Is ImossIbIe Io de-
scrIbe Ihe noIse, hurry and confusIon IhroughouI Ihe whoIe
fIeeI, In bendIng IheIr saIIs and sIIIng IheIr cabIes; many
eoIe and shIs' boaIs were IefI on shore In Ihe busIIe. We
had Iwo caIaIns on board of our shI who came away In Ihe
hurry and IefI IheIr shIs Io foIIow. We shewed IIghIs from
Ihe gun-whaIe Io Ihe maIn IomasI-head; and aII our IIeuIen-
anIs were emIoyed amongsI Ihe fIeeI Io IeII Ihe shIs noI Io
waII for IheIr caIaIns, buI Io uI Ihe saIIs Io Ihe yards, sII
IheIr cabIes and foIIow us; and In IhIs confusIon of makIng
ready for fIghIIng we seI ouI for sea In Ihe dark afIer Ihe
rench fIeeI. Here I couId have excIaImed wIIh Ajax, "Oh
Jove! O faIher! If II be Ihy wIII ThaI we musI erIsh, we Ihy
wIII obey, BuI IeI us erIsh by Ihe IIghI of day." They had goI
Ihe sIarI of us so far IhaI we were noI abIe Io come u wIIh
Ihem durIng Ihe nIghI; buI aI dayIIghI we saw seven saII of
Ihe IIne of baIIIe some mIIes ahead. We ImmedIaIeIy chased
Ihem IIII abouI four o'cIock In Ihe evenIng, when our shIs
came u wIIh Ihem; and, Ihough we were abouI fIfIeen Iarge
shIs, our gaIIanI admIraI onIy foughI Ihem wIIh hIs own dI-
vIsIon, whIch consIsIed of seven; so IhaI we were jusI shI for
shI. We assed by Ihe whoIe of Ihe enemy's fIeeI In order Io
come aI IheIr commander, Mons. Ia CIue, who was In Ihe
Ocean, an eIghIy-four gun shI: as we assed Ihey aII fIred
%%
on us; and aI one IIme Ihree of Ihem fIred IogeIher, conIInu-
Ing Io do so for some IIme. NoIwIIhsIandIng whIch our ad-
mIraI wouId noI suffer a gun Io be fIred aI any of Ihem, Io my
asIonIshmenI; buI made us IIe on our beIIIes on Ihe deck IIII
we came quIIe cIose Io Ihe Ocean, who was ahead of Ihem aII;
when we had orders Io our Ihe whoIe Ihree IIers InIo her aI
once. The engagemenI now commenced wIIh greaI fury on
boIh sIdes: Ihe Ocean ImmedIaIeIy reIurned our fIre, and we
conIInued engaged wIIh each oIher for some IIme; durIng
whIch I was frequenIIy sIunned wIIh Ihe IhunderIng of Ihe
greaI guns, whose dreadfuI conIenIs hurrIed many of my
comanIons InIo awfuI eIernIIy. AI IasI Ihe rench IIne was
enIIreIy broken, and we obIaIned Ihe vIcIory, whIch was Im-
medIaIeIy rocIaImed wIIh Ioud huzzas and accIamaIIons.
We Iook Ihree rIzes, Ia ModesIe, of sIxIy-four guns, and Ie
TemeraIre and CenIaur, of sevenIy-four guns each. The resI
of Ihe rench shIs Iook Io fIIghI wIIh aII Ihe saII Ihey couId
crowd. Our shI beIng very much damaged, and quIIe dIs-
abIed from ursuIng Ihe enemy, Ihe admIraI ImmedIaIeIy
quIIIed her, and wenI In Ihe broken and onIy boaI we had
IefI on board Ihe Newark, wIIh whIch, and some oIher shIs,
he wenI afIer Ihe rench. The Ocean, and anoIher Iarge
rench shI, caIIed Ihe RedoubIabIe, endeavourIng Io escae,
ran ashore aI Cae Iogas, on Ihe coasI of PorIugaI; and Ihe
rench admIraI and some of Ihe crew goI ashore; buI we,
fIndIng II ImossIbIe Io geI Ihe shIs off, seI fIre Io Ihem
boIh. AbouI mIdnIghI I saw Ihe Ocean bIow u, wIIh a mosI
dreadfuI exIosIon. I never beheId a more awfuI scene. In
Iess Ihan a mInuIe Ihe mIdnIghI for a cerIaIn sace seemed
Iurned InIo day by Ihe bIaze, whIch was aIIended wIIh a
noIse Iouder and more IerrIbIe Ihan Ihunder, IhaI seemed Io
rend every eIemenI around us. My sIaIIon durIng Ihe en-
gagemenI was on Ihe mIddIe-deck, where I was quarIered
wIIh anoIher boy, Io brIng owder Io Ihe afIermosI gun; and
here I was a wIIness of Ihe dreadfuI faIe of many of my com-
anIons, who, In Ihe IwInkIIng of an eye, were dashed In
Ieces, and Iaunched InIo eIernIIy. HaIIy I escaed unhurI,
Ihough Ihe shoI and sIInIers fIew IhIck abouI me durIng Ihe
whoIe fIghI. Towards Ihe IaIIer arI of II my masIer was
%&
wounded, and I saw hIm carrIed down Io Ihe surgeon; buI
Ihough I was much aIarmed for hIm and wIshed Io assIsI hIm
I dared noI Ieave my osI. AI IhIs sIaIIon my gun-maIe (a
arIner In brIngIng owder for Ihe same gun) and I ran a
very greaI rIsk for more Ihan haIf an hour of bIowIng u Ihe
shI. or, when we had Iaken Ihe carIrIdges ouI of Ihe boxes,
Ihe boIIoms of many of Ihem rovIng roIIen, Ihe owder ran
aII abouI Ihe deck, near Ihe maIch Iub: we scarceIy had wa-
Ier enough aI Ihe IasI Io Ihrow on II. We were aIso, from our
emIoymenI, very much exosed Io Ihe enemy's shoIs; for we
had Io go Ihrough nearIy Ihe whoIe IengIh of Ihe shI Io
brIng Ihe owder. I execIed Iherefore every mInuIe Io be my
IasI; esecIaIIy when I saw our men faII so IhIck abouI me;
buI, wIshIng Io guard as much agaInsI Ihe dangers as os-
sIbIe, aI fIrsI I IhoughI II wouId be safesI noI Io go for Ihe
owder IIII Ihe renchmen had fIred IheIr broadsIde; and
Ihen, whIIe Ihey were chargIng, I couId go and come wIIh my
owder: buI ImmedIaIeIy afIerwards I IhoughI IhIs cauIIon
was fruIIIess; and, cheerIng myseIf wIIh Ihe refIecIIon IhaI
Ihere was a IIme aIIoIIed for me Io dIe as weII as Io be born, I
InsIanIIy casI off aII fear or IhoughI whaIever of deaIh, and
wenI Ihrough Ihe whoIe of my duIy wIIh aIacrIIy; IeasIng
myseIf wIIh Ihe hoe, If I survIved Ihe baIIIe, of reIaIIng II
and Ihe dangers I had escaed Io Ihe dear MIss OuerIn, and
oIhers, when I shouId reIurn Io Iondon. Our shI suffered
very much In IhIs engagemenI; for, besIdes Ihe number of
our kIIIed and wounded, she was aImosI Iorn Io Ieces, and
our rIggIng so much shaIIered, IhaI our mIzen-masI and
maIn-yard, &c. hung over Ihe sIde of Ihe shI; so IhaI we
were obIIged Io geI many carenIers, and oIhers from some
of Ihe shIs of Ihe fIeeI, Io assIsI In seIIIng us In some IoIer-
abIe order; and, noIwIIhsIandIng, II Iook us some IIme before
we were comIeIeIy refIIIed; afIer whIch we IefI AdmIraI Bro-
derIck Io command, and we, wIIh Ihe rIzes, sIeered for ng-
Iand. On Ihe assage, and as soon as my masIer was
someIhIng recovered of hIs wounds, Ihe admIraI aoInIed
hIm caIaIn of Ihe Ina fIre-shI, on whIch he and I IefI Ihe
Namur, and wenI on board of her aI sea. I IIked IhIs IIIIIe
shI very much. I now became Ihe caIaIn's sIeward, In
%'
whIch sIIuaIIon I was very hay: for I was exIremeIy weII
IreaIed by aII on board; and I had IeIsure Io Imrove myseIf
In readIng and wrIIIng. The IaIIer I had Iearned a IIIIIe of be-
fore I IefI Ihe Namur, as Ihere was a schooI on board. When
we arrIved aI SIIhead Ihe Ina wenI InIo PorIsmouIh har-
bour Io refII, whIch beIng done, we reIurned Io SIIhead and
joIned a Iarge fIeeI IhaI was IhoughI Io be InIended agaInsI
Ihe Havannah; buI abouI IhaI IIme Ihe kIng dIed: wheIher
IhaI revenIed Ihe exedIIIon I know noI; buI II caused our
shI Io be sIaIIoned aI Cowes, In Ihe IsIe of WIghI, IIII Ihe be-
gInnIng of Ihe year sIxIy-one. Here I senI my IIme very
IeasanIIy; I was much on shore aII abouI IhIs deIIghIfuI Is-
Iand, and found Ihe InhabIIanIs very cIvII. WhIIe I was here,
I meI wIIh a IrIfIIng IncIdenI, whIch surrIsed me agreeabIy.
I was one day In a fIeId beIongIng Io a genIIeman who had a
bIack boy abouI my own sIze; IhIs boy havIng observed me
from hIs masIer's house, was IransorIed aI Ihe sIghI of one
of hIs own counIrymen, and ran Io meeI me wIIh Ihe uImosI
hasIe. I noI knowIng whaI he was abouI Iurned a IIIIIe ouI of
hIs way aI fIrsI, buI Io no urose: he soon came cIose Io me
and caughI hoId of me In hIs arms as If I had been hIs broIh-
er, Ihough we had never seen each oIher before. AfIer we had
IaIked IogeIher for some IIme he Iook me Io hIs masIer's
house, where I was IreaIed very kIndIy. ThIs benevoIenI boy
and I were very hay In frequenIIy seeIng each oIher IIII
abouI Ihe monIh of March l76l, when our shI had orders Io
fII ouI agaIn for anoIher exedIIIon. When we goI ready, we
joIned a very Iarge fIeeI aI SIIhead, commanded by Com-
modore KeeI, whIch was desIIned agaInsI BeIIe-IsIe, and
wIIh a number of IransorI shIs wIIh Iroos on board Io
make a descenI on Ihe Iace. We saIIed once more In quesI of
fame. I Ionged Io engage In new advenIures and see fresh
wonders. I had a mInd on whIch every IhIng uncommon
made IIs fuII ImressIon, and every evenI whIch I consIdered
as marveIIous. very exIraordInary escae, or sIgnaI deIIver-
ance, eIIher of myseIf or oIhers, I Iooked uon Io be effecIed
by Ihe InIerosIIIon of ProvIdence. We had noI been above
Ien days aI sea before an IncIdenI of IhIs kInd haened;
whIch, whaIever credII II may obIaIn from Ihe reader, made
%(
no smaII ImressIon on my mInd. We had on board a gunner,
whose name was John MondIe; a man of very IndIfferenI
moraIs. ThIs man's cabIn was beIween Ihe decks, exacIIy
over where I Iay, abreasI of Ihe quarIer-deck Iadder. One
nIghI, Ihe 20Ih of ArII, beIng IerrIfIed wIIh a dream, he
awoke In so greaI a frIghI IhaI he couId noI resI In hIs bed
any Ionger, nor even remaIn In hIs cabIn; and he wenI uon
deck abouI four o'cIock In Ihe mornIng exIremeIy agIIaIed.
He ImmedIaIeIy IoId Ihose on Ihe deck of Ihe agonIes of hIs
mInd, and Ihe dream whIch occasIoned II; In whIch he saId
he had seen many IhIngs very awfuI, and had been warned
by SI. PeIer Io reenI, who IoId hIm IIme was shorI. ThIs he
saId had greaIIy aIarmed hIm, and he was deIermIned Io aI-
Ier hIs IIfe. PeoIe generaIIy mock Ihe fears of oIhers when
Ihey are IhemseIves In safeIy; and some of hIs shImaIes
who heard hIm onIy Iaughed aI hIm. However, he made a
vow IhaI he never wouId drInk sIrong IIquors agaIn; and he
ImmedIaIeIy goI a IIghI, and gave away hIs sea-sIores of II-
quor. AfIer whIch, hIs agIIaIIon sIIII conIInuIng, he began Io
read Ihe ScrIIures, hoIng Io fInd some reIIef; and soon af-
Ierwards he IaId hImseIf down agaIn on hIs bed, and endeav-
oured Io comose hImseIf Io sIee, buI Io no urose; hIs
mInd sIIII conIInuIng In a sIaIe of agony. By IhIs IIme II was
exacIIy haIf afIer seven In Ihe mornIng: I was Ihen under Ihe
haIf-deck aI Ihe greaI cabIn door; and aII aI once I heard Ihe
eoIe In Ihe waIsI cry ouI, mosI fearfuIIy'The Iord have
mercy uon us! We are aII IosI! The Iord have mercy uon
us!' Mr. MondIe hearIng Ihe crIes, ImmedIaIeIy ran ouI of hIs
cabIn; and we were InsIanIIy sIruck by Ihe Iynne, a forIy-
gun shI, CaIaIn CIark, whIch nearIy ran us down. ThIs
shI had jusI uI abouI, and was by Ihe wInd, buI had noI
goI fuII headway, or we musI aII have erIshed; for Ihe wInd
was brIsk. However, before Mr. MondIe had goI four sIes
from hIs cabIn-door, she sIruck our shI wIIh her cuIwaIer
rIghI In Ihe mIddIe of hIs bed and cabIn, and ran II u Io Ihe
combIngs of Ihe quarIer-deck haIchway, and above Ihree feeI
beIow waIer, and In a mInuIe Ihere was noI a bII of wood Io
be seen where Mr. MondIe's cabIn sIood; and he was so near
beIng kIIIed IhaI some of Ihe sIInIers Iore hIs face. As Mr.
%)
MondIe musI InevIIabIy have erIshed from IhIs accIdenI
had he noI been aIarmed In Ihe very exIraordInary way I
have reIaIed, I couId noI heI regardIng IhIs as an awfuI In-
IerosIIIon of ProvIdence for hIs reservaIIon. The Iwo shIs
for some IIme swInged aIongsIde of each oIher; for ours beIng
a fIre-shI, our graIIng-Irons caughI Ihe Iynne every way,
and Ihe yards and rIggIng wenI aI an asIonIshIng raIe. Our
shI was In such a shockIng condIIIon IhaI we aII IhoughI
she wouId InsIanIIy go down, and every one ran for IheIr
IIves, and goI as weII as Ihey couId on board Ihe Iynne; buI
our IIeuIenanI beIng Ihe aggressor, he never quIIIed Ihe
shI. However, when we found she dId noI sInk ImmedIaIeIy,
Ihe caIaIn came on board agaIn, and encouraged our eoIe
Io reIurn and Iry Io save her. Many on IhIs came back, buI
some wouId noI venIure. Some of Ihe shIs In Ihe fIeeI, see-
Ing our sIIuaIIon, ImmedIaIeIy senI IheIr boaIs Io our assIsI-
ance; buI II Iook us Ihe whoIe day Io save Ihe shI wIIh aII
IheIr heI. And by usIng every ossIbIe means, arIIcuIarIy
fraIng her IogeIher wIIh many hawsers, and uIIIng a
greaI quanIIIy of IaIIow beIow waIer where she was dam-
aged, she was keI IogeIher: buI II was weII we dId noI meeI
wIIh any gaIes of wInd, or we musI have gone Io Ieces; for
we were In such a crazy condIIIon IhaI we had shIs Io aI-
Iend us IIII we arrIved aI BeIIe-IsIe, Ihe Iace of our desIIna-
IIon; and Ihen we had aII IhIngs Iaken ouI of Ihe shI, and
she was roerIy reaIred. ThIs escae of Mr. MondIe, whIch
he, as weII as myseIf, aIways consIdered as a sInguIar acI of
ProvIdence, I beIIeve had a greaI InfIuence on hIs IIfe and
conducI ever afIerwards. Now IhaI I am on IhIs subjecI I beg
Ieave Io reIaIe anoIher InsIance or Iwo whIch sIrongIy raIsed
my beIIef of Ihe arIIcuIar InIerosIIIon of Heaven, and
whIch mIghI noI oIherwIse have found a Iace here, from
IheIr InsIgnIfIcance. I beIonged for a few days In Ihe year
l758 Io Ihe Jason, of fIfIy-four guns, aI PIymouIh; and one
nIghI, when I was on board, a woman, wIIh a chIId aI her
breasI, feII from Ihe uer-deck down InIo Ihe hoId, near Ihe
keeI. very one IhoughI IhaI Ihe moIher and chIId musI be
boIh dashed Io Ieces; buI, Io our greaI surrIse, neIIher of
Ihem was hurI. I myseIf one day feII headIong from Ihe
&*
uer-deck of Ihe Ina down Ihe afIer-hoId, when Ihe baI-
IasI was ouI; and aII who saw me faII crIed ouI I was kIIIed:
buI I receIved noI Ihe IeasI Injury. And In Ihe same shI a
man feII from Ihe masI-head on Ihe deck wIIhouI beIng hurI.
In Ihese, and In many more InsIances, I IhoughI I couId
IaInIy Irace Ihe hand of Ood, wIIhouI whose ermIssIon a
sarrow cannoI faII. I began Io raIse my fear from man Io
hIm aIone, and Io caII daIIy on hIs hoIy name wIIh fear and
reverence: and I IrusI he heard my suIIcaIIons, and gra-
cIousIy condescended Io answer me accordIng Io hIs hoIy
word, and Io ImIanI Ihe seeds of IeIy In me, even one of Ihe
meanesI of hIs creaIures. When we had refIIIed our shI, and
aII IhIngs were In readIness for aIIackIng Ihe Iace, Ihe
Iroos on board Ihe IransorIs were ordered Io dIsembark;
and my masIer, as a junIor caIaIn, had a share In Ihe com-
mand of Ihe IandIng. ThIs was on Ihe 8Ih of ArII. The
rench were drawn u on Ihe shore, and had made every dIs-
osIIIon Io oose Ihe IandIng of our men, onIy a smaII arI
of Ihem IhIs day beIng abIe Io effecI II; mosI of Ihem, afIer
fIghIIng wIIh greaI bravery, were cuI off; and OeneraI Craw-
ford, wIIh a number of oIhers, were Iaken rIsoners. In IhIs
day's engagemenI we had aIso our IIeuIenanI kIIIed. On Ihe
2lsI of ArII we renewed our efforIs Io Iand Ihe men, whIIe
aII Ihe men of war were sIaIIoned aIong Ihe shore Io cover II,
and fIred aI Ihe rench baIIerIes and breasIworks from earIy
In Ihe mornIng IIII abouI four o'cIock In Ihe evenIng, when
our soIdIers effecIed a safe IandIng. They ImmedIaIeIy aI-
Iacked Ihe rench; and, afIer a shar encounIer, forced Ihem
from Ihe baIIerIes. Before Ihe enemy reIreaIed Ihey bIew u
severaI of Ihem, IesI Ihey shouId faII InIo our hands. Our
men now roceeded Io besIege Ihe cIIadeI, and my masIer
was ordered on shore Io suerInIend Ihe IandIng of aII Ihe
maIerIaIs necessary for carryIng on Ihe sIege; In whIch ser-
vIce I mosIIy aIIended hIm. WhIIe I was Ihere I wenI abouI
Io dIfferenI arIs of Ihe IsIand; and one day, arIIcuIarIy, my
curIosIIy aImosI cosI me my IIfe. I wanIed very much Io see
Ihe mode of chargIng Ihe morIars and IeIIIng off Ihe sheIIs,
and for IhaI urose I wenI Io an ngIIsh baIIery IhaI was
buI a very few yards from Ihe waIIs of Ihe cIIadeI. There,
&!
Indeed, I had an oorIunIIy of comIeIeIy graIIfyIng myseIf
In seeIng Ihe whoIe oeraIIon, and IhaI noI wIIhouI runnIng
a very greaI rIsk, boIh from Ihe ngIIsh sheIIs IhaI bursI
whIIe I was Ihere, buI IIkewIse from Ihose of Ihe rench. One
of Ihe IargesI of IheIr sheIIs bursIed wIIhIn nIne or Ien yards
of me: Ihere was a sIngIe rock cIose by, abouI Ihe sIze of a
buII; and I goI InsIanI sheIIer under II In IIme Io avoId Ihe
fury of Ihe sheII. Where II bursI Ihe earIh was Iorn In such a
manner IhaI Iwo or Ihree buIIs mIghI easIIy have gone InIo
Ihe hoIe II made, and II Ihrew greaI quanIIIIes of sIones and
dIrI Io a consIderabIe dIsIance. Three shoI were aIso fIred aI
me and anoIher boy who was aIong wIIh me, one of Ihem In
arIIcuIar seemed "WIng'd wIIh red IIghInIng and ImeIuous
rage;" for wIIh a mosI dreadfuI sound II hIssed cIose by me,
and sIruck a rock aI a IIIIIe dIsIance, whIch II shaIIered Io
Ieces. When I saw whaI erIIous cIrcumsIances I was In, I
aIIemIed Io reIurn Ihe nearesI way I couId fInd, and
Ihereby I goI beIween Ihe ngIIsh and Ihe rench cenIIneIs.
An ngIIsh serjeanI, who commanded Ihe ouIosIs, seeIng
me, and surrIsed how I came Ihere, (whIch was by sIeaIIh
aIong Ihe seashore), rerImanded me very severeIy for II,
and InsIanIIy Iook Ihe cenIIneI off hIs osI InIo cusIody, for
hIs negIIgence In sufferIng me Io ass Ihe IInes. WhIIe I was
In IhIs sIIuaIIon I observed aI a IIIIIe dIsIance a rench
horse, beIongIng Io some IsIanders, whIch I IhoughI I wouId
now mounI, for Ihe greaIer exedIIIon of geIIIng off. Accord-
IngIy I Iook some cord whIch I had abouI me, and makIng a
kInd of brIdIe of II, I uI II round Ihe horse's head, and Ihe
Iame beasI very quIeIIy suffered me Io IIe hIm Ihus and
mounI hIm. As soon as I was on Ihe horse's back I began Io
kIck and beaI hIm, and Iry every means Io make hIm go
quIck, buI aII Io very IIIIIe urose: I couId noI drIve hIm ouI
of a sIow ace. WhIIe I was creeIng aIong, sIIII wIIhIn reach
of Ihe enemy's shoI, I meI wIIh a servanI weII mounIed on an
ngIIsh horse. I ImmedIaIeIy sIoed; and, cryIng, IoId hIm
my case; and begged of hIm Io heI me, and IhIs he effecIu-
aIIy dId; for, havIng a fIne Iarge whI, he began Io Iash my
horse wIIh II so severeIy, IhaI he seI off fuII seed wIIh me
Iowards Ihe sea, whIIe I was quIIe unabIe Io hoId or manage
&"
hIm. In IhIs manner I wenI aIong IIII I came Io a craggy re-
cIIce. I now couId noI sIo my horse; and my mInd was fIIIed
wIIh arehensIons of my deIorabIe faIe shouId he go down
Ihe recIIce, whIch he aeared fuIIy dIsosed Io do: I Ihere-
fore IhoughI I had beIIer Ihrow myseIf off hIm aI once, whIch
I dId ImmedIaIeIy wIIh a greaI deaI of dexIerIIy, and forIu-
naIeIy escaed unhurI. As soon as I found myseIf aI IIberIy I
made Ihe besI of my way for Ihe shI, deIermIned I wouId
noI be so fooI-hardy agaIn In a hurry. We conIInued Io be-
sIege Ihe cIIadeI IIII June, when II surrendered. urIng Ihe
sIege I have counIed above sIxIy sheIIs and carcases In Ihe
aIr aI once. When IhIs Iace was Iaken I wenI Ihrough Ihe
cIIadeI, and In Ihe bomb-roofs under II, whIch were cuI In
Ihe soIId rock; and I IhoughI II a surrIsIng Iace, boIh for
sIrengIh and buIIdIng: noIwIIhsIandIng whIch our shoIs and
sheIIs had made amazIng devasIaIIon, and ruInous heas aII
around II. AfIer Ihe IakIng of IhIs IsIand our shIs, wIIh
some oIhers commanded by Commodore SIanhoe In Ihe
SwIfIsure, wenI Io Basse-road, where we bIocked u a
rench fIeeI. Our shIs were Ihere from June IIII ebruary
foIIowIng; and In IhaI IIme I saw a greaI many scenes of war,
and sIraIagems on boIh sIdes Io desIroy each oIhers fIeeI. So-
meIImes we wouId aIIack Ihe rench wIIh some shIs of Ihe
IIne; aI oIher IImes wIIh boaIs; and frequenIIy we made
rIzes. Once or IwIce Ihe rench aIIacked us by IhrowIng
sheIIs wIIh IheIr bomb-vesseIs: and one day as a rench ves-
seI was IhrowIng sheIIs aI our shIs she broke from her
srIngs, behInd Ihe IsIe of I de Re: Ihe IIde beIng comIIc-
aIed, she came wIIhIn a gun shoI of Ihe Nassau; buI Ihe Nas-
sau couId noI brIng a gun Io bear uon her, and Ihereby Ihe
renchman goI off. We were IwIce aIIacked by IheIr fIre-
fIoaIs, whIch Ihey chaIned IogeIher, and Ihen IeI Ihem fIoaI
down wIIh Ihe IIde; buI each IIme we senI boaIs wIIh gra-
IIngs, and Iowed Ihem safe ouI of Ihe fIeeI. We had dIfferenI
commanders whIIe we were aI IhIs Iace, Commodores SIan-
hoe, ennIs, Iord Howe, &c. rom hence, before Ihe San-
Ish war began, our shI and Ihe Was sIoo were senI Io SI.
SebasIIan In SaIn, by Commodore SIanhoe; and Com-
modore ennIs afIerwards senI our shI as a carIeI Io
&#
Bayonne In rance
l3
, afIer whIch
l4
we wenI In ebruary In
l762 Io BeIIe-IsIe, and Ihere sIayed IIII Ihe summer, when
we IefI II, and reIurned Io PorIsmouIh. AfIer our shI was
fIIIed ouI agaIn for servIce, In SeIember she wenI Io Ouern-
sey, where I was very gIad Io see my oId hosIess, who was
now a wIdow, and my former IIIIIe charmIng comanIon, her
daughIer. I senI some IIme here very haIIy wIIh Ihem, IIII
OcIober, when we had orders Io reaIr Io PorIsmouIh. We
arIed from each oIher wIIh a greaI deaI of affecIIon; and I
romIsed Io reIurn soon, and see Ihem agaIn, noI knowIng
whaI aII-owerfuI faIe had deIermIned for me. Our shI hav-
Ing arrIved aI PorIsmouIh, we wenI InIo Ihe harbour, and re-
maIned Ihere IIII Ihe IaIIer end of November, when we heard
greaI IaIk abouI eace; and, Io our very greaI joy, In Ihe be-
gInnIng of ecember we had orders Io go u Io Iondon wIIh
our shI Io be aId off. We receIved IhIs news wIIh Ioud huz-
zas, and every oIher demonsIraIIon of gIadness; and noIhIng
buI mIrIh was Io be seen IhroughouI every arI of Ihe shI. I
Ioo was noI wIIhouI my share of Ihe generaI joy on IhIs occa-
sIon. I IhoughI now of noIhIng buI beIng freed, and workIng
for myseIf, and Ihereby geIIIng money Io enabIe me Io geI a
good educaIIon; for I aIways had a greaI desIre Io be abIe aI
IeasI Io read and wrIIe; and whIIe I was on shIboard I had
endeavoured Io Imrove myseIf In boIh. WhIIe I was In Ihe
l3.Among oIhers whom we broughI from Bayonne, Iwo genIIemen, who
had been In Ihe WesI IndIes, where Ihey soId sIaves; and Ihey con-
fessed Ihey had made aI one IIme a faIse bIII of saIe, and soId Iwo Por-
Iuguese whIIe men among a IoI of sIaves.
l4.Some eoIe have II, IhaI someIImes shorIIy before ersons dIe IheIr
ward has been seen; IhaI Is, some sIrII exacIIy In IheIr IIkeness,
Ihough Ihey are IhemseIves aI oIher Iaces aI Ihe same IIme. One day
whIIe we were aI Bayonne Mr. MondIe saw one of our men, as he
IhoughI, In Ihe gun-room; and a IIIIIe afIer, comIng on Ihe quarIer-
deck, he soke of some cIrcumsIances of IhIs man Io some of Ihe of-
fIcers. They IoId hIm IhaI Ihe man was Ihen ouI of Ihe shI, In one of
Ihe boaIs wIIh Ihe IIeuIenanI: buI Mr. MondIe wouId noI beIIeve II,
and we searched Ihe shI, when he found Ihe man was acIuaIIy ouI of
her; and when Ihe boaI reIurned some IIme afIerwards, we found Ihe
man had been drowned aI Ihe very IIme Mr. MondIe IhoughI he saw
hIm.
&$
Ina arIIcuIarIy, Ihe caIaIn's cIerk IaughI me Io wrIIe,
and gave me a smaIIerIng of arIIhmeIIc as far as Ihe ruIe of
Ihree. There was aIso one anIeI Queen, abouI forIy years of
age, a man very weII educaIed, who messed wIIh me on
board IhIs shI, and he IIkewIse dressed and aIIended Ihe
caIaIn. orIunaIeIy IhIs man soon became very much aI-
Iached Io me, and Iook very greaI aIns Io InsIrucI me In
many IhIngs. He IaughI me Io shave and dress haIr a IIIIIe,
and aIso Io read In Ihe BIbIe, exIaInIng many assages Io
me, whIch I dId noI comrehend. I was wonderfuIIy surrIsed
Io see Ihe Iaws and ruIes of my counIry wrIIIen aImosI ex-
acIIy here; a cIrcumsIance whIch I beIIeve Iended Io Imress
our manners and cusIoms more deeIy on my memory. I
used Io IeII hIm of IhIs resembIance; and many a IIme we
have saI u Ihe whoIe nIghI IogeIher aI IhIs emIoymenI. In
shorI, he was IIke a faIher Io me; and some even used Io caII
me afIer hIs name; Ihey aIso sIyIed me Ihe bIack ChrIsIIan.
Indeed I aImosI Ioved hIm wIIh Ihe affecIIon of a son. Many
IhIngs I have denIed myseIf IhaI he mIghI have Ihem; and
when I used Io Iay aI marbIes or any oIher game, and won a
few haIf-ence, or goI any IIIIIe money, whIch I someIImes
dId, for shavIng any one, I used Io buy hIm a IIIIIe sugar or
Iobacco, as far as my sIock of money wouId go. He used Io
say, IhaI he and I never shouId arI; and IhaI when our shI
was aId off, as I was as free as hImseIf or any oIher man on
board, he wouId InsIrucI me In hIs busIness, by whIch I
mIghI gaIn a good IIveIIhood. ThIs gave me new IIfe and sIr-
IIs; and my hearI burned wIIhIn me, whIIe I IhoughI Ihe IIme
Iong IIII I obIaIned my freedom. or Ihough my masIer had
noI romIsed II Io me, yeI, besIdes Ihe assurances I had re-
ceIved IhaI he had no rIghI Io deIaIn me, he aIways IreaIed
me wIIh Ihe greaIesI kIndness, and reosed In me an un-
bounded confIdence; he even aId aIIenIIon Io my moraIs;
and wouId never suffer me Io deceIve hIm, or IeII IIes, of
whIch he used Io IeII me Ihe consequences; and IhaI If I dId
so Ood wouId noI Iove me; so IhaI, from aII IhIs Ienderness, I
had never once suosed, In aII my dreams of freedom, IhaI
he wouId IhInk of deIaInIng me any Ionger Ihan I wIshed. In
ursuance of our orders we saIIed from PorIsmouIh for Ihe
&%
Thames, and arrIved aI eIford Ihe l0Ih of ecember,
where we casI anchor jusI as II was hIgh waIer. The shI was
u abouI haIf an hour, when my masIer ordered Ihe barge Io
be manned; and aII In an InsIanI, wIIhouI havIng before gIv-
en me Ihe IeasI reason Io susecI any IhIng of Ihe maIIer, he
forced me InIo Ihe barge; sayIng, I was goIng Io Ieave hIm,
buI he wouId Iake care I shouId noI. I was so sIruck wIIh Ihe
unexecIedness of IhIs roceedIng, IhaI for some IIme I dId
noI make a reIy, onIy I made an offer Io go for my books and
chesI of cIoIhes, buI he swore I shouId noI move ouI of hIs
sIghI; and If I dId he wouId cuI my IhroaI, aI Ihe same IIme
IakIng hIs hanger. I began, however, Io coIIecI myseIf; and,
IuckIng u courage, I IoId hIm I was free, and he couId noI
by Iaw serve me so. BuI IhIs onIy enraged hIm Ihe more; and
he conIInued Io swear, and saId he wouId soon IeI me know
wheIher he wouId or noI, and aI IhaI InsIanI srung hImseIf
InIo Ihe barge from Ihe shI, Io Ihe asIonIshmenI and sorrow
of aII on board. The IIde, raIher unIuckIIy for me, had jusI
Iurned downward, so IhaI we quIckIy feII down Ihe rIver
aIong wIIh II, IIII we came among some ouIward-bound WesI
IndIamen; for he was resoIved Io uI me on board Ihe fIrsI
vesseI he couId geI Io receIve me. The boaI's crew, who uIIed
agaInsI IheIr wIII, became quIIe faInI dIfferenI IImes, and
wouId have gone ashore; buI he wouId noI IeI Ihem. Some of
Ihem sIrove Ihen Io cheer me, and IoId me he couId noI seII
me, and IhaI Ihey wouId sIand by me, whIch revIved me a
IIIIIe; and I sIIII enIerIaIned hoes; for as Ihey uIIed aIong
he asked some vesseIs Io receIve me, buI Ihey couId noI. BuI,
jusI as we had goI a IIIIIe beIow Oravesend, we came aIong-
sIde of a shI whIch was goIng away Ihe nexI IIde for Ihe
WesI IndIes; her name was Ihe CharmIng SaIIy, CaIaIn
James oran; and my masIer wenI on board and agreed wIIh
hIm for me; and In a IIIIIe IIme I was senI for InIo Ihe cabIn.
When I came Ihere CaIaIn oran asked me If I knew hIm; I
answered IhaI I dId noI; 'Then,' saId he 'you are now my
sIave.' I IoId hIm my masIer couId noI seII me Io hIm, nor Io
any one eIse. 'Why,' saId he,'dId noI your masIer buy you7' I
confessed he dId. 'BuI I have served hIm,' saId I,'many years,
and he has Iaken aII my wages and rIze-money, for I onIy
&&
goI one sIxence durIng Ihe war; besIdes IhIs I have been
baIIzed; and by Ihe Iaws of Ihe Iand no man has a rIghI Io
seII me:' And I added, IhaI I had heard a Iawyer and oIhers
aI dIfferenI IImes IeII my masIer so. They boIh Ihen saId IhaI
Ihose eoIe who IoId me so were noI my frIends; buI I
reIIedII was very exIraordInary IhaI oIher eoIe dId noI
know Ihe Iaw as weII as Ihey. !on IhIs CaIaIn oran saId
I IaIked Ioo much ngIIsh; and If I dId noI behave myseIf
weII, and be quIeI, he had a meIhod on board Io make me. I
was Ioo weII convInced of hIs ower over me Io doubI whaI he
saId; and my former sufferIngs In Ihe sIave-shI resenIIng
IhemseIves Io my mInd, Ihe recoIIecIIon of Ihem made me
shudder. However, before I reIIred I IoId Ihem IhaI as I couId
noI geI any rIghI among men here I hoed I shouId hereafIer
In Heaven; and I ImmedIaIeIy IefI Ihe cabIn, fIIIed wIIh re-
senImenI and sorrow. The onIy coaI I had wIIh me my mas-
Ier Iook away wIIh hIm, and saId If my rIze-money had been
l0,000 . he had a rIghI Io II aII, and wouId have Iaken II. I
had abouI nIne guIneas, whIch, durIng my Iong sea-farIng
IIfe, I had scraed IogeIher from IrIfIIng erquIsIIes and IIIIIe
venIures; and I hId II IhaI InsIanI, IesI my masIer shouId
Iake IhaI from me IIkewIse, sIIII hoIng IhaI by some means
or oIher I shouId make my escae Io Ihe shore; and Indeed
some of my oId shImaIes IoId me noI Io desaIr, for Ihey
wouId geI me back agaIn; and IhaI, as soon as Ihey couId geI
IheIr ay, Ihey wouId ImmedIaIeIy come Io PorIsmouIh Io
me, where IhIs shI was goIng: buI, aIas! aII my hoes were
baffIed, and Ihe hour of my deIIverance was yeI far off. My
masIer, havIng soon concIuded hIs bargaIn wIIh Ihe caIaIn,
came ouI of Ihe cabIn, and he and hIs eoIe goI InIo Ihe boaI
and uI off; I foIIowed Ihem wIIh achIng eyes as Iong as I
couId, and when Ihey were ouI of sIghI I Ihrew myseIf on Ihe
deck, whIIe my hearI was ready Io bursI wIIh sorrow and
anguIsh.
&'
!"#$%&' ,
:-(*/4)$*&'#(#)'*&+$*&)'-&<#)$/0$/II(#)J
)*/&8$<(4#3'E8$-&5$#P'/('*/&
_The auIhor's refIecIIons on hIs sIIuaIIonIs deceIved by a
romIse of beIng deIIveredHIs desaIr aI saIIIng for Ihe
WesI IndIesArrIves aI MonIserraI, where he Is soId Io Mr.
KIngVarIous InIeresIIng InsIances of oressIon, crueIIy,
and exIorIIon, whIch Ihe auIhor saw racIIsed uon Ihe
sIaves In Ihe WesI IndIes durIng hIs caIIvIIy from Ihe year
l763 Io l766Address on II Io Ihe IanIers._
Thus, aI Ihe momenI I execIed aII my IoIIs Io end, was I
Iunged, as I suosed, In a new sIavery; In comarIson of
whIch aII my servIce hIIherIo had been 'erfecI freedom;' and
whose horrors, aIways resenI Io my mInd, now rushed on II
wIIh IenfoId aggravaIIon. I weI very bIIIerIy for some IIme:
and began Io IhInk IhaI I musI have done someIhIng Io dIs-
Iease Ihe Iord, IhaI he Ihus unIshed me so severeIy. ThIs
fIIIed me wIIh aInfuI refIecIIons on my asI conducI; I recoI-
IecIed IhaI on Ihe mornIng of our arrIvaI aI eIford I had
rashIy sworn IhaI as soon as we reached Iondon I wouId
send Ihe day In rambIIng and sorI. My conscIence smoIe
me for IhIs unguarded exressIon: I feII IhaI Ihe Iord was
abIe Io dIsaoInI me In aII IhIngs, and ImmedIaIeIy con-
sIdered my resenI sIIuaIIon as a judgmenI of Heaven on ac-
counI of my resumIIon In swearIng: I Iherefore, wIIh con-
IrIIIon of hearI, acknowIedged my IransgressIon Io Ood, and
oured ouI my souI before hIm wIIh unfeIgned reenIance,
and wIIh earnesI suIIcaIIons I besoughI hIm noI Io aban-
don me In my dIsIress, nor casI me from hIs mercy for ever.
In a IIIIIe IIme my grIef, senI wIIh IIs own vIoIence, began
Io subsIde; and afIer Ihe fIrsI confusIon of my IhoughIs was
&(
over I refIecIed wIIh more caImness on my resenI condIIIon:
I consIdered IhaI IrIaIs and dIsaoInImenIs are someIImes
for our good, and I IhoughI Ood mIghI erhas have ermII-
Ied IhIs In order Io Ieach me wIsdom and resIgnaIIon; for he
had hIIherIo shadowed me wIIh Ihe wIngs of hIs mercy, and
by hIs InvIsIbIe buI owerfuI hand broughI me Ihe way I
knew noI. These refIecIIons gave me a IIIIIe comforI, and I
rose aI IasI from Ihe deck wIIh dejecIIon and sorrow In my
counIenance, yeI mIxed wIIh some faInI hoe IhaI Ihe Iord
wouId aear for my deIIverance.
Soon afIerwards, as my new masIer was goIng ashore, he
caIIed me Io hIm, and IoId me Io behave myseIf weII, and do
Ihe busIness of Ihe shI Ihe same as any of Ihe resI of Ihe
boys, and IhaI I shouId fare Ihe beIIer for II; buI I made hIm
no answer. I was Ihen asked If I couId swIm, and I saId, No.
However I was made Io go under Ihe deck, and was weII
waIched. The nexI IIde Ihe shI goI under way, and soon
afIer arrIved aI Ihe MoIher Bank, PorIsmouIh; where she
waIIed a few days for some of Ihe WesI IndIa convoy. WhIIe I
was here I IrIed every means I couId devIse amongsI Ihe
eoIe of Ihe shI Io geI me a boaI from Ihe shore, as Ihere
was none suffered Io come aIongsIde of Ihe shI; and IheIr
own, whenever II was used, was hoIsIed In agaIn ImmedI-
aIeIy. A saIIor on board Iook a guInea from me on reIence of
geIIIng me a boaI; and romIsed me, IIme afIer IIme, IhaI II
was hourIy Io come off. When he had Ihe waIch uon deck I
waIched aIso; and Iooked Iong enough, buI aII In vaIn; I couId
never see eIIher Ihe boaI or my guInea agaIn. And whaI I
IhoughI was sIIII Ihe worsI of aII, Ihe feIIow gave Informa-
IIon, as I afIerwards found, aII Ihe whIIe Io Ihe maIes, of my
InIenIIon Io go off, If I couId In any way do II; buI, rogue IIke,
he never IoId Ihem he had goI a guInea from me Io rocure
my escae. However, afIer we had saIIed, and hIs IrIck was
made known Io Ihe shI's crew, I had some saIIsfacIIon In
seeIng hIm deIesIed and desIsed by Ihem aII for hIs beha-
vIour Io me. I was sIIII In hoes IhaI my oId shImaIes wouId
noI forgeI IheIr romIse Io come for me Io PorIsmouIh: and,
Indeed, aI IasI, buI noI IIII Ihe day before we saIIed, some of
Ihem dId come Ihere, and senI me off some oranges, and
&)
oIher Iokens of IheIr regard. They aIso senI me word Ihey
wouId come off Io me IhemseIves Ihe nexI day or Ihe day
afIer; and a Iady aIso, who IIved In OosorI, wroIe Io me IhaI
she wouId come and Iake me ouI of Ihe shI aI Ihe same
IIme. ThIs Iady had been once very InIImaIe wIIh my former
masIer: I used Io seII and Iake care of a greaI deaI of ro-
erIy for her, In dIfferenI shIs; and In reIurn she aIways
shewed greaI frIendshI for me, and used Io IeII my masIer
IhaI she wouId Iake me away Io IIve wIIh her: buI, unforIu-
naIeIy for me, a dIsagreemenI soon afIerwards Iook Iace
beIween Ihem; and she was succeeded In my masIer's good
graces by anoIher Iady, who aeared soIe mIsIress of Ihe
Ina, and mosIIy Iodged on board. I was noI so greaI a fa-
vourIIe wIIh IhIs Iady as wIIh Ihe former; she had conceIved
a Ique agaInsI me on some occasIon when she was on board,
and she dId noI faII Io InsIIgaIe my masIer Io IreaI me In Ihe
manner he dId|O|.
However, Ihe nexI mornIng, Ihe 30Ih of ecember, Ihe
wInd beIng brIsk and easIerIy, Ihe OeoIus frIgaIe, whIch was
Io escorI Ihe convoy, made a sIgnaI for saIIIng. AII Ihe shIs
Ihen goI u IheIr anchors; and, before any of my frIends had
an oorIunIIy Io come off Io my reIIef, Io my InexressIbIe
anguIsh our shI had goI under way. WhaI IumuIIuous emo-
IIons agIIaIed my souI when Ihe convoy goI under saII, and I
a rIsoner on board, now wIIhouI hoe! I keI my swImmIng
eyes uon Ihe Iand In a sIaIe of unuIIerabIe grIef; noI know-
Ing whaI Io do, and desaIrIng how Io heI myseIf. WhIIe my
mInd was In IhIs sIIuaIIon Ihe fIeeI saIIed on, and In one
day's IIme I IosI sIghI of Ihe wIshed-for Iand. In Ihe fIrsI ex-
ressIons of my grIef I reroached my faIe, and wIshed I had
never been born. I was ready Io curse Ihe IIde IhaI bore us,
Ihe gaIe IhaI wafIed my rIson, and even Ihe shI IhaI con-
ducIed us; and I caIIed on deaIh Io reIIeve me from Ihe hor-
rors I feII and dreaded, IhaI I mIghI be In IhaI Iace
"Where sIaves are free, and men oress no more. ooI
IhaI I was, Inur'd so Iong Io aIn, To IrusI Io hoe, or dream
of joy agaIn.
'*
Now dragg'd once more beyond Ihe wesIern maIn, To groan
beneaIh some dasIard IanIer's chaIn; Where my oor coun-
Irymen In bondage waII The Iong enfranchIsemenI of
IIng'rIng faIe: Hard IIng'rIng faIe! whIIe, ere Ihe dawn of day,
Rous'd by Ihe Iash Ihey go IheIr cheerIess way; And as IheIr
souIs wIIh shame and anguIsh burn, SaIuIe wIIh groans un-
weIcome morn's reIurn, And, chIdIng ev'ry hour Ihe sIow-
ac'd sun, Pursue IheIr IoIIs IIII aII hIs race Is run. No eye Io
mark IheIr suff'rIngs wIIh a Iear; No frIend Io comforI, and
no hoe Io cheer: Then, IIke Ihe duII unIIy'd bruIes, reaIr
To sIaIIs as wreIched, and as coarse a fare; Thank heaven
one day of mIs'ry was o'er, Then sInk Io sIee, and wIsh Io
wake no more
l5
." The IurbuIence of my emoIIons however
naIuraIIy gave way Io caImer IhoughIs, and I soon erceIved
whaI faIe had decreed no morIaI on earIh couId revenI. The
convoy saIIed on wIIhouI any accIdenI, wIIh a IeasanI gaIe
and smooIh sea, for sIx weeks, IIII ebruary, when one morn-
Ing Ihe OeoIus ran down a brIg, one of Ihe convoy, and she
InsIanIIy wenI down and was InguIfed In Ihe dark recesses of
Ihe ocean. The convoy was ImmedIaIeIy Ihrown InIo greaI
confusIon IIII II was dayIIghI; and Ihe OeoIus was IIIumIned
wIIh IIghIs Io revenI any farIher mIschIef. On Ihe l3Ih of
ebruary l763, from Ihe masI-head, we descrIed our
desIIned IsIand MonIserraI; and soon afIer I beheId Ihose
"RegIons of sorrow, doIefuI shades, where eace And resI can
rareIy dweII. Hoe never comes ThaI comes Io aII, buI IorIure
wIIhouI end SIIII urges." AI Ihe sIghI of IhIs Iand of bondage,
a fresh horror ran Ihrough aII my frame, and chIIIed me Io
Ihe hearI. My former sIavery now rose In dreadfuI revIew Io
my mInd, and dIsIayed noIhIng buI mIsery, sIrIes, and
chaIns; and, In Ihe fIrsI aroxysm of my grIef, I caIIed uon
l5."The yIng Negro," a oem orIgInaIIy ubIIshed In l773. Perhas II
may noI be deemed ImerIInenI here Io add, IhaI IhIs eIeganI and
aIheIIc IIIIIe oem was occasIoned, as aears by Ihe adverIIsemenI
refIxed Io II, by Ihe foIIowIng IncIdenI. "A bIack, who, a few days be-
fore had ran away from hIs masIer, and goI hImseIf chrIsIened, wIIh In-
IenI Io marry a whIIe woman hIs feIIow-servanI, beIng Iaken and senI
on board a shI In Ihe Thames, Iook an oorIunIIy of shooIIng hImseIf
Ihrough Ihe head."
'!
Ood's Ihunder, and hIs avengIng ower, Io dIrecI Ihe sIroke
of deaIh Io me, raIher Ihan ermII me Io become a sIave, and
be soId from Iord Io Iord. In IhIs sIaIe of my mInd our shI
came Io an anchor, and soon afIer dIscharged her cargo. I
now knew whaI II was Io work hard; I was made Io heI Io
unIoad and Ioad Ihe shI. And, Io comforI me In my dIsIress
In IhaI IIme, Iwo of Ihe saIIors robbed me of aII my money,
and ran away from Ihe shI. I had been so Iong used Io an
uroean cIImaIe IhaI aI fIrsI I feII Ihe scorchIng WesI IndIa
sun very aInfuI, whIIe Ihe dashIng surf wouId Ioss Ihe boaI
and Ihe eoIe In II frequenIIy above hIgh waIer mark. So-
meIImes our IImbs were broken wIIh IhIs, or even aIIended
wIIh InsIanI deaIh, and I was day by day mangIed and Iorn.
AbouI Ihe mIddIe of May, when Ihe shI was goI ready Io saII
for ngIand, I aII Ihe IIme beIIevIng IhaI aIe's bIackesI
cIouds were gaIherIng over my head, and execIIng IheIr
bursIIng wouId mIx me wIIh Ihe dead, CaIaIn oran senI
for me ashore one mornIng, and I was IoId by Ihe messenger
IhaI my faIe was Ihen deIermIned. WIIh fIuIIerIng sIes and
IrembIIng hearI I came Io Ihe caIaIn, and found wIIh hIm
one Mr. RoberI KIng, a quaker, and Ihe fIrsI merchanI In Ihe
Iace. The caIaIn Ihen IoId me my former masIer had senI
me Ihere Io be soId; buI IhaI he had desIred hIm Io geI me
Ihe besI masIer he couId, as he IoId hIm I was a very de-
servIng boy, whIch CaIaIn oran saId he found Io be Irue;
and If he were Io sIay In Ihe WesI IndIes he wouId be gIad Io
kee me hImseIf; buI he couId noI venIure Io Iake me Io Ion-
don, for he was very sure IhaI when I came Ihere I wouId
Ieave hIm. I aI IhaI InsIanI bursI ouI a cryIng, and begged
much of hIm Io Iake me Io ngIand wIIh hIm, buI aII Io no
urose. He IoId me he had goI me Ihe very besI masIer In
Ihe whoIe IsIand, wIIh whom I shouId be as hay as If I
were In ngIand, and for IhaI reason he chose Io IeI hIm
have me, Ihough he couId seII me Io hIs own broIher-In-Iaw
for a greaI deaI more money Ihan whaI he goI from IhIs gen-
IIeman. Mr. KIng, my new masIer, Ihen made a reIy, and
saId Ihe reason he had boughI me was on accounI of my good
characIer; and, as he had noI Ihe IeasI doubI of my good be-
havIour, I shouId be very weII off wIIh hIm. He aIso IoId me
'"
he dId noI IIve In Ihe WesI IndIes, buI aI PhIIadeIhIa, where
he was goIng soon; and, as I undersIood someIhIng of Ihe
ruIes of arIIhmeIIc, when we goI Ihere he wouId uI me Io
schooI, and fII me for a cIerk. ThIs conversaIIon reIIeved my
mInd a IIIIIe, and I IefI Ihose genIIemen consIderabIy more aI
ease In myseIf Ihan when I came Io Ihem; and I was very
graIefuI Io CaIaIn oran, and even Io my oId masIer, for
Ihe characIer Ihey had gIven me; a characIer whIch I afIer-
wards found of InfInIIe servIce Io me. I wenI on board agaIn,
and Iook Ieave of aII my shImaIes; and Ihe nexI day Ihe
shI saIIed. When she weIghed anchor I wenI Io Ihe waIer-
sIde and Iooked aI her wIIh a very wIshfuI and achIng hearI,
and foIIowed her wIIh my eyes and Iears unIII she was
IoIaIIy ouI of sIghI. I was so bowed down wIIh grIef IhaI I
couId noI hoId u my head for many monIhs; and If my new
masIer had noI been kInd Io me I beIIeve I shouId have dIed
under II aI IasI. And Indeed I soon found IhaI he fuIIy de-
served Ihe good characIer whIch CaIaIn oran had gIven
me of hIm; for he ossessed a mosI amIabIe dIsosIIIon and
Iemer, and was very charIIabIe and humane. If any of hIs
sIaves behaved amIss he dId noI beaI or use Ihem III, buI
arIed wIIh Ihem. ThIs made Ihem afraId of dIsobIIgIng hIm;
and as he IreaIed hIs sIaves beIIer Ihan any oIher man on
Ihe IsIand, so he was beIIer and more faIIhfuIIy served by
Ihem In reIurn. By hIs kInd IreaImenI I dId aI IasI endeav-
our Io comose myseIf; and wIIh forIIIude, Ihough moneyIess,
deIermIned Io face whaIever faIe had decreed for me. Mr.
KIng soon asked me whaI I couId do; and aI Ihe same IIme
saId he dId noI mean Io IreaI me as a common sIave. I IoId
hIm I knew someIhIng of seamanshI, and couId shave and
dress haIr reIIy weII; and I couId refIne wInes, whIch I had
Iearned on shIboard, where I had ofIen done II; and IhaI I
couId wrIIe, and undersIood arIIhmeIIc IoIerabIy weII as far
as Ihe RuIe of Three. He Ihen asked me If I knew any IhIng
of gaugIng; and, on my answerIng IhaI I dId noI, he saId one
of hIs cIerks shouId Ieach me Io gauge. Mr. KIng deaII In aII
manner of merchandIze, and keI from one Io sIx cIerks. He
Ioaded many vesseIs In a year; arIIcuIarIy Io PhIIadeIhIa,
where he was born, and was connecIed wIIh a greaI
'#
mercanIIIe house In IhaI cIIy. He had besIdes many vesseIs
and droggers, of dIfferenI sIzes, whIch used Io go abouI Ihe
IsIand; and oIhers Io coIIecI rum, sugar, and oIher goods. I
undersIood uIIIng and managIng Ihose boaIs very weII; and
IhIs hard work, whIch was Ihe fIrsI IhaI he seI me Io, In Ihe
sugar seasons used Io be my consIanI emIoymenI. I have
rowed Ihe boaI, and sIaved aI Ihe oars, from one hour Io sIx-
Ieen In Ihe IwenIy-four; durIng whIch I had fIfIeen ence
sIerIIng er day Io IIve on, Ihough someIImes onIy Ien ence.
However IhIs was consIderabIy more Ihan was aIIowed Io
oIher sIaves IhaI used Io work wIIh me, and beIonged Io oIh-
er genIIemen on Ihe IsIand: Ihose oor souIs had never more
Ihan nIne ence er day, and seIdom more Ihan sIx ence,
from IheIr masIers or owners, Ihough Ihey earned Ihem
Ihree or four IsIerInes
l6
: for II Is a common racIIce In Ihe
WesI IndIes for men Io urchase sIaves Ihough Ihey have noI
IanIaIIons IhemseIves, In order Io IeI Ihem ouI Io IanIers
and merchanIs aI so much a Iece by Ihe day, and Ihey gIve
whaI aIIowance Ihey chuse ouI of IhIs roduce of IheIr daIIy
work Io IheIr sIaves for subsIsIence; IhIs aIIowance Is ofIen
very scanIy. My masIer ofIen gave Ihe owners of Ihese sIaves
Iwo and a haIf of Ihese Ieces er day, and found Ihe oor feI-
Iows In vIcIuaIs hImseIf, because he IhoughI IheIr owners dId
noI feed Ihem weII enough accordIng Io Ihe work Ihey dId.
The sIaves used Io IIke IhIs very weII; and, as Ihey knew my
masIer Io be a man of feeIIng, Ihey were aIways gIad Io work
for hIm In reference Io any oIher genIIeman; some of whom,
afIer Ihey had been aId for Ihese oor eoIe's Iabours,
wouId noI gIve Ihem IheIr aIIowance ouI of II. Many IImes
have I even seen Ihese unforIunaIe wreIches beaIen for ask-
Ing for IheIr ay; and ofIen severeIy fIogged by IheIr owners
If Ihey dId noI brIng Ihem IheIr daIIy or weekIy money ex-
acIIy Io Ihe IIme; Ihough Ihe oor creaIures were obIIged Io
waII on Ihe genIIemen Ihey had worked for someIImes for
more Ihan haIf Ihe day before Ihey couId geI IheIr ay; and
IhIs generaIIy on Sundays, when Ihey wanIed Ihe IIme for
IhemseIves. In arIIcuIar, I knew a counIryman of mIne who
l6.These IsIerInes are of Ihe vaIue of a shIIIIng.
'$
once dId noI brIng Ihe weekIy money dIrecIIy IhaI II was
earned; and Ihough he broughI II Ihe same day Io hIs mas-
Ier, yeI he was sIaked Io Ihe ground for IhIs reIended negII-
gence, and was jusI goIng Io receIve a hundred Iashes, buI
for a genIIeman who begged hIm off fIfIy. ThIs oor man was
very IndusIrIous; and, by hIs frugaIIIy, had saved so much
money by workIng on shIboard, IhaI he had goI a whIIe
man Io buy hIm a boaI, unknown Io hIs masIer. Some IIme
afIer he had IhIs IIIIIe esIaIe Ihe governor wanIed a boaI Io
brIng hIs sugar from dIfferenI arIs of Ihe IsIand; and, know-
Ing IhIs Io be a negro-man's boaI, he seIzed uon II for hIm-
seIf, and wouId noI ay Ihe owner a farIhIng. The man on
IhIs wenI Io hIs masIer, and comIaIned Io hIm of IhIs acI of
Ihe governor; buI Ihe onIy saIIsfacIIon he receIved was Io be
damned very hearIIIy by hIs masIer, who asked hIm how
dared any of hIs negroes Io have a boaI. If Ihe jusIIy-merIIed
ruIn of Ihe governor's forIune couId be any graIIfIcaIIon Io
Ihe oor man he had Ihus robbed, he was noI wIIhouI consoI-
aIIon. xIorIIon and raIne are oor rovIders; and some
IIme afIer IhIs Ihe governor dIed In Ihe KIng's Bench In ng-
Iand, as I was IoId, In greaI overIy. The IasI war favoured
IhIs oor negro-man, and he found some means Io escae
from hIs ChrIsIIan masIer: he came Io ngIand; where I saw
hIm afIerwards severaI IImes. Such IreaImenI as IhIs ofIen
drIves Ihese mIserabIe wreIches Io desaIr, and Ihey run
away from IheIr masIers aI Ihe hazard of IheIr IIves. Many of
Ihem, In IhIs Iace, unabIe Io geI IheIr ay when Ihey have
earned II, and fearIng Io be fIogged, as usuaI, If Ihey reIurn
home wIIhouI II, run away where Ihey can for sheIIer, and a
reward Is ofIen offered Io brIng Ihem In dead or aIIve. My
masIer used someIImes, In Ihese cases, Io agree wIIh IheIr
owners, and Io seIIIe wIIh Ihem hImseIf; and Ihereby he
saved many of Ihem a fIoggIng. Once, for a few days, I was
IeI ouI Io fII a vesseI, and I had no vIcIuaIs aIIowed me by
eIIher arIy; aI IasI I IoId my masIer of IhIs IreaImenI, and
he Iook me away from II. In many of Ihe esIaIes, on Ihe dIf-
ferenI IsIands where I used Io be senI for rum or sugar, Ihey
wouId noI deIIver II Io me, or any oIher negro; he was Ihere-
fore obIIged Io send a whIIe man aIong wIIh me Io Ihose
'%
Iaces; and Ihen he used Io ay hIm from sIx Io Ien IsIer-
Ines a day. rom beIng Ihus emIoyed, durIng Ihe IIme I
served Mr. KIng, In goIng abouI Ihe dIfferenI esIaIes on Ihe
IsIand, I had aII Ihe oorIunIIy I couId wIsh for Io see Ihe
dreadfuI usage of Ihe oor men; usage IhaI reconcIIed me Io
my sIIuaIIon, and made me bIess Ood for Ihe hands InIo
whIch I had faIIen. I had Ihe good forIune Io Iease my mas-
Ier In every dearImenI In whIch he emIoyed me; and Ihere
was scarceIy any arI of hIs busIness, or househoId affaIrs, In
whIch I was noI occasIonaIIy engaged. I ofIen suIIed Ihe
Iace of a cIerk, In receIvIng and deIIverIng cargoes Io Ihe
shIs, In IendIng sIores, and deIIverIng goods: and, besIdes
IhIs, I used Io shave and dress my masIer when convenIenI,
and Iake care of hIs horse; and when II was necessary, whIch
was very ofIen, I worked IIkewIse on board of dIfferenI ves-
seIs of hIs. By Ihese means I became very usefuI Io my mas-
Ier; and saved hIm, as he used Io acknowIedge, above a hun-
dred ounds a year. Nor dId he scruIe Io say I was of more
advanIage Io hIm Ihan any of hIs cIerks; Ihough IheIr usuaI
wages In Ihe WesI IndIes are from sIxIy Io a hundred ounds
currenI a year. I have someIImes heard II asserIed IhaI a
negro cannoI earn hIs masIer Ihe fIrsI cosI; buI noIhIng can
be furIher from Ihe IruIh. I suose nIne IenIhs of Ihe mech-
anIcs IhroughouI Ihe WesI IndIes are negro sIaves; and I weII
know Ihe cooers among Ihem earn Iwo doIIars a day; Ihe
carenIers Ihe same, and ofIenIImes more; as aIso Ihe ma-
sons, smIIhs, and fIshermen, &c. and I have known many
sIaves whose masIers wouId noI Iake a Ihousand ounds cur-
renI for Ihem. BuI sureIy IhIs asserIIon refuIes IIseIf; for, If II
be Irue, why do Ihe IanIers and merchanIs ay such a rIce
for sIaves7 And, above aII, why do Ihose who make IhIs asser-
IIon excIaIm Ihe mosI IoudIy agaInsI Ihe aboIIIIon of Ihe
sIave Irade7 So much are men bIInded, and Io such InconsIsI-
enI argumenIs are Ihey drIven by mIsIaken InIeresI! I granI,
Indeed, IhaI sIaves are some IImes, by haIf-feedIng, haIf-
cIoIhIng, over-workIng and sIrIes, reduced so Iow, IhaI Ihey
are Iurned ouI as unfII for servIce, and IefI Io erIsh In Ihe
woods, or exIre on a dunghIII. My masIer was severaI IImes
offered by dIfferenI genIIemen one hundred guIneas for me;
'&
buI he aIways IoId Ihem he wouId noI seII me, Io my greaI
joy: and I used Io doubIe my dIIIgence and care for fear of
geIIIng InIo Ihe hands of Ihose men who dId noI aIIow a vaIu-
abIe sIave Ihe common suorI of IIfe. Many of Ihem even
used Io fInd fauII wIIh my masIer for feedIng hIs sIaves so
weII as he dId; aIIhough I ofIen wenI hungry, and an ng-
IIshman mIghI IhInk my fare very IndIfferenI; buI he used Io
IeII Ihem he aIways wouId do II, because Ihe sIaves Ihereby
Iooked beIIer and dId more work. WhIIe I was Ihus emIoyed
by my masIer I was ofIen a wIIness Io crueIIIes of every kInd,
whIch were exercIsed on my unhay feIIow sIaves. I used
frequenIIy Io have dIfferenI cargoes of new negroes In my
care for saIe; and II was aImosI a consIanI racIIce wIIh our
cIerks, and oIher whIIes, Io commII vIoIenI deredaIIons on
Ihe chasIIIy of Ihe femaIe sIaves; and Ihese I was, Ihough
wIIh reIucIance, obIIged Io submII Io aI aII IImes, beIng un-
abIe Io heI Ihem. When we have had some of Ihese sIaves on
board my masIer's vesseIs Io carry Ihem Io oIher IsIands, or
Io AmerIca, I have known our maIes Io commII Ihese acIs
mosI shamefuIIy, Io Ihe dIsgrace, noI of ChrIsIIans onIy, buI
of men. I have even known Ihem graIIfy IheIr bruIaI assIon
wIIh femaIes noI Ien years oId; and Ihese abomInaIIons some
of Ihem racIIsed Io such scandaIous excess, IhaI one of our
caIaIns dIscharged Ihe maIe and oIhers on IhaI accounI.
And yeI In MonIserraI I have seen a negro man sIaked Io Ihe
ground, and cuI mosI shockIngIy, and Ihen hIs ears cuI off bII
by bII, because he had been connecIed wIIh a whIIe woman
who was a common rosIIIuIe: as If II were no crIme In Ihe
whIIes Io rob an InnocenI AfrIcan gIrI of her vIrIue; buI mosI
heInous In a bIack man onIy Io graIIfy a assIon of naIure,
where Ihe IemIaIIon was offered by one of a dIfferenI coI-
our, Ihough Ihe mosI abandoned woman of her secIes.
AnoIher negro man was haIf hanged, and Ihen burnI, for aI-
IemIIng Io oIson a crueI overseer. Thus by reeaIed crueI-
IIes are Ihe wreIched fIrsI urged Io desaIr, and Ihen
murdered, because Ihey sIIII reIaIn so much of human naIure
abouI Ihem as Io wIsh Io uI an end Io IheIr mIsery, and re-
IaIIaIe on IheIr IyranIs! These overseers are Indeed for Ihe
mosI arI ersons of Ihe worsI characIer of any
''
denomInaIIon of men In Ihe WesI IndIes. !nforIunaIeIy,
many humane genIIemen, by noI resIdIng on IheIr esIaIes,
are obIIged Io Ieave Ihe managemenI of Ihem In Ihe hands of
Ihese human buIchers, who cuI and mangIe Ihe sIaves In a
shockIng manner on Ihe mosI IrIfIIng occasIons, and aIIo-
geIher IreaI Ihem In every resecI IIke bruIes. They ay no
regard Io Ihe sIIuaIIon of regnanI women, nor Ihe IeasI aI-
IenIIon Io Ihe IodgIng of Ihe fIeId negroes. TheIr huIs, whIch
oughI Io be weII covered, and Ihe Iace dry where Ihey Iake
IheIr IIIIIe reose, are ofIen oen sheds, buIII In dam Iaces;
so IhaI, when Ihe oor creaIures reIurn IIred from Ihe IoIIs of
Ihe fIeId, Ihey conIracI many dIsorders, from beIng exosed
Io Ihe dam aIr In IhIs uncomforIabIe sIaIe, whIIe Ihey are
heaIed, and IheIr ores are oen. ThIs negIecI cerIaInIy con-
sIres wIIh many oIhers Io cause a decrease In Ihe bIrIhs as
weII as In Ihe IIves of Ihe grown negroes. I can quoIe many
InsIances of genIIemen who resIde on IheIr esIaIes In Ihe
WesI IndIes, and Ihen Ihe scene Is quIIe changed; Ihe
negroes are IreaIed wIIh IenIIy and roer care, by whIch
IheIr IIves are roIonged, and IheIr masIers are rofIIed. To
Ihe honour of humanIIy, I knew severaI genIIemen who man-
aged IheIr esIaIes In IhIs manner; and Ihey found IhaI bene-
voIence was IheIr Irue InIeresI. And, among many I couId
menIIon In severaI of Ihe IsIands, I knew one In MonIserraI
l7
whose sIaves Iooked remarkabIy weII, and never needed any
fresh suIIes of negroes; and Ihere are many oIher esIaIes,
esecIaIIy In Barbadoes, whIch, from such judIcIous IreaI-
menI, need no fresh sIock of negroes aI any IIme. I have Ihe
honour of knowIng a mosI worIhy and humane genIIeman,
who Is a naIIve of Barbadoes, and has esIaIes Ihere
l8
. ThIs
genIIeman has wrIIIen a IreaIIse on Ihe usage of hIs own
sIaves. He aIIows Ihem Iwo hours for refreshmenI aI mId-
day; and many oIher InduIgencIes and comforIs, arIIcuIarIy
In IheIr IyIng; and, besIdes IhIs, he raIses more rovIsIons on
hIs esIaIe Ihan Ihey can desIroy; so IhaI by Ihese aIIenIIons
he saves Ihe IIves of hIs negroes, and kees Ihem heaIIhy,
l7.Mr. ubury, and many oIhers, MonIserraI.
l8.SIr PhIII OIbbes, BaroneI, Barbadoes.
'(
and as hay as Ihe condIIIon of sIavery can admII. I myseIf,
as shaII aear In Ihe sequeI, managed an esIaIe, where, by
Ihose aIIenIIons, Ihe negroes were uncommonIy cheerfuI and
heaIIhy, and dId more work by haIf Ihan by Ihe common
mode of IreaImenI Ihey usuaIIy do. or wanI, Iherefore, of
such care and aIIenIIon Io Ihe oor negroes, and oIherwIse
oressed as Ihey are, II Is no wonder IhaI Ihe decrease
shouId requIre 20,000 new negroes annuaIIy Io fIII u Ihe va-
canI Iaces of Ihe dead. ven In Barbadoes, noIwIIhsIandIng
Ihose humane exceIIons whIch I have menIIoned, and oIh-
ers I am acquaInIed wIIh, whIch jusIIy make II quoIed as a
Iace where sIaves meeI wIIh Ihe besI IreaImenI, and need
fewesI recruIIs of any In Ihe WesI IndIes, yeI IhIs IsIand re-
quIres l000 negroes annuaIIy Io kee u Ihe orIgInaI sIock,
whIch Is onIy 80,000. So IhaI Ihe whoIe Ierm of a negro's IIfe
may be saId Io be Ihere buI sIxIeen years!
l9
And yeI Ihe cII-
maIe here Is In every resecI Ihe same as IhaI from whIch
Ihey are Iaken, exceI In beIng more whoIesome. o Ihe BrII-
Ish coIonIes decrease In IhIs manner7 And yeI whaI a rodI-
gIous dIfference Is Ihere beIween an ngIIsh and WesI IndIa
cIImaIe7 WhIIe I was In MonIserraI I knew a negro man,
named manueI Sankey, who endeavoured Io escae from
hIs mIserabIe bondage, by conceaIIng hImseIf on board of a
Iondon shI: buI faIe dId noI favour Ihe oor oressed man;
for, beIng dIscovered when Ihe vesseI was under saII, he was
deIIvered u agaIn Io hIs masIer. ThIs ChrIsIIan masIer Im-
medIaIeIy Inned Ihe wreIch down Io Ihe ground aI each
wrIsI and ancIe, and Ihen Iook some sIIcks of seaIIng wax,
and IIghIed Ihem, and droed II aII over hIs back. There was
anoIher masIer who was noIed for crueIIy; and I beIIeve he
had noI a sIave buI whaI had been cuI, and had Ieces faIrIy
Iaken ouI of Ihe fIesh: and, afIer Ihey had been unIshed
Ihus, he used Io make Ihem geI InIo a Iong wooden box or
case he had for IhaI urose, In whIch he shuI Ihem u dur-
Ing Ieasure. II was jusI abouI Ihe heIghI and breadIh of a
man; and Ihe oor wreIches had no room, when In Ihe case,
Io move. II was very common In severaI of Ihe IsIands,
l9.BenezeI's AccounI of OuInea, . l6.
')
arIIcuIarIy In SI. KIII's, for Ihe sIaves Io be branded wIIh
Ihe InIIIaI IeIIers of IheIr masIer's name; and a Ioad of heavy
Iron hooks hung abouI IheIr necks. Indeed on Ihe mosI IrI-
fIIng occasIons Ihey were Ioaded wIIh chaIns; and ofIen In-
sIrumenIs of IorIure were added. The Iron muzzIe, Ihumb-
screws, &c. are so weII known, as noI Io need a descrIIIon,
and were someIImes aIIed for Ihe sIIghIesI fauIIs. I have
seen a negro beaIen IIII some of hIs bones were broken, for
even IeIIIng a oI boII over. Is II surrIsIng IhaI usage IIke
IhIs shouId drIve Ihe oor creaIures Io desaIr, and make
Ihem seek a refuge In deaIh from Ihose evIIs whIch render
IheIr IIves InIoIerabIewhIIe, "WIIh shudd'rIng horror aIe,
and eyes aghasI, They vIew IheIr IamenIabIe IoI, and fInd No
resI!" ThIs Ihey frequenIIy do. A negro-man on board a vesseI
of my masIer, whIIe I beIonged Io her, havIng been uI In
Irons for some IrIfIIng mIsdemeanor, and keI In IhaI sIaIe
for some days, beIng weary of IIfe, Iook an oorIunIIy of
jumIng overboard InIo Ihe sea; however, he was Icked u
wIIhouI beIng drowned. AnoIher, whose IIfe was aIso a bur-
den Io hIm, resoIved Io sIarve hImseIf Io deaIh, and refused
Io eaI any vIcIuaIs; IhIs rocured hIm a severe fIoggIng: and
he aIso, on Ihe fIrsI occasIon whIch offered, jumed over-
board aI CharIes Town, buI was saved. Nor Is Ihere any
greaIer regard shewn Io Ihe IIIIIe roerIy Ihan Ihere Is Io
Ihe ersons and IIves of Ihe negroes. I have aIready reIaIed
an InsIance or Iwo of arIIcuIar oressIon ouI of many
whIch I have wIInessed; buI Ihe foIIowIng Is frequenI In aII
Ihe IsIands. The wreIched fIeId-sIaves, afIer IoIIIng aII Ihe
day for an unfeeIIng owner, who gIves Ihem buI IIIIIe vIcIu-
aIs, sIeaI someIImes a few momenIs from resI or refreshmenI
Io gaIher some smaII orIIon of grass, accordIng as IheIr IIme
wIII admII. ThIs Ihey commonIy IIe u In a arceI; (eIIher a
bII, worIh sIx ence; or haIf a bII's-worIh) and brIng II Io
Iown, or Io Ihe markeI, Io seII. NoIhIng Is more common Ihan
for Ihe whIIe eoIe on IhIs occasIon Io Iake Ihe grass from
Ihem wIIhouI ayIng for II; and noI onIy so, buI Ioo ofIen
aIso, Io my knowIedge, our cIerks, and many oIhers, aI Ihe
same IIme have commIIIed acIs of vIoIence on Ihe oor,
wreIched, and heIIess femaIes; whom I have seen for hours
(*
sIand cryIng Io no urose, and geI no redress or ay of any
kInd. Is noI IhIs one common and cryIng sIn enough Io brIng
down Ood's judgmenI on Ihe IsIands7 He IeIIs us Ihe oress-
or and Ihe oressed are boIh In hIs hands; and If Ihese are
noI Ihe oor, Ihe broken-hearIed, Ihe bIInd, Ihe caIIve, Ihe
bruIsed, whIch our SavIour seaks of, who are Ihey7 One of
Ihese deredaIors once, In SI. usIaIIa, came on board of our
vesseI, and boughI some fowIs and Igs of me; and a whoIe
day afIer hIs dearIure wIIh Ihe IhIngs he reIurned agaIn
and wanIed hIs money back: I refused Io gIve II; and, noI see-
Ing my caIaIn on board, he began Ihe common ranks wIIh
me; and swore he wouId even break oen my chesI and Iake
my money. I Iherefore execIed, as my caIaIn was absenI,
IhaI he wouId be as good as hIs word: and he was jusI ro-
ceedIng Io sIrIke me, when forIunaIeIy a BrIIIsh seaman on
board, whose hearI had noI been debauched by a WesI IndIa
cIImaIe, InIerosed and revenIed hIm. BuI had Ihe crueI
man sIruck me I cerIaInIy shouId have defended myseIf aI
Ihe hazard of my IIfe; for whaI Is IIfe Io a man Ihus o-
ressed7 He wenI away, however, swearIng; and IhreaIened
IhaI whenever he caughI me on shore he wouId shooI me,
and ay for me afIerwards. The smaII accounI In whIch Ihe
IIfe of a negro Is heId In Ihe WesI IndIes Is so unIversaIIy
known, IhaI II mIghI seem ImerIInenI Io quoIe Ihe foIIowIng
exIracI, If some eoIe had noI been hardy enough of IaIe Io
asserI IhaI negroes are on Ihe same fooIIng In IhaI resecI as
uroeans. By Ihe 329Ih AcI, age l25, of Ihe AssembIy of
Barbadoes, II Is enacIed 'ThaI If any negro, or oIher sIave,
under unIshmenI by hIs masIer, or hIs order, for runnIng
away, or any oIher crIme or mIsdemeanor Iowards hIs saId
masIer, unforIunaIeIy shaII suffer In IIfe or member, no er-
son whaIsoever shaII be IIabIe Io a fIne; buI If any man shaII
ouI of _wanIonness, or onIy of bIoody-mIndedness, or crueI
InIenIIon, wIIfuIIy kIII a negro, or oIher sIave, of hIs own, he
shaII ay InIo Ihe ubIIc Ireasury fIfIeen ounds sIerIIng_.'
And II Is Ihe same In mosI, If noI aII, of Ihe WesI IndIa Is-
Iands. Is noI IhIs one of Ihe many acIs of Ihe IsIands whIch
caII IoudIy for redress7 And do noI Ihe assembIy whIch en-
acIed II deserve Ihe aeIIaIIon of savages and bruIes raIher
(!
Ihan of ChrIsIIans and men7 II Is an acI aI once unmercIfuI,
unjusI, and unwIse; whIch for crueIIy wouId dIsgrace an as-
sembIy of Ihose who are caIIed barbarIans; and for IIs In-
jusIIce and InsanIIy wouId shock Ihe moraIIIy and common
sense of a SamaIde or a HoIIenIoI. ShockIng as IhIs and
many more acIs of Ihe bIoody WesI IndIa code aI fIrsI vIew
aear, how Is Ihe InIquIIy of II heIghIened when we con-
sIder Io whom II may be exIended! Mr. James TobIn, a zeaI-
ous Iabourer In Ihe vIneyard of sIavery, gIves an accounI of a
rench IanIer of hIs acquaInIance, In Ihe IsIand of
MarIInIco, who shewed hIm many muIaIIoes workIng In Ihe
fIeIds IIke beasIs of burden; and he IoId Mr. TobIn Ihese were
aII Ihe roduce of hIs own IoIns! And I myseIf have known
sImIIar InsIances. Pray, reader, are Ihese sons and daugh-
Iers of Ihe rench IanIer Iess hIs chIIdren by beIng begoIIen
on a bIack woman7 And whaI musI be Ihe vIrIue of Ihose Ie-
gIsIaIors, and Ihe feeIIngs of Ihose faIhers, who esIImaIe Ihe
IIves of IheIr sons, however begoIIen, aI no more Ihan fIfIeen
ounds; Ihough Ihey shouId be murdered, as Ihe acI says,
_ouI of wanIonness and bIoody-mIndedness_! BuI Is noI Ihe
sIave Irade enIIreIy a war wIIh Ihe hearI of man7 And sureIy
IhaI whIch Is begun by breakIng down Ihe barrIers of vIrIue
InvoIves In IIs conIInuance desIrucIIon Io every rIncIIe,
and burIes aII senIImenIs In ruIn! I have ofIen seen sIaves,
arIIcuIarIy Ihose who were meagre, In dIfferenI IsIands, uI
InIo scaIes and weIghed; and Ihen soId from Ihree ence Io
sIx ence or nIne ence a ound. My masIer, however, whose
humanIIy was shocked aI IhIs mode, used Io seII such by Ihe
Ium. And aI or afIer a saIe II was noI uncommon Io see
negroes Iaken from IheIr wIves, wIves Iaken from IheIr hus-
bands, and chIIdren from IheIr arenIs, and senI off Io oIher
IsIands, and wherever eIse IheIr mercIIess Iords chose; and
robabIy never more durIng IIfe Io see each oIher! OfIen-
IImes my hearI has bIed aI Ihese arIIngs; when Ihe frIends
of Ihe dearIed have been aI Ihe waIer sIde, and, wIIh sIghs
and Iears, have keI IheIr eyes fIxed on Ihe vesseI IIII II wenI
ouI of sIghI. A oor CreoIe negro I knew weII, who, afIer hav-
Ing been ofIen Ihus IransorIed from IsIand Io IsIand, aI IasI
resIded In MonIserraI. ThIs man used Io IeII me many
("
meIanchoIy IaIes of hImseIf. OeneraIIy, afIer he had done
workIng for hIs masIer, he used Io emIoy hIs few IeIsure
momenIs Io go a fIshIng. When he had caughI any fIsh, hIs
masIer wouId frequenIIy Iake Ihem from hIm wIIhouI ayIng
hIm; and aI oIher IImes some oIher whIIe eoIe wouId serve
hIm In Ihe same manner. One day he saId Io me, very mov-
IngIy, 'SomeIImes when a whIIe man Iake away my fIsh I go
Io my maser, and he geI me my rIghI; and when my maser by
sIrengIh Iake away my fIshes, whaI me musI do7 I can'I go Io
any body Io be rIghIed; Ihen' saId Ihe oor man, IookIng u
above 'I musI Iook u Io Ood MIghIy In Ihe Io for rIghI.'
ThIs arIIess IaIe moved me much, and I couId noI heI feeI-
Ing Ihe jusI cause Moses had In redressIng hIs broIher
agaInsI Ihe gyIIan. I exhorIed Ihe man Io Iook u sIIII Io
Ihe Ood on Ihe Io, sInce Ihere was no redress beIow. Though
I IIIIIe IhoughI Ihen IhaI I myseIf shouId more Ihan once ex-
erIence such ImosIIIon, and read Ihe same exhorIaIIon
hereafIer, In my own IransacIIons In Ihe IsIands; and IhaI
even IhIs oor man and I shouId some IIme afIer suffer Io-
geIher In Ihe same manner, as shaII be reIaIed hereafIer.
Nor was such usage as IhIs confIned Io arIIcuIar Iaces or
IndIvIduaIs; for, In aII Ihe dIfferenI IsIands In whIch I have
been (and I have vIsIIed no Iess Ihan fIfIeen) Ihe IreaImenI of
Ihe sIaves was nearIy Ihe same; so nearIy Indeed, IhaI Ihe
hIsIory of an IsIand, or even a IanIaIIon, wIIh a few such ex-
ceIIons as I have menIIoned, mIghI serve for a hIsIory of Ihe
whoIe. Such a Iendency has Ihe sIave-Irade Io debauch men's
mInds, and harden Ihem Io every feeIIng of humanIIy! or I
wIII noI suose IhaI Ihe deaIers In sIaves are born worse
Ihan oIher menNo; II Is Ihe faIaIIIy of IhIs mIsIaken av-
arIce, IhaI II corruIs Ihe mIIk of human kIndness and Iurns
II InIo gaII. And, had Ihe ursuIIs of Ihose men been dIffer-
enI, Ihey mIghI have been as generous, as Iender-hearIed
and jusI, as Ihey are unfeeIIng, raacIous and crueI. SureIy
IhIs IraffIc cannoI be good, whIch sreads IIke a esIIIence,
and IaInIs whaI II Iouches! whIch vIoIaIes IhaI fIrsI naIuraI
rIghI of mankInd, equaIIIy and Indeendency, and gIves one
man a domInIon over hIs feIIows whIch Ood couId never In-
Iend! or II raIses Ihe owner Io a sIaIe as far above man as II
(#
deresses Ihe sIave beIow II; and, wIIh aII Ihe resumIIon of
human rIde, seIs a dIsIIncIIon beIween Ihem, ImmeasurabIe
In exIenI, and endIess In duraIIon! YeI how mIsIaken Is Ihe
avarIce even of Ihe IanIers7 Are sIaves more usefuI by beIng
Ihus humbIed Io Ihe condIIIon of bruIes, Ihan Ihey wouId be
If suffered Io enjoy Ihe rIvIIeges of men7 The freedom whIch
dIffuses heaIIh and roserIIy IhroughouI BrIIaIn answers
youNo. When you make men sIaves you derIve Ihem of
haIf IheIr vIrIue, you seI Ihem In your own conducI an ex-
amIe of fraud, raIne, and crueIIy, and comeI Ihem Io IIve
wIIh you In a sIaIe of war; and yeI you comIaIn IhaI Ihey
are noI honesI or faIIhfuI! You sIuIfy Ihem wIIh sIrIes, and
IhInk II necessary Io kee Ihem In a sIaIe of Ignorance; and
yeI you asserI IhaI Ihey are IncaabIe of IearnIng; IhaI IheIr
mInds are such a barren soII or moor, IhaI cuIIure wouId be
IosI on Ihem; and IhaI Ihey come from a cIImaIe, where
naIure, Ihough rodIgaI of her bounIIes In a degree unknown
Io yourseIves, has IefI man aIone scanI and unfInIshed, and
IncaabIe of enjoyIng Ihe Ireasures she has oured ouI for
hIm!An asserIIon aI once ImIous and absurd. Why do you
use Ihose InsIrumenIs of IorIure7 Are Ihey fII Io be aIIed
by one raIIonaI beIng Io anoIher7 And are ye noI sIruck wIIh
shame and morIIfIcaIIon, Io see Ihe arIakers of your naIure
reduced so Iow7 BuI, above aII, are Ihere no dangers aIIend-
Ing IhIs mode of IreaImenI7 Are you noI hourIy In dread of
an InsurrecIIon7 Nor wouId II be surrIsIng: for when "No
eace Is gIven To us ensIav'd, buI cusIody severe; And sIrIes
and arbIIrary unIshmenI InfIIcIedWhaI eace can we re-
Iurn7 BuI Io our ower, hosIIIIIy and haIe; !nIam'd reIucI-
ance, and revenge, Ihough sIow, YeI ever IoIIIng how Ihe
conqueror IeasI May rea hIs conquesI, and may IeasI rejoIce
In doIng whaI we mosI In sufferIng feeI." BuI by changIng
your conducI, and IreaIIng your sIaves as men, every cause
of fear wouId be banIshed. They wouId be faIIhfuI, honesI, In-
IeIIIgenI and vIgorous; and eace, roserIIy, and haIness,
wouId aIIend you.
($
!"#$%&' -
Q-./4(->3#$<"-&+#$*&$'"#$-4'"/(D)
)*'4-'*/&JJK#$</FF#&<#)$F#(<"-&'$M*'"
'"(##I#&<#
_Some accounI of BrImsIone-HIII In MonIserraIavourabIe
change In Ihe auIhor's sIIuaIIonHe commences merchanI
wIIh Ihree enceHIs varIous success In deaIIng In Ihe dIf-
ferenI IsIands, and AmerIca, and Ihe ImosIIIons he meeIs
wIIh In hIs IransacIIons wIIh uroeansA curIous ImosI-
IIon on human naIureanger of Ihe surfs In Ihe WesI In-
dIesRemarkabIe InsIance of kIdnaIng a free mu-
IaIIoThe auIhor Is nearIy murdered by ocIor PerkIns In
Savannah._
In Ihe recedIng chaIer I have seI before Ihe reader a few
of Ihose many InsIances of oressIon, exIorIIon, and crueIIy,
whIch I have been a wIIness Io In Ihe WesI IndIes: buI, were
I Io enumeraIe Ihem aII, Ihe caIaIogue wouId be IedIous and
dIsgusIIng. The unIshmenIs of Ihe sIaves on every IrIfIIng
occasIon are so frequenI, and so weII known, IogeIher wIIh
Ihe dIfferenI InsIrumenIs wIIh whIch Ihey are IorIured, IhaI
II cannoI any Ionger afford noveIIy Io recIIe Ihem; and Ihey
are Ioo shockIng Io yIeId deIIghI eIIher Io Ihe wrIIer or Ihe
reader. I shaII Iherefore hereafIer onIy menIIon such as In-
cIdenIaIIy befeI myseIf In Ihe course of my advenIures.
In Ihe varIeIy of dearImenIs In whIch I was emIoyed by
my masIer, I had an oorIunIIy of seeIng many curIous
scenes In dIfferenI IsIands; buI, above aII, I was sIruck wIIh a
ceIebraIed curIosIIy caIIed BrImsIone-HIII, whIch Is a hIgh
and sIee mounIaIn, some few mIIes from Ihe Iown of PIy-
mouIh In MonIserraI. I had ofIen heard of some wonders
(%
IhaI were Io be seen on IhIs hIII, and I wenI once wIIh some
whIIe and bIack eoIe Io vIsII II. When we arrIved aI Ihe
Io, I saw under dIfferenI cIIffs greaI fIakes of brImsIone, oc-
casIoned by Ihe sIeams of varIous IIIIIe onds, whIch were
Ihen boIIIng naIuraIIy In Ihe earIh. Some of Ihese onds were
as whIIe as mIIk, some quIIe bIue, and many oIhers of dIffer-
enI coIours. I had Iaken some oIaIoes wIIh me, and I uI
Ihem InIo dIfferenI onds, and In a few mInuIes Ihey were
weII boIIed. I IasIed some of Ihem, buI Ihey were very suI-
hurous; and Ihe sIIver shoe buckIes, and aII Ihe oIher IhIngs
of IhaI meIaI we had among us, were, In a IIIIIe IIme, Iurned
as bIack as Iead.
Some IIme In Ihe year l763 kInd ProvIdence seemed Io a-
ear raIher more favourabIe Io me. One of my masIer's ves-
seIs, a Bermudas sIoo, abouI sIxIy Ions, was commanded by
one CaIaIn Thomas armer, an ngIIshman, a very aIerI
and acIIve man, who gaIned my masIer a greaI deaI of money
by hIs good managemenI In carryIng assengers from one Is-
Iand Io anoIher; buI very ofIen hIs saIIors used Io geI drunk
and run away from Ihe vesseI, whIch hIndered hIm In hIs
busIness very much. ThIs man had Iaken a IIkIng Io me; and
many dIfferenI IImes begged of my masIer Io IeI me go a IrI
wIIh hIm as a saIIor; buI he wouId IeII hIm he couId noI sare
me, Ihough Ihe vesseI someIImes couId noI go for wanI of
hands, for saIIors were generaIIy very scarce In Ihe IsIand.
However, aI IasI, from necessIIy or force, my masIer was re-
vaIIed on, Ihough very reIucIanIIy, Io IeI me go wIIh IhIs ca-
IaIn; buI he gave greaI charge Io hIm Io Iake care IhaI I dId
noI run away, for If I dId he wouId make hIm ay for me.
ThIs beIng Ihe case, Ihe caIaIn had for some IIme a shar
eye uon me whenever Ihe vesseI anchored; and as soon as
she reIurned I was senI for on shore agaIn. Thus was I sIav-
Ing as II were for IIfe, someIImes aI one IhIng, and someIImes
aI anoIher; so IhaI Ihe caIaIn and I were nearIy Ihe mosI
usefuI men In my masIer's emIoymenI. I aIso became so
usefuI Io Ihe caIaIn on shIboard, IhaI many IImes, when
he used Io ask for me Io go wIIh hIm, Ihough II shouId be buI
for IwenIy-four hours, Io some of Ihe IsIands near us, my
masIer wouId answer he couId noI sare me, aI whIch Ihe
(&
caIaIn wouId swear, and wouId noI go Ihe IrI; and IeII my
masIer I was beIIer Io hIm on board Ihan any Ihree whIIe
men he had; for Ihey used Io behave III In many resecIs,
arIIcuIarIy In geIIIng drunk; and Ihen Ihey frequenIIy goI
Ihe boaI sIove, so as Io hInder Ihe vesseI from comIng back as
soon as she mIghI have done. ThIs my masIer knew very
weII; and aI IasI, by Ihe caIaIn's consIanI enIreaIIes, afIer I
had been severaI IImes wIIh hIm, one day, Io my greaI joy,
my masIer IoId me Ihe caIaIn wouId noI IeI hIm resI, and
asked me wheIher I wouId go aboard as a saIIor, or sIay on
shore and mInd Ihe sIores, for he couId noI bear any Ionger
Io be Iagued In IhIs manner. I was very hay aI IhIs ro-
osaI, for I ImmedIaIeIy IhoughI I mIghI In IIme sIand some
chance by beIng on board Io geI a IIIIIe money, or ossIbIy
make my escae If I shouId be used III: I aIso execIed Io geI
beIIer food, and In greaIer abundance; for I had feII much
hunger ofIenIImes, Ihough my masIer IreaIed hIs sIaves, as I
have observed, uncommonIy weII. I Iherefore, wIIhouI hesIIa-
IIon, answered hIm, IhaI I wouId go and be a saIIor If he
Ieased. AccordIngIy I was ordered on board dIrecIIy. Never-
IheIess, beIween Ihe vesseI and Ihe shore, when she was In
orI, I had IIIIIe or no resI, as my masIer aIways wIshed Io
have me aIong wIIh hIm. Indeed he was a very IeasanI gen-
IIeman, and buI for my execIaIIons on shIboard I shouId
noI have IhoughI of IeavIng hIm. BuI Ihe caIaIn IIked me
aIso very much, and I was enIIreIy hIs rIghI-hand man. I dId
aII I couId Io deserve hIs favour, and In reIurn I receIved beI-
Ier IreaImenI from hIm Ihan any oIher I beIIeve ever meI
wIIh In Ihe WesI IndIes In my sIIuaIIon.
AfIer I had been saIIIng for some IIme wIIh IhIs caIaIn, aI
IengIh I endeavoured Io Iry my Iuck and commence mer-
chanI. I had buI a very smaII caIIaI Io begIn wIIh; for one
sIngIe haIf bII, whIch Is equaI Io Ihree ence In ngIand,
made u my whoIe sIock. However I IrusIed Io Ihe Iord Io be
wIIh me; and aI one of our IrIs Io SI. usIaIIa, a uIch Is-
Iand, I boughI a gIass IumbIer wIIh my haIf bII, and when I
came Io MonIserraI I soId II for a bII, or sIxence. IuckIIy we
made severaI successIve IrIs Io SI. usIaIIa (whIch was a
generaI marI for Ihe WesI IndIes, abouI IwenIy Ieagues from
('
MonIserraI); and In our nexI, fIndIng my IumbIer so rofII-
abIe, wIIh IhIs one bII I boughI Iwo IumbIers more; and when
I came back I soId Ihem for Iwo bIIs, equaI Io a shIIIIng sIer-
IIng. When we wenI agaIn I boughI wIIh Ihese Iwo bIIs four
more of Ihese gIasses, whIch I soId for four bIIs on our reIurn
Io MonIserraI; and In our nexI voyage Io SI. usIaIIa I
boughI Iwo gIasses wIIh one bII, and wIIh Ihe oIher Ihree I
boughI a jug of Oeneva, nearIy abouI Ihree InIs In measure.
When we came Io MonIserraI I soId Ihe gIn for eIghI bIIs,
and Ihe IumbIers for Iwo, so IhaI my caIIaI now amounIed
In aII Io a doIIar, weII husbanded and acquIred In Ihe sace
of a monIh or sIx weeks, when I bIessed Ihe Iord IhaI I was
so rIch. As we saIIed Io dIfferenI IsIands, I IaId IhIs money
ouI In varIous IhIngs occasIonaIIy, and II used Io Iurn ouI Io
very good accounI, esecIaIIy when we wenI Io OuadaIoue,
Orenada, and Ihe resI of Ihe rench IsIands. Thus was I go-
Ing aII abouI Ihe IsIands uwards of four years, and ever
IradIng as I wenI, durIng whIch I exerIenced many In-
sIances of III usage, and have seen many InjurIes done Io oIh-
er negroes In our deaIIngs wIIh uroeans: and, amIdsI our
recreaIIons, when we have been dancIng and merry-makIng,
Ihey, wIIhouI cause, have moIesIed and InsuIIed us. Indeed I
was more Ihan once obIIged Io Iook u Io Ood on hIgh, as I
had advIsed Ihe oor fIsherman some IIme before. And I had
noI been Iong IradIng for myseIf In Ihe manner I have re-
IaIed above, when I exerIenced Ihe IIke IrIaI In comany
wIIh hIm as foIIows: ThIs man beIng used Io Ihe waIer, was
uon an emergency uI on board of us by hIs masIer Io work
as anoIher hand, on a voyage Io SanIa Cruz; and aI our saII-
Ing he had broughI hIs IIIIIe aII for a venIure, whIch con-
sIsIed of sIx bIIs' worIh of IImes and oranges In a bag; I had
aIso my whoIe sIock, whIch was abouI IweIve bIIs' worIh of
Ihe same kInd of goods, searaIe In Iwo bags; for we had
heard Ihese fruIIs soId weII In IhaI IsIand. When we came
Ihere, In some IIIIIe convenIenI IIme he and I wenI ashore
wIIh our fruIIs Io seII Ihem; buI we had scarceIy Ianded when
we were meI by Iwo whIIe men, who resenIIy Iook our Ihree
bags from us. We couId noI aI fIrsI guess whaI Ihey meanI Io
do; and for some IIme we IhoughI Ihey were jesIIng wIIh us;
((
buI Ihey Ioo soon IeI us know oIherwIse, for Ihey Iook our
venIures ImmedIaIeIy Io a house hard by, and adjoInIng Ihe
forI, whIIe we foIIowed aII Ihe way beggIng of Ihem Io gIve us
our fruIIs, buI In vaIn. They noI onIy refused Io reIurn Ihem,
buI swore aI us, and IhreaIened If we dId noI ImmedIaIeIy
dearI Ihey wouId fIog us weII. We IoId Ihem Ihese Ihree
bags were aII we were worIh In Ihe worId, and IhaI we
broughI Ihem wIIh us Io seII when we came from MonIserraI,
and shewed Ihem Ihe vesseI. BuI IhIs was raIher agaInsI us,
as Ihey now saw we were sIrangers as weII as sIaves. They
sIIII Iherefore swore, and desIred us Io be gone, and even
Iook sIIcks Io beaI us; whIIe we, seeIng Ihey meanI whaI Ihey
saId, wenI off In Ihe greaIesI confusIon and desaIr. Thus, In
Ihe very mInuIe of gaInIng more by Ihree IImes Ihan I ever
dId by any venIure In my IIfe before, was I derIved of every
farIhIng I was worIh. An InsuorIabIe mIsforIune! buI how
Io heI ourseIves we knew noI. In our consIernaIIon we wenI
Io Ihe commandIng offIcer of Ihe forI and IoId hIm how we
had been served by some of hIs eoIe; buI we obIaIned noI
Ihe IeasI redress: he answered our comIaInIs onIy by a voI-
Iey of ImrecaIIons agaInsI us, and ImmedIaIeIy Iook a
horse-whI, In order Io chasIIse us, so IhaI we were obIIged
Io Iurn ouI much fasIer Ihan we came In. I now, In Ihe agony
of dIsIress and IndIgnaIIon, wIshed IhaI Ihe Ire of Ood In hIs
forked IIghInIng mIghI IransfIx Ihese crueI oressors among
Ihe dead. SIIII however we ersevered; wenI back agaIn Io
Ihe house, and begged and besoughI Ihem agaIn and agaIn
for our fruIIs, IIII aI IasI some oIher eoIe IhaI were In Ihe
house asked If we wouId be conIenIed If Ihey keI one bag
and gave us Ihe oIher Iwo. We, seeIng no remedy whaIever,
consenIed Io IhIs; and Ihey, observIng one bag Io have boIh
kInds of fruII In II, whIch beIonged Io my comanIon, keI
IhaI; and Ihe oIher Iwo, whIch were mIne, Ihey gave us back.
As soon as I goI Ihem, I ran as fasI as I couId, and goI Ihe
fIrsI negro man I couId Io heI me off; my comanIon,
however, sIayed a IIIIIe Ionger Io Iead; he IoId Ihem Ihe bag
Ihey had was hIs, and IIkewIse aII IhaI he was worIh In Ihe
worId; buI IhIs was of no avaII, and he was obIIged Io reIurn
wIIhouI II. The oor oId man, wrIngIng hIs hands, crIed
()
bIIIerIy for hIs Ioss; and, Indeed, he Ihen dId Iook u Io Ood
on hIgh, whIch so moved me wIIh IIy for hIm, IhaI I gave
hIm nearIy one IhIrd of my fruIIs. We Ihen roceeded Io Ihe
markeIs Io seII Ihem; and ProvIdence was more favourabIe Io
us Ihan we couId have execIed, for we soId our fruIIs un-
commonIy weII; I goI for mIne abouI IhIrIy-seven bIIs. Such a
surrIsIng reverse of forIune In so shorI a sace of IIme
seemed IIke a dream Io me, and roved no smaII encourage-
menI for me Io IrusI Ihe Iord In any sIIuaIIon. My caIaIn
afIerwards frequenIIy used Io Iake my arI, and geI me my
rIghI, when I have been Iundered or used III by Ihese Iender
ChrIsIIan deredaIors; among whom I have shuddered Io ob-
serve Ihe unceasIng bIashemous execraIIons whIch are
wanIonIy Ihrown ouI by ersons of aII ages and condIIIons,
noI onIy wIIhouI occasIon, buI even as If Ihey were InduI-
gences and Ieasure.
AI one of our IrIs Io SI. KIII's I had eIeven bIIs of my own;
and my frIendIy caIaIn IenI me fIve bIIs more, wIIh whIch I
boughI a BIbIe. I was very gIad Io geI IhIs book, whIch I
scarceIy couId meeI wIIh any where. I IhInk Ihere was none
soId In MonIserraI; and, much Io my grIef, from beIng forced
ouI of Ihe Ina In Ihe manner I have reIaIed, my BIbIe, and
Ihe OuIde Io Ihe IndIans, Ihe Iwo books I Ioved above aII oIh-
ers, were IefI behInd.
WhIIe I was In IhIs Iace, SI. KIII's, a very curIous ImosI-
IIon on human naIure Iook Iace:A whIIe man wanIed Io
marry In Ihe church a free bIack woman IhaI had Iand and
sIaves In MonIserraI: buI Ihe cIergyman IoId hIm II was
agaInsI Ihe Iaw of Ihe Iace Io marry a whIIe and a bIack In
Ihe church. The man Ihen asked Io be marrIed on Ihe waIer,
Io whIch Ihe arson consenIed, and Ihe Iwo Iovers wenI In
one boaI, and Ihe arson and cIerk In anoIher, and Ihus Ihe
ceremony was erformed. AfIer IhIs Ihe IovIng aIr came on
board our vesseI, and my caIaIn IreaIed Ihem exIremeIy
weII, and broughI Ihem safe Io MonIserraI.
The reader cannoI buI judge of Ihe Irksomeness of IhIs
sIIuaIIon Io a mInd IIke mIne, In beIng daIIy exosed Io new
hardshIs and ImosIIIons, afIer havIng seen many beIIer
days, and havIng been as II were In a sIaIe of freedom and
)*
IenIy; added Io whIch, every arI of Ihe worId I had hIIherIo
been In seemed Io me a aradIse In comarIson of Ihe WesI
IndIes. My mInd was Iherefore hourIy reIeIe wIIh Inven-
IIons and IhoughIs of beIng freed, and, If ossIbIe, by honesI
and honourabIe means; for I aIways remembered Ihe oId ad-
age; and I IrusI II has ever been my ruIIng rIncIIe, IhaI
honesIy Is Ihe besI oIIcy; and IIkewIse IhaI oIher goIden re-
ceIIo do unIo aII men as I wouId Ihey shouId do unIo me.
However, as I was from earIy years a redesIInarIan, I
IhoughI whaIever faIe had deIermIned musI ever come Io
ass; and Iherefore, If ever II were my IoI Io be freed noIhIng
couId revenI me, aIIhough I shouId aI resenI see no means
or hoe Io obIaIn my freedom; on Ihe oIher hand, If II were
my faIe noI Io be freed I never shouId be so, and aII my en-
deavours for IhaI urose wouId be fruIIIess. In Ihe mIdsI of
Ihese IhoughIs I Iherefore Iooked u wIIh rayers anxIousIy
Io Ood for my IIberIy; and aI Ihe same IIme I used every hon-
esI means, and endeavoured aII IhaI was ossIbIe on my arI
Io obIaIn II. In rocess of IIme I became masIer of a few
ounds, and In a faIr way of makIng more, whIch my frIendIy
caIaIn knew very weII; IhIs occasIoned hIm someIImes Io
Iake IIberIIes wIIh me: buI whenever he IreaIed me
wasIshIy I used IaInIy Io IeII hIm my mInd, and IhaI I
wouId dIe before I wouId be Imosed on as oIher negroes
were, and IhaI Io me IIfe had IosI IIs reIIsh when IIberIy was
gone. ThIs I saId aIIhough I foresaw my Ihen weII-beIng or
fuIure hoes of freedom (humanIy seakIng) deended on
IhIs man. However, as he couId noI bear Ihe IhoughIs of my
noI saIIIng wIIh hIm, he aIways became mIId on my IhreaIs. I
Iherefore conIInued wIIh hIm; and, from my greaI aIIenIIon
Io hIs orders and hIs busIness, I gaIned hIm credII, and
Ihrough hIs kIndness Io me I aI IasI rocured my IIberIy.
WhIIe I Ihus wenI on, fIIIed wIIh Ihe IhoughIs of freedom,
and resIsIIng oressIon as weII as I was abIe, my IIfe hung
daIIy In susense, arIIcuIarIy In Ihe surfs I have formerIy
menIIoned, as I couId noI swIm. These are exIremeIy vIoIenI
IhroughouI Ihe WesI IndIes, and I was ever exosed Io IheIr
howIIng rage and devourIng fury In aII Ihe IsIands. I have
seen Ihem sIrIke and Ioss a boaI rIghI u an end, and maIm
)!
severaI on board. Once In Ihe Orenada IsIands, when I and
abouI eIghI oIhers were uIIIng a Iarge boaI wIIh Iwo
uncheons of waIer In II, a surf sIruck us, and drove Ihe boaI
and aII In II abouI haIf a sIone's Ihrow, among some Irees,
and above Ihe hIgh waIer mark. We were obIIged Io geI aII
Ihe assIsIance we couId from Ihe nearesI esIaIe Io mend Ihe
boaI, and Iaunch II InIo Ihe waIer agaIn. AI MonIserraI one
nIghI, In ressIng hard Io geI off Ihe shore on board, Ihe unI
was overseI wIIh us four IImes; Ihe fIrsI IIme I was very near
beIng drowned; however Ihe jackeI I had on keI me u
above waIer a IIIIIe sace of IIme, whIIe I caIIed on a man
near me who was a good swImmer, and IoId hIm I couId noI
swIm; he Ihen made hasIe Io me, and, jusI as I was sInkIng,
he caughI hoId of me, and broughI me Io soundIng, and Ihen
he wenI and broughI Ihe unI aIso. As soon as we had Iurned
Ihe waIer ouI of her, IesI we shouId be used III for beIng ab-
senI, we aIIemIed agaIn Ihree IImes more, and as ofIen Ihe
horrId surfs served us as aI fIrsI; buI aI IasI, Ihe fIfIh IIme
we aIIemIed, we gaIned our oInI, aI Ihe ImmInenI hazard
of our IIves. One day aIso, aI OId Road In MonIserraI, our
caIaIn, and Ihree men besIdes myseIf, were goIng In a Iarge
canoe In quesI of rum and sugar, when a sIngIe surf Iossed
Ihe canoe an amazIng dIsIance from Ihe waIer, and some of
us even a sIone's Ihrow from each oIher: mosI of us were
very much bruIsed; so IhaI I and many more ofIen saId, and
reaIIy IhoughI, IhaI Ihere was noI such anoIher Iace under
Ihe heavens as IhIs. I Ionged Iherefore much Io Ieave II, and
daIIy wIshed Io see my masIer's romIse erformed of goIng
Io PhIIadeIhIa. WhIIe we Iay In IhIs Iace a very crueI IhIng
haened on board of our sIoo whIch fIIIed me wIIh horror;
Ihough I found afIerwards such racIIces were frequenI.
There was a very cIever and decenI free young muIaIIo-man
who saIIed a Iong IIme wIIh us: he had a free woman for hIs
wIfe, by whom he had a chIId; and she was Ihen IIvIng on
shore, and aII very hay. Our caIaIn and maIe, and oIher
eoIe on board, and severaI eIsewhere, even Ihe naIIves of
Bermudas, aII knew IhIs young man from a chIId IhaI he was
aIways free, and no one had ever cIaImed hIm as IheIr ro-
erIy: however, as mIghI Ioo ofIen overcomes rIghI In Ihese
)"
arIs, II haened IhaI a Bermudas caIaIn, whose vesseI
Iay Ihere for a few days In Ihe road, came on board of us, and
seeIng Ihe muIaIIo-man, whose name was Joseh CIIson, he
IoId hIm he was noI free, and IhaI he had orders from hIs
masIer Io brIng hIm Io Bermudas. The oor man couId noI
beIIeve Ihe caIaIn Io be In earnesI; buI he was very soon un-
deceIved, hIs men IayIng vIoIenI hands on hIm: and aIIhough
he shewed a cerIIfIcaIe of hIs beIng born free In SI. KIII's,
and mosI eoIe on board knew IhaI he served hIs IIme Io
boaI buIIdIng, and aIways assed for a free man, yeI he was
Iaken forcIbIy ouI of our vesseI. He Ihen asked Io be carrIed
ashore before Ihe secreIary or magIsIraIes, and Ihese In-
fernaI Invaders of human rIghIs romIsed hIm he shouId;
buI, InsIead of IhaI, Ihey carrIed hIm on board of Ihe oIher
vesseI: and Ihe nexI day, wIIhouI gIvIng Ihe oor man any
hearIng on shore, or sufferIng hIm even Io see hIs wIfe or
chIId, he was carrIed away, and robabIy doomed never more
In IhIs worId Io see Ihem agaIn. Nor was IhIs Ihe onIy In-
sIance of IhIs kInd of barbarIIy I was a wIIness Io. I have
sInce ofIen seen In JamaIca and oIher IsIands free men,
whom I have known In AmerIca, Ihus vIIIaInousIy Ireanned
and heId In bondage. I have heard of Iwo sImIIar racIIces
even In PhIIadeIhIa: and were II noI for Ihe benevoIence of
Ihe quakers In IhaI cIIy many of Ihe sabIe race, who now
breaIhe Ihe aIr of IIberIy, wouId, I beIIeve, be groanIng In-
deed under some IanIer's chaIns. These IhIngs oened my
mInd Io a new scene of horror Io whIch I had been before a
sIranger. HIIherIo I had IhoughI onIy sIavery dreadfuI; buI
Ihe sIaIe of a free negro aeared Io me now equaIIy so aI
IeasI, and In some resecIs even worse, for Ihey IIve In con-
sIanI aIarm for IheIr IIberIy; and even IhIs Is buI nomInaI,
for Ihey are unIversaIIy InsuIIed and Iundered wIIhouI Ihe
ossIbIIIIy of redress; for such Is Ihe equIIy of Ihe WesI IndI-
an Iaws, IhaI no free negro's evIdence wIII be admIIIed In
IheIr courIs of jusIIce. In IhIs sIIuaIIon Is II surrIsIng IhaI
sIaves, when mIIdIy IreaIed, shouId refer even Ihe mIsery of
sIavery Io such a mockery of freedom7 I was now comIeIeIy
dIsgusIed wIIh Ihe WesI IndIes, and IhoughI I never shouId
be enIIreIy free unIII I had IefI Ihem.
)#
"WIIh IhoughIs IIke Ihese my anxIous bodIng mInd RecaII'd
Ihose IeasIng scenes I IefI behInd; Scenes where faIr IIberIy
In brIghI array Makes darkness brIghI, and e'en IIIumInes
day; Where nor comIexIon, weaIIh, or sIaIIon, can ProIecI
Ihe wreIch who makes a sIave of man."
I deIermIned Io make every exerIIon Io obIaIn my freedom,
and Io reIurn Io OId ngIand. or IhIs urose I IhoughI a
knowIedge of navIgaIIon mIghI be of use Io me; for, Ihough I
dId noI InIend Io run away unIess I shouId be III used, yeI, In
such a case, If I undersIood navIgaIIon, I mIghI aIIemI my
escae In our sIoo, whIch was one of Ihe swIfIesI saIIIng ves-
seIs In Ihe WesI IndIes, and I couId be aI no Ioss for hands Io
joIn me: and If I shouId make IhIs aIIemI, I had InIended Io
have gone for ngIand; buI IhIs, as I saId, was onIy Io be In
Ihe evenI of my meeIIng wIIh any III usage. I Iherefore em-
Ioyed Ihe maIe of our vesseI Io Ieach me navIgaIIon, for
whIch I agreed Io gIve hIm IwenIy-four doIIars, and acIuaIIy
aId hIm arI of Ihe money down; Ihough when Ihe caIaIn,
some IIme afIer, came Io know IhaI Ihe maIe was Io have
such a sum for IeachIng me, he rebuked hIm, and saId II was
a shame for hIm Io Iake any money from me. However, my
rogress In IhIs usefuI arI was much reIarded by Ihe con-
sIancy of our work. Had I wIshed Io run away I dId noI wanI
oorIunIIIes, whIch frequenIIy resenIed IhemseIves; and
arIIcuIarIy aI one IIme, soon afIer IhIs. When we were aI
Ihe IsIand of OaurdeIoue Ihere was a Iarge fIeeI of mer-
chanImen bound for OId rance; and, seamen Ihen beIng
very scarce, Ihey gave from fIfIeen Io IwenIy ounds a man
for Ihe run. Our maIe, and aII Ihe whIIe saIIors, IefI our ves-
seI on IhIs accounI, and wenI on board of Ihe rench shIs.
They wouId have had me aIso Io go wIIh Ihem, for Ihey re-
garded me; and Ihey swore Io roIecI me, If I wouId go: and,
as Ihe fIeeI was Io saII Ihe nexI day, I reaIIy beIIeve I couId
have goI safe Io uroe aI IhaI IIme. However, as my masIer
was kInd, I wouId noI aIIemI Io Ieave hIm; and, remember-
Ing Ihe oId maxIm, IhaI 'honesIy Is Ihe besI oIIcy,' I suffered
Ihem Io go wIIhouI me. Indeed my caIaIn was much afraId
of my IeavIng hIm and Ihe vesseI aI IhaI IIme, as I had so
faIr an oorIunIIy: buI, I Ihank Ood, IhIs fIdeIIIy of mIne
)$
Iurned ouI much Io my advanIage hereafIer, when I dId noI
In Ihe IeasI IhInk of II; and made me so much In favour wIIh
Ihe caIaIn, IhaI he used now and Ihen Io Ieach me some
arIs of navIgaIIon hImseIf: buI some of our assengers, and
oIhers, seeIng IhIs, found much fauII wIIh hIm for II, sayIng
II was a very dangerous IhIng Io IeI a negro know navIgaIIon;
Ihus I was hIndered agaIn In my ursuIIs. AbouI Ihe IaIIer
end of Ihe year l764 my masIer boughI a Iarger sIoo, caIIed
Ihe ProvIdence, abouI sevenIy or eIghIy Ions, of whIch my
caIaIn had Ihe command. I wenI wIIh hIm InIo IhIs vesseI,
and we Iook a Ioad of new sIaves for OeorgIa and CharIes
Town. My masIer now IefI me enIIreIy Io Ihe caIaIn, Ihough
he sIIII wIshed for me Io be wIIh hIm; buI I, who aIways
much wIshed Io Iose sIghI of Ihe WesI IndIes, was noI a IIIIIe
rejoIced aI Ihe IhoughIs of seeIng any oIher counIry. There-
fore, reIyIng on Ihe goodness of my caIaIn, I goI ready aII
Ihe IIIIIe venIure I couId; and, when Ihe vesseI was ready, we
saIIed, Io my greaI joy. When we goI Io our desIIned Iaces,
OeorgIa and CharIes Town, I execIed I shouId have an o-
orIunIIy of seIIIng my IIIIIe roerIy Io advanIage: buI here,
arIIcuIarIy In CharIes Town, I meI wIIh buyers, whIIe men,
who Imosed on me as In oIher Iaces. NoIwIIhsIandIng, I
was resoIved Io have forIIIude; IhInkIng no IoI or IrIaI Is Ioo
hard when kInd Heaven Is Ihe rewarder. We soon goI Ioaded
agaIn, and reIurned Io MonIserraI; and Ihere, amongsI Ihe
resI of Ihe IsIands, I soId my goods weII; and In IhIs manner I
conIInued IradIng durIng Ihe year l764; meeIIng wIIh varI-
ous scenes of ImosIIIon, as usuaI. AfIer IhIs, my masIer fII-
Ied ouI hIs vesseI for PhIIadeIhIa, In Ihe year l765; and dur-
Ing Ihe IIme we were IoadIng her, and geIIIng ready for Ihe
voyage, I worked wIIh redoubIed aIacrIIy, from Ihe hoe of
geIIIng money enough by Ihese voyages Io buy my freedom In
IIme, If II shouId Iease Ood; and aIso Io see Ihe Iown of PhII-
adeIhIa, whIch I had heard a greaI deaI abouI for some
years asI; besIdes whIch, I had aIways Ionged Io rove my
masIer's romIse Ihe fIrsI day I came Io hIm. In Ihe mIdsI of
Ihese eIevaIed Ideas, and whIIe I was abouI geIIIng my IIIIIe
merchandIze In readIness, one Sunday my masIer senI for
me Io hIs house. When I came Ihere I found hIm and Ihe
)%
caIaIn IogeIher; and, on my goIng In, I was sIruck wIIh as-
IonIshmenI aI hIs IeIIIng me he heard IhaI I meanI Io run
away from hIm when I goI Io PhIIadeIhIa: 'And Iherefore,'
saId he, 'I musI seII you agaIn: you cosI me a greaI deaI of
money, no Iess Ihan forIy ounds sIerIIng; and II wIII noI do
Io Iose so much. You are a vaIuabIe feIIow,' conIInued he;
'and I can geI any day for you one hundred guIneas, from
many genIIemen In IhIs IsIand.' And Ihen he IoId me of Ca-
IaIn oran's broIher-In-Iaw, a severe masIer, who ever
wanIed Io buy me Io make me hIs overseer. My caIaIn aIso
saId he couId geI much more Ihan a hundred guIneas for me
In CaroIIna. ThIs I knew Io be a facI; for Ihe genIIeman IhaI
wanIed Io buy me came off severaI IImes on board of us, and
soke Io me Io IIve wIIh hIm, and saId he wouId use me weII.
When I asked whaI work he wouId uI me Io he saId, as I
was a saIIor, he wouId make me a caIaIn of one of hIs rIce
vesseIs. BuI I refused: and fearIng, aI Ihe same IIme, by a
sudden Iurn I saw In Ihe caIaIn's Iemer, he mIghI mean Io
seII me, I IoId Ihe genIIeman I wouId noI IIve wIIh hIm on
any condIIIon, and IhaI I cerIaInIy wouId run away wIIh hIs
vesseI: buI he saId he dId noI fear IhaI, as he wouId caIch me
agaIn; and Ihen he IoId me how crueIIy he wouId serve me If
I shouId do so. My caIaIn, however, gave hIm Io undersIand
IhaI I knew someIhIng of navIgaIIon: so he IhoughI beIIer of
II; and, Io my greaI joy, he wenI away. I now IoId my masIer
I dId noI say I wouId run away In PhIIadeIhIa; neIIher dId I
mean II, as he dId noI use me III, nor yeI Ihe caIaIn: for If
Ihey dId I cerIaInIy wouId have made some aIIemIs before
now; buI as I IhoughI IhaI If II were Ood's wIII I ever shouId
be freed II wouId be so, and, on Ihe conIrary, If II was noI hIs
wIII II wouId noI haen; so I hoed, If ever I were freed,
whIIsI I was used weII, II shouId be by honesI means; buI, as
I couId noI heI myseIf, he musI do as he Ieased; I couId
onIy hoe and IrusI Io Ihe Ood of Heaven; and aI IhaI In-
sIanI my mInd was bIg wIIh InvenIIons and fuII of schemes Io
escae. I Ihen aeaIed Io Ihe caIaIn wheIher he ever saw
any sIgn of my makIng Ihe IeasI aIIemI Io run away; and
asked hIm If I dId noI aIways come on board accordIng Io Ihe
IIme for whIch he gave me IIberIy; and, more arIIcuIarIy,
)&
when aII our men IefI us aI OaurdeIoue and wenI on board
of Ihe rench fIeeI, and advIsed me Io go wIIh Ihem, wheIher
I mIghI noI, and IhaI he couId noI have goI me agaIn. To my
no smaII surrIse, and very greaI joy, Ihe caIaIn confIrmed
every syIIabIe IhaI I had saId: and even more; for he saId he
had IrIed dIfferenI IImes Io see If I wouId make any aIIemI
of IhIs kInd, boIh aI SI. usIaIIa and In AmerIca, and he nev-
er found IhaI I made Ihe smaIIesI; buI, on Ihe conIrary, I aI-
ways came on board accordIng Io hIs orders; and he dId
reaIIy beIIeve, If I ever meanI Io run away, IhaI, as I couId
never have had a beIIer oorIunIIy, I wouId have done II
Ihe nIghI Ihe maIe and aII Ihe eoIe IefI our vesseI aI Oaur-
deIoue. The caIaIn Ihen Informed my masIer, who had
been Ihus Imosed on by our maIe, Ihough I dId noI know
who was my enemy, Ihe reason Ihe maIe had for ImosIng
IhIs IIe uon hIm; whIch was, because I had acquaInIed Ihe
caIaIn of Ihe rovIsIons Ihe maIe had gIven away or Iaken
ouI of Ihe vesseI. ThIs seech of Ihe caIaIn was IIke IIfe Io
Ihe dead Io me, and InsIanIIy my souI gIorIfIed Ood; and sIIII
more so on hearIng my masIer ImmedIaIeIy say IhaI I was a
sensIbIe feIIow, and he never dId InIend Io use me as a com-
mon sIave; and IhaI buI for Ihe enIreaIIes of Ihe caIaIn, and
hIs characIer of me, he wouId noI have IeI me go from Ihe
sIores abouI as I had done; IhaI aIso, In so doIng, he IhoughI
by carryIng one IIIIIe IhIng or oIher Io dIfferenI Iaces Io seII
I mIghI make money. ThaI he aIso InIended Io encourage me
In IhIs by credIIIng me wIIh haIf a uncheon of rum and haIf
a hogshead of sugar aI a IIme; so IhaI, from beIng carefuI, I
mIghI have money enough, In some IIme, Io urchase my
freedom; and, when IhaI was Ihe case, I mIghI deend uon
II he wouId IeI me have II for forIy ounds sIerIIng money,
whIch was onIy Ihe same rIce he gave for me. ThIs sound
gIaddened my oor hearI beyond measure; Ihough Indeed II
was no more Ihan Ihe very Idea I had formed In my mInd of
my masIer Iong before, and I ImmedIaIeIy made hIm IhIs
reIy: 'SIr, I aIways had IhaI very IhoughI of you, Indeed I
had, and IhaI made me so dIIIgenI In servIng you.' He Ihen
gave me a Iarge Iece of sIIver coIn, such as I never had seen
or had before, and IoId me Io geI ready for Ihe voyage, and he
)'
wouId credII me wIIh a IIerce of sugar, and anoIher of rum;
he aIso saId IhaI he had Iwo amIabIe sIsIers In PhIIadeIhIa,
from whom I mIghI geI some necessary IhIngs. !on IhIs my
nobIe caIaIn desIred me Io go aboard; and, knowIng Ihe
AfrIcan meIaI, he charged me noI Io say any IhIng of IhIs
maIIer Io any body; and he romIsed IhaI Ihe IyIng maIe
shouId noI go wIIh hIm any more. ThIs was a change Indeed;
In Ihe same hour Io feeI Ihe mosI exquIsIIe aIn, and In Ihe
Iurn of a momenI Ihe fuIIesI joy. II caused In me such sensa-
IIons as I was onIy abIe Io exress In my Iooks; my hearI was
so overowered wIIh graIIIude IhaI I couId have kIssed boIh
of IheIr feeI. When I IefI Ihe room I ImmedIaIeIy wenI, or
raIher fIew, Io Ihe vesseI, whIch beIng Ioaded, my masIer, as
good as hIs word, IrusIed me wIIh a IIerce of rum, and anoIh-
er of sugar, when we saIIed, and arrIved safe aI Ihe eIeganI
Iown of PhIIadeIhIa. I soon soId my goods here reIIy weII;
and In IhIs charmIng Iace I found every IhIng IenIIfuI and
chea.
WhIIe I was In IhIs Iace a very exIraordInary occurrence
befeII me. I had been IoId one evenIng of a wIse woman, a
Mrs. avIs, who reveaIed secreIs, foreIoId evenIs, &c. I uI
IIIIIe faIIh In IhIs sIory aI fIrsI, as I couId noI conceIve IhaI
any morIaI couId foresee Ihe fuIure dIsosaIs of ProvIdence,
nor dId I beIIeve In any oIher reveIaIIon Ihan IhaI of Ihe
HoIy ScrIIures; however, I was greaIIy asIonIshed aI seeIng
IhIs woman In a dream IhaI nIghI, Ihough a erson I never
before beheId In my IIfe; IhIs made such an ImressIon on
me, IhaI I couId noI geI Ihe Idea Ihe nexI day ouI of my
mInd, and I Ihen became as anxIous Io see her as I was be-
fore IndIfferenI; accordIngIy In Ihe evenIng, afIer we IefI off
workIng, I InquIred where she IIved, and beIng dIrecIed Io
her, Io my InexressIbIe surrIse, beheId Ihe very woman In
Ihe very same dress she aeared Io me Io wear In Ihe vIs-
Ion. She ImmedIaIeIy IoId me I had dreamed of her Ihe re-
cedIng nIghI; reIaIed Io me many IhIngs IhaI had haened
wIIh a correcIness IhaI asIonIshed me; and fInaIIy IoId me I
shouId noI be Iong a sIave: IhIs was Ihe more agreeabIe
news, as I beIIeved II Ihe more readIIy from her havIng so
faIIhfuIIy reIaIed Ihe asI IncIdenIs of my IIfe. She saId I
)(
shouId be IwIce In very greaI danger of my IIfe wIIhIn eIghI-
een monIhs, whIch, If I escaed, I shouId afIerwards go on
weII; so, gIvIng me her bIessIng, we arIed. AfIer sIayIng
here some IIme IIII our vesseI was Ioaded, and I had boughI
In my IIIIIe IraffIc, we saIIed from IhIs agreeabIe soI for
MonIserraI, once more Io encounIer Ihe ragIng surfs.
We arrIved safe aI MonIserraI, where we dIscharged our
cargo; and soon afIer IhaI we Iook sIaves on board for SI.
usIaIIa, and from Ihence Io OeorgIa. I had aIways exerIed
myseIf and dId doubIe work, In order Io make our voyages as
shorI as ossIbIe; and from Ihus over-workIng myseIf whIIe
we were aI OeorgIa I caughI a fever and ague. I was very III
for eIeven days and near dyIng; eIernIIy was now exceedIngIy
Imressed on my mInd, and I feared very much IhaI awfuI
evenI. I rayed Ihe Iord Iherefore Io sare me; and I made a
romIse In my mInd Io Ood, IhaI I wouId be good If ever I
shouId recover. AI IengIh, from havIng an emInenI docIor Io
aIIend me, I was resIored agaIn Io heaIIh; and soon afIer we
goI Ihe vesseI Ioaded, and seI off for MonIserraI. urIng Ihe
assage, as I was erfecIIy resIored, and had much busIness
of Ihe vesseI Io mInd, aII my endeavours Io kee u my InIeg-
rIIy, and erform my romIse Io Ood, began Io faII; and, In
sIIe of aII I couId do, as we drew nearer and nearer Io Ihe Is-
Iands, my resoIuIIons more and more decIIned, as If Ihe very
aIr of IhaI counIry or cIImaIe seemed faIaI Io IeIy. When we
were safe arrIved aI MonIserraI, and I had goI ashore, I for-
goI my former resoIuIIons.AIas! how rone Is Ihe hearI Io
Ieave IhaI Ood II wIshes Io Iove! and how sIrongIy do Ihe
IhIngs of IhIs worId sIrIke Ihe senses and caIIvaIe Ihe
souI!AfIer our vesseI was dIscharged, we soon goI her
ready, and Iook In, as usuaI, some of Ihe oor oressed naI-
Ives of AfrIca, and oIher negroes; we Ihen seI off agaIn for
OeorgIa and CharIesIown. We arrIved aI OeorgIa, and, hav-
Ing Ianded arI of our cargo, roceeded Io CharIesIown wIIh
Ihe remaInder. WhIIe we were Ihere I saw Ihe Iown IIIumIn-
aIed; Ihe guns were fIred, and bonfIres and oIher demonsIra-
IIons of joy shewn, on accounI of Ihe reeaI of Ihe sIam acI.
Here I dIsosed of some goods on my own accounI; Ihe whIIe
men buyIng Ihem wIIh smooIh romIses and faIr words,
))
gIvIng me however buI very IndIfferenI aymenI. There was
one genIIeman arIIcuIarIy who boughI a uncheon of rum of
me, whIch gave me a greaI deaI of IroubIe; and, aIIhough I
used Ihe InIeresI of my frIendIy caIaIn, I couId noI obIaIn
any IhIng for II; for, beIng a negro man, I couId noI obIIge
hIm Io ay me. ThIs vexed me much, noI knowIng how Io acI;
and I IosI some IIme In seekIng afIer IhIs ChrIsIIan; and
Ihough, when Ihe SabbaIh came (whIch Ihe negroes usuaIIy
make IheIr hoIIday) I was much IncIIned Io go Io ubIIc wor-
shI, I was obIIged Io hIre some bIack men Io heI Io uII a
boaI across Ihe waIer Io Ood In quesI of IhIs genIIeman.
When I found hIm, afIer much enIreaIy, boIh from myseIf
and my worIhy caIaIn, he aI IasI aId me In doIIars; some of
Ihem, however, were coer, and of consequence of no vaIue;
buI he Iook advanIage of my beIng a negro man, and obIIged
me Io uI u wIIh Ihose or none, aIIhough I objecIed Io Ihem.
ImmedIaIeIy afIer, as I was IryIng Io ass Ihem In Ihe mar-
keI, amongsI oIher whIIe men, I was abused for offerIng Io
ass bad coIn; and, Ihough I shewed Ihem Ihe man I goI
Ihem from, I was wIIhIn one mInuIe of beIng IIed u and
fIogged wIIhouI eIIher judge or jury; however, by Ihe heI of
a good aIr of heeIs, I ran off, and so escaed Ihe basIInadoes
I shouId have receIved. I goI on board as fasI as I couId, buI
sIIII conIInued In fear of Ihem unIII we saIIed, whIch I
Ihanked Ood we dId noI Iong afIer; and I have never been
amongsI Ihem sInce.
We soon came Io OeorgIa, where we were Io comIeIe our
IadIng; and here worse faIe Ihan ever aIIended me: for one
Sunday nIghI, as I was wIIh some negroes In IheIr masIer's
yard In Ihe Iown of Savannah, II haened IhaI IheIr masIer,
one ocIor PerkIns, who was a very severe and crueI man,
came In drunk; and, noI IIkIng Io see any sIrange negroes In
hIs yard, he and a ruffIan of a whIIe man he had In hIs ser-
vIce beseI me In an InsIanI, and boIh of Ihem sIruck me wIIh
Ihe fIrsI weaons Ihey couId geI hoId of. I crIed ouI as Iong as
I couId for heI and mercy; buI, Ihough I gave a good accounI
of myseIf, and he knew my caIaIn, who Iodged hard by hIm,
II was Io no urose. They beaI and mangIed me In a shame-
fuI manner, IeavIng me near dead. I IosI so much bIood from
!**
Ihe wounds I receIved, IhaI I Iay quIIe moIIonIess, and was
so benumbed IhaI I couId noI feeI any IhIng for many hours.
arIy In Ihe mornIng Ihey Iook me away Io Ihe jaII. As I dId
noI reIurn Io Ihe shI aII nIghI, my caIaIn, noI knowIng
where I was, and beIng uneasy IhaI I dId noI Ihen make my
aearance, he made InquIry afIer me; and, havIng found
where I was, ImmedIaIeIy came Io me. As soon as Ihe good
man saw me so cuI and mangIed, he couId noI forbear wee-
Ing; he soon goI me ouI of jaII Io hIs IodgIngs, and ImmedI-
aIeIy senI for Ihe besI docIors In Ihe Iace, who aI fIrsI de-
cIared II as IheIr oInIon IhaI I couId noI recover. My caIaIn
on IhIs wenI Io aII Ihe Iawyers In Ihe Iown for IheIr advIce,
buI Ihey IoId hIm Ihey couId do noIhIng for me as I was a
negro. He Ihen wenI Io ocIor PerkIns, Ihe hero who had
vanquIshed me, and menaced hIm, swearIng he wouId be re-
venged of hIm, and chaIIenged hIm Io fIghI.BuI cowardIce
Is ever Ihe comanIon of crueIIyand Ihe ocIor refused.
However, by Ihe skIIfuIness of one ocIor Brady of IhaI
Iace, I began aI IasI Io amend; buI, aIIhough I was so sore
and bad wIIh Ihe wounds I had aII over me IhaI I couId noI
resI In any osIure, yeI I was In more aIn on accounI of Ihe
caIaIn's uneasIness abouI me Ihan I oIherwIse shouId have
been. The worIhy man nursed and waIched me aII Ihe hours
of Ihe nIghI; and I was, Ihrough hIs aIIenIIon and IhaI of Ihe
docIor, abIe Io geI ouI of bed In abouI sIxIeen or eIghIeen
days. AII IhIs IIme I was very much wanIed on board, as I
used frequenIIy Io go u and down Ihe rIver for rafIs, and
oIher arIs of our cargo, and sIow Ihem when Ihe maIe was
sIck or absenI. In abouI four weeks I was abIe Io go on duIy;
and In a forInIghI afIer, havIng goI In aII our IadIng, our ves-
seI seI saII for MonIserraI; and In Iess Ihan Ihree weeks we
arrIved Ihere safe Iowards Ihe end of Ihe year. ThIs ended
my advenIures In l764; for I dId noI Ieave MonIserraI agaIn
IIII Ihe begInnIng of Ihe foIIowIng year.
!*!
!"#$%&' .
!"#$-4'"/(D)$5*)+4)'$-'$'"#$R#)'$%&5*#)JJ
Q/(F)$)<"#F#)$'/$/>'-*&$"*)$0(##5/F
_The auIhor's dIsgusI aI Ihe WesI IndIesorms schemes Io
obIaIn hIs freedomIudIcrous dIsaoInImenI he and hIs
CaIaIn meeI wIIh In OeorgIaAI IasI, by severaI successfuI
voyages, he acquIres a sum of money suffIcIenI Io urchase
IIAIIes Io hIs masIer, who acceIs II, and granIs hIs ma-
numIssIon, Io hIs greaI joyHe afIerwards enIers as a free-
man on board one of Mr. KIng's shIs, and saIIs for Oeor-
gIaImosIIIons on free negroes as usuaIHIs venIure of
IurkIesSaIIs for MonIserraI, and on hIs assage hIs frIend,
Ihe CaIaIn, faIIs III and dIes._
very day now broughI me nearer my freedom, and I was
ImaIIenI IIII we roceeded agaIn Io sea, IhaI I mIghI have
an oorIunIIy of geIIIng a sum Iarge enough Io urchase II.
I was noI Iong ungraIIfIed; for, In Ihe begInnIng of Ihe year
l766, my masIer boughI anoIher sIoo, named Ihe Nancy,
Ihe IargesI I had ever seen. She was arIIy Iaden, and was Io
roceed Io PhIIadeIhIa; our CaIaIn had hIs choIce of Ihree,
and I was weII Ieased he chose IhIs, whIch was Ihe IargesI;
for, from hIs havIng a Iarge vesseI, I had more room, and
couId carry a Iarger quanIIIy of goods wIIh me. AccordIngIy,
when we had deIIvered our oId vesseI, Ihe Prudence, and
comIeIed Ihe IadIng of Ihe Nancy, havIng made near Ihree
hundred er cenI, by four barreIs of ork I broughI from
CharIesIown, I IaId In as Iarge a cargo as I couId, IrusIIng Io
Ood's rovIdence Io roser my underIakIng. WIIh Ihese
vIews I saIIed for PhIIadeIhIa. On our assage, when we
drew near Ihe Iand, I was for Ihe fIrsI IIme surrIsed aI Ihe
sIghI of some whaIes, havIng never seen any such Iarge sea
!*"
monsIers before; and as we saIIed by Ihe Iand one mornIng I
saw a uy whaIe cIose by Ihe vesseI; II was abouI Ihe
IengIh of a wherry boaI, and II foIIowed us aII Ihe day IIII we
goI wIIhIn Ihe Caes. We arrIved safe and In good IIme aI
PhIIadeIhIa, and I soId my goods Ihere chIefIy Io Ihe
quakers. They aIways aeared Io be a very honesI dIscreeI
sorI of eoIe, and never aIIemIed Io Imose on me; I Ihere-
fore IIked Ihem, and ever afIer chose Io deaI wIIh Ihem In
reference Io any oIhers. One Sunday mornIng whIIe I was
here, as I was goIng Io church, I chanced Io ass a meeIIng-
house. The doors beIng oen, and Ihe house fuII of eoIe, II
excIIed my curIosIIy Io go In. When I enIered Ihe house, Io
my greaI surrIse, I saw a very IaII woman sIandIng In Ihe
mIdsI of Ihem, seakIng In an audIbIe voIce someIhIng whIch
I couId noI undersIand. HavIng never seen anyIhIng of IhIs
kInd before, I sIood and sIared abouI me for some IIme, won-
derIng aI IhIs odd scene. As soon as II was over I Iook an o-
orIunIIy Io make InquIry abouI Ihe Iace and eoIe, when
I was Informed Ihey were caIIed Quakers. I arIIcuIarIy
asked whaI IhaI woman I saw In Ihe mIdsI of Ihem had saId,
buI none of Ihem were Ieased Io saIIsfy me; so I quIIIed
Ihem, and soon afIer, as I was reIurnIng, I came Io a church
crowded wIIh eoIe; Ihe church-yard was fuII IIkewIse, and
a number of eoIe were even mounIed on Iadders, IookIng In
aI Ihe wIndows. I IhoughI IhIs a sIrange sIghI, as I had never
seen churches, eIIher In ngIand or Ihe WesI IndIes, crowded
In IhIs manner before. I Iherefore made boId Io ask some
eoIe Ihe meanIng of aII IhIs, and Ihey IoId me Ihe Rev. Mr.
Oeorge WhIIfIeId was reachIng. I had ofIen heard of IhIs
genIIeman, and had wIshed Io see and hear hIm; buI I had
never before had an oorIunIIy. I now Iherefore resoIved Io
graIIfy myseIf wIIh Ihe sIghI, and I ressed In amIdsI Ihe
muIIIIude. When I goI InIo Ihe church I saw IhIs Ious man
exhorIIng Ihe eoIe wIIh Ihe greaIesI fervour and earnesI-
ness, and sweaIIng as much as I ever dId whIIe In sIavery on
MonIserraI beach. I was very much sIruck and Imressed
wIIh IhIs; I IhoughI II sIrange I had never seen dIvInes exerI
IhemseIves In IhIs manner before, and I was no Ionger aI a
Ioss Io accounI for Ihe IhIn congregaIIons Ihey reached Io.
!*#
When we had dIscharged our cargo here, and were Ioaded
agaIn, we IefI IhIs fruIIfuI Iand once more, and seI saII for
MonIserraI. My IraffIc had hIIherIo succeeded so weII wIIh
me, IhaI I IhoughI, by seIIIng my goods when we arrIved aI
MonIserraI, I shouId have enough Io urchase my freedom.
BuI, as soon as our vesseI arrIved Ihere, my masIer came on
board, and gave orders for us Io go Io SI. usIaIIa, and dIs-
charge our cargo Ihere, and from Ihence roceed for OeorgIa.
I was much dIsaoInIed aI IhIs; buI IhInkIng, as usuaI, II
was of no use Io encounIer wIIh Ihe decrees of faIe, I submII-
Ied wIIhouI reInIng, and we wenI Io SI. usIaIIa. AfIer we
had dIscharged our cargo Ihere we Iook In a IIve cargo, as we
caII a cargo of sIaves. Here I soId my goods IoIerabIy weII;
buI, noI beIng abIe Io Iay ouI aII my money In IhIs smaII Is-
Iand Io as much advanIage as In many oIher Iaces, I IaId
ouI onIy arI, and Ihe remaInder I broughI away wIIh me
neaI. We saIIed from hence for OeorgIa, and I was gIad when
we goI Ihere, Ihough I had noI much reason Io IIke Ihe Iace
from my IasI advenIure In Savannah; buI I Ionged Io geI
back Io MonIserraI and rocure my freedom, whIch I exec-
Ied Io be abIe Io urchase when I reIurned. As soon as we ar-
rIved here I waIIed on my carefuI docIor, Mr. Brady, Io whom
I made Ihe mosI graIefuI acknowIedgmenIs In my ower for
hIs former kIndness and aIIenIIon durIng my IIIness. WhIIe
we were here an odd cIrcumsIance haened Io Ihe CaIaIn
and me, whIch dIsaoInIed us boIh a good deaI. A sIIver-
smIIh, whom we had broughI Io IhIs Iace some voyages be-
fore, agreed wIIh Ihe CaIaIn Io reIurn wIIh us Io Ihe WesI
IndIes, and romIsed aI Ihe same IIme Io gIve Ihe CaIaIn a
greaI deaI of money, havIng reIended Io Iake a IIkIng Io
hIm, and beIng, as we IhoughI, very rIch. BuI whIIe we
sIayed Io Ioad our vesseI IhIs man was Iaken III In a house
where he worked, and In a week's IIme became very bad. The
worse he grew Ihe more he used Io seak of gIvIng Ihe Ca-
IaIn whaI he had romIsed hIm, so IhaI he execIed
someIhIng consIderabIe from Ihe deaIh of IhIs man, who had
no wIfe or chIId, and he aIIended hIm day and nIghI. I used
aIso Io go wIIh Ihe CaIaIn, aI hIs own desIre, Io aIIend hIm;
esecIaIIy when we saw Ihere was no aearance of hIs
!*$
recovery: and, In order Io recomense me for my IroubIe, Ihe
CaIaIn romIsed me Ien ounds, when he shouId geI Ihe
man's roerIy. I IhoughI IhIs wouId be of greaI servIce Io
me, aIIhough I had nearIy money enough Io urchase my
freedom, If I shouId geI safe IhIs voyage Io MonIserraI. In
IhIs execIaIIon I IaId ouI above eIghI ounds of my money
for a suII of suerfIne cIoIhes Io dance wIIh aI my freedom,
whIch I hoed was Ihen aI hand. We sIIII conIInued Io aIIend
IhIs man, and were wIIh hIm even on Ihe IasI day he IIved,
IIII very IaIe aI nIghI, when we wenI on board. AfIer we were
goI Io bed, abouI one or Iwo o'cIock In Ihe mornIng, Ihe Ca-
IaIn was senI for, and Informed Ihe man was dead. On IhIs
he came Io my bed, and, wakIng me, Informed me of II, and
desIred me Io geI u and rocure a IIghI, and ImmedIaIeIy go
Io hIm. I IoId hIm I was very sIeey, and wIshed he wouId
Iake somebody eIse wIIh hIm; or eIse, as Ihe man was dead,
and couId wanI no farIher aIIendance, Io IeI aII IhIngs re-
maIn as Ihey were IIII Ihe nexI mornIng. 'No, no,' saId he, 'we
wIII have Ihe money Io-nIghI, I cannoI waII IIII Io-morrow; so
IeI us go.' AccordIngIy I goI u and sIruck a IIghI, and away
we boIh wenI and saw Ihe man as dead as we couId wIsh.
The CaIaIn saId he wouId gIve hIm a grand burIaI, In graIII-
ude for Ihe romIsed Ireasure; and desIred IhaI aII Ihe
IhIngs beIongIng Io Ihe deceased mIghI be broughI forIh.
Among oIhers, Ihere was a nesI of Irunks of whIch he had
keI Ihe keys whIIsI Ihe man was III, and when Ihey were
roduced we oened Ihem wIIh no smaII eagerness and ex-
ecIaIIon; and as Ihere were a greaI number wIIhIn one an-
oIher, wIIh much ImaIIence we Iook Ihem one ouI of Ihe
oIher. AI IasI, when we came Io Ihe smaIIesI, and had
oened II, we saw II was fuII of aers, whIch we suosed Io
be noIes; aI Ihe sIghI of whIch our hearIs IeaI for joy; and
IhaI InsIanI Ihe CaIaIn, cIaIng hIs hands, crIed ouI,
'Thank Ood, here II Is.' BuI when we Iook u Ihe Irunk, and
began Io examIne Ihe suosed Ireasure and Iong-Iooked-for
bounIy, (aIas! aIas! how uncerIaIn and deceIIfuI are aII hu-
man affaIrs!) whaI had we found! WhIIe we IhoughI we were
embracIng a subsIance we grased an emIy noIhIng. The
whoIe amounI IhaI was In Ihe nesI of Irunks was onIy one
!*%
doIIar and a haIf; and aII IhaI Ihe man ossessed wouId noI
ay for hIs coffIn. Our sudden and exquIsIIe joy was now suc-
ceeded by a sudden and exquIsIIe aIn; and my CaIaIn and
I exhIbIIed, for some IIme, mosI rIdIcuIous fIguresIcIures
of chagrIn and dIsaoInImenI! We wenI away greaIIy morII-
fIed, and IefI Ihe deceased Io do as weII as he couId for hIm-
seIf, as we had Iaken so good care of hIm when aIIve for noIh-
Ing. We seI saII once more for MonIserraI, and arrIved Ihere
safe; buI much ouI of humour wIIh our frIend Ihe sIIver-
smIIh. When we had unIaden Ihe vesseI, and I had soId my
venIure, fIndIng myseIf masIer of abouI forIy-seven ounds, I
consuIIed my Irue frIend, Ihe CaIaIn, how I shouId roceed
In offerIng my masIer Ihe money for my freedom. He IoId me
Io come on a cerIaIn mornIng, when he and my masIer wouId
be aI breakfasI IogeIher. AccordIngIy, on IhaI mornIng I
wenI, and meI Ihe CaIaIn Ihere, as he had aoInIed. When
I wenI In I made my obeIsance Io my masIer, and wIIh my
money In my hand, and many fears In my hearI, I rayed
hIm Io be as good as hIs offer Io me, when he was Ieased Io
romIse me my freedom as soon as I couId urchase II. ThIs
seech seemed Io confound hIm; he began Io recoII: and my
hearI IhaI InsIanI sunk wIIhIn me. 'WhaI,' saId he, 'gIve you
your freedom7 Why, where dId you geI Ihe money7 Have you
goI forIy ounds sIerIIng7' 'Yes, sIr,' I answered. 'How dId
you geI II7' reIIed he. I IoId hIm, very honesIIy. The CaIaIn
Ihen saId he knew I goI Ihe money very honesIIy and wIIh
much IndusIry, and IhaI I was arIIcuIarIy carefuI. On whIch
my masIer reIIed, I goI money much fasIer Ihan he dId; and
saId he wouId noI have made me Ihe romIse he dId If he had
IhoughI I shouId have goI money so soon. 'Come, come,' saId
my worIhy CaIaIn, cIaIng my masIer on Ihe back, 'Come,
RoberI, (whIch was hIs name) I IhInk you musI IeI hIm have
hIs freedom; you have IaId your money ouI very weII; you
have receIved good InIeresI for II aII IhIs IIme, and here Is
now Ihe rIncIaI aI IasI. I know OusIavus has earned you
more Ihan an hundred a-year, and he wIII sIIII save you
money, as he wIII noI Ieave you:Come, RoberI, Iake Ihe
money.' My masIer Ihen saId, he wouId noI be worse Ihan hIs
romIse; and, IakIng Ihe money, IoId me Io go Io Ihe
!*&
SecreIary aI Ihe RegIsIer OffIce, and geI my manumIssIon
drawn u. These words of my masIer were IIke a voIce from
heaven Io me: In an InsIanI aII my IreIdaIIon was Iurned In-
Io unuIIerabIe bIIss; and I mosI reverenIIy bowed myseIf
wIIh graIIIude, unabIe Io exress my feeIIngs, buI by Ihe
overfIowIng of my eyes, whIIe my Irue and worIhy frIend, Ihe
CaIaIn, congraIuIaIed us boIh wIIh a ecuIIar degree of
hearIfeII Ieasure. As soon as Ihe fIrsI IransorIs of my joy
were over, and IhaI I had exressed my Ihanks Io Ihese my
worIhy frIends In Ihe besI manner I was abIe, I rose wIIh a
hearI fuII of affecIIon and reverence, and IefI Ihe room, In or-
der Io obey my masIer's joyfuI mandaIe of goIng Io Ihe Re-
gIsIer OffIce. As I was IeavIng Ihe house I caIIed Io mInd Ihe
words of Ihe PsaImIsI, In Ihe l26Ih PsaIm, and IIke hIm, 'I
gIorIfIed Ood In my hearI, In whom I IrusIed.' These words
had been Imressed on my mInd from Ihe very day I was
forced from eIford Io Ihe resenI hour, and I now saw
Ihem, as I IhoughI, fuIfIIIed and verIfIed. My ImagInaIIon
was aII raIure as I fIew Io Ihe RegIsIer OffIce, and, In IhIs
resecI, IIke Ihe aosIIe PeIer,
20
(whose deIIverance from
rIson was so sudden and exIraordInary, IhaI he IhoughI he
was In a vIsIon) I couId scarceIy beIIeve I was awake.
Heavens! who couId do jusIIce Io my feeIIngs aI IhIs momenI!
NoI conquerIng heroes IhemseIves, In Ihe mIdsI of a IrI-
umhNoI Ihe Iender moIher who has jusI regaIned her
Iong-IosI InfanI, and resses II Io her hearINoI Ihe weary
hungry marIner, aI Ihe sIghI of Ihe desIred frIendIy
orINoI Ihe Iover, when he once more embraces hIs be-
Ioved mIsIress, afIer she had been ravIshed from hIs
arms!AII wIIhIn my breasI was IumuII, wIIdness, and deII-
rIum! My feeI scarceIy Iouched Ihe ground, for Ihey were
wInged wIIh joy, and, IIke IIjah, as he rose Io Heaven, Ihey
'were wIIh IIghInIng sed as I wenI on.' very one I meI I
IoId of my haIness, and bIazed abouI Ihe vIrIue of my amI-
abIe masIer and caIaIn. When I goI Io Ihe offIce and ac-
quaInIed Ihe RegIsIer wIIh my errand he congraIuIaIed me
on Ihe occasIon, and IoId me he wouId draw u my
20.AcIs, cha. xII. ver. 9.
!*'
manumIssIon for haIf rIce, whIch was a guInea. I Ihanked
hIm for hIs kIndness; and, havIng receIved II and aId hIm, I
hasIened Io my masIer Io geI hIm Io sIgn II, IhaI I mIghI be
fuIIy reIeased. AccordIngIy he sIgned Ihe manumIssIon IhaI
day, so IhaI, before nIghI, I who had been a sIave In Ihe
mornIng, IrembIIng aI Ihe wIII of anoIher, was become my
own masIer, and comIeIeIy free. I IhoughI IhIs was Ihe ha-
IesI day I had ever exerIenced; and my joy was sIIII
heIghIened by Ihe bIessIngs and rayers of Ihe sabIe race,
arIIcuIarIy Ihe aged, Io whom my hearI had ever been aI-
Iached wIIh reverence. * * * * * As Ihe form of my manumIs-
sIon has someIhIng ecuIIar In II, and exresses Ihe absoIuIe
ower and domInIon one man cIaIms over hIs feIIow, I shaII
beg Ieave Io resenI II before my readers aI fuII IengIh:
MonIserraI.To aII men unIo whom Ihese resenIs shaII
come: I RoberI KIng, of Ihe arIsh of SI. AnIhony In Ihe saId
IsIand, merchanI, send greeIIng: Know ye, IhaI I Ihe afore-
saId RoberI KIng, for and In consIderaIIon of Ihe sum of sev-
enIy ounds currenI money of Ihe saId IsIand, Io me In hand
aId, and Io Ihe InIenI IhaI a negro man-sIave, named
OusIavus Vassa, shaII and may become free, have manumII-
Ied, emancIaIed, enfranchIsed, and seI free, and by Ihese
resenIs do manumII, emancIaIe, enfranchIse, and seI free,
Ihe aforesaId negro man-sIave, named OusIavus Vassa, for
ever, hereby gIvIng, granIIng, and reIeasIng unIo hIm, Ihe
saId OusIavus Vassa, aII rIghI, IIIIe, domInIon, sovereIgnIy,
and roerIy, whIch, as Iord and masIer over Ihe aforesaId
OusIavus Vassa, I had, or now I have, or by any means
whaIsoever I may or can hereafIer ossIbIy have over hIm
Ihe aforesaId negro, for ever. In wIIness whereof I Ihe above-
saId RoberI KIng have unIo Ihese resenIs seI my hand and
seaI, IhIs IenIh day of JuIy, In Ihe year of our Iord one Ihou-
sand seven hundred and sIxIy-sIx. RoberI KIng. SIgned,
seaIed, and deIIvered In Ihe resence of TerryIegay, MonIser-
raI. RegIsIered Ihe wIIhIn manumIssIon aI fuII IengIh, IhIs
eIevenIh day of JuIy, l766, In IIber . TerryIegay, RegIsIer. *
* * * * In shorI, Ihe faIr as weII as bIack eoIe ImmedIaIeIy
sIyIed me by a new aeIIaIIon, Io me Ihe mosI desIrabIe In
Ihe worId, whIch was reeman, and aI Ihe dances I gave my
!*(
OeorgIa suerfIne bIue cIoIhes made no IndIfferenI aear-
ance, as I IhoughI. Some of Ihe sabIe femaIes, who formerIy
sIood aIoof, now began Io reIax and aear Iess coy; buI my
hearI was sIIII fIxed on Iondon, where I hoed Io be ere Iong.
So IhaI my worIhy caIaIn and hIs owner, my IaIe masIer,
fIndIng IhaI Ihe benI of my mInd was Iowards Iondon, saId
Io me, 'We hoe you won'I Ieave us, buI IhaI you wIII sIIII be
wIIh Ihe vesseIs.' Here graIIIude bowed me down; and none
buI Ihe generous mInd can judge of my feeIIngs, sIruggIIng
beIween IncIInaIIon and duIy. However, noIwIIhsIandIng my
wIsh Io be In Iondon, I obedIenIIy answered my benefacIors
IhaI I wouId go In Ihe vesseI, and noI Ieave Ihem; and from
IhaI day I was enIered on board as an abIe-bodIed saIIor, aI
IhIrIy-sIx shIIIIngs er monIh, besIdes whaI erquIsIIes I
couId make. My InIenIIon was Io make a voyage or Iwo, en-
IIreIy Io Iease Ihese my honoured aIrons; buI I deIermIned
IhaI Ihe year foIIowIng, If II Ieased Ood, I wouId see OId
ngIand once more, and surrIse my oId masIer, CaI. Pas-
caI, who was hourIy In my mInd; for I sIIII Ioved hIm, noI-
wIIhsIandIng hIs usage of me, and I Ieased myseIf wIIh
IhInkIng of whaI he wouId say when he saw whaI Ihe Iord
had done for me In so shorI a IIme, InsIead of beIng, as he
mIghI erhas suose, under Ihe crueI yoke of some IanI-
er. WIIh Ihese kInd of reverIes I used ofIen Io enIerIaIn my-
seIf, and shorIen Ihe IIme IIII my reIurn; and now, beIng as
In my orIgInaI free AfrIcan sIaIe, I embarked on board Ihe
Nancy, afIer havIng goI aII IhIngs ready for our voyage. In
IhIs sIaIe of serenIIy we saIIed for SI. usIaIIa; and, havIng
smooIh seas and caIm weaIher, we soon arrIved Ihere: afIer
IakIng our cargo on board, we roceeded Io Savannah In Oe-
orgIa, In AugusI, l766. WhIIe we were Ihere, as usuaI, I used
Io go for Ihe cargo u Ihe rIvers In boaIs; and on IhIs busI-
ness I have been frequenIIy beseI by aIIIgaIors, whIch were
very numerous on IhaI coasI, and I have shoI many of Ihem
when Ihey have been near geIIIng InIo our boaIs; whIch we
have wIIh greaI dIffIcuIIy someIImes revenIed, and have
been very much frIghIened aI Ihem. I have seen a young one
soId In OeorgIa aIIve for sIx ence. urIng our sIay aI IhIs
Iace, one evenIng a sIave beIongIng Io Mr. Read, a merchanI
!*)
of Savannah, came near our vesseI, and began Io use me very
III. I enIreaIed hIm, wIIh aII Ihe aIIence I was masIer of, Io
desIsI, as I knew Ihere was IIIIIe or no Iaw for a free negro
here; buI Ihe feIIow, InsIead of IakIng my advIce, ersevered
In hIs InsuIIs, and even sIruck me. AI IhIs I IosI aII Iemer,
and I feII on hIm and beaI hIm soundIy. The nexI mornIng
hIs masIer came Io our vesseI as we Iay aIongsIde Ihe wharf,
and desIred me Io come ashore IhaI he mIghI have me
fIogged aII round Ihe Iown, for beaIIng hIs negro sIave. I IoId
hIm he had InsuIIed me, and had gIven Ihe rovocaIIon, by
fIrsI sIrIkIng me. I had IoId my caIaIn aIso Ihe whoIe affaIr
IhaI mornIng, and wIshed hIm Io have gone aIong wIIh me Io
Mr. Read, Io revenI bad consequences; buI he saId IhaI II
dId noI sIgnIfy, and If Mr. Read saId any IhIng he wouId
make maIIers u, and had desIred me Io go Io work, whIch I
accordIngIy dId. The CaIaIn beIng on board when Mr. Read
came, he IoId hIm I was a free man; and when Mr. Read a-
IIed Io hIm Io deIIver me u, he saId he knew noIhIng of Ihe
maIIer. I was asIonIshed and frIghIened aI IhIs, and IhoughI
I had beIIer kee where I was Ihan go ashore and be fIogged
round Ihe Iown, wIIhouI judge or jury. I Iherefore refused Io
sIIr; and Mr. Read wenI away, swearIng he wouId brIng aII
Ihe consIabIes In Ihe Iown, for he wouId have me ouI of Ihe
vesseI. When he was gone, I IhoughI hIs IhreaI mIghI rove
Ioo Irue Io my sorrow; and I was confIrmed In IhIs beIIef, as
weII by Ihe many InsIances I had seen of Ihe IreaImenI of
free negroes, as from a facI IhaI had haened wIIhIn my
own knowIedge here a shorI IIme before. There was a free
bIack man, a carenIer, IhaI I knew, who, for askIng a gen-
IIeman IhaI he worked for for Ihe money he had earned, was
uI InIo gaoI; and afIerwards IhIs oressed man was senI
from OeorgIa, wIIh faIse accusaIIons, of an InIenIIon Io seI
Ihe genIIeman's house on fIre, and run away wIIh hIs sIaves.
I was Iherefore much embarrassed, and very arehensIve of
a fIoggIng aI IeasI. I dreaded, of aII IhIngs, Ihe IhoughIs of
beIng sIrIed, as I never In my IIfe had Ihe marks of any vIoI-
ence of IhaI kInd. AI IhaI InsIanI a rage seIzed my souI, and
for a IIIIIe I deIermIned Io resIsI Ihe fIrsI man IhaI shouId of-
fer Io Iay vIoIenI hands on me, or baseIy use me wIIhouI a
!!*
IrIaI; for I wouId sooner dIe IIke a free man, Ihan suffer my-
seIf Io be scourged by Ihe hands of ruffIans, and my bIood
drawn IIke a sIave. The caIaIn and oIhers, more cauIIous,
advIsed me Io make hasIe and conceaI myseIf; for Ihey saId
Mr. Read was a very sIIefuI man, and he wouId soon come
on board wIIh consIabIes and Iake me. AI fIrsI I refused IhIs
counseI, beIng deIermIned Io sIand my ground; buI aI IengIh,
by Ihe revaIIIng enIreaIIes of Ihe caIaIn and Mr. Ixon,
wIIh whom he Iodged, I wenI Io Mr. Ixon's house, whIch
was a IIIIIe ouI of Iown, aI a Iace caIIed Yea-ma-chra. I was
buI jusI gone when Mr. Read, wIIh Ihe consIabIes, came for
me, and searched Ihe vesseI; buI, noI fIndIng me Ihere, he
swore he wouId have me dead or aIIve. I was secreIed abouI
fIve days; however, Ihe good characIer whIch my caIaIn aI-
ways gave me as weII as some oIher genIIemen who aIso
knew me, rocured me some frIends. AI IasI some of Ihem
IoId my caIaIn IhaI he dId noI use me weII, In sufferIng me
Ihus Io be Imosed uon, and saId Ihey wouId see me re-
dressed, and geI me on board some oIher vesseI. My caIaIn,
on IhIs, ImmedIaIeIy wenI Io Mr. Read, and IoId hIm, IhaI
ever sInce I eIoed from Ihe vesseI hIs work had been neg-
IecIed, and he couId noI go on wIIh her IoadIng, hImseIf and
maIe noI beIng weII; and, as I had managed IhIngs on board
for Ihem, my absence musI reIard hIs voyage, and con-
sequenIIy hurI Ihe owner; he Iherefore begged of hIm Io for-
gIve me, as he saId he never had any comIaInI of me before,
for Ihe many years IhaI I had been wIIh hIm. AfIer reeaIed
enIreaIIes, Mr. Read saId I mIghI go Io heII, and IhaI he
wouId noI meddIe wIIh me; on whIch my caIaIn came Imme-
dIaIeIy Io me aI hIs IodgIng, and, IeIIIng me how IeasanIIy
maIIers had gone on, he desIred me Io go on board. Some of
my oIher frIends Ihen asked hIm If he had goI Ihe consIabIe's
warranI from Ihem; Ihe caIaIn saId, No. On IhIs I was de-
sIred by Ihem Io sIay In Ihe house; and Ihey saId Ihey wouId
geI me on board of some oIher vesseI before Ihe evenIng.
When Ihe caIaIn heard IhIs he became aImosI dIsIracIed.
He wenI ImmedIaIeIy for Ihe warranI, and, afIer usIng every
exerIIon In hIs ower, he aI IasI goI II from my hunIers; buI I
had aII Ihe exenses Io ay. AfIer I had Ihanked aII my
!!!
frIends for IheIr aIIenIIon, I wenI on board agaIn Io my work,
of whIch I had aIways IenIy. We were In hasIe Io comIeIe
our IadIng, and were Io carry IwenIy head of caIIIe wIIh us Io
Ihe WesI IndIes, where Ihey are a very rofIIabIe arIIcIe. In
order Io encourage me In workIng, and Io make u for Ihe
IIme I had IosI, my caIaIn romIsed me Ihe rIvIIege of car-
ryIng Iwo buIIocks of my own wIIh me; and IhIs made me
work wIIh redoubIed ardour. As soon as I had goI Ihe vesseI
Ioaded, In doIng whIch I was obIIged Io erform Ihe duIy of
Ihe maIe as weII as my own work, and IhaI Ihe buIIocks were
near comIng on board, I asked Ihe caIaIn Ieave Io brIng my
Iwo, accordIng Io hIs romIse; buI, Io my greaI surrIse, he
IoId me Ihere was no room for Ihem. I Ihen asked hIm Io er-
mII me Io Iake one; buI he saId he couId noI. I was a good
deaI morIIfIed aI IhIs usage, and IoId hIm I had no noIIon
IhaI he InIended Ihus Io Imose on me; nor couId I IhInk weII
of any man IhaI was so much worse Ihan hIs word. On IhIs
we had some dIsagreemenI, and I gave hIm Io undersIand,
IhaI I InIended Io Ieave Ihe vesseI. AI IhIs he aeared Io be
very much dejecIed; and our maIe, who had been very sIckIy,
and whose duIy had Iong devoIved uon me, advIsed hIm Io
ersuade me Io sIay: In consequence of whIch he soke very
kIndIy Io me, makIng many faIr romIses, IeIIIng me IhaI, as
Ihe maIe was so sIckIy, he couId noI do wIIhouI me, and IhaI,
as Ihe safeIy of Ihe vesseI and cargo deended greaIIy uon
me, he Iherefore hoed IhaI I wouId noI be offended aI whaI
had assed beIween us, and swore he wouId make u aII
maIIers when we arrIved In Ihe WesI IndIes; so I consenIed
Io sIave on as before. Soon afIer IhIs, as Ihe buIIocks were
comIng on board, one of Ihem ran aI Ihe caIaIn, and buIIed
hIm so furIousIy In Ihe breasI, IhaI he never recovered of Ihe
bIow. In order Io make me some amends for hIs IreaImenI
abouI Ihe buIIocks, Ihe caIaIn now ressed me very much Io
Iake some Iurkeys, and oIher fowIs, wIIh me, and gave me
IIberIy Io Iake as many as I couId fInd room for; buI I IoId
hIm he knew very weII I had never carrIed any Iurkeys be-
fore, as I aIways IhoughI Ihey were such Iender bIrds IhaI
Ihey were noI fII Io cross Ihe seas. However, he conIInued Io
ress me Io buy Ihem for once; and, whaI was very
!!"
surrIsIng Io me, Ihe more I was agaInsI II, Ihe more he
urged my IakIng Ihem, Insomuch IhaI he ensured me from
aII Iosses IhaI mIghI haen by Ihem, and I was revaIIed on
Io Iake Ihem; buI I IhoughI IhIs very sIrange, as he had nev-
er acIed so wIIh me before. ThIs, and noI beIng abIe Io dIs-
ose of my aer-money In any oIher way, Induced me aI
IengIh Io Iake four dozen. The Iurkeys, however, I was so
dIssaIIsfIed abouI IhaI I deIermIned Io make no more voy-
ages Io IhIs quarIer, nor wIIh IhIs caIaIn; and was very a-
rehensIve IhaI my free voyage wouId be Ihe worsI I had
ever made. We seI saII for MonIserraI. The caIaIn and maIe
had been boIh comIaInIng of sIckness when we saIIed, and
as we roceeded on our voyage Ihey grew worse. ThIs was
abouI November, and we had noI been Iong aI sea before we
began Io meeI wIIh sIrong norIherIy gaIes and rough seas;
and In abouI seven or eIghI days aII Ihe buIIocks were near
beIng drowned, and four or fIve of Ihem dIed. Our vesseI,
whIch had noI been IIghI aI fIrsI, was much Iess so now; and,
Ihough we were buI nIne In Ihe whoIe, IncIudIng fIve saIIors
and myseIf, yeI we were obIIged Io aIIend Io Ihe ums every
haIf or Ihree quarIers of an hour. The caIaIn and maIe
came on deck as ofIen as Ihey were abIe, whIch was now buI
seIdom; for Ihey decIIned so fasI, IhaI Ihey were noI weII
enough Io make observaIIons above four or fIve IImes Ihe
whoIe voyage. The whoIe care of Ihe vesseI resIed, Iherefore,
uon me, and I was obIIged Io dIrecI her by my former exer-
Ience, noI beIng abIe Io work a Iraverse. The caIaIn was
now very sorry he had noI IaughI me navIgaIIon, and ro-
IesIed, If ever he shouId geI weII agaIn, he wouId noI faII Io
do so; buI In abouI sevenIeen days hIs IIIness Increased so
much, IhaI he was obIIged Io kee hIs bed, conIInuIng sens-
IbIe, however, IIII Ihe IasI, consIanIIy havIng Ihe owner's In-
IeresI aI hearI; for IhIs jusI and benevoIenI man ever a-
eared much concerned abouI Ihe weIfare of whaI he was In-
IrusIed wIIh. When IhIs dear frIend found Ihe symIoms of
deaIh aroachIng, he caIIed me by my name; and, when I
came Io hIm, he asked (wIIh aImosI hIs IasI breaIh) If he had
ever done me any harm7 'Ood forbId I shouId IhInk so,' I
reIIed, 'I shouId Ihen be Ihe mosI ungraIefuI of wreIches Io
!!#
Ihe besI of sorrow by hIs bedsIde, he exIred wIIhouI sayIng
anoIher word; and Ihe day foIIowIng we commIIIed hIs body
Io Ihe dee. very man on board Ioved IhIs man, and regreI-
Ied hIs deaIh; buI I was exceedIngIy affecIed aI II, and I
found IhaI I dId noI know, IIII he was gone, Ihe sIrengIh of
my regard for hIm. Indeed I had every reason In Ihe worId Io
be aIIached Io hIm; for, besIdes IhaI he was In generaI mIId,
affabIe, generous, faIIhfuI, benevoIenI, and jusI, he was Io
me a frIend and a faIher; and, had II Ieased ProvIdence IhaI
he had dIed buI fIve monIhs before, I verIIy beIIeve I shouId
noI have obIaIned my freedom when I dId; and II Is noI Im-
robabIe IhaI I mIghI noI have been abIe Io geI II aI any raIe
afIerwards. The caIaIn beIng dead, Ihe maIe came on Ihe
deck, and made such observaIIons as he was abIe, buI Io no
urose. In Ihe course of a few days more, Ihe few buIIocks
IhaI remaIned were found dead; buI Ihe IurkIes I had,
Ihough on Ihe deck, and exosed Io so much weI and bad
weaIher, dId weII, and I afIerwards gaIned near Ihree hun-
dred er cenI, on Ihe saIe of Ihem; so IhaI In Ihe evenI II
roved a hay cIrcumsIance for me IhaI I had noI boughI
Ihe buIIocks I InIended, for Ihey musI have erIshed wIIh Ihe
resI; and I couId noI heI IookIng on IhIs, oIherwIse IrIfIIng
cIrcumsIance, as a arIIcuIar rovIdence of Ood, and I was
IhankfuI accordIngIy. The care of Ihe vesseI Iook u aII my
IIme, and engaged my aIIenIIon enIIreIy. As we were now
ouI of Ihe varIabIe wInds, I IhoughI I shouId noI be much
uzzIed Io hII uon Ihe IsIands. I was ersuaded I sIeered
rIghI for AnIIgua, whIch I wIshed Io reach, as Ihe nearesI Io
us; and In Ihe course of nIne or Ien days we made IhIs IsIand,
Io our greaI joy; and Ihe nexI day afIer we came safe Io
MonIserraI. Many were surrIsed when Ihey heard of my
conducIIng Ihe sIoo InIo Ihe orI, and I now obIaIned a new
aeIIaIIon, and was caIIed CaIaIn. ThIs eIaIed me noI a
IIIIIe, and II was quIIe fIaIIerIng Io my vanIIy Io be Ihus
sIyIed by as hIgh a IIIIe as any free man In IhIs Iace os-
sessed. When Ihe deaIh of Ihe caIaIn became known, he
was much regreIIed by aII who knew hIm; for he was a man
unIversaIIy resecIed. AI Ihe same IIme Ihe sabIe caIaIn
!!$
IosI no fame; for Ihe success I had meI wIIh Increased Ihe af-
fecIIon of my frIends In no smaII measure.
!!%
!"#$%&' /
!"(##$(#F-(L->3#$5(#-F)JJ!"#$-4'"/($*)
)"*IM(#<L#5$/&$'"#$N-"-F-J>-&L
_The auIhor, Io obIIge Mr. KIng, once more embarks for Oe-
orgIa In one of hIs vesseIsA new caIaIn Is aoIn-
IedThey saII, and sIeer a new courseThree remarkabIe
dreamsThe vesseI Is shIwrecked on Ihe Bahama bank,
buI Ihe crew are reserved, rIncIaIIy by means of Ihe au-
IhorHe seIs ouI from Ihe IsIand wIIh Ihe caIaIn, In a
smaII boaI, In quesI of a shITheIr dIsIressMeeI wIIh a
wreckerSaII for ProvIdenceAre overIaken agaIn by a Ier-
rIbIe sIorm, and are aII near erIshIngArrIve aI New
ProvIdenceThe auIhor, afIer some IIme, saIIs from Ihence
Io OeorgIaMeeIs wIIh anoIher sIorm, and Is obIIged Io uI
back and refIIArrIves aI OeorgIaMeeIs new ImosI-
IIonsTwo whIIe men aIIemI Io kIdna hImOffIcIaIes as
a arson aI a funeraI ceremonyBIds adIeu Io OeorgIa, and
saIIs for MarIInIco._
As I had now, by Ihe deaIh of my caIaIn, IosI my greaI be-
nefacIor and frIend, I had IIIIIe InducemenI Io remaIn Ionger
In Ihe WesI IndIes, exceI my graIIIude Io Mr. KIng, whIch I
IhoughI I had reIIy weII dIscharged In brIngIng back hIs
vesseI safe, and deIIverIng hIs cargo Io hIs saIIsfacIIon. I
began Io IhInk of IeavIng IhIs arI of Ihe worId, of whIch I
had been Iong IIred, and reIurnIng Io ngIand, where my
hearI had aIways been; buI Mr. KIng sIIII ressed me very
much Io sIay wIIh hIs vesseI; and he had done so much for
me IhaI I found myseIf unabIe Io refuse hIs requesIs, and
consenIed Io go anoIher voyage Io OeorgIa, as Ihe maIe, from
hIs III sIaIe of heaIIh, was quIIe useIess In Ihe vesseI. Accord-
IngIy a new caIaIn was aoInIed, whose name was WIIIIam
!!&
PhIIIIs, an oId acquaInIance of mIne; and, havIng refIIIed
our vesseI, and Iaken severaI sIaves on board, we seI saII for
SI. usIaIIa, where we sIayed buI a few days; and on Ihe
30Ih of January l767 we sIeered for OeorgIa. Our new ca-
IaIn boasIed sIrangeIy of hIs skIII In navIgaIIng and conducI-
Ing a vesseI; and In consequence of IhIs he sIeered a new
course, severaI oInIs more Io Ihe wesIward Ihan we ever dId
before; IhIs aeared Io me very exIraordInary.
On Ihe fourIh of ebruary, whIch was soon afIer we had
goI InIo our new course, I dreamI Ihe shI was wrecked
amIdsI Ihe surfs and rocks, and IhaI I was Ihe means of sav-
Ing every one on board; and on Ihe nIghI foIIowIng I dreamed
Ihe very same dream. These dreams however made no Im-
ressIon on my mInd; and Ihe nexI evenIng, II beIng my
waIch beIow, I was umIng Ihe vesseI a IIIIIe afIer eIghI
o'cIock, jusI before I wenI off Ihe deck, as Is Ihe cusIom; and
beIng weary wIIh Ihe duIy of Ihe day, and IIred aI Ihe um,
(for we made a good deaI of waIer) I began Io exress my Im-
aIIence, and I uIIered wIIh an oaIh, 'amn Ihe vesseI's boI-
Iom ouI.' BuI my conscIence InsIanIIy smoIe me for Ihe ex-
ressIon. When I IefI Ihe deck I wenI Io bed, and had
scarceIy faIIen asIee when I dreamed Ihe same dream agaIn
abouI Ihe shI IhaI I had dreamI Ihe Iwo receedIng nIghIs.
AI IweIve o'cIock Ihe waIch was changed; and, as I had aI-
ways Ihe charge of Ihe caIaIn's waIch, I Ihen wenI uon
deck. AI haIf afIer one In Ihe mornIng Ihe man aI Ihe heIm
saw someIhIng under Ihe Iee-beam IhaI Ihe sea washed
agaInsI, and he ImmedIaIeIy caIIed Io me IhaI Ihere was a
gramus, and desIred me Io Iook aI II. AccordIngIy I sIood u
and observed II for some IIme; buI, when I saw Ihe sea wash
u agaInsI II agaIn and agaIn, I saId II was noI a fIsh buI a
rock. BeIng soon cerIaIn of IhIs, I wenI down Io Ihe caIaIn,
and, wIIh some confusIon, IoId hIm Ihe danger we were In,
and desIred hIm Io come uon deck ImmedIaIeIy. He saId II
was very weII, and I wenI u agaIn. As soon as I was uon
deck Ihe wInd, whIch had been reIIy hIgh, havIng abaIed a
IIIIIe, Ihe vesseI began Io be carrIed sIdeways Iowards Ihe
rock, by means of Ihe currenI. SIIII Ihe caIaIn dId noI a-
ear. I Iherefore wenI Io hIm agaIn, and IoId hIm Ihe vesseI
!!'
was Ihen near a Iarge rock, and desIred he wouId come u
wIIh seed. He saId he wouId, and I reIurned Io Ihe deck.
When I was uon Ihe deck agaIn I saw we were noI above a
IsIoI shoI from Ihe rock, and I heard Ihe noIse of Ihe break-
ers aII around us. I was exceedIngIy aIarmed aI IhIs; and Ihe
caIaIn havIng noI yeI come on Ihe deck I IosI aII aIIence;
and, growIng quIIe enraged, I ran down Io hIm agaIn, and
asked hIm why he dId noI come u, and whaI he couId mean
by aII IhIs7 'The breakers,' saId I, 'are round us, and Ihe ves-
seI Is aImosI on Ihe rock.' WIIh IhaI he came on Ihe deck
wIIh me, and we IrIed Io uI Ihe vesseI abouI, and geI her
ouI of Ihe currenI, buI aII Io no urose, Ihe wInd beIng very
smaII. We Ihen caIIed aII hands u ImmedIaIeIy; and afIer a
IIIIIe we goI u one end of a cabIe, and fasIened II Io Ihe an-
chor. By IhIs IIme Ihe surf was foamIng round us, and made
a dreadfuI noIse on Ihe breakers, and Ihe very momenI we
IeI Ihe anchor go Ihe vesseI sIruck agaInsI Ihe rocks. One
sweII now succeeded anoIher, as II were one wave caIIIng on
IIs feIIow: Ihe roarIng of Ihe bIIIows Increased, and, wIIh one
sIngIe heave of Ihe sweIIs, Ihe sIoo was Ierced and Irans-
fIxed among Ihe rocks! In a momenI a scene of horror resen-
Ied IIseIf Io my mInd, such as I never had conceIved or exer-
Ienced before. AII my sIns sIared me In Ihe face; and ese-
cIaIIy, I IhoughI IhaI Ood had hurIed hIs dIrefuI vengeance
on my guIIIy head for cursIng Ihe vesseI on whIch my IIfe de-
ended. My sIrIIs aI IhIs forsook me, and I execIed every
momenI Io go Io Ihe boIIom: I deIermIned If I shouId sIIII be
saved IhaI I wouId never swear agaIn. And In Ihe mIdsI of
my dIsIress, whIIe Ihe dreadfuI surfs were dashIng wIIh un-
remIIIIng fury among Ihe rocks, I remembered Ihe Iord,
Ihough fearfuI IhaI I was undeservIng of forgIveness, and I
IhoughI IhaI as he had ofIen deIIvered he mIghI yeI deIIver;
and, caIIIng Io mInd Ihe many mercIes he had shewn me In
IImes asI, Ihey gave me some smaII hoe IhaI he mIghI sIIII
heI me. I Ihen began Io IhInk how we mIghI be saved; and I
beIIeve no mInd was ever IIke mIne so reIeIe wIIh Inven-
IIons and confused wIIh schemes, Ihough how Io escae
deaIh I knew noI. The caIaIn ImmedIaIeIy ordered Ihe
haIches Io be naIIed down on Ihe sIaves In Ihe hoId, where
!!(
Ihere were above IwenIy, aII of whom musI unavoIdabIy have
erIshed If he had been obeyed. When he desIred Ihe man Io
naII down Ihe haIches I IhoughI IhaI my sIn was Ihe cause of
IhIs, and IhaI Ood wouId charge me wIIh Ihese eoIe's
bIood. ThIs IhoughI rushed uon my mInd IhaI InsIanI wIIh
such vIoIence, IhaI II quIIe overowered me, and I faInIed. I
recovered jusI as Ihe eoIe were abouI Io naII down Ihe
haIches; erceIvIng whIch, I desIred Ihem Io sIo. The ca-
IaIn Ihen saId II musI be done: I asked hIm why7 He saId
IhaI every one wouId endeavour Io geI InIo Ihe boaI, whIch
was buI smaII, and Ihereby we shouId be drowned; for II
wouId noI have carrIed above Ien aI Ihe mosI. I couId no
Ionger resIraIn my emoIIon, and I IoId hIm he deserved
drownIng for noI knowIng how Io navIgaIe Ihe vesseI; and I
beIIeve Ihe eoIe wouId have Iossed hIm overboard If I had
gIven Ihem Ihe IeasI hInI of II. However Ihe haIches were noI
naIIed down; and, as none of us couId Ieave Ihe vesseI Ihen
on accounI of Ihe darkness, and as we knew noI where Io go,
and were convInced besIdes IhaI Ihe boaI couId noI survIve
Ihe surfs, we aII saId we wouId remaIn on Ihe dry arI of Ihe
vesseI, and IrusI Io Ood IIII dayIIghI aeared, when we
shouId know beIIer whaI Io do.
I Ihen advIsed Io geI Ihe boaI reared agaInsI mornIng,
and some of us began Io seI abouI II; buI some abandoned aII
care of Ihe shI and IhemseIves, and feII Io drInkIng. Our
boaI had a Iece ouI of her boIIom near Iwo feeI Iong, and we
had no maIerIaIs Io mend her; however, necessIIy beIng Ihe
moIher of InvenIIon, I Iook some um IeaIher and naIIed II
Io Ihe broken arI, and IasIered II over wIIh IaIIow-grease.
And, Ihus reared, wIIh Ihe uImosI anxIeIy of mInd we
waIched for dayIIghI, and IhoughI every mInuIe an hour IIII
II aeared. AI IasI II saIuIed our IongIng eyes, and kInd
ProvIdence accomanIed IIs aroach wIIh whaI was no
smaII comforI Io us; for Ihe dreadfuI sweII began Io subsIde;
and Ihe nexI IhIng IhaI we dIscovered Io raIse our drooIng
sIrIIs, was a smaII key or IsIand, abouI fIve or sIx mIIes off;
buI a barrIer soon resenIed IIseIf; for Ihere was noI waIer
enough for our boaI Io go over Ihe reefs, and IhIs Ihrew us
agaIn InIo a sad consIernaIIon; buI Ihere was no aIIernaIIve,
!!)
we were Iherefore obIIged Io uI buI few In Ihe boaI aI once;
and, whaI Is sIIII worse, aII of us were frequenIIy under Ihe
necessIIy of geIIIng ouI Io drag and IIfI II over Ihe reefs. ThIs
cosI us much Iabour and faIIgue; and, whaI was yeI more dIs-
IressIng, we couId noI avoId havIng our Iegs cuI and Iorn
very much wIIh Ihe rocks. There were onIy four eoIe IhaI
wouId work wIIh me aI Ihe oars; and Ihey consIsIed of Ihree
bIack men and a uIch CreoIe saIIor; and, Ihough we wenI
wIIh Ihe boaI fIve IImes IhaI day, we had no oIhers Io assIsI
us. BuI, had we noI worked In IhIs manner, I reaIIy beIIeve
Ihe eoIe couId noI have been saved; for noI one of Ihe whIIe
men dId any IhIng Io reserve IheIr IIves; and Indeed Ihey
soon goI so drunk IhaI Ihey were noI abIe, buI Iay abouI Ihe
deck IIke swIne, so IhaI we were aI IasI obIIged Io IIfI Ihem
InIo Ihe boaI and carry Ihem on shore by force. ThIs wanI of
assIsIance made our Iabour InIoIerabIy severe; Insomuch,
IhaI, by uIIIng on shore so ofIen IhaI day, Ihe skIn was en-
IIreIy sIrII off my hands.
However, we conIInued aII Ihe day Io IoII and sIraIn our
exerIIons, IIII we had broughI aII on board safe Io Ihe shore;
so IhaI ouI of IhIrIy-Iwo eoIe we IosI noI one. My dream
now reIurned uon my mInd wIIh aII IIs force; II was fuIfIIIed
In every arI; for our danger was Ihe same I had dreamI of:
and I couId noI heI IookIng on myseIf as Ihe rIncIaI In-
sIrumenI In effecIIng our deIIverance; for, owIng Io some of
our eoIe geIIIng drunk, Ihe resI of us were obIIged Io
doubIe our exerIIons; and II was forIunaIe we dId, for In a
very IIIIIe IIme Ionger Ihe aIch of IeaIher on Ihe boaI wouId
have been worn ouI, and she wouId have been no Ionger fII
for servIce. SIIuaIed as we were, who couId IhInk IhaI men
shouId be so careIess of Ihe danger Ihey were In7 for, If Ihe
wInd had buI raIsed Ihe sweII as II was when Ihe vesseI
sIruck, we musI have bId a fInaI fareweII Io aII hoes of de-
IIverance; and Ihough, I warned Ihe eoIe who were drInk-
Ing and enIreaIed Ihem Io embrace Ihe momenI of deIIver-
ance, neverIheIess Ihey ersIsIed, as If noI ossessed of Ihe
IeasI sark of reason. I couId noI heI IhInkIng, IhaI, If any
of Ihese eoIe had been IosI, Ood wouId charge me wIIh
IheIr IIves, whIch, erhas, was one cause of my IabourIng so
!"*
hard for IheIr reservaIIon, and Indeed every one of Ihem af-
Ierwards seemed so sensIbIe of Ihe servIce I had rendered
Ihem; and whIIe we were on Ihe key I was a kInd of chIefIaIn
amongsI Ihem. I broughI some IImes, oranges, and Iemons
ashore; and, fIndIng II Io be a good soII where we were, I
IanIed severaI of Ihem as a Ioken Io any one IhaI mIghI be
casI away hereafIer. ThIs key, as we afIerwards found, was
one of Ihe Bahama IsIands, whIch consIsI of a cIusIer of Iarge
IsIands, wIIh smaIIer ones or keys, as Ihey are caIIed, InIer-
sersed among Ihem. II was abouI a mIIe In cIrcumference,
wIIh a whIIe sandy beach runnIng In a reguIar order aIong II.
On IhaI arI of II where we fIrsI aIIemIed Io Iand Ihere
sIood some very Iarge bIrds, caIIed fIamIngoes: Ihese, from
Ihe refIecIIon of Ihe sun, aeared Io us aI a IIIIIe dIsIance as
Iarge as men; and, when Ihey waIked backwards and for-
wards, we couId noI conceIve whaI Ihey were: our caIaIn
swore Ihey were cannIbaIs. ThIs creaIed a greaI anIc among
us; and we heId a consuIIaIIon how Io acI. The caIaIn
wanIed Io go Io a key IhaI was wIIhIn sIghI, buI a greaI way
off; buI I was agaInsI II, as In so doIng we shouId noI be abIe
Io save aII Ihe eoIe; 'And Iherefore,' saId I, 'IeI us go on
shore here, and erhas Ihese cannIbaIs may Iake Io Ihe wa-
Ier.' AccordIngIy we sIeered Iowards Ihem; and when we a-
roached Ihem, Io our very greaI joy and no Iess wonder,
Ihey waIked off one afIer Ihe oIher very deIIberaIeIy; and aI
IasI Ihey Iook fIIghI and reIIeved us enIIreIy from our fears.
AbouI Ihe key Ihere were IurIIes and severaI sorIs of fIsh In
such abundance IhaI we caughI Ihem wIIhouI baII, whIch
was a greaI reIIef Io us afIer Ihe saII rovIsIons on board.
There was aIso a Iarge rock on Ihe beach, abouI Ien feeI hIgh,
whIch was In Ihe form of a unch-bowI aI Ihe Io; IhIs we
couId noI heI IhInkIng ProvIdence had ordaIned Io suIy
us wIIh raInwaIer; and II was someIhIng sInguIar IhaI, If we
dId noI Iake Ihe waIer when II raIned, In some IIIIIe IIme
afIer II wouId Iurn as saII as sea-waIer.
Our fIrsI care, afIer refreshmenI, was Io make ourseIves
IenIs Io Iodge In, whIch we dId as weII as we couId wIIh some
saIIs we had broughI from Ihe shI. We Ihen began Io IhInk
how we mIghI geI from IhIs Iace, whIch was quIIe
!"!
unInhabIIed; and we deIermIned Io reaIr our boaI, whIch
was very much shaIIered, and Io uI Io sea In quesI of a shI
or some InhabIIed IsIand. II Iook us u however eIeven days
before we couId geI Ihe boaI ready for sea In Ihe manner we
wanIed II, wIIh a saII and oIher necessarIes. When we had
goI aII IhIngs reared Ihe caIaIn wanIed me Io sIay on
shore whIIe he wenI Io sea In quesI of a vesseI Io Iake aII Ihe
eoIe off Ihe key; buI IhIs I refused; and Ihe caIaIn and
myseIf, wIIh fIve more, seI off In Ihe boaI Iowards New
ProvIdence. We had no more Ihan Iwo muskeI Ioad of gun-
owder wIIh us If any IhIng shouId haen; and our sIock of
rovIsIons consIsIed of Ihree gaIIons of rum, four of waIer,
some saII beef, some bIscuII; and In IhIs manner we ro-
ceeded Io sea.
On Ihe second day of our voyage we came Io an IsIand
caIIed ObbIco, Ihe IargesI of Ihe Bahama IsIands. We were
much In wanI of waIer; for by IhIs IIme our waIer was exen-
ded, and we were exceedIngIy faIIgued In uIIIng Iwo days In
Ihe heaI of Ihe sun; and II beIng IaIe In Ihe evenIng, we
hauIed Ihe boaI ashore Io Iry for waIer and remaIn durIng
Ihe nIghI: when we came ashore we searched for waIer, buI
couId fInd none. When II was dark, we made a fIre around us
for fear of Ihe wIId beasIs, as Ihe Iace was an enIIre IhIck
wood, and we Iook II by Iurns Io waIch. In IhIs sIIuaIIon we
found very IIIIIe resI, and waIIed wIIh ImaIIence for Ihe
mornIng. As soon as Ihe IIghI aeared we seI off agaIn wIIh
our boaI, In hoes of fIndIng assIsIance durIng Ihe day. We
were now much dejecIed and weakened by uIIIng Ihe boaI;
for our saII was of no use, and we were aImosI famIshed for
wanI of fresh waIer Io drInk. We had noIhIng IefI Io eaI buI
saII beef, and IhaI we couId noI use wIIhouI waIer. In IhIs
sIIuaIIon we IoIIed aII day In sIghI of Ihe IsIand, whIch was
very Iong; In Ihe evenIng, seeIng no reIIef, we made ashore
agaIn, and fasIened our boaI. We Ihen wenI Io Iook for fresh
waIer, beIng quIIe faInI for Ihe wanI of II; and we dug and
searched abouI for some aII Ihe remaInder of Ihe evenIng,
buI couId noI fInd one dro, so IhaI our dejecIIon aI IhIs erI-
od became excessIve, and our Ierror so greaI, IhaI we exec-
Ied noIhIng buI deaIh Io deIIver us. We couId noI Iouch our
!""
beef, whIch was as saII as brIne, wIIhouI fresh waIer; and we
were In Ihe greaIesI Ierror from Ihe arehensIon of wIId
beasIs. When unweIcome nIghI came we acIed as on Ihe
nIghI before; and Ihe nexI mornIng we seI off agaIn from Ihe
IsIand In hoes of seeIng some vesseI. In IhIs manner we
IoIIed as weII as we were abIe IIII four o'cIock, durIng whIch
we assed severaI keys, buI couId noI meeI wIIh a shI; and,
sIIII famIshIng wIIh IhIrsI, wenI ashore on one of Ihose keys
agaIn In hoes of fIndIng some waIer. Here we found some
Ieaves wIIh a few dros of waIer In Ihem, whIch we Iaed
wIIh much eagerness; we Ihen dug In severaI Iaces, buI
wIIhouI success. As we were dIggIng hoIes In search of waIer
Ihere came forIh some very IhIck and bIack sIuff; buI none of
us couId Iouch II, exceI Ihe oor uIch CreoIe, who drank
above a quarI of II as eagerIy as If II had been wIne. We IrIed
Io caIch fIsh, buI couId noI; and we now began Io reIne aI
our faIe, and abandon ourseIves Io desaIr; when, In Ihe
mIdsI of our murmurIng, Ihe caIaIn aII aI once crIed ouI 'A
saII! a saII! a saII!' ThIs gIaddenIng sound was IIke a rerIeve
Io a convIcI, and we aII InsIanIIy Iurned Io Iook aI II; buI In a
IIIIIe IIme some of us began Io be afraId II was noI a saII.
However, aI a venIure, we embarked and sIeered afIer II;
and, In haIf an hour, Io our unseakabIe joy, we IaInIy saw
IhaI II was a vesseI. AI IhIs our drooIng sIrIIs revIved, and
we made Iowards her wIIh aII Ihe seed ImagInabIe. When
we came near Io her, we found she was a IIIIIe sIoo, abouI
Ihe sIze of a Oravesend hoy, and quIIe fuII of eoIe; a cIr-
cumsIance whIch we couId noI make ouI Ihe meanIng of. Our
caIaIn, who was a WeIchman, swore IhaI Ihey were IraIes,
and wouId kIII us. I saId, be IhaI as II mIghI, we musI board
her If we were Io dIe for II; and, If Ihey shouId noI receIve us
kIndIy, we musI oose Ihem as weII as we couId; for Ihere
was no aIIernaIIve beIween IheIr erIshIng and ours. ThIs
counseI was ImmedIaIeIy Iaken; and I reaIIy beIIeve IhaI Ihe
caIaIn, myseIf, and Ihe uIchman, wouId Ihen have faced
IwenIy men. We had Iwo cuIIasses and a musqueI, IhaI I
broughI In Ihe boaI; and, In IhIs sIIuaIIon, we rowed aIong-
sIde, and ImmedIaIeIy boarded her. I beIIeve Ihere were
abouI forIy hands on board; buI how greaI was our surrIse,
!"#
as soon as we goI on board, Io fInd IhaI Ihe major arI of
Ihem were In Ihe same redIcamenI as ourseIves!
They beIonged Io a whaIIng schooner IhaI was wrecked
Iwo days before us abouI nIne mIIes Io Ihe norIh of our ves-
seI. When she was wrecked some of Ihem had Iaken Io IheIr
boaIs and had IefI some of IheIr eoIe and roerIy on a
key, In Ihe same manner as we had done; and were goIng,
IIke us, Io New ProvIdence In quesI of a shI, when Ihey meI
wIIh IhIs IIIIIe sIoo, caIIed a wrecker; IheIr emIoymenI In
Ihose seas beIng Io Iook afIer wrecks. They were Ihen goIng
Io Iake Ihe remaInder of Ihe eoIe beIongIng Io Ihe schoon-
er; for whIch Ihe wrecker was Io have aII IhIngs beIongIng Io
Ihe vesseI, and IIkewIse IheIr eoIe's heI Io geI whaI Ihey
couId ouI of her, and were Ihen Io carry Ihe crew Io New
ProvIdence.
We IoId Ihe eoIe of Ihe wrecker Ihe condIIIon of our ves-
seI, and we made Ihe same agreemenI wIIh Ihem as Ihe
schooner's eoIe; and, on IheIr comIyIng, we begged of
Ihem Io go Io our key dIrecIIy, because our eoIe were In
wanI of waIer. They agreed, Iherefore, Io go aIong wIIh us
fIrsI; and In Iwo days we arrIved aI Ihe key, Io Ihe Inexress-
IbIe joy of Ihe eoIe IhaI we had IefI behInd, as Ihey had
been reduced Io greaI exIremIIIes for wanI of waIer In our
absence. IuckIIy for us, Ihe wrecker had now more eoIe on
board Ihan she couId carry or vIcIuaI for any moderaIe
IengIh of IIme; Ihey Iherefore hIred Ihe schooner's eoIe Io
work on our wreck, and we IefI Ihem our boaI, and embarked
for New ProvIdence.
NoIhIng couId have been more forIunaIe Ihan our meeIIng
wIIh IhIs wrecker, for New ProvIdence was aI such a dIs-
Iance IhaI we never couId have reached II In our boaI. The Is-
Iand of AbbIco was much Ionger Ihan we execIed; and II was
noI IIII afIer saIIIng for Ihree or four days IhaI we goI safe Io
Ihe farIher end of II, Iowards New ProvIdence. When we ar-
rIved Ihere we waIered, and goI a good many IobsIers and
oIher sheIIfIsh; whIch roved a greaI reIIef Io us, as our ro-
vIsIons and waIer were aImosI exhausIed. We Ihen ro-
ceeded on our voyage; buI Ihe day afIer we IefI Ihe IsIand,
IaIe In Ihe evenIng, and whIIsI we were yeI amongsI Ihe
!"$
Bahama keys, we were overIaken by a vIoIenI gaIe of wInd,
so IhaI we were obIIged Io cuI away Ihe masI. The vesseI was
very near founderIng; for she arIed from her anchors, and
sIruck severaI IImes on Ihe shoaIs. Here we execIed every
mInuIe IhaI she wouId have gone Io Ieces, and each momenI
Io be our IasI; so much so IhaI my oId caIaIn and sIckIy use-
Iess maIe, and severaI oIhers, faInIed; and deaIh sIared us In
Ihe face on every sIde. AII Ihe swearers on board now began
Io caII on Ihe Ood of Heaven Io assIsI Ihem: and, sure
enough, beyond our comrehensIon he dId assIsI us, and In a
mIracuIous manner deIIvered us! In Ihe very heIghI of our
exIremIIy Ihe wInd IuIIed for a few mInuIes; and, aIIhough
Ihe sweII was hIgh beyond exressIon, Iwo men, who were
exerI swImmers, aIIemIed Io go Io Ihe buoy of Ihe anchor,
whIch we sIIII saw on Ihe waIer, aI some dIsIance, In a IIIIIe
unI IhaI beIonged Io Ihe wrecker, whIch was noI Iarge
enough Io carry more Ihan Iwo. She fIIIed dIfferenI IImes In
IheIr endeavours Io geI InIo her aIongsIde of our vesseI; and
Ihey saw noIhIng buI deaIh before Ihem, as weII as we; buI
Ihey saId Ihey mIghI as weII dIe IhaI way as any oIher. A coII
of very smaII roe, wIIh a IIIIIe buoy, was uI In aIong wIIh
Ihem; and, aI IasI, wIIh greaI hazard, Ihey goI Ihe unI cIear
from Ihe vesseI; and Ihese Iwo InIreId waIer heroes addIed
away for IIfe Iowards Ihe buoy of Ihe anchor. The eyes of us
aII were fIxed on Ihem aII Ihe IIme, execIIng every mInuIe
Io be IheIr IasI: and Ihe rayers of aII Ihose IhaI remaIned In
IheIr senses were offered u Io Ood, on IheIr behaIf, for a
seedy deIIverance; and for our own, whIch deended on
Ihem; and he heard and answered us! These Iwo men aI IasI
reached Ihe buoy; and, havIng fasIened Ihe unI Io II, Ihey
IIed one end of IheIr roe Io Ihe smaII buoy IhaI Ihey had In
Ihe unI, and senI II adrIfI Iowards Ihe vesseI. We on board
observIng IhIs Ihrew ouI boaI-hooks and Ieads fasIened Io
IInes, In order Io caIch Ihe buoy: aI IasI we caughI II, and
fasIened a hawser Io Ihe end of Ihe smaII roe; we Ihen gave
Ihem a sIgn Io uII, and Ihey uIIed Ihe hawser Io Ihem, and
fasIened II Io Ihe buoy: whIch beIng done we hauIed for our
IIves; and, Ihrough Ihe mercy of Ood, we goI agaIn from Ihe
shoaIs InIo dee waIer, and Ihe unI goI safe Io Ihe vesseI. II
!"%
Is ImossIbIe for any Io conceIve our hearIfeII joy aI IhIs
second deIIverance from ruIn, buI Ihose who have suffered
Ihe same hardshIs. Those whose sIrengIh and senses were
gone came Io IhemseIves, and were now as eIaIed as Ihey
were before deressed. Two days afIer IhIs Ihe wInd ceased,
and Ihe waIer became smooIh. The unI Ihen wenI on shore,
and we cuI down some Irees; and havIng found our masI and
mended II we broughI II on board, and fIxed II u. As soon as
we had done IhIs we goI u Ihe anchor, and away we wenI
once more for New ProvIdence, whIch In Ihree days more we
reached safe, afIer havIng been above Ihree weeks In a sIIu-
aIIon In whIch we dId noI execI Io escae wIIh IIfe. The In-
habIIanIs here were very kInd Io us; and, when Ihey Iearned
our sIIuaIIon, shewed us a greaI deaI of hosIIaIIIy and
frIendshI. Soon afIer IhIs every one of my oId feIIow-suffer-
ers IhaI were free arIed from us, and shaed IheIr course
where IheIr IncIInaIIon Ied Ihem. One merchanI, who had a
Iarge sIoo, seeIng our condIIIon, and knowIng we wanIed Io
go Io OeorgIa, IoId four of us IhaI hIs vesseI was goIng Ihere;
and, If we wouId work on board and Ioad her, he wouId gIve
us our assage free. As we couId noI geI any wages
whaIever, and found II very hard Io geI off Ihe Iace, we
were obIIged Io consenI Io hIs roosaI; and we wenI on
board and heIed Io Ioad Ihe sIoo, Ihough we had onIy our
vIcIuaIs aIIowed us. When she was enIIreIy Ioaded he IoId us
she was goIng Io JamaIca fIrsI, where we musI go If we wenI
In her. ThIs, however, I refused; buI my feIIow-sufferers noI
havIng any money Io heI IhemseIves wIIh, necessIIy obIIged
Ihem Io acceI of Ihe offer, and Io sIeer IhaI course, Ihough
Ihey dId noI IIke II.
We sIayed In New ProvIdence abouI sevenIeen or eIghIeen
days; durIng whIch IIme I meI wIIh many frIends, who gave
me encouragemenI Io sIay Ihere wIIh Ihem: buI I decIIned II;
Ihough, had noI my hearI been fIxed on ngIand, I shouId
have sIayed, as I IIked Ihe Iace exIremeIy, and Ihere were
some free bIack eoIe here who were very hay, and we
assed our IIme IeasanIIy IogeIher, wIIh Ihe meIodIous
sound of Ihe caIguIs, under Ihe IIme and Iemon Irees. AI
IengIh CaIaIn PhIIIIs hIred a sIoo Io carry hIm and some
!"&
of Ihe sIaves IhaI he couId noI seII Io OeorgIa; and I agreed Io
go wIIh hIm In IhIs vesseI, meanIng now Io Iake my fareweII
of IhaI Iace. When Ihe vesseI was ready we aII embarked;
and I Iook my Ieave of New ProvIdence, noI wIIhouI regreI.
We saIIed abouI four o'cIock In Ihe mornIng, wIIh a faIr wInd,
for OeorgIa; and abouI eIeven o'cIock Ihe same mornIng a
shorI and sudden gaIe srung u and bIew away mosI of our
saIIs; and, as we were sIIII amongsI Ihe keys, In a very few
mInuIes II dashed Ihe sIoo agaInsI Ihe rocks. IuckIIy for us
Ihe waIer was dee; and Ihe sea was noI so angry buI IhaI,
afIer havIng for some IIme Iaboured hard, and beIng many In
number, we were saved Ihrough Ood's mercy; and, by usIng
our greaIesI exerIIons, we goI Ihe vesseI off. The nexI day we
reIurned Io ProvIdence, where we soon goI her agaIn refIIIed.
Some of Ihe eoIe swore IhaI we had seIIs seI uon us by
somebody In MonIserraI; and oIhers IhaI we had wIIches and
wIzzards amongsI Ihe oor heIIess sIaves; and IhaI we nev-
er shouId arrIve safe aI OeorgIa. BuI Ihese IhIngs dId noI de-
Ier me; I saId, 'IeI us agaIn face Ihe wInds and seas, and
swear noI, buI IrusI Io Ood, and he wIII deIIver us.' We Ihere-
fore once more seI saII; and, wIIh hard Iabour, In seven day's
IIme arrIved safe aI OeorgIa.
AfIer our arrIvaI we wenI u Io Ihe Iown of Savannah; and
Ihe same evenIng I wenI Io a frIend's house Io Iodge, whose
name was Mosa, a bIack man. We were very hay aI meeI-
Ing each oIher; and afIer suer we had a IIghI IIII II was
beIween nIne and Ien o'cIock aI nIghI. AbouI IhaI IIme Ihe
waIch or aIroI came by; and, dIscernIng a IIghI In Ihe house,
Ihey knocked aI Ihe door: we oened II; and Ihey came In and
saI down, and drank some unch wIIh us: Ihey aIso begged
some IImes of me, as Ihey undersIood I had some, whIch I
readIIy gave Ihem. A IIIIIe afIer IhIs Ihey IoId me I musI go
Io Ihe waIch-house wIIh Ihem: IhIs surrIsed me a good deaI,
afIer our kIndness Io Ihem; and I asked Ihem, Why so7 They
saId IhaI aII negroes who had IIghI In IheIr houses afIer nIne
o'cIock were Io be Iaken InIo cusIody, and eIIher ay some
doIIars or be fIogged. Some of Ihose eoIe knew IhaI I was a
free man; buI, as Ihe man of Ihe house was noI free, and had
hIs masIer Io roIecI hIm, Ihey dId noI Iake Ihe same IIberIy
!"'
wIIh hIm Ihey dId wIIh me. I IoId Ihem IhaI I was a free
man, and jusI arrIved from ProvIdence; IhaI we were noI
makIng any noIse, and IhaI I was noI a sIranger In IhaI
Iace, buI was very weII known Ihere: 'BesIdes,' saId I, 'whaI
wIII you do wIIh me7''ThaI you shaII see,' reIIed Ihey, 'buI
you musI go Io Ihe waIch-house wIIh us.' Now wheIher Ihey
meanI Io geI money from me or noI I was aI a Ioss Io know;
buI I IhoughI ImmedIaIeIy of Ihe oranges and IImes aI SanIa
Cruz: and seeIng IhaI noIhIng wouId acIfy Ihem I wenI wIIh
Ihem Io Ihe waIch-house, where I remaIned durIng Ihe nIghI.
arIy Ihe Ihe nexI mornIng Ihese ImosIng ruffIans fIogged a
negro-man and woman IhaI Ihey had In Ihe waIch-house,
and Ihen Ihey IoId me IhaI I musI be fIogged Ioo. I asked
why7 and If Ihere was no Iaw for free men7 And IoId Ihem If
Ihere was I wouId have II uI In force agaInsI Ihem. BuI IhIs
onIy exaseraIed Ihem Ihe more; and InsIanIIy Ihey swore
Ihey wouId serve me as ocIor PerkIns had done; and Ihey
were goIng Io Iay vIoIenI hands on me; when one of Ihem,
more humane Ihan Ihe resI, saId IhaI as I was a free man
Ihey couId noI jusIIfy sIrIIng me by Iaw. I Ihen ImmedI-
aIeIy senI for ocIor Brady, who was known Io be an honesI
and worIhy man; and on hIs comIng Io my assIsIance Ihey IeI
me go.
ThIs was noI Ihe onIy dIsagreeabIe IncIdenI I meI wIIh
whIIe I was In IhIs Iace; for, one day, whIIe I was a IIIIIe
way ouI of Ihe Iown of Savannah, I was beseI by Iwo whIIe
men, who meanI Io Iay IheIr usuaI IrIcks wIIh me In Ihe
way of kIdnaIng. As soon as Ihese men accosIed me, one of
Ihem saId Io Ihe oIher, 'ThIs Is Ihe very feIIow we are IookIng
for IhaI you IosI:' and Ihe oIher swore ImmedIaIeIy IhaI I
was Ihe IdenIIcaI erson. On IhIs Ihey made u Io me, and
were abouI Io handIe me; buI I IoId Ihem Io be sIIII and kee
off; for I had seen Ihose kInd of IrIcks Iayed uon oIher free
bIacks, and Ihey musI noI IhInk Io serve me so. AI IhIs Ihey
aused a IIIIIe, and one saId Io Ihe oIherII wIII noI do; and
Ihe oIher answered IhaI I IaIked Ioo good ngIIsh. I reIIed,
I beIIeved I dId; and I had aIso wIIh me a revengefuI sIIck
equaI Io Ihe occasIon; and my mInd was IIkewIse good. Ha-
IIy however II was noI used; and, afIer we had IaIked
!"(
IogeIher a IIIIIe In IhIs manner, Ihe rogues IefI me. I sIayed
In Savannah some IIme, anxIousIy IryIng Io geI Io MonIser-
raI once more Io see Mr. KIng, my oId masIer, and Ihen Io
Iake a fInaI fareweII of Ihe AmerIcan quarIer of Ihe gIobe. AI
IasI I meI wIIh a sIoo caIIed Ihe SeedweII, CaIaIn John
BunIon, whIch beIonged Io Orenada, and was bound Io
MarIInIco, a rench IsIand, wIIh a cargo of rIce, and I
shIed myseIf on board of her. Before I IefI OeorgIa a bIack
woman, who had a chIId IyIng dead, beIng very IenacIous of
Ihe church burIaI servIce, and noI abIe Io geI any whIIe er-
son Io erform II, aIIed Io me for IhaI urose. I IoId her I
was no arson; and besIdes, IhaI Ihe servIce over Ihe dead
dId noI affecI Ihe souI. ThIs however dId noI saIIsfy her; she
sIIII urged me very hard: I Iherefore comIIed wIIh her earn-
esI enIreaIIes, and aI IasI consenIed Io acI Ihe arson for Ihe
fIrsI IIme In my IIfe. As she was much resecIed, Ihere was a
greaI comany boIh of whIIe and bIack eoIe aI Ihe grave. I
Ihen accordIngIy assumed my new vocaIIon, and erformed
Ihe funeraI ceremony Io Ihe saIIsfacIIon of aII resenI; afIer
whIch I bade adIeu Io OeorgIa, and saIIed for MarIInIco.
!")
!"#$%&' 0
!"#$-4'"/($-((*.#)$-'$O-('*&*</JJO##')
M*'"$&#M$5*00*<43'*#)8$-&5$)-*3)$0/(
6&+3-&5
_The auIhor arrIves aI MarIInIcoMeeIs wIIh new dIffI-
cuIIIesOeIs Io MonIserraI, where he Iakes Ieave of hIs oId
masIer, and saIIs for ngIandMeeIs CaI. PascaIIearns
Ihe rench hornHIres hImseIf wIIh ocIor IrvIng, where
he Iearns Io freshen sea waIerIeaves Ihe docIor, and goes
a voyage Io Turkey and PorIugaI; and afIerwards goes a voy-
age Io Orenada, and anoIher Io JamaIcaReIurns Io Ihe
ocIor, and Ihey embark IogeIher on a voyage Io Ihe NorIh
PoIe, wIIh Ihe Hon. CaI. PhIsSome accounI of IhaI voy-
age, and Ihe dangers Ihe auIhor was InHe reIurns Io
ngIand._
I Ihus Iook a fInaI Ieave of OeorgIa; for Ihe IreaImenI I had
receIved In II dIsgusIed me very much agaInsI Ihe Iace; and
when I IefI II and saIIed for MarIInIco I deIermIned never
more Io revIsII II. My new caIaIn conducIed hIs vesseI safer
Ihan my former one; and, afIer an agreeabIe voyage, we goI
safe Io our InIended orI. WhIIe I was on IhIs IsIand I wenI
abouI a good deaI, and found II very IeasanI: In arIIcuIar I
admIred Ihe Iown of SI. PIerre, whIch Is Ihe rIncIaI one In
Ihe IsIand, and buIII more IIke an uroean Iown Ihan any I
had seen In Ihe WesI IndIes. In generaI aIso, sIaves were beI-
Ier IreaIed, had more hoIIdays, and Iooked beIIer Ihan Ihose
In Ihe ngIIsh IsIands. AfIer we had done our busIness here,
I wanIed my dIscharge, whIch was necessary; for II was Ihen
Ihe monIh of May, and I wIshed much Io be aI MonIserraI Io
bId fareweII Io Mr. KIng, and aII my oIher frIends Ihere, In
!#*
IIme Io saII for OId ngIand In Ihe JuIy fIeeI. BuI, aIas! I had
uI a greaI sIumbIIng bIock In my own way, by whIch I was
near IosIng my assage IhaI season Io ngIand. I had IenI
my caIaIn some money, whIch I now wanIed Io enabIe me Io
rosecuIe my InIenIIons. ThIs I IoId hIm; buI when I aIIed
for II, Ihough I urged Ihe necessIIy of my occasIon, I meI wIIh
so much shuffIIng from hIm, IhaI I began aI IasI Io be afraId
of IosIng my money, as I couId noI recover II by Iaw: for I
have aIready menIIoned, IhaI IhroughouI Ihe WesI IndIes no
bIack man's IesIImony Is admIIIed, on any occasIon, agaInsI
any whIIe erson whaIever, and Iherefore my own oaIh
wouId have been of no use. I was obIIged, Iherefore, Io re-
maIn wIIh hIm IIII he mIghI be dIsosed Io reIurn II Io me.
Thus we saIIed from MarIInIco for Ihe Orenades. I frequenIIy
ressIng Ihe caIaIn for my money Io no urose; and, Io
render my condIIIon worse, when we goI Ihere, Ihe caIaIn
and hIs owners quarreIIed; so IhaI my sIIuaIIon became daIIy
more Irksome: for besIdes IhaI we on board had IIIIIe or no
vIcIuaIs aIIowed us, and I couId noI geI my money nor wages,
I couId Ihen have goIIen my assage free Io MonIserraI had I
been abIe Io acceI II. The worsI of aII was, IhaI II was grow-
Ing IaIe In JuIy, and Ihe shIs In Ihe IsIands musI saII by Ihe
26Ih of IhaI monIh. AI IasI, however, wIIh a greaI many en-
IreaIIes, I goI my money from Ihe caIaIn, and Iook Ihe fIrsI
vesseI I couId meeI wIIh for SI. usIaIIa. rom Ihence I wenI
In anoIher Io BasseIerre In SI. KIIIs, where I arrIved on Ihe
l9Ih of JuIy. On Ihe 22d, havIng meI wIIh a vesseI bound Io
MonIserraI, I wanIed Io go In her; buI Ihe caIaIn and oIhers
wouId noI Iake me on board unIII I shouId adverIIse myseIf,
and gIve noIIce of my goIng off Ihe IsIand. I IoId Ihem of my
hasIe Io be In MonIserraI, and IhaI Ihe IIme Ihen wouId noI
admII of adverIIsIng, II beIng IaIe In Ihe evenIng, and Ihe
caIaIn abouI Io saII; buI he InsIsIed II was necessary, and
oIherwIse he saId he wouId noI Iake me. ThIs reduced me Io
greaI erIexIIy; for If I shouId be comeIIed Io submII Io IhIs
degradIng necessIIy, whIch every bIack freeman Is under, of
adverIIsIng hImseIf IIke a sIave, when he Ieaves an IsIand,
and whIch I IhoughI a gross ImosIIIon uon any freeman, I
feared I shouId mIss IhaI oorIunIIy of goIng Io MonIserraI,
!#!
and Ihen I couId noI geI Io ngIand IhaI year. The vesseI
was jusI goIng off, and no IIme couId be IosI; I ImmedIaIeIy
Iherefore seI abouI, wIIh a heavy hearI, Io Iry who I couId
geI Io befrIend me In comIyIng wIIh Ihe demands of Ihe ca-
IaIn. IuckIIy I found, In a few mInuIes, some genIIemen of
MonIserraI whom I knew; and, havIng IoId Ihem my sIIu-
aIIon, I requesIed IheIr frIendIy assIsIance In heIIng me off
Ihe IsIand. Some of Ihem, on IhIs, wenI wIIh me Io Ihe ca-
IaIn, and saIIsfIed hIm of my freedom; and, Io my very greaI
joy, he desIred me Io go on board. We Ihen seI saII, and Ihe
nexI day, Ihe 23d, I arrIved aI Ihe wIshed-for Iace, afIer an
absence of sIx monIhs, In whIch I had more Ihan once exerI-
enced Ihe deIIverIng hand of ProvIdence, when aII human
means of escaIng desIrucIIon seemed hoeIess. I saw my
frIends wIIh a gIadness of hearI whIch was Increased by my
absence and Ihe dangers I had escaed, and I was receIved
wIIh greaI frIendshI by Ihem aII, buI arIIcuIarIy by Mr.
KIng, Io whom I reIaIed Ihe faIe of hIs sIoo, Ihe Nancy, and
Ihe causes of her beIng wrecked. I now Iearned wIIh exIreme
sorrow, IhaI hIs house was washed away durIng my absence,
by Ihe bursIIng of a ond aI Ihe Io of a mounIaIn IhaI was
oosIIe Ihe Iown of PIymouIh. II sweI greaI arI of Ihe
Iown away, and Mr. KIng IosI a greaI deaI of roerIy from
Ihe InundaIIon, and nearIy hIs IIfe. When I IoId hIm I InIen-
ded Io go Io Iondon IhaI season, and IhaI I had come Io vIsII
hIm before my dearIure, Ihe good man exressed a greaI
deaI of affecIIon for me, and sorrow IhaI I shouId Ieave hIm,
and warmIy advIsed me Io sIay Ihere; InsIsIIng, as I was
much resecIed by aII Ihe genIIemen In Ihe Iace, IhaI I
mIghI do very weII, and In a shorI IIme have Iand and sIaves
of my own. I Ihanked hIm for IhIs InsIance of hIs frIendshI;
buI, as I wIshed very much Io be In Iondon, I decIIned re-
maInIng any Ionger Ihere, and begged he wouId excuse me. I
Ihen requesIed he wouId be kInd enough Io gIve me a cerII-
fIcaIe of my behavIour whIIe In hIs servIce, whIch he very
readIIy comIIed wIIh, and gave me Ihe foIIowIng:
_MonIserraI, January 26, l767._
'The bearer hereof, OusIavus Vassa, was my sIave for u-
wards of Ihree years, durIng whIch he has aIways behaved
!#"
hImseIf weII, and dIscharged hIs duIy wIIh honesIy and
assIduIIy.
RoberI KIng.
'To aII whom IhIs may concern.'
HavIng obIaIned IhIs, I arIed from my kInd masIer, afIer
many sIncere rofessIons of graIIIude and regard, and re-
ared for my dearIure for Iondon. I ImmedIaIeIy agreed Io
go wIIh one CaI. John Hamer, for seven guIneas, Ihe as-
sage Io Iondon, on board a shI caIIed Ihe Andromache; and
on Ihe 24Ih and 25Ih I had free dances, as Ihey are caIIed,
wIIh some of my counIrymen, revIous Io my seIIIng off;
afIer whIch I Iook Ieave of aII my frIends, and on Ihe 26Ih I
embarked for Iondon, exceedIngIy gIad Io see myseIf once
more on board of a shI; and sIIII more so, In sIeerIng Ihe
course I had Iong wIshed for. WIIh a IIghI hearI I bade MonI-
serraI fareweII, and never had my feeI on II sInce; and wIIh II
I bade adIeu Io Ihe sound of Ihe crueI whI, and aII oIher
dreadfuI InsIrumenIs of IorIure; adIeu Io Ihe offensIve sIghI
of Ihe vIoIaIed chasIIIy of Ihe sabIe femaIes, whIch has Ioo of-
Ien accosIed my eyes; adIeu Io oressIons (aIIhough Io me
Iess severe Ihan mosI of my counIrymen); and adIeu Io Ihe
angry howIIng, dashIng surfs. I wIshed for a graIefuI and
IhankfuI hearI Io raIse Ihe Iord Ood on hIgh for aII hIs
mercIes!
We had a mosI roserous voyage, and, aI Ihe end of seven
weeks, arrIved aI Cherry-Oarden sIaIrs. Thus were my Iong-
Ing eyes once more graIIfIed wIIh a sIghI of Iondon, afIer
havIng been absenI from II above four years. I ImmedIaIeIy
receIved my wages, and I never had earned seven guIneas so
quIck In my IIfe before; I had IhIrIy-seven guIneas In aII,
when I goI cIeared of Ihe shI. I now enIered uon a scene,
quIIe new Io me, buI fuII of hoe. In IhIs sIIuaIIon my fIrsI
IhoughIs were Io Iook ouI for some of my former frIends, and
amongsI Ihe fIrsI of Ihose were Ihe MIss OuerIns. As soon,
Iherefore, as I had regaIed myseIf I wenI In quesI of Ihose
kInd IadIes, whom I was very ImaIIenI Io see; and wIIh
some dIffIcuIIy and erseverance, I found Ihem aI May's-hIII,
OreenwIch. They were mosI agreeabIy surrIsed Io see me,
and I quIIe overjoyed aI meeIIng wIIh Ihem. I IoId Ihem my
!##
hIsIory, aI whIch Ihey exressed greaI wonder, and freeIy ac-
knowIedged II dId IheIr cousIn, CaI. PascaI, no honour. He
Ihen vIsIIed Ihere frequenIIy; and I meI hIm four or fIve days
afIer In OreenwIch ark. When he saw me he aeared a
good deaI surrIsed, and asked me how I came back7 I
answered, 'In a shI.' To whIch he reIIed dryIy, 'I suose
you dId noI waIk back Io Iondon on Ihe waIer.' As I saw, by
hIs manner, IhaI he dId noI seem Io be sorry for hIs beha-
vIour Io me, and IhaI I had noI much reason Io execI any fa-
vour from hIm, I IoId hIm IhaI he had used me very III, afIer
I had been such a faIIhfuI servanI Io hIm for so many years;
on whIch, wIIhouI sayIng any more, he Iurned abouI and
wenI away. A few days afIer IhIs I meI CaI. PascaI aI MIss
OuerIn's house, and asked hIm for my rIze-money. He saId
Ihere was none due Io me; for, If my rIze money had been
l0,000 . he had a rIghI Io II aII. I IoId hIm I was Informed
oIherwIse; on whIch he bade me defIance; and, In a banIerIng
Ione, desIred me Io commence a IawsuII agaInsI hIm for II:
'There are Iawyers enough,' saId he,'IhaI wIII Iake Ihe cause
In hand, and you had beIIer Iry II.' I IoId hIm Ihen IhaI I
wouId Iry II, whIch enraged hIm very much; however, ouI of
regard Io Ihe IadIes, I remaIned sIIII, and never made any
farIher demand of my rIghI. Some IIme afIerwards Ihese
frIendIy IadIes asked me whaI I meanI Io do wIIh myseIf, and
how Ihey couId assIsI me. I Ihanked Ihem, and saId, If Ihey
Ieased, I wouId be IheIr servanI; buI If noI, as I had IhIrIy-
seven guIneas, whIch wouId suorI me for some IIme, I
wouId be much obIIged Io Ihem Io recommend me Io some
erson who wouId Ieach me a busIness whereby I mIghI earn
my IIvIng. They answered me very oIIIeIy, IhaI Ihey were
sorry II dId noI suII Ihem Io Iake me as IheIr servanI, and
asked me whaI busIness I shouId IIke Io Iearn7 I saId, haIr-
dressIng. They Ihen romIsed Io assIsI me In IhIs; and soon
afIer Ihey recommended me Io a genIIeman whom I had
known before, one CaI. O'Hara, who IreaIed me wIIh much
kIndness, and rocured me a masIer, a haIr-dresser, In
CovenIry-courI, HaymarkeI, wIIh whom he Iaced me. I was
wIIh IhIs man from SeIember IIII Ihe ebruary foIIowIng. In
IhaI IIme we had a neIghbour In Ihe same courI who IaughI
!#$
Ihe rench horn. He used Io bIow II so weII IhaI I was
charmed wIIh II, and agreed wIIh hIm Io Ieach me Io bIow II.
AccordIngIy he Iook me In hand, and began Io InsIrucI me,
and I soon Iearned aII Ihe Ihree arIs. I Iook greaI deIIghI In
bIowIng on IhIs InsIrumenI, Ihe evenIngs beIng Iong; and be-
sIdes IhaI I was fond of II, I dId noI IIke Io be IdIe, and II
fIIIed u my vacanI hours InnocenIIy. AI IhIs IIme aIso I
agreed wIIh Ihe Rev. Mr. Oregory, who IIved In Ihe same
courI, where he keI an academy and an evenIng-schooI, Io
Imrove me In arIIhmeIIc. ThIs he dId as far as barIer and
aIIIgaIIon; so IhaI aII Ihe IIme I was Ihere I was enIIreIy em-
Ioyed. In ebruary l768 I hIred myseIf Io r. CharIes
IrvIng, In PaII-maII, so ceIebraIed for hIs successfuI exerI-
menIs In makIng sea waIer fresh; and here I had IenIy of
haIr-dressIng Io Imrove my hand. ThIs genIIeman was an
exceIIenI masIer; he was exceedIngIy kInd and good
Iemered; and aIIowed me In Ihe evenIngs Io aIIend my
schooIs, whIch I esIeemed a greaI bIessIng; Iherefore I
Ihanked Ood and hIm for II, and used aII my dIIIgence Io Im-
rove Ihe oorIunIIy. ThIs dIIIgence and aIIenIIon recom-
mended me Io Ihe noIIce and care of my Ihree receIors,
who on IheIr arIs besIowed a greaI deaI of aIns In my In-
sIrucIIon, and besIdes were aII very kInd Io me. My wages,
however, whIch were by Iwo IhIrds Iess Ihan I ever had In
my IIfe (for I had onIy l2I. er annum) I soon found wouId
noI be suffIcIenI Io defray IhIs exIraordInary exense of mas-
Iers, and my own necessary exenses; my oId IhIrIy-seven
guIneas had by IhIs IIme worn aII away Io one. I IhoughI II
besI, Iherefore, Io Iry Ihe sea agaIn In quesI of more money,
as I had been bred Io II, and had hIIherIo found Ihe rofes-
sIon of II successfuI. I had aIso a very greaI desIre Io see Tur-
key, and I now deIermIned Io graIIfy II. AccordIngIy, In Ihe
monIh of May, l768, I IoId Ihe docIor my wIsh Io go Io sea
agaIn, Io whIch he made no oosIIIon; and we arIed on
frIendIy Ierms. The same day I wenI InIo Ihe cIIy In quesI of
a masIer. I was exIremeIy forIunaIe In my InquIry; for I soon
heard of a genIIeman who had a shI goIng Io IIaIy and Tur-
key, and he wanIed a man who couId dress haIr weII. I was
overjoyed aI IhIs, and wenI ImmedIaIeIy on board of hIs shI,
!#%
as I had been dIrecIed, whIch I found Io be fIIIed u wIIh
greaI IasIe, and I aIready foreboded no smaII Ieasure In
saIIIng In her. NoI fIndIng Ihe genIIeman on board, I was dIr-
ecIed Io hIs IodgIngs, where I meI wIIh hIm Ihe nexI day, and
gave hIm a secImen of my dressIng. He IIked II so weII IhaI
he hIred me ImmedIaIeIy, so IhaI I was erfecIIy hay; for
Ihe shI, masIer, and voyage, were enIIreIy Io my mInd. The
shI was caIIed Ihe eIawar, and my masIer's name was
John JoIIy, a neaI smarI good humoured man, jusI such an
one as I wIshed Io serve. We saIIed from ngIand In JuIy foI-
IowIng, and our voyage was exIremeIy IeasanI. We wenI Io
VIIIa ranca, NIce, and Ieghorn; and In aII Ihese Iaces I
was charmed wIIh Ihe rIchness and beauIy of Ihe counIrIes,
and sIruck wIIh Ihe eIeganI buIIdIngs wIIh whIch Ihey
abound. We had aIways In Ihem IenIy of exIraordInary good
wInes and rIch fruIIs, whIch I was very fond of; and I had fre-
quenI occasIons of graIIfyIng boIh my IasIe and curIosIIy; for
my caIaIn aIways Iodged on shore In Ihose Iaces, whIch af-
forded me oorIunIIIes Io see Ihe counIry around. I aIso
Iearned navIgaIIon of Ihe maIe, whIch I was very fond of.
When we IefI IIaIy we had deIIghIfuI saIIIng among Ihe Ar-
chIeIago IsIands, and from Ihence Io Smyrna In Turkey.
ThIs Is a very ancIenI cIIy; Ihe houses are buIII of sIone, and
mosI of Ihem have graves adjoInIng Io Ihem; so IhaI Ihey
someIImes resenI Ihe aearance of church-yards. ProvI-
sIons are very IenIIfuI In IhIs cIIy, and good wIne Iess Ihan
a enny a InI. The graes, omegranaIes, and many oIher
fruIIs, were aIso Ihe rIchesI and IargesI I ever IasIed. The
naIIves are weII IookIng and sIrong made, and IreaIed me aI-
ways wIIh greaI cIvIIIIy. In generaI I beIIeve Ihey are fond of
bIack eoIe; and severaI of Ihem gave me ressIng InvIIa-
IIons Io sIay amongsI Ihem, aIIhough Ihey kee Ihe franks,
or ChrIsIIans, searaIe, and do noI suffer Ihem Io dweII Im-
medIaIeIy amongsI Ihem. I was asIonIshed In noI seeIng wo-
men In any of IheIr shos, and very rareIy any In Ihe sIreeIs;
and whenever I dId Ihey were covered wIIh a veII from head
Io fooI, so IhaI I couId noI see IheIr faces, exceI when any of
Ihem ouI of curIosIIy uncovered Ihem Io Iook aI me, whIch
Ihey someIImes dId. I was surrIsed Io see how Ihe Oreeks
!#&
are, In some measure, keI under by Ihe Turks, as Ihe
negroes are In Ihe WesI IndIes by Ihe whIIe eoIe. The Iess
refIned Oreeks, as I have aIready hInIed, dance here In Ihe
same manner as we do In my naIIon. On Ihe whoIe, durIng
our sIay here, whIch was abouI fIve monIhs, I IIked Ihe Iace
and Ihe Turks exIremeIy weII. I couId noI heI observIng one
very remarkabIe cIrcumsIance Ihere: Ihe IaIIs of Ihe shee
are fIaI, and so very Iarge, IhaI I have known Ihe IaII even of
a Iamb Io weIgh from eIeven Io IhIrIeen ounds. The faI of
Ihem Is very whIIe and rIch, and Is exceIIenI In uddIngs, for
whIch II Is much used. Our shI beIng aI IengIh rIchIy Ioaded
wIIh sIIk, and oIher arIIcIes, we saIIed for ngIand.
In May l769, soon afIer our reIurn from Turkey, our shI
made a deIIghIfuI voyage Io OorIo In PorIugaI, where we ar-
rIved aI Ihe IIme of Ihe carnIvaI. On our arrIvaI, Ihere were
senI on board Io us IhIrIy-sIx arIIcIes Io observe, wIIh very
heavy enaIIIes If we shouId break any of Ihem; and none of
us even dared Io go on board any oIher vesseI or on shore IIII
Ihe InquIsIIIon had senI on board and searched for every
IhIng IIIegaI, esecIaIIy bIbIes. Such as were roduced, and
cerIaIn oIher IhIngs, were senI on shore IIII Ihe shIs were
goIng away; and any erson In whose cusIody a bIbIe was
found conceaIed was Io be ImrIsoned and fIogged, and senI
InIo sIavery for Ien years. I saw here many very magnIfIcenI
sIghIs, arIIcuIarIy Ihe garden of den, where many of Ihe
cIergy and IaIIy wenI In rocessIon In IheIr severaI orders
wIIh Ihe hosI, and sung Te eum. I had a greaI curIosIIy Io
go InIo some of IheIr churches, buI couId noI gaIn admIIIance
wIIhouI usIng Ihe necessary srInkIIng of hoIy waIer aI my
enIrance. rom curIosIIy, and a wIsh Io be hoIy, I Iherefore
comIIed wIIh IhIs ceremony, buI IIs vIrIues were IosI on me,
for I found myseIf noIhIng Ihe beIIer for II. ThIs Iace
abounds wIIh IenIy of aII kInds of rovIsIons. The Iown Is
weII buIII and reIIy, and commands a fIne rosecI. Our
shI havIng Iaken In a Ioad of wIne, and oIher commodIIIes,
we saIIed for Iondon, and arrIved In JuIy foIIowIng. Our nexI
voyage was Io Ihe MedIIerranean. The shI was agaIn goI
ready, and we saIIed In SeIember for Oenoa. ThIs Is one of
Ihe fInesI cIIIes I ever saw; some of Ihe edIfIces were of
!#'
beauIIfuI marbIe, and made a mosI nobIe aearance; and
many had very curIous founIaIns before Ihem. The churches
were rIch and magnIfIcenI, and curIousIy adorned boIh In Ihe
InsIde and ouI. BuI aII IhIs grandeur was In my eyes dIs-
graced by Ihe gaIIey sIaves, whose condIIIon boIh Ihere and
In oIher arIs of IIaIy Is IruIy IIeous and wreIched. AfIer we
had sIayed Ihere some weeks, durIng whIch we boughI many
dIfferenI IhIngs whIch we wanIed, and goI Ihem very chea,
we saIIed Io NaIes, a charmIng cIIy, and remarkabIy cIean.
The bay Is Ihe mosI beauIIfuI I ever saw; Ihe moIes for shI-
Ing are exceIIenI. I IhoughI II exIraordInary Io see grand
oeras acIed here on Sunday nIghIs, and even aIIended by
IheIr majesIIes. I Ioo, IIke Ihese greaI ones, wenI Io Ihose
sIghIs, and vaInIy served Ood In Ihe day whIIe I Ihus served
mammon effecIuaIIy aI nIghI. WhIIe we remaIned here Ihere
haened an eruIIon of mounI VesuvIus, of whIch I had a
erfecI vIew. II was exIremeIy awfuI; and we were so near
IhaI Ihe ashes from II used Io be IhIck on our deck. AfIer we
had IransacIed our busIness aI NaIes we saIIed wIIh a faIr
wInd once more for Smyrna, where we arrIved In ecember.
A seraskIer or offIcer Iook a IIkIng Io me here, and wanIed
me Io sIay, and offered me Iwo wIves; however I refused Ihe
IemIaIIon. The merchanIs here IraveI In caravans or Iarge
comanIes. I have seen many caravans from IndIa, wIIh
some hundreds of cameIs, Iaden wIIh dIfferenI goods. The
eoIe of Ihese caravans are quIIe brown. Among oIher arI-
IcIes, Ihey broughI wIIh Ihem a greaI quanIIIy of IocusIs,
whIch are a kInd of uIse, sweeI and IeasanI Io Ihe aIaIe,
and In shae resembIIng rench beans, buI Ionger. ach
kInd of goods Is soId In a sIreeI by IIseIf, and I aIways found
Ihe Turks very honesI In IheIr deaIIngs. They IeI no ChrIsII-
ans InIo IheIr mosques or churches, for whIch I was very
sorry; as I was aIways fond of goIng Io see Ihe dIfferenI
modes of worshI of Ihe eoIe wherever I wenI. The Iague
broke ouI whIIe we were In Smyrna, and we sIoed IakIng
goods InIo Ihe shI IIII II was over. She was Ihen rIchIy
Iaden, and we saIIed In abouI March l770 for ngIand. One
day In our assage we meI wIIh an accIdenI whIch was near
burnIng Ihe shI. A bIack cook, In meIIIng some faI, overseI
!#(
Ihe an InIo Ihe fIre under Ihe deck, whIch ImmedIaIeIy
began Io bIaze, and Ihe fIame wenI u very hIgh under Ihe
foreIo. WIIh Ihe frIghI Ihe oor cook became aImosI whIIe,
and aIIogeIher seechIess. HaIIy however we goI Ihe fIre
ouI wIIhouI doIng much mIschIef. AfIer varIous deIays In IhIs
assage, whIch was IedIous, we arrIved In SIandgaIe creek In
JuIy; and, aI Ihe IaIIer end of Ihe year, some new evenI oc-
curred, so IhaI my nobIe caIaIn, Ihe shI, and I aII
searaIed.
In ArII l77l I shIed myseIf as a sIeward wIIh CaI.
Wm. RoberIson of Ihe shI Orenada PIanIer, once more Io Iry
my forIune In Ihe WesI IndIes; and we saIIed from Iondon
for MadeIra, Barbadoes, and Ihe Orenades. When we were aI
IhIs IasI Iace, havIng some goods Io seII, I meI once more
wIIh my former kInd of WesI IndIa cusIomers. A whIIe man,
an IsIander, boughI some goods of me Io Ihe amounI of some
ounds, and made me many faIr romIses as usuaI, buI
wIIhouI any InIenIIon of ayIng me. He had IIkewIse boughI
goods from some more of our eoIe, whom he InIended Io
serve In Ihe same manner; buI he sIIII amused us wIIh rom-
Ises. However, when our shI was Ioaded, and near saIIIng,
IhIs honesI buyer dIscovered no InIenIIon or sIgn of ayIng
for any IhIng he had boughI of us; buI on Ihe conIrary, when
I asked hIm for my money he IhreaIened me and anoIher
bIack man he had boughI goods of, so IhaI we found we were
IIke Io geI more bIows Ihan aymenI. On IhIs we wenI Io
comIaIn Io one Mr. M'InIosh, a jusIIce of Ihe eace; we IoId
hIs worshI of Ihe man's vIIIaInous IrIcks, and begged IhaI
he wouId be kInd enough Io see us redressed: buI beIng
negroes, aIIhough free, we couId noI geI any remedy; and our
shI beIng Ihen jusI uon Ihe oInI of saIIIng, we knew noI
how Io heI ourseIves, Ihough we IhoughI II hard Io Iose our
roerIy In IhIs manner. IuckIIy for us however, IhIs man
was aIso IndebIed Io Ihree whIIe saIIors, who couId noI geI a
farIhIng from hIm; Ihey Iherefore readIIy joIned us, and we
aII wenI IogeIher In search of hIm. When we found where he
was, I Iook hIm ouI of a house and IhreaIened hIm wIIh ven-
geance; on whIch, fIndIng he was IIkeIy Io be handIed
roughIy, Ihe rogue offered each of us some smaII aIIowance,
!#)
buI noIhIng near our demands. ThIs exaseraIed us much
more; and some were for cuIIIng hIs ears off; buI he begged
hard for mercy, whIch was aI IasI granIed hIm, afIer we had
enIIreIy sIrIed hIm. We Ihen IeI hIm go, for whIch he
Ihanked us, gIad Io geI off so easIIy, and ran InIo Ihe bushes,
afIer havIng wIshed us a good voyage. We Ihen reaIred on
board, and shorIIy afIer seI saII for ngIand. I cannoI heI
remarkIng here a very narrow escae we had from beIng
bIown u, owIng Io a Iece of negIIgence of mIne. JusI as our
shI was under saII, I wenI down InIo Ihe cabIn Io do some
busIness, and had a IIghIed candIe In my hand, whIch, In my
hurry, wIIhouI IhInkIng, I heId In a barreI of gunowder. II
remaIned In Ihe owder unIII II was near caIchIng fIre, when
forIunaIeIy I observed II and snaIched II ouI In IIme, and
rovIdenIIaIIy no harm haened; buI I was so overcome
wIIh Ierror IhaI I ImmedIaIeIy faInIed aI IhIs deIIverance.
In IwenIy-eIghI days IIme we arrIved In ngIand, and I goI
cIear of IhIs shI. BuI, beIng sIIII of a rovIng dIsosIIIon, and
desIrous of seeIng as many dIfferenI arIs of Ihe worId as I
couId, I shIed myseIf soon afIer, In Ihe same year, as sIew-
ard on board of a fIne Iarge shI, caIIed Ihe JamaIca, CaIaIn
avId WaII; and we saIIed from ngIand In ecember l77l
for NevIs and JamaIca. I found JamaIca Io be a very fIne
Iarge IsIand, weII eoIed, and Ihe mosI consIderabIe of Ihe
WesI IndIa IsIands. There was a vasI number of negroes
here, whom I found as usuaI exceedIngIy Imosed uon by
Ihe whIIe eoIe, and Ihe sIaves unIshed as In Ihe oIher Is-
Iands. There are negroes whose busIness II Is Io fIog sIaves;
Ihey go abouI Io dIfferenI eoIe for emIoymenI, and Ihe
usuaI ay Is from one Io four bIIs. I saw many crueI unIsh-
menIs InfIIcIed on Ihe sIaves In Ihe shorI IIme I sIayed here.
In arIIcuIar I was resenI when a oor feIIow was IIed u
and keI hangIng by Ihe wrIsIs aI some dIsIance from Ihe
ground, and Ihen some haIf hundred weIghIs were fIxed Io
hIs ancIes, In whIch osIure he was fIogged mosI unmercI-
fuIIy. There were aIso, as I heard, Iwo dIfferenI masIers
noIed for crueIIy on Ihe IsIand, who had sIaked u Iwo
negroes naked, and In Iwo hours Ihe vermIn sIung Ihem Io
deaIh. I heard a genIIeman I weII knew IeII my caIaIn IhaI
!$*
he assed senIence on a negro man Io be burnI aIIve for aI-
IemIIng Io oIson an overseer. I ass over numerous oIher
InsIances, In order Io reIIeve Ihe reader by a mIIder scene of
roguery. Before I had been Iong on Ihe IsIand, one Mr. SmIIh
aI PorI MoranI boughI goods of me Io Ihe amounI of IwenIy-
fIve ounds sIerIIng; buI when I demanded aymenI from
hIm, he was goIng each IIme Io beaI me, and IhreaIened IhaI
he wouId uI me In goaI. One IIme he wouId say I was goIng
Io seI hIs house on fIre, aI anoIher he wouId swear I was go-
Ing Io run away wIIh hIs sIaves. I was asIonIshed aI IhIs us-
age from a erson who was In Ihe sIIuaIIon of a genIIeman,
buI I had no aIIernaIIve; I was Iherefore obIIged Io submII.
When I came Io KIngsIon, I was surrIsed Io see Ihe number
of AfrIcans who were assembIed IogeIher on Sundays; arIIc-
uIarIy aI a Iarge commodIous Iace, caIIed SrIng PaIh. Here
each dIfferenI naIIon of AfrIca meeI and dance afIer Ihe man-
ner of IheIr own counIry. They sIIII reIaIn mosI of IheIr naI-
Ive cusIoms: Ihey bury IheIr dead, and uI vIcIuaIs, Ies
and Iobacco, and oIher IhIngs, In Ihe grave wIIh Ihe cors, In
Ihe same manner as In AfrIca. Our shI havIng goI her Ioad-
Ing we saIIed for Iondon, where we arrIved In Ihe AugusI foI-
IowIng. On my reIurn Io Iondon, I waIIed on my oId and
good masIer, r. IrvIng, who made me an offer of hIs servIce
agaIn. BeIng now IIred of Ihe sea I gIadIy acceIed II. I was
very hay In IIvIng wIIh IhIs genIIeman once more; durIng
whIch IIme we were daIIy emIoyed In reducIng oId
NeIune's domInIons by urIfyIng Ihe brIny eIemenI and
makIng II fresh. Thus I wenI on IIII May l773, when I was
roused by Ihe sound of fame, Io seek new advenIures, and Io
fInd, Iowards Ihe norIh oIe, whaI our CreaIor never InIen-
ded we shouId, a assage Io IndIa. An exedIIIon was now
fIIIIng ouI Io exIore a norIh-easI assage, conducIed by Ihe
HonourabIe John ConsIanIIne PhIs, sInce Iord MuIgrave,
In hIs MajesIy's sIoo of war Ihe Race Horse. My masIer be-
Ing anxIous for Ihe reuIaIIon of IhIs advenIure, we Iherefore
reared every IhIng for our voyage, and I aIIended hIm on
board Ihe Race Horse, Ihe 24Ih day of May l773. We ro-
ceeded Io Sheerness, where we were joIned by hIs MajesIy's
sIoo Ihe Carcass, commanded by CaIaIn IuIwIdge. On Ihe
!$!
4Ih of June we saIIed Iowards our desIIned Iace, Ihe oIe;
and on Ihe l5Ih of Ihe same monIh we were off SheIIand. On
IhIs day I had a greaI and unexecIed deIIverance from an
accIdenI whIch was near bIowIng u Ihe shI and desIroyIng
Ihe crew, whIch made me ever afIer durIng Ihe voyage un-
commonIy cauIIous. The shI was so fIIIed IhaI Ihere was
very IIIIIe room on board for any one, whIch Iaced me In a
very aukward sIIuaIIon. I had resoIved Io kee a journaI of
IhIs sInguIar and InIeresIIng voyage; and I had no oIher
Iace for IhIs urose buI a IIIIIe cabIn, or Ihe docIor's sIore-
room, where I sIeI. ThIs IIIIIe Iace was sIuffed wIIh aII
manner of combusIIbIes, arIIcuIarIy wIIh Iow and
aquaforIIs, and many oIher dangerous IhIngs. !nforIunaIeIy
II haened In Ihe evenIng as I was wrIIIng my journaI, IhaI
I had occasIon Io Iake Ihe candIe ouI of Ihe IanIhorn, and a
sark havIng Iouched a sIngIe Ihread of Ihe Iow, aII Ihe resI
caughI Ihe fIame, and ImmedIaIeIy Ihe whoIe was In a bIaze.
I saw noIhIng buI resenI deaIh before me, and execIed Io
be Ihe fIrsI Io erIsh In Ihe fIames. In a momenI Ihe aIarm
was sread, and many eoIe who were near ran Io assIsI In
uIIIng ouI Ihe fIre. AII IhIs IIme I was In Ihe very mIdsI of
Ihe fIames; my shIrI, and Ihe handkerchIef on my neck, were
burnI, and I was aImosI smoIhered wIIh Ihe smoke.
However, Ihrough Ood's mercy, as I was nearIy gIvIng u aII
hoes, some eoIe broughI bIankeIs and maIIresses and
Ihrew Ihem on Ihe fIames, by whIch means In a shorI IIme
Ihe fIre was uI ouI. I was severeIy rerImanded and men-
aced by such of Ihe offIcers who knew II, and sIrIcIIy charged
never more Io go Ihere wIIh a IIghI: and, Indeed, even my
own fears made me gIve heed Io IhIs command for a IIIIIe
IIme; buI aI IasI, noI beIng abIe Io wrIIe my journaI In any
oIher arI of Ihe shI, I was IemIed agaIn Io venIure by
sIeaIIh wIIh a IIghI In Ihe same cabIn, Ihough noI wIIhouI
consIderabIe fear and dread on my mInd. On Ihe 20Ih of
June we began Io use r. IrvIng's aaraIus for makIng saII
waIer fresh; I used Io aIIend Ihe dIsIIIIery: I frequenIIy urI-
fIed from IwenIy-sIx Io forIy gaIIons a day. The waIer Ihus
dIsIIIIed was erfecIIy ure, weII IasIed, and free from saII;
and was used on varIous occasIons on board Ihe shI. On Ihe
!$"
28Ih of June, beIng In IaI. 78, we made OreenIand, where I
was surrIsed Io see Ihe sun dId noI seI. The weaIher now
became exIremeIy coId; and as we saIIed beIween norIh and
easI, whIch was our course, we saw many very hIgh and curI-
ous mounIaIns of Ice; and aIso a greaI number of very Iarge
whaIes, whIch used Io come cIose Io our shI, and bIow Ihe
waIer u Io a very greaI heIghI In Ihe aIr. One mornIng we
had vasI quanIIIIes of sea-horses abouI Ihe shI, whIch
neIghed exacIIy IIke any oIher horses. We fIred some har-
oon guns amongsI Ihem, In order Io Iake some, buI we couId
noI geI any. The 30Ih, Ihe caIaIn of a OreenIand shI came
on board, and IoId us of Ihree shIs IhaI were IosI In Ihe Ice;
however we sIIII heId on our course IIII JuIy Ihe llIh, when
we were sIoI by one comacI ImeneIrabIe body of Ice. We
ran aIong II from easI Io wesI above Ien degrees; and on Ihe
27Ih we goI as far norIh as 80, 37; and In l9 or 20 degrees
easI IongIIude from Iondon. On Ihe 29Ih and 30Ih of JuIy we
saw one conIInued IaIn of smooIh unbroken Ice, bounded
onIy by Ihe horIzon; and we fasIened Io a Iece of Ice IhaI
was eIghI yards eIeven Inches IhIck. We had generaIIy sun-
shIne, and consIanI dayIIghI; whIch gave cheerfuIness and
noveIIy Io Ihe whoIe of IhIs sIrIkIng, grand, and uncommon
scene; and, Io heIghIen II sIIII more, Ihe refIecIIon of Ihe sun
from Ihe Ice gave Ihe cIouds a mosI beauIIfuI aearance. We
kIIIed many dIfferenI anImaIs aI IhIs IIme, and among Ihe
resI nIne bears. Though Ihey had noIhIng In IheIr aunches
buI waIer yeI Ihey were aII very faI. We used Io decoy Ihem
Io Ihe shI someIImes by burnIng feaIhers or skIns. I IhoughI
Ihem coarse eaIIng, buI some of Ihe shI's comany reIIshed
Ihem very much. Some of our eoIe once, In Ihe boaI, fIred
aI and wounded a sea-horse, whIch dIved ImmedIaIeIy; and,
In a IIIIIe IIme afIer, broughI u wIIh II a number of oIhers.
They aII joIned In an aIIack uon Ihe boaI, and were wIIh dIf-
fIcuIIy revenIed from sIavIng or overseIIIng her; buI a boaI
from Ihe Carcass havIng come Io assIsI ours, and joIned II,
Ihey dIsersed, afIer havIng wresIed an oar from one of Ihe
men. One of Ihe shI's boaIs had before been aIIacked In Ihe
same manner, buI haIIy no harm was done. Though we
wounded severaI of Ihese anImaIs we never goI buI one. We
!$#
remaIned hereabouIs unIII Ihe lsI of AugusI; when Ihe Iwo
shIs goI comIeIeIy fasIened In Ihe Ice, occasIoned by Ihe
Ioose Ice IhaI seI In from Ihe sea. ThIs made our sIIuaIIon
very dreadfuI and aIarmIng; so IhaI on Ihe 7Ih day we were
In very greaI arehensIon of havIng Ihe shIs squeezed Io
Ieces. The offIcers now heId a councII Io know whaI was besI
for us Io do In order Io save our IIves; and II was deIermIned
IhaI we shouId endeavour Io escae by draggIng our boaIs
aIong Ihe Ice Iowards Ihe sea; whIch, however, was farIher
off Ihan any of us IhoughI. ThIs deIermInaIIon fIIIed us wIIh
exIreme dejecIIon, and confounded us wIIh desaIr; for we
had very IIIIIe rosecI of escaIng wIIh IIfe. However, we
sawed some of Ihe Ice abouI Ihe shIs Io kee II from hurIIng
Ihem; and Ihus keI Ihem In a kInd of ond. We Ihen began
Io drag Ihe boaIs as weII as we couId Iowards Ihe sea; buI,
afIer Iwo or Ihree days Iabour, we made very IIIIIe rogress;
so IhaI some of our hearIs IoIaIIy faIIed us, and I reaIIy
began Io gIve u myseIf for IosI, when I saw our surroundIng
caIamIIIes. WhIIe we were aI IhIs hard Iabour I once feII InIo
a ond we had made amongsI some Ioose Ice, and was very
near beIng drowned; buI rovIdenIIaIIy some eoIe were
near who gave me ImmedIaIe assIsIance, and Ihereby I es-
caed drownIng. Our deIorabIe condIIIon, whIch keI u Ihe
consIanI arehensIon of our erIshIng In Ihe Ice, broughI
me graduaIIy Io IhInk of eIernIIy In such a manner as I never
had done before. I had Ihe fears of deaIh hourIy uon me,
and shuddered aI Ihe IhoughIs of meeIIng Ihe grIm kIng of
Ierrors In Ihe naIuraI sIaIe I Ihen was In, and was exceed-
IngIy doubIfuI of a hay eIernIIy If I shouId dIe In II. I had
no hoes of my IIfe beIng roIonged for any IIme; for we saw
IhaI our exIsIence couId noI be Iong on Ihe Ice afIer IeavIng
Ihe shIs, whIch were now ouI of sIghI, and some mIIes from
Ihe boaIs. Our aearance now became IruIy IamenIabIe;
aIe dejecIIon seIzed every counIenance; many, who had
been before bIashemers, In IhIs our dIsIress began Io caII on
Ihe good Ood of heaven for hIs heI; and In Ihe IIme of our
uIIer need he heard us, and agaInsI hoe or human robabII-
IIy deIIvered us! II was Ihe eIevenIh day of Ihe shIs beIng
Ihus fasIened, and Ihe fourIh of our drawIng Ihe boaIs In IhIs
!$$
manner, IhaI Ihe wInd changed Io Ihe .N.. The weaIher
ImmedIaIeIy became mIId, and Ihe Ice broke Iowards Ihe sea,
whIch was Io Ihe S.W. of us. Many of us on IhIs goI on board
agaIn, and wIIh aII our mIghI we hove Ihe shIs InIo every
oen waIer we couId fInd, and made aII Ihe saII on Ihem In
our ower; and now, havIng a rosecI of success, we made
sIgnaIs for Ihe boaIs and Ihe remaInder of Ihe eoIe. ThIs
seemed Io us IIke a rerIeve from deaIh; and hay was Ihe
man who couId fIrsI geI on board of any shI, or Ihe fIrsI boaI
he couId meeI. We Ihen roceeded In IhIs manner IIII we goI
InIo Ihe oen waIer agaIn, whIch we accomIIshed In abouI
IhIrIy hours, Io our InfInIIe joy and gIadness of hearI. As
soon as we were ouI of danger we came Io anchor and refII-
Ied; and on Ihe l9Ih of AugusI we saIIed from IhIs unInhab-
IIed exIremIIy of Ihe worId, where Ihe InhosIIabIe cIImaIe
affords neIIher food nor sheIIer, and noI a Iree or shrub of
any kInd grows amongsI IIs barren rocks; buI aII Is one desoI-
aIe and exanded wasIe of Ice, whIch even Ihe consIanI
beams of Ihe sun for sIx monIhs In Ihe year cannoI eneIraIe
or dIssoIve. The sun now beIng on Ihe decIIne Ihe days
shorIened as we saIIed Io Ihe souIhward; and, on Ihe 28Ih, In
IaIIIude 73, II was dark by Ien o'cIock aI nIghI. SeIember
Ihe l0Ih, In IaIIIude 58-59, we meI a very severe gaIe of wInd
and hIgh seas, and shIed a greaI deaI of waIer In Ihe sace
of Ien hours. ThIs made us work exceedIngIy hard aI aII our
ums a whoIe day; and one sea, whIch sIruck Ihe shI wIIh
more force Ihan any IhIng I ever meI wIIh of Ihe kInd before,
IaId her under waIer for some IIme, so IhaI we IhoughI she
wouId have gone down. Two boaIs were washed from Ihe
booms, and Ihe Iong-boaI from Ihe chucks: aII oIher moveabIe
IhIngs on Ihe deck were aIso washed away, among whIch
were many curIous IhIngs of dIfferenI kInds whIch we had
broughI from OreenIand; and we were obIIged, In order Io
IIghIen Ihe shI, Io Ioss some of our guns overboard. We saw
a shI, aI Ihe same IIme, In very greaI dIsIress, and her
masIs were gone; buI we were unabIe Io assIsI her. We now
IosI sIghI of Ihe Carcass IIII Ihe 26Ih, when we saw Iand
abouI Orfordness, off whIch Iace she joIned us. rom Ihence
we saIIed for Iondon, and on Ihe 30Ih came u Io eIford.
!$%
And Ihus ended our ArcIIc voyage, Io Ihe no smaII joy of aII
on board, afIer havIng been absenI four monIhs; In whIch
IIme, aI Ihe ImmInenI hazard of our IIves, we exIored nearIy
as far Iowards Ihe PoIe as 8l degrees norIh, and 20 degrees
easI IongIIude; beIng much farIher, by aII accounIs, Ihan any
navIgaIor had ever venIured before; In whIch we fuIIy roved
Ihe ImracIIcabIIIIy of fIndIng a assage IhaI way Io IndIa.
!$&
!"#$%&' (1
C/F#$-<</4&'$/0$'"#$F-&&#($/0$'"#
-4'"/(D)$</&.#()*/&$'/$'"#$0-*'"$/0$S#)4)
@"(*)'
_The auIhor Ieaves ocIor IrvIng and engages on board a
Turkey shIAccounI of a bIack man's beIng kIdnaed on
board and senI Io Ihe WesI IndIes, and Ihe auIhor's fruIIIess
endeavours Io rocure hIs freedomSome accounI of Ihe
manner of Ihe auIhor's conversIon Io Ihe faIIh of Jesus
ChrIsI._
Our voyage Io Ihe NorIh PoIe beIng ended, I reIurned Io
Iondon wIIh ocIor IrvIng, wIIh whom I conIInued for some
IIme, durIng whIch I began serIousIy Io refIecI on Ihe
dangers I had escaed, arIIcuIarIy Ihose of my IasI voyage,
whIch made a IasIIng ImressIon on my mInd, and, by Ihe
grace of Ood, roved afIerwards a mercy Io me; II caused me
Io refIecI deeIy on my eIernaI sIaIe, and Io seek Ihe Iord
wIIh fuII urose of hearI ere II was Ioo IaIe. I rejoIced
greaIIy; and hearIIIy Ihanked Ihe Iord for dIrecIIng me Io
Iondon, where I was deIermIned Io work ouI my own saIva-
IIon, and In so doIng rocure a IIIIe Io heaven, beIng Ihe res-
uII of a mInd bIended by Ignorance and sIn.
In rocess of IIme I IefI my masIer, ocIor IrvIng, Ihe urI-
fIer of waIers, and Iodged In CovenIry-courI, HaymarkeI,
where I was conIInuaIIy oressed and much concerned
abouI Ihe saIvaIIon of my souI, and was deIermIned (In my
own sIrengIh) Io be a fIrsI-raIe ChrIsIIan. I used every
means for IhIs urose; and, noI beIng abIe Io fInd any er-
son amongsI my acquaInIance IhaI agreed wIIh me In oInI
of reIIgIon, or, In scrIIure Ianguage, 'IhaI wouId shew me
!$'
any good;' I was much dejecIed, and knew noI where Io seek
reIIef; however, I fIrsI frequenIed Ihe neIghbourIng churches,
SI. James's, and oIhers, Iwo or Ihree IImes a day, for many
weeks: sIIII I came away dIssaIIsfIed; someIhIng was wanIIng
IhaI I couId noI obIaIn, and I reaIIy found more hearIfeII re-
IIef In readIng my bIbIe aI home Ihan In aIIendIng Ihe
church; and, beIng resoIved Io be saved, I ursued oIher
meIhods sIIII. IrsI I wenI among Ihe quakers, where Ihe
word of Ood was neIIher read or reached, so IhaI I re-
maIned as much In Ihe dark as ever. I Ihen searched InIo Ihe
Roman caIhoIIc rIncIIes, buI was noI In Ihe IeasI saIIsfIed.
AI IengIh I had recourse Io Ihe Jews, whIch avaIIed me noIh-
Ing, for Ihe fear of eIernIIy daIIy harassed my mInd, and I
knew noI where Io seek sheIIer from Ihe wraIh Io come.
However IhIs was my concIusIon, aI aII evenIs, Io read Ihe
four evangeIIsIs, and whaIever secI or arIy I found adherIng
IhereIo such I wouId joIn. Thus I wenI on heavIIy wIIhouI
any guIde Io dIrecI me Ihe way IhaI IeadeIh Io eIernaI IIfe. I
asked dIfferenI eoIe quesIIons abouI Ihe manner of goIng
Io heaven, and was IoId dIfferenI ways. Here I was much
sIaggered, and couId noI fInd any aI IhaI IIme more rIghI-
eous Ihan myseIf, or Indeed so much IncIIned Io devoIIon. I
IhoughI we shouId noI aII be saved (IhIs Is agreeabIe Io Ihe
hoIy scrIIures), nor wouId aII be damned. I found none
among Ihe cIrcIe of my acquaInIance IhaI keI whoIIy Ihe Ien
commandmenIs. So rIghIeous was I In my own eyes, IhaI I
was convInced I exceIIed many of Ihem In IhaI oInI, by
keeIng eIghI ouI of Ien; and fIndIng Ihose who In generaI
Iermed IhemseIves ChrIsIIans noI so honesI or so good In
IheIr moraIs as Ihe Turks, I reaIIy IhoughI Ihe Turks were In
a safer way of saIvaIIon Ihan my neIghbours: so IhaI beIween
hoes and fears I wenI on, and Ihe chIef comforIs I enjoyed
were In Ihe musIcaI rench horn, whIch I Ihen racIIsed, and
aIso dressIng of haIr. Such was my sIIuaIIon some monIhs,
exerIencIng Ihe dIshonesIy of many eoIe here. I deIerm-
Ined aI IasI Io seI ouI for Turkey, and Ihere Io end my days.
II was now earIy In Ihe srIng l774. I soughI for a masIer,
and found a caIaIn John Hughes, commander of a shI
caIIed AngIIcanIa, fIIIIng ouI In Ihe rIver Thames, and bound
!$(
Io Smyrna In Turkey. I shIed myseIf wIIh hIm as a sIew-
ard; aI Ihe same IIme I recommended Io hIm a very cIever
bIack man, John AnnIs, as a cook. ThIs man was on board
Ihe shI near Iwo monIhs doIng hIs duIy: he had formerIy
IIved many years wIIh Mr. WIIIIam KIrkaIrIck, a genIIeman
of Ihe IsIand of SI. KIIIs, from whom he arIed by consenI,
Ihough he afIerwards IrIed many schemes Io InveIgIe Ihe
oor man. He had aIIed Io many caIaIns who Iraded Io
SI. KIIIs Io Irean hIm; and when aII IheIr aIIemIs and
schemes of kIdnaIng roved aborIIve, Mr. KIrkaIrIck
came Io our shI aI !nIon SIaIrs on asIer Monday, ArII
Ihe fourIh, wIIh Iwo wherry boaIs and sIx men, havIng
Iearned IhaI Ihe man was on board; and IIed, and forcIbIy
Iook hIm away from Ihe shI, In Ihe resence of Ihe crew and
Ihe chIef maIe, who had deIaIned hIm afIer he had noIIce Io
come away. I beIIeve IhaI IhIs was a combIned Iece of busI-
ness: buI, aI any raIe, II cerIaInIy refIecIed greaI dIsgrace on
Ihe maIe and caIaIn aIso, who, aIIhough Ihey had desIred
Ihe oressed man Io sIay on board, yeI he dId noI In Ihe
IeasI assIsI Io recover hIm, or ay me a farIhIng of hIs wages,
whIch was abouI fIve ounds. I roved Ihe onIy frIend he
had, who aIIemIed Io regaIn hIm hIs IIberIy If ossIbIe, hav-
Ing known Ihe wanI of IIberIy myseIf. I senI as soon as I
couId Io Oravesend, and goI knowIedge of Ihe shI In whIch
he was; buI unIuckIIy she had saIIed Ihe fIrsI IIde afIer he
was uI on board. My InIenIIon was Ihen ImmedIaIeIy Io a-
rehend Mr. KIrkaIrIck, who was abouI seIIIng off for ScoI-
Iand; and, havIng obIaIned a habeas corus for hIm, and goI
a IIsIaff Io go wIIh me Io SI. PauI's church-yard, where he
IIved, he, susecIIng someIhIng of IhIs kInd, seI a waIch Io
Iook ouI. My beIng known Io Ihem occasIoned me Io use Ihe
foIIowIng deceIIon: I whIIened my face, IhaI Ihey mIghI noI
know me, and IhIs had IIs desIred effecI. He dId noI go ouI of
hIs house IhaI nIghI, and nexI mornIng I conIrIved a weII
IoIIed sIraIagem noIwIIhsIandIng he had a genIIeman In
hIs house Io ersonaIe hIm. My dIrecIIon Io Ihe IIsIaff, who
goI admIIIance InIo Ihe house, was Io conducI hIm Io a judge,
accordIng Io Ihe wrII. When he came Ihere, hIs Iea was,
IhaI he had noI Ihe body In cusIody, on whIch he was
!$)
admIIIed Io baII. I roceeded ImmedIaIeIy Io IhaI hIIan-
IhroIsI, OranvIIIe Shar, sq. who receIved me wIIh Ihe uI-
mosI kIndness, and gave me every InsIrucIIon IhaI was need-
fuI on Ihe occasIon. I IefI hIm In fuII hoe IhaI I shouId gaIn
Ihe unhay man hIs IIberIy, wIIh Ihe warmesI sense of
graIIIude Iowards Mr. Shar for hIs kIndness; buI, aIas! my
aIIorney roved unfaIIhfuI; he Iook my money, IosI me many
monIhs emIoy, and dId noI do Ihe IeasI good In Ihe cause:
and when Ihe oor man arrIved aI SI. KIIIs, he was, accord-
Ing Io cusIom, sIaked Io Ihe ground wIIh four Ins Ihrough a
cord, Iwo on hIs wrIsIs, and Iwo on hIs ancIes, was cuI and
fIogged mosI unmercIfuIIy, and afIerwards Ioaded crueIIy
wIIh Irons abouI hIs neck. I had Iwo very movIng IeIIers from
hIm, whIIe he was In IhIs sIIuaIIon; and aIso was IoId of II by
some very resecIabIe famIIIes now In Iondon, who saw hIm
In SI. KIIIs, In Ihe same sIaIe In whIch he remaIned IIII kInd
deaIh reIeased hIm ouI of Ihe hands of hIs IyranIs. urIng
IhIs dIsagreeabIe busIness I was under sIrong convIcIIons of
sIn, and IhoughI IhaI my sIaIe was worse Ihan any man's;
my mInd was unaccounIabIy dIsIurbed; I ofIen wIshed for
deaIh, Ihough aI Ihe same IIme convInced I was aIIogeIher
unreared for IhaI awfuI summons. SufferIng much by vII-
IaIns In Ihe IaIe cause, and beIng much concerned abouI Ihe
sIaIe of my souI, Ihese IhIngs (buI arIIcuIarIy Ihe IaIIer)
broughI me very Iow; so IhaI I became a burden Io myseIf,
and vIewed aII IhIngs around me as emIIness and vanIIy,
whIch couId gIve no saIIsfacIIon Io a IroubIed conscIence. I
was agaIn deIermIned Io go Io Turkey, and resoIved, aI IhaI
IIme, never more Io reIurn Io ngIand. I engaged as sIeward
on board a Turkeyman (Ihe WesIer HaII, CaI. IInna); buI
was revenIed by means of my IaIe caIaIn, Mr. Hughes, and
oIhers. AII IhIs aeared Io be agaInsI me, and Ihe onIy com-
forI I Ihen exerIenced was, In readIng Ihe hoIy scrIIures,
where I saw IhaI 'Ihere Is no new IhIng under Ihe sun,' c-
cIes. I. 9; and whaI was aoInIed for me I musI submII Io.
Thus I conIInued Io IraveI In much heavIness, and frequenIIy
murmured agaInsI Ihe AImIghIy, arIIcuIarIy In hIs rovId-
enIIaI deaIIngs; and, awfuI Io IhInk! I began Io bIasheme,
and wIshed ofIen Io be any IhIng buI a human beIng. In
!%*
Ihese severe confIIcIs Ihe Iord answered me by awfuI 'vIsIons
of Ihe nIghI, when dee sIee faIIeIh uon men, In sIumber-
Ings uon Ihe bed,' Job xxxIII. l5. He was Ieased, In much
mercy, Io gIve me Io see, and In some measure Io under-
sIand, Ihe greaI and awfuI scene of Ihe judgmenI-day, IhaI
'no uncIean erson, no unhoIy IhIng, can enIer InIo Ihe kIng-
dom of Ood,' h. v. 5. I wouId Ihen, If II had been ossIbIe,
have changed my naIure wIIh Ihe meanesI worm on Ihe
earIh; and was ready Io say Io Ihe mounIaIns and rocks 'faII
on me,' Rev. vI. l6; buI aII In vaIn. I Ihen requesIed Ihe dI-
vIne CreaIor IhaI he wouId granI me a smaII sace of IIme Io
reenI of my foIIIes and vIIe InIquIIIes, whIch I feII were
grIevous. The Iord, In hIs manIfoId mercIes, was Ieased Io
granI my requesI, and beIng yeI In a sIaIe of IIme, Ihe sense
of Ood's mercIes was so greaI on my mInd when I awoke,
IhaI my sIrengIh enIIreIy faIIed me for many mInuIes, and I
was exceedIngIy weak. ThIs was Ihe fIrsI sIrIIuaI mercy I
ever was sensIbIe of, and beIng on rayIng ground, as soon as
I recovered a IIIIIe sIrengIh, and goI ouI of bed and dressed
myseIf, I Invoked Heaven from my InmosI souI, and fervenIIy
begged IhaI Ood wouId never agaIn ermII me Io bIasheme
hIs mosI hoIy name. The Iord, who Is Iong-sufferIng, and fuII
of comassIon Io such oor rebeIs as we are, condescended Io
hear and answer. I feII IhaI I was aIIogeIher unhoIy, and
saw cIearIy whaI a bad use I had made of Ihe facuIIIes I was
endowed wIIh; Ihey were gIven me Io gIorIfy Ood wIIh; I
IhoughI, Iherefore, I had beIIer wanI Ihem here, and enIer
InIo IIfe eIernaI, Ihan abuse Ihem and be casI InIo heII fIre. I
rayed Io be dIrecIed, If Ihere were any hoIIer Ihan Ihose
wIIh whom I was acquaInIed, IhaI Ihe Iord wouId oInI
Ihem ouI Io me. I aeaIed Io Ihe Searcher of hearIs, wheIh-
er I dId noI wIsh Io Iove hIm more, and serve hIm beIIer.
NoIwIIhsIandIng aII IhIs, Ihe reader may easIIy dIscern, If he
Is a beIIever, IhaI I was sIIII In naIure's darkness. AI IengIh I
haIed Ihe house In whIch I Iodged, because Ood's mosI hoIy
name was bIashemed In II; Ihen I saw Ihe word of Ood verI-
fIed, vIz. 'Before Ihey caII, I wIII answer; and whIIe Ihey are
yeI seakIng, I wIII hear.'
!%!
I had a greaI desIre Io read Ihe bIbIe Ihe whoIe day aI
home; buI noI havIng a convenIenI Iace for reIIremenI, I IefI
Ihe house In Ihe day, raIher Ihan sIay amongsI Ihe wIcked
ones; and IhaI day as I was waIkIng, II Ieased Ood Io dIrecI
me Io a house where Ihere was an oId sea-farIng man, who
exerIenced much of Ihe Iove of Ood shed abroad In hIs
hearI. He began Io dIscourse wIIh me; and, as I desIred Io
Iove Ihe Iord, hIs conversaIIon rejoIced me greaIIy; and In-
deed I had never heard before Ihe Iove of ChrIsI Io beIIevers
seI forIh In such a manner, and In so cIear a oInI of vIew.
Here I had more quesIIons Io uI Io Ihe man Ihan hIs IIme
wouId ermII hIm Io answer; and In IhaI memorabIe hour
Ihere came In a dIssenIIng mInIsIer; he joIned our dIscourse,
and asked me some few quesIIons; among oIhers, where I
heard Ihe goseI reached. I knew noI whaI he meanI by
hearIng Ihe goseI; I IoId hIm I had read Ihe goseI: and he
asked where I wenI Io church, or wheIher I wenI aI aII or
noI. To whIch I reIIed, 'I aIIended SI. James's, SI. MarIIn's,
and SI. Ann's, Soho;''So,' saId he, 'you are a churchman.' I
answered, I was. He Ihen InvIIed me Io a Iove-feasI aI hIs
chaeI IhaI evenIng. I acceIed Ihe offer, and Ihanked hIm;
and soon afIer he wenI away, I had some furIher dIscourse
wIIh Ihe oId ChrIsIIan, added Io some rofIIabIe readIng,
whIch made me exceedIngIy hay. When I IefI hIm he re-
mInded me of comIng Io Ihe feasI; I assured hIm I wouId be
Ihere. Thus we arIed, and I weIghed over Ihe heavenIy con-
versaIIon IhaI had assed beIween Ihese Iwo men, whIch
cheered my Ihen heavy and drooIng sIrII more Ihan any
IhIng I had meI wIIh for many monIhs. However, I IhoughI
Ihe IIme Iong In goIng Io my suosed banqueI. I aIso wIshed
much for Ihe comany of Ihese frIendIy men; IheIr comany
Ieased me much; and I IhoughI Ihe genIIemen very kInd, In
askIng me, a sIranger, Io a feasI; buI how sInguIar dId II a-
ear Io me, Io have II In a chaeI! When Ihe wIshed-for hour
came I wenI, and haIIy Ihe oId man was Ihere, who kIndIy
seaIed me, as he beIonged Io Ihe Iace. I was much asIon-
Ished Io see Ihe Iace fIIIed wIIh eoIe, and no sIgns of eaI-
Ing and drInkIng. There were many mInIsIers In Ihe com-
any. AI IasI Ihey began by gIvIng ouI hymns, and beIween
!%"
Ihe sIngIng Ihe mInIsIer engaged In rayer; In shorI, I knew
noI whaI Io make of IhIs sIghI, havIng never seen any IhIng
of Ihe kInd In my IIfe before now. Some of Ihe guesIs began Io
seak IheIr exerIence, agreeabIe Io whaI I read In Ihe ScrI-
Iures; much was saId by every seaker of Ihe rovIdence of
Ood, and hIs unseakabIe mercIes, Io each of Ihem. ThIs I
knew In a greaI measure, and couId mosI hearIIIy joIn Ihem.
BuI when Ihey soke of a fuIure sIaIe, Ihey seemed Io be aI-
IogeIher cerIaIn of IheIr caIIIng and eIecIIon of Ood; and IhaI
no one couId ever searaIe Ihem from Ihe Iove of ChrIsI, or
Iuck Ihem ouI of hIs hands. ThIs fIIIed me wIIh uIIer con-
sIernaIIon, InIermIngIed wIIh admIraIIon. I was so amazed
as noI Io know whaI Io IhInk of Ihe comany; my hearI was
aIIracIed and my affecIIons were enIarged. I wIshed Io be as
hay as Ihem, and was ersuaded In my mInd IhaI Ihey
were dIfferenI from Ihe worId 'IhaI IIeIh In wIckedness,' l
John v. l9. TheIr Ianguage and sIngIng, &c. dId weII harmon-
Ize; I was enIIreIy overcome, and wIshed Io IIve and dIe Ihus.
IasIIy, some ersons In Ihe Iace roduced some neaI bas-
keIs fuII of buns, whIch Ihey dIsIrIbuIed abouI; and each er-
son communIcaIed wIIh hIs neIghbour, and sIed waIer ouI
of dIfferenI mugs, whIch Ihey handed abouI Io aII who were
resenI. ThIs kInd of ChrIsIIan feIIowshI I had never seen,
nor ever IhoughI of seeIng on earIh; II fuIIy remInded me of
whaI I had read In Ihe hoIy scrIIures, of Ihe rImIIIve
ChrIsIIans, who Ioved each oIher and broke bread. In arIak-
Ing of II, even from house Io house, IhIs enIerIaInmenI
(whIch IasIed abouI four hours) ended In sIngIng and rayer.
II was Ihe fIrsI souI feasI I ever was resenI aI. ThIs IasI
IwenIy-four hours roduced me IhIngs, sIrIIuaI and Iemor-
aI, sIeeIng and wakIng, judgmenI and mercy, IhaI I couId
noI buI admIre Ihe goodness of Ood, In dIrecIIng Ihe bIInd,
bIashemous sInner In Ihe aIh IhaI he knew noI of, even
among Ihe jusI; and InsIead of judgmenI he has shewed
mercy, and wIII hear and answer Ihe rayers and suIIca-
IIons of every reIurnIng rodIgaI:
O! Io grace how greaI a debIor aIIy I'm consIraIn'd Io be!
AfIer IhIs I was resoIved Io wIn Heaven If ossIbIe; and If I
erIshed I IhoughI II shouId be aI Ihe feeI of Jesus, In
!%#
rayIng Io hIm for saIvaIIon. AfIer havIng been an eye-wII-
ness Io some of Ihe haIness whIch aIIended Ihose who
feared Ood, I knew noI how, wIIh any rorIeIy, Io reIurn Io
my IodgIngs, where Ihe name of Ood was conIInuaIIy ro-
faned, aI whIch I feII Ihe greaIesI horror. I aused In my
mInd for some IIme, noI knowIng whaI Io do; wheIher Io hIre
a bed eIsewhere, or go home agaIn. AI IasI, fearIng an evII re-
orI mIghI arIse, I wenI home, wIIh a fareweII Io card-Iay-
Ing and vaIn jesIIng, &c. I saw IhaI IIme was very shorI,
eIernIIy Iong, and very near, and I vIewed Ihose ersons
aIone bIessed who were found ready aI mIdnIghI caII, or
when Ihe Judge of aII, boIh quIck and dead, comeIh.
The nexI day I Iook courage, and wenI Io HoIborn, Io see
my new and worIhy acquaInIance, Ihe oId man, Mr. C;
he, wIIh hIs wIfe, a gracIous woman, were aI work aI sIIk
weavIng; Ihey seemed muIuaIIy hay, and boIh quIIe gIad
Io see me, and I more so Io see Ihem. I saI down, and we con-
versed much abouI souI maIIers, &c. TheIr dIscourse was
amazIngIy deIIghIfuI, edIfyIng, and IeasanI. I knew noI aI
IasI how Io Ieave IhIs agreeabIe aIr, IIII IIme summoned me
away. As I was goIng Ihey IenI me a IIIIIe book, enIIIIed "The
ConversIon of an IndIan." II was In quesIIons and answers.
The oor man came over Ihe sea Io Iondon, Io InquIre afIer
Ihe ChrIsIIan's Ood, who, (Ihrough rIch mercy) he found, and
had noI hIs journey In vaIn. The above book was of greaI use
Io me, and aI IhaI IIme was a means of sIrengIhenIng my
faIIh; however, In arIIng, Ihey boIh InvIIed me Io caII on
Ihem when I Ieased. ThIs deIIghIed me, and I Iook care Io
make aII Ihe ImrovemenI from II I couId; and so far I
Ihanked Ood for such comany and desIres. I rayed IhaI Ihe
many evIIs I feII wIIhIn mIghI be done away, and IhaI I
mIghI be weaned from my former carnaI acquaInIances. ThIs
was quIckIy heard and answered, and I was soon connecIed
wIIh Ihose whom Ihe scrIIure caIIs Ihe exceIIenI of Ihe
earIh. I heard Ihe goseI reached, and Ihe IhoughIs of my
hearI and acIIons were IaId oen by Ihe reachers, and Ihe
way of saIvaIIon by ChrIsI aIone was evIdenIIy seI forIh.
Thus I wenI on haIIy for near Iwo monIhs; and I once
heard, durIng IhIs erIod, a reverend genIIeman seak of a
!%$
man who had dearIed IhIs IIfe In fuII assurance of hIs goIng
Io gIory. I was much asIonIshed aI Ihe asserIIon; and dId
very deIIberaIeIy InquIre how he couId geI aI IhIs knowIedge.
I was answered fuIIy, agreeabIe Io whaI I read In Ihe oracIes
of IruIh; and was IoId aIso, IhaI If I dId noI exerIence Ihe
new bIrIh, and Ihe ardon of my sIns, Ihrough Ihe bIood of
ChrIsI, before I dIed, I couId noI enIer Ihe kIngdom of heav-
en. I knew noI whaI Io IhInk of IhIs reorI, as I IhoughI I
keI eIghI commandmenIs ouI of Ien; Ihen my worIhy InIer-
reIer IoId me I dId noI do II, nor couId I; and he added, IhaI
no man ever dId or couId kee Ihe commandmenIs, wIIhouI
offendIng In one oInI. I IhoughI IhIs sounded very sIrange,
and uzzIed me much for many weeks; for I IhoughI II a hard
sayIng. I Ihen asked my frIend, Mr. Id, who was a cIerk
In a chaeI, why Ihe commandmenIs of Ood were gIven, If we
couId noI be saved by Ihem7 To whIch he reIIed, 'The Iaw Is
a schooImasIer Io brIng us Io ChrIsI,' who aIone couId and
dId kee Ihe commandmenIs, and fuIfIIIed aII IheIr requIre-
menIs for hIs eIecI eoIe, even Ihose Io whom he had gIven
a IIvIng faIIh, and Ihe sIns of Ihose chosen vesseIs were
aIready aIoned for and forgIven Ihem whIIsI IIvIng; and If I
dId noI exerIence Ihe same before my exII, Ihe Iord wouId
say aI IhaI greaI day Io me 'Oo ye cursed,' &c. &c. for Ood
wouId aear faIIhfuI In hIs judgmenIs Io Ihe wIcked, as he
wouId be faIIhfuI In shewIng mercy Io Ihose who were or-
daIned Io II before Ihe worId was; Iherefore ChrIsI Jesus
seemed Io be aII In aII Io IhaI man's souI. I was much
wounded aI IhIs dIscourse, and broughI InIo such a dIIemma
as I never execIed. I asked hIm, If he was Io dIe IhaI mo-
menI, wheIher he was sure Io enIer Ihe kIngdom of Ood7 and
added, 'o you know IhaI your sIns are forgIven you7' He
answered In Ihe affIrmaIIve. Then confusIon, anger, and dIs-
conIenI seIzed me, and I sIaggered much aI IhIs sorI of doc-
IrIne; II broughI me Io a sIand, noI knowIng whIch Io beIIeve,
wheIher saIvaIIon by works or by faIIh onIy In ChrIsI. I re-
quesIed hIm Io IeII me how I mIghI know when my sIns were
forgIven me. He assured me he couId noI, and IhaI none buI
Ood aIone couId do IhIs. I IoId hIm II was very mysIerIous;
buI he saId II was reaIIy maIIer of facI, and quoIed many
!%%
orIIons of scrIIure ImmedIaIeIy Io Ihe oInI, Io whIch I
couId make no reIy. He Ihen desIred me Io ray Io Ood Io
shew me Ihese IhIngs. I answered, IhaI I rayed Io Ood
every day. He saId, 'I erceIve you are a churchman.' I
answered I was. He Ihen enIreaIed me Io beg of Ood Io shew
me whaI I was, and Ihe Irue sIaIe of my souI. I IhoughI Ihe
rayer very shorI and odd; so we arIed for IhaI IIme. I
weIghed aII Ihese IhIngs weII over, and couId noI heI IhInk-
Ing how II was ossIbIe for a man Io know IhaI hIs sIns were
forgIven hIm In IhIs IIfe. I wIshed IhaI Ood wouId reveaI IhIs
seIf same IhIng unIo me. In a shorI IIme afIer IhIs I wenI Io
WesImInsIer chaeI; Ihe Rev. Mr. P reached, from
Iam. III. 39. II was a wonderfuI sermon; he cIearIy shewed
IhaI a IIvIng man had no cause Io comIaIn for Ihe unIsh-
menI of hIs sIns; he evIdenIIy jusIIfIed Ihe Iord In aII hIs
deaIIngs wIIh Ihe sons of men; he aIso shewed Ihe jusIIce of
Ood In Ihe eIernaI unIshmenI of Ihe wIcked and ImenIIenI.
The dIscourse seemed Io me IIke a Iwo-edged sword cuIIIng
aII ways; II afforded me much joy, InIermIngIed wIIh many
fears, abouI my souI; and when II was ended, he gave II ouI
IhaI he InIended, Ihe ensuIng week, Io examIne aII Ihose who
meanI Io aIIend Ihe Iord's IabIe. Now I IhoughI much of my
good works, and aI Ihe same IIme was doubIfuI of my beIng a
roer objecI Io receIve Ihe sacramenI; I was fuII of medIIa-
IIon IIII Ihe day of examInIng. However, I wenI Io Ihe chaeI,
and, Ihough much dIsIressed, I addressed Ihe reverend gen-
IIeman, IhInkIng, If I was noI rIghI, he wouId endeavour Io
convInce me of II. When I conversed wIIh hIm, Ihe fIrsI IhIng
he asked me was, whaI I knew of ChrIsI7 I IoId hIm I be-
IIeved In hIm, and had been baIIzed In hIs name. 'Then,'
saId he, 'when were you broughI Io Ihe knowIedge of Ood7
and how were you convInced of sIn7' I knew noI whaI he
meanI by Ihese quesIIons; I IoId hIm I keI eIghI command-
menIs ouI of Ien; buI IhaI I someIImes swore on board shI,
and someIImes when on shore, and broke Ihe sabbaIh. He
Ihen asked me If I couId read7 I answered, 'Yes.''Then,'
saId he,'do you noI read In Ihe bIbIe, he IhaI offends In one
oInI Is guIIIy of aII7' I saId, 'Yes.' Then he assured me, IhaI
one sIn unaIoned for was as suffIcIenI Io damn a souI as one
!%&
Ieak was Io sInk a shI. Here I was sIruck wIIh awe; for Ihe
mInIsIer exhorIed me much, and remInded me of Ihe shorI-
ness of IIme, and Ihe IengIh of eIernIIy, and IhaI no unregen-
eraIe souI, or any IhIng uncIean, couId enIer Ihe kIngdom of
Heaven. He dId noI admII me as a communIcanI; buI recom-
mended me Io read Ihe scrIIures, and hear Ihe word
reached, noI Io negIecI fervenI rayer Io Ood, who has
romIsed Io hear Ihe suIIcaIIons of Ihose who seek hIm In
godIy sIncerIIy; so I Iook my Ieave of hIm, wIIh many Ihanks,
and resoIved Io foIIow hIs advIce, so far as Ihe Iord wouId
condescend Io enabIe me. urIng IhIs IIme I was ouI of em-
Ioy, nor was I IIkeIy Io geI a sIIuaIIon suIIabIe for me, whIch
obIIged me Io go once more Io sea. I engaged as sIeward of a
shI caIIed Ihe Hoe, CaI. RIchard SIrange, bound from
Iondon Io CadIz In SaIn. In a shorI IIme afIer I was on
board I heard Ihe name of Ood much bIashemed, and I
feared greaIIy, IesI I shouId caIch Ihe horrIbIe InfecIIon. I
IhoughI If I sInned agaIn, afIer havIng IIfe and deaIh seI
evIdenIIy before me, I shouId cerIaInIy go Io heII. My mInd
was uncommonIy chagrIned, and I murmured much aI Ood's
rovIdenIIaI deaIIngs wIIh me, and was dIsconIenIed wIIh
Ihe commandmenIs, IhaI I couId noI be saved by whaI I had
done; I haIed aII IhIngs, and wIshed I had never been born;
confusIon seIzed me, and I wIshed Io be annIhIIaIed. One day
I was sIandIng on Ihe very edge of Ihe sIern of Ihe shI,
IhInkIng Io drown myseIf; buI IhIs scrIIure was InsIanIIy
Imressed on my mInd'IhaI no murderer haIh eIernaI IIfe
abIdIng In hIm,' l John III. l5. Then I aused, and IhoughI
myseIf Ihe unhaIesI man IIvIng. AgaIn I was convInced
IhaI Ihe Iord was beIIer Io me Ihan I deserved, and I was
beIIer off In Ihe worId Ihan many. AfIer IhIs I began Io fear
deaIh; I freIIed, mourned, and rayed, IIII I became a burden
Io oIhers, buI more so Io myseIf. AI IengIh I concIuded Io beg
my bread on shore raIher Ihan go agaIn Io sea amongsI a
eoIe who feared noI Ood, and I enIreaIed Ihe caIaIn Ihree
dIfferenI IImes Io dIscharge me; he wouId noI, buI each IIme
gave me greaIer and greaIer encouragemenI Io conIInue wIIh
hIm, and aII on board shewed me very greaI cIvIIIIy: noIwIIh-
sIandIng aII IhIs I was unwIIIIng Io embark agaIn. AI IasI
!%'
some of my reIIgIous frIends advIsed me, by sayIng II was my
IawfuI caIIIng, consequenIIy II was my duIy Io obey, and IhaI
Ood was noI confIned Io Iace, &c. &c. arIIcuIarIy Mr. O.S.
Ihe governor of ToIhII-fIeIds BrIdeweII, who IIIed my case,
and read Ihe eIevenIh chaIer of Ihe Hebrews Io me, wIIh ex-
horIaIIons. He rayed for me, and I beIIeved IhaI he re-
vaIIed on my behaIf, as my burden was Ihen greaIIy re-
moved, and I found a hearIfeII resIgnaIIon Io Ihe wIII of Ood.
The good man gave me a ockeI BIbIe and AIIen's AIarm Io
Ihe unconverIed. We arIed, and Ihe nexI day I wenI on
board agaIn. We saIIed for SaIn, and I found favour wIIh Ihe
caIaIn. II was Ihe fourIh of Ihe monIh of SeIember when
we saIIed from Iondon; we had a deIIghIfuI voyage Io CadIz,
where we arrIved Ihe IwenIy-IhIrd of Ihe same monIh. The
Iace Is sIrong, commands a fIne rosecI, and Is very rIch.
The SanIsh gaIIoons frequenI IhaI orI, and some arrIved
whIIsI we were Ihere. I had many oorIunIIIes of readIng
Ihe scrIIures. I wresIIed hard wIIh Ood In fervenI rayer,
who had decIared In hIs word IhaI he wouId hear Ihe groan-
Ings and dee sIghs of Ihe oor In sIrII. I found IhIs verIfIed
Io my uIIer asIonIshmenI and comforI In Ihe foIIowIng
manner:
On Ihe mornIng of Ihe 6Ih of OcIober, (I ray you Io aI-
Iend) or aII IhaI day, I IhoughI IhaI I shouId eIIher see or
hear someIhIng suernaIuraI. I had a secreI ImuIse on my
mInd of someIhIng IhaI was Io Iake Iace, whIch drove me
conIInuaIIy for IhaI IIme Io a Ihrone of grace. II Ieased Ood
Io enabIe me Io wresIIe wIIh hIm, as Jacob dId: I rayed IhaI
If sudden deaIh were Io haen, and I erIshed, II mIghI be
aI ChrIsI's feeI.
In Ihe evenIng of Ihe same day, as I was readIng and med-
IIaIIng on Ihe fourIh chaIer of Ihe AcIs, IweIfIh verse, under
Ihe soIemn arehensIons of eIernIIy, and refIecIIng on my
asI acIIons, I began Io IhInk I had IIved a moraI IIfe, and
IhaI I had a roer ground Io beIIeve I had an InIeresI In Ihe
dIvIne favour; buI sIIII medIIaIIng on Ihe subjecI, noI know-
Ing wheIher saIvaIIon was Io be had arIIy for our own good
deeds, or soIeIy as Ihe sovereIgn gIfI of Ood; In IhIs dee con-
sIernaIIon Ihe Iord was Ieased Io break In uon my souI
!%(
wIIh hIs brIghI beams of heavenIy IIghI; and In an InsIanI as
II were, removIng Ihe veII, and IeIIIng IIghI InIo a dark Iace,
I saw cIearIy wIIh Ihe eye of faIIh Ihe crucIfIed SavIour
bIeedIng on Ihe cross on mounI CaIvary: Ihe scrIIures be-
came an unseaIed book, I saw myseIf a condemned crImInaI
under Ihe Iaw, whIch came wIIh IIs fuII force Io my con-
scIence, and when 'Ihe commandmenI came sIn revIved, and
I dIed,' I saw Ihe Iord Jesus ChrIsI In hIs humIIIaIIon,
Ioaded and bearIng my reroach, sIn, and shame. I Ihen
cIearIy erceIved IhaI by Ihe deeds of Ihe Iaw no fIesh IIvIng
couId be jusIIfIed. I was Ihen convInced IhaI by Ihe fIrsI
Adam sIn came, and by Ihe second Adam (Ihe Iord Jesus
ChrIsI) aII IhaI are saved musI be made aIIve. II was gIven
me aI IhaI IIme Io know whaI II was Io be born agaIn, John
III. 5. I saw Ihe eIghIh chaIer Io Ihe Romans, and Ihe doc-
IrInes of Ood's decrees, verIfIed agreeabIe Io hIs eIernaI,
everIasIIng, and unchangeabIe uroses. The word of Ood
was sweeI Io my IasIe, yea sweeIer Ihan honey and Ihe hon-
eycomb. ChrIsI was reveaIed Io my souI as Ihe chIefesI
among Ien Ihousand. These heavenIy momenIs were reaIIy
as IIfe Io Ihe dead, and whaI John caIIs an earnesI of Ihe
SIrII
2l
. ThIs was Indeed unseakabIe, and I fIrmIy beIIeve
undenIabIe by many. Now every IeadIng rovIdenIIaI cIrcum-
sIance IhaI haened Io me, from Ihe day I was Iaken from
my arenIs Io IhaI hour, was Ihen In my vIew, as If II had
buI jusI Ihen occurred. I was sensIbIe of Ihe InvIsIbIe hand of
Ood, whIch guIded and roIecIed me when In IruIh I knew II
noI: sIIII Ihe Iord ursued me aIIhough I sIIghIed and dIs-
regarded II; IhIs mercy meIIed me down. When I consIdered
my oor wreIched sIaIe I weI, seeIng whaI a greaI debIor I
was Io sovereIgn free grace. Now Ihe IhIoIan was wIIIIng
Io be saved by Jesus ChrIsI, Ihe sInner's onIy sureIy, and
aIso Io reIy on none oIher erson or IhIng for saIvaIIon. SeIf
was obnoxIous, and good works he had none, for II Is Ood
IhaI workeIh In us boIh Io wIII and Io do. The amazIng
IhIngs of IhaI hour can never be IoIdII was joy In Ihe HoIy
OhosI! I feII an asIonIshIng change; Ihe burden of sIn, Ihe
2l.John xvI. l3, l4. &c.
!%)
gaIng jaws of heII, and Ihe fears of deaIh, IhaI weIghed me
down before, now IosI IheIr horror; Indeed I IhoughI deaIh
wouId now be Ihe besI earIhIy frIend I ever had. Such were
my grIef and joy as I beIIeve are seIdom exerIenced. I was
baIhed In Iears, and saId, WhaI am I IhaI Ood shouId Ihus
Iook on me Ihe vIIesI of sInners7 I feII a dee concern for my
moIher and frIends, whIch occasIoned me Io ray wIIh fresh
ardour; and, In Ihe abyss of IhoughI, I vIewed Ihe unconver-
Ied eoIe of Ihe worId In a very awfuI sIaIe, beIng wIIhouI
Ood and wIIhouI hoe. II Ieased Ood Io our ouI on me Ihe
SIrII of rayer and Ihe grace of suIIcaIIon, so IhaI In Ioud
accIamaIIons I was enabIed Io raIse and gIorIfy hIs mosI
hoIy name. When I goI ouI of Ihe cabIn, and IoId some of Ihe
eoIe whaI Ihe Iord had done for me, aIas, who couId un-
dersIand me or beIIeve my reorI!None buI Io whom Ihe
arm of Ihe Iord was reveaIed. I became a barbarIan Io Ihem
In IaIkIng of Ihe Iove of ChrIsI: hIs name was Io me as oInI-
menI oured forIh; Indeed II was sweeI Io my souI, buI Io
Ihem a rock of offence. I IhoughI my case sInguIar, and every
hour a day unIII I came Io Iondon, for I much Ionged Io be
wIIh some Io whom I couId IeII of Ihe wonders of Ood's Iove
Iowards me, and joIn In rayer Io hIm whom my souI Ioved
and IhIrsIed afIer. I had uncommon commoIIons wIIhIn, such
as few can IeII aughI abouI. Now Ihe bIbIe was my onIy com-
anIon and comforI; I rIzed II much, wIIh many Ihanks Io
Ood IhaI I couId read II for myseIf, and was noI IefI Io be
Iossed abouI or Ied by man's devIces and noIIons. The worIh
of a souI cannoI be IoId.May Ihe Iord gIve Ihe reader an
undersIandIng In IhIs. Whenever I Iooked In Ihe bIbIe I saw
IhIngs new, and many IexIs were ImmedIaIeIy aIIed Io me
wIIh greaI comforI, for I knew IhaI Io me was Ihe word of
saIvaIIon senI. Sure I was IhaI Ihe SIrII whIch IndIIed Ihe
word oened my hearI Io receIve Ihe IruIh of II as II Is In Je-
susIhaI Ihe same SIrII enabIed me Io acI faIIh uon Ihe
romIses IhaI were so recIous Io me, and enabIed me Io be-
IIeve Io Ihe saIvaIIon of my souI. By free grace I was er-
suaded IhaI I had a arI In Ihe fIrsI resurrecIIon, and was
'enIIghIened wIIh Ihe IIghI of Ihe IIvIng,' Job xxxIII. 30. I
wIshed for a man of Ood wIIh whom I mIghI converse: my
!&*
souI was IIke Ihe charIoIs of AmInIdab, CanIIcIes vI. l2.
These, among oIhers, were Ihe recIous romIses IhaI were
so owerfuIIy aIIed Io me: 'AII IhIngs whaIsoever ye shaII
ask In rayer, beIIevIng, ye shaII receIve,' MaI. xxI. 22. 'Peace
I Ieave wIIh you, my eace I gIve unIo you,' John xIv. 27. I
saw Ihe bIessed Redeemer Io be Ihe founIaIn of IIfe, and Ihe
weII of saIvaIIon. I exerIenced hIm aII In aII; he had broughI
me by a way IhaI I knew noI, and he had made crooked
aIhs sIraIghI. Then In hIs name I seI u my benezer, say-
Ing, HIIherIo he haIh heIed me: and couId say Io Ihe sInners
abouI me, BehoId whaI a SavIour I have! Thus I was, by Ihe
IeachIng of IhaI aII-gIorIous eIIy, Ihe greaI One In Three,
and Three In One, confIrmed In Ihe IruIhs of Ihe bIbIe, Ihose
oracIes of everIasIIng IruIh, on whIch every souI IIvIng musI
sIand or faII eIernaIIy, agreeabIe Io AcIs Iv. l2. 'NeIIher Is
Ihere saIvaIIon In any oIher, for Ihere Is none oIher name
under heaven gIven among men whereby we musI be saved,
buI onIy ChrIsI Jesus.' May Ood gIve Ihe reader a rIghI un-
dersIandIng In Ihese facIs! To hIm IhaI beIIeveIh aII IhIngs
are ossIbIe, buI Io Ihem IhaI are unbeIIevIng noIhIng Is
ure, TIIus I. l5. urIng IhIs erIod we remaIned aI CadIz
unIII our shI goI Iaden. We saIIed abouI Ihe fourIh of
November; and, havIng a good assage, we arrIved In Iondon
Ihe monIh foIIowIng, Io my comforI, wIIh hearIfeII graIIIude
Io Ood for hIs rIch and unseakabIe mercIes. On my reIurn I
had buI one IexI whIch uzzIed me, or IhaI Ihe devII endeav-
oured Io buffeI me wIIh, vIz. Rom. xI. 6. and, as I had heard
of Ihe Reverend Mr. RomaIne, and hIs greaI knowIedge In
Ihe scrIIures, I wIshed much Io hear hIm reach. One day I
wenI Io BIackfrIars church, and, Io my greaI saIIsfacIIon and
surrIse, he reached from IhaI very IexI. He very cIearIy
shewed Ihe dIfference beIween human works and free eIec-
IIon, whIch Is accordIng Io Ood's sovereIgn wIII and Ieasure.
These gIad IIdIngs seI me enIIreIy aI IIberIy, and I wenI ouI
of Ihe church rejoIcIng, seeIng my soIs were Ihose of Ood's
chIIdren. I wenI Io WesImInsIer ChaeI, and saw some of my
oId frIends, who were gIad when Ihey erceIved Ihe wonder-
fuI change IhaI Ihe Iord had wroughI In me, arIIcuIarIy Mr.
O S, my worIhy acquaInIance, who was a man of a
!&!
choIce sIrII, and had greaI zeaI for Ihe Iord's servIce. I en-
joyed hIs corresondence IIII he dIed In Ihe year l784. I was
agaIn examIned aI IhaI same chaeI, and was receIved InIo
church feIIowshI amongsI Ihem: I rejoIced In sIrII, makIng
meIody In my hearI Io Ihe Ood of aII my mercIes. Now my
whoIe wIsh was Io be dIssoIved, and Io be wIIh ChrIsIbuI,
aIas! I musI waII mIne aoInIed IIme.
O%C@611;,62TC :6UC6C8 /( U#03#<'*/&) /& '"#
C'-'# /0 FE F*&5 54(*&+ FE 0*()' @/&.*<'*/&)V /0 '"#
,#<#))*'E /0 >#3*#.*&+ '"# !(4'"8 -&5 #PI#(*#&<*&+ '"#
*&#)'*F->3# N#&#0*') /0 @"(*)'*-&*'EH {verse WeII may I
say my IIfe has been One scene of sorrow and of aIn; rom
earIy days I grIefs have known, And as I grew my grIefs have
grown: angers were aIways In my aIh; And fear of wraIh,
and someIImes deaIh; WhIIe aIe dejecIIon In me reIgn'd I of-
Ien weI, by grIef consIraIn'd. When Iaken from my naIIve
Iand, By an unjusI and crueI band, How dId uncommon
dread revaII! My sIghs no more I couId conceaI. 'To ease my
mInd I ofIen sIrove, And IrIed my IroubIe Io remove: I sung,
and uIIer'd sIghs beIween Assay'd Io sIIfIe guIII wIIh sIn.
'BuI O! noI aII IhaI I couId do WouId sIo Ihe currenI of my
woe; ConvIcIIon sIIII my vIIeness shew'd; How greaI my
guIIIhow IosI from Ood! 'PrevenIed, IhaI I couId noI dIe,
Nor mIghI Io one kInd refuge fIy; An orhan sIaIe I had Io
mourn, orsook by aII, and IefI forIorn.' Those who beheId
my downcasI mIen CouId noI guess aI my woes unseen: They
by aearance couId noI know The IroubIes IhaI I waded
Ihrough. 'IusI, anger, bIashemy, and rIde, WIIh IegIons of
such IIIs besIde, TroubIed my IhoughIs,' whIIe doubIs and
fears CIouded and darken'd mosI my years. 'SIghs now no
more wouId be confIn'd They breaIh'd Ihe IroubIe of my
mInd: I wIsh'd for deaIh, buI check'd Ihe word, And ofIen
ray'd unIo Ihe Iord.' !nhay, more Ihan some on earIh, I
IhoughI Ihe Iace IhaI gave me bIrIh SIrange IhoughIs
oress'dwhIIe I reIIed "Why noI In IhIoIa dIed7" And
why Ihus sared, nIgh Io heII7 Ood onIy knewI couId noI
IeII! 'A IoII'rIng fence, a bowIng waII IhoughI myseIf ere sInce
Ihe faII.' 'OfI IImes I mused, nIgh desaIr, WhIIe bIrds me-
IodIous fIII'd Ihe aIr: ThrIce hay songsIers, ever free, How
!&"
bIess'd were Ihey comar'd Io me!' Thus aII IhIngs added Io
my aIn, WhIIe grIef comeII'd me Io comIaIn; When sabIe
cIouds began Io rIse My mInd grew darker Ihan Ihe skIes.
The ngIIsh naIIon caII'd Io Ieave, How dId my breasI wIIh
sorrows heave! I Iong'd for resIcrIed "HeI me, Iord! Some
mIIIgaIIon, Iord, afford!" YeI on, dejecIed, sIIII I wenI
HearI-IhrobbIng woes wIIhIn were enI; Nor Iand, nor sea,
couId comforI gIve, NoIhIng my anxIous mInd reIIeve. Weary
wIIh IravaII, yeI unknown To aII buI Ood and seIf aIone,
Numerous monIhs for eace I sIrove, And numerous foes I
had Io rove. Inur'd Io dangers, grIefs, and woes, TraIn'd u
'mIdsI erIIs, deaIhs, and foes, I saId "MusI II Ihus ever be7
No quIeI Is ermIIIed me." Hard ha, and more Ihan heavy
IoI! I ray'd Io Ood "orgeI me noI WhaI Ihou ordaIn'sI
wIIIIng I'II bear; BuI O! deIIver from desaIr!" SIrIvIngs and
wresIIIngs seem'd In vaIn; NoIhIng I dId couId ease my aIn:
Then gave I u my works and wIII, Confess'd and own'd my
doom was heII! IIke some oor rIs'ner aI Ihe bar, ConscIous
of guIII, of sIn and fear, ArraIgn'd, and seIf-condemned, I
sIood 'IosI In Ihe worId, and In my bIood!' YeI here,'mIdsI
bIackesI cIouds confIn'd, A beam from ChrIsI, Ihe day-sIar,
shIn'd; SureIy, IhoughI I, If Jesus Iease, He can aI once sIgn
my reIease. I, IgnoranI of hIs rIghIeousness, SeI u my Ia-
bours In IIs Iace; 'orgoI for why hIs bIood was shed, And
ray'd and fasIed In IIs sIead.' He dy'd for sInnersI am one!
MIghI noI hIs bIood for me aIone7 Tho' I am noIhIng eIse buI
sIn, YeI sureIy he can make me cIean! Thus IIghI came In,
and I beIIev'd; MyseIf forgoI, and heI receIv'd! My SavIour
Ihen I know I found, or, eas'd from guIII, no more I groan'd.
O, hay hour, In whIch I ceas'd To mourn, for Ihen I found a
resI! My souI and ChrIsI were now as one Thy IIghI, O Je-
sus, In me shone! BIess'd be Ihy name, for now I know I and
my works can noIhIng do; "The Iord aIone can ransom
man or IhIs Ihe soIIess Iamb was sIaIn!" When sacrI-
fIces, works, and ray'r, Prov'd vaIn, and IneffecIuaI were,
"Io, Ihen I come!" Ihe SavIour cry'd, And, bIeedIng, bow'd hIs
head and dy'd! He dy'd for aII who ever saw No heI In Ihem,
nor by Ihe Iaw: I IhIs have seen; and gIadIy own "SaIvaIIon
Is by ChrIsI aIone
22
!" {verse
!&#
22.AcIs Iv. l2.
!&$
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(#'4(&*&+$'/$6&+3-&5
_The auIhor embarks on board a shI bound for CadIzIs
near beIng shIwreckedOoes Io MaIagaRemarkabIe fIne
caIhedraI IhereThe auIhor dIsuIes wIIh a oIsh
rIesIPIckIng u eIeven mIserabIe men aI sea In reIurnIng
Io ngIandngages agaIn wIIh ocIor IrvIng Io accomany
hIm Io JamaIca and Ihe MosquIIo ShoreMeeIs wIIh an In-
dIan rInce on boardThe auIhor aIIemIs Io InsIrucI hIm
In Ihe IruIhs of Ihe OoseIrusIraIed by Ihe bad examIe
of some In Ihe shIThey arrIve on Ihe MosquIIo Shore wIIh
some sIaves Ihey urchased aI JamaIca, and begIn Io cuIIIv-
aIe a IanIaIIonSome accounI of Ihe manners and cusIoms
of Ihe MosquIIo IndIansSuccessfuI devIce of Ihe auIhor's Io
queII a rIoI among IhemCurIous enIerIaInmenI gIven by
Ihem Io ocIor IrvIng and Ihe auIhor, who Ieaves Ihe shore
and goes for JamaIcaIs barbarousIy IreaIed by a man wIIh
whom he engaged for hIs assagescaes and goes Io Ihe
MosquIIo admIraI, who IreaIs hIm kIndIyHe geIs anoIher
vesseI and goes on boardInsIances of bad IreaI-
menIMeeIs ocIor IrvIngOeIs Io JamaIcaIs cheaIed by
hIs caIaInIeaves Ihe ocIor and goes for ngIand._
When our shI was goI ready for sea agaIn, I was en-
IreaIed by Ihe caIaIn Io go In her once more; buI, as I feII
myseIf now as hay as I couId wIsh Io be In IhIs IIfe, I for
some IIme refused; however, Ihe advIce of my frIends aI IasI
revaIIed; and, In fuII resIgnaIIon Io Ihe wIII of Ood, I agaIn
embarked for CadIz In March l775. We had a very good as-
sage, wIIhouI any maIerIaI accIdenI, unIII we arrIved off Ihe
Bay of CadIz; when one Sunday, jusI as we were goIng InIo
!&%
Ihe harbour, Ihe shI sIruck agaInsI a rock and knocked off a
garboard Iank, whIch Is Ihe nexI Io Ihe keeI. In an InsIanI
aII hands were In Ihe greaIesI confusIon, and began wIIh
Ioud crIes Io caII on Ood Io have mercy on Ihem. AIIhough I
couId noI swIm, and saw no way of escaIng deaIh, I feII no
dread In my Ihen sIIuaIIon, havIng no desIre Io IIve. I even
rejoIced In sIrII, IhInkIng IhIs deaIh wouId be sudden gIory.
BuI Ihe fuIness of IIme was noI yeI come. The eoIe near Io
me were much asIonIshed In seeIng me Ihus caIm and
resIgned; buI I IoId Ihem of Ihe eace of Ood, whIch Ihrough
sovereIgn grace I enjoyed, and Ihese words were IhaI InsIanI
In my mInd:
"ChrIsI Is my IIoI wIse, my comass Is hIs word; My souI
each sIorm defIes, whIIe I have such a Iord. I IrusI hIs faIIh-
fuIness and ower, To save me In Ihe IryIng hour. Though
rocks and quIcksands dee Ihrough aII my assage IIe, YeI
ChrIsI shaII safeIy kee and guIde me wIIh hIs eye. How can
I sInk wIIh such a ro, ThaI bears Ihe worId and aII IhIngs
u7"
AI IhIs IIme Ihere were many Iarge SanIsh fIukers or
assage-vesseIs fuII of eoIe crossIng Ihe channeI; who see-
Ing our condIIIon, a number of Ihem came aIongsIde of us. As
many hands as couId be emIoyed began Io work; some aI
our Ihree ums, and Ihe resI unIoadIng Ihe shI as fasI as
ossIbIe. There beIng onIy a sIngIe rock caIIed Ihe Porus on
whIch we sIruck, we soon goI off II, and rovIdenIIaIIy II was
Ihen hIgh waIer, we Iherefore run Ihe shI ashore aI Ihe
nearesI Iace Io kee her from sInkIng. AfIer many IIdes,
wIIh a greaI deaI of care and IndusIry, we goI her reaIred
agaIn. When we had dIsaIched our busIness aI CadIz, we
wenI Io OIbraIIar, and from Ihence Io MaIaga, a very Ieas-
anI and rIch cIIy, where Ihere Is one of Ihe fInesI caIhedraIs I
had ever seen. II had been above fIfIy years In buIIdIng, as I
heard, Ihough II was noI Ihen quIIe fInIshed; greaI arI of
Ihe InsIde, however, was comIeIed and hIghIy decoraIed
wIIh Ihe rIchesI marbIe coIumns and many suerb aInIIngs;
II was IIghIed occasIonaIIy by an amazIng number of wax
Iaers of dIfferenI sIzes, some of whIch were as IhIck as a
!&&
man's IhIgh; Ihese, however, were onIy used on some of IheIr
grand fesIIvaIs.
I was very much shocked aI Ihe cusIom of buII-baIIIng, and
oIher dIversIons whIch revaIIed here on Sunday evenIngs,
Io Ihe greaI scandaI of ChrIsIIanIIy and moraIs. I used Io ex-
ress my abhorrence of II Io a rIesI whom I meI wIIh. I had
frequenI conIesIs abouI reIIgIon wIIh Ihe reverend faIher, In
whIch he Iook greaI aIns Io make a roseIyIe of me Io hIs
church; and I no Iess Io converI hIm Io mIne. On Ihese occa-
sIons I used Io roduce my BIbIe, and shew hIm In whaI
oInIs hIs church erred. He Ihen saId he had been In ng-
Iand, and IhaI every erson Ihere read Ihe BIbIe, whIch was
very wrong; buI I answered hIm IhaI ChrIsI desIred us Io
search Ihe ScrIIures. In hIs zeaI for my conversIon, he soII-
cIIed me Io go Io one of Ihe unIversIIIes In SaIn, and de-
cIared IhaI I shouId have my educaIIon free; and IoId me, If I
goI myseIf made a rIesI, I mIghI In IIme become even oe;
and IhaI Poe BenedIcI was a bIack man. As I was ever de-
sIrous of IearnIng, I aused for some IIme uon IhIs IemIa-
IIon; and IhoughI by beIng crafIy I mIghI caIch some wIIh
guIIe; buI I began Io IhInk IhaI II wouId be onIy hyocrIsy In
me Io embrace hIs offer, as I couId noI In conscIence conform
Io Ihe oInIons of hIs church. I was Iherefore enabIed Io re-
gard Ihe word of Ood, whIch says, 'Come ouI from amongsI
Ihem,' and refused aIher VIncenI's offer. So we arIed
wIIhouI convIcIIon on eIIher sIde.
HavIng Iaken aI IhIs Iace some fIne wInes, fruIIs, and
money, we roceeded Io CadIz, where we Iook abouI Iwo Ions
more of money, &c. and Ihen saIIed for ngIand In Ihe monIh
of June. When we were abouI Ihe norIh IaIIIude 42, we had
conIrary wInd for severaI days, and Ihe shI dId noI make In
IhaI IIme above sIx or seven mIIes sIraIghI course. ThIs made
Ihe caIaIn exceedIng freIfuI and eevIsh: and I was very
sorry Io hear Ood's mosI hoIy name ofIen bIashemed by
hIm. One day, as he was In IhaI ImIous mood, a young gen-
IIeman on board, who was a assenger, reroached hIm, and
saId he acIed wrong; for we oughI Io be IhankfuI Io Ood for
aII IhIngs, as we were noI In wanI of any IhIng on board; and
Ihough Ihe wInd was conIrary for us, yeI II was faIr for some
!&'
oIhers, who, erhas, sIood In more need of II Ihan we. I Im-
medIaIeIy seconded IhIs young genIIeman wIIh some boId-
ness, and saId we had noI Ihe IeasI cause Io murmur, for
IhaI Ihe Iord was beIIer Io us Ihan we deserved, and IhaI he
had done aII IhIngs weII. I execIed IhaI Ihe caIaIn wouId
be very angry wIIh me for seakIng, buI he reIIed noI a
word. However, before IhaI IIme on Ihe foIIowIng day, beIng
Ihe 2lsI of June, much Io our greaI joy and asIonIshmenI, we
saw Ihe rovIdenIIaI hand of our benIgn CreaIor, whose ways
wIIh hIs bIInd creaIures are asI fIndIng ouI. The recedIng
nIghI I dreamed IhaI I saw a boaI ImmedIaIeIy off Ihe sIar-
board maIn shrouds; and exacIIy aI haIf asI one o'cIock, Ihe
foIIowIng day aI noon, whIIe I was beIow, jusI as we had
dIned In Ihe cabIn, Ihe man aI Ihe heIm crIed ouI, A boaI!
whIch broughI my dream IhaI InsIanI InIo my mInd. I was
Ihe fIrsI man IhaI jumed on Ihe deck; and, IookIng from Ihe
shrouds onward, accordIng Io my dream, I descrIed a IIIIIe
boaI aI some dIsIance; buI, as Ihe waves were hIgh, II was as
much as we couId do someIImes Io dIscern her; we however
sIoed Ihe shI's way, and Ihe boaI, whIch was exIremeIy
smaII, came aIongsIde wIIh eIeven mIserabIe men, whom we
Iook on board ImmedIaIeIy. To aII human aearance, Ihese
eoIe musI have erIshed In Ihe course of one hour or Iess,
Ihe boaI beIng smaII, II bareIy conIaIned Ihem. When we
Iook Ihem u Ihey were haIf drowned, and had no vIcIuaIs,
comass, waIer, or any oIher necessary whaIsoever, and had
onIy one bII of an oar Io sIeer wIIh, and IhaI rIghI before Ihe
wInd; so IhaI Ihey were obIIged Io IrusI enIIreIy Io Ihe mercy
of Ihe waves. As soon as we goI Ihem aII on board, Ihey
bowed IhemseIves on IheIr knees, and, wIIh hands and voIces
IIfIed u Io heaven, Ihanked Ood for IheIr deIIverance; and I
IrusI IhaI my rayers were noI wanIIng amongsI Ihem aI Ihe
same IIme. ThIs mercy of Ihe Iord quIIe meIIed me, and I re-
coIIecIed hIs words, whIch I saw Ihus verIfIed In Ihe l07Ih
PsaIm 'O gIve Ihanks unIo Ihe Iord, for he Is good, for hIs
mercy endureIh for ever. Hungry and IhIrsIy, IheIr souIs
faInIed In Ihem. They crIed unIo Iord In IheIr IroubIe, and
he deIIvered Ihem ouI of IheIr dIsIresses. And he Ied Ihem
forIh by Ihe rIghI way, IhaI Ihey mIghI go Io a cIIy of
!&(
habIIaIIon. O IhaI men wouId raIse Ihe Iord for hIs good-
ness and for hIs wonderfuI works Io Ihe chIIdren of men! or
he saIIsfIeIh Ihe IongIng souI, and fIIIeIh Ihe hungry souI
wIIh goodness.
'Such as sII In darkness and In Ihe shadow of deaIh:
'Then Ihey crIed unIo Ihe Iord In IheIr IroubIe, and he
saved Ihem ouI of IheIr dIsIresses. They IhaI go down Io Ihe
sea In shIs; IhaI do busIness In greaI waIers: Ihese see Ihe
works of Ihe Iord, and hIs wonders In Ihe dee. Whoso Is
wIse and wIII observe Ihese IhIngs, even Ihey shaII under-
sIand Ihe IovIng kIndness of Ihe Iord.'
The oor dIsIressed caIaIn saId,'IhaI Ihe Iord Is good; for,
seeIng IhaI I am noI fII Io dIe, he Iherefore gave me a sace
of IIme Io reenI.' I was very gIad Io hear IhIs exressIon,
and Iook an oorIunIIy when convenIenI of IaIkIng Io hIm
on Ihe rovIdence of Ood. They IoId us Ihey were PorIuguese,
and were In a brIg Ioaded wIIh corn, whIch shIfIed IhaI
mornIng aI fIve o'cIock, owIng Io whIch Ihe vesseI sunk IhaI
InsIanI wIIh Iwo of Ihe crew; and how Ihese eIeven goI InIo
Ihe boaI (whIch was Iashed Io Ihe deck) noI one of Ihem
couId IeII. We rovIded Ihem wIIh every necessary, and
broughI Ihem aII safe Io Iondon: and I hoe Ihe Iord gave
Ihem reenIance unIo IIfe eIernaI.
I was hay once more amongsI my frIends and breIhren,
IIII November, when my oId frIend, Ihe ceIebraIed ocIor
IrvIng, boughI a remarkabIe fIne sIoo, abouI l50 Ions. He
had a mInd for a new advenIure In cuIIIvaIIng a IanIaIIon
aI JamaIca and Ihe MusquIIo Shore; asked me Io go wIIh
hIm, and saId IhaI he wouId IrusI me wIIh hIs esIaIe In ref-
erence Io any one. By Ihe advIce, Iherefore, of my frIends, I
acceIed of Ihe offer, knowIng IhaI Ihe harvesI was fuIIy rIe
In Ihose arIs, and hoed Io be Ihe InsIrumenI, under Ood, of
brIngIng some oor sInner Io my weII beIoved masIer, Jesus
ChrIsI. Before I embarked, I found wIIh Ihe ocIor four Mus-
quIIo IndIans, who were chIefs In IheIr own counIry, and
were broughI here by some ngIIsh Iraders for some seIfIsh
ends. One of Ihem was Ihe MusquIIo kIng's son; a youIh of
abouI eIghIeen years of age; and whIIsI he was here he was
baIIzed by Ihe name of Oeorge. They were goIng back aI Ihe
!&)
governmenI's exense, afIer havIng been In ngIand abouI
IweIve monIhs, durIng whIch Ihey Iearned Io seak reIIy
good ngIIsh. When I came Io IaIk Io Ihem abouI eIghI days
before we saIIed, I was very much morIIfIed In fIndIng IhaI
Ihey had noI frequenIed any churches sInce Ihey were here,
Io be baIIzed, nor was any aIIenIIon aId Io IheIr moraIs. I
was very sorry for IhIs mock ChrIsIIanIIy, and had jusI an
oorIunIIy Io Iake some of Ihem once Io church before we
saIIed. We embarked In Ihe monIh of November l775, on
board of Ihe sIoo MornIng SIar, CaIaIn avId MIIIer, and
saIIed for JamaIca. In our assage, I Iook aII Ihe aIns IhaI I
couId Io InsIrucI Ihe IndIan rInce In Ihe docIrInes of ChrIs-
IIanIIy, of whIch he was enIIreIy IgnoranI; and, Io my greaI
joy, he was quIIe aIIenIIve, and receIved wIIh gIadness Ihe
IruIhs IhaI Ihe Iord enabIed me Io seI forIh Io hIm. I IaughI
hIm In Ihe comass of eIeven days aII Ihe IeIIers, and he
couId uI even Iwo or Ihree of Ihem IogeIher and seII Ihem.
I had ox's MarIyroIogy wIIh cuIs, and he used Io be very
fond of IookIng InIo II, and wouId ask many quesIIons abouI
Ihe aaI crueIIIes he saw deIcIed Ihere, whIch I exIaIned
Io hIm. I made such rogress wIIh IhIs youIh, esecIaIIy In
reIIgIon, IhaI when I used Io go Io bed aI dIfferenI hours of
Ihe nIghI, If he was In hIs bed, he wouId geI u on urose Io
go Io rayer wIIh me, wIIhouI any oIher cIoIhes Ihan hIs
shIrI; and before he wouId eaI any of hIs meaIs amongsI Ihe
genIIemen In Ihe cabIn, he wouId fIrsI come Io me Io ray, as
he caIIed II. I was weII Ieased aI IhIs, and Iook greaI deIIghI
In hIm, and used much suIIcaIIon Io Ood for hIs conver-
sIon. I was In fuII hoe of seeIng daIIy every aearance of
IhaI change whIch I couId wIsh; noI knowIng Ihe devIces of
saIan, who had many of hIs emIssarIes Io sow hIs Iares as
fasI as I sowed Ihe good seed, and uII down as fasI as I buIII
u. Thus we wenI on nearIy four fIfIhs of our assage, when
saIan aI IasI goI Ihe uer hand. Some of hIs messengers,
seeIng IhIs oor heaIhen much advanced In IeIy, began Io
ask hIm wheIher I had converIed hIm Io ChrIsIIanIIy,
Iaughed, and made IheIr jesI aI hIm, for whIch I rebuked
Ihem as much as I couId; buI IhIs IreaImenI caused Ihe
rInce Io haII beIween Iwo oInIons. Some of Ihe Irue sons of
!'*
BeIIaI, who dId noI beIIeve IhaI Ihere was any hereafIer, IoId
hIm never Io fear Ihe devII, for Ihere was none exIsIIng; and
If ever he came Io Ihe rInce, Ihey desIred he mIghI be senI
Io Ihem. Thus Ihey Ieazed Ihe oor InnocenI youIh, so IhaI
he wouId noI Iearn hIs book any more! He wouId noI drInk
nor carouse wIIh Ihese ungodIy acIors, nor wouId he be wIIh
me, even aI rayers. ThIs grIeved me very much. I endeav-
oured Io ersuade hIm as weII as I couId, buI he wouId noI
come; and enIreaIed hIm very much Io IeII me hIs reasons for
acIIng Ihus. AI IasI he asked me, 'How comes II IhaI aII Ihe
whIIe men on board who can read and wrIIe, and observe Ihe
sun, and know aII IhIngs, yeI swear, IIe, and geI drunk, onIy
exceIIng yourseIf7' I answered hIm, Ihe reason was, IhaI
Ihey dId noI fear Ood; and IhaI If any one of Ihem dIed so
Ihey couId noI go Io, or be hay wIIh Ood. He reIIed, IhaI If
Ihese ersons wenI Io heII he wouId go Io heII Ioo. I was
sorry Io hear IhIs; and, as he someIImes had Ihe IooIhach,
and aIso some oIher ersons In Ihe shI aI Ihe same IIme, I
asked hIm If IheIr IooIhach made hIs easy: he saId, No. Then
I IoId hIm If he and Ihese eoIe wenI Io heII IogeIher, IheIr
aIns wouId noI make hIs any IIghIer. ThIs answer had greaI
weIghI wIIh hIm: II deressed hIs sIrIIs much; and he be-
came ever afIer, durIng Ihe assage, fond of beIng aIone.
When we were In Ihe IaIIIude of MarIInIco, and near makIng
Ihe Iand, one mornIng we had a brIsk gaIe of wInd, and, car-
ryIng Ioo much saII, Ihe maIn-masI wenI over Ihe sIde. Many
eoIe were Ihen aII abouI Ihe deck, and Ihe yards, masIs,
and rIggIng, came IumbIIng aII abouI us, yeI Ihere was noI
one of us In Ihe IeasI hurI, aIIhough some were wIIhIn a
haIr's breadIh of beIng kIIIed: and, arIIcuIarIy, I saw Iwo
men Ihen, by Ihe rovIdenIIaI hand of Ood, mosI mIracu-
IousIy reserved from beIng smashed Io Ieces. On Ihe fIfIh
of January we made AnIIgua and MonIserraI, and ran aIong
Ihe resI of Ihe IsIands: and on Ihe fourIeenIh we arrIved aI
JamaIca. One Sunday whIIe we were Ihere I Iook Ihe Mus-
quIIo PrInce Oeorge Io church, where he saw Ihe sacramenI
admInIsIered. When we came ouI we saw aII kInds of eoIe,
aImosI from Ihe church door for Ihe sace of haIf a mIIe down
Io Ihe waIersIde, buyIng and seIIIng aII kInds of commodIIIes:
!'!
and Ihese acIs afforded me greaI maIIer of exhorIaIIon Io
IhIs youIh, who was much asIonIshed. Our vesseI beIng
ready Io saII for Ihe MusquIIo shore, I wenI wIIh Ihe ocIor
on board a OuInea-man, Io urchase some sIaves Io carry
wIIh us, and cuIIIvaIe a IanIaIIon; and I chose Ihem aII my
own counIrymen. On Ihe IweIfIh of ebruary we saIIed from
JamaIca, and on Ihe eIghIeenIh arrIved aI Ihe MusquIIo
shore, aI a Iace caIIed ueuy. AII our IndIan guesIs now,
afIer I had admonIshed Ihem and a few cases of IIquor gIven
Ihem by Ihe ocIor, Iook an affecIIonaIe Ieave of us, and
wenI ashore, where Ihey were meI by Ihe MusquIIo kIng, and
we never saw one of Ihem afIerwards. We Ihen saIIed Io Ihe
souIhward of Ihe shore, Io a Iace caIIed Cae OracIas a
Ios, where Ihere was a Iarge Iagoon or Iake, whIch receIved
Ihe emIyIng of Iwo or Ihree very fIne Iarge rIvers, and
abounded much In fIsh and Iand IorIoIse. Some of Ihe naIIve
IndIans came on board of us here; and we used Ihem weII,
and IoId Ihem we were come Io dweII amongsI Ihem, whIch
Ihey seemed Ieased aI. So Ihe ocIor and I, wIIh some oIh-
ers, wenI wIIh Ihem ashore; and Ihey Iook us Io dIfferenI
Iaces Io vIew Ihe Iand, In order Io choose a Iace Io make a
IanIaIIon of. We fIxed on a soI near a rIver's bank, In a rIch
soII; and, havIng goI our necessarIes ouI of Ihe sIoo, we
began Io cIear away Ihe woods, and IanI dIfferenI kInds of
vegeIabIes, whIch had a quIck growIh. WhIIe we were em-
Ioyed In IhIs manner, our vesseI wenI norIhward Io BIack
RIver Io Irade. WhIIe she was Ihere, a SanIsh guarda cosIa
meI wIIh and Iook her. ThIs roved very hurIfuI, and a greaI
embarrassmenI Io us. However, we wenI on wIIh Ihe cuIIure
of Ihe Iand. We used Io make fIres every nIghI aII around us,
Io kee off wIId beasIs, whIch, as soon as II was dark, seI u
a mosI hIdeous roarIng. Our habIIaIIon beIng far u In Ihe
woods, we frequenIIy saw dIfferenI kInds of anImaIs; buI
none of Ihem ever hurI us, exceI oIsonous snakes, Ihe bIIe
of whIch Ihe ocIor used Io cure by gIvIng Io Ihe aIIenI, as
soon as ossIbIe, abouI haIf a IumbIer of sIrong rum, wIIh a
good deaI of Cayenne eer In II. In IhIs manner he cured
Iwo naIIves and one of hIs own sIaves. The IndIans were ex-
ceedIngIy fond of Ihe ocIor, and Ihey had good reason for II;
!'"
for I beIIeve Ihey never had such an usefuI man amongsI
Ihem. They came from aII quarIers Io our dweIIIng; and some
wooIwow, or fIaI-headed IndIans, who IIved fIfIy or sIxIy
mIIes above our rIver, and IhIs sIde of Ihe SouIh Sea, broughI
us a good deaI of sIIver In exchange for our goods. The rIn-
cIaI arIIcIes we couId geI from our neIghbourIng IndIans,
were IurIIe oII, and sheIIs, IIIIIe sIIk grass, and some rovI-
sIons; buI Ihey wouId noI work aI any IhIng for us, exceI
fIshIng; and a few IImes Ihey assIsIed Io cuI some Irees
down, In order Io buIId us houses; whIch Ihey dId exacIIy IIke
Ihe AfrIcans, by Ihe joInI Iabour of men, women, and chII-
dren. I do noI recoIIecI any of Ihem Io have had more Ihan
Iwo wIves. These aIways accomanIed IheIr husbands when
Ihey came Io our dweIIIng; and Ihen Ihey generaIIy carrIed
whaIever Ihey broughI Io us, and aIways squaIIed down be-
hInd IheIr husbands. Whenever we gave Ihem any IhIng Io
eaI, Ihe men and IheIr wIves aIe II searaIe. I never saw Ihe
IeasI sIgn of InconIInence amongsI Ihem. The women are or-
namenIed wIIh beads, and fond of aInIIng IhemseIves; Ihe
men aIso aInI, even Io excess, boIh IheIr faces and shIrIs:
IheIr favourIIe coIour Is red. The women generaIIy cuIIIvaIe
Ihe ground, and Ihe men are aII fIshermen and canoe
makers. !on Ihe whoIe, I never meI any naIIon IhaI were
so sImIe In IheIr manners as Ihese eoIe, or had so IIIIIe
ornamenI In IheIr houses. NeIIher had Ihey, as I ever couId
Iearn, one word exressIve of an oaIh. The worsI word I ever
heard amongsI Ihem when Ihey were quarreIIng, was one
IhaI Ihey had goI from Ihe ngIIsh, whIch was, 'you rascaI.' I
never saw any mode of worshI among Ihem; buI In IhIs Ihey
were noI worse Ihan IheIr uroean breIhren or neIghbours:
for I am sorry Io say IhaI Ihere was noI one whIIe erson In
our dweIIIng, nor any where eIse IhaI I saw In dIfferenI
Iaces I was aI on Ihe shore, IhaI was beIIer or more Ious
Ihan Ihose unenIIghIened IndIans; buI Ihey eIIher worked or
sIeI on Sundays: and, Io my sorrow, workIng was Ioo much
Sunday's emIoymenI wIIh ourseIves; so much so, IhaI In
some IengIh of IIme we reaIIy dId noI know one day from an-
oIher. ThIs mode of IIvIng IaId Ihe foundaIIon of my decam-
Ing aI IasI. The naIIves are weII made and warIIke; and Ihey
!'#
arIIcuIarIy boasI of havIng never been conquered by Ihe
SanIards. They are greaI drInkers of sIrong IIquors when
Ihey can geI Ihem. We used Io dIsIII rum from Ine aIes,
whIch were very IenIIfuI here; and Ihen we couId noI geI
Ihem away from our Iace. YeI Ihey seemed Io be sInguIar, In
oInI of honesIy, above any oIher naIIon I was ever amongsI.
The counIry beIng hoI, we IIved under an oen shed, where
we had aII kInds of goods, wIIhouI a door or a Iock Io any one
arIIcIe; yeI we sIeI In safeIy, and never IosI any IhIng, or
were dIsIurbed. ThIs surrIsed us a good deaI; and Ihe oc-
Ior, myseIf, and oIhers, used Io say, If we were Io IIe In IhaI
manner In uroe we shouId have our IhroaIs cuI Ihe fIrsI
nIghI. The IndIan governor goes once In a cerIaIn IIme aII
abouI Ihe rovInce or dIsIrIcI, and has a number of men wIIh
hIm as aIIendanIs and assIsIanIs. He seIIIes aII Ihe dIffer-
ences among Ihe eoIe, IIke Ihe judge here, and Is IreaIed
wIIh very greaI resecI. He Iook care Io gIve us IImeIy noIIce
before he came Io our habIIaIIon, by sendIng hIs sIIck as a
Ioken, for rum, sugar, and gunowder, whIch we dId noI re-
fuse sendIng; and aI Ihe same IIme we made Ihe uImosI re-
araIIon Io receIve hIs honour and hIs IraIn. When he came
wIIh hIs IrIbe, and aII our neIghbourIng chIefIaIns, we exec-
Ied Io fInd hIm a grave reverend judge, soIId and sagacIous;
buI InsIead of IhaI, before he and hIs gang came In sIghI, we
heard Ihem very cIamorous; and Ihey even had Iundered
some of our good neIghbourIng IndIans, havIng InIoxIcaIed
IhemseIves wIIh our IIquor. When Ihey arrIved we dId noI
know whaI Io make of our new guesIs, and wouId gIadIy
have dIsensed wIIh Ihe honour of IheIr comany. However,
havIng no aIIernaIIve, we feasIed Ihem IenIIfuIIy aII Ihe day
IIII Ihe evenIng; when Ihe governor, geIIIng quIIe drunk,
grew very unruIy, and sIruck one of our mosI frIendIy chIefs,
who was our nearesI neIghbour, and aIso Iook hIs goId-Iaced
haI from hIm. AI IhIs a greaI commoIIon Iaken Iace; and Ihe
ocIor InIerfered Io make eace, as we couId aII undersIand
one anoIher, buI Io no urose; and aI IasI Ihey became so
ouIrageous IhaI Ihe ocIor, fearIng he mIghI geI InIo
IroubIe, IefI Ihe house, and made Ihe besI of hIs way Io Ihe
nearesI wood, IeavIng me Io do as weII as I couId among
!'$
Ihem. I was so enraged wIIh Ihe Oovernor, IhaI I couId have
wIshed Io have seen hIm IIed fasI Io a Iree and fIogged for hIs
behavIour; buI I had noI eoIe enough Io coe wIIh hIs
arIy. I Iherefore IhoughI of a sIraIagem Io aease Ihe rIoI.
RecoIIecIIng a assage I had read In Ihe IIfe of CoIumbus,
when he was amongsI Ihe IndIans In MexIco or Peru, where,
on some occasIon, he frIghIened Ihem, by IeIIIng Ihem of cer-
IaIn evenIs In Ihe heavens, I had recourse Io Ihe same ex-
edIenI; and II succeeded beyond my mosI sanguIne execIa-
IIons. When I had formed my deIermInaIIon, I wenI In Ihe
mIdsI of Ihem; and, IakIng hoId of Ihe Oovernor, I oInIed u
Io Ihe heavens. I menaced hIm and Ihe resI: I IoId Ihem Ood
IIved Ihere, and IhaI he was angry wIIh Ihem, and Ihey musI
noI quarreI so; IhaI Ihey were aII broIhers, and If Ihey dId
noI Ieave off, and go away quIeIIy, I wouId Iake Ihe book
(oInIIng Io Ihe BIbIe), read, and IeII Ood Io make Ihem
dead. ThIs was someIhIng IIke magIc. The cIamour ImmedI-
aIeIy ceased, and I gave Ihem some rum and a few oIher
IhIngs; afIer whIch Ihey wenI away eaceabIy; and Ihe
Oovernor afIerwards gave our neIghbour, who was caIIed
CaIaIn PIasmyah, hIs haI agaIn. When Ihe ocIor reIurned,
he was exceedIngIy gIad aI my success In Ihus geIIIng rId of
our IroubIesome guesIs. The MusquIIo eoIe wIIhIn our vI-
cInIIy, ouI of resecI Io Ihe ocIor, myseIf and hIs eoIe,
made enIerIaInmenIs of Ihe grand kInd, caIIed In IheIr
Iongue IourrIe or dryckboI. The ngIIsh of IhIs exressIon Is,
a feasI of drInkIng abouI, of whIch II seems a corruIIon of
Ianguage. The drInk consIsIed of Ine aIes roasIed, and
casades chewed or beaIen In morIars; whIch, afIer IyIng some
IIme, fermenIs, and becomes so sIrong as Io InIoxIcaIe, when
drank In any quanIIIy. We had IImeIy noIIce gIven Io us of
Ihe enIerIaInmenI. A whIIe famIIy, wIIhIn fIve mIIes of us,
IoId us how Ihe drInk was made, and I and Iwo oIhers wenI
before Ihe IIme Io Ihe vIIIage, where Ihe mIrIh was aoInIed
Io be heId; and Ihere we saw Ihe whoIe arI of makIng Ihe
drInk, and aIso Ihe kInd of anImaIs IhaI were Io be eaIen
Ihere. I cannoI say Ihe sIghI of eIIher Ihe drInk or Ihe meaI
were enIIcIng Io me. They had some Ihousands of Ine aIes
roasIIng, whIch Ihey squeezed, dIrI and aII, InIo a canoe Ihey
!'%
had Ihere for Ihe urose. The casade drInk was In beef bar-
reIs and oIher vesseIs, and Iooked exacIIy IIke hog-wash.
Men, women, and chIIdren, were Ihus emIoyed In roasIIng
Ihe Ine aIes, and squeezIng Ihem wIIh IheIr hands. or
food Ihey had many Iand IorIns or IorIoIses, some drIed
IurIIe, and Ihree Iarge aIIIgaIors aIIve, and IIed fasI Io Ihe
Irees. I asked Ihe eoIe whaI Ihey were goIng Io do wIIh
Ihese aIIIgaIors; and I was IoId Ihey were Io be eaIen. I was
much surrIsed aI IhIs, and wenI home, noI a IIIIIe dIsgusIed
aI Ihe rearaIIons. When Ihe day of Ihe feasI was come, we
Iook some rum wIIh us, and wenI Io Ihe aoInIed Iace,
where we found a greaI assembIage of Ihese eoIe, who re-
ceIved us very kIndIy. The mIrIh had begun before we came;
and Ihey were dancIng wIIh musIc: and Ihe musIcaI InsIru-
menIs were nearIy Ihe same as Ihose of any oIher sabIe
eoIe; buI, as I IhoughI, much Iess meIodIous Ihan any oIh-
er naIIon I ever knew. They had many curIous gesIures In
dancIng, and a varIeIy of moIIons and osIures of IheIr bod-
Ies, whIch Io me were In no wIse aIIracIIng. The maIes
danced by IhemseIves, and Ihe femaIes aIso by IhemseIves,
as wIIh us. The ocIor shewed hIs eoIe Ihe examIe, by
ImmedIaIeIy joInIng Ihe women's arIy, Ihough noI by IheIr
choIce. On erceIvIng Ihe women dIsgusIed, he joIned Ihe
maIes. AI nIghI Ihere were greaI IIIumInaIIons, by seIIIng
fIre Io many Ine Irees, whIIe Ihe dryckboI wenI round mer-
rIIy by caIabashes or gourds: buI Ihe IIquor mIghI more jusIIy
be caIIed eaIIng Ihan drInkIng. One Owden, Ihe oIdesI faIher
In Ihe vIcInIIy, was dressed In a sIrange and IerrIfyIng form.
Around hIs body were skIns adorned wIIh dIfferenI kInds of
feaIhers, and he had on hIs head a very Iarge and hIgh head-
Iece, In Ihe form of a grenadIer's ca, wIIh rIckIes IIke a
orcuIne; and he made a cerIaIn noIse whIch resembIed Ihe
cry of an aIIIgaIor. Our eoIe skIed amongsI Ihem ouI of
comIaIsance, Ihough some couId noI drInk of IheIr IourrIe;
buI our rum meI wIIh cusIomers enough, and was soon gone.
The aIIIgaIors were kIIIed and some of Ihem roasIed. TheIr
manner of roasIIng Is by dIggIng a hoIe In Ihe earIh, and
fIIIIng II wIIh wood, whIch Ihey burn Io coaI, and Ihen Ihey
Iay sIIcks across, on whIch Ihey seI Ihe meaI. I had a raw
!'&
Iece of Ihe aIIIgaIor In my hand: II was very rIch: I IhoughI
II Iooked IIke fresh saImon, and II had a mosI fragranI smeII,
buI I couId noI eaI any of II. ThIs merry-makIng aI IasI ended
wIIhouI Ihe IeasI dIscord In any erson In Ihe comany, aI-
Ihough II was made u of dIfferenI naIIons and comIexIons.
The raIny season came on here abouI Ihe IaIIer end of May,
whIch conIInued IIII AugusI very heavIIy; so IhaI Ihe rIvers
were overfIowed, and our rovIsIons Ihen In Ihe ground were
washed away. I IhoughI IhIs was In some measure a judg-
menI uon us for workIng on Sundays, and II hurI my mInd
very much. I ofIen wIshed Io Ieave IhIs Iace and saII for
uroe; for our mode of rocedure and IIvIng In IhIs heaIhen-
Ish form was very Irksome Io me. The word of Ood saIIh,
'WhaI does II avaII a man If he gaIn Ihe whoIe worId, and
Iose hIs own souI7' ThIs was much and heavIIy Imressed on
my mInd; and, Ihough I dId noI know how Io seak Io Ihe
ocIor for my dIscharge, II was dIsagreeabIe for me Io sIay
any Ionger. BuI abouI Ihe mIddIe of June I Iook courage
enough Io ask hIm for II. He was very unwIIIIng aI fIrsI Io
granI my requesI; buI I gave hIm so many reasons for II, IhaI
aI IasI he consenIed Io my goIng, and gave me Ihe foIIowIng
cerIIfIcaIe of my behavIour:
'The bearer, OusIavus Vassa, has served me severaI years
wIIh sIrIcI honesIy, sobrIeIy, and fIdeIIIy. I can, Iherefore,
wIIh jusIIce recommend hIm for Ihese quaIIfIcaIIons; and In-
deed In every resecI I consIder hIm as an exceIIenI servanI.
I do hereby cerIIfy IhaI he aIways behaved weII, and IhaI he
Is erfecIIy IrusI-worIhy.
'CHARIS IRVINO.'
_MusquIIo Shore, June l5, l776._
Though I was much aIIached Io Ihe docIor, I was hay
when he consenIed. I goI every IhIng ready for my dearIure,
and hIred some IndIans, wIIh a Iarge canoe, Io carry me off.
AII my oor counIrymen, Ihe sIaves, when Ihey heard of my
IeavIng Ihem, were very sorry, as I had aIways IreaIed Ihem
wIIh care and affecIIon, and dId every IhIng I couId Io com-
forI Ihe oor creaIures, and render IheIr condIIIon easy. Hav-
Ing Iaken Ieave of my oId frIends and comanIons, on Ihe
l8Ih of June, accomanIed by Ihe docIor, I IefI IhaI soI of
!''
Ihe worId, and wenI souIhward above IwenIy mIIes aIong Ihe
rIver. There I found a sIoo, Ihe caIaIn of whIch IoId me he
was goIng Io JamaIca. HavIng agreed for my assage wIIh
hIm and one of Ihe owners, who was aIso on board, named
Hughes, Ihe docIor and I arIed, noI wIIhouI sheddIng Iears
on boIh sIdes. The vesseI Ihen saIIed aIong Ihe rIver IIII
nIghI, when she sIoed In a Iagoon wIIhIn Ihe same rIver.
urIng Ihe nIghI a schooner beIongIng Io Ihe same owners
came In, and, as she was In wanI of hands, Hughes, Ihe own-
er of Ihe sIoo, asked me Io go In Ihe schooner as a saIIor,
and saId he wouId gIve me wages. I Ihanked hIm; buI I saId I
wanIed Io go Io JamaIca. He Ihen ImmedIaIeIy changed hIs
Ione, and swore, and abused me very much, and asked how I
came Io be freed. I IoId hIm, and saId IhaI I came InIo IhaI
vIcInIIy wIIh r. IrvIng, whom he had seen IhaI day. ThIs ac-
counI was of no use; he sIIII swore exceedIngIy aI me, and
cursed Ihe masIer for a fooI IhaI soId me my freedom, and
Ihe docIor for anoIher In IeIIIng me go from hIm. Then he de-
sIred me Io go In Ihe schooner, or eIse I shouId noI go ouI of
Ihe sIoo as a freeman. I saId IhIs was very hard, and begged
Io be uI on shore agaIn; buI he swore IhaI I shouId noI. I
saId I had been IwIce amongsI Ihe Turks, yeI had never seen
any such usage wIIh Ihem, and much Iess couId I have exec-
Ied any IhIng of IhIs kInd amongsI ChrIsIIans. ThIs Incensed
hIm exceedIngIy; and, wIIh a voIIey of oaIhs and Imreca-
IIons, he reIIed, 'ChrIsIIans! amn you, you are one of SI.
PauI's men; buI by O, exceI you have SI. PauI's or SI.
PeIer's faIIh, and waIk uon Ihe waIer Io Ihe shore, you shaII
noI go ouI of Ihe vesseI;' whIch I now found was goIng
amongsI Ihe SanIards Iowards CarIhagena, where he swore
he wouId seII me. I sImIy asked hIm whaI rIghI he had Io
seII me7 buI, wIIhouI anoIher word, he made some of hIs
eoIe IIe roes round each of my ancIes, and aIso Io each
wrIsI, and anoIher roe round my body, and hoIsIed me u
wIIhouI IeIIIng my feeI Iouch or resI uon any IhIng. Thus I
hung, wIIhouI any crIme commIIIed, and wIIhouI judge or
jury; mereIy because I was a free man, and couId noI by Ihe
Iaw geI any redress from a whIIe erson In Ihose arIs of Ihe
worId. I was In greaI aIn from my sIIuaIIon, and crIed and
!'(
begged very hard for some mercy; buI aII In vaIn. My IyranI,
In a greaI rage, broughI a musqueI ouI of Ihe cabIn, and
Ioaded II before me and Ihe crew, and swore IhaI he wouId
shooI me If I crIed any more. I had now no aIIernaIIve; I
Iherefore remaIned sIIenI, seeIng noI one whIIe man on
board who saId a word on my behaIf. I hung In IhaI manner
from beIween Ien and eIeven o'cIock aI nIghI IIII abouI one In
Ihe mornIng; when, fIndIng my crueI abuser fasI asIee, I
begged some of hIs sIaves Io sIack Ihe roe IhaI was round
my body, IhaI my feeI mIghI resI on someIhIng. ThIs Ihey dId
aI Ihe rIsk of beIng crueIIy used by IheIr masIer, who beaI
some of Ihem severeIy aI fIrsI for noI IyIng me when he com-
manded Ihem. WhIIsI I remaIned In IhIs condIIIon, IIII
beIween fIve and sIx o'cIock nexI mornIng, I IrusI I rayed Io
Ood Io forgIve IhIs bIashemer, who cared noI whaI he dId,
buI when he goI u ouI of hIs sIee In Ihe mornIng was of Ihe
very same Iemer and dIsosIIIon as when he IefI me aI
nIghI. When Ihey goI u Ihe anchor, and Ihe vesseI was geI-
IIng under way, I once more crIed and begged Io be reIeased;
and now, beIng forIunaIeIy In Ihe way of IheIr hoIsIIng Ihe
saIIs, Ihey reIeased me. When I was IeI down, I soke Io one
Mr. Cox, a carenIer, whom I knew on board, on Ihe Imro-
rIeIy of IhIs conducI. He aIso knew Ihe docIor, and Ihe good
oInIon he ever had of me. ThIs man Ihen wenI Io Ihe ca-
IaIn, and IoId hIm noI Io carry me away In IhaI manner; IhaI
I was Ihe docIor's sIeward, who regarded me very hIghIy,
and wouId resenI IhIs usage when he shouId come Io know II.
On whIch he desIred a young man Io uI me ashore In a
smaII canoe I broughI wIIh me. ThIs sound gIaddened my
hearI, and I goI hasIIIy InIo Ihe canoe and seI off, whIIsI my
IyranI was down In Ihe cabIn; buI he soon sIed me ouI,
when I was noI above IhIrIy or forIy yards from Ihe vesseI,
and, runnIng uon Ihe deck wIIh a Ioaded muskeI In hIs
hand, he resenIed II aI me, and swore heavIIy and dread-
fuIIy, IhaI he wouId shooI me IhaI InsIanI, If I dId noI come
back on board. As I knew Ihe wreIch wouId have done as he
saId, wIIhouI hesIIaIIon, I uI back Io Ihe vesseI agaIn; buI,
as Ihe good Iord wouId have II, jusI as I was aIongsIde he
was abusIng Ihe caIaIn for IeIIIng me go from Ihe vesseI;
!')
whIch Ihe caIaIn reIurned, and boIh of Ihem soon goI InIo a
very greaI heaI. The young man IhaI was wIIh me now goI
ouI of Ihe canoe; Ihe vesseI was saIIIng on fasI wIIh a smooIh
sea: and I Ihen IhoughI II was neck or noIhIng, so aI IhaI In-
sIanI I seI off agaIn, for my IIfe, In Ihe canoe, Iowards Ihe
shore; and forIunaIeIy Ihe confusIon was so greaI amongsI
Ihem on board, IhaI I goI ouI of Ihe reach of Ihe musqueI
shoI unnoIIced, whIIe Ihe vesseI saIIed on wIIh a faIr wInd a
dIfferenI way; so IhaI Ihey couId noI overIake me wIIhouI
IackIng: buI even before IhaI couId be done I shouId have
been on shore, whIch I soon reached, wIIh many Ihanks Io
Ood for IhIs unexecIed deIIverance. I Ihen wenI and IoId Ihe
oIher owner, who IIved near IhaI shore (wIIh whom I had
agreed for my assage) of Ihe usage I had meI wIIh. He was
very much asIonIshed, and aeared very sorry for II. AfIer
IreaIIng me wIIh kIndness, he gave me some refreshmenI,
and Ihree heads of roasIed IndIan corn, for a voyage of abouI
eIghIeen mIIes souIh, Io Iook for anoIher vesseI. He Ihen dIr-
ecIed me Io an IndIan chIef of a dIsIrIcI, who was aIso Ihe
MusquIIo admIraI, and had once been aI our dweIIIng; afIer
whIch I seI off wIIh Ihe canoe across a Iarge Iagoon aIone (for
I couId noI geI any one Io assIsI me), Ihough I was much
jaded, and had aIns In my boweIs, by means of Ihe roe I
had hung by Ihe nIghI before. I was Iherefore aI dIfferenI
IImes unabIe Io manage Ihe canoe, for Ihe addIIng was very
IaborIous. However, a IIIIIe before dark I goI Io my desIIned
Iace, where some of Ihe IndIans knew me, and receIved me
kIndIy. I asked for Ihe admIraI; and Ihey conducIed me Io hIs
dweIIIng. He was gIad Io see me, and refreshed me wIIh such
IhIngs as Ihe Iace afforded; and I had a hammock Io sIee
In. They acIed Iowards me more IIke ChrIsIIans Ihan Ihose
whIIes I was amongsI Ihe IasI nIghI, Ihough Ihey had been
baIIzed. I IoId Ihe admIraI I wanIed Io go Io Ihe nexI orI Io
geI a vesseI Io carry me Io JamaIca; and requesIed hIm Io
send Ihe canoe back whIch I Ihen had, for whIch I was Io ay
hIm. He agreed wIIh me, and senI fIve abIe IndIans wIIh a
Iarge canoe Io carry my IhIngs Io my InIended Iace, abouI
fIfIy mIIes; and we seI off Ihe nexI mornIng. When we goI ouI
of Ihe Iagoon and wenI aIong shore, Ihe sea was so hIgh IhaI
!(*
Ihe canoe was ofIenIImes very near beIng fIIIed wIIh waIer.
We were obIIged Io go ashore and drag across dIfferenI necks
of Iand; we were aIso Iwo nIghIs In Ihe swams, whIch
swarmed wIIh musquIIo fIIes, and Ihey roved IroubIesome
Io us. ThIs IIresome journey of Iand and waIer ended,
however, on Ihe IhIrd day, Io my greaI joy; and I goI on board
of a sIoo commanded by one CaIaIn JennIng. She was Ihen
arIIy Ioaded, and he IoId me he was execIIng daIIy Io saII
for JamaIca; and havIng agreed wIIh me Io work my assage,
I wenI Io work accordIngIy. I was noI many days on board be-
fore we saIIed; buI Io my sorrow and dIsaoInImenI, Ihough
used Io such IrIcks, we wenI Io Ihe souIhward aIong Ihe
MusquIIo shore, InsIead of sIeerIng for JamaIca. I was com-
eIIed Io assIsI In cuIIIng a greaI deaI of mahogany wood on
Ihe shore as we coasIed aIong II, and Ioad Ihe vesseI wIIh II,
before she saIIed. ThIs freIIed me much; buI, as I dId noI
know how Io heI myseIf among Ihese deceIvers, I IhoughI
aIIence was Ihe onIy remedy I had IefI, and even IhaI was
forced. There was much hard work and IIIIIe vIcIuaIs on
board, exceI by good Iuck we haened Io caIch IurIIes. On
IhIs coasI Ihere was aIso a arIIcuIar kInd of fIsh caIIed
manaIee, whIch Is mosI exceIIenI eaIIng, and Ihe fIesh Is
more IIke beef Ihan fIsh; Ihe scaIes are as Iarge as a shIIIIng,
and Ihe skIn IhIcker Ihan I ever saw IhaI of any oIher fIsh.
WIIhIn Ihe brackIsh waIers aIong shore Ihere were IIkewIse
vasI numbers of aIIIgaIors, whIch made Ihe fIsh scarce. I was
on board IhIs sIoo sIxIeen days, durIng whIch, In our coasI-
Ing, we came Io anoIher Iace, where Ihere was a smaIIer
sIoo caIIed Ihe IndIan Queen, commanded by one John
Baker. He aIso was an ngIIshman, and had been a Iong
IIme aIong Ihe shore IradIng for IurIIe sheIIs and sIIver, and
had goI a good quanIIIy of each on board. He wanIed some
hands very much; and, undersIandIng I was a free man, and
wanIed Io go Io JamaIca, he IoId me If he couId geI one or
Iwo, IhaI he wouId saII ImmedIaIeIy for IhaI IsIand: he aIso
reIended Io me some marks of aIIenIIon and resecI, and
romIsed Io gIve me forIy-fIve shIIIIngs sIerIIng a monIh If I
wouId go wIIh hIm. I IhoughI IhIs much beIIer Ihan cuIIIng
wood for noIhIng. I Iherefore IoId Ihe oIher caIaIn IhaI I
!(!
wanIed Io go Io JamaIca In Ihe oIher vesseI; buI he wouId noI
IIsIen Io me: and, seeIng me resoIved Io go In a day or Iwo, he
goI Ihe vesseI Io saII, InIendIng Io carry me away agaInsI my
wIII. ThIs IreaImenI morIIfIed me exIremeIy. I ImmedIaIeIy,
accordIng Io an agreemenI I had made wIIh Ihe caIaIn of
Ihe IndIan Queen, caIIed for her boaI, whIch was IyIng near
us, and II came aIongsIde; and, by Ihe means of a norIh-oIe
shImaIe whIch I meI wIIh In Ihe sIoo I was In, I goI my
IhIngs InIo Ihe boaI, and wenI on board of Ihe IndIan Queen,
JuIy Ihe l0Ih. A few days afIer I was Ihere, we goI aII IhIngs
ready and saIIed: buI agaIn, Io my greaI morIIfIcaIIon, IhIs
vesseI sIIII wenI Io Ihe souIh, nearIy as far as CarIhagena,
IradIng aIong Ihe coasI, InsIead of goIng Io JamaIca, as Ihe
caIaIn had romIsed me: and, whaI was worsI of aII, he was
a very crueI and bIoody-mInded man, and was a horrId bIas-
hemer. Among oIhers he had a whIIe IIoI, one SIoker,
whom he beaI ofIen as severeIy as he dId some negroes he
had on board. One nIghI In arIIcuIar, afIer he had beaIen
IhIs man mosI crueIIy, he uI hIm InIo Ihe boaI, and made
Iwo negroes row hIm Io a desoIaIe key, or smaII IsIand; and
he Ioaded Iwo IsIoIs, and swore bIIIerIy IhaI he wouId shooI
Ihe negroes If Ihey broughI SIoker on board agaIn. There was
noI Ihe IeasI doubI buI IhaI he wouId do as he saId, and Ihe
Iwo oor feIIows were obIIged Io obey Ihe crueI mandaIe; buI,
when Ihe caIaIn was asIee, Ihe Iwo negroes Iook a bIankeI
and carrIed II Io Ihe unforIunaIe SIoker, whIch I beIIeve was
Ihe means of savIng hIs IIfe from Ihe annoyance of InsecIs. A
greaI deaI of enIreaIy was used wIIh Ihe caIaIn Ihe nexI
day, before he wouId consenI Io IeI SIoker come on board;
and when Ihe oor man was broughI on board he was very
III, from hIs sIIuaIIon durIng Ihe nIghI, and he remaIned so
IIII he was drowned a IIIIIe IIme afIer. As we saIIed souIh-
ward we came Io many unInhabIIed IsIands, whIch were
overgrown wIIh fIne Iarge cocoa nuIs. As I was very much In
wanI of rovIsIons, I broughI a boaI Ioad of Ihem on board,
whIch IasIed me and oIhers for severaI weeks, and afforded
us many a deIIcIous reasI In our scarcIIy. One day, before
IhIs, I couId noI heI observIng Ihe rovIdenIIaI hand of Ood,
IhaI ever suIIes aII our wanIs, Ihough In Ihe ways and
!("
manner we know noI. I had been a whoIe day wIIhouI food,
and made sIgnaIs for boaIs Io come off, buI In vaIn. I Ihere-
fore earnesIIy rayed Io Ood for reIIef In my need; and aI Ihe
cIose of Ihe evenIng I wenI off Ihe deck. JusI as I IaId down I
heard a noIse on Ihe deck; and, noI knowIng whaI II meanI, I
wenI dIrecIIy on Ihe Ihe deck agaIn, when whaI shouId I see
buI a fIne Iarge fIsh abouI seven or eIghI ounds, whIch had
jumed aboard! I Iook II, and admIred, wIIh Ihanks, Ihe good
hand of Ood; and, whaI I consIdered as noI Iess exIraordIn-
ary, Ihe caIaIn, who was very avarIcIous, dId noI aIIemI Io
Iake II from me, Ihere beIng onIy hIm and I on board; for Ihe
resI were aII gone ashore IradIng. SomeIImes Ihe eoIe dId
noI come off for some days: IhIs used Io freI Ihe caIaIn, and
Ihen he wouId venI hIs fury on me by beaIIng me, or makIng
me feeI In oIher crueI ways. One day esecIaIIy, In hIs wIId,
wIcked, and mad career, afIer sIrIkIng me severaI IImes wIIh
dIfferenI IhIngs, and once across my mouIh, even wIIh a red
burnIng sIIck ouI of Ihe fIre, he goI a barreI of gunowder on
Ihe deck, and swore IhaI he wouId bIow u Ihe vesseI. I was
Ihen aI my wII's end, and earnesIIy rayed Io Ood Io dIrecI
me. The head was ouI of Ihe barreI; and Ihe caIaIn Iook a
IIghIed sIIck ouI of Ihe fIre Io bIow hImseIf and me u, be-
cause Ihere was a vesseI Ihen In sIghI comIng In, whIch he
suosed was a SanIard, and he was afraId of faIIIng InIo
IheIr hands. SeeIng IhIs I goI an axe, unnoIIced by hIm, and
Iaced myseIf beIween hIm and Ihe owder, havIng resoIved
In myseIf as soon as he aIIemIed Io uI Ihe fIre In Ihe bar-
reI Io cho hIm down IhaI InsIanI. I was more Ihan an hour
In IhIs sIIuaIIon; durIng whIch he sIruck me ofIen, sIIII kee-
Ing Ihe fIre In hIs hand for IhIs wIcked urose. I reaIIy
shouId have IhoughI myseIf jusIIfIabIe In any oIher arI of
Ihe worId If I had kIIIed hIm, and rayed Io Ood, who gave
me a mInd whIch resIed soIeIy on hImseIf. I rayed for resIg-
naIIon, IhaI hIs wIII mIghI be done; and Ihe foIIowIng Iwo
orIIons of hIs hoIy word, whIch occurred Io my mInd, buoyed
u my hoe, and keI me from IakIng Ihe IIfe of IhIs wIcked
man. 'He haIh deIermIned Ihe IImes before aoInIed, and
seI bounds Io our habIIaIIons,' AcIs xvII. 26. And, 'Who Is
Ihere amongsI you IhaI feareIh Ihe Iord, IhaI obeyeIh Ihe
!(#
voIce of hIs servanI, IhaI waIkeIh In darkness and haIh no
IIghI7 IeI hIm IrusI In Ihe name of Ihe Iord, and sIay uon
hIs Ood,' IsaIah l. l0. And Ihus by Ihe grace of Ood I was en-
abIed Io do. I found hIm a resenI heI In Ihe IIme of need,
and Ihe caIaIn's fury began Io subsIde as Ihe nIghI a-
roached: buI I found,
"ThaI he who cannoI sIem hIs anger's IIde oIh a wIId
horse wIIhouI a brIdIe rIde."
The nexI mornIng we dIscovered IhaI Ihe vesseI whIch had
caused such a fury In Ihe caIaIn was an ngIIsh sIoo. They
soon came Io an anchor where we were, and, Io my no smaII
surrIse, I Iearned IhaI ocIor IrvIng was on board of her on
hIs way from Ihe MusquIIo shore Io JamaIca. I was for goIng
ImmedIaIeIy Io see IhIs oId masIer and frIend, buI Ihe ca-
IaIn wouId noI suffer me Io Ieave Ihe vesseI. I Ihen Informed
Ihe docIor, by IeIIer, how I was IreaIed, and begged IhaI he
wouId Iake me ouI of Ihe sIoo: buI he Informed me IhaI II
was noI In hIs ower, as he was a assenger hImseIf; buI he
senI me some rum and sugar for my own use. I now Iearned
IhaI afIer I had IefI Ihe esIaIe whIch I managed for IhIs gen-
IIeman on Ihe MusquIIo shore, durIng whIch Ihe sIaves were
weII fed and comforIabIe, a whIIe overseer had suIIed my
Iace: IhIs man, Ihrough InhumanIIy and III-judged avarIce,
beaI and cuI Ihe oor sIaves mosI unmercIfuIIy; and Ihe con-
sequence was, IhaI every one goI InIo a Iarge PurIogua ca-
noe, and endeavoured Io escae; buI noI knowIng where Io
go, or how Io manage Ihe canoe, Ihey were aII drowned; In
consequence of whIch Ihe docIor's IanIaIIon was IefI uncuI-
IIvaIed, and he was now reIurnIng Io JamaIca Io urchase
more sIaves and sIock II agaIn. On Ihe l4Ih of OcIober Ihe
IndIan Queen arrIved aI KIngsIon In JamaIca. When we
were unIoaded I demanded my wages, whIch amounIed Io
eIghI ounds and fIve shIIIIngs sIerIIng; buI CaIaIn Baker
refused Io gIve me one farIhIng, aIIhough II was Ihe hardesI-
earned money I ever worked for In my IIfe. I found ouI ocIor
IrvIng uon IhIs, and acquaInIed hIm of Ihe caIaIn's
knavery. He dId aII he couId Io heI me Io geI my money; and
we wenI Io every magIsIraIe In KIngsIon (and Ihere were
nIne), buI Ihey aII refused Io do any IhIng for me, and saId
!($
my oaIh couId noI be admIIIed agaInsI a whIIe man. Nor was
IhIs aII; for Baker IhreaIened IhaI he wouId beaI me severeIy
If he couId caIch me for aIIemIIng Io demand my money;
and IhIs he wouId have done, buI IhaI I goI, by means of r.
IrvIng, under Ihe roIecIIon of CaIaIn ougIas of Ihe SquIr-
reI man of war. I IhoughI IhIs exceedIngIy hard usage;
Ihough Indeed I found II Io be Ioo much Ihe racIIce Ihere Io
ay free men for IheIr Iabour In IhIs manner. One day I wenI
wIIh a free negroe IayIor, named Joe Iamond, Io one Mr.
Cochran, who was IndebIed Io hIm some IrIfIIng sum; and
Ihe man, noI beIng abIe Io geI hIs money, began Io murmur.
The oIher ImmedIaIeIy Iook a horse-whI Io ay hIm wIIh II;
buI, by Ihe heI of a good aIr of heeIs, Ihe IayIor goI off.
Such oressIons as Ihese made me seek for a vesseI Io geI
off Ihe IsIand as fasI as I couId; and by Ihe mercy of Ood I
found a shI In November bound for ngIand, when I em-
barked wIIh a convoy, afIer havIng Iaken a IasI fareweII of
ocIor IrvIng. When I IefI JamaIca he was emIoyed In refIn-
Ing sugars; and some monIhs afIer my arrIvaI In ngIand I
Iearned, wIIh much sorrow, IhaI IhIs my amIabIe frIend was
dead, owIng Io hIs havIng eaIen some oIsoned fIsh. We had
many very heavy gaIes of wInd In our assage; In Ihe course
of whIch no maIerIaI IncIdenI occurred, exceI IhaI an Amer-
Ican rIvaIeer, faIIIng In wIIh Ihe fIeeI, was caIured and seI
fIre Io by hIs MajesIy's shI Ihe SquIrreI. On January Ihe
sevenIh, l777, we arrIved aI PIymouIh. I was hay once
more Io Iread uon ngIIsh ground; and, afIer assIng some
IIIIIe IIme aI PIymouIh and xeIer among some Ious
frIends, whom I was hay Io see, I wenI Io Iondon wIIh a
hearI reIeIe wIIh Ihanks Io Ood for aII asI mercIes.
!(%
!"#$%&' ()
W*00#(#&'$'(-&)-<'*/&)$/0$'"#$-4'"/(D)$3*0#JJ
=#'*'*/&$'/$'"#$X4##&JJ@/&<34)*/&
_IfferenI IransacIIons of Ihe auIhor's IIfe IIII Ihe resenI
IImeHIs aIIcaIIon Io Ihe IaIe BIsho of Iondon Io be a-
oInIed a mIssIonary Io AfrIcaSome accounI of hIs share In
Ihe conducI of Ihe IaIe exedIIIon Io SIerra IeonaPeIIIIon
Io Ihe QueenConcIusIon._
Such were Ihe varIous scenes whIch I was a wIIness Io,
and Ihe forIune I exerIenced unIII Ihe year l777. SInce IhaI
erIod my IIfe has been more unIform, and Ihe IncIdenIs of II
fewer, Ihan In any oIher equaI number of years recedIng; I
Iherefore hasIen Io Ihe concIusIon of a narraIIve, whIch I
fear Ihe reader may IhInk aIready suffIcIenIIy IedIous.
I had suffered so many ImosIIIons In my commercIaI
IransacIIons In dIfferenI arIs of Ihe worId, IhaI I became
hearIIIy dIsgusIed wIIh Ihe sea-farIng IIfe, and I was deIerm-
Ined noI Io reIurn Io II, aI IeasI for some IIme. I Iherefore
once more engaged In servIce shorIIy afIer my reIurn, and
conIInued for Ihe mosI arI In IhIs sIIuaIIon unIII l784.
Soon afIer my arrIvaI In Iondon, I saw a remarkabIe cIr-
cumsIance reIaIIve Io AfrIcan comIexIon, whIch I IhoughI so
exIraordInary, IhaI I beg Ieave jusI Io menIIon II: A whIIe
negro woman, IhaI I had formerIy seen In Iondon and oIher
arIs, had marrIed a whIIe man, by whom she had Ihree
boys, and Ihey were every one muIaIIoes, and yeI Ihey had
fIne IIghI haIr. In l779 I served Oovernor Macnamara, who
had been a consIderabIe IIme on Ihe coasI of AfrIca. In Ihe
IIme of my servIce, I used Io ask frequenIIy oIher servanIs Io
joIn me In famIIy rayers; buI IhIs onIy excIIed IheIr mock-
ery. However, Ihe Oovernor, undersIandIng IhaI I was of a
!(&
reIIgIous Iurn, wIshed Io know of whaI reIIgIon I was; I IoId
hIm I was a roIesIanI of Ihe church of ngIand, agreeabIe Io
Ihe IhIrIy-nIne arIIcIes of IhaI church, and IhaI whomsoever
I found Io reach accordIng Io IhaI docIrIne, Ihose I wouId
hear. A few days afIer IhIs, we had some more dIscourse on
Ihe same subjecI: Ihe Oovernor soke Io me on II agaIn, and
saId IhaI he wouId, If I chose, as he IhoughI I mIghI be of ser-
vIce In converIIng my counIrymen Io Ihe OoseI faIIh, geI me
senI ouI as a mIssIonary Io AfrIca. I aI fIrsI refused goIng,
and IoId hIm how I had been served on a IIke occasIon by
some whIIe eoIe Ihe IasI voyage I wenI Io JamaIca, when I
aIIemIed (If II were Ihe wIII of Ood) Io be Ihe means of con-
verIIng Ihe IndIan rInce; and I saId I suosed Ihey wouId
serve me worse Ihan AIexander Ihe coersmIIh dId SI. PauI,
If I shouId aIIemI Io go amongsI Ihem In AfrIca. He IoId me
noI Io fear, for he wouId aIy Io Ihe BIsho of Iondon Io geI
me ordaIned. On Ihese Ierms I consenIed Io Ihe Oovernor's
roosaI Io go Io AfrIca, In hoe of doIng good If ossIbIe
amongsI my counIrymen; so, In order Io have me senI ouI
roerIy, we ImmedIaIeIy wroIe Ihe foIIowIng IeIIers Io Ihe
IaIe BIsho of Iondon:
To Ihe RIghI Reverend aIher In Ood, ROBRT, _Iord
BIsho of Iondon_: The MMORIAI of OusIavus Vassa
SheweIh,
ThaI your memorIaIIsI Is a naIIve of AfrIca, and has a
knowIedge of Ihe manners and cusIoms of Ihe InhabIIanIs of
IhaI counIry.
ThaI your memorIaIIsI has resIded In dIfferenI arIs of
uroe for IwenIy-Iwo years IasI asI, and embraced Ihe
ChrIsIIan faIIh In Ihe year l759.
ThaI your memorIaIIsI Is desIrous of reIurnIng Io AfrIca as
a mIssIonary, If encouraged by your IordshI, In hoes of be-
Ing abIe Io revaII uon hIs counIrymen Io become ChrIsII-
ans; and your memorIaIIsI Is Ihe more Induced Io underIake
Ihe same, from Ihe success IhaI has aIIended Ihe IIke under-
IakIngs when encouraged by Ihe PorIuguese Ihrough IheIr
dIfferenI seIIIemenIs on Ihe coasI of AfrIca, and aIso by Ihe
uIch: boIh governmenIs encouragIng Ihe bIacks, who, by
IheIr educaIIon are quaIIfIed Io underIake Ihe same, and are
!('
found more roer Ihan uroean cIergymen, unacquaInIed
wIIh Ihe Ianguage and cusIoms of Ihe counIry.
Your memorIaIIsI's onIy moIIve for soIIcIIIng Ihe offIce of a
mIssIonary Is, IhaI he may be a means, under Ood, of reform-
Ing hIs counIrymen and ersuadIng Ihem Io embrace Ihe
ChrIsIIan reIIgIon. Therefore your memorIaIIsI humbIy rays
your IordshI's encouragemenI and suorI In Ihe
underIakIng.
O!STAV!S VASSA.
AI Mr. OuIhrIe's, IayIor, No. l7, Hedge-Iane.
My Iord,
I have resIded near seven years on Ihe coasI of AfrIca, for
mosI arI of Ihe IIme as commandIng offIcer. rom Ihe know-
Iedge I have of Ihe counIry and IIs InhabIIanIs, I am IncIIned
Io IhInk IhaI Ihe wIIhIn Ian wIII be aIIended wIIh greaI suc-
cess, If counIenanced by your IordshI. I beg Ieave furIher Io
reresenI Io your IordshI, IhaI Ihe IIke aIIemIs, when en-
couraged by oIher governmenIs, have meI wIIh uncommon
success; and aI IhIs very IIme I know a very resecIabIe
characIer a bIack rIesI aI Cae CoasI CasIIe. I know Ihe
wIIhIn named OusIavus Vassa, and beIIeve hIm a moraI good
man.
I have Ihe honour Io be, My Iord, Your IordshI's HumbIe
and obedIenI servanI, MATT. MACNAMARA.
Orove, llIh March l779.
ThIs IeIIer was aIso accomanIed by Ihe foIIowIng from
ocIor WaIIace, who had resIded In AfrIca for many years,
and whose senIImenIs on Ihe subjecI of an AfrIcan mIssIon
were Ihe same wIIh Oovernor Macnamara's.
_March l3, l779_.
My Iord,
I have resIded near fIve years on SenegambIa on Ihe coasI
of AfrIca, and have had Ihe honour of fIIIIng very consIder-
abIe emIoymenIs In IhaI rovInce. I do arove of Ihe wIIh-
In Ian, and IhInk Ihe underIakIng very IaudabIe and roer,
and IhaI II deserves your IordshI's roIecIIon and encour-
agemenI, In whIch case II musI be aIIended wIIh Ihe InIen-
ded success.
!((
I am, My Iord, Your IordshI's HumbIe and obedIenI ser-
vanI, THOMAS WAIIAC.
WIIh Ihese IeIIers, I waIIed on Ihe BIsho by Ihe
Oovernor's desIre, and resenIed Ihem Io hIs IordshI. He
receIved me wIIh much condescensIon and oIIIeness; buI,
from some cerIaIn scruIes of deIIcacy, decIIned Io ordaIn me.
My soIe moIIve for Ihus dweIIIng on IhIs IransacIIon, or In-
serIIng Ihese aers, Is Ihe oInIon whIch genIIemen of sense
and educaIIon, who are acquaInIed wIIh AfrIca, enIerIaIn of
Ihe robabIIIIy of converIIng Ihe InhabIIanIs of II Io Ihe faIIh
of Jesus ChrIsI, If Ihe aIIemI were counIenanced by Ihe
IegIsIaIure.
ShorIIy afIer IhIs I IefI Ihe Oovernor, and served a nobIe-
man In Ihe evonshIre mIIIIIa, wIIh whom I was encamed
aI CoxheaIh for some IIme; buI Ihe oeraIIons Ihere were Ioo
mInuIe and unInIeresIIng Io make a deIaII of.
In Ihe year l783 I vIsIIed eIghI counIIes In WaIes, from
moIIves of curIosIIy. WhIIe I was In IhaI arI of Ihe counIry I
was Ied Io go down InIo a coaI-II In ShroshIre, buI my curI-
osIIy nearIy cosI me my IIfe; for whIIe I was In Ihe II Ihe
coaIs feII In, and burIed one oor man, who was noI far from
me: uon IhIs I goI ouI as fasI as I couId, IhInkIng Ihe sur-
face of Ihe earIh Ihe safesI arI of II.
In Ihe srIng l784 I IhoughI of vIsIIIng oId ocean agaIn. In
consequence of IhIs I embarked as sIeward on board a fIne
new shI caIIed Ihe Iondon, commanded by MarIIn HokIn,
and saIIed for New-York. I admIred IhIs cIIy very much; II Is
Iarge and weII-buIII, and abounds wIIh rovIsIons of aII
kInds. WhIIe we Iay here a cIrcumsIance haened whIch I
IhoughI exIremeIy sInguIar:One day a maIefacIor was Io
be execuIed on a gaIIows; buI wIIh a condIIIon IhaI If any wo-
man, havIng noIhIng on buI her shIfI, marrIed Ihe man un-
der Ihe gaIIows, hIs IIfe was Io be saved. ThIs exIraordInary
rIvIIege was cIaImed; a woman resenIed herseIf; and Ihe
marrIage ceremony was erformed. Our shI havIng goI
Iaden we reIurned Io Iondon In January l785. When she
was ready agaIn for anoIher voyage, Ihe caIaIn beIng an
agreeabIe man, I saIIed wIIh hIm from hence In Ihe srIng,
March l785, for PhIIadeIhIa. On Ihe fIfIh of ArII we Iook
!()
our dearIure from Ihe Iand's-end, wIIh a IeasanI gaIe; and
abouI nIne o'cIock IhaI nIghI Ihe moon shone brIghI, and Ihe
sea was smooIh, whIIe our shI was goIng free by Ihe wInd,
aI Ihe raIe of abouI four or fIve mIIes an hour. AI IhIs IIme
anoIher shI was goIng nearIy as fasI as we on Ihe oosIIe
oInI, meeIIng us rIghI In Ihe IeeIh, yeI none on board ob-
served eIIher shI unIII we sIruck each oIher forcIbIy head
and head, Io Ihe asIonIshmenI and consIernaIIon of boIh
crews. She dId us much damage, buI I beIIeve we dId her
more; for when we assed by each oIher, whIch we dId very
quIckIy, Ihey caIIed Io us Io brIng Io, and hoIsI ouI our boaI,
buI we had enough Io do Io mInd ourseIves; and In abouI
eIghI mInuIes we saw no more of her. We refIIIed as weII as
we couId Ihe nexI day, and roceeded on our voyage, and In
May arrIved aI PhIIadeIhIa. I was very gIad Io see IhIs fa-
vourIIe oId Iown once more; and my Ieasure was much In-
creased In seeIng Ihe worIhy quakers freeIng and easIng Ihe
burIhens of many of my oressed AfrIcan breIhren. II re-
joIced my hearI when one of Ihese frIendIy eoIe Iook me Io
see a free-schooI Ihey had erecIed for every denomInaIIon of
bIack eoIe, whose mInds are cuIIIvaIed here and forwarded
Io vIrIue; and Ihus Ihey are made usefuI members of Ihe
communIIy. oes noI Ihe success of IhIs racIIce say IoudIy
Io Ihe IanIers In Ihe Ianguage of scrIIure"Oo ye and do
IIkewIse7"
In OcIober l785 I was accomanIed by some of Ihe AfrIc-
ans, and resenIed IhIs address of Ihanks Io Ihe genIIemen
caIIed rIends or Quakers, In Oracechurch-CourI Iombard-
SIreeI:
OenIIemen,
By readIng your book, enIIIIed a CauIIon Io OreaI BrIIaIn
and her CoIonIes, concernIng Ihe CaIamIIous SIaIe of Ihe en-
sIaved Negroes: We Ihe oor, oressed, needy, and much-
degraded negroes, desIre Io aroach you wIIh IhIs address
of Ihanks, wIIh our InmosI Iove and warmesI acknowIedg-
menI; and wIIh Ihe deeesI sense of your benevoIence, un-
wearIed Iabour, and kInd InIerosIIIon, Iowards breakIng Ihe
yoke of sIavery, and Io admInIsIer a IIIIIe comforI and ease Io
!)*
Ihousands and Iens of Ihousands of very grIevousIy affIIcIed,
and Ioo heavy burIhened negroes.
OenIIemen, couId you, by erseverance, aI IasI be enabIed,
under Ood, Io IIghIen In any degree Ihe heavy burIhen of Ihe
affIIcIed, no doubI II wouId, In some measure, be Ihe ossIbIe
means, under Ood, of savIng Ihe souIs of many of Ihe o-
ressors; and, If so, sure we are IhaI Ihe Ood, whose eyes are
ever uon aII hIs creaIures, and aIways rewards every Irue
acI of vIrIue, and regards Ihe rayers of Ihe oressed, wIII
gIve Io you and yours Ihose bIessIngs whIch II Is noI In our
ower Io exress or conceIve, buI whIch we, as a arI of Ihose
caIIved, oressed, and affIIcIed eoIe, mosI earnesIIy
wIsh and ray for.
These genIIemen receIved us very kIndIy, wIIh a romIse
Io exerI IhemseIves on behaIf of Ihe oressed AfrIcans, and
we arIed.
WhIIe In Iown I chanced once Io be InvIIed Io a quaker's
weddIng. The sImIe and yeI exressIve mode used aI IheIr
soIemnIzaIIons Is worIhy of noIe. The foIIowIng Is Ihe Irue
form of II:
AfIer Ihe comany have meI Ihey have seasonabIe exhorIa-
IIons by severaI of Ihe members; Ihe brIde and brIdegroom
sIand u, and, IakIng each oIher by Ihe hand In a soIemn
manner, Ihe man audIIy decIares Io IhIs urose:
"rIends, In Ihe fear of Ihe Iord, and In Ihe resence of
IhIs assembIy, whom I desIre Io be my wIInesses, I Iake IhIs
my frIend, M.N. Io be my wIfe; romIsIng, Ihrough dIvIne as-
sIsIance, Io be unIo her a IovIng and faIIhfuI husband IIII
deaIh searaIe us:" and Ihe woman makes Ihe IIke decIara-
IIon. Then Ihe Iwo fIrsI sIgn IheIr names Io Ihe record, and
as many more wIInesses as have a mInd. I had Ihe honour Io
subscrIbe mIne Io a regIsIer In Oracechurch-CourI, Iombard-
SIreeI.
We reIurned Io Iondon In AugusI; and our shI noI goIng
ImmedIaIeIy Io sea, I shIed as a sIeward In an AmerIcan
shI caIIed Ihe Harmony, CaIaIn John WIIIeI, and IefI Ion-
don In March l786, bound Io PhIIadeIhIa. Ieven days afIer
saIIIng we carrIed our foremasI away. We had a nIne weeks
assage, whIch caused our IrI noI Io succeed weII, Ihe
!)!
markeI for our goods rovIng bad; and, Io make II worse, my
commander began Io Iay me Ihe IIke IrIcks as oIhers Ioo of-
Ien racIIse on free negroes In Ihe WesI IndIes. BuI I Ihank
Ood I found many frIends here, who In some measure re-
venIed hIm. On my reIurn Io Iondon In AugusI I was very
agreeabIy surrIsed Io fInd IhaI Ihe benevoIence of govern-
menI had adoIed Ihe Ian of some hIIanIhroIc IndIvIduaIs
Io send Ihe AfrIcans from hence Io IheIr naIIve quarIer; and
IhaI some vesseIs were Ihen engaged Io carry Ihem Io SIerra
Ieone; an acI whIch redounded Io Ihe honour of aII con-
cerned In IIs romoIIon, and fIIIed me wIIh rayers and much
rejoIcIng. There was Ihen In Ihe cIIy a seIecI commIIIee of
genIIemen for Ihe bIack oor, Io some of whom I had Ihe hon-
our of beIng known; and, as soon as Ihey heard of my arrIvaI
Ihey senI for me Io Ihe commIIIee. When I came Ihere Ihey
Informed me of Ihe InIenIIon of governmenI; and as Ihey
seemed Io IhInk me quaIIfIed Io suerInIend arI of Ihe un-
derIakIng, Ihey asked me Io go wIIh Ihe bIack oor Io AfrIca.
I oInIed ouI Io Ihem many objecIIons Io my goIng; and ar-
IIcuIarIy I exressed some dIffIcuIIIes on Ihe accounI of Ihe
sIave deaIers, as I wouId cerIaInIy oose IheIr IraffIc In Ihe
human secIes by every means In my ower. However Ihese
objecIIons were over-ruIed by Ihe genIIemen of Ihe commII-
Iee, who revaIIed on me Io go, and recommended me Io Ihe
honourabIe CommIssIoners of hIs MajesIy's Navy as a roer
erson Io acI as commIssary for governmenI In Ihe InIended
exedIIIon; and Ihey accordIngIy aoInIed me In November
l786 Io IhaI offIce, and gave me suffIcIenI ower Io acI for
Ihe governmenI In Ihe caacIIy of commIssary, havIng re-
ceIved my warranI and Ihe foIIowIng order.
_By Ihe rIncIaI OffIcers and CommIssIoners of hIs
MajesIy's Navy_.
Whereas you were dIrecIed, by our warranI of Ihe 4Ih of
IasI monIh, Io receIve InIo your charge from Mr. IrvIng Ihe
surIus rovIsIons remaInIng of whaI was rovIded for Ihe
voyage, as weII as Ihe rovIsIons for Ihe suorI of Ihe bIack
oor, afIer Ihe IandIng aI SIerra Ieone, wIIh Ihe cIoaIhIng,
IooIs, and aII oIher arIIcIes rovIded aI governmenI's ex-
ense; and as Ihe rovIsIons were IaId In aI Ihe raIe of Iwo
!)"
monIhs for Ihe voyage, and for four monIhs afIer Ihe Iand-
Ing, buI Ihe number embarked beIng so much Iess Ihan was
execIed, whereby Ihere may be a consIderabIe surIus of
rovIsIons, cIoaIhIng, &c. These are, In addIIIon Io former or-
ders, Io dIrecI and requIre you Io arorIaIe or dIsose of
such surIus Io Ihe besI advanIage you can for Ihe benefII of
governmenI, keeIng and renderIng Io us a faIIhfuI accounI
of whaI you do hereIn. And for your guIdance In revenIIng
any whIIe ersons goIng, who are noI InIended Io have Ihe
InduIgences of beIng carrIed IhIIher, we send you herewIIh a
IIsI of Ihose recommended by Ihe CommIIIee for Ihe bIack
oor as roer ersons Io be ermIIIed Io embark, and ac-
quaInI you IhaI you are noI Io suffer any oIhers Io go who do
noI roduce a cerIIfIcaIe from Ihe commIIIee for Ihe bIack
oor, of IheIr havIng IheIr ermIssIon for II. or whIch IhIs
shaII be your warranI. aIed aI Ihe Navy OffIce, January l6,
l787.
J. HINSIOW, OO. MARSH, W. PAIMR.
To Mr. OusIavus Vassa, CommIssary of ProvIsIons and
SIores for Ihe BIack Poor goIng Io SIerra Ieone.
I roceeded ImmedIaIeIy Io Ihe execuIIon of my duIy on
board Ihe vesseIs desIIned for Ihe voyage, where I conIInued
IIII Ihe March foIIowIng.
urIng my conIInuance In Ihe emIoymenI of governmenI,
I was sIruck wIIh Ihe fIagranI abuses commIIIed by Ihe
agenI, and endeavoured Io remedy Ihem, buI wIIhouI effecI.
One InsIance, among many whIch I couId roduce, may serve
as a secImen. OovernmenI had ordered Io be rovIded aII
necessarIes (sIos, as Ihey are caIIed, IncIuded) for 750 er-
sons; however, noI beIng abIe Io musIer more Ihan 426, I was
ordered Io send Ihe suerfIuous sIos, &c. Io Ihe kIng's sIores
aI PorIsmouIh; buI, when I demanded Ihem for IhaI urose
from Ihe agenI, II aeared Ihey had never been boughI,
Ihough aId for by governmenI. BuI IhaI was noI aII, govern-
menI were noI Ihe onIy objecIs of ecuIaIIon; Ihese oor
eoIe suffered InfInIIeIy more; IheIr accommodaIIons were
mosI wreIched; many of Ihem wanIed beds, and many more
cIoaIhIng and oIher necessarIes. or Ihe IruIh of IhIs, and
much more, I do noI seek credII from my own asserIIon. I
!)#
aeaI Io Ihe IesIImony of CaI. Thomson, of Ihe NauIIIus,
who convoyed us, Io whom I aIIed In ebruary l787 for a
remedy, when I had remonsIraIed Io Ihe agenI In vaIn, and
even broughI hIm Io be a wIIness of Ihe InjusIIce and ores-
sIon I comIaIned of. I aeaI aIso Io a IeIIer wrIIIen by Ihese
wreIched eoIe, so earIy as Ihe begInnIng of Ihe recedIng
January, and ubIIshed In Ihe MornIng HeraId of Ihe 4Ih of
IhaI monIh, sIgned by IwenIy of IheIr chIefs.
I couId noI sIIenIIy suffer governmenI Io be Ihus cheaIed,
and my counIrymen Iundered and oressed, and even IefI
desIIIuIe of Ihe necessarIes for aImosI IheIr exIsIence. I
Iherefore Informed Ihe CommIssIoners of Ihe Navy of Ihe
agenI's roceedIng; buI my dIsmIssIon was soon afIer ro-
cured, by means of a genIIeman In Ihe cIIy, whom Ihe agenI,
conscIous of hIs ecuIaIIon, had deceIved by IeIIer, and
whom, moreover, emowered Ihe same agenI Io receIve on
board, aI Ihe governmenI exense, a number of ersons as
assengers, conIrary Io Ihe orders I receIved. By IhIs I
suffered a consIderabIe Ioss In my roerIy: however, Ihe
commIssIoners were saIIsfIed wIIh my conducI, and wroIe Io
CaI. Thomson, exressIng IheIr arobaIIon of II.
Thus rovIded, Ihey roceeded on IheIr voyage; and aI IasI,
worn ouI by IreaImenI, erhas noI Ihe mosI mIId, and
wasIed by sIckness, broughI on by wanI of medIcIne, cIoaIhs,
beddIng, &c. Ihey reached SIerra Ieone jusI aI Ihe com-
mencemenI of Ihe raIns. AI IhaI season of Ihe year II Is Im-
ossIbIe Io cuIIIvaIe Ihe Iands; IheIr rovIsIons Iherefore
were exhausIed before Ihey couId derIve any benefII from ag-
rIcuIIure; and II Is noI surrIsIng IhaI many, esecIaIIy Ihe
Iascars, whose consIIIuIIons are very Iender, and who had
been cooed u In shIs from OcIober Io June, and accom-
modaIed In Ihe manner I have menIIoned, shouId be so
wasIed by IheIr confInemenI as noI Iong Io survIve II.
Thus ended my arI of Ihe Iong-IaIked-of exedIIIon Io SI-
erra Ieone; an exedIIIon whIch, however unforIunaIe In Ihe
evenI, was humane and oIIIIc In IIs desIgn, nor was IIs faII-
ure owIng Io governmenI: every IhIng was done on IheIr arI;
buI Ihere was evIdenIIy suffIcIenI mIsmanagemenI aIIendIng
Ihe conducI and execuIIon of II Io defeaI IIs success.
!)$
I shouId noI have been so amIe In my accounI of IhIs
IransacIIon, had noI Ihe share I bore In II been made Ihe
subjecI of arIIaI anImadversIon, and even my dIsmIssIon
from my emIoymenI IhoughI worIhy of beIng made by some
a maIIer of ubIIc IrIumh
23
. The moIIves whIch mIghI InfIu-
ence any erson Io descend Io a eIIy conIesI wIIh an ob-
scure AfrIcan, and Io seek graIIfIcaIIon by hIs deressIon,
erhas II Is noI roer here Io InquIre InIo or reIaIe, even If
IIs deIecIIon were necessary Io my vIndIcaIIon; buI I Ihank
Heaven II Is noI. I wIsh Io sIand by my own InIegrIIy, and
noI Io sheIIer myseIf under Ihe ImrorIeIy of anoIher; and I
IrusI Ihe behavIour of Ihe CommIssIoners of Ihe Navy Io me
enIIIIe me Io make IhIs asserIIon; for afIer I had been dIs-
mIssed, March 24, I drew u a memorIaI Ihus: _To Ihe RIghI
HonourabIe Ihe Iords CommIssIoners of hIs MajesIy's Treas-
ury: The MemorIaI and PeIIIIon of_ OusIavus Vassa _a bIack
Man, IaIe CommIssary Io Ihe bIack Poor goIng Io_ AfrIca.
H!MBIY SHWTH, ThaI your IordshIs' memorIaIIsI
was, by Ihe HonourabIe Ihe CommIssIoners of hIs MajesIy's
Navy, on Ihe 4Ih of ecember IasI, aoInIed Io Ihe above
emIoymenI by warranI from IhaI board; ThaI he accord-
IngIy roceeded Io Ihe execuIIon of hIs duIy on board of Ihe
Vernon, beIng one of Ihe shIs aoInIed Io roceed Io AfrIca
wIIh Ihe above oor; ThaI your memorIaIIsI, Io hIs greaI grIef
and asIonIshmenI, receIved a IeIIer of dIsmIssIon from Ihe
HonourabIe CommIssIoners of Ihe Navy, by your IordshIs'
orders; ThaI, conscIous of havIng acIed wIIh Ihe mosI erfecI
fIdeIIIy and Ihe greaIesI assIduIIy In dIschargIng Ihe IrusI
reosed In hIm, he Is aIIogeIher aI a Ioss Io conceIve Ihe reas-
ons of your IordshIs' havIng aIIered Ihe favourabIe oInIon
you were Ieased Io conceIve of hIm, sensIbIe IhaI your Iord-
shIs wouId noI roceed Io so severe a measure wIIhouI some
aarenI good cause; he Iherefore has every reason Io beIIeve
IhaI hIs conducI has been grossIy mIsreresenIed Io your
IordshIs; and he Is Ihe more confIrmed In hIs oInIon, be-
cause, by oosIng measures of oIhers concerned In Ihe same
exedIIIon, whIch Iended Io defeaI your IordshIs' humane
23.See Ihe PubIIc AdverIIser, JuIy l4, l787.
!)%
InIenIIons, and Io uI Ihe governmenI Io a very consIderabIe
addIIIonaI exense, he creaIed a number of enemIes, whose
mIsreresenIaIIons, he has Ioo much reason Io beIIeve, IaId
Ihe foundaIIon of hIs dIsmIssIon. !nsuorIed by frIends,
and unaIded by Ihe advanIages of a IIberaI educaIIon, he can
onIy hoe for redress from Ihe jusIIce of hIs cause, In addI-
IIon Io Ihe morIIfIcaIIon of havIng been removed from hIs
emIoymenI, and Ihe advanIage whIch he reasonabIy mIghI
have execIed Io have derIved Iherefrom. He has had Ihe
mIsforIune Io have sunk a consIderabIe arI of hIs IIIIIe
roerIy In fIIIIng hImseIf ouI, and In oIher exenses arIsIng
ouI of hIs sIIuaIIon, an accounI of whIch he here annexes.
Your memorIaIIsI wIII noI IroubIe your IordshIs wIIh a vIn-
dIcaIIon of any arI of hIs conducI, because he knows noI of
whaI crImes he Is accused; he, however, earnesIIy enIreaIs
IhaI you wIII be Ieased Io dIrecI an InquIry InIo hIs beha-
vIour durIng Ihe IIme he acIed In Ihe ubIIc servIce; and, If II
be found IhaI hIs dIsmIssIon arose from faIse reresenIa-
IIons, he Is confIdenI IhaI In your IordshIs' jusIIce he shaII
fInd redress. Your eIIIIoner Iherefore humbIy rays IhaI
your IordshIs wIII Iake hIs case InIo consIderaIIon, and IhaI
you wIII be Ieased Io order aymenI of Ihe above referred-Io
accounI, amounIIng Io 32I. 4s. and aIso Ihe wages InIended,
whIch Is mosI humbIy submIIIed. _Iondon, May l2, l787._
The above eIIIIon was deIIvered InIo Ihe hands of IheIr
IordshIs, who were kInd enough, In Ihe sace of some few
monIhs afIerwards, wIIhouI hearIng, Io order me 50I. sIer-
IIngIhaI Is, l8I. wages for Ihe IIme (uwards of four
monIhs) I acIed a faIIhfuI arI In IheIr servIce. CerIaInIy Ihe
sum Is more Ihan a free negro wouId have had In Ihe wesIern
coIonIes!!! * * * * * March Ihe 2lsI, l788, I had Ihe honour of
resenIIng Ihe Queen wIIh a eIIIIon on behaIf of my AfrIcan
breIhren, whIch was receIved mosI gracIousIy by her
MajesIy
24
: To Ihe Q!N's mosI xceIIenI MajesIy. Madam,
Your MajesIy's weII known benevoIence and humanIIy em-
boIdens me Io aroach your royaI resence, IrusIIng IhaI
24.AI Ihe requesI of some of my mosI arIIcuIar frIends, I Iake Ihe
IIberIy of InserIIng II here.
!)&
Ihe obscurIIy of my sIIuaIIon wIII noI revenI your MajesIy
from aIIendIng Io Ihe sufferIngs for whIch I Iead. YeI I do
noI soIIcII your royaI IIy for my own dIsIress; my sufferIngs,
aIIhough numerous, are In a measure forgoIIen. I suIIcaIe
your MajesIy's comassIon for mIIIIons of my AfrIcan coun-
Irymen, who groan under Ihe Iash of Iyranny In Ihe WesI In-
dIes. The oressIon and crueIIy exercIsed Io Ihe unhay
negroes Ihere, have aI IengIh reached Ihe BrIIIsh IegIsIaIure,
and Ihey are now deIIberaIIng on IIs redress; even severaI
ersons of roerIy In sIaves In Ihe WesI IndIes, have eII-
IIoned arIIamenI agaInsI IIs conIInuance, sensIbIe IhaI II Is
as ImoIIIIc as II Is unjusIand whaI Is Inhuman musI ever
be unwIse. Your MajesIy's reIgn has been hIIherIo dIsIIn-
guIshed by rIvaIe acIs of benevoIence and bounIy; sureIy
Ihe more exIended Ihe mIsery Is, Ihe greaIer cIaIm II has Io
your MajesIy's comassIon, and Ihe greaIer musI be your
MajesIy's Ieasure In admInIsIerIng Io IIs reIIef. I resume,
Iherefore, gracIous Queen, Io ImIore your InIerosIIIon wIIh
your royaI consorI, In favour of Ihe wreIched AfrIcans; IhaI,
by your MajesIy's benevoIenI InfIuence, a erIod may now be
uI Io IheIr mIsery; and IhaI Ihey may be raIsed from Ihe
condIIIon of bruIes, Io whIch Ihey are aI resenI degraded, Io
Ihe rIghIs and sIIuaIIon of freemen, and admIIIed Io arIake
of Ihe bIessIngs of your MajesIy's hay governmenI; so shaII
your MajesIy enjoy Ihe hearIfeII Ieasure of rocurIng haI-
ness Io mIIIIons, and be rewarded In Ihe graIefuI rayers of
IhemseIves, and of IheIr osIerIIy. And may Ihe aII-bounIIfuI
CreaIor shower on your MajesIy, and Ihe RoyaI amIIy,
every bIessIng IhaI IhIs worId can afford, and every fuIness
of joy whIch dIvIne reveIaIIon has romIsed us In Ihe nexI. I
am your MajesIy's mosI duIIfuI and devoIed servanI Io com-
mand, OusIavus Vassa, The Oressed IhIoean. No. 53,
BaIdwIn's Oardens. * * * * * The negro consoIIdaIed acI,
made by Ihe assembIy of JamaIca IasI year, and Ihe new acI
of amendmenI now In agIIaIIon Ihere, conIaIn a roof of Ihe
exIsIence of Ihose charges IhaI have been made agaInsI Ihe
IanIers reIaIIve Io Ihe IreaImenI of IheIr sIaves. I hoe Io
have Ihe saIIsfacIIon of seeIng Ihe renovaIIon of IIberIy and
jusIIce resIIng on Ihe BrIIIsh governmenI, Io vIndIcaIe Ihe
!)'
honour of our common naIure. These are concerns whIch do
noI erhas beIong Io any arIIcuIar offIce: buI, Io seak
more serIousIy Io every man of senIImenI, acIIons IIke Ihese
are Ihe jusI and sure foundaIIon of fuIure fame; a reversIon,
Ihough remoIe, Is coveIed by some nobIe mInds as a subsIan-
IIaI good. II Is uon Ihese grounds IhaI I hoe and execI Ihe
aIIenIIon of genIIemen In ower. These are desIgns conson-
anI Io Ihe eIevaIIon of IheIr rank, and Ihe dIgnIIy of IheIr
sIaIIons: Ihey are ends suIIabIe Io Ihe naIure of a free and
generous governmenI; and, connecIed wIIh vIews of emIre
and domInIon, suIIed Io Ihe benevoIence and soIId merII of
Ihe IegIsIaIure. II Is a ursuII of subsIanIIaI greaIne eaI
IeasI Ihe secuIaIIon Io me Is IeasIngwhen Ihe sabIe
eoIe shaII graIefuIIy commemoraIe Ihe ausIcIous ra of
exIensIve freedom. Then shaII Ihose ersons
25
arIIcuIarIy be
named wIIh raIse and honour, who generousIy roosed
and sIood forIh In Ihe cause of humanIIy, IIberIy, and good
oIIcy; and broughI Io Ihe ear of Ihe IegIsIaIure desIgns
worIhy of royaI aIronage and adoIIon. May Heaven make
Ihe BrIIIsh senaIors Ihe dIsersers of IIghI, IIberIy, and scI-
ence, Io Ihe uIIermosI arIs of Ihe earIh: Ihen wIII be gIory Io
Ood on Ihe hIghesI, on earIh eace, and goodwIII Io
men:OIory, honour, eace, &c. Io every souI of man IhaI
workeIh good, Io Ihe BrIIons fIrsI, (because Io Ihem Ihe
OoseI Is reached) and aIso Io Ihe naIIons. 'Those IhaI hon-
our IheIr Maker have mercy on Ihe oor.' 'II Is rIghIeousness
exaIIeIh a naIIon; buI sIn Is a reroach Io any eoIe; de-
sIrucIIon shaII be Io Ihe workers of InIquIIy, and Ihe wIcked
shaII faII by IheIr own wIckedness.' May Ihe bIessIngs of Ihe
Iord be uon Ihe heads of aII Ihose who commIseraIed Ihe
cases of Ihe oressed negroes, and Ihe fear of Ood roIong
IheIr days; and may IheIr execIaIIons be fIIIed wIIh gIad-
ness! 'The IIberaI devIse IIberaI IhIngs, and by IIberaI IhIngs
shaII sIand,' IsaIah xxxII. 8. They can say wIIh Ious Job,
25.OrenvIIIe Shar, sq; Ihe Reverend Thomas CIarkson; Ihe Reverend
James Ramsay; our aroved frIends, men of vIrIue, are an honour Io
IheIr counIry, ornamenIaI Io human naIure, hay In IhemseIves, and
benefacIors Io mankInd!
!)(
'Id noI I wee for hIm IhaI was In IroubIe7 was noI my souI
grIeved for Ihe oor7' Job xxx. 25. As Ihe Inhuman IraffIc of
sIavery Is Io be Iaken InIo Ihe consIderaIIon of Ihe BrIIIsh Ie-
gIsIaIure, I doubI noI, If a sysIem of commerce was esIab-
IIshed In AfrIca, Ihe demand for manufacIures wouId mosI
raIdIy augmenI, as Ihe naIIve InhabIIanIs wIII InsensIbIy
adoI Ihe BrIIIsh fashIons, manners, cusIoms, &c. In roor-
IIon Io Ihe cIvIIIzaIIon, so wIII be Ihe consumIIon of BrIIIsh
manufacIures. The wear and Iear of a conIInenI, nearIy IwIce
as Iarge as uroe, and rIch In vegeIabIe and mIneraI ro-
ducIIons, Is much easIer conceIved Ihan caIcuIaIed. A case In
oInI.II cosI Ihe AborIgInes of BrIIaIn IIIIIe or noIhIng In
cIoIhIng, &c. The dIfference beIween IheIr forefaIhers and
Ihe resenI generaIIon, In oInI of consumIIon, Is IIIeraIIy
InfInIIe. The suosIIIon Is mosI obvIous. II wIII be equaIIy
Immense In AfrIcaThe same cause, vIz. cIvIIIzaIIon, wIII
ever have Ihe same effecI. II Is IradIng uon safe grounds. A
commercIaI InIercourse wIIh AfrIca oens an InexhausIIbIe
source of weaIIh Io Ihe manufacIurIng InIeresIs of OreaI BrI-
IaIn, and Io aII whIch Ihe sIave Irade Is an objecIIon. If I am
noI mIsInformed, Ihe manufacIurIng InIeresI Is equaI, If noI
suerIor, Io Ihe Ianded InIeresI, as Io Ihe vaIue, for reasons
whIch wIII soon aear. The aboIIIIon of sIavery, so dIaboIIc-
aI, wIII gIve a mosI raId exIensIon of manufacIures, whIch Is
IoIaIIy and dIameIrIcaIIy oosIIe Io whaI some InIeresIed
eoIe asserI. The manufacIurers of IhIs counIry musI and
wIII, In Ihe naIure and reason of IhIngs, have a fuII and con-
sIanI emIoy by suIyIng Ihe AfrIcan markeIs. PouIaIIon,
Ihe boweIs and surface of AfrIca, abound In vaIuabIe and use-
fuI reIurns; Ihe hIdden Ireasures of cenIurIes wIII be broughI
Io IIghI and InIo cIrcuIaIIon. IndusIry, enIerrIze, and mIn-
Ing, wIII have IheIr fuII scoe, roorIIonabIy as Ihey cIvIIIze.
In a word, II Iays oen an endIess fIeId of commerce Io Ihe
BrIIIsh manufacIures and merchanI advenIurer. The manu-
facIurIng InIeresI and Ihe generaI InIeresIs are synonymous.
The aboIIIIon of sIavery wouId be In reaIIIy an unIversaI
good. TorIures, murder, and every oIher ImagInabIe barbar-
IIy and InIquIIy, are racIIsed uon Ihe oor sIaves wIIh Im-
unIIy. I hoe Ihe sIave Irade wIII be aboIIshed. I ray II may
!))
be an evenI aI hand. The greaI body of manufacIurers, unII-
Ing In Ihe cause, wIII consIderabIy facIIIIaIe and exedIIe II;
and, as I have aIready sIaIed, II Is mosI subsIanIIaIIy IheIr
InIeresI and advanIage, and as such Ihe naIIon's aI Iarge,
(exceI Ihose ersons concerned In Ihe manufacIurIng neck-
yokes, coIIars, chaIns, hand-cuffs, Ieg-boIIs, drags, Ihumb-
screws, Iron muzzIes, and coffIns; caIs, scourges, and oIher
InsIrumenIs of IorIure used In Ihe sIave Irade). In a shorI
IIme one senIImenI aIone wIII revaII, from moIIves of In-
IeresI as weII as jusIIce and humanIIy. uroe conIaIns one
hundred and IwenIy mIIIIons of InhabIIanIs. QueryHow
many mIIIIons doIh AfrIca conIaIn7 SuosIng Ihe AfrIcans,
coIIecIIveIy and IndIvIduaIIy, Io exend 5I. a head In raImenI
and furnIIure yearIy when cIvIIIzed, &c. an ImmensIIy bey-
ond Ihe reach of ImagInaIIon! ThIs I conceIve Io be a Iheory
founded uon facIs, and Iherefore an InfaIIIbIe one. If Ihe
bIacks were ermIIIed Io remaIn In IheIr own counIry, Ihey
wouId doubIe IhemseIves every fIfIeen years. In roorIIon Io
such Increase wIII be Ihe demand for manufacIures. CoIIon
and IndIgo grow sonIaneousIy In mosI arIs of AfrIca; a con-
sIderaIIon IhIs of no smaII consequence Io Ihe manufacIurIng
Iowns of OreaI BrIIaIn. II oens a mosI Immense, gIorIous,
and hay rosecIIhe cIoIhIng, &c. of a conIInenI Ien
Ihousand mIIes In cIrcumference, and ImmenseIy rIch In ro-
ducIIons of every denomInaIIon In reIurn for manufacIures. I
have onIy Iherefore Io requesI Ihe reader's InduIgence and
concIude. I am far from Ihe vanIIy of IhInkIng Ihere Is any
merII In IhIs narraIIve: I hoe censure wIII be susended,
when II Is consIdered IhaI II was wrIIIen by one who was as
unwIIIIng as unabIe Io adorn Ihe IaInness of IruIh by Ihe
coIourIng of ImagInaIIon. My IIfe and forIune have been ex-
IremeIy chequered, and my advenIures varIous. ven Ihose I
have reIaIed are consIderabIy abrIdged. If any IncIdenI In
IhIs IIIIIe work shouId aear unInIeresIIng and IrIfIIng Io
mosI readers, I can onIy say, as my excuse for menIIonIng II,
IhaI aImosI every evenI of my IIfe made an ImressIon on my
mInd and InfIuenced my conducI. I earIy accusIomed myseIf
Io Iook for Ihe hand of Ood In Ihe mInuIesI occurrence, and
Io Iearn from II a Iesson of moraIIIy and reIIgIon; and In IhIs
"**
IIghI every cIrcumsIance I have reIaIed was Io me of ImorI-
ance. AfIer aII, whaI makes any evenI ImorIanI, unIess by
IIs observaIIon we become beIIer and wIser, and Iearn 'Io do
jusIIy, Io Iove mercy, and Io waIk humbIy before Ood7' To
Ihose who are ossessed of IhIs sIrII, Ihere Is scarceIy any
book or IncIdenI so IrIfIIng IhaI does noI afford some rofII,
whIIe Io oIhers Ihe exerIence of ages seems of no use; and
even Io our ouI Io Ihem Ihe Ireasures of wIsdom Is IhrowIng
Ihe jeweIs of InsIrucIIon away.
"*!
1/.#5$'"*)$>//L$Y
C*F*3-($4)#()$-3)/$5/M&3/-5#5
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
!"#$%&'(#))*&')
In hIs ConfessIons Jean-Jacques Rousseau IeIIs Ihe
sIory of hIs IIfe, from Ihe formaIIve exerIence of hIs
humbIe chIIdhood In Oeneva, Ihrough Ihe achIevemenI
of InIernaIIonaI fame as noveIIsI and hIIosoher In
ParIs, Io hIs wanderIngs as an exIIe, ersecuIed by
governmenIs and aIIenaIed from Ihe worId of modern
cIvIIIzaIIon. In IryIng Io exIaIn who he was and how
he came Io be Ihe objecI of oIhers' admIraIIon and ab-
use, Rousseau anaIyses wIIh unIque InsIghI Ihe reIa-
IIonshI beIween an eIusIve buI essenIIaI Inner seIf
and Ihe varIeIy of socIaI IdenIIIIes he was Ied Io adoI.
Iev NIkoIayevIch ToIsIoy
%"*+,"&&,
Iev NIkoIayevIch ToIsIoy
-&."&&,
dna erber
/0''.$1#2)#+(
ThIs InIenseIy ersonaI chronIcIe of a young gIrI grow-
Ing u JewIsh In a smaII mIdwesIern Iown Is Ihe mosI
auIobIograhIcaI of PuIIIzer PrIze-wInnIng erber`s
noveIs, fuII of fIne, fuII-bIown, and fascInaIIng
characIers.
Jack Iondon
!"#$3&0,
TaIes of Iondon's days as a hobo.
rederIck ougIass
402205*6#$&($5"#$7*(#$&($/2#,#2*89$:&;<+0))
NarraIIve of Ihe IIfe of rederIck ougIass Is a mem-
oIr and IreaIIse on aboIIIIon wrIIIen by famous oraIor
and ex-sIave, rederIck ougIass. II Is generaIIy heId
Io be Ihe mosI famous of a number of narraIIves wrII-
Ien by former sIaves durIng Ihe same erIod. In facIuaI
deIaII, Ihe IexI descrIbes Ihe evenIs of hIs IIfe and Is
"*"
consIdered Io be one of Ihe mosI InfIuenIIaI Ieces of
IIIeraIure Io fueI Ihe aboIIIIonIsI movemenI of Ihe
earIy l9Ih cenIury In Ihe !nIIed SIaIes.
CharIoIIe PerkIns OIIman
!"#$=#++&>$?0++@0@#2
"The YeIIow WaIIaer" Is a 6,000-word shorI sIory by
AmerIcan wrIIer CharIoIIe PerkIns OIIman, fIrsI ub-
IIshed In January l892 In New ngIand MagazIne. II
Is regarded as an ImorIanI earIy work of AmerIcan
femInIsI IIIeraIure, IIIusIraIIng aIIIIudes In Ihe l9Ih
cenIury Ioward women's hysIcaI and menIaI heaIIh.
The sIory Is wrIIIen In Ihe fIrsI erson as a serIes of
journaI enIrIes. The narraIor Is a woman whose hus-
band a hysIcIan has confIned her Io Ihe usIaIrs
bedroom of a house he has renIed for Ihe summer. She
Is forbIdden from workIng and has Io hIde her journaI
enIrIes from hIm so IhaI she can recueraIe from whaI
he has dIagnosed as a "Iemorary nervous deressIon
a sIIghI hysIerIcaI Iendency;" a dIagnosIs common Io
women In IhaI erIod. The wIndows of Ihe room are
barred, and Ihere Is a gaIe across Ihe Io of Ihe sIaIrs,
aIIowIng her husband Io conIroI her access Io Ihe resI
of Ihe house.
The sIory IIIusIraIes Ihe effecI of confInemenI on Ihe
narraIor's menIaI heaIIh, and her descenI InIo sy-
chosIs. WIIh noIhIng Io sIImuIaIe her, she becomes ob-
sessed by Ihe aIIern and coIor of Ihe room's
waIIaer.
Joseh Conrad
A$B#2)&'0+$3#8&2,
NaIhanIeI HawIhorne
-*&<20@"*80+$C5&2*#)
Henry James
10>5"&2'#
"*#
MMMH0##5>//L)H</F
ood for Ihe mInd
"*$

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