compose them, by the most powerful
reasons, arguments, and persuasions. And when, indeed, these people had
taken their night's repose, in such lodgings as our ship would allow, we
found nothing but the best of manners, and the most civil
acknowledgements, for which the French are eminently remarkable. The
next day the Captain and one of the priests desired to speak with me and
my nephew the commander. They told us, _that they had saved some money
and valuable things out of the ruined vessel, which was at our service;
only that they desired to be set on shore some where in our way_. At the
first my nephew was for accepting the money; but I (who knew how hard my
case would have been, had the Portuguese Captain served me so) persuaded
him to the contrary; and therefore told them, _that as we had done
nothing but what we were obliged to do, by nature and humanity, and what
we ourselves might expect from others in such calamity; so we took them
up to save them, not to plunder them, or leave them naked upon the land,
to perish for want of subsistance, and therefore would not accept their
money: but as to landing them, that was a great difficulty; for being
bound to the East Indies, it was impossible wilfully to change our
voyage upon their particular account, nor could my nephew_ (who was
under charter party to pursue it by was of Brazil) _answer it to the
freighters_. All that we could do, was to put ourselves in the way of
meeting some ships homeward bound from the West Indies, that, if
possible, they might get a passage to France or England. Indeed, they
were very thankful for our first kindness; but were under great concern,
especially the passengers, at their being carried to the East Indies.
_They begged therefore, I would keep on the banks of Newfoundland,
where, probably, they might meet with some ship, or sloop to carry them
to Canada, whence they came._ As this was but a reasonable request, I
was inclined to grant it, since it was no breach of charter party, and
that the laws of God and nature obliged us to do what good we could to
our fellow-creatures; and besides the danger we ourselves should be in
for want of provisions: so we consented to carry them to Newfoundland,
if wind and weather would permit; if not, that we should carry them to
Martinico in the West Indies. But, as it happened, in a week's time we
made the banks of Newfoundland, where the French people hired a bark to
carry them to France. But the young p