cation to see six or seven appointed in the
same station almost every week--that now being utterly impoverished,
his sole hope consisted in the promise of a friend lately come to town,
to lend him a small matter, for a present to the secretary; without
which he was persuaded he might wait a thousand years to no purpose.
I conceived a mighty liking for this young fellow, which (I believe)
proceeded from the similitude of our fortunes. We spent the whole day
together; and as he lived at Wapping I desired him to take a share of my
bed.

Next day we returned to the Navy Office, where, after being called
before the Board, and questioned about the place of my nativity and
education, they ordered a letter to be made out for me, which, upon
paying half-a-crown to the clerk, I received, and delivered into the
hands of the clerk at Surgeons' Hall, together with a shilling for
his trouble in registering my name. By this time my whole stock was
diminished to two shillings, and I saw not the least prospect of relief,
even for present subsistence, much less to enable me to pay the fees at
Surgeons' Hall for my examination, which would come on in a fortnight.
In this state of perplexity, I consulted Strap, who assured me he would
pawn everything he had in the world, even to his razors, before I should
want: but this expedient I absolutely rejected, telling him, I would a
thousand times rather list for a soldier, of which I had some thoughts,
than be any longer a burden to him. At the word soldier, he grew pale
as death, and begged on his knees I would think no more of that scheme.
"God preserve us all in our right wits!" cried he, "would you turn
soldier, and perhaps be sent abroad against the Spaniards, where you
must stand and be shot at like a woodcock? Heaven keep cold lead out
of my carcase, and let me die in a bed like a Christian, as all my
forefathers have done. What signifies all earthly riches and honour, if
one enjoys not content? and, hereafter, there is no respect of persons.
Better be a poor honest barber with a good conscience, and time to
repent of my sins upon my death-bed, than be cut off (God bless us!)
by a musket-shot, as it were in the very flower of one's age, in the
pursuit of riches and fame. What signify riches, my dear friend? do they
not make unto themselves wings and fly away? as the wise man saith. I
could also mention many other sayings in contempt of riches, both from
the Bible and other good books; but