himself to
me one day in this manner: "I am surprised that a young fellow like you
discovers no inclination to push his fortune in the world. Before I
was of your age I was broiling on the coast of Guinea. D--e! what's to
hinder you from profiting by the war which will certainly be declared in
a short time against Spain? You may easily get on board of a king's ship
in quality of surgeon's mate, where you will certainly see a great deal
of practice, and stand a good chance of getting prize-money."

I laid hold of this declaration, which I had long wished for, and
assured him I would follow his advice with pleasure, if it were in my
power; but that it was impossible for me to embrace an opportunity of
that kind, as I had no friend to advance a little money to supply me
with what necessaries I should want, and defray the expenses of my
journey to London. He told me that few necessaries were required; and,
as for the expense of my journey, he would lend me money, sufficient
not only for that purpose, but also to maintain me comfortably in London
until I should procure a warrant for my provision on board of some ship.

I gave him a thousand thanks for his obliging offer (although I was very
well apprised of his motive, which was no other than a design to lay the
bastard to my charge after my departure), and accordingly set out in
a few weeks for London; my whole fortune consisting of one suit of
clothes, half a dozen ruffled shirts, as many plain, two pair of worsted
and a like number of threaded stockings; a case of pocket instruments, a
small edition of Horace, Wiseman's Surgery, and ten guineas in cash;
for which Crab took my bond, bearing five per cent interest; at the same
time giving me a letter to a member of parliament for our town, which he
said would do my business effectually.

CHAPTER VIII

I arrive at Newcastle--meet with my old Schoolfellow Strap--we determine
to walk together to London--set out on our Journey--put up at a solitary
Alehouse--are disturbed by a strange Adventure in the Night

There is no such convenience as a waggon in this country, and my
finances were too weak to support the expense of hiring a horse: I
determined therefore to set out with the carriers, who transport goods
from one place to another on horseback; and this scheme I accordingly
put in execution on the 1st day of September, 1739, sitting upon a
pack-saddle between two baskets, one of which contained my goods in a
knap