a large bowl of punch was made, and the planters
flocked on board; their first inquiry was for letters from old England,
what passage he had, how their friends did, and the like.

The captain informed them of the war being declared against Spain, that
it was expected it would soon be declared against France; and that he had
been eleven weeks and four days in his passage.

Their next inquiry was, if the captain had brought them good store of
joiners, carpenters, blacksmiths, weavers, and tailors; upon which the
captain called out one Griffy, a tailor, who had lived at Chumleigh, in
the county of Devon, and was obliged to take a voyage to Maryland, for
making too free with his neighbour's sheep. Two planters, who were
parson Nicholas and Mr. Rolls, asked him if he was sound wind and limb?
and told him it would be worse for him if he told them an untruth; and at
last purchased him from the captain. The poor tailor cried and bellowed
like a bell-wether, cursing his wife who had betrayed him. Mr. Carew,
like a brave man, to whom every soil is his own country, ashamed of his
cowardice, gave the tailor to the devil; and, as he knew he could not do
without them, sent his shears, thimble, and needle, to bear him company.
Wherefore all these wailings? said our hero: have we not a fine country
before us? pointing to the shore. And indeed in this he was very right,
for Maryland not only affords every thing which preserves and confirms
health, but also all things that are charming. The beauty of the
prospect, the fragrancy of the fields and gardens, the brightness of the
sky, and the serenity of the air, affect the ravished senses; the country
being a large plain, and hills in it so easy of ascent, and of such a
moderate height, that they seem rather an artificial ornament to it, than
one of the accidents of nature. The abundance of rivers and brooks is no
little help to the almost incredible fertility of the soil.

But to return.--When all the best tradesmen were bought up, a planter
came to Mr. Carew, and asked him what trade he was of. Mr. Carew, to
satisfy him of his usefulness, told him he was a rat-catcher, a
mendicant, and a dog merchant.--What the devil trades are these? inquired
the planter in astonishment; for I have never before heard of them: upon
which the captain thinking he should lose the sale of him, takes the
planter aside, and tells him he did but jest, being a man of humour, for
that he was a great schola