g his
benefice, to taking an oath contrary to his principles and conscience.
This relation he accompanied with frequent sighs, deep marks of adoration
of the ways of Providence, and warm expressions of his firm trust and
reliance in its goodness and faithfulness, with high encomiums on the
inward satisfaction of a good conscience. When he discoursed with any
clergyman, or other person of literature, he would now and then introduce
some Latin or Greek sentences, that were applicable to what they were
talking about, which gave his hearers a high opinion of his learning; all
this, and his thorough knowledge of those persons whom it was proper to
apply to, made this stratagem succeed even beyond his own expectations.
But now, hearing of a vessel bound to Philadelphia, on board of which
were many Quakers, being cast away on the coast of Ireland, he laid aside
his gown, cassock, and band, clothes himself in a plain suit, pulls the
button from his hat, and flaps it on every side; his countenance was now
demure, his language unadorned with any flowers of speech, and the words
You and Sir, he seemed to hold in abomination; his hat was moved to none,
for, though under misfortunes, he would not think of bowing the knee to
Baal.

With these qualifications, he addressed himself to persons of the
denomination of Quakers with great success (for indeed it is to be wished
that all other sects would imitate them in their readiness to relieve
their brethren); and hearing that there was to be a great meeting of them
from all parts, at a place called Thorncombe, in Devonshire, he makes the
best of his way there; and with a demure look and modest assurance enters
the assembly, where, making his case known, and satisfying them, by his
behaviour, of his being one of their sect, they made a very considerable
subscription for his relief.

So active was the mind of our hero, that he was never more happy than
when engaged in some adventure or other; therefore, when he had no
opportunity of putting any great stratagem in execution, he would amuse
himself with those which did not require so great a share of art and
ingenuity. Whenever he heard of any melancholy accident by fire; he
immediately repaired to the place where it happened, and there, remarking
very accurately the spot, inquired into the cause of it, and getting an
exact information of the trades, characters, families, and circumstances
of the unhappy sufferers, he immediately assumed t