In our House there lodg’d a young Woman; a Millener, who
I think had a Shop in the Cloisters. She had been genteelly bred,
was sensible and lively, and of most pleasing Conversation. Ralph
read Plays to her in the Evenings, they grew intimate, she took
another Lodging, and he follow’d her. They liv’d together some
time, but he being still out of Business, and her Income not sufficient
to maintain them with her Child, he took a Resolution of
going from London, to try for a Country School, which he thought
himself well qualify’d to undertake, as he wrote an excellent Hand,
and was a Master of Arithmetic and Accounts. This however he
deem’d a Business below him, and confident of future better Fortune
when he should be unwilling to have it known that he once
was so meanly employ’d, he chang’d his Name, and did me the
Honour to assume mine. For I soon after had a Letter from him,
acquainting me, that he was settled in a small Village in Berkshire,
I think it was, where he taught reading and writing to 10 or a
dozen Boys at 6 pence each per Week, recommending Mrs. T. to
my Care, and desiring me to write to him directing for Mr. Franklin
Schoolmaster at such a Place. He continu’d to write frequently,
sending me large Specimens of an Epic Poem, which he was then
composing, and desiring my Remarks and Corrections. These I
gave him from time to time, but endeavour’d rather to discourage
his Proceeding. One of Young’s Satires was then just publish’d.
I copy’d and sent him a great Part of it, which set in a strong
Light the Folly of pursuing the Muses with any Hope of Advancement
by them. All was in vain. Sheets of the Poem continu’d to
come by every Post. In the mean time Mrs. T. having on his
Account lost her Friends and Business, was often in Distresses,
and us’d to send for me, and borrow what I could spare to help
her out of them. I grew fond of her Company, and being at this
time under no Religious Restraints, and presuming on my Importance
to her, I attempted Familiarities, (another Erratum)
which she repuls’d with a proper Resentment, and acquainted him
with my Behaviour. This made a Breach between us, and when
he return’d again to London, he let me know he thought I had
cancel’d all the Obligations he had been under to me. So I found
I was never to expect his Repaying me what I lent to him or advanc’d
for him. This was however not then of much Consequence,
as he was totally unable. And in the Loss of his Friendship I found
my self reliev’d from a Burthen. I now began to think of getting
a little Money beforehand; and expecting better Work, I left
Palmer’s to work at Watts’s near Lincoln’s Inn Fields, a still
greater Printing House. Here I continu’d all the rest of my Stay in
London.
At my first Admission into this Printing House, I took to
working at Press, imagining I felt a Want of the Bodily Exercise
I had been us’d to in America, where Presswork is mix’d with
Composing. I drank only Water; the other Workmen, near 50 in
Number, were great Guzzlers of Beer. On occasion I carried up
and down Stairs a large Form of Types in each hand, when others
carried but one in both Hands. They wonder’d to see from this
and several Instances that the Water-American as they call’d me
was stronger than themselves who drank strong Beer. We had an
Alehouse Boy who attended always in the House to supply the
Workmen. My Companion at the Press, drank every day a Pint
before Breakfast, a Pint at Breakfast with his Bread and Cheese;
a Pint between Breakfast and Dinner; a Pint at Dinner; a Pint in
the Afternoon about Six o’Clock, and another when he had done
his Day’s-Work. I thought it a detestable Custom. But it was
necessary, he suppos’d, to drink strong Beer that he might be
strong to labour. I endeavour’d to convince him that the Bodily
Strength afforded by Beer could only be in proportion to the Grain
or Flour of the Barley dissolved in the Water of which it was
made; that there was more Flour in a Penny-worth of Bread, and
therefore if he would eat that with a Pint of Water, it would
give him more Strength than a Quart of Beer. He drank on
however, and had 4 or 5 Shillings to pay out of his Wages
every Saturday Night for that muddling Liquor; an Expence I was
free from. And thus these poor Devils keep themselves always
under.
Watts after some Weeks desiring to have me in the Composing
Room, I left the Pressmen. A new Bienvenu or Sum for Drink,
being 5 s., was demanded of me by the Compositors. I thought it
an Imposition, as I had paid below. The Master thought so too,
and forbad my Paying it. I stood out two or three Weeks, was
accordingly considered as an Excommunicate, and had so many
little Pieces of private Mischief done me, by mixing my Sorts,
transposing my Pages, breaking my Matter, &c. &c. if I were ever
so little out of the Room, and all ascrib’d to the Chapel Ghost,
which they said ever haunted those not regularly admitted, that
notwithstanding the Master’s Protection, I found myself oblig’d
to comply and pay the Money; convinc’d of the Folly of being on
ill Terms with those one is to live with continually. I was now on
a fair Footing with them, and soon acquir’d considerable Influence.
I propos’d some reasonable Alterations in their Chapel* Laws,
and carried them against all Opposition. From my Example a great
Part of them, left their muddling Breakfast of Beer and Bread and
Cheese, finding they could with me be supply’d from a neighbouring
House with a large Porringer of hot Water-gruel, sprinkled
with Pepper, crumb’d with Bread, and a Bit of Butter in it, for
the Price of a Pint of Beer, viz, three halfpence. This was a more
comfortable as well as cheaper Breakfast, and kept their Heads
clearer. Those who continu’d sotting with Beer all day, were often,
by not paying, out of Credit at the Alehouse, and us’d to make
Interest with me to get Beer, their Light, as they phras’d it, being
out. I watch’d the Pay table on Saturday Night, and collected what
I stood engag’d for them, having to pay some times near Thirty
Shillings a Week on their Accounts. This, and my being esteem’d
a pretty good Riggite, that is a jocular verbal Satyrist, supported
my Consequence in the Society. My constant Attendance, (I never
making a St. Monday), recommended me to the Master; and my
uncommon Quickness at Composing, occasion’d my being put
upon all Work of Dispatch which was generally better paid. So
I went on now very agreably.
My Lodging in Little Britain being too remote, I found another
in Duke-street opposite to the Romish Chapel. It was two pair
of Stairs backwards at an Italian Warehouse. A Widow Lady kept
the House; she had a Daughter and a Maid Servant, and a Journeyman
who attended the Warehouse, but lodg’d abroad. After sending
to enquire my Character at the House where I last lodg’d, she
agreed to take me in at the same Rate, 3s. 6d. per Week, cheaper
as she said from the Protection she expected in having a Man lodge
in the House. She was a Widow, an elderly Woman, had been
bred a Protestant, being a Clergyman’s Daughter, but was converted
to the Catholic Religion by her Husband, whose Memory
she much revered, had lived much among People of Distinction,
and knew a 1000 Anecdotes of them as far back as the Times of
Charles the Second. She was lame in her Knees with the Gout,
and therefore seldom stirr’d out of her Room, so sometimes
wanted Company; and hers was so highly amusing to me; that I
was sure to spend an Evening with her whenever she desired it.
Our Supper was only half an Anchovy each, on a very little Strip
of Bread and Butter, and half a Pint of Ale between us. But the
Entertainment was in her Conversation. My always keeping good
Hours, and giving little Trouble in the Family, made her unwilling
to part with me; so that when I talk’d of a Lodging I had heard of,
nearer my Business, for 2s. 6d. a Week, which, intent as I now was on
saving Money, made some Difference; she bid me not think of it,
for she would abate me two Shillings a Week for the future, so I
remain’d with her at 1s. 6d. as long as I staid in London.
In a Garret of her House there lived a Maiden Lady of 70 in
the most retired Manner, of whom my Landlady gave me this
Account, that she was a Roman Catholic, had been sent abroad
when young and lodg’d in a Nunnery with an Intent of becoming
a Nun: but the Country not agreeing with her, she return’d to
England, where there being no Nunnery, she had vow’d to lead
the Life of a Nun as near as might be done in those Circumstances:
Accordingly she had given all her Estate to charitable Uses, reserving
only Twelve Pounds a Year to live on, and out of this
Sum she still gave a great deal in Charity, living her self on Water-gruel
only, and using no Fire but to boil it. She had lived many
Years in that Garret, being permitted to remain there gratis by
successive Catholic Tenants of the House below, as they deem’d
it a Blessing to have her there. A Priest visited her, to confess her
every Day. I have ask’d her, says my Landlady, how she, as she
liv’d, could possibly find so much Employment for a Confessor?
O, says she, it is impossible to avoid vain Thoughts. I was permitted
once to visit her: She was chearful and polite, and convers’d
pleasantly. The Room was clean, but had no other Furniture than
a Matras, a Table with a Crucifix and Book, a Stool, which she
gave me to sit on, and a Picture over the Chimney of St. Veronica,
displaying her Handkerchief with the miraculous Figure of Christ’s
bleeding Face on it, which she explain’d to me with great Seriousness.
She look’d pale, but was never sick, and I give it as another
Instance on how small an Income Life and Health may be supported.
At Watts’s Printinghouse I contracted an Acquaintance with an
ingenious young Man, one Wygate, who having wealthy Relations,
had been better educated than most Printers, was a tolerable
Latinist, spoke French, and lov’d Reading. I taught him, and a
Friend of his, to swim, at twice going into the River, and they
soon became good Swimmers. They introduc’d me to some Gentlemen
from the Country who went to Chelsea by Water to see
the College and Don Saltero’s Curiosities. In our Return, at the
Request of the Company, whose Curiosity Wygate had excited, I
stript and leapt into the River, and swam from near Chelsea to
Blackfryars, performing on the Way many Feats of Activity both
upon and under Water, that surpriz’d and pleas’d those to whom
they were Novelties. I had from a Child been ever delighted with
this Exercise, had studied and practis’d all Thevenot’s Motions and
Positions, added some of my own, aiming at the graceful and
easy, as well as the Useful. All these I took this Occasion of exhibiting
to the Company, and was much flatter’d by their Admiration.
And Wygate, who was desirous of becoming a Master, grew
more and more attach’d to me, on that account, as well as from
the Similarity of our Studies. He at length propos’d to me travelling
all over Europe together, supporting ourselves everywhere by
working at our Business. I was once inclin’d to it. But mentioning
it to my good Friend Mr. Denham, with whom I often spent an
Hour, when I had Leisure. He dissuaded me from it, advising me
to think only of returning to Pensilvania, which he was now about
to do.
I must record one Trait of this good Man’s Character. He had
formerly been in Business at Bristol, but fail’d in Debt to a Number
of People, compounded and went to America. There, by a
close Application to Business as a Merchant, he acquir’d a plentiful
Fortune in a few Years. Returning to England in the Ship with
me, He invited his old Creditors to an Entertainment, at which
he thank’d them for the easy Composition they had favour’d him
with, and when they expected nothing but the Treat, every Man
at the first Remove, found under his Plate an Order on a Banker
for the full Amount of the unpaid Remainder with Interest.
He now told me he was about to return to Philadelphia, and
should carry over a great Quantity of Goods in order to open a
Store there: He propos’d to take me over as his Clerk, to keep his
Books (in which he would instruct me) copy his Letters, and attend
the Store. He added, that as soon as I should be acquainted with
mercantile Business he would promote me by sending me with a
Cargo of Flour and Bread &c. to the West Indies, and procure
me Commissions from others; which would be profitable, and if I
manag’d well, would establish me handsomely. The Thing pleas’d
me, for I was grown tired of London, remember’d with Pleasure
the happy Months I had spent in Pennsylvania, and wish’d again
to see it. Therefore I immediately agreed, on the Terms of Fifty
Pounds a Year, Pensylvania Money; less indeed than my present
Gettings as a Compostor, but affording a better Prospect.
I now took Leave of Printing, as I thought for ever, and was
daily employ’d in my new Business; going about with Mr. Denham
among the Tradesmen, to purchase various Articles, and seeing
them pack’d up, doing Errands, calling upon Workmen to
dispatch, &c. and when all was on board, I had a few Days Leisure.
On one of these Days I was to my Surprize sent for by a
great Man I knew only by Name, a Sir William Wyndham and I
waited upon him. He had heard by some means or other of my
Swimming from Chelsey to Blackfryars, and of my teaching
Wygate and another young Man to swim in a few Hours. He had
two Sons about to set out on their Travels; he wish’d to have them
first taught Swimming; and propos’d to gratify me handsomely if I
would teach them. They were not yet come to Town and my Stay
was uncertain, so I could not undertake it. But from this Incident I
thought it likely, that if I were to remain in England and open a
Swimming School, I might get a good deal of Money. And it struck
me so strongly, that had the Overture been sooner made me, probably
I should not so soon have returned to America. After many
Years, you and I had something of more Importance to do with one
of these Sons of Sir William Wyndham, become Earl of Egremont,
which I shall mention in its Place.
Thus I spent about 18 Months in London. Most Part of the
Time, I work’d hard at my Business, and spent but little upon my
self except in seeing Plays and in Books. My Friend Ralph had kept
me poor. He owed me about 27 Pounds; which I was now never
likely to receive; a great Sum out of my small Earnings. I lov’d him
notwithstanding, for he had many amiable Qualities. Tho’ I had
by no means improv’d my Fortune. But I had pick’d up some very
ingenious Acquaintance whose Conversation was of great Advantage
to me, and I had read considerably.
We sail’d from Gravesend on the 23d of July 1726. For the Incidents
of the Voyage, I refer you to my Journal, where you will find
them all minutely related. Perhaps the most important Part of that
Journal is the Plan to be found in it which I formed at Sea, for
regulating my future Conduct in Life. It is the more remarkable,
as being form’d when I was so young, and yet being pretty faithfully
adhered to quite thro’ to old Age. We landed in Philadelphia
the 11th of October, where I found sundry Alterations. Keith was
no longer Governor, being superceded by Major Gordon: I met
him walking the Streets as a common Citizen. He seem’d a little
asham’d at seeing me, but pass’d without saying any thing. I should
have been as much asham’d at seeing Miss Read, had not her
Friends, despairing with Reason of my Return, after the Receipt
of my Letter, persuaded her to marry another, one Rogers, a Potter,
which was done in my Absence. With him however she was never
happy, and soon parted from him, refusing to cohabit with him, or
bear his Name It being now said that he had another Wife. He was
a worthless Fellow tho’ an excellent Workman which was the
Temptation to her Friends. He got into Debt, and ran away in
1727 or 28. Went to the West Indies, and died there. Keimer had
got a better House, a Shop well supply’d with Stationary, plenty of
new Types, a number of Hands tho’ none good, and seem’d to have
a great deal of Business.
Mr. Denham took a Store in Water Street, where we open’d our
Goods. I attended the Business diligently, studied Accounts, and
grew in a little Time expert at selling. We lodg’d and boarded together,
he counsell’d me as a Father, having a sincere Regard for
me: I respected and lov’d him: and we might have gone on together
very happily: But in the Beginning of Feby. 1726/7 when I
had just pass’d my 21st Year, we both were taken ill. My Distemper
was a Pleurisy, which very nearly carried me off: I suffered a good
deal, gave up the Point in my own mind, and was rather disappointed
when I found my Self recovering; regretting in some degree
that I must now some time or other have all that disagreable Work
to do over again. I forget what his Distemper was. It held him a
long time, and at length carried him off. He left me a small Legacy
in a nuncupative Will, as a Token of his Kindness for me, and he
left me once more to the wide World. For the Store was taken into
the Care of his Executors, and my Employment under him ended:
My Brother-in-law Homes, being now at Philadelphia, advis’d my
Return to my Business. And Keimer tempted me with an Offer of
large Wages by the Year to come and take the Management of his
Printing-House, that he might better attend his Stationer’s Shop. I
had heard a bad Character of him in London, from his Wife and
her Friends, and was not fond of having any more to do with him.
I try’d for farther Employment as a Merchant’s Clerk; but not
readily meeting with any, I clos’d again with Keimer.
I found in his House these Hands; Hugh Meredith a Welsh-Pensilvanian,
30 Years of Age, bred to Country Work: honest,
sensible, had a great deal of solid Observation, was something of a
Reader, but given to drink: Stephen Potts, a young Country Man
of full Age, bred to the Same: of uncommon natural Parts, and
great Wit and Humour, but a little idle. These he had agreed with
at extream low Wages, per Week, to be rais’d a Shilling every 3
Months, as they would deserve by improving in their Business, and
the Expectation of these high Wages to come on hereafter was what
he had drawn them in with. Meredith was to work at Press, Potts at
Bookbinding, which he by Agreement, was to teach them, tho’ he
knew neither one nor t’other. John——a wild Irishman brought up
to no Business, whose Service for 4 Years Keimer had purchas’d
from the Captain of a Ship. He too was to be made a Pressman.
George Webb, an Oxford Scholar, whose Time for 4 Years he had
likewise bought, intending him for a Compositor: of whom more
presently. And David Harry, a Country Boy, whom he had taken
Apprentice. I soon perceiv’d that the Intention of engaging me at
Wages so much higher than he had been us’d to give, was to have
these raw cheap Hands form’d thro’ me, and as soon as I had instructed
them, then, they being all articled to him, he should be
able to do without me. I went on however, very chearfully; put his
Printing House in Order, which had been in great Confusion, and
brought his Hands by degrees to mind their Business and to do it
better.
It was an odd Thing to find an Oxford Scholar in the Situation
of a bought Servant. He was not more than 18 Years of Age, and
gave me this Account of himself; that he was born in Gloucester,
educated at a Grammar School there, had been distinguish’d among
the Scholars for some apparent Superiority in performing his Part
when they exhibited Plays; belong’d to the Witty Club there, and
had written some Pieces in Prose and Verse which were printed in
the Gloucester Newspapers. Thence he was sent to Oxford; there
he continu’d about a Year, but not well-satisfy’d, wishing of all
things to see London and become a Player. At length receiving his
Quarterly Allowance of 15 Guineas, instead of discharging his
Debts, he walk’d out of Town, hid his Gown in a Furz Bush, and
footed it to London, where having no Friend to advise him, he fell
into bad Company, soon spent his Guineas, found no means of being
introduc’d among the Players, grew necessitous, pawn’d his Cloaths
and wanted Bread. Walking the Street very hungry, and not knowing
what to do with himself, a Crimp’s Bill was put into his Hand,
offering immediate Entertainment and Encouragement to such as
would bind themselves to serve in America. He went directly,
sign’d the Indentures, was put into the Ship and came over; never
writing a Line to acquaint his Friends what was become of him. He
was lively, witty, good-natur’d, and a pleasant Companion, but
idle, thoughtless and imprudent to the last Degree.