Wednesday, June 26, 1754.

N this day, the most melancholy fun I had ever beheld arofe, and found me awake at my houfe at Fordhook.

By the light of this fun, I was, in my own opinion, laft to behold and take leave of fome of thofe creatures on whom I doated with a mother-like fondnefs, guided by nature and paffion, and uncured and unhardened by all the doctrine of that philofophical fchool

school where I had learnt to bear pains and to despise death.

In this fituation, as I could not con quer nature, I fubmitted entirely to her, and she made as great fool of me as she had ever done of any woman whatsoever: under pretence of giving me leave to enjoy, the drew me in to fuffer the company of my little ones, during eight hours; and I doubt not whether, in that time, I did not undergo more than in all my distemper.

Ar twelve precifely my coach was at the door, which was no fooner told me than I kifs'd my children round, and went into it with fome little refolution. My wife, who behaved more like a heroine and philofopher, tho' at the fame time the tendereft mother in the world, and my eldest daughter, followed me; fome friends went with us, and others here took their leave; and I heard my behaviour applauded, with many murmurs and praises to

which

which I well knew I had no title; as all other fuch philofophers may, if they have any modefty, confefs on the like.

occafions.

In two hours we arrived in Redriffe, and immediately went on board, and were to have failed the next morning; but as this was the king's proclamationday, and confequently a holiday at the Custom-house, the captain could not clear his veffel till the Thurfday; for these holidays are as ftrictly obferved as thofe in the popish calendar, and are almost as numerous. I might add, that both are oppofite to the genius of trade, and confequently contra bonum publicum.

To go on board the fhip it was neceffary first to go into a boat; a matter of no small difficulty, as I had no use of my limbs, and was to be carried by men, who tho' fufficiently ftrong for their burden, were, like Archimedes, puzzled to find a steady footing. Of

this, as few of my readers have not gone into wherries on the Thames, they will eafily be able to form to themselves an idea. However, by the affistance of my friend Mr. Welch, whom I never think or fpeak of but with love and efteem, I conquered this difficulty, as I did afterwards that of afcending the fhip, into which I was hoifted with more ease by a chair lifted with pullies. I was foon feated in a great chair in the cabin, to refresh myself after a fatigue which had been more intolerable, in a quarter of a mile's paffage from my couch to the fhip, than I had before undergone in a land-journey of twelve miles, which I had travelled with the utmost expedition.

THIS latter fatigue was, perhaps, fomewhat heightened by an indignation which I could not prevent arifing in my mind. I think, upon my entrance into the boat, I prefented a fpectacle of the highest horror. The total lofs of limbs was apparent to all who faw

me,

my

me, and face contained marks of a most diseased state, if not of death itfelf. Indeed fo ghaftly was my countenance, that timorous women with child had abstained from my house, for fear of the ill confequences of looking at me. In this condition, I ran the gauntlope, (fo, I think I may juftly call it) through rows of failors and watermen, few of whom failed of paying their compliments to me, by all manner of infults and jefts on my mifery, No man who knew me will think I conceived any perfonal refentment at this behaviour; but it was a lively picture of that cruelty and inhumanity, in the nature of men, which I have often contemplated with concern; and which leads the mind into a train of very uncomfortable and melancholy thoughts. It may be faid, that this barbarous cuftom is peculiar to the English, and of them only to the loweft degree; that it is an excrefcence of an uncontroul'd licentiousness mistaken for liberty, and never fhews itself in men who are po