The early hours I kept, and the little trouble I occafioned in the family, made her loath to part with me; and when I mentioned another lodging I had found, nearer the printing-house, at two fhillings a week, which fell in with my plan of faving, fhe perfuaded me to give it up, making herfelf an abatement of two fhillings: and thus I continued to lodge with her, during the remainder of my abode in London, at eighteen-pence a week. In a garret of the house there lived, in the most of of retired manner, a lady feventy years age, whom I received the following account from my landlady. She was a Roman Catholic. In her early years he had been fent to the continent, and entered a convent with the defign of becoming a nun; but the climate not agreeing with her constitution, fhe was obliged to return to England, where, as there were no monasteries, she 'made a vow to lead a monaftic life, in as rigid a manner as circumstances would permit. She accordingly disposed of all her property to be applied to charitable uses, referving to herself only twelve pounds a year; and of this pittance she gave a part to the poor, living on water-gruel, and never making use of fire but to boil it. She had lived in this garret a great many years, without paying rent to the fucceffive Catholic inhabitants that had kept the house; who indeed confidered her abode with them as a bleffing. A I have priest came every day to confefs her. asked her, faid my landlady, how, living as fhe did, fhe could find fo much employment for a confeffor? To which fhe answered, that it was impoffible to avoid vain thoughts.

I was once permitted to visit her. She was cheerful and polite, and her conversation agreeable. Her apartment was neat; but the whole furniture confifted of a mattrass, a table, on which were a crucifix and a book, a chair, which fhe gave me to fit on, and over the mantle-piece a picture of St. Veronica displaying her handkerchief, on which was feen the miraculous impreffion of the face of Chrift, which fhe explained to me with great gravity. Her countenance was pale, but she had never experienced sickness; and I may adduce her as another proof how little is fufficient to maintain life and health.

At the printing-house I contracted an intimacy with a fenfible young man of the name of Wygate, who, as his parents were in good circumftances, had received a better education than is common with printers. He was a tolerable Latin fcholar, fpoke French fluently, and was fond of reading. I taught him, as well as a friend of his, to swim, by taking them twice only into the river; after which they stood in need of no farther affiftance. We one day made a party to go by water to Chelsea, in order to see the College, and Don Soltero's curiofities. On our return, at the request of the company, whofe curiofity Wygate had excited, I undreffed myself, and leaped into the river. I fwam from near Chelsea the whole way to Blackfriars Bridge, exhibiting, during my course, a variety of feats of activity and addrefs, both upon the furface of the water, as well as under it. This fight occafioned much aftonishment and pleasure to those to whom it was new. In my youth I took grea t delight in

this exercife. I knew, and could execute, all the evolutions and pofitions of Thevenot; and I added to them fome of my own invention, in which I endeavoured to unite gracefulness and utility. I took a pleasure in difplaying them all on this occafion, and was highly flattered with the admiration they excited.

Wygate, befides his being defirous of perfecting himself in this art, was the more attached to me from there being, in other respects, a conformity in our tastes and studies. He at length propofed to me to make the tour of Europe with him, maintaining ourselves at the fame time by working at our profeffion. I was on the point of confenting, when I mentioned it to my friend Denham, with whom I was glad to pass an hour whenever I had leifure. He diffuaded me from the project, and advised me to return to Philadelphia, which he was about to do himfelf. I muft relate in this place a trait of this worthy man's character.

He had formerly been in business at Bristol, but failing, he compounded with his creditors, and departed for America, where, by affiduous application as a merchant, he acquired in a few years a very confiderable fortune. Returning to England in the fame veffel with myself, as I have related above, he invited all his old creditors to a feast. When affembled, he thanked them for the readiness with which they had received his small compofition; and while they expected nothing more than a fimple entertainment, each found under his plate, when it came to be removed, a draft 1a banker for the refidue of his debt with

He told me it was his intention to carry back with him to Philadelphia a great quantity of goods, in order to open a store; and he offered to take me with him in the capacity of clerk, to keep his books, in which he would inftruct me, copy letters, and fuperintend the ftore. He added, that, as foon as I had acquired a knowledge of mercantile tranfactions, he would improve my fituation, by fending me with a cargo of corn and flour to the American islands, and by procuring me other lucrative commiffions; fo that, with good management and œconomy, I might in time begin business with advantage for myself.

I relished these propofals. London began to tire me; the agreeable hours I had passed at Philadelphia prefented themselves to my mind, and I wished to fee them revive. I confequently engaged myself to Mr. Denham, at a falary of fifty pounds a year. This was indeed less than I earned as a compofitor, but then I had much fairer profpect. I took leave, therefore, as I believed forever, of printing, and gave myself up entirely to my new occupation, fpending all my time. either in going from house to houfe with Mr. Denham, to purchase goods, or in packing them up, or in expediting the workmen, &c. &c. When every thing however was on board, I had at last a few days leisure.

During this interval, I was one day fent for by a gentleman, whom I knew only by name, It was Sir William Wyndham. I went to his houfe. He had by fome means heard of my performances between Chelsea and Blackfriars, and that I had taught the art of swimming to

Wygate and another young man in the course of a few hours. His two fons were on the point of fetting out on their travels; he was defirous that they fhould previously learn to fwim, and offered me a very liberal reward if I would undertake to inftruct them. They were not yet arrived in town, and the stay I fhould make myfelf was uncertain; I could not therefore accept his propofal. I was led however to fuppole from this incident, that if I had wifhed to remain in London, and open a fwimmingfchool, I fhould perhaps have gained a great deal of money. This idea ftruck me fo forcibly, that, had the offer been made fooner, I fhould have difmiffed the thought of returning as yet to America. Some years after, you and I had a more important business to settle with one of the ions of Sir William Wyndham, then Lord Egremont. But let us not anticipate

events.

I thus paffed about eighteen months in London, working almost without intermiffion at my trade, avoiding all expence on my own account, except going now and then to the play, and purchafing a few books. But my friend Ralph. kept me poor. He owed me about twentyieven pounds, which was fo much money loft; and when confidered as taken from my little lavings, was a very great fum. I had, notwithstanding this, a regard for him, as he poffeffed many amiable qualities. But though I had done nothing for myself in point of fortune, I had increased my flock of knowledge, either by the many excellent books I had read, or the con