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orm me what you have done for my kinsman; to deserve this warm recommendation? But I suppose; Sir; I guess your merits; you have fought for him; and so you would expect a reward from me; for being the instrument of his vices。 I wish; sincerely wish; that my present refusal may be some punishment for your guilt; but still more; that it may be some inducement to your repentance。 The severity of this rebuke I bore patiently; because I knew it was just。 My whole expectations now; therefore; lay in my letter to the great man。 As the doors of the nobility are almost ever beset with beggars; all ready to thrust in some sly petition; I found it no easy matter to gain admittance。 However; after bribing the servants with half my worldly fortune; I was at last shewn into a spacious apartment; my letter being previously sent up for his lordship's inspection。 During this anxious interval I had full time to look round me。 Every thing was grand; and of happy contrivance: the paintings; the furniture; the gildings; petrified me with awe; and raised my idea of the owner。 Ah; thought I to myself; how very great must the possessor of all these things be; who carries in his head the business of the state; and whose house displays half the wealth of a kingdom: sure his genius must be unfathomable! During these awful reflections I heard a step come heavily forward。 Ah; this is the great man himself! No; it was only a chambermaid。 Another foot was heard soon after。 This must be He! No; it was only the great man's valet de chambre。 At last his lordship actually made his appearance。 Are you; cried he; the bearer of this here letter? I answered with a bow。 I learn by this; continued he; as how that But just at that instant a servant delivered him a card; and without taking farther notice; he went out of the room; and left me to digest my own happiness at leisure。 I saw no more of him; till told by a footman that his lordship was going to his coach at the door。 Down I immediately followed; and joined my voice to that of three or four more; who came; like me; to petition for favours。 His lordship; however; went too fast for us; and was gaining his Chariot door with large strides; when I hallowed out to know if I was to have any reply。 He was by this time got in; and muttered an answer; half of which only I heard; the other half was lost in the rattling of his chariot wheels。 I stood for some time with my neck stretched out; in the posture of one that was listening to catch the glorious sounds; till looking round me; I found myself alone at his lordship's gate。
'My patience;' continued my son; 'was now quite exhausted: stung with the thousand indignities I had met with; I was willing to cast myself away; and only wanted the gulph to receive me。 I regarded myself as one of those vile things that nature designed should be thrown by into her lumber room; there to perish in obscurity。 I had still; however; half a guinea left; and of that I thought fortune herself should not deprive me: but in order to be sure of this; I was resolved to go instanily and spend it while I had it; and then trust to occurrences for the rest。 As I was going along with this resolution; it happened that Mr Cripse's office seemed invitingly open to give me a welcome reception。 In this office Mr Cripse kindly offers all his majesty's subjects a generous promise of 30 pounds a year; for which promise all they give in return is their liberty for life; and permission to let him transport them to America as slaves。 I was happy at finding a place where I could lose my fears in desperation; and entered this cell; for it had the appearance of one; with the devotion of a monastic。 Here I found a number of poor creatures; all in circumstances like myself; expecting the arrival of Mr Cripse; presenting a true epitome of English impatience。 Each untractable soul at variance with fortune; wreaked her injuries on their own hearts: but Mr Cripse at last came down; and all our murmurs were hushed。 He deigned to regard me with an air of peculiar approbation; and indeed he was the first man who for a month past talked to me with smiles。 After a few questions; he found I was fit for every thing in the world。 He paused a while upon the properest means of providing for me; and slapping his forehead; as if he had found it; assured me; that there was at that time an embassy talked of from the synod of Pensylvania to the Chickasaw Indians; and that he would use his interest to get me made secretary。 I knew in my own heart that the fellow lied; and yet his promise gave me pleasure; there was something so magnificent in the sound。 I fairly; therefore; divided my half guinea; one half of which went to be added to his thirty thousand pound; and with the other half I resolved to go to the next tavern; to be there more happy than he。
'As I was going out with that resolution; I was met at the door by the captain of a ship; with whom I had formerly some little acquaintance; and he agreed to be my companion over a bowl of punch。 As I never chose to make a secret of my circumstances; he assured me that I was upon the very point of ruin; in listening to the office…keeper's promises; for that he only designed to sell me to the plantations。 But; continued he; I fancy you might; by a much shorter voyage; be very easily put into a genteel way of bread。 Take my advice。 My ship sails to…morrow for Amsterdam; What if you go in her as a passenger? The moment you land all you have to do is to teach the Dutchmen English; and I'll warrant you'll get pupils and money enough。 I suppose you understand English; added he; by this time; or the deuce is in it。 I confidently assured him of that; but expressed a doubt whether the Dutch would be willing to learn English。 He affirmed with an oath that they were fond of it to distraction; and upon that affirmation I agreed with his proposal; and embarked the next day to teach the Dutch English in Holland。 The wind was fair; our voyage short; and after having paid my passage;with half my moveables; I found myself; fallen as from the skies; a stranger in one of the principal streets of Amsterdam。 In this situation I was unwilling to let any time pass unemployed in teaching。 I addressed myself therefore to two or three of those I met whose appearance seemed most promising; but it was impossible to make ourselves mutually understood。 It was not till this very moment I recollected; that in order to teach Dutchmen English; it was necessary that they should first teach me Dutch。 How I came to overlook so obvious an objection; is to me amazing; but certain it is I overlooked it
'This scheme thus blown up; I had some thoughts of fairly shipping back to England again; but happening into company with an Irish student; who was returning from Louvain; our conversation turning upon topics of literature; (for by the way it may be observed that I always forgot the meanness of my circumstances when I could converse upon such subjects) from him I learned that there were not two men in his whole university who understood Greek。 This amazed me。 I instantly resolved to travel to Louvain; and there live by teaching Greek; and in this design I was heartened by my brother student; who threw out some hints that a fortune might be got by it。 'I set boldly forward the next morning。 Every day lessened the burthen of my moveables; like Aesop and his basket of bread; for I paid them for my lodgings to the Dutch as I travelled on。 When I came to Louvain; I was resolved not to go sneaking to the lower professors; but openly tendered my talents to the principal himself。 I went; had admittance; and offered him my service as a master of the Greek language; which I had been told was a desideratum in his university。 The principal seemed at first to doubt of my abilities; but of these I offered to convince him; by turning a part of any Greek author he should fix upon into Latin。 Finding me perfectly earnest in my proposal; he addressed me thus: You see me; young man; continued he; I never learned Greek; and I don't find that I have ever missed it。 I have had a doctor's cap and gown without Greek: I have ten thousand florins a year without Greek; I eat heartily without Greek; and in short; continued he; as I don't know Greek; I do not believe there is any good in it。
'I was now too far from home to think of returning; so I resolved to go forward。 I had some knowledge of music; with a tolerable voice; and now turned what was once my amusement into a present means of subsistence。 I passed among the harmless peasants of Flanders; and among such of the French as were poor enough to be very merry; for I ever found them sprightly in proportion to their wants。 Whenever I approached a peasant's house towards night… fall; I played one of my most merry tunes; and that procured me not only a lodging; but subsistence for the next day。 I once or twice attempted to play for people of fashion; but they always thought my performance odious; and never rewarded me even with a trifle。 This was to me the more extraordinary; as whenever I used in better days to play for company; when playing was my amusement; my music never failed to throw them into raptures; and the ladies especially; but as it was now my only means; it was received with contempt: a