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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/15042-8.txt b/15042-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..24c79bd --- /dev/null +++ b/15042-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1591 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Narrative Of The Most Remarkable +Particulars In The Life Of James Albert Ukawsaw Gronniosaw, An African Prince, As Related By Himself, by James Albert Ukawsaw Gronniosaw + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Narrative Of The Most Remarkable Particulars In The Life Of James Albert Ukawsaw Gronniosaw, An African Prince, As Related By Himself + +Author: James Albert Ukawsaw Gronniosaw + +Release Date: February 14, 2005 [EBook #15042] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JAMES ALBERT UKAWSAW GRONNIOSAW *** + + + + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Charles Aldarondo and the PG Online +Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + +A + +NARRATIVE + +OF THE + +MOST REMARKABLE PARTICULARS + +IN THE LIFE OF + +JAMES ALBERT UKAWSAW GRONNIOSAW, + +AN AFRICAN PRINCE, + +As related by HIMSELF. + + _I will bring the Blind by a Way that they know not, I will lead + them in Paths that they have not known: I will make Darkness Light + before them and crooked Things straight. These Things will I do + unto them and not forsake them._ Isa. xlii. 16. + + +BATH: + +Printed by W. GYE in Westgate-Street; and sold by T. MILLS, + +Bookseller, in King's-Mead-Square. + +Price Six-Pence. + +1772 + + +TO THE + +RIGHT HONOURABLE + +The _Countess_ of Huntingdon; + +THIS + +NARRATIVE + +Of my _LIFE_, + +And of God's wonderful Dealings with me, is, + +(_Through Her LADYSHIP'S Permission_) + +_Most Humbly Dedicated, + +By her LADYSHIP'S + +Most obliged + +And obedient Servant,_ + +JAMES ALBERT. + + + + +THE PREFACE to the READER. + + +This Account of the Life and spiritual Experience of James Albert was +taken from his own Mouth and committed to Paper by the elegant Pen of a +young Lady of the Town of Leominster, for her own private Satisfaction, +and without any Intention at first that it should be made public. But +she has now been prevail'd on to commit it to the Press, both with a +view to serve Albert and his distressed Family, who have the sole +Profits arising from the Sale of it; and likewise as it is apprehended, +this little History contains Matter well worthy the Notice and Attention +of every Christian Reader. + +Perhaps we have here in some Degree a Solution of that Question that has +perplex'd the Minds of so many serious Persons, viz. In what Manner will +God deal with those benighted Parts of the World where the Gospel of +Jesus Christ hath never reach'd? Now it appears from the Experience of +this remarkable Person, that God does not save without the Knowledge of +the Truth; but, with Respect to those whom he hath fore-known, though +born under every outward Disadvantage, and in Regions of the grossest +Darkness and Ignorance, he most amazingly acts upon and influences their +Minds, and in the Course of wisely and most wonderfully appointed +Providences, he brings them to the Means of spiritual Information, +gradually opens to their View the Light of his Truth, and gives them +full Possession and Enjoyment of the inestimable Blessings of his +Gospel. Who can doubt but that the Suggestion so forcibly press'd upon +the Mind of Albert (when a Boy) that there was a Being superior to the +Sun, Moon, and Stars (the Objects of African Idolatry) came from the +Father of Lights, and was, with Respect to him, the First-Fruit of the +Display of Gospel-Glory? His long and perilous Journey to the Coast of +Guinea, where he was sold for a Slave, and so brought into a Christian +Land; shall we consider this as the alone Effect of a curious and +inquisitive Disposition? Shall we in accounting for it refer to nothing +higher than mere Chance and accidental Circumstances? Whatever Infidels +and Deists may think; I trust the Christian Reader will easily discern +an All-wise and Omnipotent Appointment and Direction in these Movements. +He belong'd to the Redeemer of lost Sinners; he was the Purchase of his +Cross; and therefore the Lord undertook to bring him by a Way that he +knew not, out of Darkness into his marvellous Light, that he might lead +him to a saving Heart-Acquaintance and Union with the triune God in +Christ reconciling the World unto himself; and not imputing their +Trespasses. As his Call was very extraordinary, so there are certain +Particulars exceedingly remarkable in his Experience. God has put +singular Honour upon him in the Exercise of his Faith and Patience, +which in the most distressing and pitiable Trials and Calamities have +been found to the Praise and Glory of God. How deeply must it affect a +tender Heart, not only to be reduc'd to the last Extremity himself, but +to have his Wife and Children perishing for Want before his Eyes! Yet +his Faith did not fail him; he put his Trust in the Lord, and he was +delivered. And at this Instant, though born in an exalted Station of +Life, and now under the Pressure of various afflicting Providences, I am +persuaded (for I know the Man) he would rather embrace the Dung-hill, +having Christ in his Heart, than give up his spiritual Possessions and +Enjoyment, to fill the Throne of Princes. It perhaps may not be amiss to +observe that James Albert left his native Country, (as near as I can +guess from certain Circumstances) when he was about 15 Years old. He now +appears to be turn'd of Sixty; has a good natural Understanding; is well +acquainted with the Scriptures, and the Things of God, has an amiable +and tender Disposition, and his Character can be well attested not only +at Kidderminster, the Place of his Residence but likewise by many +creditable Persons in London and other Places. Reader, recommending this +Narrative to your perusal, and him who is the Subject of it to your +charitable Regard, + +I am your faithful and obedient Servant, + +For Christ's Sake, + +W. Shirley. + + + + +AN + +ACCOUNT + +OF + +JAMES ALBERT, &c. + + +I was born in the city Bournou; my mother was the eldest daughter of the +reigning King there, of which Bournou is the chief city. I was the +youngest of six children, and particularly loved by my mother, and my +grand-father almost doated on me. + +I had, from my infancy, a curious turn of mind; was more grave and +reserved in my disposition than either of my brothers and sisters. I +often teazed them with questions they could not answer: for which reason +they disliked me, as they supposed that I was either foolish, or insane. +'Twas certain that I was, at times, very unhappy in myself: it being +strongly impressed on my mind that there was some Great Man of power +which resided above the sun, moon and stars, the objects of our worship. +My dear indulgent mother would bear more with me than any of my friends +beside.--I often raised my hand to heaven, and asked her who lived +there? was much dissatisfied when she told me the sun, moon and stars, +being persuaded, in my own mind, that there must be some Superior +Power.--I was frequently lost in wonder at the works of the Creation: +was afraid and uneasy and restless, but could not tell for what. I +wanted to be informed of things that no person could tell me; and was +always dissatisfied.--These wonderful impressions begun in my childhood, +and followed me continually 'till I left my parents, which affords me +matter of admiration and thankfulness. + +To this moment I grew more and more uneasy every day, in so much that +one saturday, (which is the day on which we keep our sabbath) I laboured +under anxieties and fears that cannot be expressed; and, what is more +extraordinary, I could not give a reason for it.--I rose, as our custom +is, about three o'clock, (as we are oblig'd to be at our place of +worship an hour before the sun rise) we say nothing in our worship, but +continue on our knees with our hands held up, observing a strict silence +'till the sun is at a certain height, which I suppose to be about 10 or +11 o'clock in England: when, at a certain sign made by the priest, we +get up (our duty being over) and disperse to our different houses.--Our +place of meeting is under a large palm tree; we divide ourselves into +many congregations; as it is impossible for the same tree to cover the +inhabitants of the whole City, though they are extremely large, high and +majestic; the beauty and usefulness of them are not to be described; +they supply the inhabitants of the country with meat, drink and +clothes;[A] the body of the palm tree is very large; at a certain season +of the year they tap it, and bring vessels to receive the wine, of which +they draw great quantities, the quality of which is very delicious: the +leaves of this tree are of a silky nature; they are large and soft; when +they are dried and pulled to pieces it has much the same appearance as +the English flax, and the inhabitants of Bournou manufacture it for +cloathing &c. This tree likewise produces a plant or substance which has +the appearance of a cabbage, and very like it, in taste almost the same: +it grows between the branches. Also the palm tree produces a nut, +something like a cocoa, which contains a kernel, in which is a large +quantity of milk, very pleasant to the taste: the shell is of a hard +substance, and of a very beautiful appearance, and serves for basons, +bowls, &c. + +[Footnote A: It is a generally received opinion, in _England_, that the +natives of _Africa_ go entirely unclothed; but this supposition is very +unjust: they have a kind of dress so as to appear decent, though it is +very slight and thin.] + +I hope this digression will be forgiven.--I was going to observe that +after the duty of our Sabbath was over (on the day in which I was more +distressed and afflicted than ever) we were all on our way home as +usual, when a remarkable black cloud arose and covered the sun; then +followed very heavy rain and thunder more dreadful than ever I had +heard: the heav'ns roared, and the earth trembled at it: I was highly +affected and cast down; in so much that I wept sadly, and could not +follow my relations and friends home.--I was obliged to stop and felt +as if my legs were tied, they seemed to shake under me: so I stood +still, being in great fear of the Man of Power that I was persuaded in +myself, lived above. One of my young companions (who entertained a +particular friendship for me and I for him) came back to see for me: he +asked me why I stood still in such very hard rain? I only said to him +that my legs were weak, and I could not come faster: he was much +affected to see me cry, and took me by the hand, and said he would lead +me home, which he did. My mother was greatly alarmed at my tarrying out +in such terrible weather; she asked me many questions, such as what I +did so for, and if I was well? My dear mother says I, pray tell me who +is the great Man of Power that makes the thunder? She said, there was no +power but the sun, moon and stars; that they made all our country.--I +then enquired how all our people came? She answered me, from one +another; and so carried me to many generations back.--Then says I, who +made the _First Man_? and who made the first Cow, and the first Lyon, +and where does the fly come from, as no one can make him? My mother +seemed in great trouble; she was apprehensive that my senses were +impaired, or that I was foolish. My father came in, and seeing her in +grief asked the cause, but when she related our conversation to him, he +was exceedingly angry with me, and told me he would punish me severely +if ever I was so troublesome again; so that I resolved never to say any +thing more to him. But I grew very unhappy in myself; my relations and +acquaintance endeavoured by all the means they could think on, to divert +me, by taking me to ride upon goats, (which is much the custom of our +country) and to shoot with a bow and arrow; but I experienced no +satisfaction at all in any of these things; nor could I be easy by any +means whatever: my parents were very unhappy to see me so dejected and +melancholy. + +About this time there came a merchant from the _Gold Coast_ (the third +city in Guinea) he traded with the inhabitants of our country in ivory +&c. he took great notice of my unhappy situation, and enquired into the +cause; he expressed vast concern for me, and said, if my parents would +part with me for a little while, and let him take me home with him, it +would be of more service to me than any thing they could do for me.--He +told me that if I would go with him I should see houses with wings to +them walk upon the water, and should also see the white folks; and that +he had many sons of my age, which should be my companions; and he added +to all this that he would bring me safe back again soon.--I was highly +pleased with the account of this strange place, and was very desirous of +going.--I seemed sensible of a secret impulse upon my mind which I could +not resist that seemed to tell me I must go. When my dear mother saw +that I was willing to leave them, she spoke to my father and grandfather +and the rest of my relations, who all agreed that I should accompany the +merchant to the Gold Coast. I was the more willing as my brothers and +sisters despised me, and looked on me with contempt on the account of my +unhappy disposition; and even my servants slighted me, and disregarded +all I said to them. I had one sister who was always exceeding fond of +me, and I loved her entirely; her name was Logwy, she was quite white, +and fair, with fine light hair though my father and mother were +black.--I was truly concerned to leave my beloved sister, and she cry'd +most sadly to part with me, wringing her hands, and discovered every +sign of grief that can be imagined. Indeed if I could have known when I +left my friends and country that I should never return to them again my +misery on that occasion would have been inexpressible. All my relations +were sorry to part with me; my dear mother came with me upon a camel +more than three hundred miles, the first of our journey lay chiefly +through woods: at night we secured ourselves from the wild beasts by +making fires all around us; we and our camels kept within the circle, or +we must have been torn to pieces by the Lyons, and other wild creatures, +that roared terribly as soon as night came on, and continued to do so +'till morning.--There can be little said in favour of the country +through which we passed; only a valley of marble that we came through +which is unspeakably beautiful.--On each side of this valley are +exceedingly high and almost inaccessible mountains--Some of these pieces +of marble are of prodigious length and breadth but of different sizes +and colour, and shaped in a variety of forms, in a wonderful manner.--It +is most of it veined with gold mixed with striking and beautiful +colours; so that when the sun darts upon it, it is as pleasing a sight +as can be imagined.--The merchant that brought me from Bournou, was in +partnership with another gentleman who accompanied us; he was very +unwilling that he should take me from home, as, he said, he foresaw many +difficulties that would attend my going with them.--He endeavoured to +prevail on the merchant to throw me into a very deep pit that was in the +valley, but he refused to listen to him, and said, he was resolved to +take care of me: but the other was greatly dissatisfied; and when we +came to a river, which we were obliged to pass through, he purpos'd +throwing me in and drowning me; but the Merchant would not consent to +it, so that I was preserv'd. + +We travel'd 'till about four o'clock every day, and then began to make +preparations for night, by cutting down large quantities of wood, to +make fires to preserve us from the wild beasts.--I had a very unhappy +and discontented journey, being in continual fear that the people I was +with would murder me. I often reflected with extreme regret on the kind +friends I had left, and the idea of my dear mother frequently drew tears +from my eyes.--I cannot recollect how long we were in going from Bournou +to the Gold Coast; but as there is no shipping nearer to Bournou than +that City, it was tedious in travelling so far by land, being upwards of +a thousand miles.--I was heartily rejoic'd when we arriv'd at the end of +our journey: I now vainly imagin'd that all my troubles and inquietudes +would terminate here; but could I have looked into futurity, I should +have perceiv'd that I had much more to suffer than I had before +experienc'd, and that they had as yet but barely commenc'd. + +I was now more than a thousand miles from home, without a friend or any +means to procure one. Soon after I came to the merchant's house I heard +the drums beat remarkably loud, and the trumpets blow--the persons +accustom'd to this employ, are oblig'd to go upon a very high structure +appointed for that purpose, that the sound might be heard at a great +distance: They are higher than the steeples are in England. I was +mightily pleas'd with sounds so entirely new to me, and was very +inquisitive to know the cause of this rejoicing, and ask'd many +questions concerning it: I was answer'd that it was meant as a +compliment to me, because I was Grandson to the King of Bournou. + +This account gave me a secret pleasure; but I was not suffer'd long to +enjoy this satisfaction, for in the evening of the same day, two of the +merchant's sons (boys about my own age) came running to me, and told me, +that the next day I was to die, for the King intended to behead me.--I +reply'd that I was sure it could not be true, for that I came there to +play with them, and to see houses walk upon the water with wings to +them, and the white folks; but I was soon inform'd that their King +imagined that I was sent by my father as a spy, and would make such +discoveries at my return home that would enable them to make war with +the greater advantage to ourselves; and for these reasons he had +resolved I should never return to my native country.--When I heard this +I suffered misery that cannot be described.--I wished a thousand times +that I had never left my friends and country.--But still the Almighty +was pleased to work miracles for me. + +The morning I was to die, I was washed and all my gold ornaments made +bright and shining, and then carried to the palace, where the King was +to behead me himself (as is the custom of the place).--He was seated +upon a throne at the top of an exceeding large yard, or court, which you +must go through to enter the palace, it is as wide and spacious as a +large field in England.--I had a lane of lifeguards to go through.--I +guessed it to be about three hundred paces. + +I was conducted by my friend, the merchant, about half way up; then he +durst proceed no further: I went up to the King alone--I went with an +undaunted courage, and it pleased God to melt the heart of the King, who +sat with his scymitar in his hand ready to behead me; yet, being himself +so affected, he dropped it out of his hand, and took me upon his knee +and wept over me. I put my right hand round his neck, and prest him to +my heart.--He sat me down and blest me; and added that he would not kill +me, and that I should not go home, but be sold, for a slave, so then I +was conducted back again to the merchant's house. + +The next day he took me on board a French brig; but the Captain did not +chuse to buy me: he said I was too small; so the merchant took me home +with him again. + +The partner, whom I have spoken of as my enemy, was very angry to see me +return, and again purposed putting an end to my life; for he represented +to the other, that I should bring them into troubles and difficulties, +and that I was so little that no person would buy me. + +The merchant's resolution began to waver, and I was indeed afraid that I +should be put to death: but however he said he would try me once more. + +A few days after a Dutch ship came into the harbour, and they carried me +on board, in hopes that the Captain would purchase me.--As they went, I +heard them agree, that, if they could not sell me _then_, they would +throw me overboard.--I was in extreme agonies when I heard this; and as +soon as ever I saw the Dutch Captain, I ran to him, and put my arms +round him, and said, "father, save me." (for I knew that if he did not +buy me, I should be treated very ill, or, possibly, murdered) And though +he did not understand my language, yet it pleased the Almighty to +influence him in my behalf, and he bought me _for two yards of check_, +which is of more value _there_, than in England. + +When I left my dear mother I had a large quantity of gold about me, as +is the custom of our country, it was made into rings, and they were +linked into one another, and formed into a kind of chain, and so put +round my neck, and arms and legs, and a large piece hanging at one ear +almost in the shape of a pear. I found all this troublesome, and was +glad when my new Master took it from me--I was now washed, and clothed +in the Dutch or English manner.--My master grew very fond of me, and I +loved him exceedingly. I watched every look, was always ready when he +wanted me, and endeavoured to convince him, by every action, that my +only pleasure was to serve him well.--I have since thought that he must +have been a serious man. His actions corresponded very well with such a +character.--He used to read prayers in public to the ship's crew every +Sabbath day; and when first I saw him read, I was never so surprised in +my whole life as when I saw the book talk to my master; for I thought it +did, as I observed him to look upon it, and move his lips.--I wished it +would do so to me.--As soon as my master had done reading I follow'd +him to the place where he put the book, being mightily delighted with +it, and when nobody saw me, I open'd it and put my ear down close upon +it, in great hope that it wou'd say something to me; but was very sorry +and greatly disappointed when I found it would not speak, this thought +immediately presented itself to me, that every body and every thing +despis'd me because I was black. + +I was exceedingly sea-sick at first; but when I became more accustom'd +to the sea, it wore off.--My master's ship was bound for Barbadoes. When +we came there, he thought fit to speak of me to several gentlemen of his +acquaintance, and one of them exprest a particular desire to see me.--He +had a great mind to buy me; but the Captain could not immediately be +prevail'd on to part with me; but however, as the gentleman seem'd very +solicitous, he at length let me go, and I was sold for fifty dollars +(_four and sixpenny-pieces in English_). My new master's name was +Vanhorn, a young Gentleman; his home was in New-England in the City of +New-York; to which place he took me with him. He dress'd me in his +livery, and was very good to me. My chief business was to wait at table, +and tea, and clean knives, and I had a very easy place; but the servants +us'd to curse and swear surprizingly; which I learnt faster than any +thing, 'twas almost the first English I could speak. If any of them +affronted me, I was sure to call upon God to damn them immediately; but +I was broke of it all at once, occasioned by the correction of an old +black servant that liv'd in the family--One day I had just clean'd the +knives for dinner, when one of the maids took one to cut bread and +butter with; I was very angry with her, and called upon God to damn her; +when this old black man told me I must not say so. I ask'd him why? He +replied there was a wicked man call'd the Devil, that liv'd in hell, and +would take all that said these words, and put them in the fire and burn +them.--This terrified me greatly, and I was entirely broke of +swearing.--Soon after this, as I was placing the china for tea, my +mistress came into the room just as the maid had been cleaning it; the +girl had unfortunately sprinkled the wainscot with the mop; at which my +mistress was angry; the girl very foolishly answer'd her again, which +made her worse, and she call'd upon God to damn her.--I was vastly +concern'd to hear this, as she was a fine young lady, and very good to +me, insomuch that I could not help speaking to her, "Madam, says I, you +must not say so," Why, says she? Because there is a black man call'd the +Devil that lives in hell, and he will put you in the fire and burn you, +and I shall be very sorry for that. Who told you this replied my lady? +Old Ned, says I. Very well was all her answer; but she told my master of +it, and he order'd that old Ned should be tyed up and whipp'd, and was +never suffer'd to come into the kitchen with the rest of the servants +afterwards.--My mistress was not angry with me, but rather diverted with +my simplicity and, by way of talk, She repeated what I had said, to many +of her acquaintance that visited her; among the rest, Mr. Freelandhouse, +a very gracious, good Minister, heard it, and he took a great deal of +notice of me, and desired my master to part with me to him. He would not +hear of it at first, but, being greatly persuaded, he let me go, and Mr. +Freelandhouse gave £50. for me.--He took me home with him, and made me +kneel down, and put my two hands together, and pray'd for me, and every +night and morning he did the same.--I could not make out what it was +for, nor the meaning of it, nor what they spoke to when they talk'd--I +thought it comical, but I lik'd it very well.--After I had been a little +while with my new master I grew more familiar, and ask'd him the meaning +of prayer: (I could hardly speak english to be understood) he took great +pains with me, and made me understand that he pray'd to God, who liv'd +in Heaven; that He was my Father and best Friend.--I told him that this +must be a mistake; that _my_ father liv'd at Bournou, and I wanted very +much to see him, and likewise my dear mother, and sister, and I wish'd +he would be so good as to send me home to them; and I added, all I could +think of to induce him to convey me back. I appeared in great trouble, +and my good master was so much affected that the tears ran down his +face. He told me that God was a Great and Good Spirit, that He created +all the world, and every person and thing in it, in Ethiopia, Africa, +and America, and every where. I was delighted when I heard this: There, +says I, I always thought so when I liv'd at home! Now if I had wings +like an Eagle I would fly to tell my dear mother that God is greater +than the sun, moon, and stars; and that they were made by Him. + +I was exceedingly pleas'd with this information of my master's, because +it corresponded so well with my own opinion; I thought now if I could +but get home, I should be wiser than all my country-folks, my +grandfather, or father, or mother, or any of them--But though I was +somewhat enlighten'd by this information of my master's, yet, I had no +other knowledge of God but that He was a Good Spirit, and created every +body, and every thing--I never was sensible in myself, nor had any one +ever told me, that He would punish the wicked, and love the just. I was +only glad that I had been told there was a God because I had always +thought so. + +My dear kind master grew very fond of me, as was his Lady; she put me to +School, but I was uneasy at that, and did not like to go; but my master +and mistress requested me to learn in the gentlest terms, and persuaded +me to attend my school without any anger at all; that, at last, I came +to like it better, and learnt to read pretty well. My schoolmaster was a +good man, his name was Vanosdore, and very indulgent to me.--I was in +this state when, one Sunday, I heard my master preach from these words +out of the Revelations, chap. i. v. 7. _"Behold, He cometh in the clouds +and every eye shall see him and they that pierc'd Him."_ These words +affected me excessively; I was in great agonies because I thought my +master directed them to me only; and, I fancied, that he observ'd me +with unusual earnestness--I was farther confirm'd in this belief as I +look'd round the church, and could see no one person beside myself in +such grief and distress as I was; I began to think that my master hated +me, and was very desirous to go home, to my own country; for I thought +that if God did come (as he said) He would be sure to be most angry with +_me_, as I did not know what He was, nor had ever heard of him before. + +I went home in great trouble, but said nothing to any body.--I was +somewhat afraid of my master; I thought he disliked me.--The next text I +heard him preach from was, Heb. xii. 14. _"follow peace with all men, +and holiness, without which no man shall see the LORD."_ he preached the +law so severely, that it made me tremble.--he said, that GOD would judge +the whole world; Ethiopia, Asia, and Africa, and every where.--I was +now excessively perplexed, and undetermined what to do; as I had now +reason to believe my situation would be equally bad to go, as to +stay.--I kept these thoughts to myself, and said nothing to any person +whatever. + +I should have complained to my good mistress of this great trouble of +mind, but she had been a little strange to me for several days before +this happened, occasioned by a story told of me by one of the maids. The +servants were all jealous, and envied me the regard, and favour shewn me +by my master and mistress; and the Devil being always ready, and +diligent in wickedness, had influenced this girl, to make a lye on +me.--This happened about hay-harvest, and one day when I was unloading +the waggon to put the hay into the barn, she watched an opportunity, in +my absence, to take the fork out of the stick, and hide it: when I came +again to my work, and could not find it, I was a good deal vexed, but I +concluded it was dropt somewhere among the hay; so I went and bought +another with my own money: when the girl saw that I had another, she was +so malicious that she told my mistress I was very unfaithful, and not +the person she took me for; and that she knew, I had, without my +master's permission, order'd many things in his name, that he must pay +for; and as a proof of my carelessness produc'd the fork she had taken +out of the stick, and said, she had found it out of doors--My Lady, not +knowing the truth of these things, was a little shy to me, till she +mention'd it, and then I soon cleared myself, and convinc'd her that +these accusations were false. + +I continued in a most unhappy state for many days. My good mistress +insisted on knowing what was the matter. When I made known my situation +she gave me John Bunyan on the holy war, to read; I found his experience +similar to my own, which gave me reason to suppose he must be a bad man; +as I was convinc'd of my own corrupt nature, and the misery of my own +heart: and as he acknowledg'd that he was likewise in the same +condition, I experienc'd no relief at all in reading his work, but +rather the reverse.--I took the book to my lady, and inform'd her I did +not like it at all, it was concerning a wicked man as bad as myself; and +I did not chuse to read it, and I desir'd her to give me another, wrote +by a better man that was holy and without sin.--She assur'd me that +John Bunyan was a good man, but she could not convince me; I thought +him to be too much like myself to be upright, as his experience seem'd +to answer with my own. + +I am very sensible that nothing but the great power and unspeakable +mercies of the Lord could relieve my soul from the heavy burden it +laboured under at that time.--A few days after my master gave me +Baxter's _Call to the unconverted_. This was no relief to me neither; on +the contrary it occasioned as much distress in me as the other had +before done, _as it_ invited all to come to _Christ_ and I found myself +so wicked and miserable that I could not come--This consideration threw +me into agonies that cannot be described; insomuch that I even attempted +to put an end to my life--I took one of the large case-knives, and went +into the stable with an intent to destroy myself; and as I endeavoured +with all my strength to force the knife into my side, it bent double. I +was instantly struck with horror at the thought of my own rashness, and +my conscience told me that had I succeeded in this attempt I should +probably have gone to hell. + +I could find no relief, nor the least shadow of comfort; the extreme +distress of my mind so affected my health that I continued very ill for +three Days, and Nights; and would admit of no means to be taken for my +recovery, though my lady was very kind, and sent many things to me; but +I rejected every means of relief and wished to die--I would not go into +my own bed, but lay in the stable upon straw--I felt all the horrors of +a troubled conscience, so hard to be born, and saw all the vengeance of +God ready to overtake me--I was sensible that there was no way for me to +be saved unless I came to _Christ_, and I could not come to Him: I +thought that it was impossible He should receive such a sinner as me. + +The last night that I continued in this place, in the midst of my +distress these words were brought home upon my mind, _"Behold the Lamb +of God."_ I was something comforted at this, and began to grow easier +and wished for day that I might find these words in my bible--I rose +very early the following morning, and went to my school-master, Mr. +Vanosdore, and communicated the situation of my mind to him; he was +greatly rejoiced to find me enquiring the way to Zion, and blessed the +Lord who had worked so wonderfully for me a poor heathen.--I was more +familiar with this good gentleman than with my master, or any other +person; and found myself more at liberty to talk to him: he encouraged +me greatly, and prayed with me frequently, and I was always benefited by +his discourse. + +About a quarter of a mile from my Master's house stood a large +remarkably fine Oak-tree, in the midst of a wood; I often used to be +employed there in cutting down trees, (a work I was very fond of) I +seldom failed going to this place every day; sometimes twice a day if I +could be spared. It was the highest pleasure I ever experienced to set +under this Oak; for there I used to pour out all my complaints to the +LORD: and when I had any particular grievance I used to go there, and +talk to the tree, and tell my sorrows, as if it had been to a friend. + +Here I often lamented my own wicked heart, and undone state; and found +more comfort and consolation than I ever was sensible of +before.--Whenever I was treated with ridicule or contempt, I used to +come here and find peace. I now began to relish the book my Master gave +me, Baxter's _Call to the unconverted_, and took great delight in it. I +was always glad to be employ'd in cutting wood, 'twas a great part of my +business, and I follow'd it with delight, as I was then quite alone and +my heart lifted up to GOD, and I was enabled to pray continually; and +blessed for ever be his Holy Name, he faithfully answer'd my prayers. I +can never be thankful enough to Almighty GOD for the many comfortable +opportunities I experienced there. + +It is possible the circumstance I am going to relate will not gain +credit with many; but this I know, that the joy and comfort it conveyed +to me, cannot be expressed and only conceived by those who have +experienced the like. + +I was one day in a most delightful frame of mind; my heart so overflowed +with love and gratitude to the Author of all my comforts.--I was so +drawn out of myself, and so fill'd and awed by the Presence of God that +I saw (or thought I saw) light inexpressible dart down from heaven upon +me, and shone around me for the space of a minute.--I continued on my +knees, and joy unspeakable took possession of my soul.--The peace and +serenity which filled my mind after this was wonderful, and cannot be +told.--I would not have changed situations, or been any one but myself +for the whole world. I blest God for my poverty, that I had no worldly +riches or grandeur to draw my heart from Him. I wish'd at that time, if +it had been possible for me, to have continued on that spot for ever. I +felt an unwillingness in myself to have any thing more to do with the +world, or to mix with society again. I seemed to possess a full +assurance that my sins were forgiven me. I went home all my way +rejoicing, and this text of scripture came full upon my mind. _"And I +will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away +from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts that +they shall not depart from me."_ The first opportunity that presented +itself, I went to my old school-master, and made known to him the happy +state of my soul who joined with me in praise to God for his mercy to me +the vilest of sinners.--I was now perfectly easy, and had hardly a wish +to make beyond what I possess'd, when my temporal comforts were all +blasted by the death of my dear and worthy Master Mr. Freelandhouse, who +was taken from this world rather suddenly: he had but a short illness, +and died of a fever. I held his hand in mine when he departed; he told +me he had given me my freedom. I was at liberty to go where I would.--He +added that he had always pray'd for me and hop'd I should be kept unto +the end. My master left me by his will ten pounds, and my freedom. + +I found that if he had lived 'twas his intention to take me with him to +Holland, as he had often mention'd me to some friends of his there that +were desirous to see me; but I chose to continue with my Mistress who +was as good to me as if she had been my mother. + +The loss of Mr. Freelandhouse distress'd me greatly, but I was render'd +still more unhappy by the clouded and perplex'd situation of my mind; +the great enemy of my soul being ready to torment me, would present my +own misery to me in such striking light, and distress me with doubts, +fears, and such a deep sense of my own unworthiness, that after all the +comfort and encouragement I had received, I was often tempted to believe +I should be a Cast-away at last.--The more I saw of the Beauty and Glory +of God, the more I was humbled under a sense of my own vileness. I +often repair'd to my old place of prayer; I seldom came away without +consolation. One day this Scripture was wonderfully apply'd to my mind, +_"And ye are compleat in Him which is the Head of all principalities and +power."_--The Lord was pleas'd to comfort me by the application of many +gracious promises at times when I was ready to sink under my troubles. +_"Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto +God by Him seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them._ Hebrews +x. ver. 14. _For by one offering He hath perfected for ever them that +are sanctified."_ + +My kind, indulgent Mistress liv'd but two years after my Master. Her +death was a great affliction to me. She left five sons, all gracious +young men, and Ministers of the Gospel.--I continued with them all, one +after another, till they died; they liv'd but four years after their +parents. When it pleased God to take them to Himself, I was left quite +destitute, without a friend in the world. But I who had so often +experienced the Goodness of GOD, trusted in Him to do what He pleased +with me.--In this helpless condition I went in the wood to prayer as +usual; and tho' the snow was a considerable height, I was not sensible +of cold, or any other inconveniency.--At times indeed when I saw the +world frowning round me, I was tempted to think that the LORD had +forsaken me. I found great relief from the contemplation of these words +in Isaiah xlix. v. 16. _"Behold I have graven thee on the palms of my +hands; thy walls are continually before me."_ And very many comfortable +promises were sweetly applied to me. The lxxxix. Psalm and 34th verse, +_"My covenant will I not break nor alter the thing that is gone out of +my lips."_ Hebrews, chap. xvi. v. 17, 18. Phillipians, chap. i. v. 6; +and several more. + +As I had now lost all my dear and valued friends every place in the +world was alike to me. I had for a great while entertain'd a desire to +come to England.--I imagined that all the Inhabitants of this Island +were _Holy_; because all those that had visited my Master from thence +were good, (Mr. Whitefield was his particular friend) and the authors of +the books that had been given me were all English. But above all places +in the world I wish'd to see Kidderminster, for I could not but think +that on the spot where Mr. Baxter had liv'd, and preach'd, the people +must be all _Righteous_. + +The situation of my affairs requir'd that I should tarry a little +longer in New-York, as I was something in debt, and was embarrass'd how +to pay it.--About this time a young Gentleman that was a particular +acquaintance of one of my young Master's, pretended to be a friend to +me, and promis'd to pay my debts, which was three pounds; and he assur'd +me he would never expect the money again.--But, in less than a month, he +came and demanded it; and when I assur'd him I had nothing to pay, he +threatened to sell me.--Though I knew he had no right to do that, yet as +I had no friend in the world to go to, it alarm'd me greatly.--At length +he purpos'd my going a Privateering, that I might by these means, be +enabled to pay him, to which I agreed.--Our Captain's name was ---- I +went in Character of Cook to him.--Near St. Domingo we came up to five +French ships, Merchant-men.--We had a very smart engagement that +continued from eight in the morning till three in the afternoon; when +victory declar'd on our side.--Soon after this we were met by three +English ships which join'd us, and that encourag'd us to attack a fleet +of 36 Ships.--We boarded the three first and then follow'd the others; +and had the same success with twelve; but the rest escap'd us.--There +was a great deal of blood shed, and I was near death several times, but +the LORD preserv'd me. + +I met with many enemies, and much persecution, among the sailors; one of +them was particularly unkind to me, and studied ways to vex and teaze +me.--I can't help mentioning one circumstance that hurt me more than all +the rest, which was, that he snatched a book out of my hand that I was +very fond of, and used frequently to amuse myself with, and threw it +into the sea.--But what is remarkable he was the first that was killed +in our engagement.--I don't pretend to say that this happen'd because he +was not my friend: but I thought 'twas a very awful Providence to see +how the enemies of the LORD are cut off. + +Our Captain was a cruel hard-hearted man. I was excessively sorry for +the prisoners we took in general; but the pitiable case of one young +Gentleman grieved me to the heart.--He appear'd very amiable; was +strikingly handsome. Our Captain took four thousand pounds from him; but +that did not satisfy him, as he imagin'd he was possess'd of more, and +had somewhere conceal'd it, so that the Captain threatened him with +death, at which he appear'd in the deepest distress, and took the +buckles out of his shoes, and untied his hair, which was very fine, and +long; and in which several very valuable rings were fasten'd. He came +into the Cabbin to me, and in the most obliging terms imaginable ask'd +for something to eat and drink; which when I gave him, he was so +thankful and pretty in his manner that my heart bled for him; and I +heartily wish'd that I could have spoken in any language in which the +ship's crew would not have understood me; that I might have let him know +his danger; for I heard the Captain say he was resolv'd upon his death; +and he put his barbarous design into execution, for he took him on shore +with one of the sailors, and there they shot him. + +This circumstance affected me exceedingly, I could not put him out of my +mind a long while.--When we return'd to New-York the Captain divided the +prize-money among us, that we had taken. When I was call'd upon to +receive my part, I waited upon Mr. ----, (the Gentleman that paid my debt +and was the occasion of my going abroad) to know if he chose to go with +me to receive my money or if I should bring him what I owed.--He chose +to go with me; and when the Captain laid my money on the table ('twas an +hundred and thirty-five pounds) I desir'd Mr. ---- to take what I was +indebted to him; and he swept it all into his handkerchief, and would +never be prevail'd on to give a farthing of money, nor any thing at all +beside.--And he likewise secur'd a hogshead of sugar which was my due +from the same ship. The Captain was very angry with him for this piece +of cruelty to me, as was every other person that heard it.--But I have +reason to believe (as he was one of the Principal Merchants in the city) +that he transacted business for him and on that account did not chuse to +quarrel with him. + +At this time a very worthy Gentleman, a Wine Merchant, his name Dunscum, +took me under his protection, and would have recovered my money for me +if I had chose it; but I told him to let it alone; that I wou'd rather +be quiet.--I believed that it would not prosper with him, and so it +happen'd, for by a series of losses and misfortunes he became poor, and +was soon after drowned, as he was on a party of pleasure.--The vessel +was driven out to sea, and struck against a rock by which means every +soul perished. + +I was very much distress'd when I heard it, and felt greatly for his +family who were reduc'd to very low circumstances.--I never knew how to +set a proper value on money. If I had but a little meat and drink to +supply the present necessaries of life, I never wish'd for more; and +when I had any I always gave it if ever I saw an object in distress. If +it was not for my dear Wife and Children I should pay as little regard +to money now as I did at that time.--I continu'd some time with Mr. +Dunscum as his servant; he was very kind to me.--But I had a vast +inclination to visit England, and wish'd continually that it would +please Providence to make a clear way for me to see this Island. I +entertain'd a notion that if I could get to England I should never more +experience either cruelty or ingratitude, so that I was very desirous to +get among Christians. I knew Mr. Whitefield very well.--I had heard him +preach often at New-York. In this disposition I listed in the +twenty-eighth Regiment of Foot, who were design'd for Martinico in the +late war.--We went in Admiral Pocock's fleet from New-York to Barbadoes; +from thence to Martinico.--When that was taken we proceeded to the +Havannah, and took that place likewise.--There I got discharged. + +I was then worth about thirty pounds, but I never regarded money in the +least, nor would I tarry to receive my prize-money least I should lose +my chance of going to England.--I went with the Spanish prisoners to +Spain; and came to Old-England with the English prisoners.--I cannot +describe my joy when we were within sight of Portsmouth. But I was +astonished when we landed to hear the inhabitants of that place curse +and swear, and otherwise profane. I expected to find nothing but +goodness, gentleness and meekness in this Christian Land, I then +suffer'd great perplexities of mind. + +I enquir'd if any serious Christian people resided there, the woman I +made this enquiry of, answer'd me in the affirmative; and added that she +was one of them.--I was heartily glad to hear her say so. I thought I +could give her my whole heart: she kept a Public-House. I deposited with +her all the money that I had not an immediate occasion for; as I thought +it would be safer with her.--It was 25 guineas but 6 of them I desired +her to lay out to the best advantage, to buy me some shirts, hat and +some other necessaries. I made her a present of a very handsome large +looking glass that I brought with me from Martinico, in order to +recompence her for the trouble I had given her. I must do this woman the +justice to acknowledge that she did lay out some little for my use, but +the 19 guineas and part of the 6, with my watch, she would not return, +but denied that I ever gave it her. + +I soon perceived that I was got among bad people, who defrauded me of my +money and watch; and that all my promis'd happiness was blasted, I had +no friend but GOD and I pray'd to Him earnestly. I could scarcely +believe it possible that the place where so many eminent Christians had +lived and preached could abound with so much wickedness and deceit. I +thought it worse than _Sodom_ (considering the great advantages they +have) I cryed like a child and that almost continually: at length GOD +heard my prayers and rais'd me a friend indeed. + +This publican had a brother who lived on Portsmouth-common, his wife was +a very serious good woman.--When she heard of the treatment I had met +with, she came and enquired into my real situation and was greatly +troubled at the ill usage I had received, and took me home to her own +house.--I began now to rejoice, and my prayer was turned into praise. +She made use of all the arguments in her power to prevail on her who had +wronged me, to return my watch and money, but it was to no purpose, as +she had given me no receipt and I had nothing to show for it, I could +not demand it.--My good friend was excessively angry with her and +obliged her to give me back four guineas, which she said she gave me out +of charity: Though in fact it was my own, and much more. She would have +employed some rougher means to oblige her to give up my money, but I +would not suffer her, let it go says I "My GOD is in heaven." Still I +did not mind my loss in the least; all that grieved me was, that I had +been disappointed in finding some Christian friends, with whom I hoped +to enjoy a little sweet and comfortable society. + +I thought the best method that I could take now, was to go to London, +and find out Mr. Whitefield, who was the only living soul I knew in +England, and get him to direct me to some way or other to procure a +living without being troublesome to any Person.--I took leave of my +Christian friend at Portsmouth, and went in the stage to London.--A +creditable tradesman in the City, who went up with me in the stage, +offer'd to show me the way to Mr. Whitefield's Tabernacle. Knowing that +I was a perfect stranger, I thought it very kind, and accepted his +offer; but he obliged me to give him half-a-crown for going with me, and +likewise insisted on my giving him five shillings more for conducting me +to Dr. Gifford's Meeting. + +I began now to entertain a very different idea of the inhabitants of +England than what I had figur'd to myself before I came amongst +them.--Mr. Whitefield receiv'd me very friendly, was heartily glad to +see me, and directed me to a proper place to board and lodge in +Petticoat-Lane, till he could think of some way to settle me in, and +paid for my lodging, and all my expences. The morning after I came to my +new lodging, as I was at breakfast with the gentlewoman of the house, I +heard the noise of some looms over our heads: I enquir'd what it was; +she told me a person was weaving silk.--I express'd a great desire to +see it, and ask'd if I might: She told me she would go up with me; she +was sure I should be very welcome. She was as good as her word, and as +soon as we enter'd the room, the person that was weaving look'd about, +and smiled upon us, and I loved her from that moment.--She ask'd me many +questions, and I in turn talk'd a great deal to her. I found she was a +member of Mr. Allen's Meeting, and I begun to entertain a good opinion +of her, though I was almost afraid to indulge this inclination, least +she should prove like all the rest I had met with at Portsmouth, &c. and +which had almost given me a dislike to all white women.--But after a +short acquaintance I had the happiness to find she was very different, +and quite sincere, and I was not without hope that she entertain'd some +esteem for me. We often went together to hear Dr. Gifford, and as I had +always a propensity to relieve every object in distress as far as I was +able, I used to give to all that complain'd to me; sometimes half a +guinea at a time, as I did not understand the real value of it.--This +gracious, good woman took great pains to correct and advise me in that +and many other respects. + +After I had been in London about six weeks I was recommended to the +notice of some of my late Master Mr. Freelandhouse's acquaintance, who +had heard him speak frequently of me. I was much persuaded by them to go +to Holland.--My Master lived there before he bought me, and used to +speak of me so respectfully among his friends there, that it raised in +them a curiosity to see me; particularly the Gentlemen engaged in the +Ministry, who expressed a desire to hear my experience and examine me. I +found that it was my good old Master's design that I should have gone if +he had lived; for which reason I resolved upon going to Holland, and +informed my dear friend Mr. Whitefield of my intention; he was much +averse to my going at first, but after I gave him my reasons appeared +very well satisfied. I likewise informed my Betty (the good woman that I +have mentioned above) of my determination to go to Holland and I told +her that I believed she was to be my Wife: that if it was the LORD's +Will I desired it, but not else.--She made me very little answer, but +has since told me, she did not think it at that time. + +I embarked at Tower-wharf at four o'clock in the morning, and arriv'd at +Amsterdam the next day by three o'clock in the afternoon. I had several +letters of recommendation to my old master's friends, who receiv'd me +very graciously. Indeed, one of the chief Ministers was particularly +good to me; he kept me at his house a long while, and took great +pleasure in asking questions, which I answer'd with delight, being +always ready to say, _"Come unto me all ye that fear GOD, and I will +tell what he hath done for my Soul."_ I cannot but admire the footsteps +of Providence; astonish'd that I should be so wonderfully preserved! +Though the Grandson of a King, I have wanted bread, and should have been +glad of the hardest crust I ever saw. I who, at home, was surrounded and +guarded by slaves, so that no indifferent person might approach me, and +clothed with gold, have been inhumanly threatened with death; and +frequently wanted clothing to defend me from the inclemency of the +weather; yet I never murmured, nor was I discontented.--I am willing, +and even desirous to be counted as nothing, a stranger in the world, +and a pilgrim here; for _"I know that my Redeemer liveth,"_ and I'm +thankful for every trial and trouble that I've met with, as I am not +without hope that they have been all sanctified to me. + +The Calvinist Ministers desired to hear my Experience from myself, which +proposal I was very well pleased with: So I stood before 38 Ministers +every Thursday for seven weeks together, and they were all very well +satisfied, and persuaded I was what I pretended to be.--They wrote down +my experience as I spoke it; and the Lord Almighty was with me at that +time in a remarkable manner, and gave me words and enabled me to answer +them; so great was his mercy to take me in hand a poor blind heathen. + +At this time a very rich Merchant at Amsterdam offered to take me into +his family in the capacity of his Butler, and I very willingly accepted +it.--He was a gracious worthy Gentleman and very good to me.--He treated +me more like a friend than a servant.--I tarried there a twelvemonth but +was not thoroughly contented, I wanted to see my wife; (that is now) and +for that reason I wished to return to _England_, I wrote to her once in +my absence, but she did not answer my letter; and I must acknowledge if +she had, it would have given me a less opinion of her.--My Master and +Mistress persuaded me much not to leave them and likewise their two Sons +who entertained a good opinion of me; and if I had found my Betty +married on my arrival in England, I should have returned to them again +immediately. + +My Lady purposed my marrying her maid; she was an agreeable young woman, +had saved a good deal of money, but I could not fancy her, though she +was willing to accept of me, but I told her my inclinations were engaged +in England, and I could think of no other Person.--On my return home, I +found my Betty disengaged.--She had refused several offers in my +absence, and told her sister that, she thought, if ever she married I +was to be her husband. + +Soon after I came home, I waited on Doctor Gifford who took me into his +family and was exceedingly, good to me. The character of this pious +worthy Gentleman is well known; my praise can be of no use or +signification at all.--I hope I shall ever gratefully remember the many +favours I have received from him.--Soon after I came to Doctor Gifford +I expressed a desire to be admitted into their Church, and set down with +them; they told me I must first be baptized; so I gave in my experience +before the Church, with which they were very well satisfied, and I was +baptized by Doctor Gifford with some others. I then made known my +intentions of being married; but I found there were many objections +against it because the person I had fixed on was poor. She was a widow, +her husband had left her in debt, and with a child, so that they +persuaded me against it out of real regard to me.--But I had promised +and was resolved to have her; as I knew her to be a gracious woman, her +poverty was no objection to me, as they had nothing else to say against +her. When my friends found that they could not alter my opinion +respecting her, they wrote to Mr. Allen, the Minister she attended, to +persuade her to leave me; but he replied that he would not interfere at +all, that we might do as we would. I was resolved that all my wife's +little debt should be paid before we were married; so that I sold almost +every thing I had and with all the money I could raise cleared all that +she owed, and I never did any thing with a better will in all my Life, +because I firmly believed that we should be very happy together, and so +it prov'd, for she was given me from the LORD. And I have found her a +blessed partner, and we have never repented, tho' we have gone through +many great troubles and difficulties. + +My wife got a very good living by weaving, and could do extremely well; +but just at that time there was great disturbance among the weavers; so +that I was afraid to let my wife work, least they should insist on my +joining the rioters which I could not think of, and, possibly, if I had +refused to do so they would have knock'd me on the head.--So that by +these means my wife could get no employ, neither had I work enough to +maintain my family. We had not yet been married a year before all these +misfortunes overtook us. + +Just at this time a gentleman, that seemed much concerned for us, +advised me to go into Essex with him and promised to get me employed.--I +accepted his kind proposal, and he spoke to a friend of his, a Quaker, a +gentleman of large fortune, who resided a little way out of the town of +_Colchester_, his name was _Handbarar_; he ordered his steward to set me +to work. There were several employed in the same way with myself. I was +very thankful and contented though my wages were but small.--I was +allowed but eight pence a day, and found myself; but after I had been in +this situation for a fortnight, my Master, being told that a Black was +at work for him, had an inclination to see me. He was pleased to talk to +me for some time, and at last enquired what wages I had; when I told him +he declared, it was too little, and immediately ordered his Steward to +let me have eighteen pence a day, which he constantly gave me after; and +I then did extremely well. + +I did not bring my wife with me: I came first alone and it was my +design, if things answered according to our wishes, to send for her--I +was now thinking to desire her to come to me when I receiv'd a letter to +inform me she was just brought to bed and in want of many +necessaries.--This news was a great trial to me and a fresh affliction: +but my God, _faithful and abundant in mercy_, forsook me not in this +trouble.--As I could not read _English_, I was obliged to apply to some +one to read the letter I received, relative to my wife. I was directed +by the good Providence of God to a worthy young gentleman, a Quaker, and +friend of my Master.--I desired he would take the trouble to read my +letter for me, which he readily comply'd with and was greatly moved and +affected at the contents; insomuch that he said he would undertake to +make a gathering for me, which he did and was the first to contribute to +it himself. The money was sent that evening to London by a person who +happen'd to be going there: nor was this All the goodness that I +experienced from these kind friends, for, as soon as my wife came about +and was fit to travel, they sent for her to me, and were at the whole +expence of her coming; so evidently has the love and mercy of God +appeared through every trouble that ever I experienced. We went on very +comfortably all the summer.--We lived in a little cottage near Mr. +_Handbarrar's_ House; but when the winter came on I was discharged, as +he had no further occasion for me. And now the prospect began to darken +upon us again. We thought it most adviseable to move our habitation a +little nearer to the Town, as the house we lived in was very cold, and +wet, and ready to tumble down. + +The boundless goodness of GOD to me has been so very great, that with +the most humble gratitude I desire to prostrate myself before Him; for I +have been wonderfully supported in every affliction. My GOD never left +me. I perceived light still through the thickest darkness. + +My dear wife and I were now both unemployed, we could get nothing to do. +The winter prov'd remarkably severe, and we were reduc'd to the greatest +distress imaginable.--I was always very shy of asking for any thing; I +could never beg; neither did I chuse to make known our wants to any +person, for fear of offending as we were entire strangers; but our last +bit of bread was gone, and I was obliged to think of something to do for +our support.--I did not mind for myself at all; but to see my dear wife +and children in want pierc'd me to the heart.--I now blam'd myself for +bringing her from London, as doubtless had we continued there we might +have found friends to keep us from starving. The snow was at this season +remarkably deep; so that we could see no prospect of being relieved. In +this melancholy situation, not knowing what step to pursue, I resolved +to make my case known to a Gentleman's Gardiner that lived near us, and +entreat him to employ me: but when I came to him, my courage failed me, +and I was ashamed to make known our real situation.--I endeavoured all I +could to prevail on him to set me to work, but to no purpose: he assur'd +me it was not in his power: but just as I was about to leave him, he +asked me if I would accept of some Carrots? I took them with great +thankfulness and carried them home: he gave me four, they were very +large and fine.--We had nothing to make fire with, so consequently could +not boil them: But was glad to have them to eat _raw_. Our youngest +child was quite an infant; so that my wife was obliged to chew it, and +fed her in that manner for several days.--We allowed ourselves but one +every day, least they should not last 'till we could get some other +supply. I was unwilling to eat at all myself; nor would I take any the +last day that we continued in this situation, as I could not bear the +thought that my dear wife and children would be in want of every means +of support. We lived in this manner, 'till our carrots were all gone: +then my Wife began to lament because of our poor babies: but I comforted +her all I could; still hoping, and believing that _my_ GOD would not +let us die: but that it would please Him to relieve us, which _He_ did +by almost a Miracle. + +We went to bed, as usual, before it was quite dark, (as we had neither +fire nor candle) but had not been there long before some person knocked +at the door & enquir'd if _James Albert_ lived there? I answer'd in the +affirmative, and rose immediately; as soon as I open'd the door I found +it was the servant of an eminent Attorney who resided at +_Colchester_.--He ask'd me how it was with me? if I was not almost +starv'd? I burst out a crying, and told him I was indeed. He said his +master suppos'd so, and that he wanted to speak with me, and I must +return with him. This Gentleman's name was _Danniel_, he was a sincere, +good Christian. He used to stand and talk with me frequently when I +work'd in the road for Mr. _Handbarrar_, and would have employed me +himself, if I had wanted work.--When I came to his house he told me that +he had thought a good deal about me of late, and was apprehensive that I +must be in want, and could not be satisfied till he sent to enquire +after me. I made known my distress to him, at which he was greatly +affected; and generously gave me a guinea; and promis'd to be kind to me +in future. I could not help exclaiming. _O the boundless mercies of my +God!_ I pray'd unto Him, and He has heard me; I trusted in Him and He +has preserv'd me: where shall I begin to praise Him, or how shall I love +Him enough? + +I went immediately and bought some bread and cheese and coal and carried +it home. My dear wife was rejoiced to see me return with something to +eat. She instantly got up and dressed our Babies, while I made a fire, +and the first Nobility in the land never made a more comfortable +meal.--We did not forget to thank the LORD for all his goodness to +us.--Soon after this, as the spring came on, Mr. Peter _Daniel_ employed +me in helping to pull down a house, and rebuilding it. I had then very +good work, and full employ: he sent for my wife, and children to +_Colchester_, and provided us a house where we lived very +comfortably.--I hope I shall always gratefully acknowledge his kindness +to myself and family. I worked at this house for more than a year, till +it was finished; and after that I was employed by several successively, +and was never so happy as when I had something to do; but perceiving +the winter coming on, and work rather slack, I was apprehensive that we +should again be in want or become troublesome to our friends. + +I had at this time an offer made me of going to _Norwich_ and having +constant employ.--My wife seemed pleased with this proposal, as she +supposed she might get work there in the weaving-manufactory, being the +business she was brought up to, and more likely to succeed there than +any other place; and we thought as we had an opportunity of moving to a +Town where we could both be employ'd it was most adviseable to do so; +and that probably we might settle there for our lives.--When this step +was resolv'd on, I went first alone to see how it would answer; which I +very much repented after, for it was not in my power immediately to send +my wife any supply, as I fell into the hands of a Master that was +neither kind nor considerate; and she was reduced to great distress, so +that she was oblig'd to sell the few goods that we had, and when I sent +for her was under the disagreeable necessity of parting with our bed. + +When she came to _Norwich_ I hired a room ready furnished.--I +experienced a great deal of difference in the carriage of my Master from +what I had been accustomed to from some of my other Masters. He was very +irregular in his payments to me.--My wife hired a loom and wove all the +leisure time she had and we began to do very well, till we were +overtaken by fresh misfortunes. Our three poor children fell ill of the +small pox; this was a great trial to us; but still I was persuaded in +myself we should not be forsaken.--And I did all in my power to keep my +dear partner's spirits from sinking. Her whole attention now was taken +up with the children as she could mind nothing else, and all I could get +was but little to support a family in such a situation, beside paying +for the hire of our room, which I was obliged to omit doing for several +weeks: but the woman to whom we were indebted would not excuse us, tho' +I promised she should have the very first money we could get after my +children came about, but she would not be satisfied and had the cruelty +to threaten us that if we did not pay her immediately she would turn us +all into the street. + +The apprehension of this plunged me in the deepest distress, +considering the situation of my poor babies: if they had been in health +I should have been less sensible of this misfortune. But My GOD, _still +faithful to his promise_, raised me a friend. Mr. Henry Gurdney, a +Quaker, a gracious gentleman heard of our distress, he sent a servant of +his own to the woman we hired the room of, paid our rent, and bought all +the goods with my wife's loom and gave it us all. + +Some other gentlemen, hearing of his design, were pleased to assist him +in these generous acts, for which we never can be thankful enough; after +this my children soon came about; we began to do pretty well again; my +dear wife work'd hard and constant when she could get work, but it was +upon a disagreeable footing as her employ was so uncertain, sometimes +she could get nothing to do and at other times when the weavers of +_Norwich_ had orders from London they were so excessively hurried, that +the people they employ'd were often oblig'd to work on the +_Sabbath-day_; but this my wife would never do, and it was matter of +uneasiness to us that we could not get our living in a regular manner, +though we were both diligent, industrious, and willing to work. I was +far from being happy in my Master, he did not use me well. I could +scarcely ever get my money from him; but I continued patient 'till it +pleased GOD to alter my situation. + +My worthy friend Mr. Gurdney advised me to follow the employ of chopping +chaff, and bought me an instrument for that purpose. There were but few +people in the town that made this their business beside myself; so that +I did very well indeed and we became easy and happy.--But we did not +continue long in this comfortable state: Many of the inferior people +were envious and ill-natur'd and set up the same employ and work'd under +price on purpose to get my business from me, and they succeeded so well +that I could hardly get any thing to do, and became again unfortunate: +Nor did this misfortune come alone, for just at this time we lost one of +our little girls who died of a fever; this circumstance occasion'd us +new troubles, for the Baptist Minister refused to bury her because we +were not their members. The Parson of the parish denied us because she +had never been baptized. I applied to the Quakers, but met with no +success; this was one of the greatest trials I ever met with, as we did +not know what to do with our poor baby.--At length I resolv'd to dig a +grave in the garden behind the house, and bury her there; when the +Parson of the parish sent for me to tell me he would bury the child, but +did not chuse to read the burial service over her. I told him I did not +mind whether he would or not, as the child could not hear it. + +We met with a great deal of ill treatment after this, and found it very +difficult to live.--We could scarcely get work to do, and were obliged +to pawn our cloaths. We were ready to sink under our troubles.--When I +purposed to my wife to go to _Kidderminster_ and try if we could do +there. I had always an inclination for that place, and now more than +ever as I had heard _Mr. Fawcet_ mentioned in the most respectful +manner, as a pious worthy Gentleman; and I had seen his name in a +favourite book of mine, Baxter's _Saints everlasting rest_, and as the +Manufactory of _Kidderminster_ seemed to promise my wife some +employment, she readily came into my way of thinking. + +I left her once more, and set out for _Kidderminster_, in order to judge +if the situation would suit us.--As soon as I came there I waited +immediately on _Mr. Fawcet_, who was pleased to receive me very kindly +and recommended me to _Mr. Watson_ who employed me in twisting silk and +worsted together. I continued here about a fortnight, and when I thought +it would answer our expectation, I returned to _Norwich_ to fetch my +wife; she was then near her time, and too much indisposed. So we were +obliged to tarry until she was brought to bed, and as soon as she could +conveniently travel we came to _Kidderminster_, but we brought nothing +with us as we were obliged to sell all we had to pay our debts and the +expences of my wife's illness, &c. + +Such is our situation at present.--My wife, by hard labor at the loom, +does every thing that can be expected from her towards the maintenance +of our family; and God is pleased to incline the hearts of his People at +times to yield us their charitable assistance; being myself through age +and infirmity able to contribute but little to their support. As +Pilgrims, and very poor Pilgrims, we are travelling through many +difficulties towards our Heavenly Home, and waiting patiently for his +gracious call, when the Lord shall deliver us out of the evils of this +present world and bring us to the Everlasting Glories of the world to +come.--To HIM be Praise for Ever and Ever, AMEN. + + +FINIS. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Narrative Of The Most Remarkable +Particulars In The Life Of James Albert Ukawsaw Gronniosaw, An African Prince, As Related By Himself, by James Albert Ukawsaw Gronniosaw + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JAMES ALBERT UKAWSAW GRONNIOSAW *** + +***** This file should be named 15042-8.txt or 15042-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/5/0/4/15042/ + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Charles Aldarondo and the PG Online +Distributed Proofreading Team. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Narrative Of The Most Remarkable Particulars In The Life Of James Albert Ukawsaw Gronniosaw, An African Prince, As Related By Himself + +Author: James Albert Ukawsaw Gronniosaw + +Release Date: February 14, 2005 [EBook #15042] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JAMES ALBERT UKAWSAW GRONNIOSAW *** + + + + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Charles Aldarondo and the PG Online +Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<h1>A<br /><br /> + +NARRATIVE<br /><br /> + +OF THE<br /><br /> + +MOST REMARKABLE PARTICULARS<br /><br /> + +IN THE LIFE OF<br /><br /> + +JAMES ALBERT UKAWSAW GRONNIOSAW,<br /><br /> + +AN AFRICAN PRINCE,</h1> + +<h2>As related by HIMSELF.</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>I will bring the Blind by a Way that they know not, I will lead + them in Paths that they have not known: I will make Darkness Light + before them and crooked Things straight. These Things will I do + unto them and not forsake them.</i> Isa. xlii. 16. </p></div> + + +<p class="center">BATH:</p> + +<p class="center">Printed by W. GYE in Westgate-Street; and sold by T. MILLS,</p> + +<p class="center">Bookseller, in King's-Mead-Square.</p> + +<p class="center">Price <span class="smcap">Six-Pence</span>.</p> + +<p class="center">1772<br /><br /></p> + +<h2>TO THE<br /><br /> + +RIGHT HONOURABLE</h2> + +<h3>The <i>Countess</i> of <span class="smcap">Huntingdon</span>;</h3> + +<h3>THIS</h3> + +<h2>NARRATIVE</h2> + +<h3>Of my <i>LIFE</i>,<br /><br /> + +And of <span class="smcap">God's</span> wonderful Dealings with me, is,<br /><br /> + +(<i>Through Her LADYSHIP'S Permission</i>)<br /><br /> + +<i>Most Humbly Dedicated,<br /><br /> + +By her LADYSHIP'S<br /><br /> + +Most obliged<br /><br /> + +And obedient Servant,</i><br /><br /></h3> + +<h2>JAMES ALBERT.</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_PREFACE_to_the_READER" id="THE_PREFACE_to_the_READER" />THE PREFACE to the READER.</h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">This</span> Account of the Life and spiritual Experience of <span class="smcap">James +Albert</span> was taken from his own Mouth and committed to Paper by the +elegant Pen of a young <span class="smcap">Lady</span> of the Town of <span class="smcap">Leominster</span>, +for her own private Satisfaction, and without any Intention at first +that it should be made public. But she has now been prevail'd on to +commit it to the Press, both with a view to serve <span class="smcap">Albert</span> and +his distressed Family, who have the sole Profits arising from the Sale +of it; and likewise as it is apprehended, this little History contains +Matter well worthy the Notice and Attention of every Christian Reader.</p> + +<p>Perhaps we have here in some Degree a Solution of that Question that has +perplex'd the Minds of so many serious Persons, viz. In what Manner will +God deal with those benighted Parts of the World where the Gospel of +Jesus Christ hath never reach'd? Now it appears from the Experience of +this remarkable Person, that God does not save without the Knowledge of +the Truth; but, with Respect to those whom he hath fore-known, though +born under every outward Disadvantage, and in Regions of the grossest +Darkness and Ignorance, he most amazingly acts upon and influences their +Minds, and in the Course of wisely and most wonderfully appointed +Providences, he brings them to the Means of spiritual Information, +gradually opens to their View the Light of his Truth, and gives them +full Possession and Enjoyment of the inestimable Blessings of his +Gospel. Who can doubt but that the Suggestion so forcibly press'd upon +the Mind of <span class="smcap">Albert</span> (when a Boy) that there was a Being superior +to the Sun, Moon, and Stars (the Objects of African Idolatry) came from +the Father of Lights, and was, with Respect to him, the First-Fruit of +the Display of Gospel-Glory? His long and perilous Journey to the Coast +of Guinea, where he was sold for a Slave, and so brought into a +Christian Land; shall we consider this as the alone Effect of a curious +and inquisitive Disposition? Shall we in accounting for it refer to +nothing higher than mere Chance and accidental Circumstances? Whatever +Infidels and Deists may think; I trust the Christian Reader will easily +discern an All-wise and Omnipotent Appointment and Direction in these +Movements. He belong'd to the Redeemer of lost Sinners; he was the +Purchase of his Cross; and therefore the Lord undertook to bring him by +a Way that he knew not, out of Darkness into his marvellous Light, that +he might lead him to a saving Heart-Acquaintance and Union with the +triune God in Christ reconciling the World unto himself; and not +imputing their Trespasses. As his Call was very extraordinary, so there +are certain Particulars exceedingly remarkable in his Experience. God +has put singular Honour upon him in the Exercise of his Faith and +Patience, which in the most distressing and pitiable Trials and +Calamities have been found to the Praise and Glory of God. How deeply +must it affect a tender Heart, not only to be reduc'd to the last +Extremity himself, but to have his Wife and Children perishing for Want +before his Eyes! Yet his Faith did not fail him; he put his Trust in the +Lord, and he was delivered. And at this Instant, though born in an +exalted Station of Life, and now under the Pressure of various +afflicting Providences, I am persuaded (for I know the Man) he would +rather embrace the Dung-hill, having Christ in his Heart, than give up +his spiritual Possessions and Enjoyment, to fill the Throne of Princes. +It perhaps may not be amiss to observe that <span class="smcap">James Albert</span> left +his native Country, (as near as I can guess from certain Circumstances) +when he was about 15 Years old. He now appears to be turn'd of Sixty; +has a good natural Understanding; is well acquainted with the +Scriptures, and the Things of God, has an amiable and tender +Disposition, and his Character can be well attested not only at +Kidderminster, the Place of his Residence but likewise by many +creditable Persons in London and other Places. Reader, recommending this +Narrative to your perusal, and him who is the Subject of it to your +charitable Regard,</p> + +<p class="right">I am your faithful and obedient Servant,</p> + +<p class="right">For Christ's Sake,</p> + +<p class="right">W. Shirley.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>AN<br /><br /> + +ACCOUNT<br /><br /> + +OF<br /><br /> + +JAMES ALBERT, &c.</h2> + + +<p>I was born in the city <span class="smcap">Bournou</span>; my mother was the eldest +daughter of the reigning King there, of which <span class="smcap">Bournou</span> is the +chief city. I was the youngest of six children, and particularly loved +by my mother, and my grand-father almost doated on me.</p> + +<p>I had, from my infancy, a curious turn of mind; was more grave and +reserved in my disposition than either of my brothers and sisters. I +often teazed them with questions they could not answer: for which reason +they disliked me, as they supposed that I was either foolish, or insane. +'Twas certain that I was, at times, very unhappy in myself: it being +strongly impressed on my mind that there was some <span class="smcap">Great Man</span> of +power which resided above the sun, moon and stars, the objects of our +worship. My dear indulgent mother would bear more with me than any of my +friends beside.—I often raised my hand to heaven, and asked her who +lived there? was much dissatisfied when she told me the sun, moon and +stars, being persuaded, in my own mind, that there must be some +<span class="smcap">Superior Power</span>.—I was frequently lost in wonder at the works +of the Creation: was afraid and uneasy and restless, but could not tell +for what. I wanted to be informed of things that no person could tell +me; and was always dissatisfied.—These wonderful impressions begun in +my childhood, and followed me continually 'till I left my parents, which +affords me matter of admiration and thankfulness.</p> + +<p>To this moment I grew more and more uneasy every day, in so much that +one saturday, (which is the day on which we keep our sabbath) I laboured +under anxieties and fears that cannot be expressed; and, what is more +extraordinary, I could not give a reason for it.—I rose, as our custom +is, about three o'clock, (as we are oblig'd to be at our place of +worship an hour before the sun rise) we say nothing in our worship, but +continue on our knees with our hands held up, observing a strict silence +'till the sun is at a certain height, which I suppose to be about 10 or +11 o'clock in England: when, at a certain sign made by the priest, we +get up (our duty being over) and disperse to our different houses.—Our +place of meeting is under a large palm tree; we divide ourselves into +many congregations; as it is impossible for the same tree to cover the +inhabitants of the whole City, though they are extremely large, high and +majestic; the beauty and usefulness of them are not to be described; +they supply the inhabitants of the country with meat, drink and +clothes;<a name="FNanchor_A_1" id="FNanchor_A_1" /><a href="#Footnote_A_1" class="fnanchor">[A]</a> the body of the palm tree is very large; at a certain season +of the year they tap it, and bring vessels to receive the wine, of which +they draw great quantities, the quality of which is very delicious: the +leaves of this tree are of a silky nature; they are large and soft; when +they are dried and pulled to pieces it has much the same appearance as +the English flax, and the inhabitants of <span class="smcap">Bournou</span> manufacture it +for cloathing &c. This tree likewise produces a plant or substance which +has the appearance of a cabbage, and very like it, in taste almost the +same: it grows between the branches. Also the palm tree produces a nut, +something like a cocoa, which contains a kernel, in which is a large +quantity of milk, very pleasant to the taste: the shell is of a hard +substance, and of a very beautiful appearance, and serves for basons, +bowls, &c.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"> +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_A_1" id="Footnote_A_1" /><a href="#FNanchor_A_1"><span class="label">[A]</span></a> It is a generally received opinion, in <i>England</i>, that the +natives of <i>Africa</i> go entirely unclothed; but this supposition is very +unjust: they have a kind of dress so as to appear decent, though it is +very slight and thin.</p></div></div> + +<p>I hope this digression will be forgiven.—I was going to observe that +after the duty of our Sabbath was over (on the day in which I was more +distressed and afflicted than ever) we were all on our way home as +usual, when a remarkable black cloud arose and covered the sun; then +followed very heavy rain and thunder more dreadful than ever I had +heard: the heav'ns roared, and the earth trembled at it: I was highly +affected and cast down; in so much that I wept sadly, and could not +follow my relations and friends home.—I was obliged to stop and felt +as if my legs were tied, they seemed to shake under me: so I stood +still, being in great fear of the <span class="smcap">Man</span> of <span class="smcap">Power</span> that I was persuaded in +myself, lived above. One of my young companions (who entertained a +particular friendship for me and I for him) came back to see for me: he +asked me why I stood still in such very hard rain? I only said to him +that my legs were weak, and I could not come faster: he was much +affected to see me cry, and took me by the hand, and said he would lead +me home, which he did. My mother was greatly alarmed at my tarrying out +in such terrible weather; she asked me many questions, such as what I +did so for, and if I was well? My dear mother says I, pray tell me who +is the great <span class="smcap">Man</span> of <span class="smcap">Power</span> that makes the thunder? She said, there was no +power but the sun, moon and stars; that they made all our country.—I +then enquired how all our people came? She answered me, from one +another; and so carried me to many generations back.—Then says I, who +made the <i>First Man</i>? and who made the first Cow, and the first Lyon, +and where does the fly come from, as no one can make him? My mother +seemed in great trouble; she was apprehensive that my senses were +impaired, or that I was foolish. My father came in, and seeing her in +grief asked the cause, but when she related our conversation to him, he +was exceedingly angry with me, and told me he would punish me severely +if ever I was so troublesome again; so that I resolved never to say any +thing more to him. But I grew very unhappy in myself; my relations and +acquaintance endeavoured by all the means they could think on, to divert +me, by taking me to ride upon goats, (which is much the custom of our +country) and to shoot with a bow and arrow; but I experienced no +satisfaction at all in any of these things; nor could I be easy by any +means whatever: my parents were very unhappy to see me so dejected and +melancholy.</p> + +<p>About this time there came a merchant from the <i>Gold Coast</i> (the third +city in <span class="smcap">Guinea</span>) he traded with the inhabitants of our country +in ivory &c. he took great notice of my unhappy situation, and enquired +into the cause; he expressed vast concern for me, and said, if my +parents would part with me for a little while, and let him take me home +with him, it would be of more service to me than any thing they could do +for me.—He told me that if I would go with him I should see houses +with wings to them walk upon the water, and should also see the white +folks; and that he had many sons of my age, which should be my +companions; and he added to all this that he would bring me safe back +again soon.—I was highly pleased with the account of this strange +place, and was very desirous of going.—I seemed sensible of a secret +impulse upon my mind which I could not resist that seemed to tell me I +must go. When my dear mother saw that I was willing to leave them, she +spoke to my father and grandfather and the rest of my relations, who all +agreed that I should accompany the merchant to the Gold Coast. I was the +more willing as my brothers and sisters despised me, and looked on me +with contempt on the account of my unhappy disposition; and even my +servants slighted me, and disregarded all I said to them. I had one +sister who was always exceeding fond of me, and I loved her entirely; +her name was <span class="smcap">Logwy</span>, she was quite white, and fair, with fine +light hair though my father and mother were black.—I was truly +concerned to leave my beloved sister, and she cry'd most sadly to part +with me, wringing her hands, and discovered every sign of grief that can +be imagined. Indeed if I could have known when I left my friends and +country that I should never return to them again my misery on that +occasion would have been inexpressible. All my relations were sorry to +part with me; my dear mother came with me upon a camel more than three +hundred miles, the first of our journey lay chiefly through woods: at +night we secured ourselves from the wild beasts by making fires all +around us; we and our camels kept within the circle, or we must have +been torn to pieces by the Lyons, and other wild creatures, that roared +terribly as soon as night came on, and continued to do so 'till +morning.—There can be little said in favour of the country through +which we passed; only a valley of marble that we came through which is +unspeakably beautiful.—On each side of this valley are exceedingly high +and almost inaccessible mountains—Some of these pieces of marble are of +prodigious length and breadth but of different sizes and colour, and +shaped in a variety of forms, in a wonderful manner.—It is most of it +veined with gold mixed with striking and beautiful colours; so that +when the sun darts upon it, it is as pleasing a sight as can be +imagined.—The merchant that brought me from <span class="smcap">Bournou</span>, was in +partnership with another gentleman who accompanied us; he was very +unwilling that he should take me from home, as, he said, he foresaw many +difficulties that would attend my going with them.—He endeavoured to +prevail on the merchant to throw me into a very deep pit that was in the +valley, but he refused to listen to him, and said, he was resolved to +take care of me: but the other was greatly dissatisfied; and when we +came to a river, which we were obliged to pass through, he purpos'd +throwing me in and drowning me; but the Merchant would not consent to +it, so that I was preserv'd.</p> + +<p>We travel'd 'till about four o'clock every day, and then began to make +preparations for night, by cutting down large quantities of wood, to +make fires to preserve us from the wild beasts.—I had a very unhappy +and discontented journey, being in continual fear that the people I was +with would murder me. I often reflected with extreme regret on the kind +friends I had left, and the idea of my dear mother frequently drew tears +from my eyes.—I cannot recollect how long we were in going from +<span class="smcap">Bournou</span> to the <span class="smcap">Gold Coast</span>; but as there is no shipping +nearer to <span class="smcap">Bournou</span> than that City, it was tedious in travelling +so far by land, being upwards of a thousand miles.—I was heartily +rejoic'd when we arriv'd at the end of our journey: I now vainly +imagin'd that all my troubles and inquietudes would terminate here; but +could I have looked into futurity, I should have perceiv'd that I had +much more to suffer than I had before experienc'd, and that they had as +yet but barely commenc'd.</p> + +<p>I was now more than a thousand miles from home, without a friend or any +means to procure one. Soon after I came to the merchant's house I heard +the drums beat remarkably loud, and the trumpets blow—the persons +accustom'd to this employ, are oblig'd to go upon a very high structure +appointed for that purpose, that the sound might be heard at a great +distance: They are higher than the steeples are in England. I was +mightily pleas'd with sounds so entirely new to me, and was very +inquisitive to know the cause of this rejoicing, and ask'd many +questions concerning it: I was answer'd that it was meant as a +compliment to me, because I was Grandson to the King of +<span class="smcap">Bournou</span>.</p> + +<p>This account gave me a secret pleasure; but I was not suffer'd long to +enjoy this satisfaction, for in the evening of the same day, two of the +merchant's sons (boys about my own age) came running to me, and told me, +that the next day I was to die, for the King intended to behead me.—I +reply'd that I was sure it could not be true, for that I came there to +play with them, and to see houses walk upon the water with wings to +them, and the white folks; but I was soon inform'd that their King +imagined that I was sent by my father as a spy, and would make such +discoveries at my return home that would enable them to make war with +the greater advantage to ourselves; and for these reasons he had +resolved I should never return to my native country.—When I heard this +I suffered misery that cannot be described.—I wished a thousand times +that I had never left my friends and country.—But still the +<span class="smcap">Almighty</span> was pleased to work miracles for me.</p> + +<p>The morning I was to die, I was washed and all my gold ornaments made +bright and shining, and then carried to the palace, where the King was +to behead me himself (as is the custom of the place).—He was seated +upon a throne at the top of an exceeding large yard, or court, which you +must go through to enter the palace, it is as wide and spacious as a +large field in England.—I had a lane of lifeguards to go through.—I +guessed it to be about three hundred paces.</p> + +<p>I was conducted by my friend, the merchant, about half way up; then he +durst proceed no further: I went up to the <span class="smcap">King</span> alone—I went +with an undaunted courage, and it pleased <span class="smcap">God</span> to melt the heart +of the King, who sat with his scymitar in his hand ready to behead me; +yet, being himself so affected, he dropped it out of his hand, and took +me upon his knee and wept over me. I put my right hand round his neck, +and prest him to my heart.—He sat me down and blest me; and added that +he would not kill me, and that I should not go home, but be sold, for a +slave, so then I was conducted back again to the merchant's house.</p> + +<p>The next day he took me on board a French brig; but the Captain did not +chuse to buy me: he said I was too small; so the merchant took me home +with him again.</p> + +<p>The partner, whom I have spoken of as my enemy, was very angry to see me +return, and again purposed putting an end to my life; for he represented +to the other, that I should bring them into troubles and difficulties, +and that I was so little that no person would buy me.</p> + +<p>The merchant's resolution began to waver, and I was indeed afraid that I +should be put to death: but however he said he would try me once more.</p> + +<p>A few days after a Dutch ship came into the harbour, and they carried me +on board, in hopes that the Captain would purchase me.—As they went, I +heard them agree, that, if they could not sell me <i>then</i>, they would +throw me overboard.—I was in extreme agonies when I heard this; and as +soon as ever I saw the Dutch Captain, I ran to him, and put my arms +round him, and said, "father, save me." (for I knew that if he did not +buy me, I should be treated very ill, or, possibly, murdered) And though +he did not understand my language, yet it pleased the <span class="smcap">Almighty</span> +to influence him in my behalf, and he bought me <i>for two yards of +check</i>, which is of more value <i>there</i>, than in England.</p> + +<p>When I left my dear mother I had a large quantity of gold about me, as +is the custom of our country, it was made into rings, and they were +linked into one another, and formed into a kind of chain, and so put +round my neck, and arms and legs, and a large piece hanging at one ear +almost in the shape of a pear. I found all this troublesome, and was +glad when my new Master took it from me—I was now washed, and clothed +in the Dutch or English manner.—My master grew very fond of me, and I +loved him exceedingly. I watched every look, was always ready when he +wanted me, and endeavoured to convince him, by every action, that my +only pleasure was to serve him well.—I have since thought that he must +have been a serious man. His actions corresponded very well with such a +character.—He used to read prayers in public to the ship's crew every +Sabbath day; and when first I saw him read, I was never so surprised in +my whole life as when I saw the book talk to my master; for I thought it +did, as I observed him to look upon it, and move his lips.—I wished it +would do so to me.—As soon as my master had done reading I follow'd +him to the place where he put the book, being mightily delighted with +it, and when nobody saw me, I open'd it and put my ear down close upon +it, in great hope that it wou'd say something to me; but was very sorry +and greatly disappointed when I found it would not speak, this thought +immediately presented itself to me, that every body and every thing +despis'd me because I was black.</p> + +<p>I was exceedingly sea-sick at first; but when I became more accustom'd +to the sea, it wore off.—My master's ship was bound for Barbadoes. When +we came there, he thought fit to speak of me to several gentlemen of his +acquaintance, and one of them exprest a particular desire to see me.—He +had a great mind to buy me; but the Captain could not immediately be +prevail'd on to part with me; but however, as the gentleman seem'd very +solicitous, he at length let me go, and I was sold for fifty dollars +(<i>four and sixpenny-pieces in English</i>). My new master's name was +Vanhorn, a young Gentleman; his home was in New-England in the City of +New-York; to which place he took me with him. He dress'd me in his +livery, and was very good to me. My chief business was to wait at table, +and tea, and clean knives, and I had a very easy place; but the servants +us'd to curse and swear surprizingly; which I learnt faster than any +thing, 'twas almost the first English I could speak. If any of them +affronted me, I was sure to call upon God to damn them immediately; but +I was broke of it all at once, occasioned by the correction of an old +black servant that liv'd in the family—One day I had just clean'd the +knives for dinner, when one of the maids took one to cut bread and +butter with; I was very angry with her, and called upon God to damn her; +when this old black man told me I must not say so. I ask'd him why? He +replied there was a wicked man call'd the Devil, that liv'd in hell, and +would take all that said these words, and put them in the fire and burn +them.—This terrified me greatly, and I was entirely broke of +swearing.—Soon after this, as I was placing the china for tea, my +mistress came into the room just as the maid had been cleaning it; the +girl had unfortunately sprinkled the wainscot with the mop; at which my +mistress was angry; the girl very foolishly answer'd her again, which +made her worse, and she call'd upon God to damn her.—I was vastly +concern'd to hear this, as she was a fine young lady, and very good to +me, insomuch that I could not help speaking to her, "Madam, says I, you +must not say so," Why, says she? Because there is a black man call'd the +Devil that lives in hell, and he will put you in the fire and burn you, +and I shall be very sorry for that. Who told you this replied my lady? +Old Ned, says I. Very well was all her answer; but she told my master of +it, and he order'd that old Ned should be tyed up and whipp'd, and was +never suffer'd to come into the kitchen with the rest of the servants +afterwards.—My mistress was not angry with me, but rather diverted with +my simplicity and, by way of talk, She repeated what I had said, to many +of her acquaintance that visited her; among the rest, Mr. Freelandhouse, +a very gracious, good Minister, heard it, and he took a great deal of +notice of me, and desired my master to part with me to him. He would not +hear of it at first, but, being greatly persuaded, he let me go, and Mr. +Freelandhouse gave £50. for me.—He took me home with him, and made me +kneel down, and put my two hands together, and pray'd for me, and every +night and morning he did the same.—I could not make out what it was +for, nor the meaning of it, nor what they spoke to when they talk'd—I +thought it comical, but I lik'd it very well.—After I had been a little +while with my new master I grew more familiar, and ask'd him the meaning +of prayer: (I could hardly speak english to be understood) he took great +pains with me, and made me understand that he pray'd to God, who liv'd +in Heaven; that He was my Father and <span class="smcap">best</span> Friend.—I told him +that this must be a mistake; that <i>my</i> father liv'd at <span class="smcap">Bournou</span>, +and I wanted very much to see him, and likewise my dear mother, and +sister, and I wish'd he would be so good as to send me home to them; and +I added, all I could think of to induce him to convey me back. I +appeared in great trouble, and my good master was so much affected that +the tears ran down his face. He told me that God was a <span class="smcap">Great</span> +and <span class="smcap">Good Spirit</span>, that He created all the world, and every +person and thing in it, in Ethiopia, Africa, and America, and every +where. I was delighted when I heard this: There, says I, I always +thought so when I liv'd at home! Now if I had wings like an Eagle I +would fly to tell my dear mother that God is greater than the sun, +moon, and stars; and that they were made by Him.</p> + +<p>I was exceedingly pleas'd with this information of my master's, because +it corresponded so well with my own opinion; I thought now if I could +but get home, I should be wiser than all my country-folks, my +grandfather, or father, or mother, or any of them—But though I was +somewhat enlighten'd by this information of my master's, yet, I had no +other knowledge of God but that He was a <span class="smcap">Good Spirit</span>, and +created every body, and every thing—I never was sensible in myself, nor +had any one ever told me, that He would punish the wicked, and love the +just. I was only glad that I had been told there was a God because I had +always thought so.</p> + +<p>My dear kind master grew very fond of me, as was his Lady; she put me to +School, but I was uneasy at that, and did not like to go; but my master +and mistress requested me to learn in the gentlest terms, and persuaded +me to attend my school without any anger at all; that, at last, I came +to like it better, and learnt to read pretty well. My schoolmaster was a +good man, his name was Vanosdore, and very indulgent to me.—I was in +this state when, one Sunday, I heard my master preach from these words +out of the Revelations, chap. i. v. 7. <i>"Behold, He cometh in the clouds +and every eye shall see him and they that pierc'd Him."</i> These words +affected me excessively; I was in great agonies because I thought my +master directed them to me only; and, I fancied, that he observ'd me +with unusual earnestness—I was farther confirm'd in this belief as I +look'd round the church, and could see no one person beside myself in +such grief and distress as I was; I began to think that my master hated +me, and was very desirous to go home, to my own country; for I thought +that if God did come (as he said) He would be sure to be most angry with +<i>me</i>, as I did not know what He was, nor had ever heard of him before.</p> + +<p>I went home in great trouble, but said nothing to any body.—I was +somewhat afraid of my master; I thought he disliked me.—The next text I +heard him preach from was, Heb. xii. 14. <i>"follow peace with all men, +and holiness, without which no man shall see the LORD."</i> he preached the +law so severely, that it made me tremble.—he said, that GOD would judge +the whole world; <span class="smcap">Ethiopia, Asia</span>, and <span class="smcap">Africa</span>, and every +where.—I was now excessively perplexed, and undetermined what to do; +as I had now reason to believe my situation would be equally bad to go, +as to stay.—I kept these thoughts to myself, and said nothing to any +person whatever.</p> + +<p>I should have complained to my good mistress of this great trouble of +mind, but she had been a little strange to me for several days before +this happened, occasioned by a story told of me by one of the maids. The +servants were all jealous, and envied me the regard, and favour shewn me +by my master and mistress; and the Devil being always ready, and +diligent in wickedness, had influenced this girl, to make a lye on +me.—This happened about hay-harvest, and one day when I was unloading +the waggon to put the hay into the barn, she watched an opportunity, in +my absence, to take the fork out of the stick, and hide it: when I came +again to my work, and could not find it, I was a good deal vexed, but I +concluded it was dropt somewhere among the hay; so I went and bought +another with my own money: when the girl saw that I had another, she was +so malicious that she told my mistress I was very unfaithful, and not +the person she took me for; and that she knew, I had, without my +master's permission, order'd many things in his name, that he must pay +for; and as a proof of my carelessness produc'd the fork she had taken +out of the stick, and said, she had found it out of doors—My Lady, not +knowing the truth of these things, was a little shy to me, till she +mention'd it, and then I soon cleared myself, and convinc'd her that +these accusations were false.</p> + +<p>I continued in a most unhappy state for many days. My good mistress +insisted on knowing what was the matter. When I made known my situation +she gave me John Bunyan on the holy war, to read; I found his experience +similar to my own, which gave me reason to suppose he must be a bad man; +as I was convinc'd of my own corrupt nature, and the misery of my own +heart: and as he acknowledg'd that he was likewise in the same +condition, I experienc'd no relief at all in reading his work, but +rather the reverse.—I took the book to my lady, and inform'd her I did +not like it at all, it was concerning a wicked man as bad as myself; and +I did not chuse to read it, and I desir'd her to give me another, wrote +by a better man that was holy and without sin.—She assur'd me that +John Bunyan was a good man, but she could not convince me; I thought +him to be too much like myself to be upright, as his experience seem'd +to answer with my own.</p> + +<p>I am very sensible that nothing but the great power and unspeakable +mercies of the Lord could relieve my soul from the heavy burden it +laboured under at that time.—A few days after my master gave me +Baxter's <i>Call to the unconverted</i>. This was no relief to me neither; on +the contrary it occasioned as much distress in me as the other had +before done, <i>as it</i> invited all to come to <i>Christ</i> and I found myself +so wicked and miserable that I could not come—This consideration threw +me into agonies that cannot be described; insomuch that I even attempted +to put an end to my life—I took one of the large case-knives, and went +into the stable with an intent to destroy myself; and as I endeavoured +with all my strength to force the knife into my side, it bent double. I +was instantly struck with horror at the thought of my own rashness, and +my conscience told me that had I succeeded in this attempt I should +probably have gone to hell.</p> + +<p>I could find no relief, nor the least shadow of comfort; the extreme +distress of my mind so affected my health that I continued very ill for +three Days, and Nights; and would admit of no means to be taken for my +recovery, though my lady was very kind, and sent many things to me; but +I rejected every means of relief and wished to die—I would not go into +my own bed, but lay in the stable upon straw—I felt all the horrors of +a troubled conscience, so hard to be born, and saw all the vengeance of +God ready to overtake me—I was sensible that there was no way for me to +be saved unless I came to <i>Christ</i>, and I could not come to Him: I +thought that it was impossible He should receive such a sinner as me.</p> + +<p>The last night that I continued in this place, in the midst of my +distress these words were brought home upon my mind, <i>"Behold the Lamb +of God."</i> I was something comforted at this, and began to grow easier +and wished for day that I might find these words in my bible—I rose +very early the following morning, and went to my school-master, Mr. +Vanosdore, and communicated the situation of my mind to him; he was +greatly rejoiced to find me enquiring the way to Zion, and blessed the +Lord who had worked so wonderfully for me a poor heathen.—I was more +familiar with this good gentleman than with my master, or any other +person; and found myself more at liberty to talk to him: he encouraged +me greatly, and prayed with me frequently, and I was always benefited by +his discourse.</p> + +<p>About a quarter of a mile from my Master's house stood a large +remarkably fine Oak-tree, in the midst of a wood; I often used to be +employed there in cutting down trees, (a work I was very fond of) I +seldom failed going to this place every day; sometimes twice a day if I +could be spared. It was the highest pleasure I ever experienced to set +under this Oak; for there I used to pour out all my complaints to the +LORD: and when I had any particular grievance I used to go there, and +talk to the tree, and tell my sorrows, as if it had been to a friend.</p> + +<p>Here I often lamented my own wicked heart, and undone state; and found +more comfort and consolation than I ever was sensible of +before.—Whenever I was treated with ridicule or contempt, I used to +come here and find peace. I now began to relish the book my Master gave +me, Baxter's <i>Call to the unconverted</i>, and took great delight in it. I +was always glad to be employ'd in cutting wood, 'twas a great part of my +business, and I follow'd it with delight, as I was then quite alone and +my heart lifted up to GOD, and I was enabled to pray continually; and +blessed for ever be his Holy Name, he faithfully answer'd my prayers. I +can never be thankful enough to Almighty GOD for the many comfortable +opportunities I experienced there.</p> + +<p>It is possible the circumstance I am going to relate will not gain +credit with many; but this I know, that the joy and comfort it conveyed +to me, cannot be expressed and only conceived by those who have +experienced the like.</p> + +<p>I was one day in a most delightful frame of mind; my heart so overflowed +with love and gratitude to the Author of all my comforts.—I was so +drawn out of myself, and so fill'd and awed by the Presence of God that +I saw (or thought I saw) light inexpressible dart down from heaven upon +me, and shone around me for the space of a minute.—I continued on my +knees, and joy unspeakable took possession of my soul.—The peace and +serenity which filled my mind after this was wonderful, and cannot be +told.—I would not have changed situations, or been any one but myself +for the whole world. I blest God for my poverty, that I had no worldly +riches or grandeur to draw my heart from Him. I wish'd at that time, if +it had been possible for me, to have continued on that spot for ever. I +felt an unwillingness in myself to have any thing more to do with the +world, or to mix with society again. I seemed to possess a full +assurance that my sins were forgiven me. I went home all my way +rejoicing, and this text of scripture came full upon my mind. <i>"And I +will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away +from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts that +they shall not depart from me."</i> The first opportunity that presented +itself, I went to my old school-master, and made known to him the happy +state of my soul who joined with me in praise to God for his mercy to me +the vilest of sinners.—I was now perfectly easy, and had hardly a wish +to make beyond what I possess'd, when my temporal comforts were all +blasted by the death of my dear and worthy Master Mr. Freelandhouse, who +was taken from this world rather suddenly: he had but a short illness, +and died of a fever. I held his hand in mine when he departed; he told +me he had given me my freedom. I was at liberty to go where I would.—He +added that he had always pray'd for me and hop'd I should be kept unto +the end. My master left me by his will ten pounds, and my freedom.</p> + +<p>I found that if he had lived 'twas his intention to take me with him to +Holland, as he had often mention'd me to some friends of his there that +were desirous to see me; but I chose to continue with my Mistress who +was as good to me as if she had been my mother.</p> + +<p>The loss of Mr. Freelandhouse distress'd me greatly, but I was render'd +still more unhappy by the clouded and perplex'd situation of my mind; +the great enemy of my soul being ready to torment me, would present my +own misery to me in such striking light, and distress me with doubts, +fears, and such a deep sense of my own unworthiness, that after all the +comfort and encouragement I had received, I was often tempted to believe +I should be a Cast-away at last.—The more I saw of the Beauty and Glory +of God, the more I was humbled under a sense of my own vileness. I +often repair'd to my old place of prayer; I seldom came away without +consolation. One day this Scripture was wonderfully apply'd to my mind, +<i>"And ye are compleat in Him which is the Head of all principalities and +power."</i>—The Lord was pleas'd to comfort me by the application of many +gracious promises at times when I was ready to sink under my troubles. +<i>"Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto +God by Him seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.</i> Hebrews +x. ver. 14. <i>For by one offering He hath perfected for ever them that +are sanctified."</i></p> + +<p>My kind, indulgent Mistress liv'd but two years after my Master. Her +death was a great affliction to me. She left five sons, all gracious +young men, and Ministers of the Gospel.—I continued with them all, one +after another, till they died; they liv'd but four years after their +parents. When it pleased God to take them to Himself, I was left quite +destitute, without a friend in the world. But I who had so often +experienced the Goodness of GOD, trusted in Him to do what He pleased +with me.—In this helpless condition I went in the wood to prayer as +usual; and tho' the snow was a considerable height, I was not sensible +of cold, or any other inconveniency.—At times indeed when I saw the +world frowning round me, I was tempted to think that the LORD had +forsaken me. I found great relief from the contemplation of these words +in Isaiah xlix. v. 16. <i>"Behold I have graven thee on the palms of my +hands; thy walls are continually before me."</i> And very many comfortable +promises were sweetly applied to me. The lxxxix. Psalm and 34th verse, +<i>"My covenant will I not break nor alter the thing that is gone out of +my lips."</i> Hebrews, chap. xvi. v. 17, 18. Phillipians, chap. i. v. 6; +and several more.</p> + +<p>As I had now lost all my dear and valued friends every place in the +world was alike to me. I had for a great while entertain'd a desire to +come to <span class="smcap">England</span>.—I imagined that all the Inhabitants of this +Island were <i>Holy</i>; because all those that had visited my Master from +thence were good, (Mr. Whitefield was his particular friend) and the +authors of the books that had been given me were all English. But above +all places in the world I wish'd to see Kidderminster, for I could not +but think that on the spot where Mr. Baxter had liv'd, and preach'd, the +people must be all <i>Righteous</i>.</p> + +<p>The situation of my affairs requir'd that I should tarry a little +longer in <span class="smcap">New-York</span>, as I was something in debt, and was +embarrass'd how to pay it.—About this time a young Gentleman that was a +particular acquaintance of one of my young Master's, pretended to be a +friend to me, and promis'd to pay my debts, which was three pounds; and +he assur'd me he would never expect the money again.—But, in less than +a month, he came and demanded it; and when I assur'd him I had nothing +to pay, he threatened to sell me.—Though I knew he had no right to do +that, yet as I had no friend in the world to go to, it alarm'd me +greatly.—At length he purpos'd my going a Privateering, that I might by +these means, be enabled to pay him, to which I agreed.—Our Captain's +name was —— I went in Character of Cook to him.—Near St. Domingo we +came up to five French ships, Merchant-men.—We had a very smart +engagement that continued from eight in the morning till three in the +afternoon; when victory declar'd on our side.—Soon after this we were +met by three English ships which join'd us, and that encourag'd us to +attack a fleet of 36 Ships.—We boarded the three first and then +follow'd the others; and had the same success with twelve; but the rest +escap'd us.—There was a great deal of blood shed, and I was near death +several times, but the LORD preserv'd me.</p> + +<p>I met with many enemies, and much persecution, among the sailors; one of +them was particularly unkind to me, and studied ways to vex and teaze +me.—I can't help mentioning one circumstance that hurt me more than all +the rest, which was, that he snatched a book out of my hand that I was +very fond of, and used frequently to amuse myself with, and threw it +into the sea.—But what is remarkable he was the first that was killed +in our engagement.—I don't pretend to say that this happen'd because he +was not my friend: but I thought 'twas a very awful Providence to see +how the enemies of the LORD are cut off.</p> + +<p>Our Captain was a cruel hard-hearted man. I was excessively sorry for +the prisoners we took in general; but the pitiable case of one young +Gentleman grieved me to the heart.—He appear'd very amiable; was +strikingly handsome. Our Captain took four thousand pounds from him; but +that did not satisfy him, as he imagin'd he was possess'd of more, and +had somewhere conceal'd it, so that the Captain threatened him with +death, at which he appear'd in the deepest distress, and took the +buckles out of his shoes, and untied his hair, which was very fine, and +long; and in which several very valuable rings were fasten'd. He came +into the Cabbin to me, and in the most obliging terms imaginable ask'd +for something to eat and drink; which when I gave him, he was so +thankful and pretty in his manner that my heart bled for him; and I +heartily wish'd that I could have spoken in any language in which the +ship's crew would not have understood me; that I might have let him know +his danger; for I heard the Captain say he was resolv'd upon his death; +and he put his barbarous design into execution, for he took him on shore +with one of the sailors, and there they shot him.</p> + +<p>This circumstance affected me exceedingly, I could not put him out of my +mind a long while.—When we return'd to <span class="smcap">New-York</span> the Captain +divided the prize-money among us, that we had taken. When I was call'd +upon to receive my part, I waited upon Mr. ——, (the Gentleman that paid +my debt and was the occasion of my going abroad) to know if he chose to +go with me to receive my money or if I should bring him what I owed.—He +chose to go with me; and when the Captain laid my money on the table +('twas an hundred and thirty-five pounds) I desir'd Mr. —— to take what +I was indebted to him; and he swept it all into his handkerchief, and +would never be prevail'd on to give a farthing of money, nor any thing +at all beside.—And he likewise secur'd a hogshead of sugar which was my +due from the same ship. The Captain was very angry with him for this +piece of cruelty to me, as was every other person that heard it.—But I +have reason to believe (as he was one of the Principal Merchants in the +city) that he transacted business for him and on that account did not +chuse to quarrel with him.</p> + +<p>At this time a very worthy Gentleman, a Wine Merchant, his name Dunscum, +took me under his protection, and would have recovered my money for me +if I had chose it; but I told him to let it alone; that I wou'd rather +be quiet.—I believed that it would not prosper with him, and so it +happen'd, for by a series of losses and misfortunes he became poor, and +was soon after drowned, as he was on a party of pleasure.—The vessel +was driven out to sea, and struck against a rock by which means every +soul perished.</p> + +<p>I was very much distress'd when I heard it, and felt greatly for his +family who were reduc'd to very low circumstances.—I never knew how to +set a proper value on money. If I had but a little meat and drink to +supply the present necessaries of life, I never wish'd for more; and +when I had any I always gave it if ever I saw an object in distress. If +it was not for my dear Wife and Children I should pay as little regard +to money now as I did at that time.—I continu'd some time with Mr. +Dunscum as his servant; he was very kind to me.—But I had a vast +inclination to visit <span class="smcap">England</span>, and wish'd continually that it +would please Providence to make a clear way for me to see this Island. I +entertain'd a notion that if I could get to <span class="smcap">England</span> I should +never more experience either cruelty or ingratitude, so that I was very +desirous to get among Christians. I knew Mr. Whitefield very well.—I +had heard him preach often at <span class="smcap">New-York</span>. In this disposition I +listed in the twenty-eighth Regiment of Foot, who were design'd for +Martinico in the late war.—We went in Admiral Pocock's fleet from +<span class="smcap">New-York</span> to Barbadoes; from thence to Martinico.—When that was +taken we proceeded to the Havannah, and took that place likewise.—There +I got discharged.</p> + +<p>I was then worth about thirty pounds, but I never regarded money in the +least, nor would I tarry to receive my prize-money least I should lose +my chance of going to England.—I went with the Spanish prisoners to +Spain; and came to Old-England with the English prisoners.—I cannot +describe my joy when we were within sight of Portsmouth. But I was +astonished when we landed to hear the inhabitants of that place curse +and swear, and otherwise profane. I expected to find nothing but +goodness, gentleness and meekness in this Christian Land, I then +suffer'd great perplexities of mind.</p> + +<p>I enquir'd if any serious Christian people resided there, the woman I +made this enquiry of, answer'd me in the affirmative; and added that she +was one of them.—I was heartily glad to hear her say so. I thought I +could give her my whole heart: she kept a Public-House. I deposited with +her all the money that I had not an immediate occasion for; as I thought +it would be safer with her.—It was 25 guineas but 6 of them I desired +her to lay out to the best advantage, to buy me some shirts, hat and +some other necessaries. I made her a present of a very handsome large +looking glass that I brought with me from Martinico, in order to +recompence her for the trouble I had given her. I must do this woman the +justice to acknowledge that she did lay out some little for my use, but +the 19 guineas and part of the 6, with my watch, she would not return, +but denied that I ever gave it her.</p> + +<p>I soon perceived that I was got among bad people, who defrauded me of my +money and watch; and that all my promis'd happiness was blasted, I had +no friend but GOD and I pray'd to Him earnestly. I could scarcely +believe it possible that the place where so many eminent Christians had +lived and preached could abound with so much wickedness and deceit. I +thought it worse than <i>Sodom</i> (considering the great advantages they +have) I cryed like a child and that almost continually: at length GOD +heard my prayers and rais'd me a friend indeed.</p> + +<p>This publican had a brother who lived on Portsmouth-common, his wife was +a very serious good woman.—When she heard of the treatment I had met +with, she came and enquired into my real situation and was greatly +troubled at the ill usage I had received, and took me home to her own +house.—I began now to rejoice, and my prayer was turned into praise. +She made use of all the arguments in her power to prevail on her who had +wronged me, to return my watch and money, but it was to no purpose, as +she had given me no receipt and I had nothing to show for it, I could +not demand it.—My good friend was excessively angry with her and +obliged her to give me back four guineas, which she said she gave me out +of charity: Though in fact it was my own, and much more. She would have +employed some rougher means to oblige her to give up my money, but I +would not suffer her, let it go says I "My GOD is in heaven." Still I +did not mind my loss in the least; all that grieved me was, that I had +been disappointed in finding some Christian friends, with whom I hoped +to enjoy a little sweet and comfortable society.</p> + +<p>I thought the best method that I could take now, was to go to London, +and find out Mr. Whitefield, who was the only living soul I knew in +England, and get him to direct me to some way or other to procure a +living without being troublesome to any Person.—I took leave of my +Christian friend at Portsmouth, and went in the stage to London.—A +creditable tradesman in the City, who went up with me in the stage, +offer'd to show me the way to Mr. Whitefield's Tabernacle. Knowing that +I was a perfect stranger, I thought it very kind, and accepted his +offer; but he obliged me to give him half-a-crown for going with me, and +likewise insisted on my giving him five shillings more for conducting me +to Dr. Gifford's Meeting.</p> + +<p>I began now to entertain a very different idea of the inhabitants of +England than what I had figur'd to myself before I came amongst +them.—Mr. Whitefield receiv'd me very friendly, was heartily glad to +see me, and directed me to a proper place to board and lodge in +Petticoat-Lane, till he could think of some way to settle me in, and +paid for my lodging, and all my expences. The morning after I came to my +new lodging, as I was at breakfast with the gentlewoman of the house, I +heard the noise of some looms over our heads: I enquir'd what it was; +she told me a person was weaving silk.—I express'd a great desire to +see it, and ask'd if I might: She told me she would go up with me; she +was sure I should be very welcome. She was as good as her word, and as +soon as we enter'd the room, the person that was weaving look'd about, +and smiled upon us, and I loved her from that moment.—She ask'd me many +questions, and I in turn talk'd a great deal to her. I found she was a +member of Mr. Allen's Meeting, and I begun to entertain a good opinion +of her, though I was almost afraid to indulge this inclination, least +she should prove like all the rest I had met with at Portsmouth, &c. and +which had almost given me a dislike to all white women.—But after a +short acquaintance I had the happiness to find she was very different, +and quite sincere, and I was not without hope that she entertain'd some +esteem for me. We often went together to hear Dr. Gifford, and as I had +always a propensity to relieve every object in distress as far as I was +able, I used to give to all that complain'd to me; sometimes half a +guinea at a time, as I did not understand the real value of it.—This +gracious, good woman took great pains to correct and advise me in that +and many other respects.</p> + +<p>After I had been in London about six weeks I was recommended to the +notice of some of my late Master Mr. Freelandhouse's acquaintance, who +had heard him speak frequently of me. I was much persuaded by them to go +to Holland.—My Master lived there before he bought me, and used to +speak of me so respectfully among his friends there, that it raised in +them a curiosity to see me; particularly the Gentlemen engaged in the +Ministry, who expressed a desire to hear my experience and examine me. I +found that it was my good old Master's design that I should have gone if +he had lived; for which reason I resolved upon going to Holland, and +informed my dear friend Mr. Whitefield of my intention; he was much +averse to my going at first, but after I gave him my reasons appeared +very well satisfied. I likewise informed my Betty (the good woman that I +have mentioned above) of my determination to go to Holland and I told +her that I believed she was to be my Wife: that if it was the LORD's +Will I desired it, but not else.—She made me very little answer, but +has since told me, she did not think it at that time.</p> + +<p>I embarked at Tower-wharf at four o'clock in the morning, and arriv'd at +Amsterdam the next day by three o'clock in the afternoon. I had several +letters of recommendation to my old master's friends, who receiv'd me +very graciously. Indeed, one of the chief Ministers was particularly +good to me; he kept me at his house a long while, and took great +pleasure in asking questions, which I answer'd with delight, being +always ready to say, <i>"Come unto me all ye that fear GOD, and I will +tell what he hath done for my Soul."</i> I cannot but admire the footsteps +of Providence; astonish'd that I should be so wonderfully preserved! +Though the Grandson of a King, I have wanted bread, and should have been +glad of the hardest crust I ever saw. I who, at home, was surrounded and +guarded by slaves, so that no indifferent person might approach me, and +clothed with gold, have been inhumanly threatened with death; and +frequently wanted clothing to defend me from the inclemency of the +weather; yet I never murmured, nor was I discontented.—I am willing, +and even desirous to be counted as nothing, a stranger in the world, +and a pilgrim here; for <i>"I know that my Redeemer liveth,"</i> and I'm +thankful for every trial and trouble that I've met with, as I am not +without hope that they have been all sanctified to me.</p> + +<p>The Calvinist Ministers desired to hear my Experience from myself, which +proposal I was very well pleased with: So I stood before 38 Ministers +every Thursday for seven weeks together, and they were all very well +satisfied, and persuaded I was what I pretended to be.—They wrote down +my experience as I spoke it; and the <span class="smcap">Lord Almighty</span> was with me +at that time in a remarkable manner, and gave me words and enabled me to +answer them; so great was his mercy to take me in hand a poor blind +heathen.</p> + +<p>At this time a very rich Merchant at <span class="smcap">Amsterdam</span> offered to take +me into his family in the capacity of his Butler, and I very willingly +accepted it.—He was a gracious worthy Gentleman and very good to +me.—He treated me more like a friend than a servant.—I tarried there a +twelvemonth but was not thoroughly contented, I wanted to see my wife; +(that is now) and for that reason I wished to return to <i>England</i>, I +wrote to her once in my absence, but she did not answer my letter; and I +must acknowledge if she had, it would have given me a less opinion of +her.—My Master and Mistress persuaded me much not to leave them and +likewise their two Sons who entertained a good opinion of me; and if I +had found my Betty married on my arrival in <span class="smcap">England</span>, I should +have returned to them again immediately.</p> + +<p>My Lady purposed my marrying her maid; she was an agreeable young woman, +had saved a good deal of money, but I could not fancy her, though she +was willing to accept of me, but I told her my inclinations were engaged +in <span class="smcap">England</span>, and I could think of no other Person.—On my return +home, I found my Betty disengaged.—She had refused several offers in my +absence, and told her sister that, she thought, if ever she married I +was to be her husband.</p> + +<p>Soon after I came home, I waited on Doctor Gifford who took me into his +family and was exceedingly, good to me. The character of this pious +worthy Gentleman is well known; my praise can be of no use or +signification at all.—I hope I shall ever gratefully remember the many +favours I have received from him.—Soon after I came to Doctor Gifford +I expressed a desire to be admitted into their Church, and set down with +them; they told me I must first be baptized; so I gave in my experience +before the Church, with which they were very well satisfied, and I was +baptized by Doctor Gifford with some others. I then made known my +intentions of being married; but I found there were many objections +against it because the person I had fixed on was poor. She was a widow, +her husband had left her in debt, and with a child, so that they +persuaded me against it out of real regard to me.—But I had promised +and was resolved to have her; as I knew her to be a gracious woman, her +poverty was no objection to me, as they had nothing else to say against +her. When my friends found that they could not alter my opinion +respecting her, they wrote to Mr. Allen, the Minister she attended, to +persuade her to leave me; but he replied that he would not interfere at +all, that we might do as we would. I was resolved that all my wife's +little debt should be paid before we were married; so that I sold almost +every thing I had and with all the money I could raise cleared all that +she owed, and I never did any thing with a better will in all my Life, +because I firmly believed that we should be very happy together, and so +it prov'd, for she was given me from the LORD. And I have found her a +blessed partner, and we have never repented, tho' we have gone through +many great troubles and difficulties.</p> + +<p>My wife got a very good living by weaving, and could do extremely well; +but just at that time there was great disturbance among the weavers; so +that I was afraid to let my wife work, least they should insist on my +joining the rioters which I could not think of, and, possibly, if I had +refused to do so they would have knock'd me on the head.—So that by +these means my wife could get no employ, neither had I work enough to +maintain my family. We had not yet been married a year before all these +misfortunes overtook us.</p> + +<p>Just at this time a gentleman, that seemed much concerned for us, +advised me to go into Essex with him and promised to get me employed.—I +accepted his kind proposal, and he spoke to a friend of his, a Quaker, a +gentleman of large fortune, who resided a little way out of the town of +<i>Colchester</i>, his name was <i>Handbarar</i>; he ordered his steward to set me +to work. There were several employed in the same way with myself. I was +very thankful and contented though my wages were but small.—I was +allowed but eight pence a day, and found myself; but after I had been in +this situation for a fortnight, my Master, being told that a Black was +at work for him, had an inclination to see me. He was pleased to talk to +me for some time, and at last enquired what wages I had; when I told him +he declared, it was too little, and immediately ordered his Steward to +let me have eighteen pence a day, which he constantly gave me after; and +I then did extremely well.</p> + +<p>I did not bring my wife with me: I came first alone and it was my +design, if things answered according to our wishes, to send for her—I +was now thinking to desire her to come to me when I receiv'd a letter to +inform me she was just brought to bed and in want of many +necessaries.—This news was a great trial to me and a fresh affliction: +but my <span class="smcap">God</span>, <i>faithful and abundant in mercy</i>, forsook me not in +this trouble.—As I could not read <i>English</i>, I was obliged to apply to +some one to read the letter I received, relative to my wife. I was +directed by the good Providence of <span class="smcap">God</span> to a worthy young +gentleman, a Quaker, and friend of my Master.—I desired he would take +the trouble to read my letter for me, which he readily comply'd with and +was greatly moved and affected at the contents; insomuch that he said he +would undertake to make a gathering for me, which he did and was the +first to contribute to it himself. The money was sent that evening to +<span class="smcap">London</span> by a person who happen'd to be going there: nor was this +All the goodness that I experienced from these kind friends, for, as +soon as my wife came about and was fit to travel, they sent for her to +me, and were at the whole expence of her coming; so evidently has the +love and mercy of <span class="smcap">God</span> appeared through every trouble that ever +I experienced. We went on very comfortably all the summer.—We lived in +a little cottage near Mr. <i>Handbarrar's</i> House; but when the winter came +on I was discharged, as he had no further occasion for me. And now the +prospect began to darken upon us again. We thought it most adviseable to +move our habitation a little nearer to the Town, as the house we lived +in was very cold, and wet, and ready to tumble down.</p> + +<p>The boundless goodness of GOD to me has been so very great, that with +the most humble gratitude I desire to prostrate myself before Him; for I +have been wonderfully supported in every affliction. My GOD never left +me. I perceived light still through the thickest darkness.</p> + +<p>My dear wife and I were now both unemployed, we could get nothing to do. +The winter prov'd remarkably severe, and we were reduc'd to the greatest +distress imaginable.—I was always very shy of asking for any thing; I +could never beg; neither did I chuse to make known our wants to any +person, for fear of offending as we were entire strangers; but our last +bit of bread was gone, and I was obliged to think of something to do for +our support.—I did not mind for myself at all; but to see my dear wife +and children in want pierc'd me to the heart.—I now blam'd myself for +bringing her from London, as doubtless had we continued there we might +have found friends to keep us from starving. The snow was at this season +remarkably deep; so that we could see no prospect of being relieved. In +this melancholy situation, not knowing what step to pursue, I resolved +to make my case known to a Gentleman's Gardiner that lived near us, and +entreat him to employ me: but when I came to him, my courage failed me, +and I was ashamed to make known our real situation.—I endeavoured all I +could to prevail on him to set me to work, but to no purpose: he assur'd +me it was not in his power: but just as I was about to leave him, he +asked me if I would accept of some Carrots? I took them with great +thankfulness and carried them home: he gave me four, they were very +large and fine.—We had nothing to make fire with, so consequently could +not boil them: But was glad to have them to eat <i>raw</i>. Our youngest +child was quite an infant; so that my wife was obliged to chew it, and +fed her in that manner for several days.—We allowed ourselves but one +every day, least they should not last 'till we could get some other +supply. I was unwilling to eat at all myself; nor would I take any the +last day that we continued in this situation, as I could not bear the +thought that my dear wife and children would be in want of every means +of support. We lived in this manner, 'till our carrots were all gone: +then my Wife began to lament because of our poor babies: but I comforted +her all I could; still hoping, and believing that <i>my</i> GOD would not +let us die: but that it would please Him to relieve us, which <i>He</i> did +by almost a Miracle.</p> + +<p>We went to bed, as usual, before it was quite dark, (as we had neither +fire nor candle) but had not been there long before some person knocked +at the door & enquir'd if <i>James Albert</i> lived there? I answer'd in the +affirmative, and rose immediately; as soon as I open'd the door I found +it was the servant of an eminent Attorney who resided at +<i>Colchester</i>.—He ask'd me how it was with me? if I was not almost +starv'd? I burst out a crying, and told him I was indeed. He said his +master suppos'd so, and that he wanted to speak with me, and I must +return with him. This Gentleman's name was <i>Danniel</i>, he was a sincere, +good Christian. He used to stand and talk with me frequently when I +work'd in the road for Mr. <i>Handbarrar</i>, and would have employed me +himself, if I had wanted work.—When I came to his house he told me that +he had thought a good deal about me of late, and was apprehensive that I +must be in want, and could not be satisfied till he sent to enquire +after me. I made known my distress to him, at which he was greatly +affected; and generously gave me a guinea; and promis'd to be kind to me +in future. I could not help exclaiming. <i>O the boundless mercies of my +God!</i> I pray'd unto Him, and He has heard me; I trusted in Him and He +has preserv'd me: where shall I begin to praise Him, or how shall I love +Him enough?</p> + +<p>I went immediately and bought some bread and cheese and coal and carried +it home. My dear wife was rejoiced to see me return with something to +eat. She instantly got up and dressed our Babies, while I made a fire, +and the first Nobility in the land never made a more comfortable +meal.—We did not forget to thank the LORD for all his goodness to +us.—Soon after this, as the spring came on, Mr. Peter <i>Daniel</i> employed +me in helping to pull down a house, and rebuilding it. I had then very +good work, and full employ: he sent for my wife, and children to +<i>Colchester</i>, and provided us a house where we lived very +comfortably.—I hope I shall always gratefully acknowledge his kindness +to myself and family. I worked at this house for more than a year, till +it was finished; and after that I was employed by several successively, +and was never so happy as when I had something to do; but perceiving +the winter coming on, and work rather slack, I was apprehensive that we +should again be in want or become troublesome to our friends.</p> + +<p>I had at this time an offer made me of going to <i>Norwich</i> and having +constant employ.—My wife seemed pleased with this proposal, as she +supposed she might get work there in the weaving-manufactory, being the +business she was brought up to, and more likely to succeed there than +any other place; and we thought as we had an opportunity of moving to a +Town where we could both be employ'd it was most adviseable to do so; +and that probably we might settle there for our lives.—When this step +was resolv'd on, I went first alone to see how it would answer; which I +very much repented after, for it was not in my power immediately to send +my wife any supply, as I fell into the hands of a Master that was +neither kind nor considerate; and she was reduced to great distress, so +that she was oblig'd to sell the few goods that we had, and when I sent +for her was under the disagreeable necessity of parting with our bed.</p> + +<p>When she came to <i>Norwich</i> I hired a room ready furnished.—I +experienced a great deal of difference in the carriage of my Master from +what I had been accustomed to from some of my other Masters. He was very +irregular in his payments to me.—My wife hired a loom and wove all the +leisure time she had and we began to do very well, till we were +overtaken by fresh misfortunes. Our three poor children fell ill of the +small pox; this was a great trial to us; but still I was persuaded in +myself we should not be forsaken.—And I did all in my power to keep my +dear partner's spirits from sinking. Her whole attention now was taken +up with the children as she could mind nothing else, and all I could get +was but little to support a family in such a situation, beside paying +for the hire of our room, which I was obliged to omit doing for several +weeks: but the woman to whom we were indebted would not excuse us, tho' +I promised she should have the very first money we could get after my +children came about, but she would not be satisfied and had the cruelty +to threaten us that if we did not pay her immediately she would turn us +all into the street.</p> + +<p>The apprehension of this plunged me in the deepest distress, +considering the situation of my poor babies: if they had been in health +I should have been less sensible of this misfortune. But My GOD, <i>still +faithful to his promise</i>, raised me a friend. Mr. Henry Gurdney, a +Quaker, a gracious gentleman heard of our distress, he sent a servant of +his own to the woman we hired the room of, paid our rent, and bought all +the goods with my wife's loom and gave it us all.</p> + +<p>Some other gentlemen, hearing of his design, were pleased to assist him +in these generous acts, for which we never can be thankful enough; after +this my children soon came about; we began to do pretty well again; my +dear wife work'd hard and constant when she could get work, but it was +upon a disagreeable footing as her employ was so uncertain, sometimes +she could get nothing to do and at other times when the weavers of +<i>Norwich</i> had orders from London they were so excessively hurried, that +the people they employ'd were often oblig'd to work on the +<i>Sabbath-day</i>; but this my wife would never do, and it was matter of +uneasiness to us that we could not get our living in a regular manner, +though we were both diligent, industrious, and willing to work. I was +far from being happy in my Master, he did not use me well. I could +scarcely ever get my money from him; but I continued patient 'till it +pleased GOD to alter my situation.</p> + +<p>My worthy friend Mr. Gurdney advised me to follow the employ of chopping +chaff, and bought me an instrument for that purpose. There were but few +people in the town that made this their business beside myself; so that +I did very well indeed and we became easy and happy.—But we did not +continue long in this comfortable state: Many of the inferior people +were envious and ill-natur'd and set up the same employ and work'd under +price on purpose to get my business from me, and they succeeded so well +that I could hardly get any thing to do, and became again unfortunate: +Nor did this misfortune come alone, for just at this time we lost one of +our little girls who died of a fever; this circumstance occasion'd us +new troubles, for the Baptist Minister refused to bury her because we +were not their members. The Parson of the parish denied us because she +had never been baptized. I applied to the Quakers, but met with no +success; this was one of the greatest trials I ever met with, as we did +not know what to do with our poor baby.—At length I resolv'd to dig a +grave in the garden behind the house, and bury her there; when the +Parson of the parish sent for me to tell me he would bury the child, but +did not chuse to read the burial service over her. I told him I did not +mind whether he would or not, as the child could not hear it.</p> + +<p>We met with a great deal of ill treatment after this, and found it very +difficult to live.—We could scarcely get work to do, and were obliged +to pawn our cloaths. We were ready to sink under our troubles.—When I +purposed to my wife to go to <i>Kidderminster</i> and try if we could do +there. I had always an inclination for that place, and now more than +ever as I had heard <i>Mr. Fawcet</i> mentioned in the most respectful +manner, as a pious worthy Gentleman; and I had seen his name in a +favourite book of mine, Baxter's <i>Saints everlasting rest</i>, and as the +Manufactory of <i>Kidderminster</i> seemed to promise my wife some +employment, she readily came into my way of thinking.</p> + +<p>I left her once more, and set out for <i>Kidderminster</i>, in order to judge +if the situation would suit us.—As soon as I came there I waited +immediately on <i>Mr. Fawcet</i>, who was pleased to receive me very kindly +and recommended me to <i>Mr. Watson</i> who employed me in twisting silk and +worsted together. I continued here about a fortnight, and when I thought +it would answer our expectation, I returned to <i>Norwich</i> to fetch my +wife; she was then near her time, and too much indisposed. So we were +obliged to tarry until she was brought to bed, and as soon as she could +conveniently travel we came to <i>Kidderminster</i>, but we brought nothing +with us as we were obliged to sell all we had to pay our debts and the +expences of my wife's illness, &c.</p> + +<p>Such is our situation at present.—My wife, by hard labor at the loom, +does every thing that can be expected from her towards the maintenance +of our family; and God is pleased to incline the hearts of his People at +times to yield us their charitable assistance; being myself through age +and infirmity able to contribute but little to their support. As +Pilgrims, and very poor Pilgrims, we are travelling through many +difficulties towards our <span class="smcap">Heavenly Home</span>, and waiting patiently +for his gracious call, when the <span class="smcap">Lord</span> shall deliver us out of +the evils of this present world and bring us to the <span class="smcap">Everlasting +Glories</span> of the world to come.—To HIM be <span class="smcap">Praise</span> for +<span class="smcap">Ever</span> and <span class="smcap">Ever</span>, AMEN.</p> + + +<p class="center">FINIS.</p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Narrative Of The Most Remarkable +Particulars In The Life Of James Albert Ukawsaw Gronniosaw, An African Prince, As Related By Himself, by James Albert Ukawsaw Gronniosaw + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JAMES ALBERT UKAWSAW GRONNIOSAW *** + +***** This file should be named 15042-h.htm or 15042-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/5/0/4/15042/ + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Charles Aldarondo and the PG Online +Distributed Proofreading Team. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Narrative Of The Most Remarkable Particulars In The Life Of James Albert Ukawsaw Gronniosaw, An African Prince, As Related By Himself + +Author: James Albert Ukawsaw Gronniosaw + +Release Date: February 14, 2005 [EBook #15042] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JAMES ALBERT UKAWSAW GRONNIOSAW *** + + + + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Charles Aldarondo and the PG Online +Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + +A + +NARRATIVE + +OF THE + +MOST REMARKABLE PARTICULARS + +IN THE LIFE OF + +JAMES ALBERT UKAWSAW GRONNIOSAW, + +AN AFRICAN PRINCE, + +As related by HIMSELF. + + _I will bring the Blind by a Way that they know not, I will lead + them in Paths that they have not known: I will make Darkness Light + before them and crooked Things straight. These Things will I do + unto them and not forsake them._ Isa. xlii. 16. + + +BATH: + +Printed by W. GYE in Westgate-Street; and sold by T. MILLS, + +Bookseller, in King's-Mead-Square. + +Price Six-Pence. + +1772 + + +TO THE + +RIGHT HONOURABLE + +The _Countess_ of Huntingdon; + +THIS + +NARRATIVE + +Of my _LIFE_, + +And of God's wonderful Dealings with me, is, + +(_Through Her LADYSHIP'S Permission_) + +_Most Humbly Dedicated, + +By her LADYSHIP'S + +Most obliged + +And obedient Servant,_ + +JAMES ALBERT. + + + + +THE PREFACE to the READER. + + +This Account of the Life and spiritual Experience of James Albert was +taken from his own Mouth and committed to Paper by the elegant Pen of a +young Lady of the Town of Leominster, for her own private Satisfaction, +and without any Intention at first that it should be made public. But +she has now been prevail'd on to commit it to the Press, both with a +view to serve Albert and his distressed Family, who have the sole +Profits arising from the Sale of it; and likewise as it is apprehended, +this little History contains Matter well worthy the Notice and Attention +of every Christian Reader. + +Perhaps we have here in some Degree a Solution of that Question that has +perplex'd the Minds of so many serious Persons, viz. In what Manner will +God deal with those benighted Parts of the World where the Gospel of +Jesus Christ hath never reach'd? Now it appears from the Experience of +this remarkable Person, that God does not save without the Knowledge of +the Truth; but, with Respect to those whom he hath fore-known, though +born under every outward Disadvantage, and in Regions of the grossest +Darkness and Ignorance, he most amazingly acts upon and influences their +Minds, and in the Course of wisely and most wonderfully appointed +Providences, he brings them to the Means of spiritual Information, +gradually opens to their View the Light of his Truth, and gives them +full Possession and Enjoyment of the inestimable Blessings of his +Gospel. Who can doubt but that the Suggestion so forcibly press'd upon +the Mind of Albert (when a Boy) that there was a Being superior to the +Sun, Moon, and Stars (the Objects of African Idolatry) came from the +Father of Lights, and was, with Respect to him, the First-Fruit of the +Display of Gospel-Glory? His long and perilous Journey to the Coast of +Guinea, where he was sold for a Slave, and so brought into a Christian +Land; shall we consider this as the alone Effect of a curious and +inquisitive Disposition? Shall we in accounting for it refer to nothing +higher than mere Chance and accidental Circumstances? Whatever Infidels +and Deists may think; I trust the Christian Reader will easily discern +an All-wise and Omnipotent Appointment and Direction in these Movements. +He belong'd to the Redeemer of lost Sinners; he was the Purchase of his +Cross; and therefore the Lord undertook to bring him by a Way that he +knew not, out of Darkness into his marvellous Light, that he might lead +him to a saving Heart-Acquaintance and Union with the triune God in +Christ reconciling the World unto himself; and not imputing their +Trespasses. As his Call was very extraordinary, so there are certain +Particulars exceedingly remarkable in his Experience. God has put +singular Honour upon him in the Exercise of his Faith and Patience, +which in the most distressing and pitiable Trials and Calamities have +been found to the Praise and Glory of God. How deeply must it affect a +tender Heart, not only to be reduc'd to the last Extremity himself, but +to have his Wife and Children perishing for Want before his Eyes! Yet +his Faith did not fail him; he put his Trust in the Lord, and he was +delivered. And at this Instant, though born in an exalted Station of +Life, and now under the Pressure of various afflicting Providences, I am +persuaded (for I know the Man) he would rather embrace the Dung-hill, +having Christ in his Heart, than give up his spiritual Possessions and +Enjoyment, to fill the Throne of Princes. It perhaps may not be amiss to +observe that James Albert left his native Country, (as near as I can +guess from certain Circumstances) when he was about 15 Years old. He now +appears to be turn'd of Sixty; has a good natural Understanding; is well +acquainted with the Scriptures, and the Things of God, has an amiable +and tender Disposition, and his Character can be well attested not only +at Kidderminster, the Place of his Residence but likewise by many +creditable Persons in London and other Places. Reader, recommending this +Narrative to your perusal, and him who is the Subject of it to your +charitable Regard, + +I am your faithful and obedient Servant, + +For Christ's Sake, + +W. Shirley. + + + + +AN + +ACCOUNT + +OF + +JAMES ALBERT, &c. + + +I was born in the city Bournou; my mother was the eldest daughter of the +reigning King there, of which Bournou is the chief city. I was the +youngest of six children, and particularly loved by my mother, and my +grand-father almost doated on me. + +I had, from my infancy, a curious turn of mind; was more grave and +reserved in my disposition than either of my brothers and sisters. I +often teazed them with questions they could not answer: for which reason +they disliked me, as they supposed that I was either foolish, or insane. +'Twas certain that I was, at times, very unhappy in myself: it being +strongly impressed on my mind that there was some Great Man of power +which resided above the sun, moon and stars, the objects of our worship. +My dear indulgent mother would bear more with me than any of my friends +beside.--I often raised my hand to heaven, and asked her who lived +there? was much dissatisfied when she told me the sun, moon and stars, +being persuaded, in my own mind, that there must be some Superior +Power.--I was frequently lost in wonder at the works of the Creation: +was afraid and uneasy and restless, but could not tell for what. I +wanted to be informed of things that no person could tell me; and was +always dissatisfied.--These wonderful impressions begun in my childhood, +and followed me continually 'till I left my parents, which affords me +matter of admiration and thankfulness. + +To this moment I grew more and more uneasy every day, in so much that +one saturday, (which is the day on which we keep our sabbath) I laboured +under anxieties and fears that cannot be expressed; and, what is more +extraordinary, I could not give a reason for it.--I rose, as our custom +is, about three o'clock, (as we are oblig'd to be at our place of +worship an hour before the sun rise) we say nothing in our worship, but +continue on our knees with our hands held up, observing a strict silence +'till the sun is at a certain height, which I suppose to be about 10 or +11 o'clock in England: when, at a certain sign made by the priest, we +get up (our duty being over) and disperse to our different houses.--Our +place of meeting is under a large palm tree; we divide ourselves into +many congregations; as it is impossible for the same tree to cover the +inhabitants of the whole City, though they are extremely large, high and +majestic; the beauty and usefulness of them are not to be described; +they supply the inhabitants of the country with meat, drink and +clothes;[A] the body of the palm tree is very large; at a certain season +of the year they tap it, and bring vessels to receive the wine, of which +they draw great quantities, the quality of which is very delicious: the +leaves of this tree are of a silky nature; they are large and soft; when +they are dried and pulled to pieces it has much the same appearance as +the English flax, and the inhabitants of Bournou manufacture it for +cloathing &c. This tree likewise produces a plant or substance which has +the appearance of a cabbage, and very like it, in taste almost the same: +it grows between the branches. Also the palm tree produces a nut, +something like a cocoa, which contains a kernel, in which is a large +quantity of milk, very pleasant to the taste: the shell is of a hard +substance, and of a very beautiful appearance, and serves for basons, +bowls, &c. + +[Footnote A: It is a generally received opinion, in _England_, that the +natives of _Africa_ go entirely unclothed; but this supposition is very +unjust: they have a kind of dress so as to appear decent, though it is +very slight and thin.] + +I hope this digression will be forgiven.--I was going to observe that +after the duty of our Sabbath was over (on the day in which I was more +distressed and afflicted than ever) we were all on our way home as +usual, when a remarkable black cloud arose and covered the sun; then +followed very heavy rain and thunder more dreadful than ever I had +heard: the heav'ns roared, and the earth trembled at it: I was highly +affected and cast down; in so much that I wept sadly, and could not +follow my relations and friends home.--I was obliged to stop and felt +as if my legs were tied, they seemed to shake under me: so I stood +still, being in great fear of the Man of Power that I was persuaded in +myself, lived above. One of my young companions (who entertained a +particular friendship for me and I for him) came back to see for me: he +asked me why I stood still in such very hard rain? I only said to him +that my legs were weak, and I could not come faster: he was much +affected to see me cry, and took me by the hand, and said he would lead +me home, which he did. My mother was greatly alarmed at my tarrying out +in such terrible weather; she asked me many questions, such as what I +did so for, and if I was well? My dear mother says I, pray tell me who +is the great Man of Power that makes the thunder? She said, there was no +power but the sun, moon and stars; that they made all our country.--I +then enquired how all our people came? She answered me, from one +another; and so carried me to many generations back.--Then says I, who +made the _First Man_? and who made the first Cow, and the first Lyon, +and where does the fly come from, as no one can make him? My mother +seemed in great trouble; she was apprehensive that my senses were +impaired, or that I was foolish. My father came in, and seeing her in +grief asked the cause, but when she related our conversation to him, he +was exceedingly angry with me, and told me he would punish me severely +if ever I was so troublesome again; so that I resolved never to say any +thing more to him. But I grew very unhappy in myself; my relations and +acquaintance endeavoured by all the means they could think on, to divert +me, by taking me to ride upon goats, (which is much the custom of our +country) and to shoot with a bow and arrow; but I experienced no +satisfaction at all in any of these things; nor could I be easy by any +means whatever: my parents were very unhappy to see me so dejected and +melancholy. + +About this time there came a merchant from the _Gold Coast_ (the third +city in Guinea) he traded with the inhabitants of our country in ivory +&c. he took great notice of my unhappy situation, and enquired into the +cause; he expressed vast concern for me, and said, if my parents would +part with me for a little while, and let him take me home with him, it +would be of more service to me than any thing they could do for me.--He +told me that if I would go with him I should see houses with wings to +them walk upon the water, and should also see the white folks; and that +he had many sons of my age, which should be my companions; and he added +to all this that he would bring me safe back again soon.--I was highly +pleased with the account of this strange place, and was very desirous of +going.--I seemed sensible of a secret impulse upon my mind which I could +not resist that seemed to tell me I must go. When my dear mother saw +that I was willing to leave them, she spoke to my father and grandfather +and the rest of my relations, who all agreed that I should accompany the +merchant to the Gold Coast. I was the more willing as my brothers and +sisters despised me, and looked on me with contempt on the account of my +unhappy disposition; and even my servants slighted me, and disregarded +all I said to them. I had one sister who was always exceeding fond of +me, and I loved her entirely; her name was Logwy, she was quite white, +and fair, with fine light hair though my father and mother were +black.--I was truly concerned to leave my beloved sister, and she cry'd +most sadly to part with me, wringing her hands, and discovered every +sign of grief that can be imagined. Indeed if I could have known when I +left my friends and country that I should never return to them again my +misery on that occasion would have been inexpressible. All my relations +were sorry to part with me; my dear mother came with me upon a camel +more than three hundred miles, the first of our journey lay chiefly +through woods: at night we secured ourselves from the wild beasts by +making fires all around us; we and our camels kept within the circle, or +we must have been torn to pieces by the Lyons, and other wild creatures, +that roared terribly as soon as night came on, and continued to do so +'till morning.--There can be little said in favour of the country +through which we passed; only a valley of marble that we came through +which is unspeakably beautiful.--On each side of this valley are +exceedingly high and almost inaccessible mountains--Some of these pieces +of marble are of prodigious length and breadth but of different sizes +and colour, and shaped in a variety of forms, in a wonderful manner.--It +is most of it veined with gold mixed with striking and beautiful +colours; so that when the sun darts upon it, it is as pleasing a sight +as can be imagined.--The merchant that brought me from Bournou, was in +partnership with another gentleman who accompanied us; he was very +unwilling that he should take me from home, as, he said, he foresaw many +difficulties that would attend my going with them.--He endeavoured to +prevail on the merchant to throw me into a very deep pit that was in the +valley, but he refused to listen to him, and said, he was resolved to +take care of me: but the other was greatly dissatisfied; and when we +came to a river, which we were obliged to pass through, he purpos'd +throwing me in and drowning me; but the Merchant would not consent to +it, so that I was preserv'd. + +We travel'd 'till about four o'clock every day, and then began to make +preparations for night, by cutting down large quantities of wood, to +make fires to preserve us from the wild beasts.--I had a very unhappy +and discontented journey, being in continual fear that the people I was +with would murder me. I often reflected with extreme regret on the kind +friends I had left, and the idea of my dear mother frequently drew tears +from my eyes.--I cannot recollect how long we were in going from Bournou +to the Gold Coast; but as there is no shipping nearer to Bournou than +that City, it was tedious in travelling so far by land, being upwards of +a thousand miles.--I was heartily rejoic'd when we arriv'd at the end of +our journey: I now vainly imagin'd that all my troubles and inquietudes +would terminate here; but could I have looked into futurity, I should +have perceiv'd that I had much more to suffer than I had before +experienc'd, and that they had as yet but barely commenc'd. + +I was now more than a thousand miles from home, without a friend or any +means to procure one. Soon after I came to the merchant's house I heard +the drums beat remarkably loud, and the trumpets blow--the persons +accustom'd to this employ, are oblig'd to go upon a very high structure +appointed for that purpose, that the sound might be heard at a great +distance: They are higher than the steeples are in England. I was +mightily pleas'd with sounds so entirely new to me, and was very +inquisitive to know the cause of this rejoicing, and ask'd many +questions concerning it: I was answer'd that it was meant as a +compliment to me, because I was Grandson to the King of Bournou. + +This account gave me a secret pleasure; but I was not suffer'd long to +enjoy this satisfaction, for in the evening of the same day, two of the +merchant's sons (boys about my own age) came running to me, and told me, +that the next day I was to die, for the King intended to behead me.--I +reply'd that I was sure it could not be true, for that I came there to +play with them, and to see houses walk upon the water with wings to +them, and the white folks; but I was soon inform'd that their King +imagined that I was sent by my father as a spy, and would make such +discoveries at my return home that would enable them to make war with +the greater advantage to ourselves; and for these reasons he had +resolved I should never return to my native country.--When I heard this +I suffered misery that cannot be described.--I wished a thousand times +that I had never left my friends and country.--But still the Almighty +was pleased to work miracles for me. + +The morning I was to die, I was washed and all my gold ornaments made +bright and shining, and then carried to the palace, where the King was +to behead me himself (as is the custom of the place).--He was seated +upon a throne at the top of an exceeding large yard, or court, which you +must go through to enter the palace, it is as wide and spacious as a +large field in England.--I had a lane of lifeguards to go through.--I +guessed it to be about three hundred paces. + +I was conducted by my friend, the merchant, about half way up; then he +durst proceed no further: I went up to the King alone--I went with an +undaunted courage, and it pleased God to melt the heart of the King, who +sat with his scymitar in his hand ready to behead me; yet, being himself +so affected, he dropped it out of his hand, and took me upon his knee +and wept over me. I put my right hand round his neck, and prest him to +my heart.--He sat me down and blest me; and added that he would not kill +me, and that I should not go home, but be sold, for a slave, so then I +was conducted back again to the merchant's house. + +The next day he took me on board a French brig; but the Captain did not +chuse to buy me: he said I was too small; so the merchant took me home +with him again. + +The partner, whom I have spoken of as my enemy, was very angry to see me +return, and again purposed putting an end to my life; for he represented +to the other, that I should bring them into troubles and difficulties, +and that I was so little that no person would buy me. + +The merchant's resolution began to waver, and I was indeed afraid that I +should be put to death: but however he said he would try me once more. + +A few days after a Dutch ship came into the harbour, and they carried me +on board, in hopes that the Captain would purchase me.--As they went, I +heard them agree, that, if they could not sell me _then_, they would +throw me overboard.--I was in extreme agonies when I heard this; and as +soon as ever I saw the Dutch Captain, I ran to him, and put my arms +round him, and said, "father, save me." (for I knew that if he did not +buy me, I should be treated very ill, or, possibly, murdered) And though +he did not understand my language, yet it pleased the Almighty to +influence him in my behalf, and he bought me _for two yards of check_, +which is of more value _there_, than in England. + +When I left my dear mother I had a large quantity of gold about me, as +is the custom of our country, it was made into rings, and they were +linked into one another, and formed into a kind of chain, and so put +round my neck, and arms and legs, and a large piece hanging at one ear +almost in the shape of a pear. I found all this troublesome, and was +glad when my new Master took it from me--I was now washed, and clothed +in the Dutch or English manner.--My master grew very fond of me, and I +loved him exceedingly. I watched every look, was always ready when he +wanted me, and endeavoured to convince him, by every action, that my +only pleasure was to serve him well.--I have since thought that he must +have been a serious man. His actions corresponded very well with such a +character.--He used to read prayers in public to the ship's crew every +Sabbath day; and when first I saw him read, I was never so surprised in +my whole life as when I saw the book talk to my master; for I thought it +did, as I observed him to look upon it, and move his lips.--I wished it +would do so to me.--As soon as my master had done reading I follow'd +him to the place where he put the book, being mightily delighted with +it, and when nobody saw me, I open'd it and put my ear down close upon +it, in great hope that it wou'd say something to me; but was very sorry +and greatly disappointed when I found it would not speak, this thought +immediately presented itself to me, that every body and every thing +despis'd me because I was black. + +I was exceedingly sea-sick at first; but when I became more accustom'd +to the sea, it wore off.--My master's ship was bound for Barbadoes. When +we came there, he thought fit to speak of me to several gentlemen of his +acquaintance, and one of them exprest a particular desire to see me.--He +had a great mind to buy me; but the Captain could not immediately be +prevail'd on to part with me; but however, as the gentleman seem'd very +solicitous, he at length let me go, and I was sold for fifty dollars +(_four and sixpenny-pieces in English_). My new master's name was +Vanhorn, a young Gentleman; his home was in New-England in the City of +New-York; to which place he took me with him. He dress'd me in his +livery, and was very good to me. My chief business was to wait at table, +and tea, and clean knives, and I had a very easy place; but the servants +us'd to curse and swear surprizingly; which I learnt faster than any +thing, 'twas almost the first English I could speak. If any of them +affronted me, I was sure to call upon God to damn them immediately; but +I was broke of it all at once, occasioned by the correction of an old +black servant that liv'd in the family--One day I had just clean'd the +knives for dinner, when one of the maids took one to cut bread and +butter with; I was very angry with her, and called upon God to damn her; +when this old black man told me I must not say so. I ask'd him why? He +replied there was a wicked man call'd the Devil, that liv'd in hell, and +would take all that said these words, and put them in the fire and burn +them.--This terrified me greatly, and I was entirely broke of +swearing.--Soon after this, as I was placing the china for tea, my +mistress came into the room just as the maid had been cleaning it; the +girl had unfortunately sprinkled the wainscot with the mop; at which my +mistress was angry; the girl very foolishly answer'd her again, which +made her worse, and she call'd upon God to damn her.--I was vastly +concern'd to hear this, as she was a fine young lady, and very good to +me, insomuch that I could not help speaking to her, "Madam, says I, you +must not say so," Why, says she? Because there is a black man call'd the +Devil that lives in hell, and he will put you in the fire and burn you, +and I shall be very sorry for that. Who told you this replied my lady? +Old Ned, says I. Very well was all her answer; but she told my master of +it, and he order'd that old Ned should be tyed up and whipp'd, and was +never suffer'd to come into the kitchen with the rest of the servants +afterwards.--My mistress was not angry with me, but rather diverted with +my simplicity and, by way of talk, She repeated what I had said, to many +of her acquaintance that visited her; among the rest, Mr. Freelandhouse, +a very gracious, good Minister, heard it, and he took a great deal of +notice of me, and desired my master to part with me to him. He would not +hear of it at first, but, being greatly persuaded, he let me go, and Mr. +Freelandhouse gave L50. for me.--He took me home with him, and made me +kneel down, and put my two hands together, and pray'd for me, and every +night and morning he did the same.--I could not make out what it was +for, nor the meaning of it, nor what they spoke to when they talk'd--I +thought it comical, but I lik'd it very well.--After I had been a little +while with my new master I grew more familiar, and ask'd him the meaning +of prayer: (I could hardly speak english to be understood) he took great +pains with me, and made me understand that he pray'd to God, who liv'd +in Heaven; that He was my Father and best Friend.--I told him that this +must be a mistake; that _my_ father liv'd at Bournou, and I wanted very +much to see him, and likewise my dear mother, and sister, and I wish'd +he would be so good as to send me home to them; and I added, all I could +think of to induce him to convey me back. I appeared in great trouble, +and my good master was so much affected that the tears ran down his +face. He told me that God was a Great and Good Spirit, that He created +all the world, and every person and thing in it, in Ethiopia, Africa, +and America, and every where. I was delighted when I heard this: There, +says I, I always thought so when I liv'd at home! Now if I had wings +like an Eagle I would fly to tell my dear mother that God is greater +than the sun, moon, and stars; and that they were made by Him. + +I was exceedingly pleas'd with this information of my master's, because +it corresponded so well with my own opinion; I thought now if I could +but get home, I should be wiser than all my country-folks, my +grandfather, or father, or mother, or any of them--But though I was +somewhat enlighten'd by this information of my master's, yet, I had no +other knowledge of God but that He was a Good Spirit, and created every +body, and every thing--I never was sensible in myself, nor had any one +ever told me, that He would punish the wicked, and love the just. I was +only glad that I had been told there was a God because I had always +thought so. + +My dear kind master grew very fond of me, as was his Lady; she put me to +School, but I was uneasy at that, and did not like to go; but my master +and mistress requested me to learn in the gentlest terms, and persuaded +me to attend my school without any anger at all; that, at last, I came +to like it better, and learnt to read pretty well. My schoolmaster was a +good man, his name was Vanosdore, and very indulgent to me.--I was in +this state when, one Sunday, I heard my master preach from these words +out of the Revelations, chap. i. v. 7. _"Behold, He cometh in the clouds +and every eye shall see him and they that pierc'd Him."_ These words +affected me excessively; I was in great agonies because I thought my +master directed them to me only; and, I fancied, that he observ'd me +with unusual earnestness--I was farther confirm'd in this belief as I +look'd round the church, and could see no one person beside myself in +such grief and distress as I was; I began to think that my master hated +me, and was very desirous to go home, to my own country; for I thought +that if God did come (as he said) He would be sure to be most angry with +_me_, as I did not know what He was, nor had ever heard of him before. + +I went home in great trouble, but said nothing to any body.--I was +somewhat afraid of my master; I thought he disliked me.--The next text I +heard him preach from was, Heb. xii. 14. _"follow peace with all men, +and holiness, without which no man shall see the LORD."_ he preached the +law so severely, that it made me tremble.--he said, that GOD would judge +the whole world; Ethiopia, Asia, and Africa, and every where.--I was +now excessively perplexed, and undetermined what to do; as I had now +reason to believe my situation would be equally bad to go, as to +stay.--I kept these thoughts to myself, and said nothing to any person +whatever. + +I should have complained to my good mistress of this great trouble of +mind, but she had been a little strange to me for several days before +this happened, occasioned by a story told of me by one of the maids. The +servants were all jealous, and envied me the regard, and favour shewn me +by my master and mistress; and the Devil being always ready, and +diligent in wickedness, had influenced this girl, to make a lye on +me.--This happened about hay-harvest, and one day when I was unloading +the waggon to put the hay into the barn, she watched an opportunity, in +my absence, to take the fork out of the stick, and hide it: when I came +again to my work, and could not find it, I was a good deal vexed, but I +concluded it was dropt somewhere among the hay; so I went and bought +another with my own money: when the girl saw that I had another, she was +so malicious that she told my mistress I was very unfaithful, and not +the person she took me for; and that she knew, I had, without my +master's permission, order'd many things in his name, that he must pay +for; and as a proof of my carelessness produc'd the fork she had taken +out of the stick, and said, she had found it out of doors--My Lady, not +knowing the truth of these things, was a little shy to me, till she +mention'd it, and then I soon cleared myself, and convinc'd her that +these accusations were false. + +I continued in a most unhappy state for many days. My good mistress +insisted on knowing what was the matter. When I made known my situation +she gave me John Bunyan on the holy war, to read; I found his experience +similar to my own, which gave me reason to suppose he must be a bad man; +as I was convinc'd of my own corrupt nature, and the misery of my own +heart: and as he acknowledg'd that he was likewise in the same +condition, I experienc'd no relief at all in reading his work, but +rather the reverse.--I took the book to my lady, and inform'd her I did +not like it at all, it was concerning a wicked man as bad as myself; and +I did not chuse to read it, and I desir'd her to give me another, wrote +by a better man that was holy and without sin.--She assur'd me that +John Bunyan was a good man, but she could not convince me; I thought +him to be too much like myself to be upright, as his experience seem'd +to answer with my own. + +I am very sensible that nothing but the great power and unspeakable +mercies of the Lord could relieve my soul from the heavy burden it +laboured under at that time.--A few days after my master gave me +Baxter's _Call to the unconverted_. This was no relief to me neither; on +the contrary it occasioned as much distress in me as the other had +before done, _as it_ invited all to come to _Christ_ and I found myself +so wicked and miserable that I could not come--This consideration threw +me into agonies that cannot be described; insomuch that I even attempted +to put an end to my life--I took one of the large case-knives, and went +into the stable with an intent to destroy myself; and as I endeavoured +with all my strength to force the knife into my side, it bent double. I +was instantly struck with horror at the thought of my own rashness, and +my conscience told me that had I succeeded in this attempt I should +probably have gone to hell. + +I could find no relief, nor the least shadow of comfort; the extreme +distress of my mind so affected my health that I continued very ill for +three Days, and Nights; and would admit of no means to be taken for my +recovery, though my lady was very kind, and sent many things to me; but +I rejected every means of relief and wished to die--I would not go into +my own bed, but lay in the stable upon straw--I felt all the horrors of +a troubled conscience, so hard to be born, and saw all the vengeance of +God ready to overtake me--I was sensible that there was no way for me to +be saved unless I came to _Christ_, and I could not come to Him: I +thought that it was impossible He should receive such a sinner as me. + +The last night that I continued in this place, in the midst of my +distress these words were brought home upon my mind, _"Behold the Lamb +of God."_ I was something comforted at this, and began to grow easier +and wished for day that I might find these words in my bible--I rose +very early the following morning, and went to my school-master, Mr. +Vanosdore, and communicated the situation of my mind to him; he was +greatly rejoiced to find me enquiring the way to Zion, and blessed the +Lord who had worked so wonderfully for me a poor heathen.--I was more +familiar with this good gentleman than with my master, or any other +person; and found myself more at liberty to talk to him: he encouraged +me greatly, and prayed with me frequently, and I was always benefited by +his discourse. + +About a quarter of a mile from my Master's house stood a large +remarkably fine Oak-tree, in the midst of a wood; I often used to be +employed there in cutting down trees, (a work I was very fond of) I +seldom failed going to this place every day; sometimes twice a day if I +could be spared. It was the highest pleasure I ever experienced to set +under this Oak; for there I used to pour out all my complaints to the +LORD: and when I had any particular grievance I used to go there, and +talk to the tree, and tell my sorrows, as if it had been to a friend. + +Here I often lamented my own wicked heart, and undone state; and found +more comfort and consolation than I ever was sensible of +before.--Whenever I was treated with ridicule or contempt, I used to +come here and find peace. I now began to relish the book my Master gave +me, Baxter's _Call to the unconverted_, and took great delight in it. I +was always glad to be employ'd in cutting wood, 'twas a great part of my +business, and I follow'd it with delight, as I was then quite alone and +my heart lifted up to GOD, and I was enabled to pray continually; and +blessed for ever be his Holy Name, he faithfully answer'd my prayers. I +can never be thankful enough to Almighty GOD for the many comfortable +opportunities I experienced there. + +It is possible the circumstance I am going to relate will not gain +credit with many; but this I know, that the joy and comfort it conveyed +to me, cannot be expressed and only conceived by those who have +experienced the like. + +I was one day in a most delightful frame of mind; my heart so overflowed +with love and gratitude to the Author of all my comforts.--I was so +drawn out of myself, and so fill'd and awed by the Presence of God that +I saw (or thought I saw) light inexpressible dart down from heaven upon +me, and shone around me for the space of a minute.--I continued on my +knees, and joy unspeakable took possession of my soul.--The peace and +serenity which filled my mind after this was wonderful, and cannot be +told.--I would not have changed situations, or been any one but myself +for the whole world. I blest God for my poverty, that I had no worldly +riches or grandeur to draw my heart from Him. I wish'd at that time, if +it had been possible for me, to have continued on that spot for ever. I +felt an unwillingness in myself to have any thing more to do with the +world, or to mix with society again. I seemed to possess a full +assurance that my sins were forgiven me. I went home all my way +rejoicing, and this text of scripture came full upon my mind. _"And I +will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away +from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts that +they shall not depart from me."_ The first opportunity that presented +itself, I went to my old school-master, and made known to him the happy +state of my soul who joined with me in praise to God for his mercy to me +the vilest of sinners.--I was now perfectly easy, and had hardly a wish +to make beyond what I possess'd, when my temporal comforts were all +blasted by the death of my dear and worthy Master Mr. Freelandhouse, who +was taken from this world rather suddenly: he had but a short illness, +and died of a fever. I held his hand in mine when he departed; he told +me he had given me my freedom. I was at liberty to go where I would.--He +added that he had always pray'd for me and hop'd I should be kept unto +the end. My master left me by his will ten pounds, and my freedom. + +I found that if he had lived 'twas his intention to take me with him to +Holland, as he had often mention'd me to some friends of his there that +were desirous to see me; but I chose to continue with my Mistress who +was as good to me as if she had been my mother. + +The loss of Mr. Freelandhouse distress'd me greatly, but I was render'd +still more unhappy by the clouded and perplex'd situation of my mind; +the great enemy of my soul being ready to torment me, would present my +own misery to me in such striking light, and distress me with doubts, +fears, and such a deep sense of my own unworthiness, that after all the +comfort and encouragement I had received, I was often tempted to believe +I should be a Cast-away at last.--The more I saw of the Beauty and Glory +of God, the more I was humbled under a sense of my own vileness. I +often repair'd to my old place of prayer; I seldom came away without +consolation. One day this Scripture was wonderfully apply'd to my mind, +_"And ye are compleat in Him which is the Head of all principalities and +power."_--The Lord was pleas'd to comfort me by the application of many +gracious promises at times when I was ready to sink under my troubles. +_"Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto +God by Him seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them._ Hebrews +x. ver. 14. _For by one offering He hath perfected for ever them that +are sanctified."_ + +My kind, indulgent Mistress liv'd but two years after my Master. Her +death was a great affliction to me. She left five sons, all gracious +young men, and Ministers of the Gospel.--I continued with them all, one +after another, till they died; they liv'd but four years after their +parents. When it pleased God to take them to Himself, I was left quite +destitute, without a friend in the world. But I who had so often +experienced the Goodness of GOD, trusted in Him to do what He pleased +with me.--In this helpless condition I went in the wood to prayer as +usual; and tho' the snow was a considerable height, I was not sensible +of cold, or any other inconveniency.--At times indeed when I saw the +world frowning round me, I was tempted to think that the LORD had +forsaken me. I found great relief from the contemplation of these words +in Isaiah xlix. v. 16. _"Behold I have graven thee on the palms of my +hands; thy walls are continually before me."_ And very many comfortable +promises were sweetly applied to me. The lxxxix. Psalm and 34th verse, +_"My covenant will I not break nor alter the thing that is gone out of +my lips."_ Hebrews, chap. xvi. v. 17, 18. Phillipians, chap. i. v. 6; +and several more. + +As I had now lost all my dear and valued friends every place in the +world was alike to me. I had for a great while entertain'd a desire to +come to England.--I imagined that all the Inhabitants of this Island +were _Holy_; because all those that had visited my Master from thence +were good, (Mr. Whitefield was his particular friend) and the authors of +the books that had been given me were all English. But above all places +in the world I wish'd to see Kidderminster, for I could not but think +that on the spot where Mr. Baxter had liv'd, and preach'd, the people +must be all _Righteous_. + +The situation of my affairs requir'd that I should tarry a little +longer in New-York, as I was something in debt, and was embarrass'd how +to pay it.--About this time a young Gentleman that was a particular +acquaintance of one of my young Master's, pretended to be a friend to +me, and promis'd to pay my debts, which was three pounds; and he assur'd +me he would never expect the money again.--But, in less than a month, he +came and demanded it; and when I assur'd him I had nothing to pay, he +threatened to sell me.--Though I knew he had no right to do that, yet as +I had no friend in the world to go to, it alarm'd me greatly.--At length +he purpos'd my going a Privateering, that I might by these means, be +enabled to pay him, to which I agreed.--Our Captain's name was ---- I +went in Character of Cook to him.--Near St. Domingo we came up to five +French ships, Merchant-men.--We had a very smart engagement that +continued from eight in the morning till three in the afternoon; when +victory declar'd on our side.--Soon after this we were met by three +English ships which join'd us, and that encourag'd us to attack a fleet +of 36 Ships.--We boarded the three first and then follow'd the others; +and had the same success with twelve; but the rest escap'd us.--There +was a great deal of blood shed, and I was near death several times, but +the LORD preserv'd me. + +I met with many enemies, and much persecution, among the sailors; one of +them was particularly unkind to me, and studied ways to vex and teaze +me.--I can't help mentioning one circumstance that hurt me more than all +the rest, which was, that he snatched a book out of my hand that I was +very fond of, and used frequently to amuse myself with, and threw it +into the sea.--But what is remarkable he was the first that was killed +in our engagement.--I don't pretend to say that this happen'd because he +was not my friend: but I thought 'twas a very awful Providence to see +how the enemies of the LORD are cut off. + +Our Captain was a cruel hard-hearted man. I was excessively sorry for +the prisoners we took in general; but the pitiable case of one young +Gentleman grieved me to the heart.--He appear'd very amiable; was +strikingly handsome. Our Captain took four thousand pounds from him; but +that did not satisfy him, as he imagin'd he was possess'd of more, and +had somewhere conceal'd it, so that the Captain threatened him with +death, at which he appear'd in the deepest distress, and took the +buckles out of his shoes, and untied his hair, which was very fine, and +long; and in which several very valuable rings were fasten'd. He came +into the Cabbin to me, and in the most obliging terms imaginable ask'd +for something to eat and drink; which when I gave him, he was so +thankful and pretty in his manner that my heart bled for him; and I +heartily wish'd that I could have spoken in any language in which the +ship's crew would not have understood me; that I might have let him know +his danger; for I heard the Captain say he was resolv'd upon his death; +and he put his barbarous design into execution, for he took him on shore +with one of the sailors, and there they shot him. + +This circumstance affected me exceedingly, I could not put him out of my +mind a long while.--When we return'd to New-York the Captain divided the +prize-money among us, that we had taken. When I was call'd upon to +receive my part, I waited upon Mr. ----, (the Gentleman that paid my debt +and was the occasion of my going abroad) to know if he chose to go with +me to receive my money or if I should bring him what I owed.--He chose +to go with me; and when the Captain laid my money on the table ('twas an +hundred and thirty-five pounds) I desir'd Mr. ---- to take what I was +indebted to him; and he swept it all into his handkerchief, and would +never be prevail'd on to give a farthing of money, nor any thing at all +beside.--And he likewise secur'd a hogshead of sugar which was my due +from the same ship. The Captain was very angry with him for this piece +of cruelty to me, as was every other person that heard it.--But I have +reason to believe (as he was one of the Principal Merchants in the city) +that he transacted business for him and on that account did not chuse to +quarrel with him. + +At this time a very worthy Gentleman, a Wine Merchant, his name Dunscum, +took me under his protection, and would have recovered my money for me +if I had chose it; but I told him to let it alone; that I wou'd rather +be quiet.--I believed that it would not prosper with him, and so it +happen'd, for by a series of losses and misfortunes he became poor, and +was soon after drowned, as he was on a party of pleasure.--The vessel +was driven out to sea, and struck against a rock by which means every +soul perished. + +I was very much distress'd when I heard it, and felt greatly for his +family who were reduc'd to very low circumstances.--I never knew how to +set a proper value on money. If I had but a little meat and drink to +supply the present necessaries of life, I never wish'd for more; and +when I had any I always gave it if ever I saw an object in distress. If +it was not for my dear Wife and Children I should pay as little regard +to money now as I did at that time.--I continu'd some time with Mr. +Dunscum as his servant; he was very kind to me.--But I had a vast +inclination to visit England, and wish'd continually that it would +please Providence to make a clear way for me to see this Island. I +entertain'd a notion that if I could get to England I should never more +experience either cruelty or ingratitude, so that I was very desirous to +get among Christians. I knew Mr. Whitefield very well.--I had heard him +preach often at New-York. In this disposition I listed in the +twenty-eighth Regiment of Foot, who were design'd for Martinico in the +late war.--We went in Admiral Pocock's fleet from New-York to Barbadoes; +from thence to Martinico.--When that was taken we proceeded to the +Havannah, and took that place likewise.--There I got discharged. + +I was then worth about thirty pounds, but I never regarded money in the +least, nor would I tarry to receive my prize-money least I should lose +my chance of going to England.--I went with the Spanish prisoners to +Spain; and came to Old-England with the English prisoners.--I cannot +describe my joy when we were within sight of Portsmouth. But I was +astonished when we landed to hear the inhabitants of that place curse +and swear, and otherwise profane. I expected to find nothing but +goodness, gentleness and meekness in this Christian Land, I then +suffer'd great perplexities of mind. + +I enquir'd if any serious Christian people resided there, the woman I +made this enquiry of, answer'd me in the affirmative; and added that she +was one of them.--I was heartily glad to hear her say so. I thought I +could give her my whole heart: she kept a Public-House. I deposited with +her all the money that I had not an immediate occasion for; as I thought +it would be safer with her.--It was 25 guineas but 6 of them I desired +her to lay out to the best advantage, to buy me some shirts, hat and +some other necessaries. I made her a present of a very handsome large +looking glass that I brought with me from Martinico, in order to +recompence her for the trouble I had given her. I must do this woman the +justice to acknowledge that she did lay out some little for my use, but +the 19 guineas and part of the 6, with my watch, she would not return, +but denied that I ever gave it her. + +I soon perceived that I was got among bad people, who defrauded me of my +money and watch; and that all my promis'd happiness was blasted, I had +no friend but GOD and I pray'd to Him earnestly. I could scarcely +believe it possible that the place where so many eminent Christians had +lived and preached could abound with so much wickedness and deceit. I +thought it worse than _Sodom_ (considering the great advantages they +have) I cryed like a child and that almost continually: at length GOD +heard my prayers and rais'd me a friend indeed. + +This publican had a brother who lived on Portsmouth-common, his wife was +a very serious good woman.--When she heard of the treatment I had met +with, she came and enquired into my real situation and was greatly +troubled at the ill usage I had received, and took me home to her own +house.--I began now to rejoice, and my prayer was turned into praise. +She made use of all the arguments in her power to prevail on her who had +wronged me, to return my watch and money, but it was to no purpose, as +she had given me no receipt and I had nothing to show for it, I could +not demand it.--My good friend was excessively angry with her and +obliged her to give me back four guineas, which she said she gave me out +of charity: Though in fact it was my own, and much more. She would have +employed some rougher means to oblige her to give up my money, but I +would not suffer her, let it go says I "My GOD is in heaven." Still I +did not mind my loss in the least; all that grieved me was, that I had +been disappointed in finding some Christian friends, with whom I hoped +to enjoy a little sweet and comfortable society. + +I thought the best method that I could take now, was to go to London, +and find out Mr. Whitefield, who was the only living soul I knew in +England, and get him to direct me to some way or other to procure a +living without being troublesome to any Person.--I took leave of my +Christian friend at Portsmouth, and went in the stage to London.--A +creditable tradesman in the City, who went up with me in the stage, +offer'd to show me the way to Mr. Whitefield's Tabernacle. Knowing that +I was a perfect stranger, I thought it very kind, and accepted his +offer; but he obliged me to give him half-a-crown for going with me, and +likewise insisted on my giving him five shillings more for conducting me +to Dr. Gifford's Meeting. + +I began now to entertain a very different idea of the inhabitants of +England than what I had figur'd to myself before I came amongst +them.--Mr. Whitefield receiv'd me very friendly, was heartily glad to +see me, and directed me to a proper place to board and lodge in +Petticoat-Lane, till he could think of some way to settle me in, and +paid for my lodging, and all my expences. The morning after I came to my +new lodging, as I was at breakfast with the gentlewoman of the house, I +heard the noise of some looms over our heads: I enquir'd what it was; +she told me a person was weaving silk.--I express'd a great desire to +see it, and ask'd if I might: She told me she would go up with me; she +was sure I should be very welcome. She was as good as her word, and as +soon as we enter'd the room, the person that was weaving look'd about, +and smiled upon us, and I loved her from that moment.--She ask'd me many +questions, and I in turn talk'd a great deal to her. I found she was a +member of Mr. Allen's Meeting, and I begun to entertain a good opinion +of her, though I was almost afraid to indulge this inclination, least +she should prove like all the rest I had met with at Portsmouth, &c. and +which had almost given me a dislike to all white women.--But after a +short acquaintance I had the happiness to find she was very different, +and quite sincere, and I was not without hope that she entertain'd some +esteem for me. We often went together to hear Dr. Gifford, and as I had +always a propensity to relieve every object in distress as far as I was +able, I used to give to all that complain'd to me; sometimes half a +guinea at a time, as I did not understand the real value of it.--This +gracious, good woman took great pains to correct and advise me in that +and many other respects. + +After I had been in London about six weeks I was recommended to the +notice of some of my late Master Mr. Freelandhouse's acquaintance, who +had heard him speak frequently of me. I was much persuaded by them to go +to Holland.--My Master lived there before he bought me, and used to +speak of me so respectfully among his friends there, that it raised in +them a curiosity to see me; particularly the Gentlemen engaged in the +Ministry, who expressed a desire to hear my experience and examine me. I +found that it was my good old Master's design that I should have gone if +he had lived; for which reason I resolved upon going to Holland, and +informed my dear friend Mr. Whitefield of my intention; he was much +averse to my going at first, but after I gave him my reasons appeared +very well satisfied. I likewise informed my Betty (the good woman that I +have mentioned above) of my determination to go to Holland and I told +her that I believed she was to be my Wife: that if it was the LORD's +Will I desired it, but not else.--She made me very little answer, but +has since told me, she did not think it at that time. + +I embarked at Tower-wharf at four o'clock in the morning, and arriv'd at +Amsterdam the next day by three o'clock in the afternoon. I had several +letters of recommendation to my old master's friends, who receiv'd me +very graciously. Indeed, one of the chief Ministers was particularly +good to me; he kept me at his house a long while, and took great +pleasure in asking questions, which I answer'd with delight, being +always ready to say, _"Come unto me all ye that fear GOD, and I will +tell what he hath done for my Soul."_ I cannot but admire the footsteps +of Providence; astonish'd that I should be so wonderfully preserved! +Though the Grandson of a King, I have wanted bread, and should have been +glad of the hardest crust I ever saw. I who, at home, was surrounded and +guarded by slaves, so that no indifferent person might approach me, and +clothed with gold, have been inhumanly threatened with death; and +frequently wanted clothing to defend me from the inclemency of the +weather; yet I never murmured, nor was I discontented.--I am willing, +and even desirous to be counted as nothing, a stranger in the world, +and a pilgrim here; for _"I know that my Redeemer liveth,"_ and I'm +thankful for every trial and trouble that I've met with, as I am not +without hope that they have been all sanctified to me. + +The Calvinist Ministers desired to hear my Experience from myself, which +proposal I was very well pleased with: So I stood before 38 Ministers +every Thursday for seven weeks together, and they were all very well +satisfied, and persuaded I was what I pretended to be.--They wrote down +my experience as I spoke it; and the Lord Almighty was with me at that +time in a remarkable manner, and gave me words and enabled me to answer +them; so great was his mercy to take me in hand a poor blind heathen. + +At this time a very rich Merchant at Amsterdam offered to take me into +his family in the capacity of his Butler, and I very willingly accepted +it.--He was a gracious worthy Gentleman and very good to me.--He treated +me more like a friend than a servant.--I tarried there a twelvemonth but +was not thoroughly contented, I wanted to see my wife; (that is now) and +for that reason I wished to return to _England_, I wrote to her once in +my absence, but she did not answer my letter; and I must acknowledge if +she had, it would have given me a less opinion of her.--My Master and +Mistress persuaded me much not to leave them and likewise their two Sons +who entertained a good opinion of me; and if I had found my Betty +married on my arrival in England, I should have returned to them again +immediately. + +My Lady purposed my marrying her maid; she was an agreeable young woman, +had saved a good deal of money, but I could not fancy her, though she +was willing to accept of me, but I told her my inclinations were engaged +in England, and I could think of no other Person.--On my return home, I +found my Betty disengaged.--She had refused several offers in my +absence, and told her sister that, she thought, if ever she married I +was to be her husband. + +Soon after I came home, I waited on Doctor Gifford who took me into his +family and was exceedingly, good to me. The character of this pious +worthy Gentleman is well known; my praise can be of no use or +signification at all.--I hope I shall ever gratefully remember the many +favours I have received from him.--Soon after I came to Doctor Gifford +I expressed a desire to be admitted into their Church, and set down with +them; they told me I must first be baptized; so I gave in my experience +before the Church, with which they were very well satisfied, and I was +baptized by Doctor Gifford with some others. I then made known my +intentions of being married; but I found there were many objections +against it because the person I had fixed on was poor. She was a widow, +her husband had left her in debt, and with a child, so that they +persuaded me against it out of real regard to me.--But I had promised +and was resolved to have her; as I knew her to be a gracious woman, her +poverty was no objection to me, as they had nothing else to say against +her. When my friends found that they could not alter my opinion +respecting her, they wrote to Mr. Allen, the Minister she attended, to +persuade her to leave me; but he replied that he would not interfere at +all, that we might do as we would. I was resolved that all my wife's +little debt should be paid before we were married; so that I sold almost +every thing I had and with all the money I could raise cleared all that +she owed, and I never did any thing with a better will in all my Life, +because I firmly believed that we should be very happy together, and so +it prov'd, for she was given me from the LORD. And I have found her a +blessed partner, and we have never repented, tho' we have gone through +many great troubles and difficulties. + +My wife got a very good living by weaving, and could do extremely well; +but just at that time there was great disturbance among the weavers; so +that I was afraid to let my wife work, least they should insist on my +joining the rioters which I could not think of, and, possibly, if I had +refused to do so they would have knock'd me on the head.--So that by +these means my wife could get no employ, neither had I work enough to +maintain my family. We had not yet been married a year before all these +misfortunes overtook us. + +Just at this time a gentleman, that seemed much concerned for us, +advised me to go into Essex with him and promised to get me employed.--I +accepted his kind proposal, and he spoke to a friend of his, a Quaker, a +gentleman of large fortune, who resided a little way out of the town of +_Colchester_, his name was _Handbarar_; he ordered his steward to set me +to work. There were several employed in the same way with myself. I was +very thankful and contented though my wages were but small.--I was +allowed but eight pence a day, and found myself; but after I had been in +this situation for a fortnight, my Master, being told that a Black was +at work for him, had an inclination to see me. He was pleased to talk to +me for some time, and at last enquired what wages I had; when I told him +he declared, it was too little, and immediately ordered his Steward to +let me have eighteen pence a day, which he constantly gave me after; and +I then did extremely well. + +I did not bring my wife with me: I came first alone and it was my +design, if things answered according to our wishes, to send for her--I +was now thinking to desire her to come to me when I receiv'd a letter to +inform me she was just brought to bed and in want of many +necessaries.--This news was a great trial to me and a fresh affliction: +but my God, _faithful and abundant in mercy_, forsook me not in this +trouble.--As I could not read _English_, I was obliged to apply to some +one to read the letter I received, relative to my wife. I was directed +by the good Providence of God to a worthy young gentleman, a Quaker, and +friend of my Master.--I desired he would take the trouble to read my +letter for me, which he readily comply'd with and was greatly moved and +affected at the contents; insomuch that he said he would undertake to +make a gathering for me, which he did and was the first to contribute to +it himself. The money was sent that evening to London by a person who +happen'd to be going there: nor was this All the goodness that I +experienced from these kind friends, for, as soon as my wife came about +and was fit to travel, they sent for her to me, and were at the whole +expence of her coming; so evidently has the love and mercy of God +appeared through every trouble that ever I experienced. We went on very +comfortably all the summer.--We lived in a little cottage near Mr. +_Handbarrar's_ House; but when the winter came on I was discharged, as +he had no further occasion for me. And now the prospect began to darken +upon us again. We thought it most adviseable to move our habitation a +little nearer to the Town, as the house we lived in was very cold, and +wet, and ready to tumble down. + +The boundless goodness of GOD to me has been so very great, that with +the most humble gratitude I desire to prostrate myself before Him; for I +have been wonderfully supported in every affliction. My GOD never left +me. I perceived light still through the thickest darkness. + +My dear wife and I were now both unemployed, we could get nothing to do. +The winter prov'd remarkably severe, and we were reduc'd to the greatest +distress imaginable.--I was always very shy of asking for any thing; I +could never beg; neither did I chuse to make known our wants to any +person, for fear of offending as we were entire strangers; but our last +bit of bread was gone, and I was obliged to think of something to do for +our support.--I did not mind for myself at all; but to see my dear wife +and children in want pierc'd me to the heart.--I now blam'd myself for +bringing her from London, as doubtless had we continued there we might +have found friends to keep us from starving. The snow was at this season +remarkably deep; so that we could see no prospect of being relieved. In +this melancholy situation, not knowing what step to pursue, I resolved +to make my case known to a Gentleman's Gardiner that lived near us, and +entreat him to employ me: but when I came to him, my courage failed me, +and I was ashamed to make known our real situation.--I endeavoured all I +could to prevail on him to set me to work, but to no purpose: he assur'd +me it was not in his power: but just as I was about to leave him, he +asked me if I would accept of some Carrots? I took them with great +thankfulness and carried them home: he gave me four, they were very +large and fine.--We had nothing to make fire with, so consequently could +not boil them: But was glad to have them to eat _raw_. Our youngest +child was quite an infant; so that my wife was obliged to chew it, and +fed her in that manner for several days.--We allowed ourselves but one +every day, least they should not last 'till we could get some other +supply. I was unwilling to eat at all myself; nor would I take any the +last day that we continued in this situation, as I could not bear the +thought that my dear wife and children would be in want of every means +of support. We lived in this manner, 'till our carrots were all gone: +then my Wife began to lament because of our poor babies: but I comforted +her all I could; still hoping, and believing that _my_ GOD would not +let us die: but that it would please Him to relieve us, which _He_ did +by almost a Miracle. + +We went to bed, as usual, before it was quite dark, (as we had neither +fire nor candle) but had not been there long before some person knocked +at the door & enquir'd if _James Albert_ lived there? I answer'd in the +affirmative, and rose immediately; as soon as I open'd the door I found +it was the servant of an eminent Attorney who resided at +_Colchester_.--He ask'd me how it was with me? if I was not almost +starv'd? I burst out a crying, and told him I was indeed. He said his +master suppos'd so, and that he wanted to speak with me, and I must +return with him. This Gentleman's name was _Danniel_, he was a sincere, +good Christian. He used to stand and talk with me frequently when I +work'd in the road for Mr. _Handbarrar_, and would have employed me +himself, if I had wanted work.--When I came to his house he told me that +he had thought a good deal about me of late, and was apprehensive that I +must be in want, and could not be satisfied till he sent to enquire +after me. I made known my distress to him, at which he was greatly +affected; and generously gave me a guinea; and promis'd to be kind to me +in future. I could not help exclaiming. _O the boundless mercies of my +God!_ I pray'd unto Him, and He has heard me; I trusted in Him and He +has preserv'd me: where shall I begin to praise Him, or how shall I love +Him enough? + +I went immediately and bought some bread and cheese and coal and carried +it home. My dear wife was rejoiced to see me return with something to +eat. She instantly got up and dressed our Babies, while I made a fire, +and the first Nobility in the land never made a more comfortable +meal.--We did not forget to thank the LORD for all his goodness to +us.--Soon after this, as the spring came on, Mr. Peter _Daniel_ employed +me in helping to pull down a house, and rebuilding it. I had then very +good work, and full employ: he sent for my wife, and children to +_Colchester_, and provided us a house where we lived very +comfortably.--I hope I shall always gratefully acknowledge his kindness +to myself and family. I worked at this house for more than a year, till +it was finished; and after that I was employed by several successively, +and was never so happy as when I had something to do; but perceiving +the winter coming on, and work rather slack, I was apprehensive that we +should again be in want or become troublesome to our friends. + +I had at this time an offer made me of going to _Norwich_ and having +constant employ.--My wife seemed pleased with this proposal, as she +supposed she might get work there in the weaving-manufactory, being the +business she was brought up to, and more likely to succeed there than +any other place; and we thought as we had an opportunity of moving to a +Town where we could both be employ'd it was most adviseable to do so; +and that probably we might settle there for our lives.--When this step +was resolv'd on, I went first alone to see how it would answer; which I +very much repented after, for it was not in my power immediately to send +my wife any supply, as I fell into the hands of a Master that was +neither kind nor considerate; and she was reduced to great distress, so +that she was oblig'd to sell the few goods that we had, and when I sent +for her was under the disagreeable necessity of parting with our bed. + +When she came to _Norwich_ I hired a room ready furnished.--I +experienced a great deal of difference in the carriage of my Master from +what I had been accustomed to from some of my other Masters. He was very +irregular in his payments to me.--My wife hired a loom and wove all the +leisure time she had and we began to do very well, till we were +overtaken by fresh misfortunes. Our three poor children fell ill of the +small pox; this was a great trial to us; but still I was persuaded in +myself we should not be forsaken.--And I did all in my power to keep my +dear partner's spirits from sinking. Her whole attention now was taken +up with the children as she could mind nothing else, and all I could get +was but little to support a family in such a situation, beside paying +for the hire of our room, which I was obliged to omit doing for several +weeks: but the woman to whom we were indebted would not excuse us, tho' +I promised she should have the very first money we could get after my +children came about, but she would not be satisfied and had the cruelty +to threaten us that if we did not pay her immediately she would turn us +all into the street. + +The apprehension of this plunged me in the deepest distress, +considering the situation of my poor babies: if they had been in health +I should have been less sensible of this misfortune. But My GOD, _still +faithful to his promise_, raised me a friend. Mr. Henry Gurdney, a +Quaker, a gracious gentleman heard of our distress, he sent a servant of +his own to the woman we hired the room of, paid our rent, and bought all +the goods with my wife's loom and gave it us all. + +Some other gentlemen, hearing of his design, were pleased to assist him +in these generous acts, for which we never can be thankful enough; after +this my children soon came about; we began to do pretty well again; my +dear wife work'd hard and constant when she could get work, but it was +upon a disagreeable footing as her employ was so uncertain, sometimes +she could get nothing to do and at other times when the weavers of +_Norwich_ had orders from London they were so excessively hurried, that +the people they employ'd were often oblig'd to work on the +_Sabbath-day_; but this my wife would never do, and it was matter of +uneasiness to us that we could not get our living in a regular manner, +though we were both diligent, industrious, and willing to work. I was +far from being happy in my Master, he did not use me well. I could +scarcely ever get my money from him; but I continued patient 'till it +pleased GOD to alter my situation. + +My worthy friend Mr. Gurdney advised me to follow the employ of chopping +chaff, and bought me an instrument for that purpose. There were but few +people in the town that made this their business beside myself; so that +I did very well indeed and we became easy and happy.--But we did not +continue long in this comfortable state: Many of the inferior people +were envious and ill-natur'd and set up the same employ and work'd under +price on purpose to get my business from me, and they succeeded so well +that I could hardly get any thing to do, and became again unfortunate: +Nor did this misfortune come alone, for just at this time we lost one of +our little girls who died of a fever; this circumstance occasion'd us +new troubles, for the Baptist Minister refused to bury her because we +were not their members. The Parson of the parish denied us because she +had never been baptized. I applied to the Quakers, but met with no +success; this was one of the greatest trials I ever met with, as we did +not know what to do with our poor baby.--At length I resolv'd to dig a +grave in the garden behind the house, and bury her there; when the +Parson of the parish sent for me to tell me he would bury the child, but +did not chuse to read the burial service over her. I told him I did not +mind whether he would or not, as the child could not hear it. + +We met with a great deal of ill treatment after this, and found it very +difficult to live.--We could scarcely get work to do, and were obliged +to pawn our cloaths. We were ready to sink under our troubles.--When I +purposed to my wife to go to _Kidderminster_ and try if we could do +there. I had always an inclination for that place, and now more than +ever as I had heard _Mr. Fawcet_ mentioned in the most respectful +manner, as a pious worthy Gentleman; and I had seen his name in a +favourite book of mine, Baxter's _Saints everlasting rest_, and as the +Manufactory of _Kidderminster_ seemed to promise my wife some +employment, she readily came into my way of thinking. + +I left her once more, and set out for _Kidderminster_, in order to judge +if the situation would suit us.--As soon as I came there I waited +immediately on _Mr. Fawcet_, who was pleased to receive me very kindly +and recommended me to _Mr. Watson_ who employed me in twisting silk and +worsted together. I continued here about a fortnight, and when I thought +it would answer our expectation, I returned to _Norwich_ to fetch my +wife; she was then near her time, and too much indisposed. So we were +obliged to tarry until she was brought to bed, and as soon as she could +conveniently travel we came to _Kidderminster_, but we brought nothing +with us as we were obliged to sell all we had to pay our debts and the +expences of my wife's illness, &c. + +Such is our situation at present.--My wife, by hard labor at the loom, +does every thing that can be expected from her towards the maintenance +of our family; and God is pleased to incline the hearts of his People at +times to yield us their charitable assistance; being myself through age +and infirmity able to contribute but little to their support. As +Pilgrims, and very poor Pilgrims, we are travelling through many +difficulties towards our Heavenly Home, and waiting patiently for his +gracious call, when the Lord shall deliver us out of the evils of this +present world and bring us to the Everlasting Glories of the world to +come.--To HIM be Praise for Ever and Ever, AMEN. + + +FINIS. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Narrative Of The Most Remarkable +Particulars In The Life Of James Albert Ukawsaw Gronniosaw, An African Prince, As Related By Himself, by James Albert Ukawsaw Gronniosaw + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JAMES ALBERT UKAWSAW GRONNIOSAW *** + +***** This file should be named 15042.txt or 15042.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/5/0/4/15042/ + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Charles Aldarondo and the PG Online +Distributed Proofreading Team. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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