had seventy Women and Children passengers on board, which put Terror into every Heart: nothing was heard but cries and Prayers. We were in such great dangers that no one had strength to work, and we left the Ship to GOD's mercy, expecting every minute to share the same fate as the other Vessel had. The most affecting sight was to be seen, every soul prostrated upon the deck, calling and exalting their voices for GOD's merciful protection; till at last a young Man who was a Passenger[8] started up and taking the helm, said, "my Friends do not despair, I will be bound to take you out of danger, revive your spirits, and help me says he, we shall soon get free from the rocks." So we did, and were relieved from perishing amongst frightful rocks. But for all that the wind appeased not, for it continued six and thirty days with great violence, very often we were near to be buried for ever in the Bowels of the Sea; at last we had fair weather and wind to proceed on our voyage, and arrived safe at the Island of Guadeloupe at the end of fifty-six days.

After we were Landed, my Brothers and myself went to the Governor for a pass, to go and join our Mother who was in the United-States-of-America; but the answer he made us was this, "the Republic is a good Mother, besides that, the Island is besieged, and we want Soldiers." As we could not get a pass, we went to seek for the Merchant that the draught was drawn upon, and having found him, we offered him the bill which he took and payed us generously.

My eldest Brother being a young man grown up, he made him a proposal to stay with him as a Clerk, and said that he would satisfy him according to his behaviour: my Brother accepted his kind offer willingly. As for me and my other Brother, being too young for any kind of business, we were recommended to an old Lady who received us with much humanity; for she maintained us for six months or thereabouts. In the mean time I began to tire of being without employ, and acquainted my old benefactress of my disposition, which was to go upon the Sea and learn to be a Sea-man; she said, "if that is your resolution, I will recommend you to a Captain that I know;" accordingly she did, and I went on board of a Privateer as a cabin boy: and a Clerk's place was provided for my other Brother; so we began our course of Life in the like manner as it is described. My rank being a cabin boy as before mentioned, I was to clean the chamber,[9] wash the dishes, and sweep the deck twice a day.

We weighed the Anchor and went a Cruizing: we were a long while before we took any prize; at last, one morning we saw a Ship, and immediately we chased her, but all our endeavours were without success, for we could not attain her though we sailed all the day long; and when night was coming on the Ship we were chasing tacked about and sailed back towards us, and when near enough she fired a gun, and made signal to know what Nation we were; but we did not answer the signal, supposing she was an English Sloop of war: so we prepared for the conflict. The enemy seeing that we did not answer their signal, did not doubt any longer but we were enemies to them; so they came as near as they could, and fired a broad side: as we were ready for them, we returned in like manner; and the engagement took place with courage and obstinacy on both sides; and fought for a long space of time without knowing what Nation we were fighting with, though we guessed it was English, but we were not sure of it. At length of time an opportunity offered itself; we hailed her in English, but no answer, in French, no answer, in Spanish, and yet no answer was to be had; so we did not know what to think of their mysterious silence. We renewed the Battle again with great courage and Boldness, and attempted three times to jump on board of her; but she always avoided it: our people were so enraged, that they unanimously cried out, sooner die! than let her go. We fought like Lions on both sides, from seven o'Clock till midnight, at which time a misfortune happened on board our Ship; a box full of cartridges and gunpowder blew up, and set the Ship on fire, which put disorder among our men. The enemy, joyful to see that spectacle, (though dreadful,) begun to shout aloud, Huzza! Huzza! thinking that we should soon be theirs, but they were mistaken; our brave Captain, who was an American, soon put the fire out, by dipping mattresses and blankets into the Sea, and then quenched it in that manner. We begun again to dispute the Victory till one o'Clock; and each side being tired at that time, we took a pause of about half-an-hour; and coming again to action, the enemy hailed us, "ah! says our Captain, well, we will be more polite than them, for we will answer though they were not willing to do it when we hailed them." Accordingly we answered that we were come from Demerara:[10] the enemy was so exasperated at the answer, that they answered back by saying, "you are a D****d Liar,"[11] and renewed again the battle with great anger and intrepidity; the bravery was equal on each part; our deck was covered with Blood and Dead Bodies; all our rigging was cut off by the bullets; our Bowsprit, and Fore-top-mast were cut down: the enemy seemed to be very much damaged, for their Fore-mast and main-top-mast, with their Bowsprit, were cut down. We were so tired and disordered, that we were forced to retire on both sides, after a conflict of nine hours, which was from seven at night till four o'Clock in the morning. After an hour of rest, we were employed to repair the damages we had received, and return into harbour; for we were in too bad a state to stay at Sea any longer. On our journey back we had the good luck to take two prizes, one came from Africa laden with Negroes, and the other which was retaken, was come from Norway, loaded with gin, butter, and combustibles &c. We arrived safe in the harbour of Point-a-Pitre in Guadeloupe.

I went to see my Brothers as soon as I was landed; the eldest was removed to another place where he thought he could do better, and the other took example from me, for he was just going out of the Harbour when I entered in.

In a few weeks our Ship was entirely repaired, and we ventured again upon the Sea; our design was to go a cruizing upon the coast of Brazil to meet with some rich Portuguese Ship. We steered our course for the appointed place, and met with a deal of contrary wind, and bad weather; but all this did not discourage us, for we proceeded on our way with cheerfulness, and now and then a glass of grog to drive away the care of past sorrows[12]. One day about noon we saw a Ship, and instantly chased her, we continued the chase till very late at night before we could come up to her, and when near we hailed, but she proved to be a dutch vessel, which disappointed us very much: so we left her to proceed on her voyage because they were not at war with us. We likewise went further on, and were a considerable time upon the Sea; till at length we begun to precieve that our provisions were short, and being a great number of miles from the shore, we were afraid of being starv'd with hunger; so we made haste to