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proportioned to it； so that； in a word； we resolved to want for
nothing in the voyage。
All this while I had provided nothing for our assistance when
we should come to the place and begin to call ourselves planters；
and I was far from being ignorant of what was needful on that
occasion； particularly all sorts of tools for the planter's work；
and for building； and all kinds of furniture for our dwelling；
which； if to be bought in the country； must necessarily cost
double the price。
So I discoursed that point with my governess； and she went
and waited upon the captain； and told him that she hoped ways
might be found out for her two unfortunate cousins； as she
called us； to obtain our freedom when we came into the country；
and so entered into a discourse with him about the means and
terms also； of which I shall say more in its place； and after
thus sounding the captain； she let him know； though we were
unhappy in the circumstances that occasioned our going； yet
that we were not unfurnished to set ourselves to work in the
country； and we resolved to settle and live there as planters；
if we might be put in a way how to do it。 The captain readily
offered his assistance； told her the method of entering upon
such business； and how easy； nay； how certain it was for
industrious people to recover their fortunes in such a manner。
'Madam；' says he； ''tis no reproach to any many in that country
to have been sent over in worse circumstances than I perceive
your cousins are in； provided they do but apply with diligence
and good judgment to the business of that place when they
come there。'
She then inquired of him what things it was necessary we
should carry over with us； and he； like a very honest as well
as knowing man； told her thus： 'Madam； your cousins in the
first place must procure somebody to buy them as servants；
in conformity to the conditions of their transportation； and
then； in the name of that person； they may go about what they
will； they may either purchase some plantations already begun；
or they may purchase land of the Government of the country；
and begin where they please； and both will be done reasonably。'
She bespoke his favour in the first article； which he promised
to her to take upon himself； and indeed faithfully performed
it； and as to the rest； he promised to recommend us to such as
should give us the best advice； and not to impose upon us；
which was as much as could be desired。
She then asked him if it would not be necessary to furnish us
with a stock of tools and materials for the business of planting；
and he said； 'Yes； by all means。' And then she begged his
assistance in it。 She told him she would furnish us with
everything that was convenient whatever it cost her。 He
accordingly gave her a long particular of things necessary for
a planter； which； by his account； came to about fourscore or
a hundred pounds。 And； in short； she went about as dexterously
to buy them； as if she had been an old Virginia merchant； only
that she bought； by my direction； above twice as much of
everything as he had given her a list of。
These she put on board in her own name； took his bills of
loading for them； and endorsed those bills of loading to my
husband； insuring the cargo afterwards in her own name； by
our order； so that we were provided for all events； and for
all disasters。
I should have told you that my husband gave her all his whole
stock of #108； which； as I have said； he had about him in gold；
to lay out thus； and I gave her a good sum besides； sot that I
did not break into the stock which I had left in her hands at
all； but after we had sorted out our whole cargo； we had yet
near #200 in money； which was more than enough for our
purpose。
In this condition； very cheerful； and indeed joyful at being so
happily accommodated as we were； we set sail from Bugby's
Hole to Gravesend； where the ship lay about ten more days；
and where the captain came on board for good and all。 Here
thecaptain offered us a civility； which indeed we had no reason
to expect； namely； to let us go on shore and refresh ourselves；
upon giving our words in a solemn manner that we would not
go from him； and that we would return peaceably on board
again。 This was such an evidence of his confidence in us；
that it overcame my husband； who； in a mere principle of
gratitude； told him； as he could not be in any capacity to make
a suitable return for such a favour； so he could not think of
accepting of it； nor could he be easy that the captain should
run such a risk。 After some mutual civilities； I gave my
husband a purse； in which was eighty guineas； and he put in
into the captain's hand。 'There； captain；' says he； 'there's
part of a pledge for our fidelity； if we deal dishonestly with
you on any account； 'tis your own。' And on this we went
on shore。
Indeed； the captain had assurance enough of our resolutions
to go； for that having made such provision to settle there； it
did not seem rational that we would choose to remain here at
the expense and peril of life； for such it must have been if we
had been taken again。 In a word； we went all on shore with
the captain； and supped together in Gravesend； where we were
very merry； stayed all night； lay at the house where we supped；
and came all very honestly on board again with him in the
morning。 Here we bought ten dozen bottles of good beer； some
wine； some fowls； and such things as we thought might be
acceptable on board。
My governess was with us all this while； and went with us
round into the Downs； as did also the captain's wife； with
whom she went back。 I was never so sorrowful at parting
with my own mother as I was at parting with her； and I never
saw her more。 We had a fair easterly wind sprung up the third
day after we came to the Downs； and we sailed from thence
the 10th of April。 Nor did we touch any more at any place；
till； being driven on the coast of Ireland by a very hard gale
of wind； the ship came to an anchor in a little bay； near the
mouth of a river； whose name I remember not； but they said
the river came down from Limerick； and that it was the largest
river in Ireland。
Here； being detained by bad weather for some time； the captain；
who continued the same kind； good…humoured man as at
first； took us two on shore with him again。 He id it now in
kindness to my husband indeed； who bore the sea very ill； and
was very sick； especially when it blew so hard。 Here we
bought in again a store of fresh provisions； especially beef；
pork； mutton； and fowls； and the captain stayed to pickle up
five or six barrels of beef to lengthen out the ship's store。 We
were here not above five days； when the weather turning mild；
and a fair wind； we set sail again； and in two…and…forty days
came safe to the coast of Virginia。
When we drew near to the shore； the captain called me to him；
and told me that he found by my discourse I had some relations
in the place； and that I had been there before； and so he supposed
I understood the custom in their disposing the convict prisoners
when they arrived。 I told him I did not； and that as to what
relations I had in the place； he might be sure I would make
myself known to none of them while I was in the circumstances
of a prisoner； and that as to the rest； we left ourselves entirely
to him to assist us； as he was pleased to promise us he would
do。 He told me I must get somebody in the place to come and
buy us as servants； and who must answer for us to the governor
of the country； if he demanded us。 I told him we should do as
she should direct； so he brought a planter to treat with him； as
it were； for the purchase of these two servants； my husband
and me； and there we were formally sold to him； and went
ashore with him。 The captain went with us； and carried us to
a certain house； whether it was to be called a tavern or not I
know not； but we had a bowl of punch there made of rum； etc。；
and were very merry。 After some time the planter gave us a
certificate of discharge； and an acknowledgment of having
served him faithfully； and we were free from him the next
morning； to go wither we would。
For this piece of service the captain demanded of us six
thousand weight of tabacco； which he said he was accountable
for to his freighter； and which we immediately bought for him；
and made him a present of twenty guineas besides； with which
he was abundantly satisfied。
It is not proper to enter here into the particulars of what part
of the colony of Virginia we settled in； for divers reasons； it
may suffice to mention that we went into the great river
Potomac； the ship being bound thither； and there we intended
to have settled first； though afterwards we altered our