Start Point, and so made the best of our way up Channel. When came a
little to the west of Folston,[53] Mr. Dawson was put onshore, to go to
London in order to fetch the Capt^{ns.} wife to him to Dunkerk, and soon
after fell in with a fleet of West Indiamen, with sevral cutters and
frigats, with their boats out, bring them to to press their men, as at
that time there was a little quarrel between the Spanyards and English.
We passed through them all with our American coulers set, expecting to
be brought to every moment; and as I was the only Englishman onboard,
the Capt^{n.} advised me to hide myself in the bread locker. But I
thought, if they had come on board and found me, I must be gone; so I
thought if it was the will of Providence that I should be pressed, let
his will be done; and I thought if they should come on board and ask me
if I was an Englishman, I should say nothing to the contrary. That if I
was stationed on the tops, or anywhere else, God would be with me, and
all things should work together for my good. The same day, aboute three
or four o'clock, got close in to Calais, where we took a pilot for
Dunkerk the same evning, on the 16 September in '90. And as we went up
the harbar I saw in a brig's starn, I think, the "Bettsey, Truro." I
thought if there was any place caled by that name out of Cornwal, but
the next day, as the Capt^{n.} and I was so great he could then not go
onshore without me, neither eate nor drink without me, I was then with
him as it were all and in all. It was a great chainge indeed, whether
through fear or love I know not. So the next day I, as a complement,
asked him to go on board with me to see what the brig was. So it proved
to be from Truro, from Petersborg, loaden with hemp and iron, there
wind bound, and bound to Daniel's Point[54] the first fair wind; and as
I did not want to make myself known unto him as an Englishman, I thought
I would lett him know that I know some jentelmen at Falmouth, and after
a little discourse sume in Penzance; so after a while, he naming of one
and another until he come home to our family, and added, "Poor felows,
they have had a great many and very great misfortings of late years.
Harry, poor felow, lost a valuable lugger, with a valuable cargo, and
was obliged to leave his Country, being taken with sume manawar's boat.
I saw him in Leghorn, dined and supped with him, and from there he went
to America. I have not heard anything concarning him since; whether he
is dead or alive, I know not, poor felow." So at laste I said, "I am the
man, and I desire the favour of you to give me a passage home." He
stared like a man frightened, and said, "I never saw such chainge on any
man in my life, and I had no more knoledge of you no more then if I
never saw you. Anything in my powar I will gladly do for you. Do you
want money, or anything else? You'l make free with me. I am sorry I
cannot take you to sleep with me, as the cabin is full of hemp, etc. Be
not afraid of being pressed, as all my men is protected, but you shall
not be pressed unless they press me also." Here I was loste in wonder,
love, and praise, seeing how I was presarved the day before from a
manofwar, and I looked upon this as if the Lord had worked a merical to
send the brig there as if it was on purpose for me.
The Capt^{n.} used that trade for sume time, but never put into any
harbour in France before, but now struck upon a sand bank, and put in
there to be repeared, as he had receved sume damage, etc. Well, then I
could but only wonder and adore the goodness of God, shorley his paths
is in the deep and his ways past finding out. So then I returned again
to my little sloop. I staid in Dunkerk eleven days, then sailed for
England, arrived at Daniel's Point the 1 Oct^{r.} The same night,
aboute nine o'clock, arrived home to Kenneggy,[55] to B^{r.} Charles's.
So I was received as one rison from the dead, as they know nothing of my
coming home, nither had heard from me for aboute twelve months. So after
a little I related what cause I had to come, and after I had settled my
business I was minding[56] to return to New York again. He said, "I will
send for our brothers in the morning, and praps we may find sumething
other wayse." So earley in the morning they come, and said, "If you go
to America again we shall never see you more; we think you may stay at
home in safety, there is no person will meddle with you, but we advise
you first to go aboute this neighberhood as publick as you please, where
you are well known, but shun the towns, and after a few days there will
no person take notice of you."
I very gladly consented to what they said, this being on saturday. First
went to the King's Cove to see the Cove boys, and for all I was not
more than aboute two years from them, not one of them know me until they
heard me speak. The next morning being the sabbath, went to Trevean[57]
to preaching, where I had a blessed time indeed. After preching I was
surounded with allmoste all the congregation. Every one glad to see me,
but in particular the methodists, as they heard before that there was a
chainge of mind passed upon me. This made me to wonder and adore the
goodness of God unto me, as I did not expect to see any person when I
came home but only my own family. This was a wonder indeed to think I
was once more returned to my native country, amongse my own family,
friends, and the people of God. Well, then, after atending the preaching
and meetings a few times was desired to give out a hymn and speak in
prayer, but at first I refused, as I did not exercise in that way before
I come home, only at times I was sent to visit the sick with Father
Cooper when he could not attend himself. So I refused, but after
suffered great pain of mind, so that at laste I took up the cross with
much fear and trembling, and immediately went aboute like a town crier,
telling the people what the Lord had done for my soul.
See what a chainge was here taken place; a little while before labouring
in the fields with the poor negroes, and used like a slave, and looked
upon with contempt on the greatest part of my passage home; so now I had
nothing to do with the world, all things was provided for me, so that in
a little time the congregation begin to increase greately, and prayer
meetings set on in many defrant places; so, as far as I can remember, in
the course of eight or nine weeks there was a great number of men,
women, and children converted. Our meeting seem to be all in confusion,
sume praying, sume singing, sume crying, sume praising and blessing of
God. We have staid in the house sume times from twelve until three
o'clock in the morning. My heart at that time, with every powar of my
soul, was fully engaged in the work; one time in particular, I trust I
shall never for get it, in prayer in the after meeting, I think Mr.
Wacktings was the preacher, whether in the body or out of the body I
could harely tell. It was just the same as it was in New York, and car'd
on in the same manner. At the first sume of the old members would not
owned it to be of God, as it was so much out of the comman way, wilst
many others put their shoulders to the work, and, praise be to God,
aboute this time I do remember my soul through mercy was got just in the
same tune as it was in New York. I declard at that time to sevral old
members consarning my thoughts. Sume would give me great incoregement,
wilst other would try to drive me back. I mentioned this, if ever this
should be published, which in all probability it will not, for thou, my
young Reader, to take care who to declare thy mind to, for it is not
evry old prefessor that knoweth moste of the things of God, but in the
genral him who's soul is most alive to God. So as I was but as a babe
in the way, I still wanted to be teached in the ways of God, and I fell
in company with John Bettens, to whom I opened my mind freely. I have
thought many times since I never found such faith, no, not in all the
men I ever talked with. Well, then, I was not confined to Trevean house
only, but I went aboute all through the country. But no place where I
was asked where the housen was not full of people, and sume would not
contain all the people. Shorley I was a wonder to myself, and in genral
I found great freedom to speak to the people in my simple way. I
remember once I went about eight or nine miles from home, and as I came
to the door where I was expected, a young man came out and said, "Are
you Captain Harry Carter?" I answered, "My name is Henry Carter." He
said, "We have been expecting of you, for it is given out for you to
preach to-night." When I heard of the name preach, I was struck with
such fear and trembling, I could not tel whether it was best to return
home again or stay there. So I went in, and the good man received me
very kindly, and when the time came took me to the chaple, where it was
so full the people could harley stand. Sume that know nothing of
preaching caled it preaching, but I never presumed to take a text, but
laid a little foundation as a text in disguise, so that I had room to
ramble. But it was not for what I could say only that the housen was so
full of people, but it was like the Jews of old, came not to see Jesus
only, but Lazreth[58] also. Where I was not known before, they heard of
me, and they believed that there was a great chainge upon me. I think
the people believed I was really what I professed to be, but many times
after I had been speaking, so dejected in my own mind, wishing that I
may stand up no more, for it was seldam a day passed but what I had
doubts whether I was cal'd or not, and I was much afraid to run before I
was sent. And likewayse the cross was so great, I have often[59] thought
if the people knew what I suffered, they never would ask me to exercise
in that way at all. Oh, how I did tremble and sweat just as the time
were come. Well, then, still the work of God continued to go on in
Trevean society, and lively meetings all through this neighberhood.
I think it was in Febury, in 1791, or a little before, when the work in
Trevean begun in sume degree to sease, but still blessed times; and I
think it was in the later end of March or the begining of April I was
sent for by a great man of this neighberhood, he wanted to speak with
me. Accordingly I went, and the business was as follows--saying, "I was
in Helston a such a day in company with three jentelmen" (mentioned
their names); "they all ware black coats. Looking out through the
window, a methodist preacher went up street. One said, 'There is a
methodist prechar.' Another answerd, 'I wonder how Harry Carter goes
aboute so publick apreching and Law[60] against him; I wonder how he is
not aprended and taken.' So I sent for you, as I fear they are brewing
of mischief against you." "Well, sir," said I, "what do you think I am
best to do?" He said, "I know they cannot hurt you no further then if
you are taken you may suffer a long time in prison, and it may cost you
a good deal of money, etc. I think you are better, to prevent danger, to
return to America again." This was the tenar of his advice, and added,
"If you go there I will give you, as I _think_ he called it, a lett of
recomedation from Lord ----, which, I think, may be very usefull to you,
or anything else in my powar shall not be wanting." And as the jent was
well acquainted with our family, I dined with him, and he brought me
aboute a mile in my way home, so I parted with him, fully determning in
my own mind to soon see my dear friends in New York again. So I told my
brothers what the news was, and that I was meaning to take the jent's
advice. They answered, "If you go to America we never shall see you no
more. We are meaning to car on a little trade in Roscoff in the brandy
and gin way, and if you will go there you'l be as safe there as in
America; likewayse, we shall pay you for your comision, and you car on a
little business for your self, if you please." So that with prayer and
supplication I made my request known unto God. I still continued to walk
in the same rigrous self _denial as before_, abstaining _fro_m food,
etc. Well, then, with much fear and trembling I concluded to go. The
greatest tryal I had aboute going, I know there was no religious people
there, and sume times in fears I should be lead away into the world
again. I know I was going un slepry ground, but, glory be to God, I know
his grace was sufficient for me. So at the 19 of April, in '91, I saild
in an open boat from the King's Cove, in company with a merchant that
had business there, so that after fifteen hours' passage arived there
very safe, still in the same frame of mind. I lodged at a publick house,
I think, two days, and as the merchant had business to Morlaix, desired
me to go with him, where I staid there aboute ten or twelve days, and
returned again back to Roscoff. I keept myself to myself as much as
posable. Well, then, I went to privat lodgings and eate and drunk to
myself; and as I had no business to do, I was allmoste all the time to
myself day and night, still walking in the same _self deni_al as first.
I _would not_ allow myself but four hours in bed, so continued, as well
as I think, for six or seven days, but I found I had not sleep enough,
as aboute noon I have fallen asleep upon the book, so I added a little
longer time. I have often times since thought how dead I was then to all
below. There was a house burned under the same roof where I lodged
little before, and I had to go in and out right before the same house;
and after I was there aboute a furtnight I hard sume people talking
aboute the dredfull fire, and what great loste sume had sustained. I
asked, "What fire?" They said, "Next door." I made no other answer, for
I was really ashamed; what they thought of me I know not. So after I
looked, and saw moste of the walls standin, but without windows and
door, and the walls smoked quite black.
Well, then, I did not pray in secret less than I did before, I suppose
never less than ten times in a day, and in fore and afternoon walked a
little out of town in so solitary place as I could find, out of sight of
all men. In genral I went on the cleavs,[61] wher no eye saw me, and
there sing, that I may be heard for I supose a mile distance, and pass,
I think, aboute two hours and half fore noon and after noon in reading,
praying, singing, and then return home. Aboute this time I made a linen
girdle to go aboute my loins inside my shirt. _Tied it_ tite--I thought
I might be able to live upon _less food_ and my sp_irit_ would be more
vigorous in the wayse of good. I continued on for, as I think, aboute
two days, found it quite disagrable, and so left it off. I passed
allmoste all my time to myself; in my going out and coming in I went the
byest roads, because I wanted to see no person; and if I meet any
person in the way, it was a great cross to me to enter in to any
conversation more than just the time of the day, for fear to obstroct my
communan with God. I think then I watched over all my thoughts as well
as words and acktens.[62] I think there did not the least thought pass
my mind unperseved; my mind then was like a fisherman's net, I sav'd the
good but heaved away the bad.
Well, then, I went on still in this way until I think aboute the
beginning of August, when I went on with a little business in the shop
way, and aboute the same time Captain B. came there, an old acquaintance
of mine, being the first Captain I sailed with, a man of what we calls
good morels. I meet him one Sabbath morning as I was walking out, and
after a little conversation I said, "This is a poor place for the
publick worship of God; if I was at home now I should be at Trevean
preaching." He answered, "Why don't you stand up here and say something
to the people?" So as I thought he was making game of me, I answered,
"Who will hear me?" He said, "I will hear you, and I suppose most of the
English men in town." So the next Sabbath morning meet with him again on
nearly the same ground. He repeated unto me nearley the same thing
again, saying, "All the English in town will gladly hear you," or to
that purpose. So then I thought he was in earnest, and I left him with
much fear and trembling, and immediately went to ask counsel from the
mouth of the Lord, so that spent the remainder of that fore noon in pray
and supplication, and for fear I should run before I was sent, I set
this as a mark, that after diner I would go on the pier, and if I meet
first a such a man, who was master of one of the vessels that was there,
I should perpose the matter unto him, and if agreable, I should shorly
think it to be the will of God consarning me. So aboute one o'clock I
roase up from my knees and went on the pier, and the first man I meet
with was the very same man, so with much fear and trembling I opened the
business unto him of what Captain B. and I was talking of. He readily
replyed, "I'll come, and I will tell all the people of it, I suppose
they will all come." So him and me perposed the time of meeting, I think
it was four o'clock. So he, like a town cryar, beat the alarm, and after
I left him, oh, how my poor _head was_ destracted, a s_uch_ p_o_or
i_gnorant_ _sou_l as I was to take such a thing upon me; shorley I shall
be a by word and reproach with the French, and a mocking and lafing
stock to all the English. And another was, what can I say to the people?
as when I was at home there was mornars to comfart, weak belevers to
build up, sanctification to impress upon the people's minds, and now
only _sinners_, etc., to talk to. So that my poor mind was so full of
distraction I could harly tell what to do; but as I had gone so far as
to perpose it, I could not go from it. Well, then, according to the time
perposed, the same afternoon, in came Captain B. with I suppose about
twenty or thirty, I suppose nearly all the Inglish men in the town, took
off their hats, and seat themselves down, so that I begun to tremble
and sweat, I could scarcely hold the hymn book in both hands. Gave out
a verse, and begun to sing myself, and praise be to God, before I sung
the second verse I found life coming, and before I went to prayer the
cross was all gone, so that I found very great liberty in prayer; so
that when I roase from my knees I was surprised to see so many hard
harts to their knees, so that I found much curage to go on in my poor
simple way. I found uncoman degree of liberty, and the people all
listoned with the greatest attention, and after I dismised the people
with singing and prayer. So after they were gone, I was still jealous
that they would turn what I said into ridicule, and as I had a back
window that I could see the greatest part of the pier, watched them, and
they all went on board as quiat as Christians of the first magnitude
might be expected. The Lord doth only know if there was any good done or
not. So I continued for eight or nine months every night when there was
Englishmen there. I think it was in the beginning of the month of may
'92, when three of my brother's children come to life with me, Fra^{s.},
Henry, and Joanna Carter, and staid with me until the beginning of
Sept^{r.}, when I was like a hermit to myself as before. I think it was
in the beginning of Oct^{r.} when three large cuttars, Captain Scott one
of them, came in here wind bound from Guarnsey; and as I went into the
house on sume buisiness where they put up to, saw one of their sailors
that did formely sail with me. I asked him to come to my house, sayin I
could treate him with a glass of grogg, and if them three or four men
that was presant would come with him, I should be glad to see them also.
That was in the evning. I was not home as I think more than fifteen or
twenty minits until he came in with four or five with him, and in a few
minits after allmoste the house full with their three Captains. Then I
thought what they come for, and as they took me in surprise, as I had
not the least thoughts to say anything, I begun to tremble and run
upstairs to call for help from the Lord. I suppose I might have been
there eight or ten minits, and as I was coming down I meet one in the
stairs, saying, "If you don't come down the people will all be gone." So
with much trembling and sweating I took the Hymn Book and begun to sing
to myself, as I did the first time. I found great liberty in prayer, and
after thundred out the tretnings, cryed aloude, spar'd not. They all
behaved very well, seemed to listen with great atention. So after we
concluded the meeting, I asked the Captains and sume of the men to seat
down, so they stayed with sume more of their people, I suppose more than
an hour, all very seryous, no laffing, no trifling conversation. They
took sume thing to drink, shook hands, and wished good night. Prayse be
to God, I was shorly a wonder to myself in deed. So the next morning him
that had sailed with me before come in laffing, saying one of his
shepmates told him that how could that ould man know his thoughts, for
he told him allmoste all that ever he did in his life. I think they
sailed the next day, and two of them being in company in a gale of
wind, one of them disapeared, and have never been heard of since.
Captain Scott showed me great kindness ever after; he sent a luggar
there after to be laid up, with, I think, six or eight men on board, who
ordered them to take all what they wanted of me, and likewayse
recemended all his friends unto me for what they wanted.