_To Mr. J――――s._
_On board the Friendship, in the Downs,
September 19, 1769._
_My very dear Captain_,
I WRITE a few lines at a venture, uncertain whether you are in town or
not. You see where they leave me; at our first baiting place. Had not
our Captain loitered at _London_ last Lord’s-day, we might have been
out of the channel. But then perhaps I might have lost the sale of some
gospel goods at _Gravesend_ market-place. I hope you, and all my dear
fellow labourers, will meet with thousands of moneyless customers, who
will come down to the price. Blessed news for bankrupts!
Surely, O CHRIST, thy grace is free,
For, O my GOD, it found out me!
He is good to us on board. All are civil and studious to oblige. I am
glad of the third cabin passenger. The steerage ones are old hearers,
and in distress. Who knows what a trading voyage we may have. When you
write to _Bristol_, pray tell Miss _B――――ne_ to acquaint Mr. _G――――n_,
that I am sorry I did not know who sent me the kind present in so
genteel a manner. He hath my grateful acknowledgments. The young
sailors have been a little sick. The Steward is very handy. I am
kept comfortable in soul and body. Pray on, my dear friends, pray
on. Remember our partings, our partings. Surely they will never be
forgotten by, my dearly beloved Captain,
Less than the least of all,
_G. W._