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he had expressed to us； and sent suitable acknowledgment by
him to the captain； offering to pay him by advance； whatever
he demanded for our passage； and for the conveniences he had
helped us to。 The mate told him that the captain would be on
board in the afternoon； and that he would leave all that till he
came。 Accordingly； in the afternoon the captain came； and we
found him the same courteous； obliging man that the boatswain
had represented him to be； and he was so well pleased with
my husband's conversation； that； in short； he would not let us
keep the cabin we had chosen； but gave us one that； as I said
before； opened into the great cabin。
Nor were his conditions exorbitant； or the man craving and
eager to make a prey of us； but for fifteen guineas we had our
whole passage and provisions and cabin； ate at the captain's
table； and were very handsomely entertained。
The captain lay himself in the other part of the great cabin；
having let his round house； as they call it； to a rich planter
who went over with his wife and three children； who ate by
themselves。 He had some other ordinary passengers； who
quartered in the steerage； and as for our old fraternity； they
were kept under the hatches while the ship lay there； and came
very little on the deck。
I could not refrain acquainting my governess with what had
happened； it was but just that she； who was so really concerned
for me； should have part in my good fortune。 Besides； I wanted
her assistance to supply me with several necessaries； which
before I was shy of letting anybody see me have； that it might
not be public； but now I had a cabin and room to set things in；
I ordered abundance of good things for our comfort in the
voyage； as brandy； sugar； lemons； etc。； to make punch； and
treat our benefactor； the captain； and abundance of things for
eating and drinking in the voyage； also a larger bed； and bedding
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