of Money, I laid them out in learning Navigation, and other parts of the Mathematicks, useful to those who intend to travel, as I always believed it would be some time or other "my fortune to do. When I left Mr. Bates, I went down to my Father ; where, by the assistance of Him and my Uncle John, and some other Relations, I got forty Pounds, and a promise of thirty Pounds a year to maintain me at Leyden: There I studied Physick two Years and seven Months, knowing it would be useful in long Voyages.
Soon after my Return from Leyden, I was recommended, by my good Master Mr. Bates, to be Surgeon to the Swallow, Captain Abraham Pannell Commander; with whom I continued three Years and a half, making a Voyage or two into the Levant, and some other Parts. When I came back, I resolved to settle in London, to which Mr. Bates, my Master, encouraged me, and by him I was recommended to several Patients. I took part of a small House in the Old-Jury; and being advised to alter my condition, I married Mrs. Mary Burton, second. Daughter to Mr. Edmund Burton Hosier in Newgate-street, with whom I received four hundred Pounds for a Portion.
But, my good Master Bates dying in two years after, and I having few Friends, my Business began to fail; for my Conscience would not suffer me to imitate the bad practice of too many among my Brethren. Having therefore consulted with my Wife, and some of my Acquaintance, I determined to go again to Sea. I was Surgeon successively in two Ships, and made several Voyages, for six Years, to the East and West-Lndies, by which I got some Addition to my Fortune. My hours of Leisure I spent in reading the best Authors ancient and modern, being always provided with a good number of books; and when I was ashoar, in observing the Manners and Dispositions- of the People, as well as learning their Language, wherein I had a great Facility by the strength of my Memory.
The last of these Voyages not proving very fortunate, I grew weary of the Sea, and intended to stay at home with ray
