to the class immediately above, and was to pass, at the end of the year, to the one next in order. But my father, burthened with a numerous family, found that he was incapable, without fubjecting himself to difficulties, of providing for the expence of a collegiate education; and confidering befides, as I heard him fay to his friends, that perfons fo educated were often poorly provided for, he renounced his firft intentions, took me from the grammar fchool, and sent me to a school for writing and arithmetic, kept by a Mr. George Brownwel, who was a skilful mafter, and fucceeded very well in his profeffion by employing gentle means only, and fuch as were calculated to encourage his fcholars. Under him I foon acquired an excellent hand; but I failed in arithmetic, and made therein no fort of progress.

At ten years of age, I was called home to affift my father in his occupation, which

which was that of foap-boiler and tallowchandler; a bufinefs to which he had ferved no apprenticeship, but which he embraced on his arrival in New England, because he found his own, that of a dyer, in too little request to enable him to maintain his family. I was accordingly employed in cutting the wicks, filling the moulds, taking care of the shop, carrying meffages, &c.

This business difpleafed me, and I felt a ftrong inclination for a fea life; but my father fet his face against it. The vicinity of the water, however, gave me frequent opportunities of venturing myself both upon and within it, and I foon acquired the art of fwimming, and of managing a boat. When embarked with other children, the helm was commonly deputed to me, particularly on difficult occafions; and, in every other project, I was almost always the leader of the troop, whom I fometimes involved in embarraffments.

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raffments. I shall give an instance of this, which demonftrates an early difpofition of mind for public enterprises, though the one in queftion was not conducted by justice.

The mill-pond was terminated on one fide by a marfh, upon the borders of which we were accustomed to take our ftand, at high water, to angle for fmall fish. By dint of walking, we had converted the place into a perfect quagmire. My propofal was to erect a wharf that should afford us firm footing; and I pointed out to my companions a large heap of ftones, intended for the building a new house near the marsh, and which were well adapted for our purpose. Accordingly, when the workmen retired in the evening, I affembled a number of my playfellows, and by labouring diligently, like ants, fometimes four of us uniting our ftrength to carry a fingle Atone, we removed them all, and con

ftructed

ftructed our little quay. The workmen were furprised the next morning at not finding their stones, which had been conveyed to our wharf. Enquiries were made respecting the authors of this conveyance; we were discovered; complaints were exhibited against us; many of us underwent correction on the part of our parents; and though I ftrenuously defended the utility of the work, my father at length convinced me, that nothing which was not ftrictly honest could be useful.

It will not, perhaps, be uninteresting to you to know what fort of a man my father was. He had an excellent conftitution, was of a middle fize, but well made and ftrong, and extremely active in whatever he undertook. He defigned with a degree of neatnefs, and knew a little of mufic. His voice was fonorous and agreeable; fo that when C 3

he

he fung a pfalm or hymn, with the accompaniment of his violin, as was his frequent practice in an evening, when the labours of the day were finished, it was truly delightful to hear him. He was verfed also in mechanics, and could, upon occafion, use the tools of a variety of trades. But his greatest excellence was a found understanding and folid judgment, in matters of prudence, both in public and private life. In the former indeed he never engaged, because his numerous family, and the mediocrity of his fortune, kept him unremittingly employed in the duties of his profeffion. But I very well remember, that the leading men of the place ufed frequently to come and afk his advice refpecting affairs of the town, or of the church to which he belonged, and that they paid much deference to his opinion. Individuals were alfo in the habit of

con