me the Pleasure of seeing foreign Parts, I was never easy until my Mother granted my Request, that I should go Abroad.

Accordingly, in the Year 1738, with her Consent, I went a Voyage for Trial from Dundee to Norway , with one Captain Davidson, who, upon my Return Home, would fain have had me bound to him; but, being ask'd the Question afterwards, he refused, for what Reason I know not to this Day. Unfortunately for him, however, I remember, the next Voyage he went, being bound for London, he was cast away off Yarmouth, and every Person on Board unhappily perished, having many Passengers on Board, besides the Ship's Crew.

I failed afterwards from Leith to Norway , in which Voyage we suffered great Hardships, being obliged to cut our Masts away to save the Ship, and Lives on Board.

In the Year 1741 I came to London , having Recommendation to Captain George Mackenzie< no role > , then first Lieutenant of the Hampshire Man of War , of 50 Guns, I was admitted on Board. In this Ship, in the Year 1743, having taken several Prizes, Mr. Mackenzie was ordered to command one of them, and took me with him, and losing the Men of War, we were taken in the Prize by the Spaniards, tho' not without a Broadside: Nor should we have been taken, but that we had no more than 8 small Guns, and 12 Hands in all; they having 24 Guns, and 200 Men and upwards.

The Spanish Privateer soon met with more English Vessels, and took them; one of which being come from Oporto, loaden with Fruit, was ransomed, the Master of her remaining a Pledge for a Sum agreed for. In this Vessel I came Home to England , after many Difficulties encountered, being then the Beginning of the French War.

Upon my Arrival, I enquired for Captain Mackenzie, and was informed he was come Home, and was now Lieutenant of the Strafford Man of War , then lying at Chatham ; to which Place I went, and met the above Gentleman, and he was glad to see me, supposing till then that I had been dead. Soon afterwards he left that Ship, and I went with him on Board the Defiance ; then he being made Commander of an armed Ship, he had me again with him by an Order of the Lords of the Admiralty. When I removed from thence to his Ship, I was made Midshipman , and was afterwards removed to the Tavistock Man of War , where I continued near two Years in the same Birth of Midshipman. From thence I was removed to the Inverness with that brave and worthy Gentleman, from whom I never had an angry Word, by whom I was beloved, and by all my Superiors, as well as Inferiors.