Becoming America - An Exploration of American Literature from Precolonial to Post-Revolution, 2018a

BECOMING AMERICA
REVOLUTIONARY AND EARLY NATIONAL PERIOD LITERATURE
I had from a child been ever delighted with this exercise, had studied and
practis’d all Thevenot’s motions and positions, added some of my own, aiming at
the graceful and easy as well as the useful. All these I took this occasion of exhibiting
to the company, and was much atter’d by their admiration; and Wygate, who
was desirous of becoming a master, grew more and more attach’d to me on that
account, as well as from the similarity of our studies. He at length proposed to me
travelling all over Europe together, supporting ourselves everywhere by working
at our business. I was once inclined to it; but, mentioning it to my good friend Mr.
Denham, with whom I often spent an hour when I had leisure, he dissuaded me
from it, advising me to think only of returning to Pennsilvania, which he was now
about to do.
I must record one trait of this good man’s character. He had formerly been in
business at Bristol, but failed in debt to a number of people, compounded and went
to America. There, by a close application to business as a merchant, he acquir’d
a plentiful fortune in a few years. Returning to England in the ship with me, he
invited his old creditors to an entertainment, at which he thank’d them for the easy
composition they had favored him with, and, when they expected nothing but the
treat, every man at the rst remove found under his plate an order on a banker for
the full amount of the unpaid remainder with interest.
He now told me he was about to return to Philadelphia, and should carry
over a great quantity of goods in order to open a store there. He propos’d to take
me over as his clerk, to keep his books, in which he would instruct me, copy his
letters, and attend the store. He added that, as soon as I should be acquainted with
mercantile business, he would promote me by sending me with a cargo of our and
bread, etc., to the West Indies, and procure me commissions from others which
would be protable; and, if I manag’d well, would establish me handsomely. The
thing pleas’d me; for I was grown tired of London, remembered with pleasure the
happy months I had spent in Pennsylvania, and wish’d again to see it; therefore I
immediately agreed on the terms of fty pounds a year, Pennsylvania money; less,
indeed, than my present gettings as a compositor, but aording a better prospect.
I now took leave of printing, as I thought, for ever, and was daily employed in
my new business, going about with Mr. Denham among the tradesmen to purchase
various articles, and seeing them pack’d up, doing errands, calling upon workmen
to dispatch, etc.; and, when all was on board, I had a few days’ leisure. On one of
these days, I was, to my surprise, sent for by a great man I knew only by name, a
Sir William Wyndham, and I waited upon him. He had heard by some means or
other of my swimming from Chelsea to Blackfriar’s, and of my teaching Wygate
and another young man to swim in a few hours. He had two sons, about to set out
on their travels; he wish’d to have them rst taught swimming, and proposed to
gratify me handsomely if I would teach them. They were not yet come to town, and
my stay was uncertain, so I could not undertake it; but, from this incident, I thought
it likely that, if I were to remain in England and open a swimming-school, I might
get a good deal of money; and it struck me so strongly, that, had the overture been
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