Such sure measures had he taken, for the
most cruel punishment of his child for having more interest
with his grandmother than he had, though he made use of a
pretense, plausible enough, to get rid of him in this secret
and abrupt manner, for fear her fondness should have inter-
pos'd a bar to his leaving England, and proceeding on a
voyage he had concerted for him; which pretext was, that it
was indispensably necessary to secure a considerable inheri-
tance that devolv'd to him by the death of a rich merchant
(his own brother) at one of the factories in the South-Seas,
of which he had lately receiv'd advice, together with a copy
of the will.
In consequence of which resolution to send away his son,
he had, unknown to him, made the necessary preparations for
fitting him out, struck a bargain with the captain of a ship,
whose punctual execution of his orders he had secured, by his
interest with his principal owner and patron; and, in short,
concerted his measures so secretly and effectually that whilst
his son thought he was going down the river for a few hours,
he was stopt on board of a ship, debar'd from writing, and
more strictly watch'd than a State criminal.
Thus was the idol of my soul torn from me, and forc'd on
a long voyage, without taking of one friend, or receiving one
line of comfort, except a dry explanation and instructions,
from his father, how to proceed when he should arrive at his
destin'd port, enclosing, withal, some letters of recommenda-
tion to a factor there: all these particulars I did not learn
minutely till some time after.
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