ROBINSON CRUSOE. 237

faithful to me ; and, accordingly, I prepared to go to England
with all my wealth,

In order to prepare things for my going home, I first (the
Brazil fleet being just going away) resolved to give answers suit-
able ¢o the just and faithful account of things I had from thence ;
and, first, to the Prior of St. Augustine I wrote a letter full of
thanks for his just dealings, and the offer of the eight hundred
and seventy-two moidores which were undisposed of, which I
desired might be given, five hundred to the monastery, and
thvee hundred and seventy-two to the poor, as the prior should
direct ; desiring the good padre’s prayers for me, and the like.
I wrote next a letter of thanks to my two trustees, with all the
acknowledgment that so much justice and honesty called for:
as for sending them any present, they were far above having
any occasion forit, Lastly, I wrote to my partner, acknowledging
his industry in the improving the plantation, and his integrity
in increasing the stock of the works; giving him instructions
for his future government of my part, according to the powers
I had left with my old patron, to whom I desired him to send
whatever became due to me, till he should hear from me more

particularly ; assuring him that it was my intention not only to -

come to him, but to settle myself there for the remainder of my
life. To this I added a very handsome present of some Italian
silks for his wife and two daughters (for such the captain’s son
informed me he had), with two pieces of fine English broadcloth,
the best I could get in Lisbon, five pieces of black baize, and
some Flanders lace of a good value,

Having thus settled my affairs, sold my cargo, and turned
all my effects into good bills of exchange, my next difficulty
was which way to go to England: I had been accustomed
enough to the sea, and yet I had a strange aversion to go to
England by sea at that time ; and though I could give no reason
for it, yet the difficulty increased upon me so much, that though
I had once shipped my baggage in order to go, yet I altered
my mind, and that not once, but two or three times.

It is true I had been very unfortunate by sea, and this
might be one of the reasons ; but let no man slight the strong im-
pulses of his own thoughts in cases of such moment: two of
the ships which I had singled out to go in, I mean more par-
ticularly singled out than any other, having put my things on
board one of them, and in the other having agreed with the
captain ; I say two of these ships miscarried ; viz.: one was

taken by the Algerines, and the other was cast away on the’
Start, near Torbay, and all the people drowned, except three ;.

so that j~ ~**“2~ ~* *hose vessels £ had been made miserabie.

.