Previous  - next

Thomas Young
Mr. Samuel Yockney




CONTENTS


CHAP. I.

The author's account of his country, their manners and
customs, &c.


CHAP. II.

The author's birth and parentage--His being kidnapped
with his sister--Horrors of a slave ship


CHAP. III.

The author is carried to Virginia--Arrives in England--His
wonder at a fall of snow


CHAP. IV.

A particular account of the celebrated engagement
between Admiral Boscawen and Monsieur Le Clue


CHAP. V.

Various interesting instances of oppression, cruelty, and
extortion


CHAP. VI.

Favourable change in the author's situation--He
commences merchant with threepence


CHAP. VII.

The author's disgust at the West Indies--Forms
schemes to obtain his freedom


CHAP. VIII.

Three remarkable dreams--The author is shipwrecked
on the Bahama-bank


CHAP. IX.

The author arrives at Martinico--Meets with new
difficulties, and sails for England


CHAP. X.

Some account of the manner of the author's conversion to
the faith of Jesus Christ


CHAP. XI.

Picking up eleven miserable men at sea in returning to
England

CHAP. XII.

Different transactions of the author's life--Petition to the
Queen--Conclusion




THE LIFE, &c.




CHAPTER I.

_The author's account of his country, and their manners and
customs--Administration of justice--Embrenche--Marriage
ceremony, and public entertainments--Mode of
living--Dress--Manufactures
Buildings--Commerce--Agriculture--War and
religion--Superstition of the natives--Funeral ceremonies of
the priests or magicians--Curious mode of discovering
poison--Some hints concerning the origin of the author's
countrymen, with the opinions of different writers on that
subject._


I believe it is difficult for those who publish their own memoirs to
escape the imputation of vanity; nor is this the only disadvantage
under which they labour: it is also their misfortune, that what is
uncommon is rarely, if ever, believed, and what is obvious we are apt
to turn from with disgust, and to charge the writer with impertinence.
People generally think those memoirs only worthy to be read or
remembered which abound in great or striking events, those, in short,
which in a high degree excite either admiration or pity: all others
they consign to contempt and oblivion. It is therefore, I confess, not
a little hazardous in a private and obscure individual, and a stranger
too, thus to solicit the indulgent attention of the public; especially
when I own I offer here the history of neither a saint, a hero, nor a
tyrant. I believe there are few events in my life, which have not
happened to many: it is true the incidents of it are numerous; and,

Previous  - next