Accidents > Life and most surprising adventures of Robinson Crusoe, of York, mariner, who lived eight and twenty years in an uninhabited island on the coast of America, near the mouth of the great river Oroonoque

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ROBINSON CRUSOE.
I was in fome meafure fettled before the captain
who took me up departed from the Brafils. One day
I went to him, and told him what ftock I had in
London, defiring his affiftance in obtaining its remit¬
tance. To which the good gentleman readily con¬
tented, but would only have me fend for half my
money, left it fhould mifcarry, which if it did, the
remainder might fupport me : And fo taking letters
of procuration from me,- bid me trouble myfelf no
farther about it.
And indeed wonderful was his kindnefs towards
me ; for he not only procured the money I had drawn
for upon my captain’s widow, but fent me over a
fervant, with a cargo proportionable to my condi¬
tion. He alfo fent me over tools of all forts, iron¬
work:, and utenfils neceftary for my plantation, and
which proved of the greateft ufe to me in my bufinefs.
Wealth now accumulating on me, and uncommon
fuccefs crowning my profperous labours, I might
have refted happy in that middle ftate of life my fa¬
ther had fo often recommended ■, yet nothing would
content me, luch was my evil genius, but I muft
leave this happy ftation, for a foolilh ambition in
riling greater than the nature of the thing admitted ;
and thus, once more, I caft myfelf into the deepeft
gulf of mifery that ever abandoned creature fell
into. For having lived four years in Brafil, I not
only learnt the language, but contrafted acquaint¬
ance with the moft eminent planters, and even the
merchants of St Salvadore; to whom, by way of
difcourfe, giving an account of my two voyages to
the coaft of Guinea, and the manner of trading there
for mere trifles, by which we might furniih our
plantations with Negroes, they gave fuch attention
to what I laid, that three of them came one morn¬
ing to me, and told me they had a fecrct propoial to
make. After enjoining me to fecrefy (it being an
infringement on the powers of the kings of Portugal