JOHN NEWTON

OF OLNEY AND ST. MARY WOOLNOTH.

An Autobiography and Narrative,

COMPILED CHIEFLY FROM HIS DIARY AND OTHER UNPUBLISHED DOCUMENTS.

BY

THE REV. JOSIAH BULL, M.A.,

AUTHOR OF “MEMORIALS OF THE REV. WILLIAM BULL.”

FIRST PUBLISHED IN 1868

(Reprinted by) 

THE BANNER OF TRUTH TRUST, 1998

Public Domain

CONTENTS.

PART I.

EARLY LIFE, AND RESIDENCE AT LIVERPOOL</st1:place>.

CHAPTER I.

FROM THE BIRTH OF MR. NEWTON TO HIS MARRIAGE

[1725-1750.]

Birth—Parentage—His Mother’s teaching—Her Death—Goes to Sea, and falls into Bad Habits—Reformation—Meets with Shaftesbury’s Characteristics—Miss Catlett—Voyage to Venice—Remarkable Dream—Pressed on board the Harwich—Evil Associations there—Deserts, is Arrested and Degraded—Exchanged into a Guinea Vessel—Miseries on the Coast of Africa—His Rescue—Peril at Sea—His ‘Great Deliverance’—In England—Sails again to the Coast of Africa—Wonderful Escape—Return Home.

CHAPTER II.

FROM HIS MARRIAGE TO THE TIME HE QUITTED THE SEA

[1750-1754.]

Observations on his Marriage—Sails to the Coast of Africa—Events there—Position as Captain—Returns to England, Nov. 1751—Diary and Quotations—Second Voyage to Africa, July, 1752—Manner of Spending Time at Sea—Views on the subject of Fasting—His Sabbaths—Letter—Covenant—Mutiny—Personal Experience—A Singular letter—An Infamous Charge—St. Kitts—Letter—Reaches England, October, 1753—Third Voyage—Quotations from Diary—Meets Capt. Clunie at St. Kitts—Returns to Liverpool, August, 1754—Sudden Attack of Illness, and Abrupt Termination of his Connection with the Sea.

CHAPTER III.

FROM HIS QUITTING THE SEA TO THE TIME OF HIS FIRST THOUGHTS OF THE MINISTRY

[1755-1757.]

Chatham and London—Religious Intercourse—Acquaintance with Whitefield—Sacrament at the Tabernacle—Reflections on Whitefield’s Character and Preaching—Appointment as Tide Surveyor at Liverpool—Singular Circumstances in connection with his Appointment—Attends Mr. Johnson’s Ministry—Mr. Whitefield at Liverpool—Mr. Oulton—Mrs. Newton joins him—Letter to a Relative—Reflections on the New Year—Religious State of Liverpool—Jedidiah Buxton—Commences Housekeeping—Prints Thoughts on Religious Associations—Lottery Ticket—Baptism—His Candour—Studies and Religious Exercises—Diary Thoughts—Letters to an Old Correspondent—Mr. Wesley—Diary—Refusal to take Fees.

CHAPTER IV.

FROM HIS FIRST THOUGHTS OF THE MINISTRY TO HIS SETTLEMENT AT OLNEY

[1757-1764.]

First Thoughts of the Ministry—Dr. Taylor of Norwich—Journey to Yorkshire—Special Season of Prayer and Meditation in reference to the Ministry—Preaches at Leeds—Seeks Ordination in Church of England, and refused—Mr. Okeley—Public Events—Publishes Sermons—Supplies the Independent Church at Warwick—Speaks in the House of Mr. Grimshaw at Haworth—Letters—Observations on the Reformers—Begins to Expound the Scriptures in his Family—Visits Yorkshire—Death of the Rev. Mr. Jones of St. Saviour’s, London—Views of the Ministry—Preaches at Bolton—Letter to the Rev. J. Warhurst—First sketch of his Narrative—Mr. Haweis—Proposal to take Orders in the Church—In Yorkshire—Providential Escape—Ecclesiastical History—Accepts the Curacy of Olney—Receives Deacon’s Orders—Preaches at Liverpool—Ordained Priest—Olney—Mr. Whitefield’s Letter.

PART II.

CURATE OF OLNEY.

CHAPTER V.,

Page 129

OLNEY [1764-1766.]

First impressions of Olney—His Ministerial Work—Hampstead—Quotations from Diary—His Housekeeper—Narrative Printed—Loss of his Property—Mr. Thornton—Death of Mr. John Catlett—Great House—Children’s Meetings—Mr. Ryland—Delicacy of Feeling—New Gallery—Mr. Bowman—Visitors—Reflections—Lord Dartmouth’s Proposal declined—Dunton—Messrs. Brewer and Clunie—Mr. Thornton’s liberality—Prayer Meetings—Personal Experience—Illness of Mrs. Newton—Correspondence with Wesley—Samson Occum—Mr. Bull—Pastoral Work—Mr. Maddock—Mr. West—Letters—Proposal from Mr. Venn.

CHAPTER VI.

Page 154

OLNEY—continued.  [1767-1769.]

The Cottenham Affair’—Publishes Sermons—Journey into Yorkshire—Visitors—Journey to Huntingdon—Letter to Mr. Cowper—Mrs. Unwin and Mr. Cowper at Olney—New Vicarage—Reflections—Catholic Spirit—Correspondence of Capt. Scott and Mr. Newton—Mr. Newton in Norfolk—Letters—Dr. Dixon—State of things at Olney—Letters—Great Room in the Great House—Capt. Scott—Cards—Collingtree—Oxford—Illness—Death of Capt. Clunie—Publishes his Review of Ecclesiastical History—Remarks thereon.

CHAPTER VII.

Page 171

OLNEY—continued.  [1770-1773.]

Death of the Rev. John Cowper, and of the Rev. George Whitefield—Letters to Mr. Cowper and Mr. Brewer—From Messrs. Venn and Edwards—Miss Manesty—State of things at Olney—Letter to Mrs. Wilberforce—Collingtree—Hymns—Reflections on the year 1722—Return of Mr. Cowper’s Malady—Particulars—Observations—Defence of Mr. Newton from the Reflections cast upon him in his treatment of Mr. Cowper.

CHAPTER VIII.

Page 194

OLNEY—continued.  [1773-1775.]

Indisposition—Visitation—The Milners—Correspondence with Mr. Ryland—Reference to early History—Letter to Mr. Brewer—Mrs. Place—The Barhams—Religious Experience—Death of the Rev. W. Talbot—Mr. Cowper—Observations on Mr. Cowper leaving the Vicarage—Mr. Newton’s Refinement of Feeling—Omicron’s Letters published—Visit to Bedford—Call on Howard—Usefulness—An Interest sought in his Prayers—Preparation for the Pulpit—Prayer-Meeting on account of the Times—Death of Mr. G. Catlett, and adoption of his Orphan Child—Baxter—Journey into Leicestershire—Fletcher and Antinomianism—Mr. Whitford—Beginning of Intercourse with Mr. Scott—Baptist Association—M. Nicole’s Essais—Calvinism—Mr. Scott—London—Deptford—Mr. Bull—Halifax—Letter to Mrs. Newton.

CHAPTER IX.

Page 218

OLNEY—continued.  [1776-1779.]

Severe Weather—Charge of Meddling with Politics—Mr. Scott—Baptist Association—Eclipse of the Moon—Ordination of Mr. Sutcliff—Mr. Barham—Surgical Operation—Probable Removal to Hull—Dr. Dodd—Journey into Warwickshire and Leicestershire—Cook’s Voyages—Visitors—Death of Mr. Catlett—Visit to London—Fire at Olney—Mr. Cecil—Foote—The Theatre—Fifth of November—Reflections—Letter to Mrs. Cunningham—Confirmation—Letter to Mr. Bull—A Lion at Olney—Rowland Hill at Olney—State of the Country—Allegorical Preaching—Mr. Barham—Olney Hymns—Scott’s Force of Truth—Journey into Leicestershire—Illness of Mr. Scott—Cardiphonia—Law’s writings—Prospect of Removal—The Living of St. Mary Woolnoth accepted—Regrets.

PART III.

RECTOR OF ST. MARY WOOLNOTH.

CHAPTER X.

Page 247

LONDON.  [1780-1782.]

Mr. Newton’s Reflections on his New Position—An Accident—Declaring the Parish Boundaries—‘No Popery’ Riots—Thelyphora—Ramsgate—Cardiphonia—State of the Times—Fast Sermon—Preface to Cowper’s Poems—Visit to Olney—Address to his Parishioners—Plan of Academical Preparation for the Ministry—Growing Popularity—At Hastings.

CHAPTER XI.

Page 264

LONDON [1783-1785.]

Eclectic Society—Letters to Mrs. Cunningham and Dr. Ford—Letter from M. Apellius—Visits Olney, Newport, etc.—Mr. Cowper—Diary—Liberality of Sentiment—Apologia—Lymington and Southampton—Letters—Cowper’s Task—Letter to Mrs. Newton—Eliza Cunningham—Usefulness—Mr. Wilberforce.

CHAPTER XII.

Page 285

LONDON—continued.  [1786-1789.]

The Messiah—Oratorios—Mr. Newman removes to Coleman Street-Buildings—Southampton—Concern about Mr. Cowper—Mr. Johnson and Botany Bay—Hannah More—Funeral of the Rev. Charles Wesley—Visits Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire—Story of Ellis Williams—His Trials—His Faith—His Usefullness—His Death—Mr. Jay—Mr. Newton’s Breakfasts—Thanksgiving Sermon on the King’s Recovery—Diary—Southampton.

CHAPTER XIII.

Page 302

LONDON—continued.  [1790-1792.]

Death of Mr. Thornton—Of Mrs. Newton—Detail—Mr. Newton wonderfully supported—Van Lier’s Letters—Mrs. Althans—Claudius Buchanan—Reflections on the Loss of Mrs. Newton—Rev. Mr. Coffin—Journeys into Cambridgeshire, Bath, Bristol, Southampton, etc.—Letter from Mrs. More—Bibles for Wales—Diary—Saturday-evening Meetings—Doctor’s Degree—Letters on Political Debates—Journey to Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire—Baptismal Regeneration.

CHAPTER XIV.

Page 320

LONDON—continued.  [1793-1797.]

Mr. Cowper—Mr. Newton’s ‘Great Deliverance’—Letters to a Wife—Heckfield—Southampton—Mr. Ambrose Serle—Reading—Letter to Mr. Bull—Dr. Robbins of New York—Observations on Trust in Christ—Correspondence—Rev. J. Aikman—Journey into Cambridgeshire—Letter to Mrs. Onslow—On Dreams—Remarks on Jonathan Edwards—Mr. Romaine’s Death—Mr. Buchanan—Mr. Riccaltoun—Fuller’s Calvinism and Socianism—Toleration—Diary—Observations:  On Lowness of Spirits; On Unbelief; On Providence—Wilberforce’s Practical View—Reading—Remarks on Religious Efforts—Mr. Gunn—St. Mary’s—Thanksgiving Sermon.

CHAPTER XV.

Page 341

LONDON—continued.  [1798-1807.]

Work of God in Scotland—The Times—Mr. Newton’s Servants—Southampton—African children—Death of the Poet Cowper—Letter to Mr. Bull—Fragmentary Memoir of Cowper—Affliction of Miss Catlett—Mr. Newton’s Distress—Journey to Reading on her Account—Particulars—Her gradual Recovery—Journey to Essex—Mr. Newton’s Decline of Health—Dr. Carey—Letter—Marriage-Ceremony—Mr. Bull to Mr. Newton—Hornchurch—Last Entry in Diary—Feebleness—Miss Catlett’s Marriage—Mr. Newton still Preaches—Gradual Approach of Death—Account of his Last Months—Death—Epitaph—Funeral Sermons.

CHAPTER XVI.

Page 363

CONCLUDING CHAPTER.—GENERAL REVIEW

Mental Endowments—Strength of Mind—Misstatements—His Mind eminently Practical—His Character—Humility—Simplicity—Reasons inducing the Publication of his Narrative and other Works—Newton’s Loving and Tender Spirit—His Friendships—Benevolence—Regard for Children—Catholicity—Strong Faith—Fidelity to God—Spirit of Prayer—His Ministry, Preaching and Pastoral Duties—Conversational Powers—Writings—Conclusion.

APPENDIX—NOTES ON ST. JOHN’S GOSPEL BY COWPER

Page 376

PART I.

MR. NEWTON’S EARLY LIFE AND RESIDENCE AT LIVERPOOL.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF JOHN NEWTON

CHAPTER I.

FROM THE BIRTH OF MR. NEWTON TO HIS MARRIAGE

[1725-1750.]

Birth—Parentage—His Mother’s teaching—Her Death—Goes to Sea, and falls into Bad Habits—Reformation—Meets with Shaftesbury’s Characteristics—Miss Catlett—Voyage to Venice—Remarkable Dream—Pressed on board the Harwich—Evil Associations there—Deserts, is Arrested and Degraded—Exchanged into a Guinea Vessel—Miseries on the Coast of Africa—His Rescue—Peril at Sea—His ‘Great Deliverance’—In England—Sails again to the Coast of Africa—Wonderful Escape—Return Home.

We are unwilling to believe that the name of John Newton has lost its charm, or that the Christian public has forgotten his writings.  There are those, we are sure, to whom his memory is still dear, and who, spite of various attractions elsewhere, yet love to linger over the pages which contain the many wise and pleasant things which flowed from his prolific pen.  From such readers we may confidently look for a welcome, and we indulge the hope that others less familiar with his character and his writings will not turn away from this fuller illustration of the life of a man whose ‘remains’ are really a very precious legacy to the Church [the believers].

The account of Mr. Newton’s early years is a story of adventure and of marvelous providential interpositions which has few parallels.  Equally striking in this history are the amazing contrasts between its earlier and later periods.  Most beautiful too and instructive is the illustration it affords of the priceless value of a Christian mother’s early training, and of her ardent prayers; for after many days those instructions brought forth fruit, and those prayers, laid up before God, were answered when the mother had passed into the skies.

            To begin with the ‘Narrative’ of his early years.  John Newton was born in London, July, 1725.  His father was for many years master of a ship in the Mediterranean trade, and in 1748 went out as Governor of York Fort, Hudson’s Bay, where he died in the year 1750.  His son says of him, ‘There was a sternness and severity about my father’s manner, arising from the effect of his training at a Jesuit college in Spain, which induced a feeling of fear rather than of love, and which overawed and broke my spirit.’  May not this in a measure account for the subsequent outbreaks and restlessness under authority, which so characterized the early career of his son?  ‘Yet,’ says the subject of our memoir, ‘I am persuaded that my father loved me, though he seemed not willing that I should know it.’

            Very interesting is the account Mr. Newton gives of his mother.  ‘I was born,’ he says, ‘as it were, in the house of God, and dedicated to Him from my infancy.  My mother (as I have heard from many) was a pious, experienced Christian.  She was a dissenter, in communion with the church of the late Dr. Jennings.  I was her only child, and almost her whole employment was the care of my education.’

            At four years of age he could read with facility, and his mind was stored with many portions of Scripture.  He was

able to repeat, not only the answers in Watt’s Smaller Catechisms, but even those of the Assembly’s Shorter Catechism, with the proofs.  He had little inclination, he tells us, to the noisy sports of children, and was most happy in his mother’s company, being as willing to learn as she was to teach him.  She observed his early progress with peculiar pleasure, and intended from the first to bring him up to the ministry, if the Lord should so incline his heart.  But before her son was seven years old this good woman was taken to a better world.

            The elder Mr. Newton married again; and, though the son was treated with kindness, his further religious training was little cared for.  He was allowed to mingle with idle and ungodly children, and soon began to learn their ways.  He was sent to school, where he made some progress in Latin, but remained there only two years.  When he was eleven years of age his father took him to sea, and before he had reached his fifteenth year young Newton had made several voyages.  He was then placed at Alicant, in Spain.  His prospects were good, but his ‘unsettled behaviour and impatience of restraint rendered the design abortive.’

            During this period old impressions of religion would sometimes revive, but they passed away, and he learned to curse and blaspheme, and was exceedingly wicked.  From this state he was aroused by and accident which happened to himself, and which proved nearly fatal, and again by the sudden death of an intimate companion.  And thus before he was sixteen years of age, he tells us, he took up and laid down a religious profession three or four different times.  His last reform, however, was the most remarkable.  Of this period, he says, ‘After the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee!’  He read the Scriptures, meditated and prayed through the greater part of the day, fasted often, and abstained

from all animal food for three months, almost renounced society, scarcely spoke lest he should speak amiss, and in short became an ascetic.  Thus he went about to establish his own righteousness, and so continued for more than two years.

            While Mr. Newton was in this frame of mind he met with the Characteristics of Lord Shaftesbury.  The style of the book greatly pleased him, and at first he was not aware of the pernicious character of its matter.  His heart was beguiled.  He read it till he could very nearly repeat the Rhapsody (the second piece) verbatim from beginning to end.  No immediate effect was produced, but it operated like a slow poison, and prepared the way for all that followed.

            In December, 1742, Mr. Newton’s father, not intending to go to sea again, was anxious to settle his son; and a Mr. Manesty, a merchant at Liverpool, made an offer to send him out to Jamaica, and to take care of his future welfare.  To this the son willingly consented.  But a circumstance occurred to defeat the project, and which was to influence the whole of his future history.  He had some distant relatives in Kent, the particular friends of his mother.  They knowing he was coming into their neighbourhood on business, requested he would visit them.  He tells us he was very indifferent about going, but he went, and was most kindly received.  In this family were two daughters; the eldest, Mary Catlett, had from the very time of her birth been considered, both by her mother and by his, as a future wife for Newton.  This he was told some years afterwards.  Almost at the first sight of this girl (she was then under fourteen), he says, ‘I was impressed with an affection for her which never abated or lost its influence over me.  None of the scenes of misery and wickedness I afterwards experienced ever banished her for an hour together from my waking thoughts for the seven

following years.’  Very many years afterwards, Mr. Newton being at the house of a lady at Blackheath (probably Mrs. Wilberforce) stood at a window which had a prospect of Shooter’s Hill.  ‘Ah!’ said he to Mr. Cecil, ‘I remember the many journeys I took from London to stand at the top of that hill, in order to look towards the place where Mrs. Newton then lived, not that I could see the spot itself, for she lived several miles beyond, but it gratified me to look towards it.  This I always did once, and sometimes twice a week.’

            To go to Jamaica, and to be absent four of five years, was now felt to be something intolerable.  Newton determined he would not go, and yet he knew not how to acquaint his father with this alteration of his purpose.  But he stayed in Kent for three weeks instead of three days, supposing (as it proved) that the ship in which he was to embark would have sailed, and so the opportunity by lost.  His father, though greatly displeased, became reconciled to him, and in a short time we find him going on board a vessel bound for Venice.  Here he fell prey to evil companionship.  Still he did not become so wholly abandoned as at a future period.  He tells us that a strong impression was made upon him by the following remarkable dream:—

            ‘The scene presented to my imagination was the harbour of Venice, where we had lately been.  I thought it was night and my watch upon the deck, and that as I was walking to and fro a person came to me, and brought me a ring, with an express charge to keep it safely, assuring me that while I preserved that ring I should be happy and successful, but if I lost or parted with it I must expect nothing but trouble and misery.  I accepted the present and the terms willingly, not in the least doubting my own care to preserve it, and highly satisfied to have my happiness in my own keeping.

            ‘I was engaged in these thoughts when a second person

came to me, and observing the ring on my finger, took occasion to ask me some questions concerning it.  I readily told him its virtues.  He expressed surprise at my weakness, reasoned with me upon the impossibility of the thing, and at length urged me in direct terms to throw it away.  I was at first shocked at the proposal, but his insinuations prevailed.  I began to reason and doubt myself, and at last plucked it off my finger and dropped it over the ship’s side into the water, which it had no sooner touched than I saw a terrible fire burst out from the Alps behind the city of Venice.  I perceived, too late, my folly; and my tempter with an air of insult told me that all the mercy God had in reserve for me was comprised in that ring, which I had willingly thrown away.  I understood that I must go with him to the burning mountains, and that all the flames I saw were kindled on my account.  I trembled and was in a great agony; but when I thought myself upon the point of a constrained departure, and stood self-condemned without plea or hope, suddenly a third person, or the same who brought the ring at first, came to me and demanded the cause of my grief.  I told him the plain case, confessing that I had ruined myself willfully and deserved no pity.  He blamed my rashness, and asked if I should be wise, supposing I had my ring again.  I could hardly answer to this, for I thought it was gone beyond recall.  Immediately, I saw this unexpected friend go down under the water, just in the spot where I had dropped the ring, and he soon returned, bringing it with him.  The moment he came on board the flames in the mountains were extinguished, and my seducer left me.  My fears were at an end, and with joy and gratitude I approached my kind deliverer to receive the ring again, but he refused to return it, and spoke to this effect:—If you should be entrusted with this ring again you would very soon bring yourself into the

same distress.  You are not able to keep it; but I will preserve it for you, and, whenever it is needful, produce it on your behalf.

            ‘Upon this I awoke in a state of mind not to be described.  I could hardly eat or sleep or transact any necessary business, for two or three days; but the impression soon wore off, and I think it hardly occurred to my mind again till several years afterwards.’

In a letter to Miss Catlett, dated The Harwich, Jan. 24^th, 1745, he writes, . . . ‘But for you, I had till this time remained heavy, sour, and unsociable.  You raised me from the dull melancholy I had contracted, and pushed me into the world.  It is now more than two years since, from which time till now I have been almost continually disappointed in whatever I have undertaken.  My designs are now bent to one point, that is, this voyage, which I seriously think will either make or mar me.  It is true I hope to succeed, but I take Love to witness it is not wholly on my own account.’

            At length the ship sailed from Spithead, but, through stress of weather, was compelled to put back to Plymouth.  Several vessels of the fleet were lost.  In some of them Mr. Newton’s father had an interest, and his son, hearing that he had on that account come down to Torbay, resolved to see him.  His object was to get into the African service, with which his father was connected, and so to avoid the long, uncertain voyage to the East Indies.  ‘It was a maxim with me,’ he says, ‘in those unhappy days never to deliberate.  The thought no sooner occurred to me than I resolved I would leave the ship at all events.  I did so, and in the wrongest manner possible.  I was sent one day in the boat to take care that none of the people deserted; but I betrayed my trust and went off myself.’  For a day and a half all went well; but when within two hours’ distance of his father he was discovered by a party of soldiers, and brought back to his vessel as a deserter, and after being kept in irons some time was publicly flogged and degraded from his office.

thought of the object of his attachment saved him.  He could not bear that she should think meanly of him when he was dead.

            Mr. Newton, it will be remembered, was above all things anxious not to go to India, but to the coast of Africa.  The Harwich was now at Madeira, and the fleet was to sail the following day, when his wish was thus remarkably fulfilled.  That morning he was late in bed.  One of the midshipmen came down, and between jest and earnest, bade him rise.  As he did not immediately comply, his hammock was cut down, and he was forced to dress himself.  He was very angry, but dare not resent it.  He went on deck, where he saw a man putting his clothes into a boat, saying he was going to leave the ship.  Upon inquiry Newton found that two men from a Guinea ship had entered on board the Harwich, and that the commodore had ordered the captain to send two others in their room.  The boat was detained a few minutes, and the captain was appealed to to give Newton his discharge.  This he did, though he had refused to do so at Plymouth, even at the request of the admiral; and so, says the author of the Narrative, ‘In little more than half an hour from my being asleep in bed I saw myself discharged and safe on board another ship.  This,’ he adds, ‘was one of the critical turns of my life, in which the Lord was pleased to display his providence and care by causing many unexpected circumstances to concur in almost an instant of time.’

he could then be as abandoned as he pleased without any control?  In six months the captain died; but Newton was on no better terms with the mate, and fearing that if he went with him to the West Indies he would put him on board a man-of-war he determined to remain in Africa.

            And now we find this unhappy youth landed on a pestilential shore, to reap a terrible harvest of misery and wrong.  Utterly destitute, he entered the service of a slave-dealer, who was settled on one of the Plantain Islands.  Better thoughts came over him.  He resolved on a course of industry; but, unfortunately, before he was able to render his employer any service Newton was seized with severe illness, and was treated with the greatest neglect and cruelty.  Thus he describes his situation:—‘I had sometimes not a little difficulty to procure a draught of cold water when burning with fever.  My bed was a mat, and a log of wood my pillow.  When the fever left me and my appetite returned I would gladly have eaten, but none gave to me.  My mistress—a black woman, who lived with my master as his wife, and who was a person of some consequence in her own country—from the first took a prejudice against me.  She lived in plenty herself, but hardly allowed me sufficient to sutstain life, except now and then, when in the highest good-humour, she would send me food from her own plate after she had dined; and this (so greatly was my pride humbled) I received with thanks and eagerness.  Once I remember I was called to receive this bounty from her own hand, but being very weak and feeble, I dropped the plate, and she had the cruelty to laugh at my disappointment, and refused to give me any more, though the table was covered with dishes.  My distress at times has been so great as to compel me to go at night, and, at the risk of being punished as a thief, to pull up roots in the plantation, and, lest I should be discovered, to eat them raw upon

the spot.  I have sometimes been relieved by strangers, nay, even by the slaves in the chain, who have secretly brought me food.  Of scorn and contempt,’ he says, ‘I had an abundant measure.  I was subject to perpetual insult from this black woman, called opprobrious names, and, at her instigation, ridiculed and molested by her attendants.’

            Through all this time of misery Newton’s master had been absent.  He now returned from his voyage, and upon going from home again took him with him.  But here he suffered from the false accusation of unfaithfulness, so that he was treated with the utmost cruelty, being chained to the ship’s deck when his master went on shore, and during his frequent long absences was compelled to eke out his scant allowance of food with the fish he was able to catch, and which he had to eat half-cooked.  Sometimes he slept away his hunger.  Nor did he suffer less from the weather and want of proper clothing, being at times exposed for twenty, thirty, or forty hours to incessant rains, accompanied by strong gales of wind.  Writing this account some twenty years afterwards, Mr. Newton says, ‘I feel to this day some faint returns of the violent pains I thus contracted.’
            Going back to the Plantains, he was subjected to the same treatment as before, and his spirit was utterly broken.  Pensive and solitary, he would go in the dead of the night to wash his one shirt upon the rocks, and afterwards put it on wet, that it might dry on his back while he slept.  So poor a figure was he that when a ship’s boat came to the island, shame often constrained him to hide himself in the woods from the sight of strangers.  One thing he tells here, justly saying, ‘Though strange, it is most true, the only volume I brought on shore was a copy of Barrow’s Euclid, and with this I often beguiled my wretchedness, taking it to remote corners of the island, by the sea, and drawing my diagrams

with a stick upon the sand.  Thus, without any other assistance, I made myself master of the first six books of Euclid.’

            ‘I remember,’ says Mr. Newton, ‘that on one of these memorable days to which I have referred I was busied in planting some lime-trees.  My master and mistress stopped to look at me.  “Who knows,” he said, “but by the time these trees grow and bear you may go home to England, obtain the command of a ship, and return to reap the fruit of your labours?  We see strange things sometimes happen.”’  It was intended as a cutting sarcasm, yet it turned out to be a prediction.  Mr. Newton did return, commander of a ship, to that very spot, and plucked some of the first limes from those very trees!

            These things continued in this miserable condition with him for about a twelvemonth.  In the interval he wrote to his father, asking his assistance; and orders were consequently given to a captain in the employ of a Liverpool friend Mr. Manesty to bring him home.

            Mr. Newton was now living with another trader; his circumstances were greatly improved, and he began, he says, to think himself happy.

            In the meanwhile the ship that was to convey him home arrived at Sierra Leone.  The captain made inquiries for him at the Bananas, but understanding he was at a great distance in the country, gave no more thought to the matter.