to me for assistance, which I could not furnish myself, but I had obtained it from others, and when I gave them the money I said, "If you will follow my advice, and learn a trade at once, you will never be obliged to ask for charity again, but will become independent. There are in Bristol French manufacturers of light stuffs, to whom I would recommend you to bind yourselves." They followed my advice, and soon after I had established myself at Taunton, they called on me for the express purpose of returning their thanks. I did not recognise them in the least; the rags and tatters in which they had formerly appeared had given place to decent and respectable clothing. They were obliged to tell me that they were the persons whom I had formerly assisted, and recommended to learn a trade, and that they had done so, and now, all they wanted, was a small advance of money from some one, and they would work for half the profits. They urged me to undertake it, and they said £20 would be amply sufficient to buy worsted, yarn and dyes, and that they themselves had wherewithal to buy tools. They said if I would make the necessary purchases for them they would work two years for me, and be contented with half the profit on the work. I consented to it, and as I was unwilling to cramp the business of the shop by taking money from it, I borrowed the £20 from Mrs. White, a widow, who dealt in tobacco, at Bridgewater.
Behold me now, not only a French teacher and a shop-keeper, but a manufacturer also. The sea had been too cruel for me to think of being a merchant again.
One of these Frenchmen whom I took, as it were, into partnership with me, had formerly been a pickpocket in London, and had only given up the employment from fear of the consequences. He was a very skilful workman, he would
