I did my duty on our passage home as a seaman before the mast,
and the captain was pleased with me. The ship I was in was bound to
Glasgow, and we parted company with the convoy at North Foreland, and
arrived safe in port. The captain took me to the owners, who paid me
fifteen guineas for my services during the voyage home; and as soon as
I received the money, I set off for Newcastle as fast as I could. I had
taken a place on the outside of the coach, and I entered into
conversation with a gentleman who sat next to me. I soon found out that
he belonged to Newcastle, and I first inquired if Mr. Masterman, the
ship-builder, was still alive. He told me that he had been dead about
three months. `And to whom did he leave his money?' I asked, `for he
was very rich, and had no kin.' `He had no relations,' replied the
gentleman, `and he left all his money to build an hospital and
almshouses. He had a partner in his business latterly, and he left the
yard and all the stores to him, I believe, because he did not know whom
to leave it to. There was a lad whom I knew for certain he intended to
have adopted and to have made his heir - a lad of the name of Ready;
but he ran away to sea, and has never been heard of since.
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