I consequently, engaged a birth, for the spring, with my uncle John Cobb, in the employ of Benj^{a} Cobb & Sons, of Boston, in the Philadelphia trade, went home, & attended School, about 2 months, when I was call’d upon, to go on to Boston by land to join the vessell. I accordingly started, in company with 3 others, for the same object, & walked to Boston. We there joined the vessell, loaded her, & saild for Philadelphia--on our arrival, I procured a permit, as soon as posible, & visited my poor Brother in the hospital--affectionate Brothers & Sisters, can better imagine, our feelings at meeting, than I can discribe it--suffice it to say, he was not well anough, to leave the hospital then, but t’was thought he wou’d be, by our next trip--our trips, only took up about a month, & according the next time, he came on with us to Boston, & I sent him home to our Mother. I continued in the employ of B. C. & Sons, about a year, when they premoted me to the office of mate--and in that capacity I served them, under many different captains, between 6 & 7 years, untill I felt myself qualifi^{d.} to command a vessel, & seeing no disposition on their part to indulge me, I left the employ; went to Baltimore, & made two voyages to Europe, in the capacity of 1^{st.} mate of a ship--after which, I returned to Boston; and got the command of a Brig, in the employ of Edw^{d.} & Will^{m.} Reynolds-- [Sidenote: Captured by the French] After making several voyages, to Virginia, & one to the West Idies; in April 1793, I went to the cape, & got married; I was then in my 25^{th.} year--. I continued in the employ of the Mess^{rs.} Reynolds’s; principally in the virginia trade, about two years longer, when they concluded to send me, on a voyage to Europe--their object was, to cadiz; but at that time, the algerines were at war with America; & it was reported, that their crusiers were outside of the streights of Gibaralter--in consequence, it was recommended that I should clear my vessell for Curruna, a northern port in spain, and there essertain, whether it would be safe, to proceed to Cadiz--I was however, spared the trouble of enquirry, by falling in, with a French Frigate, who captur^{d}, & sent me to France. x x x x & here commences my first trouble & anxiety, as a ship Master--having under my charge, a valuable vessell & cargo, inexperienced in business--carried into a foreign port, unacquainted with the language, no American consel, or merchant to advise with--and my reputation, as a ship master, depending upon the measures I persued &c &c.