The Surprising Adventures of Bampfylde Moore Carew, King of the Beggars: Containing his Life, a Dictionary of the Cant Language, and many Entertaining Particulars of that Extraordinary ManUnknown
General
The Surprising Adventures of Bampfylde Moore Carew, King of the Beggars: Containing his Life, a Dictionary of the Cant Language, and many Entertaining Particulars of that Extraordinary Man
Devon: the governor replied he knew the parson very well, and likewise
Betty Larkey; and after he had asked him some questions about them, which
Mr. Carew answered very readily, he gave him two guineas.
In this manner did he apply to the most of the principal merchants of
Philadelphia, always suiting some circumstances of his story in
particular to the person he applied to; which he did, by diligently
inquiring what places they came from in England, who were their friends
and acquaintance, and the like, which he knew how to suit most to his
purpose.
Captain Read being now ready to sail, and Mr. Carew having a curiosity of
seeing more of the country, he thought proper to leave Philadelphia
without taking leave of any of his good friends there. From this place
he went into Buckingham county, where he inquired for one George Boon, a
justice of the peace in that county, who formerly lived at Bradnich, in
Devon, his father being a weaver there. Here he went by his own name,
telling him, he had been taken prisoner, and carried into the Havannah,
where he had lain many months. The justice having known his father very
well, entertained him generously, showed him the country, and gave him
three guineas at his departure, to help to pay his passage.
From thence he went to Burlington, the first town in West New-Jersey,
which contains about two hundred and fifty families, and has an
answerable number of acres laid out for plantations. The houses are well
built, and almost all of brick. The market affords plenty of all sorts
of provisions, which are as good here as any where in America.
From thence to Perth Amboy, so called in honour of the Duke of Perth. It
is at the mouth of the Rantan, which runs into Sandyhook bay, and is able
to contain five hundred ships. The plan of this city was laid out very
regularly and spaciously. The plot of ground was divided into one
hundred and fifty shares, for purchasers to build upon. Four acres are
preserved for a market-place, and three for public wharfage—very useful
things, if there had been inhabitants, trade, and shipping. The town
being thus skilfully and commodiously laid out, some Scots began
building, especially a house for the governor, which was then as little
wanted as a wharf or a market. The whole plan of the city consists of
one thousand and seventy-nine acres, and there are two good roads from it
to Piscataqua and Woodbridge. Ships in one tide can come up to the port,
and be at the merchants’ doors, though of three hundred tons burden; but
the Perth city has not above two or three hundred men, women, and
children.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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