PREFACE.
Reading edition
PREFACE.
To the READER, into whoſe Hands this Narrative may fall; eſpecially my Seafaring Brethren.
FRIENDS,
When any remarkable circumſtances take place in a man’s life, he feels commonly a diſpoſition to communicate them to the world: If they have been deliverances from great and ſignal dangers, he will make this communication from a principle of gratitude to the Being who hath protected and preſerved him: He will wiſh to engage others to be thankful on his behalf; and a knowledge of the kindneſs of Heaven to him may lead others to truſt in GOD, when they are brought into like diſtreſs and danger. By theſe motives the Subject of the following pages hopes he is influenced in publiſhing them to the world; which is all the apology that may be expected from the Publick’s diſtreſſed Friend,
BARN. DOWNES, Jun.
Barnstable, September 10, 1786.
☞ The Author gratefully acknowledges himſelf indebted to a Reverend Gentleman in Boſton for his kindneſs in correcting the following ſheets.