storm increasing, I suffer'd myself to be persuaded to put in
there, though five or six mile short of London; whereas, indeed,
I was resolv'd to venture no farther if the waterman would have
done it.

"When I was on shore, the man said to me, 'Master, you have been
us'd to the sea, I don't doubt; why you can sleep in a storm
without any concern, as if you did not value your life; I never
carry'd one in my life that did so; why, 'twas a wonder we had
not founder'd.' 'Why,' says I, 'friend, for that you know I left
it all to you; I did not doubt but you would take care of
yourself;' but after that I told him my other reason for it, the
fellow smil'd, but own'd the thing was true, and that he was the
more cautious a great deal, for that I took no thought about it;
and I am still of opinion, that the less frighted and timorous
their passengers are, the more cautious and careful the watermen
are, and the least apt to run into danger; whereas, if their
passengers appear frighted, then the watermen grow sawcy and
audacious, show themselves vent'rous, and contemn the dangers
which they are really exposed to."--p. 130.

We are not bound to suppose that this is plain relation of matter of
fact, any more than the _History of Robinson Crusoe_; but it is a
graphic sketch of life and manners worth the notice of those who study
such things. It forms at least a little contribution to the history of
travelling in England. A passenger who had just landed from a Gravesend
boat, to pursue his journey by land, might well be thankful to "be
received in a coach" like that which had been started at York near half
a century before.