though not like either of them, was one of the carpenters. These indeed
were the life and soul of all the rest, and it was to their courage that
all the rest owed the resolution they showed upon any occasion. But when
those saw me take a little upon me, as above, they embraced me, and treated
me with particular affection ever after.

This gunner was an excellent mathematician, a good scholar, and a complete
sailor; and it was in conversing intimately with him that I learned
afterwards the grounds of what knowledge I have since had in all the
sciences useful for navigation, and particularly in the geographical part
of knowledge.

Even in our conversation, finding me eager to understand and learn, he laid
the foundation of a general knowledge of things in my mind, gave me just
ideas of the form of the earth and of the sea, the situation of countries,
the course of rivers, the doctrine of the spheres, the motion of the stars;
and, in a word, taught me a kind of system of astronomy, which I afterwards
improved.

In an especial manner, he filled my head with aspiring thoughts, and with
an earnest desire after learning everything that could be taught me;
convincing me, that nothing could qualify me for great undertakings, but a
degree of learning superior to what was usual in the race of seamen; he
told me, that to be ignorant was to be certain of a mean station in the
world, but that knowledge was the first step to preferment. He was always
flattering me with my capacity to learn; and though that fed my pride, yet,
on the other hand, as I had a secret ambition, which just at that time fed
itself in my mind, it prompted in me an insatiable thirst after learning in
general, and I resolved, if ever I came back to Europe, and had anything
left to purchase it, I would make myself master of all the parts of