The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders

So I discoursed that point with my governess, and she went and waited

upon the captain, and told him that she hoped ways might be found out

for her two unfortunate cousins, as she called us, to obtain our

freedom when we came into the country, and so entered into a discourse

with him about the means and terms also, of which I shall say more in

its place; and after thus sounding the captain, she let him know,

though we were unhappy in the circumstances that occasioned our going,

yet that we were not unfurnished to set ourselves to work in the

country, and we resolved to settle and live there as planters, if we

might be put in a way how to do it. The captain readily offered his

assistance, told her the method of entering upon such business, and how

easy, nay, how certain it was for industrious people to recover their

fortunes in such a manner. 'Madam,' says he, ''tis no reproach to any

many in that country to have been sent over in worse circumstances than

I perceive your cousins are in, provided they do but apply with

diligence and good judgment to the business of that place when they

come there.' She then inquired of him what things it was necessary we should carry

over with us, and he, like a very honest as well as knowing man, told

her thus: 'Madam, your cousins in the first place must procure

somebody to buy them as servants, in conformity to the conditions of

their transportation, and then, in the name of that person, they may go

about what they will; they may either purchase some plantations already

begun, or they may purchase land of the Government of the country, and

begin where they please, and both will be done reasonably.' She bespoke

his favour in the first article, which he promised to her to take upon

himself, and indeed faithfully performed it, and as to the rest, he

promised to recommend us to such as should give us the best advice, and

not to impose upon us, which was as much as could be desired.

She then asked him if it would not be necessary to furnish us with a

stock of tools and materials for the business of planting, and he said,

'Yes, by all means.' And then she begged his assistance in it. She

told him she would furnish us with everything that was convenient

whatever it cost her. He accordingly gave her a long particular of

things necessary for a planter, which, by his account, came to about

fourscore or a hundred pounds. And, in short, she went about as

dexterously to buy them, as if she had been an old Virginia merchant;

only that she bought, by my direction, above twice as much of

everything as he had given her a list of.