He affirmed with an oath that they were fond of it to distraction; and upon that affirmation I agreed with his proposal, and embarked the next day to teach the Dutch English in Holland.

The wind was fair, our voyage short, and after having paid my passage with half my moveables, I found myself, fallen as from the skies, a stranger in one of the principal streets of Amsterdam.

In this situation I was unwilling to let any time pass unemployed in teaching.

I addressed myself therefore to two or three of those I met whose appearance seemed most promising; but it was impossible to make ourselves mutually understood.

It was not till this very moment I recollected, that in order to teach Dutchmen English, it was necessary that they should first teach me Dutch.