coach, and in this we made our way to Fenchurch street,
where lived his shipping agent, Mr. Smith. We went upstairs to his
counting-house, and found him talking to some one, who turned round
as we entered.

I exclaimed "Oh, my father!" and precipitated myself into his arms.
He embraced me with transport.

"Where is my mother? Where is Madeline?"

"Safe and well, at the country-house of our esteemed friend Mr. Smith.
Thither I will speedily take you, my dear boy. I came here to gather
tidings of you."

"How long it seems since we lost sight of one another!"

"Long, indeed! And how much we have to tell each other! But we are
in smooth water now. In this free, happy land people are no longer
persecuted for their faith. We must begin the world again, my son; but
what does that signify? You have youth and energy; I have experience
and patience."

The captain and Mr. Smith looked on with sympathy at our mutual
felicitations. Soon I was with my father in a stage-coach on our way to
Walthamstow. There, in an old-fashioned red-brick mansion, I found my
mother, brothers and sisters, my Madeleine, and Gabrielle. What joy!
What affection!

In short, we were all, without one exception, among the four hundred
thousand persons who forsook France rather than renounce their faith.
Of that number, a very great many perished of famine, hardships, and
fatigue; but we were among the many who safely reached this hospitable
country and commenced life anew. Many of us settled without the city
walls in the open ground of Spital Fields, which we gradually covered
with houses and silk-factories. Here we spoke our own language, sang our
own songs, had our own places of worship, and built our dwellings in the
old French style, with porticoes and seats at the doors, where our old
men sat and smoked on summer evenings, and conversed with one another
in their own tongue.

At first our starving refugees were relieved by a Parliamentary grant of
L15,000 a year; but, God prospering our industry our trade went on
steadily increasing till that, now, in 1713, three hundred thousand of
us are maintained by it in England. And many others of us in friendly
countries abroad, where we have been driven. Prosperity to those among
whom we have settled has followed. The native land that cast us forth
has been impoverished. Happy are the people whom the Lord hath blessed.
Yea, happy are they who have the Lord for their God.

***END OF THE PROJECT GUTE