The Adventures of Roderick Random

Visit to Old Friend Mr. Thompson

Ashore in Jamaica, Roderick locates his old friend Mr. Thompson, who now lives comfortably on his late father-in-law’s estate with his wife and two young children. Thompson warmly welcomes Roderick, Don Rodrigo, and their party, hosting them for a full week; during this visit, Roderick learns Thompson’s former commander Captain Oakum has died after being exposed for stealing prize goods in collaboration with Dr. Mackshane, who is now imprisoned and surviving solely on Thompson’s charity. Roderick sends a private sum of ten pistoles to Mackshane to honor Thompson’s generosity, and Thompson assists the group by arranging secure bills of exchange for Don Rodrigo’s gold and silver, and supplying ample provisions for their voyage home.

Voyage to Europe and Odd Maritime Adventure

The group sets sail from Port Royal for England on June 1st. During the windward leg of the passage, a drunken sailor falls overboard and drowns despite rescue efforts. Hours later, the crew hears a call rising from the sea, and discovers Jack Marlinspike, a sailor who fell overboard 24 hours earlier from the man-of-war Vesuvio off Hispaniola, surviving by clinging to a hencoop his ship had tossed to him. They transfer Marlinspike back to the Vesuvio two days later after encountering the vessel. After eight weeks of sailing, they make landfall at the Lizard, then are forced to anchor at St. Helen’s rather than the Downs due to shifting winds, where 30 of the ship’s crew are pressed into Royal Navy service.

Arrival in England and Ride Across to Sussex

Roderick and Don Rodrigo go ashore at Portsmouth, leaving Strap and Captain Bowling to care for their belongings and complete loading the ship for its return journey. Impatient to see Narcissa, Roderick receives permission to ride across the country to her brother’s estate in Sussex, while Don Rodrigo hires a post-chaise to wait for him in London.