This knowledge of me and of my errand was almost immediately productive of two effects, the first of which I shall now mention.
I had a private room at the King's Arms tavern, besides my bed-room, where I used to meditate and to write; but I generally dined in public.
The company at dinner had hitherto varied but little as to number, and consisted of those, both from the town and country, who had been accustomed to keep up a connexion with the house.

But now things were altered, and many people came to dine there daily with a view of seeing me, as if I had been some curious creature imported from foreign parts.
They thought, also, they could thus have an opportunity of conversing with me.

Slave-merchants and slave-captains came in among others for this purpose.

I had observed this difference in the number of our company for two or three days.

Dale, the master of the tavern, had observed it also, and told me in a good-natured manner, that many of these were my visitors, and that I was likely to bring him a great deal of custom.