*%|t^^^
YALE UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY

Bought with the income
of the
HENRY A. HOMES FUND

Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1840,
BY JOHN D. TOY,
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Maryland.

JOHN D. TOY, printer.

PREFACE.

In noting down these reminiscences, the writer is sblely
influenced by a desire to collect some of the scattered
leaves from memory's log, and to rescue a part of their
contents from that oblivion to which they are fast hasten
ing. The remembrance of these by-gone events is the
more cherished by the writer, from the lapse of time
which has intervened since the occurrences took place,
and the seeming unreality and dreamy obscurity, through
which they are viewed in after life.
In the course of his recording, should any one by
chance or stealth be overlooking his shoulder, he may
learn, if at all fastidious in his readings, that as the walks
of the writer then, were humble and among the blue
jackets, so here likewise will he with them cruise, and
note down such events as he saw, with the feelings with
which he then viewed them, as far as the legibility of the
log-book will admit. And, should the sharp eyes, which
are still peering over the shoulder, discover any thing of
an improbable nature, may he in charity attribute it to the
blurring which time has given the record, rather than to
any wilful intentions of the writer. Or, has this eaves
dropper, (a sailor, a generous-hearted sailor he is not, or
he would look elsewhere for faults,) a knowledge of sea-
phrases or technicalities, sufficient to discover a splice
where a new rope should be rove, or a broad yawing
from the course laid down, by the awkwardness of the
helmsman, he may know, that the writer's first cruise was
his last, and that he vouches for nothing except what is

IV PREFACE.
recorded in the log, for however it be mutilated by time,
it is his only guide.
Narratives, like campaigns, should be recorded, as the
narrator saw the events which produced them, not alto
gether from the reports he gathers after those events have
transpired. To illustrate my meaning more fully, we will
suppose 'a subaltern of the Grande Annie promises, as an
eye-witness, to give a succinct account of the battle of
Austerlitz, he being hotly engaged throughout the whole
of that faf-famed achievement.' The extension of the
troops employed in that battle was such, that it would
have taken the 'subaltern' to walk from one extreme to the
other, nearly as long as the conflict was raging, without
allowing him time either to participate in the same, or to
take notes of the proceedings. This shows how little an
ceye-witness' knows or sees of what is passing, except
immediately around him. Did he note truly what he
absolutely saw, however humble the source from which
the occurrences might arise, it would be the more interest
ing to the — writer, if to none else.
Vessels put to sea in time of war, are taken by an
enemy, and their crews sent to prison, events as common
place as they prove unromantic; yet circumstances are
constantly occurring, which to an actor of those scenes,
are extremely interesting; more especially, as he sits in
after life, conning over in his mind the buffetings he has
encountered, and the causes that produced them. • It is
these musings which have prompted the writer to a revi
sion of the time-worn material before him, and a transfer
of the almost worn-out log, to legible readings.
December, 1839.

TO THE READER.

Little did the author suppose, when penning these
pages, they would ever appear before the public ; nor did
he indulge the hope, that they would contain interest
sufficient for his most intimate friends to tax themselves
with a perusal. But by their advice and solicitation, he
has been induced to publish, however foreign to his origi
nal design, or adventitious to his usual vocation ; for he
is as unused to book-making, as he was a stranger to the
calling, which furnished matter for these volumes. It
must rest with the public, whether the first efforts of the
author shall prove as humiliating to his pride, as his first
voyage to sea proved disastrous to his ambition. The
work being written from memory alone, and at intervals
snatched from the calls of an active business that could
not be neglected, many errors must have escaped the
writer's notice ; yet, he trusts, they are not so numerous
as to vitiate the whole. Of the many tales and incidents,
none are without data, although some of them may appear
too highly coloured for a work not fictitious. By perusing
these pages, should one promising youth, whose sole aim
is reckless adventure and romantic daring, whilst rushing
into degradations he knows not Of, pause in his mad ca
reer, before he makes his desperate plunge, they will be
productive of some good, the only reward, in submitting
them to a candid^md generous public, that is expected by
THE AUTHOR.

CONTENTS OF VOL. I.

PAGE.

Chapter I. — Motives for Going to Sea, .... 13
Chap. II.— Going on Board  26
Chap. III. — Vessel, Crew and Armament, ... 38
Chap. IV.— Putting to Sea  51
Chap. V.— First Going Aloft at Sea  65
Chap. VI.— The Storm,  77
Chap. VII.— The Chase, .  93
Chap. VIII.— The Capture,  104
Chap. IX. — Going on Board the Frigate, . . . .113
Chap. X.— First Night Below,  139
Chap. XI. — Things in General while in the Frigate, . 161
Chap. XII.— The Crew of the Frigate, .... 178
Chap. XIII.— Arrival at Fayal,  198
Chap. XIV.— Sailing for England,  219
Chap. XV.— Arrival in England and Marching to Prison, 242

GREEN HAND'S FIRST CRUISE.

CHAPTER I.
MOTIVES FOR GQING TO SEA.
So long as I can remember, my predilections were
for the sea. Even long before I ever saw salt water, did
I most ardently desire and wish to become a sailor, as the
small stream can fully testify, which meanders through
the meadows in sight of, and passes close by, the old
homestead, in a village not far distant from the capital
of the Bay State. On or in it did I pass much of my
time, till ten years of age; since then I have been
mostly a stranger to its purling waters and mossy banks,
except when occasionally visiting the place of my birth ;
to which my mind even now in after life, turns with all
the yearnings of my boyhood days.
Perhaps this predilection was in part caused by the tales
and stories narrated by an elder brother, who had followed
the sea, from the time he was a mere child, and who was
passionately fond of a sea life. He had visited all climes
and almost every country upon the globe, gathering many
articles of rare and curious workmanship from China and
the eastern world; with a large collection of pictures,
conchs, and shells — storing his gleesome mind with songs,
a v.i

14 MOTIVES FOR GOING TO SEA.
sayings and doings — detailing them to my youthful ima
gination in a manner peculiarly his own, and well suited
to fire my young fancy to romantic daring. He had been
thrice around the world, through every navigable sea,
was conversant with many tongues and languages to me
unknown — had been captured by the French, under the
Berlin and Milan decrees, lost his all, thrown into a
Spanish prison at Cadiz, during its siege, where he con
tracted a disease of the heart, which proved fatal about a
year and a half after his liberation and return.
At each and every visit from his return voyages, I lis
tened with renewed delight to his various and fascinating
descriptions of towns, cities, countries and continents —
looks, ways, manners and doings of foreign nations. I
gloated over the strange and curious presents bestowed
by him with a lavish hand ; for like most others of mari
time calling, he was ever more ready to give than to save.
He was always ready to assist at the rigging of my tiny
boats, lending a willing hand, and joyously entering into
my pranks of sailing, even when nothing better offered
$ian a few rails cribbed ^;om a neighbouring farmer's
fence, and lashed together with withes of hickory, his
handkerchief supplying the place of a squaresail, while
floating down the stream — he acting as skipper, while I
was more than proud of being a hand before the mast.
My first maritime essay came near being the last, and
was as disastrous to my fiery romantic visions, as was my
second, which affords matter for these volumes.
To celebrate the coming fourth of July, in a creditable
manner, three other urchins like myself, whose united
ages would have scarcely carried one of us into manhood,
prepared a couple of logs, partially hollowed, for launch
ing into a fresh water pond, of a mile or so in width,
with a mast, and a squaresail filched from the drawer
where was kept the table linen. When the day arrived,
every thing appeared propitious for a happy cruise, we got

MOTIVES FOR GOING TO SEA. 15
afloat, nailed a cross piece athwart the troughs, through
which the mast was stepped, the sail squared to the wind,
and behold us under weigh, as happy and uproarous a set
of scamps as ever had command — age considered. To
make our minds still the more light and free, we had the
satisfaction of knowing, we were out of sight and know
ledge of those pestering torments to precocious aspirants
to fame, our mothers.
Never were freebooters afloat with more hilarious spirits,
than were we, whilst rocking and gamboling about on our
frail logs, acting the scenes of Captain Kidd, whose his
tory in song I had made my study, to sing on this parti
cular occasion; growing the more savage as the song
progressed, lopping the lillies for the heads of our cap
tives, and if a bull-frog had the temerity to lie quiet, till
we approached within the reach of our paddles, no quar
ter was shown him, so blood-thirsty had we become since
cruising. We were suddenly startled by a loud peal of thunder,
when we discovered for the first time, a gust had arisen,
and was likely to catch us a half mile from the shore.
Our songs ceased, as we applied our tiny paddles to the
water, to force the logs along faster than the slackened
wind would drive them. The first flaw that struck the
sail, tore the cross piece away that held the troughs
together, and left us the choice of hanging to them or
going to the bottom. The storm roared, but not louder
than did we, who were clinging to the separate logs for
support, and were wishing between the fits of blubberings
that those meddlesome mothers, we were but so lately
happy to have at a distance, had kept us at home, instead
of letting us go out of their sight to be drowned.
At last we drifted towards the opposite shore, where we
became entangled in the rushes and overgrown water
grass, in which we floundered about!, fancying every root
or drifting tree branch, a water snake with open jaws,

16 MOTIVES FOR GOING TO SEA.
ready to devour us for our disobedience, and were more
than happy in touching the bottom with our feet; albeit,
there was more mud of an adhering quality than was alto
gether safe transporting to our homes, which we gamed
not till after nightfall, more frightened than hurt, but not
less wet than frightened. The hurt, we very well knew
was to be, after we reached our homes. How the others
fared, I never inquired, being satisfied with the peeling
I received, to bring the heat and circulation to the surface
after my late drag in the water. But why the friction was
applied to one particular spot, I could not understand, as
I was wet alike all over.
This escape and afterclap, did not in the least cool my
ardour for aquatic sports. As I grew in years, I resolved
to become a sailor, sooner or later, but could not- obtain
my parents' consent, contrary to which, I would do noth
ing, thanks to the pious instructions from them received.
I consented to go an apprentice, according to their wishes,
but was determined to work not a day longer than my
minority; for go to sea I would when a man, as then I
need ask no.one's consent or advice.
Even when at my apprenticeship, my mind was ever
after boats, sea songs, narratives, and the like ; and when
sent on an errand, oftener than otherwise, the wharf
would bring me up, however contrary to the direction I
was told to go. My first walk each Sunday was among
the shipping, scanning the rig of this ship, taking the
dimensions of that shallop, wondering at the fashion of
yonder foreign looking craft, and sneering at the round
ing bows of the Dutch lugger pointing seaward. After
passing due judgment at all below, I would ascend to
the masthead of some vessel, whose keeper gave consent,
and sit upon the topgallant cross-trees for hours, whistling
snatches of sea songs, and longing for the time to come,
when I could do and go as my ardent anxiety prompted.
Before descending, I would lay out upon the yards in

MOTIVES FOR GOING TO SEA. 17
every attitude and form, and hug the rigging in my de
scent, till my clothes had imbibed the true odour of a
sailor, when I would strut up the wharf, thinking myself
fit for any company. If any part of my garments dis
played a patch of tar, all the better.
The war of 1812, did not in the least diminish my
former propensity, but rather added fire to it, by hear
ing of the deeds of others. Now my whole readings
were of naval armaments, manouvres, tactics— battles, es
capes — boat duty, rowing guard, cutting out — booming
guns, long-toms — pink-em-well, cut and slash, .blood and
carnage, till I became a very Turk in propensity, and
supposed the world was created for little else than for
adventurers to display their daring; while that portion
of mankind, who were engaged in other callings, de
served to be coupled only with those of the dark ages,
and made to cloister with friars, monks, and anchorites,
whose habits prohibited them from adventures of this
kind, and whose pusillanimous disposition relinquished all
deeds of daring to their betters. I suffered no account to
go unperused of either battle, chase, escape, or any thing
pertaining to events upon the sea. When the Constitu
tion frigate came into the port of Boston, after her cap
ture of the Guerriere, my imagination was fired beyond
endurance ; especially after I had been on board of her,
and minutely examined the shot holes and other marks of
the battle. I looked uppn every man belonging to her as
a hero, and only wished I was like even unto the least.
Whenever a naval victory was announced, my work
was dropped, and away I scampered among the crowd,
jumping, shouting, and bellowing louder than the loudest,
without knowing the cause of the rejoicing — enough for
me that it was naval.
At every dinner, supper or ball, given in honour of a
victory, I took as great an interest as any of the invited
guests, was promptly and duly posted up, as to time occu-
2* v.l

18 MOTIVES FOR GOING TO SEA.
pied, number of guests, songs sung, toasts drank, &c. &c.
committing the latter to memory, for the purpose of hav
ing a stock on hand when / should become a naval hero.
Whenever it was announced, 'Commodore so-and-so
will be at the theatre to-night,' or, 'the officers of such a
frigate may be expected to honour the house with their
presence,' or, 'to conclude with an exact representation of
the action between such and such a vessel, with dresses
and scenery to correspond,' I was there in the centre of
the pit, with a relish for little else, except to scan the
faces of those great and honoured men of war, and criti
cise upon the movements and manouvres of the miniature
shipping of the sea-fight.
I have more than once followed a swabbed officer
through the streets, trying to catch his swagger, wonder
ing if he were once a boy like myself, and I imagined
that my assumed bearing was as haughty as his, and that I
too could exhibit an outward strut and stiffness, that would
gloss over inabilities and lack of knowledge, which, not
withstanding my respect for the profession, was often
forced upon me, by too close a scrutiny ; and at times I
was reluctantly compelled to admit in my own mind, that
all 'is not gold that glitters,' even when lavishly displayed
by one of naval calling.
There was no privateer or vessel of war fitted out, but
had to undergo a rigid examination by me, previous to" her
sailing. I counted every gun, handled the shot, boarding
pikes, and other weapons of defence, which lay within
the range of my scrutinizing eye ; and if each officer did
not haye to submit to the same close ordeal of examina
tion, it was because of the multiplicity of business I had
on hand, and not through any inattention to the subject. I
could give an account, at the time, of every armed vessel
that had sailed, number of men, guns, &c. from no other
data than memory, so deeply had it been impressed by
these, to me, interesting events.

MOTIVES FOR GOING TO SEA. ig
In July, 1814, being just turned of eighteen, I was
drafted to perform a. tour of duty at South Boston, which
added no little to my former notions of the romantic, as I
was there thrown in contact with several roving spirits,
who were alike ready to go any where, and do any
and every thing, which daring and imagination could
prompt. At this time there was every appearance of a night.
attack from the enemy's blockading ships, which lay off
and on in the outer offing. These vessels could be
plainly seen from the encampment throughout each and
every day, intercepting the coasters, fishing and other
boats, as they attempted to pass out. It was supposed
that the attack, if any, would be made by the boats of
the shipping, by passing them closely up under the south
shore, and landing at theacove which makes in near Dor
chester heights, at that time not fortified, except with the
remains of the old breast-works thrown up during the
revolutionary war, now in a dilapidated state, and lying
about three-fourths of a mile from the encampment.
As the probability of an attack grew stronger, a picket
was posted on the height each night, to give the alarm,
should the enemy approach. ¦ One day the enemy ap
peared bolder than usual, by chasing a sloop ashore with
their boats, and setting her on fire but a moment after her
crew escaped to the island, within full view of the en
campment, and almost within the range of the guns of
the outward fort. It was whispered that this night an
attempt to land would be made, as the state of the
weather favoured it, there being a drizzling easterly mist,
rather than rain, with a thick obscuring atmosphere,
which set in near night-fall.
It fell to my lot, with another, this night to stand sen
try on the outward heights. We were ordered not to
fire till we saw boats, (a surety for saving ammunition, as
the boats to be seen must have made the passage up the

20 MOTIVES FOR GOING TO SEA.
hill to within twenty feet of our post) and were well
convinced they belonged to the enemy; and then, after
firing, to retreat into camp, (another unnecessary order.)
With these instructions, and provided with ball cartridges,
we took our stations at ten at night, to stand till day-Ught
the next morning.
There was no shelter, except the slender sentry-bpx,
for one to occupy at a time, and as I did not feel desirous
of being housed- the early part of the night, I gave it up
to my six-foot-four comrade, whose breadth was in pro
portion to his height, who was asleep and snoring before
he had taken possession of the box ten minutes; nor
could I awake him during the whole night, further than
to receive a grunt or a curse for my officibusness in med
dling with him, when I ought to be looking out for the
boats of the enemy. *
My glowing patriotism kept me from being drowsy,
knowing that I was treading upon soil made sacred by
those of yore nobly stepping forward, and possessing it,
in the dangerous game of expelling their hated oppres
sors from their shores. My tread was the firmer and my
bearing the prouder, by reflecting, that my sire was in the
foremost ranks of that little band, who first broke ground
here ; and probably, I was then, in my marchings to and
fro, stepping upon the very sods by him thrown up. I
strove hard to recollect the fire-side narrations of those
stirring times, and grew the fiercer as Ijcould bring to
mind the many acts of tyranny of the British authorities,
previous to the outbreak of the revolution, till my imagi
nation was proof positive, that had the enemy then dared
totinvade the sacred precincts of the hill, they would
have found it dangerous ground; when, had they come
in reality, they would probably have found the hill un
disputed, or I should have found the danger on the
other side. This glowing patriotism I soon learned was
quenchable by water ; for the rain shortly after began to

MOTIVES FOR GOING TO SEA. 21
descend af intervals in torrents, till I was drenched
to the skin. More than once did I wish either the
morning or the British would come, that I might be
relieved from a watch, which promised to be as weari
some as my imagination made it lengthy.
The whole of that dreary night, I walked back and
forth upon the parapet of that dismal hill, with a lone-
someness of heart I seldom, if ever experienced. Not be
cause I was afraid, for I had as little dread of the enemy
then, as I now have while penning the article ; but there
was a feeling of sinking despondency, I feel incompetent
to describe. Had there been but a single star as a land
mark on which I could fix my gaze, occasionally, it would
have been a relief. But there was nothing I could see
or hear, only the dull monotonous plashing of the water
in the cove, at the foot of the hill, which made the drea
riness doubly drear. It was not through bravery that I
¦did not fear the enemy, but that I felt fully secure there
was no enemy to fear, within harm's distance. Had the
boats made their appearance, I should have brought a pair
of legs into requisition, which, together with the know
ledge I possessed of the by-paths and cross-lots of the
hill and adjoining neighbourhood, would have led the
enemy, had they attempted to follow, where they would
require day-light to find- their way back again. My sleep
ing partner I should have left to make such excuses for
my absence as .best he might.
Day-break alilast came, but whether before or after sun
rise, we could not tell, as the rain had been falling in tor
rents for the last three or four hours, and we did not get
into camp till long after reveillee.
During the night I had but two subjects of reflec
tion : — the one was, 'what a leap my six-foot partner will
make, if, in the agitation of the moment, I mistake his
box (he filled it entire) for a boat of the enemy.' This I
concluded could not be, as my gun must hang fire, by

22 MOTIVES TOR GOING TO SEA.
the" wetting it had received through the night/and there
fore 'no harm can arise if I indulge in the trial.' The
other subject was the all-engrossing one, 'shall I go to
sea ?' After balancing the pros and cons, each prepon
derating in my favour, I made up my mind and deter
mination, that to sea I would go, ill spite of all impedi
ments. Circumstances seemed to favour the determination I
had formed, as the man with whom I was apprenticed,
became so careless of his business, by dissipation, as
scarcely enabling him to keep the few at work he still
retained, by the want of credit to lay in the necessary
stock. I plainly saw the time approaching, when I should
be compelled to seek another home, other than the one
with my employer. The last twelve months I had been
indebted to my own industry for the clothes I had worn,
by obtaining jobs, and working late at nights, after I
had done the task assigned me through the day. .
One by one of the apprentices left, till none remained
but myself and one other, when my employer was in
carcerated for debt, and sent for me to raise the necessary
funds, to defray the expenses of bonding in the prison
limits. I felt grieved at his humiliating situation, readily
loaned him the money from my own pocket, with a will
ing and grateful heart, not doubting that he would refund
it when at liberty, but which he never did, nor even
showed a desire to acknowledge the kindness I had done
him. This severed the last thread of obn§a.tion between
us. Now my whole thoughts turned to obtaining the con
sent of my parents for a cruise, which at last was reluc
tantly given ; they probably thinking I was so intent upon
going, that whether their consent was given or withheld,
it would not alter the case ; but if so, they did me wrong,
for without their permission, no material would be extant
for the work before the reader.
From this time, I began to make preparations for a trip

MOTIVES FOR GOING TO SEA. 23
to sea, but instead of asking the advice of any one ac
quainted with a seafaring life, I confined my inquiries to
those youngster companions, who were as inexperienced
in such matters as I was myself, some eight or ten of
whom were going with me in the first vessel offering, be
it letter-of-marque or privateer, it mattered not, so it were
for sea, and would take green hands.
The first that offered was an hermaphrodite brig of
eighteen guns, that crack privateer, which had been fortu
nate in sixty chases, had been successful and lucky in all
her doings, and now just returned to port, her crew
flushed with a splendid victory, and enriched with prize
money, beyond any that had preceded them.
So great was the renown of this clipper,, that it was no
small difficulty to obtain a berth on board in any shape ;
at least so I was told by her consignee, previous to her
shipping papers being ready. J %as also told, that those
who wished to go in her, even in the lowest capacities,
must be in season, as there* were then more applicants
than could be received. Gammon as this was, I, with
others, swallowed it all, rushed to the shipping papers on
the morning of their being opened, and had the satisfac
tion of seeing the. list headed by our illustrious signatures,
greenhorns all"; with advice gratis, that the sooner we hur
ried on board, the better chance we should have of secur
ing to ourselves good berths. The captain, that was to be,
with two or three of his lieutenants, bowed us out of the
office with as fflflch politeness and attention, as though we
had granted a policy of insurance for the brig's safe return,
with a full cargo of silks and laces.
One of our number, who had been a clerk in a hard
ware store, congratulated us on our good luck, in thus fall
ing in with such gentlemanly officers, anticipating much
good cheer in our coming cruise. Another observed that
it was our gentlemanly appearance, that had drawn forth
so much attention and politeness from the officers, and he

24 MOTIVES FOR GOING TO SEA.
had no doubt we should see the world, live in clover, and
return 'loaded with distinction and dollars.'
' 'Give me your share of the dollars,' returned a third,
'and I will relinquish my claim to the distinction.'
'Really,' said another, 'this privateering is the thing
after all, and I much wonder why any one will stay
ashore, and grub along, while he can enjoy a bit of life
without working for it, and is making money while others
sleep.' 'These miserly, no-souled landsmen know no other call
ing, but to grub and toil, while we seamen are enjoying
ourselves at the expense of some rich nabob, who will rest
all the easier by having a few the less ingots to cany him
down,' came from one who had never been from under
the care of a too indulgent mother, and whose greatest
employment had been to make out the millinery bills of
his widowed parent,, aflthhis only qualification, to spend,
the best part of her earhilKs.
'If there be a choice of bekhs, as hinted at by those left
in the office,' carelessly observed a dry goods seller, of
neat and trim appearance, 'I shall prefer that of captain's
clerk, as more suited to my former- standing or employ
ment.' Another intimated, that the purser's office would be the
most agreeable to him, as he had been taught to take care
of number one.
Said one, 'while we are taking our ease, as you inti
mate we shall, who is to do the duty on board of the brig ?'
'Why, those that ship as able seamen, to be sure.
Every well regulated vessel, whether armed or not, al
ways has the greatest share of those who are used to the
duty on shipboard, know no other employment, and are
fit for nothing else than to attend to that alone.'
I said not a word, but was deeply engaged unravelling a
certain malicious grin, that had attracted my attention,
and which was depicted upon the countenance of our

MOTIVES FOR GOING TO SEA. 25
third lieutenant, as I have since learned ; and when fully
unravelled, and fairly interpreted in plain vernacular, read
'asses, every mother's son,' reluctantly compelling me to
say, mentally, 'I greatly fear all is not so smooth on ship
board as at the shipping office, and if I can well get out of
the scrape — no, never ; turn back now ? I can never after
hold up my head among my companions, but shall be
shunned for backing out.'
Preparations were hurried to 'secure good berths,' every
thing needful was soon packed in a sea clothes-bag, a chest
or trunk not being allowed, and my 'go ashore clothes put
into a trunk, at the bottom of which I placed a ten dollar
note, thinking it barely possible I might return destitute ;
for the late opposition shown to my desire to cruise, was
sufficient to make it revolting to my pride, to either ask
or receive assistance, however freely tendered, unless I
was brought to the most abject state of destitution by
sickness. This trunk and. contents I left with an elder
brother, and took the key with me.
If I have been prolix1 in getting on shipboard, it has
been mainly to show why I went. I was neither actuated
by motives of gain, nor to gratify a vicious principle, but
my main desire- was to go to sea, the war preventing me
from gratifying my curiosity or propensity in any other way,
except this of entering on board a privateer. Although at
near the close of the war, the fever for prize money ran
high, and prize tickets were bought up with an avidity but
little short of other humbug speculations, which proved
equally as abortive towards yielding riches to the holder ;
yet' I had no definite thoughts of gaining prize money,
as many others had, and becoming at once independently
rich, nor of being promoted to an easy berth at some future
time. I- left.no power of attorney, as was usual for those
going in armed vessels in time of war, for the collection of
my share of prizes captured, should any disaster prevent
me from returning. Neither had I the least fear of being
3 v.l

26 GOING ON BOARD,
maimed or killed, till I was bluntly told at a parting advice,
by one who wished to be a friend and adviser, that, should
I lose my leg or head, it would not be so bad, but if an
arm were lopped off, I should be a beggar for life.' Had
the observation been administered two weeks earlier, with
a sprinkling of proper advice well thrown in, I should not
now have matter for this history, such a home-thrust did
'this blunt observation prove. But now it was too late ; I
had made the first essay, and threats or advice would
alike have proved unavailing.

CHAP. II.
GOING ON BOARD.

On the 13th December, 1814,* after bidding adieu to
friends and acquaintances, I repaired to the wharf alone,
about four o'clock in the afternoon, with my baggage in
a cart, being too nice to carry it myself. After throw
ing the carter double cartage, to ape the generosity of
the sailor, I jumped into a boat in waiting, for the pur
pose of conveying those on board, who had business with
the brig, and asked if I should take an oar? I was politely".
told not to trouble myself with rowing — invited to take a
seat in the stern, and was requested to make myself com
fortable, as it would take some time to reach the brig
through the ice, which was making fast, by the severity of
the weather.
, . It was blowing a stiff north-wester, and the day was the
coldest of the season ; but I felt it not, for my blood was
at fever heat, so gratified was I, of at last being fairly
launched upon the bosom of my favourite element.
* Twenty-five years this day that I am penning the article.

GOING ON BOARD. 27
When reaching the brig and getting on deck, i" was
received with as much politeness and attention, as though
I was a boarding officer from the revenue service, and
the brig a regular contraband dealer, which could not
escape the lynx-eyed searcher for prohibited goods, only
by blandishments both showy and real,: and blinding the
officer with politeness, good cheer, and heavy gratuities.
At first I thought I had been mistaken for. an officer of
some grade or other; yet on my answering the inquiries
put to me, and my station becoming known, I saw no
diminution of civilities towards me.
Many were the apologies for the poor accommodations
on board, unavoidably occurring in the hurry of fitting
out, but all should be remedied, and made comfortable
in the shortest possible time. Really, thought I, seamen
are unquestionably the most polite and engaging people
I ever yet have met with, and stretched another inch in
height at the idea of my present calling.
The brig had but a few, six or eight, hands on board,
when all told, and all but two of these were hired to keep
things in order; one was a prize-master, who had her in
charge, the other a full-bred loafer, that had chosen a
berth on board of the brig for the winter, in preference to
that, of the kennel; a poor exchange, and an error of
judgment he never repented of but once; for from the
time of the brig's sailing, till he was again landed, was he
sighing for a return to, his accustomed haunts of high
stoops and lumber-yard shelterings. Thus I found my
self the second hand on board, the loafer having prece
dence of an hour or two; but he showed no indications of
profiting by his seniority, or at least none that I could dis
cover, although I eyed him with much scrutiny for this
and other eccentricities, as the sequel will show.
At supper, our table was covered with the good things
of the season, and many were the excuses and apologies
offered for the lack of this or that dainty— the milkman

28 GOING ON BOARD.
had disappointed them in not coming off in season, as he
often had before; the baker had sent off stale bread in
stead of fresh, which was not noticed till too late to
remedy the evil; the steak was tough, but whether by
the fault of the cook or the butche*, it was noWknown.
I begged they might not feel any uneasiness on my
account, as I was determined to accommodate mySglf to
circumstances, be they what they might, and as for? tfcfe
present, I saw no fault to complain of. Loaf gulphed oat
a word here and there, between the slabs of meat and
wedges of bread, but with so indistinct arti6ulation, that
little meaning could be gathered, except, he had fared
worse — good enough if it would only hold out — worse
where was none ; his mind being taken up with the solids,
and he little caring to enter into the vapoury sayings and
doings of others.
I thought after so many apologies for the lack of com
forts, towards me, a stranger, it behooved me to say a few
words in an apologetic strain,, and not be behind in po
liteness with the prize-master, who had had most of the
conversation on his side since the meal began.
'In this new career of mine, which I am determined
shall be my future occupation, I shall require instruction,
and will be more than proud of your experience, to aid
me in my awkwardness.'
' 'You must live and learn,' is a maxim of which I have
always kept in the wake. Had we any thing stronger
than coffee, we would drink bumpers to the success of
your new calling.'
'I takes bumpers of such as I finds,' said Loafy, making
but a swallow of his tin cup of coffee, and pushing it for
ward for a replenish, 'your maxim isn't bad, but mine,
'takes what I can gets,' is better.' He smiled as I thought
in an extraordinary manner; but I did not wish to exhibit
my ill-breeding by an over- curiosity in strangers' com
pany, so let it pass, making up the gap in the conversa
tion, by asking:

GOING ON BOARD. 29
'What time do you suppose the brig will be in readiness
for sea.'
'In a week at farthest, but in far less time, if all were
as prompt as yourselves in showing their patriotism, by
coming on board at once. However, these laggers will
rue it, for the first favours will be bestowed upon those like
yourselves, who are at your posts without being sent for.'
Loaf gulphed his second pint of hot coffee, but whether
in success to the coming favours, or in acknowledgment
to the compliment of the prize-master, he did not say, his
mind being wholly engrossed with how best he could tier
away the junks of beef and hard biscuit below, so as to
make the stowage compact, to be in readiness to receive
the third pint, which was promptly handed him.
'Yes, in a week we shall be at sea, and it may take
another to load the brig with prize goods; but with good
management, it should be done in less time. I hope you
did not bid your friends good bye ; if so, they are words
lost, thrown away; for they will not think you out of
the harbour, before you will be among them again ; but
whether you will recognize them so readily when becom
ing thus suddenly rich, I am not so certain. If I have
any thing to say in the matter of the selection of the prize
goods, we shall reject every thing of bulk, and take on
board nothing but jewels, dollars, and dry goods, or such
as tell well with little stowage.'
For a single instant, the jaws of the loafer ceased wag
ging, as he gazed in wonderment at the prize-master, and
I expected his first expression would be, judging from
his looks, 'you're a Turk — a perfect infidel, without the
pale of salvation,' but I was mistaken ; for he said with
much meaning, 'take what you can get, and never reject
what is eatable,' and commenced operations again with
renewed vigour, as a warranty of his making up for the
time he had lost while giving the advice.
'If the brig's crew all take as you do, we shall be
3* v.l

30 GOING ON BOARD.
compelled to return to port in a fortnight, prize or no
prize, or live, upon each other,; for this is the fifth pint of
coffee you have taken, with no signs of its being the last'
The laugh that followed from the loafer, showed his
greatest failing was not ill-temper ; yet of so extraordinary
a kind, that I could not suppress my bad manners, and
stared him full in the face, or rather the remains his wide-
Spread mouth had not included in its expansion. The
prize-master's curiosity was likewise excited, for after
looking at him a moment, he said :
'You are a beauty, and worth your weight in gold as
a scare-devil figure-head — no enemy will come within
your hail but once,' and left the table, a signal for us to
follow. At turning in, the same excuses were gone through, for
the want of hammocks, berths, &c. as had before for our
other discomforts, and with greater reason ; for in the
hold were piled up provision and water casks, so as
entirely to fill it to the deck above. ¦ I could find no place
to lay myself down, except upon a pile of shot, which had
been gathering frost from a temperature considerably be
low zero, for several days previous, and thrown in imme
diately under the open hatchway. I lay for about four
hours, not being compelled to stand watch, and suffered
more with the cold than I could bear, having nothing
between me and the shot, bul; an old sail. In that short
space of time, it appeared to me that the shot had drawn
every particle of warmth from my body ; and I have
reason to believe the whole quantity of heat thus drawn
from me, was lost, or not duly appreciated by the shot.
Thinks I, if this is the fine choice of berths falling to the
first comers, God help the last; for one may 'learn,' but
he will never 'live' to have his learning duly appreciated,
unless it is for his coolness in standing a shot. I suddenly
hushed all' mental surmises of this kind, by rousing up,
and walking the deck the remainder of the night, lest I

GOING ON BOARD. 31
might construe some of my selfish thoughts to a disrelish
of the service, or to a hankering for the comforts I had
left behind; in exchange for what was in store for me.
Here I first understood the true meaning of the doggerel,
to Yankee doodle melody : ,
'Like hailstones cold,
The shot now rolled
As pumpkins piled on our bam floor;
Whoe'er they .hit,
Quick stiff they get,
As icicles o'er our ham door.'
I afterwards understood this palavering was adopted as a
ruse to get the hands on board as early as possible ; for
those who were accustomed to ship-board duty, knew full
well the heavy work to be performed in getting a vessel
ready for sea, and would seldom g£ on board till the last
moment before sailing.
The next day some few others came aboard, among
whom was the first lieutenant, a man of mild tempera
ment, a good sailor, and one of much worth. He con
gratulated me on my promptness in being before him in
my duty to the brig ; said it told well for my patriotism,
better for the future sailor within me, prognosticated a
merry cruise, a rich return, and hoped I found all things
to my liking; the which was swallowed with gudgeon
voraciousness. We were kept busily at clearing away in the hold,
making room for swinging the hammocks, adjusting the
ballast, coiling away the cordage, in all of which I en
tered with much spirit and alacrity, being nimble, strong
and hardy, and above all, I was at the employment my
mind had been longing for since a child. I took no
small pride in being foremost at any job or undertaking
I could comprehend, showed no backwardness in asking
questions whenever I was deficient in knowledge or expe
rience, and was determined to make the best of every

S2 GOING ON BOARD.
hardship, howsoever irksome and repugnant to my former
feelings and occupation.
I very soon learned my kit, that is, the contents of my
clothes bag, was every way unfit for a sea voyage ; for I
had nothing comfortable but my red flannel shirts and an
old fearnaught greatcoat. My short jacket, I found, let
out a little more caloric than was altogether comfortable ;
and when bending over the yard aloft, with a sharp north
wester whistling through the rigging, I sighed for the least
remnant of my former coat-tail, to screen me from its
blast. My large sea-fashion trowsers were well calculated
to suck up more of the frosty breezes of winter, than was
fully agreeable to my notions of comforts, however their
fashion might comport with the calling I had adopted.
But my greatest sufferings were with my hands; for
tftey became so intolerably sore, by the harshness of the
weather, and handling, the rough cordage, I being used to
none but in-door employment, and that of a light nature,
as to make me almost cry out with pain, when taking hold
of any part of the duty I had to perform. Frequently,
the blood would gush out of the wind-dried cracks, and
besmear the sails that I was handling, to the extent of re
ceiving a reprimand for my slovenliness. The only balm
to heal my lacerated feelings, and the only bandages . to
screen my aching hands from the keen, cutting blasts,
was the unbounded, exhilarating enthusiasm I felt for the
service. My companions at the shipping office, came on board
one by one, some with light hearts, while others, not
withstanding their protestations to the contrary, showed
stronger symptoms that they 'wished they had'nt;' for but
few of those 'nice young gentlemen' could bring them
selves at once to the circumstances under which they
were placed, with any thing like comfort or ease. Their
awkwardness, as well as unwillingness, laid 'them open,
not only to the censure of the officers, but to the ridicule

GOING ON BOARD. 33
of all on ship-board. This I was determined to avoid, if
possible, and did in part, greatly to my after satisfaction ;
for I found a willing hand was called less often than
one who was sour iri disposition, and loth to step forward
to his duty, till warned or threatened by his superior, in
harsh or unpleasant terms.
Till the third or fourth day, there was scarcely a sea
man on board, that had shipped for the cruise ; but now
they came in numbers, and the preparations for sailing
were fast verging towards completion, under their ready
and experienced aid ; none appearing otherwise than,
anxious to be at sea.
Our accommodations promised to be of the very worst
description. The berth deck was floored with casks con
taining water and provisions for the cruise, without being
covered with boards. Every thing was cleared away,
except the bulkhead separating the cabin from the main
and fore-hold ; these were thrown into one, for the better
purpose of stowing the large quantity of prize goods — to
be taken in prospective. The space between the casks
and the deck was not more than four and a half feet ; and
when the' hammocks were slung, one could move under
them in no way but upon all-fours. In this attitude of
perambulating the hold, when the flooring is taken into
consideration, as well as the roll of the vessel, we found
it as rough and unpleasant as the reader can imagine it
uncouth. By the advice of the prize-master before spoken of, I
swung my hammock amidship, near the hatchway, a
choice of value, as promised at the rendezvous, but dearly
earned by a week's incessant labour. The only real value
I could place uponthis situation, was, my being rid of the
inconvenience of passing the length of the hold at every
watch call; but this was more than counterbalanced by
having a plentiful supply of cold air sent shooting down
by the slant of the fore-and-aft foresail, bringing half the

34 GOING ON BOARD.
smoke from the caboose, seasonably varied at times by a
sprinkling of salt spray, or a wholesale rush of some top
pling wave, that had taken a fancy to share my hammock,
with no other invitation than the open hatch afforded, '
which was never left closed except when blowing a -gale;
Besides, my distant shipmates had another advantage
of lpcation lost to me, that of skulking when their duty
called them to the deck ; their situation being such, as to
make it next te impossible for our butt-shaped boatswain
to personally inspect their hammocks, to see if contain
ing aught but blanket and pillow; whilst mine lay in his
direct track, and could be seen into when standing in
the hatchway. These advantages and disadvantages were
pointed out to me when too late to profit by the informa
tion : and I was reminded of them oftener than was plea
sant, by those longer in the profession, in the many ways
the ingenuity of Jack in his mischief could devise.
• As to what was provided for our eating and drinking,
no fault could be found; for we had fresh bread and
coffee twice a day, with well buttered steaks, soup and
vegetables at dinner, and Jamaica spirits served out three
times each day, of high proof and flavour. Not once
while in harbour, did we have either hard bread only, or
salt meat, nor other liquor than the best of spirits.
On the seventeenth of December, the frigate 'Consti
tution, which had been swinging at her anchors, near by
the brig, put to sea amidst the loud cheering from the sur
rounding shipping. Her lively crew readily returned
.cheer for cheer, ending with a parting salute from her
deep-mputed cannon, whose loud bellowing came over
the waters in tones to rouse the most sluggish to feelings
of patriotism arid deeds of glory.
In the afternoon of the sixth day after 1 had been on
board, a boat was seen pushing off from the wharf, head
ing towards us, well filled with men ; and as one was
standing in the bows in a conspicuous attitude, he was

GOING ON BOARD. 33
thought to be the captain of the brig, who as yet had not
been on board since she lay off in the stream. Due pre
parations were made for his proper reception, by clearing
the gangway, tumbling the casks, -cordage and tackle out
of the way, which had hampered this part of the deck
unavoidably, while receiving stores, .baggage, and arma
ments of different kinds from the shore. As the boat had
to struggle through the drifting^ ice for nearly a mile, the
distance we lay from the wharf, there was ample time to
make all snug ere it neared. us. It fell to my lot to attend
one of the hand ropes, at the ascending ladder, which
afforded me a full view of the personage whose approach
had caused so much bustle on board.
As the boat neared the brig, I perceived it was not our
captain, whom I knew, but one of much greater bulk and
proportions, who by his garb was evidently from the coun
try. He was standing with one foot on the fore thwart
of the boat, the other resting on its bows, with his head
thrown back, displaying his full ruddy countenance to
great advantage. His stature was of the largest kind,
being more than six feet in height, and frame to corres
pond. Over his homespun habiliments was a great coat
of ample dimensions, numbering several capes, but open
ing in front, so as fully to display his herculean frame
from head to foot. His trowsers were full, and might
have been called . 'slouching,' but for the large limbs
which they loosely covered, till gathered at the knees
and hid by a pair of boot legs that would have sufficed
for a colonel of dragoons, if dimensions and solidity were
taken into consideration. The hat was worn high upon
the. back of the head, giving ease and meaning to the
whole person. Upon a stick cut from his native woods,
and resting over his shoulder,, was hung his baggage, tied
in a cotton handkerchief, after the fashion, of the fortune-
seeking pedestrians of that day. The large dark whis
kers, which nearly encircled his face, gave him the

36 GOING ON BOARD.
appearance of great daring at a first view, but on a nearer
approach, the whole countenance indicated open mild
ness and good will to all, and one that to the most igno-
rantly versed in physiognomy, might be read at a single
glance, for his inward simplicity and kindness of heart,
shone forth with a plainness but seldom seen, yet when
once met with and viewed with earnestness, never for
gotten. "
The attitude of this man, while in the boat, if with
another, would be taken as studied, but with him it was
free, natural, and unknown to himself, and was without
the least affectation or restraint. I never before nor since
have seen so perfect and well made a man; and have
contrasted the attitudes of many an actor and soldier, in
my own mind, with this person, but all have fallen
immeasurably short of him with the stick and bundle.
On his gaining the deck, he stood for a moment gazing
around without the least embarrassment, but evidently
wondering at the strangeness of what he saw, walked aft
with the bearing and assurance of a commodore, and in
quired where he should deposite . his 'duds.' The first
lieutenant referred him to me for assistance, I being
nearest to them at the time. This worthy personage was
our fifer.
I assisted him in putting up his hammock next to mine,
and made him acquainted with its use. These, and some
other trivial civilities gained his friendship, which was
mutually returned by me ; and each was anxious to ce
ment it the stronger during our short cruise and longer
imprisonment. In no one instance did any thing OGCur
to mar or cool our good wishes and feelings towards each
other, and much satisfaction dp I now take at this distant
day, in running over in my mind, the kind feelings and
goddness of heart of my companion in adversity and hard
ships, Amos Whipple.
At supper, Amos was a little shy of the 'swill pail,' as

GOING ON BOARD. 37
he termed the kid, out of which each ladled his pot of hot
coffee, but afterwards topk hpld with a gopd relish, and
appeared to be at home.
'You, with the long togs,' said one from the adjeining
mess to ours, addressing his speech to the Fifer, 'I take it,
are not much used to this way of taking your grub, by the
shilly-shally manner you handle your panniken.'
'Npt exactly,' playfully returned the Fifer, 'yet whenvI
am sharp-set, I can hold my own pretty well, even should
the dirt be crusted deeper, than upon the dishes we are
now feeding from,' and made a desperate lunge at the
cold beef, as if, by the suddenness of the onset, he cpuld
quash all show of squeamishness.
'A man must eat his peck' — i
'Give that chap an extra sop from the kid, before he
spoils his manners by detailing what was stale before
Adam was a reefer or Eve out pf leading strings.'
'Clap a nipper,' said the cut-short speaker, directing, his
looks towards the Loafer, 'upon yon hawk bill whp is ad
miring the beauties of the joint of beef, in a way that will
leave none for others to enjoy, if ^big mouthfuls and heavy
gulping quickly followed up, have destructive meaning.'.
'I was but tasting the beef, and find it poor compared
to the ham.'
'If your tastings go as deep all round, as they have into
the joint, mpre cauticn to fend off.'
'Fifer, your shy nibbling at the cold meat, seems to say,
you are not used to make forks pf your fingers ; have you
ever before been on ship-board ?'
'No ; till yesterday I never saw salt water, and till now
I was never in a ship.'
'Nor are you now, you ignoramus. Have you never
been to school? Not know a brigantine from a ship?'
'I have been through such bcoks as were chosen by
pur schopl committee, yet I have never learned that one
stranger is justified in sneering at another, because he
4 v.l

38 VESSEL, CREW AND ARMAMENT.
dees not knpw what he is unused to. With all your
knowledge, I doubt whether you can tell me the diffe
rence between a flat and a sharp in music'
The answer was lost to the surrounding listeners, by
another casting an end of spun yarn into the Fifer's
coffee. He started back with expanded eyes, stretching
his fists some six inches beypnd his coat sleeves, with
evident signs nf fight, saying,
'Show me the nasty fellow, who has thrown his chaw-
tobaccp in my cup, and I'll teach him geod manners, or
make him eat it.'
His determined warlike demonstrations advanced him
at once in the Opinion of the crew, and when he saw his
mistake pf supposing the tarred rope an inch pf pig-tail,
he j pined in with the hearty gppd laugh that follpwed,
which ended the threatened strife.

CHAP. III.
VESSEL, CREW AND ARMAMENT.
The vessel pn board of which I had chpsen to risk
myself with others at this new calling, was hermaphrodite
rigged, that is, her foremast was rigged as a brig, while
her mainmast was rigged as a schooner; an advantage
when on a wind, by bringing in use the enprmpus main
sail pf the latter, and when before the wind, by squaring
the yards pf the former. She was a vessel pf abput three
hundred and thirty tons, ppssessing great strength, lying
low in the water, having a flush deck fere and aft, and a
clipper of the first class, as she had proved herself by the
many escapes she had made from the enemy, during her
'long and various cruisings ; above all, she had the reputa-

VESSEL, CREW AND ARMAMENT. 39
tion of being lucky, which among seamen is np small
advantage in the craft they sail in, and not to be slighted
in any.
Her late encounter with the boats of a British frigate,
gave her an eclat far above any other privateer of the
day ; and on her arrival so recently after the engagement,
she was hailed with almost as much enthusiasm, as the
arrival^ were of our several frigates when coming into
port, flushed with the recent victories they had gained
over the enemy. And well she might share a por
tion pf the public praise, for the fight was a blpody one,
not a seventh part of her crew escaped, being either killed
or disabled. The enemy twice gained the deck of the
brig, but were beaten back by the determined bravery of
that little band, who had dwindled te less than a dozen
ere the fight ceased ;_ and so precipitately were the enemy
driven to their beats, that they left their arms on the brig's
deck, such as muskets, pistols, swords, and bparding
pikes, in quantities enough for the use pf the brig in her
npw contemplated cruise.
She had made several captures before her return to
port, and came in leaded with so rich and valuable a
cargo, that it was said each hand received twelve hun
dred dellars as his share of the prize money. Probably
it was this, which aided in gaining for the brig~ so great a
nptoriety, and proved an attraction too alluring to be
resisted by many, who etherwise never would have gnne
to sea.
The brig mounted eighteen guns, of nine and eighteen
pounders, was well fitted for doing good service, having a
complement of one hundred and sixty-three men, all told,
each and all, from the captain dpwn to the foremast hands,
on shares, depending on the prizes they were to take for
their only remuneratien.
Large calculatiens were made en the success of this
vessel, both by those in her, their friends, and pthers

40 VESSEL, CREW AND ARMAMENT.
interested ashore, no one supposing she could return to
port, otherwise than laden with wealth. For this purpose
every thing was cleared away underneath the deck, except
the water and provision casks ; and these were to be dis
placed as fast as emptied, by the cpnsumption of their
contents by the brig's crew, leaving no impediment. for
the close stowing of the rich and costly goods of old
England's workshops. The owners cared little for the
welfare or convenience of the men, in their eagerness for
gain, the men in part willingly complying with the un
comfortable accommodations, knpwing what was the own
ers' gain, was theirs also. Some of the older seamen,
when seeing the great inconvenience of so small a space
as was allotted for the use below deck of so large a crew,
remonstrated, but to little effect.
Our present captain was her first lieutenant during her
former cruisings, and was thought to possess every accom
plishment for a cpmmander, ppssessing the fullest confi-'
dence of her- late captain, who was now a large share
holder of his favourite brigantine, and had given her up
to his lieutenant, solely on account of indisposition.
Besides the captain, we had five lieutenants, nine prize-
masters, quarter-masters, sailing-masters, boatswains, gun
ners, carpenters, and sail-makers in profusion; each and
all ready and willing to exercise the authority they pos
sessed pver their inferiors in cemmand, with a harsh bear
ing and sternness of disposition, but little suited to the
quiet and peaceful habits of landsmen. This overbear"
ing disposition and tyrannical propensity to rule with an
iron rod, which each strove to exert to the utmost, in the
plenitude of his power, was npt, hpwever, manifested
while in harbeur ; but pn the contrary, all was suavity —
gentleness gave way to kindness, which in turn had to
succpmb to a mildness, whpse pewers, if any, were more
than counterbalanced by the smile with which they were
graced. It seemed the officers almpst vied with eaph

VESSEL, CREW AND ARMAMENT. 41
other, to show who could dp or say the most, to make the
duty easy, the time pleasant and the fare agreeable to the
men. At an ebservation of mine, that however rough our
accommodations were below, no one could find fault with
the duty on deck, or the gentlemanly officers we had to
sail under ; an old salt close by, grunted put, 'wait till ypu
get into blue water, before you praise the rope that is
already chaffed,' which conveyed a meaning I was fully
sensible pf, before eight and forty hpurs from the harbeur.
Our captain was a Jew by persuasion, a Frenchman by
birth, an American for ccnvenience, and so diminutive in
stature as to make it appear ridiculeus in the eyes pf others
even for him to enforce authprity ampng a hardy, weather-
beaten crew, sheuld they ever attempt to do aught against
his will. As to his capacity in his> present cpmmand, I
will not pretend to pass judgment, for he came on board
not till all was in readiness for sea. He afterwards showed
himself but little on deck, till the chase which terminated
with our capture, leaving the duty to the lieutenants, who
were plentiful enough in the brig" for a frigate of the first
class. But if I may be allowed an opinion, of but "little
worth to be sure, it is, that his appearance never indicated
his becoming a Howe or a Nelson.
The first lieutenant was a man of quite another mould,
and much liked by those under his charge. He never
uttered an angry or harsh word, made use of no profane
language, but was terrible even in his mildness, when
faults occurred through carelessness or neglect. He knew
what each man's duty was, and his capacity. for fulfilling
it — never putting more to the men's tasks, than they were
able to get through with ; but every jot and tittle must be
performed, and that to the very letter without flinching,
or the task weuld be dpubled. While manceuy ring, the
men, he wpuld go through with the various duties, without
oaths, bluster, or even loud words, and do more, and\
in less time, than all the other officers on board, with
4* v.l

42 VESSEL, CREW AND ARMAMENT.
their harsh threatenings, profane swearings, or loud
bawlings through their speaking trumpets. The men
honoured and obeyed him, and would have fought with
any odds at his bidding, while spme others might have
received their wounds, if an engagement had taken place,
from pther sources than an enemy's broadside ; at least so
I construed certain hints and inuendces I frequently ever-
heard between decks, as the men came below from their
duties, made doubly arduous by the capricious whims of
some petty officer, whilst clothed with a little brief autho
rity, and acting as officer of the deck. But then possibly
I was not qualified to judge in these matters, as I was a
noviciate and knew but little of the ways of seamen, and
as little of human nature or the world at large.
This plentiful supply of officers pf every grade was a
forethought of value, and for the express purpose pf man
ning the many prizes, we were for a certainty te capture,
witheut weakening the cpmmand of the brig, as each and
all the prizes were sent into pnrt.
Of the crew, I will venture to say, there never was a
more mptley set came together, since the days of the first
great navigator, Noah. There were Irish, English, French,
Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, African and American sub
jects on board ; and many who could hail from no quarter
of the globe, but whose destination required no conjuring
to ascertain; for by their wickedness and profanity, one
might safely say none but Old Nick himself would claim
them as subjects, and with little fear of his claim being
disputed ; for if his kingdom, be peopled with but a tythe
of such as were pn board of this privateer, he has enough
to keep himself in employment for the next thousand
years, provided he has any desire to break them to his
will, without leaving them to his subordinates in office,
and seeking new subjects amongst us poor mortals here on
earth. We had five of the crew of the ill-fated Chesapeake,.

VESSEL, CREW AND ARMAMENT. 43
when taken by the British frigate Shannpn. These men
had lain in Halifax prispn, and been detained as hpstages,
from the time pf their capture, till they were exchanged
and sent home, where they arrived just in time to ship on
board -of the brig, and be again sent to prison. These
men used to boast that while in prispn they wheedled a
minister of the gpspel into the belief that they were
pipusly inclined, and ebtained from him the loan of seve
ral bibles, prayer and hymn books, which they soon ex
changed for rum, and was glad to be rid pf the preacher's
officiousness at so cheap a rate.
Our gunner's mate came en bpard but shprtly before
sailing, and inquired with much apparent haste and ear
nestness for his baggage, which he said had been sent by
a boat in the morning. Because he did not see his bag
gage at once, he swore and blustered abeut the decks and
raved like a mad-man, as theugh his baggage- was pf the
value pf an Indiaman. I undertopk the kind task pf as
sisting him in his search, not doubting but that all his
protestations were true. At it we went, searching into
every cropk and cranny pf the brig, turning out the con
tents of this hammock, upturning that, diving between
the casks and boxes, rempving the vast coils of cordage in
the fore-hpld ; all hnwever to no purpose. The baggage
evidently had been put on board of some other vessel,
through mistake, as I suggested to the man in trouble,
after half an hour's incessant labeur.
'Np,' said he, 'if it's net here, it's ne where, for here I
sent it, and here it ought to be, and here it would be, but
for the land sharks on board — thus to rob the honest and
Unsuspecting is too bad, and I shall lopk to the pwners for
restitution.' 'You hav'nt yet searched the bottom under the ballast,'
sang out one with a grin.
'Have you looked into the captain's breeches peckets?'
inquired another, with an impudent yaw-haw that might
be heard as far as the bell, which was striking the hour.

44 VESSEL, CREW AND ARMAMENT.
'Did you try the doctor's medicine chest?' asked a
third, without raising his lopk from his tobacco box, from
which he was withdrawing a deposite.
'Had you a suit in your bag, with alternate stripes of
blue and drab ?' inquired a fourth ; 'because, if ySu had,
you need not despair at your loss, for yonder you can get
a match,' pointing his finger, at the same time, towards
the state prison at Charlestown, which lay in full view.
He of the tost baggage, quailed and dropped his chin, as
though he had been struck with the palsy. He slunk cut
of sight for the time being, witheut as much as thanking
me for the trouble I had been at in his service.
It afterwards appeared, this man had just came out "of
the state prison, where he had served an apprenticeship of
seven years at blacksmithing ; and immediately after his
discharge, had shipped on board of the brig as mate to
the gunner, and had pitched upon this plan, as an excuse
for his want of baggage. Not an article of any thing did
he possess, except what was on his body, and that of the
common cotton fabrics of the country. He was as spare
of flesh, as he was of clothing, "but his diabolical cut-throat
look and abhorrent disposition more than made amends
for all his other failures.
Nineteen of the crew had never before been to sea,
some of whom were from the cpuntry, and had never
seen salt water till shipping1 to cruise in this redoubtable
privateer. One of these I cannot pass by without a few
remarks, as he differed from all others in the brig.
This one had read in the newspapers of the wonderful
achievements of this vessel, the many prizes she had cap
tured, the large amounts of prize money shared by those
interested, and concluded he too could add a couple thou
sand dollars to his small amount of earnings, without inter
fering with his time. All things were made sung at home,
and off he started en his cruise to sea, npt doubting but
that he would return early in the spring, and dp the

VESSEL, CREW AND ARMAMENT. 45
ploughing and planting as usual, without being any the
worse for the wealth he should bring with him from the
coffers of some rich nabob.
He was totally unfit for any such expedition. He did
not think* it necessary to bring with him a second shirt or
pair pf stockings, supposing, as he said, that the first prize
would supply all deficiencies of this sort. He left an
aged father at, home, 'with nothing to dp but to take care
of. the cattle, chop wood, and do the chores about the
house,' till his return. The service and living were sp
different from any thing he had been accustomed to,
that his spirits were crushed at the onset. His case was
truly pitiful to every one on board ; for he was unable to
do any thing handily, or take hold of any part of the duty
with ease to himself er satisfaction to the officers or men,
and was always and continually in the way of others —
from many receiving a kick or a cuff, from others, a snarl
and a curse, without noticing the degradation farther than
as a part of the duty assigned to him. I have no doubt in
his pwn native hills, he was as useful as others in his sta
tion pf life ; but here he was out of his element, mere sp
than any other I ever saw, and was alike burdenseme to
himself and to pthers. He went by the cognomen ef
Nimble Billy, given in contradistinction to his px-like
mpvements about the decks. He appeared cheerful
enough till he had been on board twp or three days ; after
which he rarely smiled,- and to my knowledge never
laughed nor j pined in any of the frivolities, with the
others, which went far to lighten their tasks ; but with
this man every social sentiment seemed to have become
extinct, leaving nothing but an inanimate mass of indiffe
rence, as thcugh, 'come what may' could make no further
impression upon his spirits., sp sadly was he disappointed
in his undertakings.
My fellpw lodger, the Fifer, was pf different metal,
although as great a stranger tp salt water and the wprk on

46 VESSEL, CREW AND ARMAMENT.
ship-board, as the ene last speken pf. He was jevial, fond
of a jnke, open-hearted, kind, and well stored with geod
sound sense ; yet his knpwledge pf the world or mankind
was the slightest and even child-like. The greatest of
his faults was, that he supposed others to be as honest as
himself, receiving as gospel truth all that was told him.
I feel incompetent to cpnvey to the understanding ef my
readers the character pf this man, as I have never fallen
in with his like ; neither have I ever read of just such a
temperament as he possessed. Perhaps I can give no
better idea of him, than by relating his story as told to me
by himself, the first night that he slept on board, as we
lay side by side in eur hammocks.
He was the only spn of a blacksmith, of Berkshire
county, in the upper part of the state ef Massachusetts,
whp had amassed censiderable property by a life ef in
dustry and frugality, leaving it to the management of
Amos, at his death, which pccurred about six years prior
to this cruise. Amos at that time was in his twentieth
year. Being a good workman, he took upon himself
the direction of the shop as well as the management , of
the farm; and with his widowed mether and an enly
sister, ypunger than himself, both of whpm he speke in
the mpst endearing- terms of affection, they lived happily
and comfortably together. He was by nature volatile,
hilarious and talkative, fond of amusement and com
pany — had been always indulged by an over fond mother
in every wish pf his heart, and possessed a form and face
in the greatest degree attractive and fascinating. With
these attributes, it is not to be wondered that he was a
^spoilt boy.' He was ceurting half the females in a com
munity pf ten miles square, at the same time, jilting er
dropping off this and that one as his fancy dictated, with
out any one's daring to say, 'why do you so ?' and he had
thus continued half-courting, gallanting with whemsoever
he chose, till he came under that enviable distinction* a
'privileged beau.'

VESSEL, CREW AND ARMAMENT. 47
At last 'Little Filly,' (np other name could I ever learn
from Amos, and the only secret he ever kept) took such
hold of him, that he was forced to give up all the others:
for her alone. 'For,' said he,, 'she is a selfish little mortal
and wpuld npt be courted at all, unless in her own way—
scarcely asking my advice abput it. I told her it topk two
to make a bargain — 'yes, a dozen, unless I agree,' was all
I gpt for my advice !' Preparatiens for marriage were
made, and the day apppinted, when at spme supposed
slight, she too was dropped. 'Npt for gppd,' in his nwn
words, 'but to humble her, that she might come into traces
, of her own accord.' But Little Filly was of different
stuff from thpse he had before met with, and he could
gain nothing by his stubbornness.
'So, I hooks on to anpther flame, ceurts and jilts away
as before for spme time, appearing as happy as a lark, but
to np purppse or ease of mind ; for to tell the truth, I felt
as though the little vixen was chawing my very vitals
within me. I could get no rest, while she, to all outward
shpw, did'nt care a copper whether I cpurted pthers pr
drowned myself. At last, after toughing it put five
mpnths, I cpuldn't stand it any longer — had to knuckle —
knock under to a girl of seventeen, a thing all creation
shan't make me do ! again, if I die for it.'
Hear ! the tip-top beau pf Berkshire ! the smith of the
village! leader pf the singers in church ! the best fifer in
the regiment ! a freehplder, and, was to be, the next can
didate for the legislature! he, that stood A Np. 1, with
the girls throughput the ceunty ! had to bpw to the man
dates of lpve, ask forgiveness for the past, and promise
better' for the future !
This negetiation was carried en through his sister, who
was in the confidence of Little Filly; but she would re
ceive no proposition except in writing. As his words
before had proved false, she must npw have his intentiens
in black and white. He wrote her, promising marriage,

48 VESSEL, CREW AND ARMAMENT. ¦
and leaving with her to name the day," early pr late,
'Bitter as was the pill, I had tp swaltow it,' meaning the
humble state she had brought him to. In answer, she
rejected his cffer, giving as her reaspns, that she was well
convinced they could not long be happy together, and
however repugnant to her feelings, it wpuld be better for
them to see each other no more.
He tied a few things in his handkerchief, took his stick,
and, not knowing definitely where he was going, walked
off, without saying good-bye to mpfher or sister, and left
his business and farm as it was, without any directions
soever, what sheuld be done, or to whpse management
they shpuld be under; nor did he cease gping till he
reached Boston, where his scanty funds were exhausted.
Accidentally falling in with the_ drummer of the brig,
althpugh total strangers to each ether, in his present pre
dicament, he was easily persuaded to enter as her fifer,
and immediately repaired on board.
The letter of his 'Little Filly,' he showed me, with
the exception of the signature, and a more thrilling and
affecting one I have never read. It was written by one
of jgppd education, great refinement of sentiment, and
uncter much excitement of feelings ; and while reading, I
could scarcely refrain from tears. She reasoned well —
that his wayward spirit and fickleness of mind would
bring unhappiness to them both, and as they were now, so
it were better for them to remain— hpping for his future
happiness, and piously invoking a blessing upon his under
takings through life, with all the fervour and warmth of
her high wrought imagination, proving by her earnestness
that Amos' welfare was not altogether indifferent te her.
'I den't care a stubnail,' said he, 'for the jade, but she
has got an evidence of my darned foplishness in my ewn
hand- writing,' and the tears started into his manly eyes,
even while he was describing his disinterestedness. I
used every persuasion I was master of, for him to write to
his mother, before the vessel sailed, but to np effect.

VESSEL, CREW AND ARMAMENT. 49
'No,' said he, 'I was a fool for leaving home in the
manner I did, I was a fool for writing to Little Filly, but
I will npt make myself a greater fool by telling them so.
I will go the cruise, and try to accommodate myself to the
service in which I have vplunteered, without flinching
from the hardships and dangers I may meet; but till it
is ended, my relations shall not know where I am.'
His light heart soon rallied, and he would enter into
the sailors' frolics with all the relish and good feelings
imaginable ; for he was a whole-souled jolly companion —
every feeling lay at the brim, ready to gush forth at the
slightest thought or hint. It was easily seen that he
would be the butt for all on board to crack their jpkes and
rid their overflowing spirits of ridicule and raillery upon ;
this he took all in good part — if angered, only for the mo
ment, never shewing surliness, but always ready with the
return joke, cpme from which quarter it might. Let him
be sent to whatspever place it pleased the fancy of Jack,
to look for a 'cropk in, the mainmast,' he gppd naturedly
weuld proceed pn the search, and net knnw he was burnt,
till the laugh was raised from every quarter, when his
would be heard abpve the loudest; and seldom was it,
but he would pin the hoax to the roaster in the end, who
first started him on his tomfopl's errand.
With such a temperament, it was net long before the
Fifer was a general favourite with all, althpugh their butt ;
and he could go further or do less without a reprimand,
than any other man in the brig.
Sunday, the seventh day of my being on board, the
foretopsail was let fall, the signal for sailing, as a decoy
to fetch on bpard the many that had shipped, but who had
not yet made their appearance. The deception had the
desired effect, and before noon we numbered nearly all
who were to go in the brig.
With the aid of a glass, in the afterpart of the day, I
perceived a boat coming from the shore with some of my
5 v.l

50 VESSEL, CREW AND ARMAMENT.
acquaintances. In less than five minutes I was busily
engaged with the contents of a water bucket, scrubbing
away with as much earnestness as a freebooter to work
out of the range of the guns of a frigate ; nor ceased my
diligence, till diving the hatch and divesting my outward
'person of my tarry ducks, which displayed more of the
paint pots and slush buckets, than even my fancy notions
of the service could stomach to exhibit to the eyes of
those, who had previously jeered me no little at the sin
gularity of my taste. I soon donned a suit of true blue,
and was in readiness to meet those who, took an inte
rest in my welfare, in -respectful attire, before the boat
reached the brig.
I was earnestly but kindly requested to quit my present
-intentions, and return to those' who wished my destination
to be other than the future promised. But no ; my inten
tions were not thus to be altered, my zeal was not cooled
in the least, but rather the little service I had seen in
harbour only roused my ambition the more, making my
desires now stronger than ever for a trial at sea life. For
me now to turn back, after going thus far, was showing
the white feather to my shipmates' triumph, at which my
pride revolted, however I might secretly wish to be rid.of
the hardships in store for me, by ignorantly trying my first
essay upon the ocean in a privateer, and with a crew but
little removed in disposition and propensities, from those
who sail under colours of no acknowledged origin, and
claim protection from none, save what their own strong
arm and daring disposition can afford them.
I was bidden farewell with much tenderness of feeling,
and my friends expressed great solicitude for my future
welfare and safe return, and» earnestly requested to
write wherever the vessel might touch, and relieve the
anxiety of my parents as to my, health, comforts and
enjoyments — ending with a fervent hope, that the , pre
sent cruise would wean me from an occupation repug
nant both to friends and relatipns, and that I might return

PUTTING TO SEA.: 5J '
as fully content with a shore life, as latterly I had exhi
bited enthusiasm for service afloat. 'No! mine is an
ardour that never cools ; button the contrary, it will burn
the fiercer by the difficulties and dangers it may encoun
ter/ mentally was the answer, after their departure.

CHAP. IV.

PUTTING TO SEA.

Monday, December 21st, the foretopsail again was
dropped, and the signal made for all to repair on board,
not shamming it as before, but now in good earnest. At
twelve o'clock the anchor was weighed, accompanied with
the merry 'heave-yo,' and all on board appeared with as
light hearts and joyous spirits, as though it were a pleasure
party on a fishing excursion to the outward harbour. Each
seemed to strive how he could excel his shipmate in ex
pediting the preparatory orders of th* officers of the deck,
and in no face did I see a longing for the shore.
We stretched out and in the harbour some two hours,
occasionally firing a gun to bring off the laggers, who were
yet on shore. The brig was hove-to for the last time
about a mile and a half from the wharf, when a boat was
descried heading towards us, with but a single man besides
those at the oars, who were labouring hard to reach us
through the roughened water, and bleak north wind,
which was fresh at the time, and the cold so intense, as
to convert the spray, salt as it was, into ice, wherever it
lodged. As the boat came near, the passenger was quickly
known, by his 'seven-leagued' caped drab great-coat and.

52 ' PUTTING TO SEA.
table cloth shawl, with which his necjt was enclosed, as
the best whip in Bpston ; he Bad baggage enough to freight
a small steamboat ; and when. told that no common hand
was allowed a chest, he hastily snatched a few articles
which lay nearest to hand at the top, locked it, put
the key in his pocket, gave the boatmen some directions
as to returning the baggage, leaped on board just as the
brig fell off and was filling away, and in five minutes was
beyond the hail of the boat, standing on the way to the
Atlantic ocean, with a ten knot breeze.
Whoever was accustomed to pass through Batterymarch,
or in the neighbourhood of the hackney coach stand near
the foot of Fort Hill, at any time between 1810 to the
latter part of 1814, must have known this man, not only
from the peculiarity of his dress, but for his untiring solici
tude to pbtain passengers, and when pbtained doing naught
but to please. In summer *he always wore a blue short
dress, studded closely with bright metal buttons ; and in
winter all was covered with his drab great-coat, shingled
with its pile upon pile of capes past numbering, entirely
over-doing the fashion when in its greatest vogue. His
neckcloth was of the most ample kind, both in summer
and in winter, being stuffed till it protruded far beyond the
chin, leaving but little room for aught else upon the shoul
ders save this life-preserver shaped cravat. His hair, dark
and glossy, was always twisted in spiral curls down his
cheeks, and at no great distance might easily be mistaken
for a respectable pair of whiskers. His face was of a glassy
shining scarlet, ever covered with smiles ; in whatever situ
ation he might be seen, his smiling good humoured coun
tenance was the same. He had but little to say, and that
altogether pertaining to his business, always acquiescing in
all that was said by others, however negative the argu
ment might appear. His vocation taught him the valuable
lesson of contradicting none, nor turning a deaf ear to the
tale of any, however imprbbable ; and was ever able and

PUTTING TO SEA. 53
willing to laugh equally hearty at the jeke, whether at his
own or another's «xpense.
And thus was he when he came pn board. I could
scarcely believe but the first word from him would be
'ceach ! coach, sir ?' so habituated was he to the use of this
salute, whenever he descried a person making towards
him, and so accustomed was I to hear him when passing
his stand. It was a settled principle with him never to let
any'pass without the inquiry pf -'coach, coach, sir? ready
at a word ;' notwithstanding the one hailed might cross his
path every half hour in the day, yet coachee never let the
opportunity slip of an offer of his services.
By sturdy diligence and strict economy, he had been
enabled to increase his stock, by adding a hack and a span
of horses to the one he drove himself, when he was seized
with the mania for prize money, employed a driver to his
carriage, left all to the management of his wife, and put off
to overtake the brig, which he could not have done had, he
been ten minutes later. He little knew of the jaws that
were gaping for the destruction of his hopes. At an ob
servation of one of the officers, that he came near losing
his chance in the brig, his reply was,
'I should, but I'm lucky; never had bad luck in my
life.' 'A long road is it that has no turn,' was the answer he
received. Our carpenter, likewise,, came on board at the eleventh
hour, to better his cpnditipn. He was carrying on the
pump and block business in Broad street with a partner,
but not making money fast enough, he, although rising
two score years in age, with a family of several children,
must cruise for dollars, where they were to be found in
greater plenty than in the place of his birth ; leaving wife,
children, acquaintances and comforts, in exchange for hard
fare in a privateer and short allowance in a loathsome
prison. His services were valuable in the brig, as he pos-
5* v.l

54 PUTTING TO SEA.
sessed an able head to plan, with a ready hand to execute
any alteration or improvement necessity- required. After
getting below the light-house in the outer harbour, we lay-
to, not wishing to run out by daylight, as there were seve
ral vessels of the enemy cruising in the bay, in readiness
to nab -any thing which dared to put to sea, that they
could intercept.
The men were now divided into two watches, the
hatches made fast, the guns secured, the ice cleared from
the bows, which had accumulated by the intensity of the
cold to an alarming degree, and we were kept busily at
making all things snug and secure previous to running out.
At six o'clock, p. m. the fire and lights were extinguish
ed, the yards squared tp the wind, and we pushed boldly
out to sea with a stiff breeze, which bore us along at the
rate of twelve and a half miles per hour. As we gained
the ocean, and the brig plunged to the billows and careen
ed to the wind, I never felt a greater glow of spirits in my
life ; I stood in the cold blast snuffing the gale, with a
wish that it might blow the harder, and gathered excite
ment in proportion to the turbulence around me. When
the turn of my watch came to go below, at ten o'clock,
I chose to remain on deck, to see and view the wonders
of my favourite element, upon which I was now duly
launched, without the possibility of any mishap carrying.
me back, for which I had been in dread from the day
I came on board till the present time. I tired not, but
was as nimble and light as a squirrel when needed in any
part of the vessel, or was called to a portion of the duty
going on, striving to be foremost in all things where I
could be of any use. When at leisure I was at the ex
treme head of the brig, viewing the turbulent waters with
equal amazement and delight. As the brig plunged
through the seas under her enormous crowd of canvass,
(for we were anxious to gain as much offing as possible
before daylight, the enemy's cruisers having been seen off

•PUTTING TO SEA. 55
rthe harbour the day previous,) the spray dashed high over
the bows and forecastle, on which I stood, deluging me
frequently from head to fopt ; yet I felt it net, cold as it
was, in my fever pf excitement, but gfoated over the ap
pearance of the white-capped waves, as they came rolhng
on one after the other, till I grew weary with enjoyment.
Most of the green hands had become miserably sick,
even in the first watch of the night, and were teased as
much by the tormenting pranks of their well shipmates,
as they suffered from the rolling and pitching of the vessel.
As I had weathered it beyond all others, I began to hope
I should escape altogether this terrible nausea of sea
sickness, and kept moving about with as much glee and
liveliness as ever, knowing it the best preventive to keep
off this horrid sickness, with which most all are doomed
to suffer when first going to sea. Towards the end of
the watch, about three o'clock in the morning, I felt a
change come over me, and in spite of my exertions in
fighting against it, I was soon pumping, and stopped not,
till the pumps sucked for want of material to work upon.
My sickness was proportionably bad to the length of time
it was coming on, compared with the others who had sick
ened before me. I was like a rag, as little able to help
myself as I felt a disposition to help others, and pf all on
board I was the worst.
When my turn came to go belew with the rest ef the
watch, at four o'clock, I left all those exciting scenes on
deck to the enjoyment of others, being glad to partake of
rest and quietness where and when I could. Three hours
previous, I would not have believed such a change could
occur, if my limbs had been topped off severally from my
body. My friend, the Fifer, did not suffer as much as myself
in reality, but in imagination, more than all the others in
the brig, and, basing one's judgment upon his own asser
tions, more than mankind ever suffered before, or ever

56 PUTTING TO SEA.
would hereafter. In the midst of his paroxysms, he
would first blast his own eyes for leaving his home in the
manner he did, then rail at his mother for not forcibly
detaining him from going away — npw, snarlingly wish
Little Filly had been at better business, than making a
fopl of him as well as of herself, and lastly he would
wind up with a tender blessing on the dear little creature,
who had caused him to undergo so much Dlness of body
and uneasiness of mind, ending with a flood of tears
worthy a girl of sixteen, for the fate pf her favourite , hero
of novel reading.
'Here am I, Amos Whipple, swinging about in a
wretched apology for a bed, without a stitch cf covering
(he had come on board without a blanket, and the bed
ding furnished by the brig was not of the best) to keep
my miserable carcass from shivering, which should now
be snug in the best feather-bed in Berkshire, made from
geese of my own rearing ; oh, little did I think when I
was caring for them, I should turn out the greatest goose
of the whole flock. But I shall die — I know I shall die,
and my end shall be laid to Little Filly's doings — much,
much, has she to answer for — bless her little Jieart.'
Now followed some request, how he wished the infor
mation, should he die, conveyed to his relatives, and he
would sob and mourn at his hapless fate, till rallied by
some neighbouring joker, or cursed by a confirmed grum
bler, for keeping others from their rest, who could take it
in any shape, when his light spirits would come to his
relief, and for the moment he was the happiest of the
happy. The day following that on which we sailed, confirmed
the caution of the old salt, in the preceding chapter; for
we were most forcibly convinced by the eatables set
before us, that we had not a market to go to for fresh pro
visions, and by treatment, that we were in blue water.
Our sumptuous living while in harbour, was now changed

PUTTING TO SEA. 57
to that of the coarsest kind, for we had nothing. but salt
junk for dinner— and for supper and breakfast, what was
left from the preceding dinner, provided we chose to
lengthen out the small quantity beyond the first serving
up. We had nothing of a nourishing kind from the time
we left port, till we were captured. Could we have had
but a cup of hot water sweetened, it would have recruited
the exhaustion of those who were at sea for the first time,
suffering with that most horrid, of all debilitating nausea,
sea-sickness; but even this was denied us. Each had
his rations of salt beef and hard biscuit, together with the
daily allowance of a half pint of potato whiskey, in lieu
of the Jamaica spirits, as before sailing ; beyond these, we
had nothing either for food or beverage, except cold water.
The mess in which I claimed membership, was com
posed of four green hands, Or those who never before had
been upon salt water, and two 'old ones.' I was often
amused at the joyousness of the latter, for the former's
sickness, and want of appetite ; they never rose from their
meals, without returning sincere thanks, for the goodness
thus bountifully showered upon them, by thus being
thrown into such dainty company — fervently praying
with the solemnity of practised piety, that our sickness
might be increased rather than lessened, and continued to
the end of the cruise. If their prayers were as well
attended to, and with the same devotional feelings", for1
their future welfare, they need not despair of their rest in
the world to come. They would say the eatables were
nothing to brag of, but the potato whiskey, nauseous as it
was, they pronounced a nectar above price, a real godsend,
fully making up for all the deficiences of the former. To
my knowledge, there was not one drop of whiskey drank
in my^ness by any except these two old tars, from the
time of our sailing, till its serving out ceased with our
capture. They devoured it in its raw state, with a high
relish and gusto, unenvied by us, who were its intended
recipients.

58 PUTTING TO , SEA..
The second night after our sailing, I did not refuse1
taking my regular watch below, instead of indulging in
my romantic1 notions of the night previpus, of watching the
rolling sea from the forecastle deck, and was well content
to take my rest as I could in my regular turn. I thought
it* somewhat annoying, however; in being disturbed by
the periodical rounds of our Dirk Hatteraick boatswain,
and set my wits at work (always supposing any were
remaining from the severity of the last twenty-four hours ;
sickness) to counteract these unwished-for visits of cere
mony. During the abundance and prodigality of our provisions
while in harbour, I had saved ai part of my share of fhe-
'Jamaica,' thinking the time might come when it wouldi
be of service, I at the time not being much of a drinker
of the raw material as given us. To give the surplus-
away at the time of receiving it, was neither charitable
nor benevolent, as all had more than was necessary for
their wants.
In the boatswain's first round, to* 'rouse up the larboardt
watch,' he found a delinquent in my hammock, who
plead hard for permission to rest where he was during the;
watch; but was bluntly told by the boatswain, it was-
more than his commission was worth, for him to wink
at skulking in any shape — swore the delinquent was a;
heathen, for supposing that his duty could be tampered
with — called him a skulker of the worst stamp — was a.
sacrilegious greenhorn — a Hottentot who would eat his.
mother-^-a worse than a devil, for asking for what he did,,
for expecting requests of this unnatural kind would be
granted; and that 'sick or not sick; on deck you shall go,,
if it's only as a punishment for insinuating a hint that my
high reputation as a boatswain can in any wise be forked
upon by a horse-marine like yourself.'
Matters appeared approximating towards a collision,
when our delinquent remembered the bottle, and forth-

PUTTING TO SEA. 59
with hinted there was matter in the head of the hammock
worth all the rest, hammock, contents, and all. Before
the hint was fully developed, the neck of the bottle was so
glued to the lips of the sucker, as to appear a part and
parcel of the whole, and the gurgling, gulping sounds
which followed, convinced me, the delinquent aforesaid,
that the hint was improved uppn ; npr did the sounds
cease, or the lips or the bottle's neck grow weary, till I
went through with the calculation of the exact worth of a
boatswain's commission and well earned reputation, in a
.privateer brig of eighteen guns, which I found amounted
to the sum total of a five minutes pull at the nozzle of
a demijohn, whose contents was fourth proof Jamaica
spirits. I was let alone for a time ; but the taste of the bottle
brought my tormentor to my hammock much oftener than
his duty of 'rousing up' required, and I remonstrated at
his frequent visits, saying it could not be possible my
watch should come every half hour of the night.
'If you doubt my correctness of keeping time,' said the
old Turk, 'why go on deck, and ascertain for yourself.'
This I felt was carrying the doubt too far, and I was quite
willing. for him to have his own way of reckoning the
hour, provided I was not disturbed in my place of com
parative comfort, maugre the loss of the spirits.
Every thing must come to an end, as did the contents
of my bottle, and the comforts of a snooze below, while
my place was on deck ; for no argument of mine proved
strong enough to overcome his prejudices and threats.
'On deck you shall go,' said he., 'and you owe thanks
to my good nature, that you are not reported to the officer
of the deck, for hiding yourself out of my sight ; so up
and be off, and that quickly, for no more excuses will I
hear, unless you first produce the fellow to the bottle just
now emptied, in which I have joined fellowship, merely
to keep it from- others who would make a bad use of it.'
The second bottle was not so easily obtained, and with-

60 PUTTING TO SEA.
out farther ado, I went on deck, stood my watch, and did
my duty ever after, as far as strength permitted.
It was amusing to see us sitting around our kid, the
half of a keg sawed in two, in which we received our
'grub' from the hands of the cook ; none partaking of a
particle, except the two seamen before spoken of, who
would use every possible persuasion for us to join with
them in the meal, and show an air of sociability. Some
times were they in earnest, but more frequently in banter
and raillery did they laugh at the squeamishness of our
stomachs ; but always ending their meal with a hope our
sickness might never be less.
The lamentations of the Fifer were at times truly laugh
able, affording life to the whole circle.
'Who, in the name of common sense, can eat such as .
this,' said he. 'It's hot swill nor victuals. I have not a
hog at home but would grunt his surly dislike at the best
I have seen since my ill-fate brought me on board of this
miserable vessel ; and were I to feed them as we are fed,
I should be afraid to eat pork for the remainder of 'my
days, fearing it would give me a likeness to the beasts for
my hard-heartedness ; and for my inhumanity I should be
drummed out of Berkshire.'
All his comparispns and similes were of 'Berkshire,' till
the whole of the crew got hold pf it in derisipn, and ban
died it about upon every occasion, till he swore, in his
homely way, which never amounted to more than 'I
swow,' 'darn my pluck,' 'dang my buttons,' 'I vowny,' &c.
&c. (not recordable,) that they knew as little about Berk
shire as he did of the rig of a ship, and if ever they
wished to appear respectable in knowledge, they must
visit there.
One day that we were at our meal, and he, the Fifer,
was dealing out his complaints freely, with but little notice
being taken of what he said, for he was rather a privi
leged character in this respect, and frequently said that in

PUTTING TO SEA. 61
the presence of the officers, which from another would
have been hushed with a reprimand, a head bobbed down
the hatchway, from which issued a voice, politely con
veying the respects of the captain, 'wishing to know how
the ypung gentlemen fared, who were sickish, and
whether there was any thing they ceuld relish ; for it
was pnly for them to name it, and their wants should
be supplied, it being his whole aim to make them com
fortable.' 'Tell the captain,' said the Fifer, in the honest simpli
city ef his heart, 'that I can eat a piece of apple-pie, with
a cup of tea, as strong as can be made, without sugar.'
After the lapse of a few minutes, the voice inquired
whether he chose milk pr cream' with the tea?
'Either will do, for I am np ways hard to please, so
that you are quick.'
Again, while he was waiting with much patience, did
the voice ^aisk^srhether toast would not do in the place of
the applerpie ; and said that he would have to wait for
the milk till the boat returned, which had just been sent
ashore to Cape Fly-away.
This was kept up for semetime, till the vessel resounded
with —
'Pass the word for the Fifer's apple-pies.'
'Stand by there to catch the toast and tea.'
'Bear a hand with the silver salver and the Fifer's
grub.' 'Yes, and an easy chair, boot-jack and slippers, with the
tackle-falls in readiness to ease him to his couch.'
'Let the loblolly boy be in readiness with the bite of a
rope, to fan him to sleep ; no harm if he mistake his back
for his shaggy whiskered face, and lathers a tittle of the
spleen out of him.'
When he found out their aim, and was aware of the
hoax put upen him, he would join in heartily with their
laugh, and was as well pleased as though he had not been
6 v.l

62 PUTTING TO SEA.
made their dupe. As I before said, he had more good
common sense, than falls to the shaie of men in general ;
but then his was entirely uncultivated, or not softened
down for the want of mixing with the world's throng*
His education was such as he had received at the school
in his native village, but of mankind he knew nothing,
and was unused to the ways of the world to the extent of
a novice. I "shall never forget the mirth his first duty, as a fifer,
produced on board of the brig, and I feel incompetent to
convey to the reader his attitude and twistings, so as they
may be intelligible ; for the scene must be viewed to be'
understood or, enjoyed.
At the first mustering at quarters, when at sea, the
drummer and fifer were stationed a little forward of the
mainmast, with the rest of the crew at their several sta
tions. The Fifer stood at his fullest height, tall and erect,
with his fife at his chin, in readiness at the signal for the
roll ; — his elbows elevated at right angles from the shoul
ders, stretched to the distance of unneighbourly kindness
towards each other ; his countenance was lighted up with
an animation suitable for the occasion, and to a degree
that nothing else but his favourite employment could pro
duce, forgetting for the time that he was from his home,
upon an element he both disliked and dreaded. At the
given signal, a blast from the fife was sent forth, which
might have been heard, if blown among his own hills, at
the distance of miles, accompanied with a trill to match,
whose length and duration made me suppose he had im
bibed the strength and capacity of his own bellows. As
he struck into 'hoist away the anchor,' (a not very appro
priate tune for mustering at quarters, but a favourite of
his) and grew warm with the business before him, he
would bring his left foot into play, and at each successive
repeat, would send it on deck with a force and sound far
above that of the drum at his side. This motion was not

PUTTING TO SEA. 63
long confined to the left foot, but soon began to show itself
in other parts of the frame; till the whole person was in a
constant supple-jack motion. Now, as he came to a part,
in which he wished to show both jhe graces of his atti
tude and the beauties of his tune, he would bend low, as
though he was suddenly seized with the cramp cholic,
jamming his left elbow into the seat of pain, and thump
ing it heavily in proportion to the particular emphasis
required, with the other elevated to preserve the due pro
portion of balance throughout: As he slid off into another
attractive part of his music, he would rise upon his toes,
come down suddenly on his heels, staccatoing his notes to
the admiration of his hearers. Again, in smoothing off a
cadence, he would stretch wide his knees, and while
squatting, "graduate his movements to the motions of his
fingers, so as to charm the listeners with the softness of
his notes, and the fascinating attitude he had chosen, till
their attention was instantly diverted to his high spring
into the air, giving meaning to his notes, music to his
hearers, and exercise to himself. *
When gaining strength and wind for any peculiat part,
or rather a strain on which he wished to lay unusual stress,
(for all parts of both music and action were peculiar, as
well- as unique in the highest degree,) he would gasp and
bobble with his mouth, like a bull-frog at the bait upon the
hook of a fisher-boy's line, throwing his head far back out
of the perpendicular, not unlike the frog, to continue the
comparison, after he has taken the bait and it proving not
to his liking, is trying to back out from his hard bargain.
After he had worked iri a sufficient quantity of material,
without losing1 a note, a blast came forth shrill and loud in
proportion to the gas and strength gathered in this ludi
crous manoeuvre. So interested would he become in his
all-engrossiing subject, it was not unfrequent that some one
had to pull the fife from his mouth, before he heard the
word 'halt,' or 'hold on' ; and if this happened in the mid-

64 PUTTING TO SEA.
die of a part, he would go through with his false motions
to the end, even then finding it difficult to still his bodily
quavers, so enthusiastically was he engaged with his
subject. His knowledge of fifing was limited to a few
tunes, and these the most hackneyed and of the oldest
fashion, such as 'Nancy Dawson,' 'Molly put the kettle on,'
a march or two, the 'revellee,' 'retreat,' and some com
mon hornpipes; but his ear was quick, was perceptive
of faults in others, and his memory retentive. The sup
pleness of his hard-working fingers, clumsy as they were,
was very surprising, and the man only wanted instruction
to become a first-rate musician. Here, however, his beau
ties were all confined to his strengh of wind and bodily
actions, making up to the curious for all other deficiencies.
I doubt very much, whether an audience would not be as
highly gratified at a half-hour's exhibition of this man, as
they would be with the most refined prchestrial perform
ance, when knowing he was actuated by enthusiasm, in
stead of a wish to gratify his hearers, for he made earnest
pf all 'his undertakings.
I fear the reader may say there is more time taken up
with the Fifer, than is requisite for the station he held ; but
to such I will answer, that I am recording events as I then
viewed them, as they were then impressed upon my
young imagination ; and from the circumstance of my duty
.laying with those in the lowest stations, so here must I
bring them forward, or else the materials for these chap
ters are but scanty. Besides, I take much pleasure in de
lineating the vagaries of one, in whom I at the time the
events occurred, took much interest ; for his faults, if faults
they were, lay at the surface, and with a little burnishing
were faults no longer. His heart at all times was in the
right place, and needed no promptings to do good, for he
harboured animosity against none, and was alike willing to
lend his aid to the one, that but a moment before had made
-him the laughing-stock of the circle, as to those who had

FIRST -GOING ALOET AT SEA. 65
taken his part, to ease him out with the hoax just put upon
him. As the Fifer and I were closely and firmly attached
to each other during our cruise and captivity, so here shall
we throughout the narration, be but occasionally separa
ted. As in the reality one was at a loss without the other,
so in the narrative must we jog along in company together,
hoping none may take offence at our intimacy.
My fitting out was not of the right sort, although ample
compared with many on board ; yet still I had many things
of but little use, while I was deficient in more which I ab
solutely needed for both health and comfort ; for instance,
I took with me no boots, and as our low craft was always
wet, my feet were never dry while on board of her ; and
when I had exchanged my wet stoekings for those that
were dry, to the extent of the number I had, I was com
pelled to endure the comfortless wet ones, which caused
my feet to swell so severely, that for two days I could not
wear my shoes, and had to go on deck without them. I
likewise felt the want of a pillow more than any one other
article, liberty excepted, till my arrival in prison, when I
provided myself with this, to me, great luxury.

CHAP. V.
FIRST GOING ALOFT AT SEA-
After exercising the crew, at their different stations,
and securing the guns, on the fifth day from port, the
third lieutenant, having the deck, a waspish fellow, one
who gloried in showing his authority, and a martinet of the
first water, ordered the foretopsail to be furled by the
green hands. Ferthwith came the shrill whistle, followed
by the harsh grating voice, from the internal lower regions
6* v.l

66 FIRST GOING ALOFT AT S-EA.
of the boatswain's Corporate body, as though the deeper
the cell, from whence the discordant mandate came, and
the louder it was belched forth, the more impressive would
it be upon those to whom it was directed, ordering all the
green hands aloft, for the purpose of gratifying the wishes
of our despot of the deck.
There had been a considerable swell during the past
night, setting from the south-east, in a contra direction from
the wind, which came from the north in fitful blast, and at
times blew with violence, a prognostic of an approaching
gale. This swell of the ocean caused our low craft, with
her heavy armament and heavier spars, to roll nearly
gunwale under at every lurch. She pitched and jerked
with the quickness and seeming contrariness of an adju
tant's untutored horse, when first brought in front of the
line to receive a battalion fire ; so that our green hands
had as full employment to keep their legs on deck, even
with the occasional aid of a neighbouring rope or gun
tackle, that lay within their grasping reach, as they need
desire, without the fear of being taxecLwith idleness.
Many of the green hands, from extreme weakness and
debility, brought on by the horrid nausea of the previous
four days, not the least relieved by the hard duty and
unrelished fare, had scarcely strength and energy to stand
upright. In their many attempts to balance themselves
across the decks, their arms were swinging and grasping
about in every direction, never suffering a chance to es
cape their eagerness for a clinch. They as often in theii
involuntary surgings, came in contact with the officer of
the deck, as each other, and showed no more preference
for him, than the pump, mast, or greasy cook, if he was
advantageously located within the orbit of their whirling
range or staggering propensities. Often, when seeing an
object on which they could rely for support, and when
sure of their mark, they would make a daring pitch
towards it, and find themselves rolling in the lee-scuppers,

FIRST GOING ALOFT AT SEA. 67
viewing the beauties of the firmament above, by the capri
cious movements of the deck under them, in one of the
fancy lurches of the brig.
Our Fifer was foremost in all such antics, for he had
the worst sea legs of any other on board, and was exces
sively awkward in accommodating the motions of hjs body
to the rolling of the brig. He at all times appropriated
more of. the deck" to his use, than he was entitled to by
by the ..station he held, by the indirect, zig-zag, crossing
and recrossing path he made, when in search of an object
he had in view. For whilst the body showed a sturdy
determination to go ahead, the limbs were as pertina
ciously determined to hold back— now, he was balancing
on pne foot, while its mate was struggling to outnumber
the circles cut in the air by the arm, till its fellow could
measure the distance to the deck, which the eyes could
npt do, for the multiplicity of business on hand, to outdo
the mouth in wide circular expansions, the mainspring of
the whole, to keep the equilibrium correct throughout the
man. He was so indescribably ludicrous in his slidings
and bracings, that the reprimand was of necessity turned
to a laugh before half uttered.
To such the going aloft was any thing but pleasant, and
in Fife's own words ''twas endangering life and, limb
unnecessarily, and should accident occur, I will take the
law of the officer in charge, whenever he can be found on
land; for the offence is indictable as plain as the nose on
Nimble Billy's face,' to whom the conversation was di
rected. The comparison was unfair, as it brought a gene
ral look at the nose, which had recently received an extra
coating; of smut unknown to, its owner.
a I
The brig was hove up in the wind,, to steady her a
little, and two good foremast hands led the way aloft, to
take each his station at the extremities of the yard, with
two others at the bunt, to assist the. 'know-nothings' in the
furling of the sail. There was no great alacrity of move-

68 EIRST GOING ALOFT AT SEA.
ment evinced, to rival each other in ascending the shrouds,
and some even hung back, till a second time told to 'lay
aloft, ye lubbers„lay aloft !'
As I have before said, I was determined on entering
the service, to show no disinclination to do whatever was
required, of me, be it ever so arduous. On this occasion,
I followed closely in the wake of the experienced ones,
yet doubting my ability to hold on in my then extreme
weak state. When reaching the fettock-shrouds, I made
demonstrations for crawling, through the lubber-hole, and
was progressing with an earnest assurance of soon accom
plishing my object, till warned with a kick on the head,
(which nearly toppled me back, with a less crawling gait,
albeit more dangerous, than the> one I had but so recently
used in coming up,) from the captain of the top, who was
there for general directions, to take the other and more
regular track. To work round and gain which, I had to
be quick, or let others precede me on the yard, which I
was fully determined, should not be done.
In working up the fettock-shrouds, a much dreaded
passage to all youngsters when first going to sea, the ves
sel seemed to roll and pitch even worse than before, and
I would have entered into a contract, to carry with me
through ' life, the lank, ill-shaped claws of the monkey,
had I but their cling and tenacity for holding on, for
these few minutes, to help me through with my present
difficulties, in reaching the yard. I overheard the Fifer,
who was close in my rear, soliloquizing, but could gather
nothing further, than, 'I have and can again, climb the
tallest chestnut in our town, which is full sixty feet with
out a limb— but then there was something to hold to.
This ladder of ropes is the most silly contrivance I ever
saw, and must have been invented by a numbskull, ¦ for
the especial torment of such fools as I am, for coming
here on this tom-fool's errand.'
His musings aloud (for his talking could not be called

FIRST GOING ALOFT AT SEA. 69
more, so little did he suppose any overheard him) were
cut short, by the captain of the foretop singing out for him
to clap his finger where he left off, and finish his sermon
when his watch was below ; and to bear-a-hand and let
the others come up who were at his stern.
I ascended to the yard- without difficulty, but could not
lay out with that ease and security, I had done many
times while in harbour, previous to sailing, for mere pas
time and amusement; for the yard was swaying to and
fro through the air, at a most fearful rate, by the rolling of
the dark billows far below ; whilst the wind, alone enough
to sweep one in so weak a state from the yard, was fu
riously driving and flapping the loose sail about, as though
each blast would tear it from the clewlines and strip it to
ribhons. I managed by dint of adhesiveness, to get at
my station at the extremity of the yard, time enough to
see the movements of my followers in their perilous ad
venture ; and were my exertions to get at my station, as
ludicrous as theirs, I have little reason to boast or be proud
of my first going aloft at sea.
Some cautiously felt their way %t the foot-rope, to see if
all were solid, whilst others took their chance upon the
yard, as being more substantial, throwing aside every
choice of position, except that of bringing all their limbs
into play, aping the bear both in movements and grace.
As the yard began to be well filled, it was truly laughable
to see the contortions of body, the twistings of limbs, the
grimaces of countenance, and the grapplings of fear,
which each lavishly displayed, in his endeavours to hold
on ; and truly, nothing but the death grasp of man could
be stronger. Now by the pitching forward of the brig,
some would nearly lose their balance over the yard-
kicking the foot-rope to the length of their legs behind,
and came nigh dislodging those who were disposed to do
things in a more regular and becoming way. Again, on
her bringing up, they would sway back their bodies, and

70 FIRST GOING ALOFT AT SEA.
throw their feet forwards, almost capsizing those who
were not prepared for such sudden and whimsical move
ments. -
Up to this time but little was done towards furling the
topsail, although none had been idle, each having enough
of his own affairs to attend to, without wasting time on the
duty of the brig ; and we afforded too much amusement
for those on deck, to have our motions quickened, by
threats and oaths, as usual on. such occasions of bungling
tardiness. We were trying, through the advice of the
captain of the foretop, to depend more upon the foot-rope,
but all could not bring their minds and limbs to act in uni
son, each supposing he had hit upon a plan of safety pe
culiarly adapted to his figure and strength ; but before ma
tured, his fickleness of mind had changed to another mora
Suitable to his position, as he hung on the yard. There
was such a shooting of the feet this way, sliding them the
other, toeing it right and left, in and out, fore, and aft —
some trying to get a choice part of the rope to stand upon,
while others were over-reaching their own premises, and
appropriating for their use a portion of the territories' be
longing to others, and all going through with such cross
ing and slidings of the feet, that a hail was drawn from
the- deck :
'Foretopsail yard, there !'
'Aye, aye, sir!' answered the captain of the top.
'Tell the young gentlemen if they wish to have' a ska
ting match, to come on deck and tighten their skates. I'll
risk a crown that the Fifer takes the lead ; and if he has
bottom equal to the suppleness of his legs, I will double
the bet.'-
'Oh, its very easy joking at the difficulties of others,'
said the Fifer, (for he was an inveterate talker, and had a
word, however homely, for every one,) 'while down there
at your ease ; but if you had to hold on here and work-
too, you would find it any thing but play, darn your lazy

FIRST GOING ALOFT AT SEA. 71
pluck.' His talking ceased suddenly, by his missing his
foot-hold, and coming down straddle across the rope he
was so lately taking his steps upon. This brought another
hail from below.
'Ask the Fifer if he is going to take a ride, and whether
he will have a pair of spurs sent him ?'
'I will eat a pair of spurs without salt or gravy, if I cant'
whip a round dozen, one at a time, like that noisy chap
below, and not know what I have been about,' responded
,our slack-rope ridef in an under tone, so as only to be
heard by those on the yard : 'He is like an old bell-
weather of ours, which would bleat and blare like all cre
ation, at any of the flock being caught in the brambles,
without ever showing a willingness to help.'
He was clambering up whilst the under-toned mutter-
ings were going on, and soon gained his place on the yard
again, for where he could get a grasp with his hand he
was safe, sp prodigious was his strength. To make all
sure, he hugged the yard by clasping his arms around it,
defying all the 'old Harries' in the kingdom of Satan to
dislodge him, when a third hail came up.
'Tell the gentleman with the yard irt his arms, to be so
good as to bring it on deck.'
'I can carry it on deck, and with it thrash the liver out
of you in five, minutes, if you will but hold the vessel still
as long ; but this jerking about in the clouds, is not the
place for a man to show what he can do.'
Whether the officer on deck heard the answer of the
Fifer I do not know, but he made a motion to the man at
the wheel, who understood his meaning, and let the ves
sel's head fall off so as to meet a heavy sea, which struck
her full in the larboard bow, with such tremendous force,
as to make her tremble in every part. I turned my head
to see how the others fared with the shock, having myself
been nearly thrown off by its severity and suddenness,
when at the instant, the Fifer lost his hold the second

72 FIRST GOING ALOFT AT SEA.
time, fell, and would never again been enabled to respond
to the jokes of the crew, had he not in his rapid descfent
caught the foot-rope with his hand. A thrill of horror ran
through all who saw him dangling high in the air, with
but one hand hold of the rope ; but that hand was of no
common make, for it possessed the grasp of a vice, and he,
while the lookers-on held their breath through fear and
suspense, coolly raised himself up, swung a leg over the
rope, and sat as before when taunted as to the spurs.
The lieutenant of the deck sung »ut so as to be dis
tinctly heard by all, 'Why, this beats all Berkshire.'
The Fifer cast his look downward at the officer, and
boldly said, 'When you can do that without turning pale
or breathing short, you'll prove yourself a greater man
than I now think you are.' The circumstance excused
the offence, or the officer not seeming to hear, for no
notice was taken of his words. The Fifer gained his
former positipn uppn the yard with ease, and I could not
perceive the least trepidation in nerve or look..
We got through with the duty, without farther mishap,
except that an old blue jacket,, who was next to Nimble
Billy, in his hurry and anxiety to finish the work in ques
tion, passed the lashing firmly round the arm of that
worthy personagefand made all fast to the yard, without
its owner knowing it till piped down. When the lieu
tenant saw the fellow trying to free himself from his
dilemma, the sail was ordered to be unfurled -and again
clewed up, with an admonition that such oversights would
not be tolerated or passed over harmlessly when on duty.
The second slip of the Fifer, sobered all on the yard, as
well as those below, himself excepted, who appeared to
be the only one unconcerned about it, by his chattering
away with as much volubility as ever. It mattered but
little to him who were the listeners, or whether any, talk
he would.
When descending, we had by orders from below, to

FIRST GOING ALOFT AT SEA. 73
pass and re-pass the 'pokerish place,' as Amos termed the
fettock shrouds, several times, till we were rid of the
squeamishness exhibited in the ascent. Glad was I for
one, that it appeared less and less dangerous at each suc
cessive passage, till I nearly pvercame all dread ef it.
This furling of the fpretopsail tong afforded amusement
to the crew, by the bungling manner it was done by the
'land-lubbers, who were more fit to man a pudding stick
than a yard.' Well can I recall, even to this distant day,
my feelings and sensations when first laying out upon the
yard, high over a boisterous and angry sea.
While being exercised at our quarters, I with seven
others, was placed in the long boat, which stood amid
ships of the deck, with muskets. This was the first inti
mation I had of being drafted into the marine corps. On
the lieutenant learning that I had seen service in the
militia, he ordered me to take the right of these other
seven fire-eaters, with an intimation to them, I was their
superior. Thus was I promoted in this early stage of the
cruise, without the hazard or fatigue of earning it, by
a previous endangering my person with a daring act
against an enemy, as promotions are usually won in time
of war. The honour was duly acknowledged by an extra
straightening from the head downwards, with a severe
military frown, fashioned from one of our third lieute
nant's most improved kind ; but which, I am sorry to say,
was mistaken, by its being understood in disapprobation
at my sudden elevation. And well it might, by any
one better versed in military affairs than in my mean
ing scowl ; for on looking about the citadel so lately put
under my command, none could be envious of my high
distinction, for we were elevated far above the bulwarks
of the brig, and stpod the fairest mark for the aim of the
enemy's sharpshooters, and were much more exposed
than those at the guns on deck, or any others on board,
with no possible chance of a retreat from our quarters,
7 v.l

74 FIRST GOING ALOFT AT SEA.
without our motions being seen by the whole deck's
crew; which, at times, is a greater stimulant in a hard
fight, than any innate propensity of the afterwards lauded
hero. However, I desponded not at my marineship, as
it lasted no longer than when we should be in close
action with the enemy, and beyond that, my duty lay
with the blue jackets.
The twenty-fifth of December, Christmas, I spent quite
differently from any previous, being engaged the whole
of the day in making and filling cartridges for the larger
guns of our brig. The weather had become pleasant and
warm, and I began to hope my sickness would pass
away; but as yet I had felt no relief, neither had my
appetite in the least returned.
The treatment of the men was harsh and uncalled for.
We were overburthened with commissioned and petty
officers, each striving to outdo the others in exercising
hi3 authority, or venting his over-loaded spleen upon his
luckless inferior, and so on down to the merest boy on
board. I do not say this on my own authority, as let the
treatment and fare have been ever so bad, I should not
have known but it was all right, nor that it differed from
what was usual on ship-board, for 1 had never been to sea
before to know of better. But there were others in the
brig, who had spent the greatest portion of their days
upon the ocean, many having been in the naval services
of France, England and America, while others had seen
service in every shape and form, and in every description
of craft; these uniformly declared the treatment here,
both as to harshness, and scantiness of fare, exceeded all
they had ever experienced.
• The crew had not yet been long enough at sea, to settle
certain important questions ; among the most prominent of
which, Was, 'who shallbe eur Jonah?' As there never
yet was a vessel put to sea, without this praiseworthy and
all-important personage being on board, or a representative
of his worshipful self, so was the brig to have hers. The

FIRST GOING ALOFT AT SEA. 75
crew had been balancing between the doctor and purser's
steward, with an occasional leaning towards the Fifer,
since if was known he came off solely on a female's
account ; a no small consideration to the advancing of one
to the dignity of that high station, the ship's Jonah ; espe
cially if it could be proven, that the female had been ill-
treated. . But no such proof appearing with our present-
candidate, the Fifer, his chance was worth but little, of
his ever being dubbed the Jonah of our good brig.
Of the steward, not much was known, except that he,
previous to coming on board, was a grocer, with a family
larger than his business. The latter was left to the ma
nagement of the former, while the head of both family
and business, could easily add a couple of thousand dol
lars capital to the little already in hand, by taking a short
cruise in this redoubtable privateer, the prince of all pri
vateers, both as to racing and luck, as her former cruis-
ings had told.
The doctor's history was still more in obscurity, than
his of the bread room. He came on board but just before
sailing, and dove into the cabin, whererhe remained, with
the exception of once or twice coming on deck, till after
our capture. No one" in the brig knew aught of him, he
being a total stranger to all, officers as well as men, and
was indebted to his own lucky star, for his present berth,
aided by his diploma and recommendations. It was gener
ally believed on board, that he had very little or no
medical acquirements, and subsequent information has
proved the belief to be well founded.
After my return, I was made acquainted with the fol
lowing (hearsay) facts. He was boarding, as a stranger,
at a house in Boston, where likewise lodged several stu
dents of medicine ; and was without the means of paying
his board, when he made application for a situation in the
brig. He was told all were filled, with the exception of
that of surgeon. After inquiring the necessary qualifica-

76 , FIRST GOING ALOFT AT SEA.
tions for the office, the next day he appeared with his
diploma and recommendations from the college physi
cians of a southern medical institution, obtained the
wished-for berth, and immediately repaired on board.
It was afterwards ascertained that one of the student's
trunks had been opened, and his diploma, together with
many articles of usefulness to a needy candidate for sur
gical distinction, taken away. As the 'doctor' had left
his trunk, as security for the sum he was owing the land
lady, which on being opened, proved of no value, the
lost diploma was easily accounted for ; too late, however,
to trace the flown bird, who was already beyond a recall.
The recommendations might have been genuine, or of a
piece with the diploma, a matter of little moment now,
and one difficult to clear up at this distant day ; but most
likely he went to sea under an assumed name, without
the knowledge of his relatives, if any he had, and they in
all probability could not have heard of his career. He
afterwards took the small-pox, while in the prisons at
Dartmoor, and died, unregretted; for he was of a cold
and taciturn temperament, disposed to associate with but
few, and these without freedom or cordiality. Yet his
exterior deportment was gentlemanly, and he possessed
the marks of a well educated man. But, like the steward,
in the language of the seamen, he was of 'wishy-washy'
material, and was a 'white-livered lubber.'
On such only had we to depend for succour and aid, in
case of sickness or being maimed, in the perilous adven
ture on which we were bound. But thanks to an over
ruling Providence, the doctor's skill was wanted only to
his own cure.
I believe it was ultimately settled by a bare majority,
to the title of 'doctor,' should be added that of 'Jonah.'
The minority, however, held out long and heartily for
him of bread dust and short weight notoriety, citing every
imaginary evil that had befallen us, and laying all to his

THE STORM. 77
charge. It however did not go down with the majority,
most of them knowing the very berth of steward to be
obnoxious to sailors, let it be in the hands of ever so well
disposed a person ; and they wished the Jonah of the brig
to be, as of right he ought to be, the most unfortunate one
on board, else in case of disasters, by disposing of him
after the fashion of the great original, the desired effect
could not be obtained.
I hope, should these remarks ever meet the eye of our
worthy steward, he will pardon the promulgating of his
defeat, as the facts of history must be told, howsoever
grating to the feelings ef those they may cross in their
onward course. I feel the bolder in supposing he will,
when, apart from his defeat, which cannot be laid to any
thing vicious in his conduct or disposition, but rather to
the want of peculiar endowments, the electors averred
were requisite for this distinctive office, others can bear
witness besides the writer, that there were few on board
more estimable in bearing and character than himself.
But he was as disappointed in the enjoyment of his cruise,
as he was unfit for cruising, and disliked the life of a
sailor as much as others, who have oftener been brought
before the reader for less worthy purposes.

CHAP. VI.
THE STORM.

At the closing of the fifth day from port, the weather
grew threatening and boisterous, and to all appearance,
we were like to have an ugly night. To avoid the
dangers of which, we were kept busily at work, securing
the guns from the possibility of their breaking loose;
7* v.l

78 - THE STORM.
getting from aloft the lighter spars, and making them safe
in the places allotted them when on deck, doubly lashing
the boats, and doing whatever was thought necessary to
make 'all snug,' against the approaching gale.
Before my watch was relieved, the wind had rapidly
increased, and lashed the sea about in a grand but fearful
manner. Even after our watch were allowed to go below,
the gale still continued to rise : and we were not long
left to our rest, before the shrill whistle and doleful cry of'
the_ boatswain, 'all hands, ahoy!' came like the foreboding
of the disasters which were to follow, and involve in
destruction the hopes of all on board.
The dismal hail by night, of 'all hands on deck,' can
only be fully understood, by 'those who have been in situa
tions to know its meaning, by experience. There is no
other call so harrowing to the feelings of a ship's crew —
none, in which the imagination runs into pending dangers
so greatly, as this, except that of 'all hands to the pumps,
ahoy!' or the cry of fire. Not that by this cry the crew
are called from their short slumbers, after hours of weari
less on deck, or that their disturbed rest is broken and
intruded upon, by the required laborious and exposed
duty when called, but because at first, they know not the
reason of being called, or what disasters they are to en
counter in their night turn-out on deck, made doubly
hideous by the obscurity of the surrounding darkness.
As I was saying, our watch below was not long allowed
to rest, ere we were called to assist in farther securing the
yards and spars from the violence of the increasing gale.
As fast as one portion of her rigging and spars were made;
fast, others showed symptoms of yielding, and required
the united aid of the crew to their safety. By the time
the top-gallantmasts were housed and the yards on deck,
it was verging towards the rising of another day's sun, but
with little indications of light, for the night throughout
had been of pitchy darkness, which was continued late.

THE STORM. 79
into the morning ; although there was a moon of some ten
days old, yet it was so obscured by thick clouds and the
surrounding mist, as not to afford a particle of light, to aid
in making the lowering gloom less appalling.
As the morning gradually broke, the view which the
light gave us of the turbulent and contending elements
was truly awful ; and to me, who had never before seen a
storm at sea, grand, but frightfully grand, in the extreme.
We were lying-to under the fore-and-aft foresail, and it
seemed impossible that the brig could weather the fury of
the gale, maintain herWioyancy in the angry, tumultuous,
and impetuous waves, as they occasionally came sweep
ing across her deck, or live in the curling vortex and mad
lashings they exhibited around her— appearing the more
furious from the slight resistance her hull offered, by
crossing their all-devouring whirlpool paths of destruction.
The brig made such bad weather, as it was termed on
board, that her head was directed before the wind, the
only sail taken in, and she was suffered to be driven by
its violence with the rapidity of a race-horse, and with
nothing above deck save her masts and rigging, through
which the winds whistled with an appalling fury, but little
known to landsmen, or those unused to sea voyages. We
were kept on deck most of the day, to be in readiness for
any emergency or danger, which the fury of the gale
might momentarily bring upon us.
Here I had an opportunity of noticing the effects of the
storm upon the different temperaments of our varied and
motley crew. The experienced officers of worth and de
pendence, were easily told from those of neither nerve
nor knowledge, even by me, the least acquainted of any
on board. The former were still, cool, and dispassionate,
but stern in their commands, uttering them with a sub
dued but distinct voice, allowing full time for the order to
be executed before giving out another — rather trying to
alleviate the work, than to make it the more burdensome

80 THE STORM.
by unnecessary labour ; while the latter were fretting,
swearing, and threatening, in the most boisterous and un
dignified manner, throwing out their orders without at first
knowing whether right or wrong, countermanding them
when half completed, and with angry gesticulations and
threats, disconcerting and intimidating those, who otherwise
would have had the confidence and abilities to execute the
necessary service required ; expecting thus to hide their
whims, caprice, and deficiences under the cover of bluster,
anger, and oaths — ever giving the^en trouble and vexa
tion, by the arduous and more fh!F double duty, brought
on by their inexperience; which was made ten-fold worse
by the absence of coolness, want of arrangement, and not
possessing the confidence of the men.
The first lieutenant stood foremost in the estimation of
all on board, and fully deserved the good esteem he had
gained from the crew, by knowing the capacity of each of
those under him, and putting no more to the performance
of any one than he was able to get through with. Should
but a tithe, however, of his command remain unfinished,
at the expiration of the given period assigned for its com
pletion, woe be to the delinquent, for the task would be
doubled, and the time lessened for its performance.
Our third lieutenant (the second was nobody, alike
incapable cf doing or judging for himself in any thing
pertaining to the duty of the brig,) was among the blus
terers of the latter class. He had been a warrant officer
in the United States' service, had taken part and assisted
in more than one of those splendid victories now preserved
in the archives of history, and it was said had performed
his duty well. In reward for all of which, he was granted
a furlough for six months, for the sake of giving him a
chance of recruiting his finances, by a trip in our brig, the
readiest and most sure way of becoming rich, the more
especially when one was limited in time, as was our third
from the captain in command. It was likewise said (oh,

THE STORM. 81'
bane, thou art ever rustling where nestle the sweets,)
that he had received his furlough from his former service
in a much more unceremonious manner, and for a much
longer period than six months. In plainer terms, it was
currently reported, that for certain misdemeanors and un-
officerlike conduct, he had been cashiered and discharged
from the, service, and he was more than glad to obtain a
berth here, to be out of hearing of his disgrace. By his
former experience, as well as bearing and appearance,
much was expected of him ; but little did he accomplish,
while with us, except to engender hate and ill-will, by
his constant harshness, high oaths, and digusting swagger.
He cared not how he endangered the men in his mani
fold freaks of ill temper, and was forever harrassing them
when either aloft or on deck, by his bungling and contra
dictory orders, given without forethought or knowledge.
With the men the above traits were still more easily to
be traced. I have seen old seamen show a disposition to
flinch from a duty of danger, when those who before were
never at sea, would stand undaunted in any emergency,
with a willing readiness to assist to the extent of their
abilities. A few instances will suffice to explain.
One of the two old tars of my mess had spent the
greatest portion of the thirty-five years he had lived, upon
the ocean. While in port he was of a jolly, good-hearted
disposition, able, ready and willing to execute any portion
of the duty alow or aloft, that was assigned him. This
man, by me, was much admired for his dexterity in climb
ing the rigging, knotting the ropes — splicing, reeving and
stitching the sails and rigging with a facility and ease, I
never expected to acquire, however closely I might apply
myself to the business I had adopted. I was at times
absolutely envious of his performances,' when comparing
my bungling with his adroitness, supposing him to be the
ne plus ultra of a foremast hand ; and I had taken him
as a copy by which to fashion my own hand to the use of

82 THE STORM.
ship-board duty, believing none other could come up to'
his exploits or abilities, and was more than willing to fol
low at a respectful distance, so renowned a scholar. At
seaj however, he was a different person ; he would at the
slightest opportunity, skulk below from his watch on
deck, sham sickness, suffer every humiliating epithet to
be heaped upon him, without a wince of disapprobation,
leave others to do- what belonged to his duty, and, in
fact, was good for nothing, but to snore while in his ham
mock, and swill whiskey when out of it. This fellow
during the gale, was only in the way of others; and had
all on board been only of his worth, notwithstanding .his
experience, we should have escaped our future imprison
ment, albeit we might have been more uncomfortably pro
vided with quarters by the side of old Davy Jones; for
th,e vessel never could have rode out the gale, had there
not been a portion of good seamen on board.
As I before have said, many of the green hands, whose
services were valuable and praiseworthy, compared with
that rendered by some of the older seamen, were to be
found at their posts, unintimidated by the fierceness of
the surrounding elements, and showed with undaunted
firmness, examples worthy of being followed by those of
longer experience. A slender pale-faced lad, who had
never known other labour than that of standing behind
the counter of a retail hardware store, proved himself of
better metal than many who held posts of authority in
the brig. At the order given for the furling or the shak
ing out a sail, he was the first aloft, doing his work in It
manner that never needed patching or a second overhaul"
ing, by a more experienced hand. His willingness to
lend a hand, or alacrity of movements, was not through
a desire to excel or outstrip his shipmates before the eyes
of his superiors, for he disliked the life of a sailor, so
recently by him undertaken, as much as many others, but
because he felt it his duty, and knew it to be the easier

THE STORM. 83
to proceed at once to his task, with a willing hand and a
cheerful aspect, than wait to be forced forwards by a do
mineering swell and insulting threat. This was his first
and last trip to sea, and he has since become a worthy
and respectable merchant in the city of his birth.
Another lad of eighteen, a playmate of mine when we
were boys, turned out one of the most efficient hands
among the crew. He was never backward or sullen, but
on the contrary, always ready with his laughing joke, to
join in any mirthful frolic, or with his clear head and
Steady hand to help where help was needed. This young
man has since entered the navy, as a midshipman, where
I have lost sight of him for some years, but I have no
doubt from his early promise, he has proved himself an
ornament to the profession of his choice.
1 I have seen older heads dodge, when others did not
move an eyelid, while, for the first time, looking at the
cannon's mouth belching forth destruction upon the craft
they were in, followed by cannister and grapeshot, which
came rattling through the sails and rigging, and whistling
about their heads with terrific fierceness. Foremost with
the latter stood the Fifer, who exhibited not the least
signs of fear at any time, or under any emergency
wherein he was placed ; but on the contrary, was appa
rently as cool and collected as when at his own fireside.
Perhaps I cannot better exemplify the disregard of the
men's safety, by the third lieutenant, than by relating a
circumstance that took place the morning after the gale
had set in.
I felt some little curiosity to see the first impression of
the sight of the storm upon the Fifer. I say sight, for he
had been on duty during the night, but the surrounding
darkness was so great, one could only feel, and not see,
the tumultuous raging of the ocean. I was purposely on
deck a few minutes before him, after an unquiet rest of
an hour Below, and watched his motions narrowly as he

84 THE STORM.
came up, knowing he had never before seen, in any com
parison, such a sight as the convulsed and ragged waves,
forced by the wind to the height of his native hills, pre-
sented, and which was now spread before him. He stood
with the aid of a belaying pin for some time, looking out
upon the angry waters, as they rushed by with fearful
rapidity, in alternate toppling ridges and engulfing chasms,
and at last soliloquized, (he appeared not conscious any
were listeners,) thus:
'Well, I snore, a man would stand no more chance
overboard here, than a blind kitten would in Uncle, Ben's
mill-race, with flood-gates and all open.'
'Suppose you try it,' said the third lieutenant, who had
overheard the remark, 'and as the wind with its whistling,
is affording us music, your fife will not be wanted during
its blow ; and should you keep up with the craft, we will
take you on board when you become tired or the wind
Julls — the swim will make a very sea-dog of you, if there
be any virtue in salt water baptism.'
'Why deacon, (he had a deacon, a 'squire, a colonel, or
a captain, for every one) you don't suppose I'm such a
gummy, as to jump over here ; why a man could not
keep his head above the water long enough to say his
prayers, even with a chestnut rail under him of twice his
length.' The lieu tenant's left corner of the mouth began to twitch
and jerk downwards, working itself into the lowermost
part of the face, in hitches and starts, like the lee goose-
wing of the mainsail, with the whole after-guard bowsing
on, a sure indication of wrath, at the Fifer's familiarity,
when he pointed to the extremity of the jib-boom, at
which was dangling the bite of a rope, and said,
'Do you see that rope hanging yonder? It's the
deacon's pleasure to have you fetch it him.'
The Fifer opened his eyes with astonishment, at the
wantonness of the officer; and began with 'you don't

THE STORM. 85
mean to say,' but was stopped with a quick and menacing,
'go, sirrah ! and that at once,' uttered in a low but deep
guttural tone, of emphatic meaning, accompanied with
a look alone satanic.
The Fifer coplly divested himself of his jacket, or
rather the remains of his mutilated coat, and stepped
boldly out upon the bowsprit, on his way to execute the
tyrant's order, which was perilous in the extreme. We
were scudding~before the gale, with nothing set, the brig
lying at the mercy of the elements, and whose only safety
was, in being kept before the wind, a position which
caused her head to plunge deep into almost every sea,
when struck by a larger than the one that preceded it ;
and had she dipped under while the Fifer was making his
slow passage out and in, it is needless to say, it would
require a stronger grip than even he possessed, to keep
good his hold, for no earthly power could have saved him
from being swept away.
Good- fortune, however, befriended him ; for he gained
the extremity of the jib-boom, and with his' knife, severed
the rope in two places, so as to leave nothing hanging —
worked himself back, stood on deck in the presence of
the lieutenant, with the rope in his hand, and asked 'if
there was any other job of the like kind he wished to
have done ?' But he had already done too much for the
lieutenant's comfort; for the rope was a portion of the
jib down-haul, that had worked loose, and would have to
be replaced by a new one ; for the splicing it now in its
present state, would not answer, as the officer must have
known, by the vexatious manner he was biting his lip, at
thus being foiled, and having the lost rope placed to his
account. He said- not a word, appearing to be deeply
engaged with what he saw aloft ; but up to the present
time, it never has transpired whether any thing unusual
was there; if so, it was only interesting to the officer in
question, who would like to detract the idea from those
8 v.l

86 THE STORM.
around -him, that his intended fright to the' Fifer, had re
coiled upon himself, inasmuch as he had been guilty of
committing a .blunder.
'Here is a pretty apology for as goodly a coat, as any one
need to have for ev'ry-day use, but three days ago, and
now look at it,' said the Fifer, spreading the mutilated
garment at arm's-length before him — 'it's not long enough
to cover the kidneys, let alone, were I eveT to have the
tail of a monkey to hide ; I shall not be surprised if I
have, after what has taken place within the last three
weeks; and when I look back, I only wish I had been
monkey all over, till I came to my right senses and staid
at home, instead of coming here among a set, that care as
little for other people's appearance and feelings, as they do
for their own, or the religion they know nothing of. It is
my firm belief, things can't go on so much longer without
a rumpus, if they do, I know one who has lost his spunk
by going upon the water, always supposing I know any
thing, or that I aint dreaming — gad-a-me! if wishing
made things aright, I would breakfast, dinner and supper
on nothing else, till I was out of this scrape, if I wpuld'nt
may my christening do me no good, which is the worst
oath I've ever sworn.'
His coat, out of which came the aforesaid jacket, and
the cause of the present soliloquy, prediction and oath,
was of the common country homespun fabric of the inte
rior, from whither its owner hailed — fashionable once, no
doubt at home, even for Sunday use, but quite the reverse
in the present capacity of its wearer.
The tailor had not stinted his cloth in the whole, but,
on the contrary, had been most liberal, even to extra
vagance, with one part, while, to check his prodigality
in this sinful waste, he had cabbaged from another to the
extent of niggardly meanness. For instance, the skirts
had the greatest share of the cloth originally intended for
the coat; and had taken their starting place high up in

THE STORM. 87
the back, tapering off, till drawn nearly to a point, some
where in the region of the owner's heels, fn his many
gyrations about the rolling deck, they swept a circle of a
fathom or more in each twirl of the 'double ringed-tailed-
monkey,' as, not inaptly, dubbed }?y the lovers of mis
chief, who took the first opportunity to razee the coat, in
a pure spirit of kindness, declaring- the owner could never
walk the deck like a sailor, with such an outlandish rig
as this.
In their anxiety 'to do the snug thing, so that there
shall be no danger of its sprouting another tail,' (in their
own lingo,) they took a half circling sweep with the
knife, at a time when the owner was dealing out a few
anathemas on a waggish fellow, who sung out from the
rigging above, for him to catch the tar box, but either
through the intention of the one, or the clumsiness of the
other, he only caught the tar, whilst the box rolled on
deck, severing the skirts with a large portion of the back,
from the rest of the coat, leaving but little that was of
use to its wearer, except the collar and sleeves ; with the
opportunity, however, of his displaying to advantage, the
red flannel backing of the waistcoat underneath, which
loomed up like the moon in the first quarter through a
hazy atmosphere.
If the Fifer was angry at the recent coating of tar he
had received, and which was so liberally bespattered upon
his goodly person, one may well imagine his wrath at the
uncoating of his brawny baek and haunches. He dared
the perpetrator to show himself, and be he whomsoever
he may, he would take the worth of the coat out of his
'darn'd, etarnal hide; and however he might think he
had the bull by. the tail, I will show him he has the bull
by the horns, in less time than it takes a squirrel to shut
his eye when shot by a rifle bullet — at arms-length, back-
hug, half-buttock, or side-fling, I can throw the stoutest
man in Berkshire, and the least in, the county can whip
the best of this devil-be-set, hang-do^ crew.'

88 THE STORM.
¦Cock-a-doodle doo! the Fifer's in a stew! pops and
pinks for two !'
'Mutiny, mutiny ! he threatens all hands !'
•Call the corporal of the guard and ruffle his wrists,
before others can jofh him.'
'Yes, he's the ringleader — make all sure with him — no
danger of the others.'
'If you want to show your strength,' as soon as the
Fifer could find room to wedge in a word, 'joke or in
earnest, I'm your man — once get up my ebenezer, some
of you will call out 'enough,' or I'll swallow what's left of
the coat, for my share of the dinner, and come off better
than since I have fed here, where is a pound of salt for
every half pound of beef, without its being sweet at that.'
'I'll bet two to one, the Fifer's jaw-tackle is longer than
his coat-tail is at present.'
'Toggle his tongue with a paint brush, and his beauties
will shine in livelier colours.'
'You're all a pack of fools, every one of ye — you kntff
as little how to treat a. stranger, as you do the difference
between the first book of Moses and Thomas' almanac'
'Stand by for the Fifer's sermon.'
'Why did'nt you ship for a parson ?'
'Why did'nt you learn some manners while studying
your deviltries, you half-licked cub of some tar barrel's
premature spawning.'
'The Fifer will do yet, for he is beginning to swear, and
will soon get the hang of an oath, if he improves in his
studies as he has latterly, when he shall be regularly
installed, by riding a bpat-bopk abput the deck.'
Such jeers as these, were the only satisfaction Amos
received for the loss of his coat-tail.
I, will mention but one other instance of placing the
men in jeopardy. This, however, was not in the mere
wantonness of indulging a depraved feeling, but for the
sake of showing to the whole crew, as well as to those

THE STORM. 89
who were disposed to screen themselves from their regu
lar duties, that discipline must be maintained, and that the
duty of none should be lessened to be borne by others.
The delinquent in question had come on board but just
before sailing, and had seen no service while in port, or
else I am certain he never would have continued in the
brig. He was in business with an elder brother, and as
partners, carried on the cabinet making. They had full
employment, and with continued attention to business,
might have become wealthy ; but in an evil hour, the
mania for prize money took its .hold of the junior partner,
and nothing would do but a trip to sea, and a tumbling of
the money boxes of Johnny Bull, assigning, like many
others, (one of whom was a near connexion of mine, and
in close proximity to me during my sojourn abroad,) 'that
a short trip to sea could hurt no one, and by spring at
farthest, we shall be back, when, should we not like the
life of a sailor, we can but return to our former occupa
tion, with renewed energies for the little brushings up
we may get, by the varied employments while upon the
ocean.' The man under consideration had ever been a great
beau, and much noticed for the neatness and extravagance
of his dress, always appearing with the newest fashions^
and a great patronizer of the Newmans, Kuhns, and Kim-
balls of the day, who cpuld in np other way so well
exhibit the niceties of their arts and handicrafts, as on
his graceful and handsome person, the envy of many a
fop, who was less gifted by nature with a form unexcep
tionable, and an insinuating capacity for wheedling mer
chant tailors and hackney coachmen out of such comforts
as by them desired.
Our friend thought it somewhat hard, and encroaching
upon the independence of a republican of his stamp, to
be compelled to stand watch or do duty as others did,
desiring rather to take his ease below — never missing an
8* v.l .

90 THE STORM.
opportunity to skulk, night or day. Were he roused up
with no ceremonious care of the boatswain's rough han
dling, he shrunk away with the first inattention of this
'Whipper-up' tormentor of watch-calling. This he had
persisted in, notwithstanding the admonition he received
to 'sin no more,' till his conduct became so great an
offence, that the first lieutenant was made acquainted
with his doings, when acting as officer of the deck, during
the worst night of the storm I have been relating at the
beginning of this chapter.
At the calling of the watch, the man of grace came on
deck, and was left to pursue his own musings, as best
suited his liking, till the watch had about half expired,
when the lieutenant desired some one to pass the word for
'take comfort,' as he was wanting. The word was passed
and re-passed to and fro through the vessel, to very little
respect as to his hearing it ; for he was snugly stowed in
his hammock, sleeping at much the same rate we had
lately been scudding — ten knots per hour. At last he
was found and disturbed from his slumbers, by the aid of
the mutton fists of the boatswain, wielded none the lighter
by their oft repeated pummelling the same carcass, for the
like offence ; he came on deck, and went aft, to see what
could be the cause of this second nocturnal turn-out in
the same watch. The lieutenant, with as much mildness
and suavity of manner, as he would have displayed to a
ball-room belle, when asking her to join the dance, po
litely requested the foppish young man to go aloft to the
head of the mainmast, and keep a sharp look-out for land;
with a hint, if he were caught sitting while there, some
other employment should, he provided for him, (if less
suitable to his wishes, it would be more lively to his feel
ings,) for shunning his duty and disobeying orders.
I really think there was not one on board, who would
not have done any thing to alleviate this fellow's punish
ment, except taking his place at the mast-head. The ni°-ht

THE STORM. 91
was pitchy dark, the sea rolling mountains high, and the
brig now hove-to under her storm-staysail only, and barely
able to keep that to the wind, close reefed as it was. As
I have already said, the vessel was hermaphrodite rigged,
her mainmast towering high in one piece, with no top as
when square rigged, the cross-trees being the first landing
place when ascending from the deck ; on this was the poor
fellow compelled to stand for two hours, with no outside
guard to check him should he lose his hold, by the velocity
of the mast, in its swaying to and fro in each roll of the
brig. As the top-gallantmast was housed, and the shrouds
and stays necessary for its support were secured, he had
nothing to cling to, except the head of the spar, which ex
tended in its housed state but a little above the mainmast.
For one, I had not a moment's rest from the time he left
the deck till his return ; each minute expecting to see his
body dashed to atoms on the deck, or hear the splash of
its fall overboard.
At the expiration of some time, a foremast hand was sent
up to learn how he was getting on, it being too dark to see
half the height of the mast from the deck. On his coming
down, in answer to the officer's inquiries, he said 'there is
no danger of the thing, for he has veneered himself so
firmly around the mast, that it will take a harder blow
than the present to unglue him ; and it is fully my opinion
when they are separated, the mast will be weakened by
the slabs and splinters it will be bereft of, by the booby
sticking so close.' Some averred the next day, that he
had left his nails deeply imbedded in the mast, and that it
would have to undergo a regular scraping before again fit
for use.
Our Adonis never required a second calling to be
brought on deck, the experiment entirely curing him of
his propensity to nap, while his neat person was required
elsewhere in the brig. His mast-heading not only taught
him a lesson to obey orders, but it also gained him no little

92 THE STORM.
notoriety in the brig for his coolness in ascending aloft,
and determination of staying till sent for to come down,
as no hailing would he answer to while thereat, although
thundered through the trumpet by the bellowing voice of
our third lieutenant, who prided himself in possessing the
greatest strength of lungs of any on board. Had he an
swered the hail, his time of punishment would have been
shortened; but the fellow proved himself of metal far
superior to the expectations of him, who sent him to his
dangerous and uncomfortable perch.
The gale continued with unabated fury, and with very
little hopes of its abatement. My sickness, likewise, still
continued with its weakening effect upon me, and no re
turn of appetite ; this,* together with a nervous headache,
to which I had long been subject, and now made worse by
the want of nourishing food and rest, without- mentioning
the unabating swelling and lameness of my foot, not yet
permitting me to wear my shoe, made me more fit for
hospital duty than that in which I was engaged ; but I
was determined to tough it out to the last without a mur
mur, hoping to overcome all the obstacles and hardships
which fell to my lot, and yet have it to say, the life I had
chosen had its sweets as well as its bitters. But so far, I
was reluctantly compelled to acknowledge, (to self only)
that the latter ingredient predominated to the degree, that
the potion was any thing but palatable, and administered
in doses so profuse and oft repeated, that the drenching
effect was barely counterbalanced by my fiery zeal for the
service I had chosen, even when backed by that never-
yielding spunk, with which a boy of eighteen is always
surcharged, especially when rashly undertaking a species
of business, without listening to any advice, save that best
of all monitors — his own strong-headed disposition.

93

CHAP. VII.

THE CHASE.

Throughout the night of the seventh day from port,
we had but little rest, the vessel requiring all the aid the
crew were enabled to render her. The one watch was
kept on deck in readiness to lend assistance, whilst the
other went below, without knowing what moment they
might be called, or when help would most be needed.
The sea broke across the deck at times, with terrific vio
lence. One came curling over our larboard quarter, and
after carrying away the bulwark, over which it mounted
with its avalanche of waters, swept every thing of a light
nature in its course — blocks, buckets, water casks, and cor
dage was cleared from the deck in its rush, and so dama
ging the long-boat and straining her lashings, it was feared
at the next sweep, that would likewise be carried over
board. The morning of the 28th December broke, with no
prospect of the gale ceasing, and the brig looked more
like a wreck, than the staunch and proud craft of the
week previous. She was stripped to her stumps, all her
yards except her fore and foretopsail, were on deck, her
rigging in disorder, and the decks lumbered and in confu
sion from the effects of the seas, which had so often
broken over them during the past night.
The third lieutenant had been the officer of the watch,
from four o'clock in the morning, till eight, and was rather
harshly spoken to by the first, who succeeded him, for not
keeping things in better trim. One, among the other
questions put to the officer whose watch had just expired,
was, whether he had kept a good look out aloft ; to which
he replied, he had, but that the last man he had sent to
the mast-head, had left his post withput being relieved,

94 THE CHASE.
and, till some time after the other watch was called,
without his knowledge.
I saw the' fire, or what was its equal, anger, flash from
the first lieutenant's eyes at this remissness of duty ; and
he instantly gave an order for the best man on board to go
to the mast-head, there to remain till ordered down. The
order was obeyed by one of the quarter-masters, who had
not been there ten minutes before he sang out,
'Sail ho ! — on the weather quarter.' But he could dis
cern nothing except her upper sails, on account of the
heavy mist and rain, which obscured the lower view, as it
likewise did that of the sail he first saw, by the time he
could make out her bearings from the brig.
All hands were now called to make sail, and the men
went cheerily to their work, with that animating spirit, a
prize in sight always infuses into a crew ; many bantering
their messmates to club for the prize money, or to draw
lots which should have the other's, when again from the
mast-head came—
•Sail ho !'
'Where away ?'
'A little farther a-beam than the first.'
But as the quarter-master aloft, could only see the one,
and make nothing out of her, except 'she has top-gallant-
sails set, and apparently on tall masts,' it was thought the
look-out must have mistaken the bearings of the first sail
he discovered, while she was obscured in the mist, and on
her re-appearance, he had announced her as a second
vessel. None felt the least alarm, at the supposition that
twp sails were in sight ; yet all bestirred themselves to get
the spars aloft, and other sails bent in the places of those
damaged during the gale, to be in readiness to give chase
to the prize to windward, which many accounted to be
'nothing less than an Indiaman, if Old Snaggletooth aloft
has reported aright about her top-gallantsails, for none but
an Indiaman or a man-of-war would carry her upper sails

THE CHASE. 95
with this gale and thick weather ; and she must be a stiff
craft at that; er be in a hurry to get eut pf this latitude of
blustering gales, angry cross-seas, hard rains, and mists,
that will stop a leak when pakum is scarce.'
The first lieutenant, when hearing the secpnd sail
annpunced, pondered a moment, muttering to himself
'top-gallantsails — top-gallantsails set!' — seized the glassy -
and was proceeding up the rigging, to ascertain for him
self the character of the sail in sight; but before he had
reached a dozen rattlings of the shrouds, the quarter
master bellowed out a third time his 'sail ho!' with re
newed strength of voice, accompanied with,
'The mist has settled, so that I can plainly see the
three — all to the windward, bearing down towards us,
with as much sail set as each can carry, and evidently
men-of-war, by the tauntness of their rig, and high tower
ing masts."
The lieutenant was on deck issuing his orders, long
before the quarter-master had finished the unwelcome
intelligence, that- three frigates. of the enemy were in
sight. We had been discovered, as it afterwards appeared, by
the enemy, time enough for them to get sail on, before
we espied them, altogether through the carelessness of the
officer of the previous watch, by his not keeping a proper
look-out from the mast-head. For this misconduct and
remissness of duty, he was disfranchised instanter, from
farther conynand as an officer in the brig.
Our situation was perilous in the extreme, even to the
most inexperienced hand on board ; for up to this time we
had nething set, except a deuble reefed foresail, fore-and-
aft-mainsail, and jib, both likewise closely reefed, con
suming about twenty minutes in setting these and getting
the brig before the wind; the whilst the enemy were
coming down with as much canvass as their heavy ships
could stagger under, and at a distance the most near-

96 THE CHASE.
sighted on board could view them, without the aid of the
glass : and with a velocity that was any thing but pleasant,
for those who wished either welfare to the brig or safety
to themselves.
If I thought before, that our craft was barely able to
stand under the little sail kept on her for the last two
days, it only went to prove my incapacity to judge in
these matters ; for sail upon sail was set, in an inconceiv
able short space of time, till she careened and plunged, as
though each plunge would be her last. When her spars
were all in their proper places, she was put on the wind,
hauling it as closely as possible, the enemy at the same
time changing their position to correspond with ours.
The fog and mist cleared away occasionally, affording us
a full view of them, about three and a half miles dis
tant, at the time of our tacking.
We had but two chances of escape in our favour ; the
one was, that the, fog and mist might thicken, hiding our
position from the frigates in chase; and the other, that,
as we could haul closer upon the wind than the enemy, we
might ultimately gain to the windward of them, relying
afterwards upon the superior sailing of the brig for her
safety, should the wind in the least lessen. In the former,
we were early disappointed, for the fog cleared away ra
pidly, leaving a fair sight of the three frigates, before the
chase had been continued an hour; and the latter hope
was but poor comfort, as the wind had freshened; compel
ling us to take in some of our lighter sails aloft, while the
frigates could still hold on with theirs, by their great
strength and heavy dimensions. It was evident, likewise,
that in gaining to their windward (which we were doing,
and only prevented by their proximity when first hauling
upon the wind) we should necessarily draw so near as to
receive the fire from one of the frigates at least, if not from
two, and at too short a distance to be other than extremely
hazardous. This position was continued till near ten

THE CHASE. 97
o'clock, when we put before the wind again, as in the
beginning of the chase ; the enemy likewise changing
theirs, so as to follow directly in the wake of the brig.
The situation of the enemy's vessels in this stage of the
chase' was picturesque in the extreme, affording us a beau
tiful view of the whole of them, and at a distance where
their movements could easily be discerned. The Acasta
was dead astern, less than two miles distant, the Leander on
her larboard, and the New-Castle on her starboard bows
each at equidistant points from the centre frigate, and
somewhat ahead of her — all three under as great a stress
of sail as could be piled on, in such a gale and with such a
sea as they were wallowing through.
It was plainly to be seen, that the frigates were gaining
on us, in spite of our every exertion to facilitate the brig's
sailing; the Leander and New-Castle more rapidly than
the Acasta; for while our comparative light craft was
rising, upon the top of every wave, and pitching deep into
the trough between them, the heavy frigates, with their
enormous spread of canvass, plunged through all, slowly
tut constantly gaining on us at each moment.
The men were kept at the harrassing duty of making or
lessening sail, changing and shifting the ballast, from the
beginning to the termination of the chase. No sooner did
the wind in the least lull, than ah additional sail was added
to the already overburthened masts, (only to be taken in at
the first freshening of the gale,) thus keeping her strained
to the utmost extension of her strength, and at times nearly
running her head under. Had the gale been such as to
allow of our lightening the brig, her guns would have been
cast overboard long before this ; but we were more safe
with them on deck than without them, although of no
farther use than their weight to steady the brig, as the tier
to leeward were most of the time under water, while those
to windward Could only be pointed to the clouds, by the
laying over of the brig in this fury of the elements.
9 v.l

98 THE CHASE.
The frigates had occasionally been giving us a shot from
soon after our putting before the wind; none of which
reached the brig, however, till about twelve o'clock, when
the commodore's ship, Leander, by the position she held,
brought a gun to bear upon us, and threw her shot beyond.
We immediately .hauled upon the wind a secend time,
with the determination of working to the windward of the
squadron at all hazard, it being now our last and only
hope of escaping from their fangs. It appeared impossible
that the brig could maintain her upright position, with
such a sea and gale as she had to contend with. Her ca
reening made it difficult, even for the most experienced
hands, to keep the deck.
The hopes of the crew had brightened since twelve
o'clock, by the clouds breaking away, with an indication
of the wind abating, and which it had at times, only to
blow the fiercer, however, in fitful blasts after each delu
sive lull. The men were still kept at their stations,, in
readiness the moment the wind lessened to clap on more
sail, or to take in that which proved too heavy at each in
creased blast of the tempest. But before two o'clock the
wind had visibly heightened, bringing the frigates closer,
and enabling them to reach us with ease, not pnly with
their round, shot, but likewise grape and cannister, at each
discharge of their heavy cannon, at intervals of from three
to five minutes, came scattering through our rigging, with
a hissing and whistling, that was plainly heard above the
blast of the gale.
Through the great and unceasing exertions of the men,
their exhaustion became apparent — having been allowed
nothing either to eat or to drink, since the day previous *
and as hope became hopeless, they did not evince that
alacrity of movement, which they had displayed during the
previous portion of the day, when there was a probability
of escaping. The frigates in chase were, by two o'clock, in
a position to sink us at their will ; for one was on our lar-

THE CHASE. 99
board quarter, another on pur starbpard waist, whilst the
third was at our stern,, a little further off, yet sufficiently
near, to reach us with her round shot. '
The clouds had been thinning, till they rapidly passed
away in sheets of fleecy vapour, leaving the hard blue sky
alone above, when the sun shone through a transparent
atmosphere, with an unusual brightness, enlivening the
scene to the height of romantic beauty — its enchanting
brilliancy only equalled by its fearful grandeur. Spread
around were the convulsed waters, whose gigantic throes
and sublime movements turned fear to astonishment;
scattered at different points, were those well trimmed fri
gates, looming upon the horizon, with their prows directed
to a common centre, where our brig, , with her heavy
crowd of canvass and bending masts, braved the danger
of being engulfed, rather than yield to a pursuing foe,
however superior -the force, or hopeless the chance of
escape. The whole combined produced a scene beyond
description ; and to one like myself, who had never before
seen any thing of the kind, all looked like an enlarged
view of some theatrical representation — nay, my half be
wildered and dreamy mind strove hard to make it so,
rather than to believe it the sad reality spread before me,
so great had been the change of events of the last two
weeks. The frigates were of the largest class, in full rig and
equipment, and so near, that the movements of their men
were plainly seen by us, while going through with their
various duties and evolutions, or when training any parti
cular gun to bear upon the brig. Every rope was strained
to the tension and appearance of drawn wire, as relieved
by the clear blue sky beyond; their many white sails
were bellying out by the force of the wind, one pvertop-
ing the other, tapering in size, to the dizzy heights of
their royal-masts. They were proudly but furiously dash
ing through the heavy and tumultuous seas, occasionally

100 THE CHASE.
plunging nearly bowsprit under, but to shoot upwards and
mount the next, with the buoyancy, grace and ease of
boats of pleasure. Whilst these huge leviathans were
apparently leaping from ridge to ridge of the heaped up
waters, or wallowing with a struggling effort to be freed
from their chasmed gulfs, the white capped waves were
continually heaving up and around them, seemingly mad
at being thus 'checked in their onward rushings — throwing
the spray, made sparkling (amid the glimpse of a rainbow,)
by the sun's slanting rays, to the height of the yardsj
showering the decks, to the discomfort of their numerous
crews, who like ourselves were becoming wearied with
this arduous chase. Their shot came skipping from the
curling and frothy topped waves, marking their course to
a, great distance beyond, by the jets of spray sent slant
ingly up on either side, leaving a path in their rear,
as distinct, as was their fierce whistle in passing our
craft; and only lost to view, when plunging into some
upbreasted wave, larger than the one preceding it. And
our poor brig was incessantly toiling, without the possi
bility of escape, striving with her laborious plungings
through the angry and tempestuous billows, not unlike the
tired but willing steed, when taxed till his life-breath is
passing away with the lengthened race, which is to end
with his lifo, together.
At half past three, p. m. all hope was given up of our
escape, and anxious glances were turning towards the
captain, who, from the commencement of the chase had
taken his station on the trunk, walking back and forth,
with a hunied and quick pace, giving his orders in a low
tone to his first lieutenant, to be transmitted through him
to the different stations. For some time, all were anx
iously expecting each moment he would surrender— 'not
only the crew, but some of the officers were heard mut
tering at the foolhardiness of holding out longer, without
the least hope of escaping, but with the certainty, of

THE CHASE. 101
drawing the leeward frigate's broadside upon us ere long,
the effect of which must be fatal to all on board ; for no
relief could be expected from the enemy, should the brig
be crippled by their shot, so as to be in a sinking condi
tion, however humane their intentions, with the weather
and sea so boisterous as the present.
The order was again given for the twentieth time, to
lay aloft, and loose the foretop-gallantsail, which had been
furled but a few moments before, to prevent its being
blown from the yard, by the increased violence of the
wind. To facilitate the order, the men not moviijj with
the same alacrity as during the day, a red whiskered dimi
nutive spitfire, who held post as prize master, seized a
rope's end, the first specimen of corporeal coercion to
duty, since sailing, and began to lay about him with an
earnestness of purpose, but little suited to the present dis
position of the crew, till stopped short by one who had
seen better days. This man had been master of his own
vessel out of Salem, had been unfortunate by losing his
all soon after war was declared, and he knew no other
mode of obtaining a living except this,, of going to sea.
The man that had been twenty years commander, now
stood a common sailor, under the upraised hand of this
despicable one of authority, who was not worthy to loose
the other's shoe, latchets, in the way of knowing or doing
his duty. The rope's end fell not where it was intended,
for the former captain, when he saw the hand raised for
the blow, with a firm look and a deep-meaning voice,
said, 'hold,' pointing with his finger at the nearest frigate
to leeward, 'in half an hour we shall be upon an equality,
either as prisoners there, or drawn down with the whirl
pool of our sunken brig.' Like an abashed school-boy,
from the reprimand of his teacher, turned the pigmy,
shrinking from the man of years and experience.
A messmate of mine went aloft to loose the sail re
quired, cut the lashing to save time, in his anxiety to
9* v.l

102 THE CHASE.
get below, and sang out, holding the end of the cut gasket
in his hands:
'AH ready to let go !'
'Hold on till the wind slackens,' was the answer he
received. He obeyed, but with evident uneasiness, by
the furtive glances he was casting towards the frigate, and
the nicety he was measuring the distance between him
and the deck below ; as though the former would prevent
the coming grist of langrage, by its eagerness, or the latter
could ease the expected fall, by its accuracy. The first
showe#of grape that came whistling about the region he
was in, caused him to let go the sail before those below
could sheet it home, and make his way to the deck with
all the haste the fear of the moment inspired him. When
within ten ,or twelve feet of the landing, a round shot cut
the shroud in two, within twenty inches below his foot, pn
which he was holding in his descent. He gave himself a
sudden swing inside, and came down prostrate on deck,
with the supposition of those who saw him fall, that he
was dead. My messmate did not know whether he was
hurt or not, till gathering himself up, when he found the
greatest pains to proceed from his too rapid a descent from
a twelve-foot leap, and the unceremonious thrashing he
gave the deck with his body's length. He had the con
solation of knowing, however, that his labours at the top
gallant-yard were ended for the present, as the wind had
stripped the sail to ribbons, long before he reached the
deck, notwithstanding the speed with which he had tra
velled. Here I may as well finish the remarks began in a
former chapter, in the comparison of the green hands
with the older seamen. In the former I saw many of as
undaunted spirits as in the latter; and they showed as
much willingness to exposure and severe duty during the
chase, as those who were accustomed to such for a live
lihood, from their youth upwards.

THE CHASE. 103
Up to four o'clock, p. m., the firing had. been more like
target shooting than a serious matter of the enemy; it
being evidently their wish to get possession of the brig,
with as little damage to her as possible; and, therefore,
they had confined the range of their shot, so as to cripple
her sailing, rather than to- destroy the hull. Yet so far the
enemy had succeeded but poorly in their aim ; for we had
lost nothing of importance in our spars or rigging, neither
had we a man hurt on board, which was the more remark
able, as within the captain's height, and the range of his
walk on the trunk of the quarter deck, were more than
forty shot holes in the mainsail, of both grape and round.
In all probability shot had crossed the brig, in the same
propprtion, throughput her length. Had the enemy's in
tentions been different from what I have suggested, it was
within the power of either of the three frigates to sink us
with their broadsides, at any time during the last two
hours, by the position each held.
Now, however, it was manifest their tempers could not
longer be trifled with, by dallying after a cock-boat pica
roon, in comparison to their proud frigates : for they were
making preparations for the much dreaded broadside, as
could plainly be seen from the deck of our ill-fated craft,
by every one who had the curiosity to keep in view such
interesting events. We were so near the New-Castle, the
leeward frigate, as to see the men distinctly taking the
tampions from the muzzles of the guns, run them out, and
elevate or depress them to their liking; whilst the idlers
were climbing the rigging, or listlessly lying over the
hammock-cloths, to see the effect of their shot from the
intended broadside, now in readiness to belch forth upon
the unfortunate brig, which was labouring her last few mo
ments, still obedient to the will of those in command, and
as diligently as she had through the whole of this long,
arduous and disheartening chase.
The short time while the frigate's preparations for the

104 THE CAPTURE.
broadside were making, was one of inconceivable anxiety,
dread, and suspense, which was suddenly relieved by our
rounding to, firing a gun to leeward, the only discharge
during the day, and the signal of our surrender. The
brig carried no colours, nor showed any emblem of the
country she hailed from, throughout the chase.

CHAP, VIII.
THE CAPTURE.

Now commenced a scene, which to me, a novice in
such matters, seemed strange, and was entirely beyond
my comprehension. Some turned to with their kniyes,
and began cutting the running rigging and such sails as
were on deck, whilst Others as zealously cast overboard
every thing within their reach — shot, muskets, pistols, and
boarding-pikes followed each other in quick succession, as
well as cordage, spars, oars, and such provision casks as
were near by and easy to handle, till the deck was nearly
cleared of every thing moveable upon it; This devasta
tion was not only carried on and indulged in by the men,
but, the more to my astonishment, the officers first led the
way with their charts, side-arms, nautical instruments, and
whatever else they wished not to fall ' into the hands of
the enemy. Ample time had they for this, as the sea
Was so rough, none supposed the frigates would attempt
to take possession of us, till the wind fell and the surface
became somewhat smoother.
To show how valuable the lost time was to us, of our
not discovering the frigates earlier, we had not rounded-to
one minute, not long enough for either of the frigates to
heave up in the wind, when the one to leeward lost her

THE CAPTURE. 105
jib-boom, fore, and maintop-gallantmasts, and broke her
mizzen-topsail-yard in the slings. The other to the wind
ward carried away her mizzen-topsail, maintop-gallant-
yard, and strained her fore-topsail-yard, so as to endanger
it by carrying sail. If we had had but half the start of
the twenty minutes lost in the morning, we should, by
these mishaps; have been out of their reach. Besides, in
less than a quarter of an hour the wind lessened, and con
tinued to abate till ten o'clock, when it was no more than
a stiff wholesail breeze, the very one wanted for the brig ;
for with such, she could outsail any vessel in the British
navy. All, now, however, was of no use to us, as we lay
encircled by three of the best frigates old England could
boast of, within the distance of half point-blank range of
their heavy guns ; and before we could have sheeted
down the foresail and filled ?iway, we should have been
saluted with a full broadside from each.
A boat put off from the commodore's ship, shortly after
we hove-to, to take charge of the prize during the night,
but did npt reach us for three quarters of an hour or more,
so greatly was her progress retarded by the roughness of
the sea. I watched the boat with much interest and
solicitude, from the time it left the frigate's side, till it
reached that of the brig. Fpr minutes.the boat and crew
were entirely lost to my sight, and I would suppose them
sunk, when it would shoot its bows upon the crest of a
wave, seemingly almost standing upon its stern, and then
plunge again out of sight, into the gulf formed by the
heaped up waters, as grand and picturesque, as they were
sublimely awful. As the boat neared us, it was plainly
seen, that the four men at the oars were nearly exhausted,
and had but little strength remaining, to contend much
¦longer with the raging waters around them; besides she
was fast filling, by, the breaking of the spray over her
bows, in spite of the exertions of the lieutenant in the
stern, who was doing his endeavours to lessen the water

106 THE CAPTURE.
in the boat, by baling with his hat, the quickness of, his
motions showing his office was no sinecure, as well as
that he was not altogether indifferent to their situation.
Neither were the brig's crew insensible to the fate of
these hardy mariners, enemies though they were, but had
ropes, boat-hooks, and slings in readiness for their help,
the moment they came near enough to be reached. This
proved a lucky circumstance for those in the boat, and
saved them from a watery grave ; for it had but just
touched the side of the brig when it went adrift, leaving
the men dangling to the ends of the ropes thrown them.
At the other end of these same ropes, however, were
sturdy hands and willing hearts, who in a trice landed
them in safety on deck.
The boarding-officer, a blustering and noisy John Bull,
in make, weight, and swagger, seized the trumpet and or
dered the brig's crew aloft, to secure the sails that were
flapping in the wind. In his anxiety to show himself con
spicuously before strangers, he gave one of the men a
man-of-war's slap with his trumpet, to quicken his mo
tions. For this kindness he was told his protection was
small, and hints were thrown out, that unless he mended •
his manners, he would be set adrift to keep company with
his boat, as soon as the darkness was sufficient to hide the
kindly act. This he took so much at heart (lest he might
be among the missing on the morrow,) that he went aft to
the captain, and demanded a guard for his safety during
the night, or till reinforcements were received from the
frigates. The necessary guard was granted him, with an
understanding that he was not to leave the cabin, but that
the duty should be carried on as usual by our own officers
and men.
The sails were furled in part only, for the men and offi
cers cared but little, how soon they were torn from the
yards, or how much damage was done to the brig,, now
she was belonging to the enemy. An old salt that had

THE CAPTURE. 107
passed the lashing around the foresail, on the windward
yard-arm, said, when he came down, 'my slipnoose won't
hold longer than a tie of pig-tail, nor is it half as strong
(twisting off the lesser part of a fathom while speaking,)
as this I bought for ladies twist, gentries' best — if the sail
works loose, it's more the fault of the, knot than the one
that made it, for I've dene my best to please all hands.'
It did wprk loose, and no effort of the officers was suf
ficient to get the men aloft the second time, to secure the ,
sails from the fury of the wind, which soon blew them
from their bolt-ropes ; and we were left without a sail we
cpuld set, except the mainsail and jib.
The men had free license during the night, no one
checking them in their pursuits, wishes, or propensities 'r
¦ each doing what seemed most congenial to his nature, un
der present circumstances. It was hut the work of a mo
ment to break through the bulk- head, or partition which
separated the hold from the store-room ; and thus a free
ingress and egress was kept up all night between the
brig's hold and this 'land of plenty.'
To narrate a small incident that eccurred, while this
privateering was going on, I must go back a little, for a
better understanding of the subject, craving pardon at the
same time for the digression.
While the brig was under the command of her former
captain, it was generally understood, nay it was the com
mon every-day gossip, that his determination was 'never
to surrender, never to give up the brig into the hands of
the enemy, however great the odds he might encounter.'
His late conduct strengthened this opinion, when in com
mand pf the brig, at the time pf being attacked by the
boats of an English frigate. During the fight, he seized a
lighted match, (as the remnant of his crew fell back before
the overwhelming numbers from the boats, who had gain
ed the deck,) and taking a position half down the compa
nion way, which led to the magazine, threatened to fire it

108 THE CAPTURE.
the instant they retreated farther, and issued his orders
from thence with the match lighted, ready and determined
to put his threat into execution, if the enemy were not
beaten back to their boats. Whether this be true or false,
there are no positive documents to show, but such is the
version of the story fold by those in the brig at the time of
the aforesaid fight, and such passed current and was be
lieved by those in her when she was captured.
It was likewise supposed the present captain had re
ceived his appointment under a pledge never to surrender,
instead of any superior qualification or knowledge of naval
affairs he possessed; One or more subsequent circum
stances, helping to confirm this supposition, I will detail
as I received them ; a matter of little concern, however,
whether true or falsefc
At the time of our capture, there were on board five or
six French and Portuguese seamen, who had belonged to
the brig during her former cruisings, and who appeared to
be upon good terms with the captain,, but had no inter
course with the crew ; they messed by themselves, jnd
had as little to say to the 'Americans' as the Americans
manifested disposition to1 associate with them. These men
were overheard to say, more than once during the chase,
that the 'brig never would be taken by the frigates ;' as
signing no reason why, only, 'she shall never be under a
British flag.' One of the men had been a prisoner of war
ten times, and declared he would sooner go to the bottom
of the ocean than again to prison. To this no one ob
jected, provided he went without company ; for he was a
Frenchman by birth, a Calmuc in appearance, a savage in
disposition, a cut-throat at heart, and a devil incarnate.
Our first lieutenant kept a strict eye upon this coterie,
during the' whole day that the chase continued, the-, idea
strengthening, as the captain held on his course long after
any hope remained of the chance of getting clear of the
frigates, that all was not right. In the hurry of the mo-

THE CAPTURE. 109
ment, at our rounding-to, Jose, one of the mess above
spoken of, seized a brand from the caboose, proceeded
towards the magazine, and would have carried his diaboli
cal intentions into effect, only for the vigilance of our
ever watchful lieutenant, who checked him ere too late,
brought him on deck, nor quit his hold till the brand was
cast overboard, and the dastard thrown thrice his length,
by an indignant thrust of the lieutenant's powerful arm.
When the Portuguese found his aim was frustrated, he
came up directly before me (thinking, no doubt, I looked
less pugnacious than his late rough handler) crying like a
child, and declared all on board were cowards, rank cow
ards, and afraid to die and go to h — 1. No one attempted
by argument- to disprove his absurd reasPnings — rather
-wishing him first to prove his own bravery, without hazard
to others, when each then could choose for himself in
these matters of nicety.
During the 'privateering' below, deck, I had filled my
hat with the best flavoured Mocha I could select from
the choice of a dozen bags, and was making my way back
to my place of general deposite, with as much haste as
possible, to be in readiness for another cruise, when I was
suddenly pitched headlong a dozen feet or more, by a
heavy concussion ; followed immediately with a report,
equal to the loudest artillery, and the water came pouring
down the hatchway in torrents, with a stillness and set
tling of the brig, that created a sensation too horrible to
dwell on, even at this distant day. Many sang out, 'we
are blown up !' 'We are blown up and are sinking.' 'The
Lord help, for hone other can save.' The idea seemed
very plausible; still I did not think she was blown, up,
accounting for the shock and confusion from a different
source, though equally disastrous had it occurred.
I had been on deck but a short time previous, and ob
served pne pf the frigates had drifted near to, and directly
ahead of the brig. This I supposed had fallen on board
10 v.l

HO THE CAPTURE.
of us, in one of the heavy swells that were driving them
and the brig about with their impetuous and uncontrol-
able sway. A sea, larger than usual, had struck us full
in the hows, with such- fearful velocity and force, as to
cause the shock and report ; a great .portion of the wave
breaking over the bulwarks and falling on deck, deluged
the hold from the hatchway ; and the vessel settling into
the trough of the sea caused by the receding wave, was
what created the alarm on board, and interrupted me,
with othel-s, in our laudable and praiseworthy intentions,
of not suffering the enemy to have too many of the good
things, originally intended for the use of others.
My hat full of coffee was' scattered between the hold in
so thin layers, that I naturally concluded it would be less
trouble to apply to the same source from whence the
other came, than to gather it up. In ten minutes (I was
always noted for alacrity of movement, when personally
interested) I had my hat filled again, if not from.the same
bag, from one of equal flavour, with the addition to my
freight, of a box of No. 1 herrings, as a remuneration for
my second trip, and loss of my first prize ; although I was
put to no inconsiderable trouble in selecting a good box,
as others had been before me, leaving none but the refuse,
except this one, which was a carelessness or oversight
unpardonable, justifying severe censure.
On my return from this trip, I fell in with the Loafer,
noticed in the second chapter, busily engaged with a ham
of half his size, who upbraided me for the want of taste
in my selections, ending with a friendly advice for my
future consideration and advantage, should I profit by it.
'I gpes always for the solids,' said he, 'something a man
can manage independent of the ccok, for they are a vile
set, ever lessening one's allowance, till at last they will
suppose a man can live on air. Take advice from one
who can give it — stick to the solids, and let others fish for
what is upon the surface — stick to the solids.'

THE CAPTURE. HI
He was notching deep into the side of the ham, while
he was' delivering his advice, and as often as he slabbed
off a hand's breadth slice, he had only to roll it to a con
venient size whilst in his mouth, and way was made for
its fellow, both in magnitude and solidity. This was fol
lowed up in such quick succession, that I was doubtful
whether he had not some way of concealing the pieces,
other than the port-hole entrance to his face, and I was
determined to tarry a moment to have my doubts satisfied.
I remarked he had a heavy job before him, and hinted
should he want assistance, he might command my ser
vices. After saluting me with a laugh, peculiarly his
own, he drew himself off towards a dark corner, with a
shyness that prompted my curiosity to observe his actions ;
and I was no little amused to see him select a hiding
place for his ham, between the Water casks, to be again
brought out at a more convenient period, when windfalls
of the like kind were less abundant, or the eyes of the
curious were elsewhere directed.
The few remarks I bestowed upon this person in the
commencement of the narrative, I then thought would be
the lastp but there were traits about him that deserve
farther record, and as he now is on his fifth foraging ex
cursion, I will devote a page to his memory.
In my former notice, I said he had taken a berth with
us, for the want pf a better shelter, hot doubting his room
would be much more valuable than his person ; but this is
only another instance of error, by judging prematurely of
one's accomplishments, when no opportunity has allowed
the individual to display himself to advantage.
The Loafer showed early symptoms of improvement in
the duties of the brig, beyond many who were better edu
cated for the profession of a marine. Though never
active, he was always to be found where duty required,
quietly assisting to the extent of his abilities. He was
never known to miss his number at watch caH1, nor his mess

112 THE CAPTURE.
place at meal times. His extreme strength, for he pos-
sessed that of a giant, was valuable to his felfow-wprkers
of the brig; Without the least apparent exertion, he
could do more at a heavy lift or pull, than any other on
board. At eating, the Loafer stood second best to none, and..
had the crew been possessed of his voracity, to the same
degree, the former prediction of the prize-master would
have been verified — the brig would have had to seek a
port for supplies, ere a week from her departure from port.
He as often took his food in a raw, as in a cooked state,
merely rolling it with the tongue, and it was gone — no
one ever seeing him masticate as others. This gave rise
to an idea that he possessed the faculty of raising his cud,
kine-like, but there was no proof that this was the case.
Among the whole number of the green hands, the Loafer
was the only one that was not sick — 'I never sickens,' said
he, 'except when supplies fall short.'
Never while in the brig, did anything go wrong between
him and the crew, only when he went prowling about
the cook's department, for the offal of the pot, when a
din and uproar was raised by the sable majesty of grease,
at his depredations upon the marrow bones and pot
skimmings, intended to enrich the slush tub, his lawful
and undeniable perquisites, which our friend in question
always committed, at the least inattention of the black-
amore. To such an extent had the Loafer carried this
cribbing process, that the crew had already given him the
distinctive cognomen of the turkey-buzzard of the brig.
Many a sharp argument have I overheard by the mem
bers of his mess, whether he had any claims to humanity?
Some supposed him to be the imp of darkness, aping the
human form. 'No, no,' an opponent in the argument
would say, 'the old one is too 'cute, to put pn such a
frame.' Others supppsed him a wizard, the Wandering
Jew, er a sweeper expelled from the Flying Dutchman.

THE CAPTURE. I 113
When the disputants grew warm in their debates, they
would appeal to him in good earnest to know, 'who in the
devil's name he was.' Instead of answering their inqui
ries, he would sidle out of the circle with a laugh, and tra«
verse the deck or hold, hiding whatever he might pick
up, in crevices and corners, like the cur, to be brought
forth in times of scarcity when wanted.
The Loafer's person was as singular, as were his propen
sities. He was of short stature, with head and shoulders
sufficiently large for one twice his weight, but from the
shoulders, all went tapering downwards, till what was left
below the knees was of no account, the shank's made the
more spindling by their task of double duty, of having to
carry abput the enormous head and shoulders overtoping
them. The head, was of the same architectural order of
the other divisions — big. at the top, and wedging off to the
chin, which was small and flexible. The eyes were in
slits, diverging from the nose upwards, and displayed
much. cunning, by their faculty of quickly seeing objects
in different directions, without turning the head.
But the mouth! — when shut, nothing was seen but a
faint line, of a tint but a tittle darker than the brown, of
the surrounding parts. Beard he had none, simply, by its
not being able to force its way through the undisturbed
coating of dirt, made impenetrable by time and the polish
it had gained by the oft repeated wipe of the hand's back.
But the beauties of the mouth were all reserved for the
lau°h, encroaching so far upon the premises of the sur
rounding neighbourhood, as to engulf the whole by its
vastness ;-*-the chin dropped in very fear—- the upper lip
stretched into lengthy nothingness— the ears seemed to
retreat to near each other at the rear of the head, to hold
converse for their mutual safety, in the jerkings back of
the mouth's corners; and when all was in full play, an
inward chuckle was heard, more resembling a succession
of violent hiccoughs, than a laugh, without an indication of
10* v.l

114 THE CAPTURE.
its coming to the surface, or of any other part of the body
being engaged with it, except the mouth and inward
throat. Had the other portions of the man entered into
one of his smiling freaks, I know not what convulsions
the combination would have produced.
I beg pardon of my readers for dwelling so, long upon
this man, but I could not get rid of this pddity of nature's
handicraft, with less space, unless I left him to be pic
tured by the imaginations pf thpse, whp chose to follow
me, which is a task I lack the hardihood to inflict upon a
worthy class, I so very much revere.
About half an hour after I had fallen in with the Loafer
and the ham, I again saw him with a moderate sized
. cheese, whose fair circular proportions had already been
gapped to deformity, by this cormorant in human shape.
I watched him from a distance through curiosity, to know
what would -be the end of the cheese, but his ever roving
eyes soon caught me at my eager gaze, which he no doubt
construed to my wishing to, partake of the cheese, as well
as of the ham, and he withdrew to find another hiding
place, different in location from the first, where the latter
was deposited.
The boat's crew which came from the frigate entered
with much good will into the pervading fun and frolic,
with the hands of the brig, and partook still more freely
with the good cheer that was plenteously passing around,
till twp put pf the four became sp intoxicated, as to be
unable to do farther duty," either to the prize they were
sent to guard, or the bottle with which they had joined
fellowship, and were charitably stowed away from the sight
of their lieutenant, who knew nothing of the circumstance.
Thus were they screened from an exposure, which inevi
tably must have brought, them under the swing of the
boatswain's cat at the next day of punishment. The other
two continued singing their sengs, and displaying their
merriment, as did many of those belonging to the brig,

THE CAPTURE. 115
throughout the entire night, and appeared as though all
alike belonged to the craft. I can say with safety, the
number of our crew who were drunk, were not in the
same proportion as that of the boats ; yet far too many
were lively, for the comfort of those who remained sober.
The whole night was spent in securing whatever could
be carried off by the men, frolicking, drinking, and shame
fully devastating the armament and fitting out of the brig.
Enough was done to arouse the ire of any who had not
the propensity to join in this destruction, unless one ar
gued upon the principle of letting nothing fall into the
hands of the enemy, which could in any way be prevent
ed. To me, unused as I was to such destructive wasting
of goods and provisions, the whole proceeding seemed
strange and unnatural ; yet I could not wholly desist from
appropriating to myself, for after use, a few of the good
things I saw so abundantly floating about, and was con->
tent tp secure to my share of the plunder, (independently
of the high-flavoured Mocha,) about one-fourth of a good
sized cheese, rejecting some six- or eight before making
my final selection, two to three dozen of the- choicest
herrings from the box before mentioned, and as many
pilot biscuit as I could well stow in my hat-crown and
pockets ; about as bad a selection as could be made, con
sidering the time occupied and the abundance before
me. But then, it was this very abundance which caused
the lack of judgment in making the selection, and not
better supplying myself with the needful ; for, like the
celebrated coquette, I went on rejecting the good things
before me, still thinking the best were yet to come, till at
last I had thrown aside all of value, and was, per force,
compelled to take such as remained. .However, expe
rience is every thing in matters of this kind, and I was
most sadly wanting in that, which, I trust, will be a suf
ficient excuse, even to the most fastidious, that I was no
better freighted, when leaving the brig for the frigate.

116 THE CAPTURE.
I afterwards had reason to feel no small degree of pride,
at the care I was at, in putting on all the clething I cpuld
wear, which amounted to three entire suits, boots except
ed, and afterwards covered the whole with my comfort
able fear-naught great-coat. While my shipmates were
catering for the ihward man, I was more profitably em
ployed in laying on lasting habiliments for the outward
person, which, as the sequel will prove, was displaying
a sagacity worthy of an older head than the, one that
prompted the suggestion. This was done, hpwever, at
the expense of rather a cutting inuendo, frorh pne pf our
prize-masters, whp sarcastically said, 'you have the germ,
if not the stamina, of a privateers-man, and with a little
training would do for a worse calling.'
Said I, a little tempered, 'your natal place is where you
first took root, among pirates and outlaws, and no where
else can you thrive.'
'A few hours make a wonderful difference with the
levelling of a vessel's crew at sea.'
This I knew as well before, as after his saying so, but
concluded to let the conversation drop, for service of
another kind was planning. At about half-past eleven,
at night, a rally was made among the men by the officers,*
to retake the brig; but when getting on deck, and seeing
the shattered condition of our sails and rigging, made
much worse by our own doings, together with the close
proximity of the frigates, one of which lay so near as to
be able to see our movements and intentions from her
deck, by the unusual clearness of the moon-light night,
and could have given us a full broadside before we could
have filled away, the project was abandoned as imprac
ticable. The Fifer through all these proceedings, kept aloof»
disdained touching aught to which he had no claim, de*
daring, 'I never saw such waste in my born days — I was
not aware before Of being among drunkards, thieves and

THE CAPTURE. 117
robbers. I can't see how men with any pretensions to
honesty, can meddle with what belongs to others.' He
appeared much astonished at what he saw, and more than
once said, he would assist in securing the ringleaders of
those mostly concerned in cutting up the sails and cor
dage, and bringing them to punishment. ' So much was
Bis mind taken up with the waste of the brig's armament,
that his own affairs were a secondary consideration ; and
his disinterestedness was such, as tp leave to pthers the
task of taking care of his hammock and blanket, when
leaving the brig for the frigates. His friends took such
especial care of them, that they never more troubled the
owner, much to his chagrin, and imprecation, when their
loss taught him the value of 'looking after his own duds.'
Nimble Billy topk every thing he saw as a part pf the
duty pf the cruise; and I Verily believe, if he were tp
take another trip to sea, he would naturally look for the
same scenes to be enacted as npw — nnt pnce dreaming
any thing was put Of the way, er that the cruise was net
cpntinued as nriginally intended, with the single excep
tion, that the dollars had not yet shown themselves.
As the morning broke, and day-light made known the
condition of the brig, a worthless wreck, in comparison to
the proud boast of every seaman, but a day past, a melan
choly regret pervaded one's thoughts, with an involuntary
imprecation at thnse that had caused the devastation,
although his own hand might have been foremost in mak
ing her less valuable to an enemy. Proverbially, seamen
exhibit a yearning towards the craft that has borne them
upon the deep, but little less sincere, than for the mistress
of their affections, especially when ef mould and trim to
their liking ; and here, the moisture of more than one eye,
wheri leaving the deck for the boats of the frigate, gathered
to a full tear, while scanning with a seamen's gaze, the dis
ordered nettings, and ungainly trim of the hull ; or turned
aloft for a last look at the ragged and tattered rigging of
that far-famed, hitherto, unmatched brigantine.

118
CHAP. IX.
GOING ON BOARD THE FRIGATE.
The morning after our capture, the weather being calm
and pleasant, we early saw preparations were making for
our removal ; and at half past eight o'clock, a boat from
each of the three frigates put off, simultaneously, by
signal, and were soon alongside of the brig. Those in
command of the boats did npt allow any of their men to
leave them, but kept off till one at a time was filled, and
then pushed towards the frigate from whence she came.
We were allowed to take with us whatever we pleased,
no objection being made to the bulk or weight of each
one's baggage. This was the more strange to me, as
many had enough to serve the wants of a commodore of a
squadron on foreign service; and which, the reader may
very naturally conclude, without my taking the trouble of
saying so, was no small privilege, after the license given,
or taken, on board the brig, from the time of her capture
to the removal of the prisoners, if he keep in remem
brance the bumps of appropriativeness, so largely deve
loped upon each of my shipmates' cranium, as -well as
their propensities of letting nothing moveable fall into
the hands of the enemy.
However early were the boats, each one of the crew
was ready with bag, baggage and person, well supplied
with the needful things in this life, in a manner to which
they were heretofore strangers, as could plainly be seen
by their awkward gait across the deck, their unwieldy
bodies fairly tottering under the superabundance of the
last night's 'privateering,' as termed by them. With the
exception of some three or four, however, the crew were
much more sober than one would imagine, considering the
temptation before them.

GOING ON BOARD THE FRIGATE. 119
I did not leave the brig till the second trip of the boats,
about Jen o'clock; when I took a conspicuous seat by
the side of the lieutenant commanding; who commenced
many inquiries concerning the old Constitution frigate, for
which they had been cruising, since they received infor
mation of her sailing by a coaster, the day after she left
port, until falling in sight of the brig. My knowledge of
this frigate enabled me to answer his several questions
more satisfactorily than any other at his side. , Through
the agency of an acquaintance, who was a midshipman
belonging to the Constitution at the time, I had been
much on board of her, not only after her celebrated
escape from, an enemy's squadron, in the early part of the
war, but also, at each pf the_several entrances into port,
after she had gained the two victories over the Guerriere
and Java frigates of the enemy; , During these visits I
had examined minutely the remaining marks and effects
of the contes,t, when pointed out, with a curiosity only-
engendered by a patriotism youths of my age generally

This inquisitive lieutenant was very particular to learn
the effect of the round shot upon the Constitution ; and
when told tjsat many of them did not penetrate her sides
sufficiently re lodge, but merely indenting the Wood some
three inches, and then fell harmlessly to the water, he
appeared much amazed, and would scarcely believe me,
until assuring him I had been around her in a boat, and
had been particular in examining for myself, being alike
doubtful of its truth with others, when reading the account
in the newspapers of the time. I had her dimensions
nearly to exactness then, for I took no little interest with
the different vessels of war, as they came into port from
their outward cruisings, which now was like to be of
signal advantage, by helping me into the good graces of
the first lieutenant of marines, of his Britannic majesty's
frigate Leander. Our acquaintance lasted with uninter
rupted enjoyment, till we reached — the ship.

120 GOING ON BOARD THE FRIGATE.
When running the boat under the lee of the frigate,
she was very near being swamped by the carelessness of
her crew, in not properly fending her off. The storm of
the few days previous had caused a tremendous swell,
which had not yet subsided, and the vessel rolled in such
a manner, as made it almost impossible to get on board
from the boat, which had to be kept off far enough to clear
the frigate's side, in her successive and continued rollings.
The only way we could get to her deck, was, at a favour
able opportunity, to leap from the boat, and catch a rope
hanging by the gangway ladder for the purpose; when at
the next moment, should we be so fortunate as to make
good the hold, we were thirty feet in the air, dangling
over an angry sea, and thrashing the frigate's sides with
our bodies. If the jump were made a second too soon,
before she had finished her downward lurch, we would
have the advantage of double weight to carry, by a souse
in the sea, with the clothes saturated to the hide with salt
water. I had the same misgivings here as when ascending the
fettock shrouds, some three chapters back — inability to
hold on in my extreme weak state, with the disadvantage
now of my treble suits of clothing, which I would gladly
have cast off to lighten myself, even to drawers and shirt.
I made the leap with no other mishap, than so exactly
timing it with a shipmate, that both of us caught the rope
at the same instant, without either being acquainted with -
the other's intentions, so selfish were we in our move
ments. Now commenced a struggle for precedence. As one
could not assert his claim by prior right of conquest, so
the other could not lead the way by seniority of posses
sion ; and, as both from the jump were wrong in not hav
ing a foot-hold to begin with, so to the end did each hang
upon his own hook, and grapple with his opponent to
make good what he had in hand. To go forward we could

GOING ON BOARD THE FRIGATE. 121
not, as the way was blocked up by others on the ropes,
that had preceded us, - and the gangway was somehow
obstructed for a moment, so they could not gain the deck.
One of these, who happened to be directly in our path
of procedure, and not liking to be disturbed in his hang
ing position, as he was like to be, by our encroaching
struggles, impudently made our heads stepping blocks for
his feet to rest upon, and coolly advised his coadjutor in
hanging to do the same. It was equally as impossible to
retrace our steps, for every inch we neared the end of the
rope, so much the nearer were we to the water below us,
at the alternate and constant rollings of the frigate. We
had now nothing to contend for, but who should be
nearest the rope's end, I or my shipmate ; a matter of no
little worth, when viewed in a proper light. However, as
the contention arose from a want of understanding,' and
the subject in controversy a grab game, we mutually con
sented for each to hold his own, and settle the matter at a
more fitting time and place. Really, thought I, a little
fear will make even a sick man a giant in strength, if not
in heart.
Our struggles afforded much sport and laughter to the
boat's crew, who were jibing us lustily at our activity in
hoarding an enemy ; saying', no seamen were equal to the
Americans in striving who should be first on an enemy's
deck, if we were a fair sample of the whole. Our stoical
indifference to their jokes, was only equalled by our
anxiety to hang and not drown. Two in the boat were
gravely betting which of us would soonest let go ; and I
felt the stronger by the one saying, he would double the
bet in my favour, on seeing something in my appearance,
which convinced him I was not born to be drowned. We
gained the deck in safety ; but no one would have sup
posed, judging from the appearance of our faces, that we
,had not been overboard, such a sweat had the hard strag
gle and fear started to the surface.
11 v.l

122 GOING ON BOARD THE FRIGATE.
The first object that attracted my attention, was two of
our crew settling some matter of difference between themr
selves, in the usual rough-and-tumble way, and in their
struggle were disfiguring and bruising each other like wild
beasts. Over and over the deck they went, first one up-
permost then the other, affording as much amusement to
the officers of the frigate as to the surrounding crowd, or
satisfaction to themselves, the combatants, who, when
they had worked aft to the quarter-deck, were separated
by the marines and kept apart.
One of the officers belonging to the frigate, I overheard
say.JI will bear witness to their bravery, (meaning the
Americans,) as I have seen them fight when surrounded
by their enemies on every side.'
Another observed, 'no wonder they are hard to beat,
when they fight so fiercely among themselves.'
A third, evidently, by dialect, a cockney, said, * 'ow'er
'ell they fight, I see but little science in their 'its.'
The whole crowd appeared to be no little amused at the
circumstance, of two prisoners fighting with each other the
moment they sat foot on the deck of the vessel that had
captured them.
The brig's crew were undergoing a search when I first
went on board the frigate, and if the first part was as com
ically interesting as the latter, which I saw, I am only
sorry I did not take the first boat, pr that there was np one
to note down particulars. What took place under my su
pervision was truly laughable, deserving a better pen and
a readier imagination than mine, to give it its merits ; or
to convey to the reader a scene, which he may suppose a
reality, rather than a freak of the writer's imagination.
The search was conducted by a sergeant pf marines,
assisted by several of his subordinates, a fellow of much
fun and quaint humour, who possessed a change of de
meanour, tone, and look, only excelled by his ready
wit, facility of odd sayings, variety of movements, and

GOING ON BOARD THE FRIGATE, 123
gentlemanly bearing ; and was one, such as is seldom seen
in the every-day walks of life.
The first subject that came under the sergeant's notice,
after I went on board, was a full-paunched personage, of
most unwieldy proportions, especially in the waist and
adjoining parts. This, compared with the lankness of the
lower extremities, and thinness of phiz of the same indi
vidual, was sufficient to create suspicions in the minds of
others of far less sagacity than the sergeant possessed, that
all was not as it should be, and forthwith he accosted him :
'Your appearance shows a dropsical constitution ; is it
long since you have been suffering with the complaint ?'
rapping while speaking, with his rattan, on the bread
basket of this Daniel Lambert shaped fellow.
'I don't suffer at all; for the bulk of the disease comes
and goes by spells, like the trot of my mother's old mare,
when she takes her contrary tacks aboard, which, if you
should like to hear, I will give you the particulars of, ex
cept the motions, in the way the old wpman told me the
last time I was at home, provided you allow me to sit ; for
to stand longer, I'm blest if I can.'
'Never mind the old mare now, reserve that story till
nothing better offers. If you have no .particular objections,
let me examine the seat of the disease ; and as I am some
what of a physician, and an adept at curing cases of the
kind you labour under, I will lend my aid to your relief,
and lighten you of a burthen, that will enable you to ap«
pear in this good company in a more becpming figure than
you npw dp ; after which comes the rocking-chair.'
'If you catch any disorder in yeur examinatipn, dpn't
lay it to a want pf caution from me ; the disease yeu are
in search of I took in the natural way, and may-be it's
¦catching.', 'Your caution is praisewcrthy, yet I fear npt taking
your disease; besides do you think you know better than
-your physician, who wishes to administer to your cure,

124 GOING ON BOARD THE FRIGATE.
whether your distemper is like to spread pr remain- with
ypurself?' 'I knpw this much, that you may be a good physician,
(but infernally harsh) — you won't allow me to sit, stand I
cannot, and give up I must, unless ypu let me go below;
and if I am not relieved of the greatest bulk of the swell
ings by a night's rest, why then I will submit to your
experience and superior judgments in these matters, a
bungler, though, I think you are, if not a quack.'
'Your logic is certainly very feasible; but as there are
many more cases waiting as urgent as yours, you must
submit now to a depletion, and hereafter to the treatment
laid down for such as you are labouring under.'
The marines the while were engaged in getting off, the
outer garments of the big paunch, in which occupation,
they found as much corporeal, as did the sergeant argu>-
mentative resistance, and had just opened to the 'ban
dage,' as the sergeant finished the above sentence, who,
with the same half serious railing, continued :
'Here, a couple of you stretch along the deck with the
end of the bandage, and move lively, my lads, or else we
shall be late in our attentions to those in waiting.'
Off they trotted with the end of a bolt of new canvas,
twirling the big-belly, who stood as a centre-top to the
surrounding gazers, till the whole bolt was run off; and
stopped not turning, until the man was delivered of the
third bolt and stood as slim in form, as any around the
ring. As the canvas was unwinding, the sergeant kept
up his vein of humour —
'Merrily, my men, merrily — our advice works well—
the disease is lessening . fast under our treatment — a won
derful cure indeed — might have proved fatal to self-treat
ment, or to unprofessional advice — the man that bandaged
this, deserves a diploma from a board of college surgeons,
for the nicety of the job.'
'Or a glass of grog,' chimed in our now lean chap, as

GOING ON BOARD THE FRIGATE. 125
¦the last end of his bandage was run off, 'for being turned
into a spinning top without leave, and keeping the canvas
out of wprse hands* — (my snul, what a twisting!')
'Ypu shall have it, friend big-belly, that was—'
"Cluegaraet Beb, at your service, seldier sergeant; and
make it twp, to our better acquaintance — (if dizzy means
drunk, I'm corned for a week.')
'Thank you for the hint — twe it shsdl be, for — ' .
'And a heel-tap, to heal my lacerated feelings for .being
thus suddenly bereft of — ' '
'Three bolts of canvas, to others belonging.'
'Have it your own way, so you will pass the word aft,
to have the -vessel held still, till I can get the kinks and
twist out of my brain ; for she has done nothing but mock'
me since I quit turning round, and it's a motipn I mpst
obnoxiously hate.'
At grog time the sergeant was as good as his word ; but
whether there were any sentiments drank with the liquor,
the writer cannot say, he being not a partaker ef this
second bput nor within hearing.
The next in rotation was a man with an exceedingly
bad leg, bandaged and splintered from the hip downwards,
swollen and stiffened to the size and consistency of a well
filled hop bag.
'Pray,' said the sergeant, 'did yon receive your hurt
from any of our yesterday's shot, during the chase ?'
'Yes — I — no — that is — I can't. I mean — damn it (with
a stamp of the lame foot sufficiently strong to bring out
the right idea, or to cure the lameness) I justly don't
disremember, but somehow seems to think, if I am not
very much mistaken, 'twas after the chase, that my leg
was done up.' ,
. 'There is a saying, and a very good one, 'nothing is
done, but what may be undone ;' acting up to the adage, i
we will undo what was done after the chase.' . 1 ¦
'How dosn't I knows, you knows nothing at all about1
11* v.l

126 GOING ON BOARD THE FRIGATE.
what I knows don't ail my leg or not, and can't cure it nb
more nor I ?'
'Your leg must be bared before I can risk an answer to
your plain; distinct and logical questions.'
'But my leg is my own, and if I choose to care for it,
or let it rot, what business is that to nobody, any how?'
'Nobody cares for the leg, but it is the covering I
want,' which by this time was laid bare by unrolling a
third* of as much duck, as was taken from him with the
big belly.
Another was espied by the lynx-eyed sergeant, with an
arm in sling, as was supposed ; for no arm could be seen
for the enormous coating or cover, under which it was
supposed to lie.
'My good fellow, it is a sad thing to lose an arm, and I
hope yours, which I perceive is hurt, is not entirely gone.'
'It will depend much upon the second dressing, as the
surgeon of the brig said when doing it Up; which must
' not be for at least twenty-four hours from the time of the
first; if sooner, amputation may be necessary.'
'Such desperate cases require caution, and your sur
geon was wise in giving it; but we will hold a consul-.
tation, not wishing to bear the responsibility of alone
managing this serious hurt of yours, and thus endanger
a reputation, gained by many years of hard study and
laborious researches.'
He forthwith called upon two of his understrappers to
see what occasioned the Want of an arm. Upon- an
examination, more canvas was found, and thrown into
the already swelling pile upon the deck.
One of the hands of the brig was walking about with a
tremendous tall sugar-loaf cap, of a dingy red. This next
attracted the sergeant's attention ; and when the man
underneath was requested to walk into the ring, he was
accosted by the sergeant, in the same style of dry humour,
that characterized his former proceedings with the others.

GOING ON BOARD THE FRIGATE. 127
'How long since you left your sunny plains of Persia,
for this rough and uncomfortable Atlantic ? for I perceive
by your top-knots, (tapping the cap with his stick) you
are an inhabitant of those ancient dominions of the world,
where the'women bandage their mouths, lest the lisping
acquiescence shall slip out unawares, before the men make
oath by their beards, their vows are sincere; a smooth
chin making the oath nothing the weaker in the eyes of
the muzzled mouth, than the one with a woolly exterior.'
'I am not of Persia, neither do I choose these rough
waves of the Atlantic for a home, but am here through
compulsion for the want of employment, and under a vow
to my mother, never to raise my cap from my head till I
can send her the wherewith to pay her rent.'
'Your vow is praiseworthy ; and lest your mother's rent
shall remain unpaid, or your oath be broken, we will give
our feeble aid to its removal.' At once the Cap was re
moved, unrolled, and found to contain canvas enough for
a suit of studdingsails for a king's yacht, rolled to a peak
at one end, with an opening at the other for the head, and
the whole smeared with the red paint of the brig, in a
masterly manner to deceive.
I noticed the night previous, that the older seamen were
eager to secure the finer canvas, and when no more
could be found, .they fell to cutting up the light spare sails
belonging to the brig, concealing the whole about their
persons in the various ways here noticed, as well as many
others not farther necessary to particularize. I could not
for my life imagine their aim at the time, but afterwards
learned, that canvas was the best article that the men
could take with them, without the danger of its becoming
injured by exposure, or the rough handling it necessa
rily must receive, from the confined situations of those
who had it. It likewise was preferable to any thing
else, not only on account of its easy concealment, but
those who were engaged in the secreting it, knew wherer

128 GOING ON BOARD THE FRIGATE.
*ver they might be imprisoned, it would be at, or in the
neighbourhood of a maritime port, where canvas was
always an article of traffic, and could at all times be con
verted readily into money.
Through the scrutinization of the sergeant, and to
which the entire crew had to submit, I very much doubt
whether there was a piece escaped, large enough to make
a pudding bag, for the article was exceedingly scarce,
when wanted for that purpose, a few days after our being
transferred to the frigate, as dry flour was given us to be
converted into pudding for dinner.
The next who came under the sergeant's handling, was
a portly one of the Turkish order, having his head encir
cled with a turban of alternate colours, red and white,
whose size and dimensions, (if bulk of head gear gave
title,) made him second to none in the dominions of the
Sultan. The body, likewise, was girt about with -a sash
of crimson, of sufficient length to pass two or three times
around it, and worn with an impudent swagger, that few
could assume on first trial.
'Friend, 'when among Romans do as Romans do/ is a
saying to be remembered, and one that will help you
through with many a difficulty in this life, other than the
present; so be 'pleased to douse ypur turban, and rig the
cap I see in your bosom, and once more look like a
christian.' 'Dost thou take me for a dog, that thou shouldst invite
me to become a christian ? Did I dare, I'd spit upon thee
for thy impudence,' and proudly turned away, with evi
dent disdain upon his countenance.
'You mistake my meaning, for were devils to turn chris
tians, all bedlam would be in an uproar. What I want,
is for you to render unto Caesar what to Csesar belongs,
and give up the brig's signals, which you have thievishly
appropriated to your useJ— and he stretched on deck the
turban and sash made up from the brig's pennants and
colours.

GOING ON BOARD THE FRIGATE. 129
'I never before heard Caesar likened to a marine ; and I
advise you to put a stopper upon your tongue, for if the
old chap's, spirit has any spunk, it will visit you with
scarry dreams, for such rank scandal as talking abput him
while a marine is within hearing.'
The search was ccntinued, and every thing that was
supppsed to belong te the brig, was taken from the prisen-
ers, their protestations to the contrary notwithstanding.
The Fifer had been searched, though but slightly, as
nothing appeared to justify a closer examination, and was
wandering about, being much taken up with what he saw,
when he accidentally fell in with the fifer of the frigate.
They soon understopd each other's calling, and Amos
began to banter the other, on the good qualities of his
fife, ever that belonging to his new acquaintance, which
was stigmatized as of no worth, in comparison with his.
They* had exchanged their instruments for examina
tion, when Amos, to test the poor qualities of the one
he was handling, blew a loud and shrill blast, where he
was standing, on the forward part pf the quarter deck.
Had there been a general discharge of the guns from the
larboard tier, followed by the starboard, including both
decks, the consternation would not have been greater at
this indecorum, or departure from the etiquette of disci
pline on deck. The unlucky instrument belonging to
our Fifer, was taken, although not the offending one, and
declared forfeited, as being a 'part of the armament of the
brig,' although the Fifer offered to prove by the best
authoritv 'in Berkshire,' that the fife was his, and always
had been his, from the time it came from the hands of the
maker; and that it never belonged to the brig; — dared
them to bet any sum they chose to name, he would cover
it to the amount pf a ten dollar bill, that the brig had no
fife ; that he used no borrowed instrument— he blew his
own or none ; besides, there were his initials, A. W. near
the mouth-hole, and his name in full, Amos Whipple,

ISO GOING ON BOARD THE FRIGATE.
Which he was not ashamed of the world over, engraved
on the top ferrule. All would not do, although his coun;
tenance showed an angry and squally aspect, no ways
softened by his arms gesticulating misrule in their every
flourish, whilst their knobbed extremities could not be
interpreted other than hostile ; yet the fife was cast into
the heap already swelled to a huge bulk, as part of the
'armament of the brig.'
I too underwent a search, but had nothing which came
tinder the 'armament,' and was soon let off. Had the
inquiry been continued a little farther, a dozen or more
of sea biscuit might have been found between the vacant
space of the two crowns, the head and hat's; but whether
these would have come under the condemning decree,
and thrown into the pile of the 'brig's armament,' I am
not prepared to say.
The search had nearly been completed, for th» want of
more prisoners, when the sergeant's eye fell upon a de-
crepid old man, who was tottering under his misshapen
humped back, and was more of an object of pity than of
persecution. This aged one had been the last to leave
the brig, npr could he then, without the kindly aid of the
crew of the boat, who likewise assisted him to gain the
deck of the frigate, wondering that so old and infirm a
person should ever leave his home for the arduous' duty
of a sea life. When on board, every eye was directed
towards him in deep commiseration for his many infirmi
ties of bpdy, made more grievous by the number of years
that had weakened his crooked frame; or the look was
turned from him in very disgust, at his loathsome defor
mities. The greater portion numbering with the latter, for
none could dwell upon his misshapen, humped back, or
the unnaturally protruding breastbone, without having a
shuddering chill creep through his frame, at the sight of
so disgusting an object.
He was of that kind of the humped back species,

GOING ON BOARD THE FRIGATE. 131
which is caused by the disease of the spine, as one could
easily see by the magnitude of the disorder ; which, it is
well known, shows itself to its greatest extent first at the
back, when, for the want of further ground to work upon,
or as a balance for the patient to maintain his perpendi
cular, it builds its mountain upon the breast, and in its
progress takes from the other parts of the person, to aid in
the deformity. So in this, the protuberance at the back,
was duly balanced by a like one high up in the breast,
the two barely allowing the cripple to maintain his equi
poise, and nearly swallowing his head, leaving but a suffi
ciency of the face seen, to give him claim to humanity ;
for the legs too had dwindled into very insignificance, in
contributing their portion to make a perfect hunchback.
'Old man,' said the sergeant, when he accosted this
lump pf deformity, 'you appear to have a greater share of
this life's troubles than fall to the lot of most men ; and if
there is any thing I can do to alleviate your misfortunes, I
shall be happy for you to name it, and I will be at your
service.' 'My troubles are many, and my burthen is heavy ; my
days are few, and I fain would have an hour's sleep
below, undisturbed by any, when, I doubt not, I shall feel
refreshed, and be enabled to appear in this good company
in better trim, and in readiness to answer any inquiries
your solicitude may prompt you to ask, as to my ailments ;
but at present I feel too much overpowered by bodily
infirmities either to answer your questions, or to point out
farther what you can do to rid me of my load,' said the
old man, with a pitiful and querulous voice, so indistinct
from apparent weakness and debility, as scarcely to be
heard. 'Did you ever in your trials take your prototype, Bun-
yan, as your guide, and learn to depend more upon faith
than poor human nature ?'
'I have, but I found his troubles were imaginary and in

132 GOING TO BOARD THE FRIGATE"»
prospective, while mine are pf the present and bndily; he'
thirsted after the things which were to come, I hunger for
those around me ; — his zeal blinded him to all surrounding
obstacles, my diffidence cannpt hide my deformity from
the Searching eyes of the curious; — his troubles were
effectually relieved as most suitable to his wishes, while
mine, alas, if relieved at all, contrary to my desire, and in
a way that will prove the cure worse than the disease.
Besides, his troubles never reached to that of being a
prisoner of war on board of a British frigate; and it is
doubtful in my mind, whether such trials, as I have to
-contend with, would not have sent him ba6k, had he
enceuntered them, even on his first day's pilgrimage.' *
*Yet he was delivered of his troublesome pack, and,
with Our assistance your misfortunes may be lessened if
not fully relieved,' said the sergeant, the while the, marines
were endeavouring to disfranchise the hump at the back ;
but this they found no easy job, from the stubbornness and
strength of the man beneath, who, With his wriggling,
writhing, and pulling about, managed to edge in a word
now and then, but in a much more healthy and loud tone
than when at first answering the sergeant's queries.
'Still, our troubles are dissimilar, good sergeant, as he
with the load of sin, was striving with faith and prayer, to
be rid of his, while I With might and main are trying to
retain mine; — his wrestlings were with phantom spirits,
not tangible, unseen ; — mine, great in numbers, lusty in
strength, and rough in handling.'
'The parting of the sinful man with his load of iniquity
was not without a struggle, and as the pld man within is
equally eager to hpld what he has, we will lend a hand
and sever that from the back which was intended for the
belly ; for if you be left alone to your ways, nothing but
destruction will be your lot.'
'It may be destruction to my body to retain what is
certain destruction to my hopes to lose ; sp either way I
am the foser and npt the gainer by these hard struggles.'

GOING ON BOARD THE FRIGATE. 133
fiy this' time the marines had stripped the pea-jacket
from the Loafer, loosened the lashings, and down tumbled
the huge humps both from back and front, in the shape of
two as goodly sized smoked hams as the most fastidious in
such things might wish to see, each notched to the bone,
by a slice being taken out of a pound or more in weight)
as the one noticed in the last chapter, where a general
introduction of this man to the reader Was given.
'How is this,', said the sergeant, 'are these' hams marked
as belonging to the brig ? I have seen no such marks on
the other 'armament of the brig,' yet they appear too uni'
form to be without meaning.'
'That is my mark,' returned the Loafer, good humour-
edly ; and wherever you find this kind of 'armament,' as
you call it, with that notch dotted to it, set it aside as
mine, whether I am by to claim it or not,' and rounded
the whole off with a laugh of his largest and mest im
proved stamp, which caused the sergeant to exclaim,
'Humps, scraggs, and chasms ! of creation's cast-off ma'
terials ! ! if these are your dottings, what in the name of
moderation do you call your slicings !'
Without waiting for an answer to his interrogatory, the
sergeant dodged out of the way, leaving his subordinates
to finish what he had begun. They, after the laugh had
subsided, being more intent to ascertain whether a cloven
hoof was not pertaining to the originator of the laugh,
(good reason had they for their surmises, for it was not
like angel's singing, there was nothing human in it, and
where else could they give it location ?) than feeling de^
sirous of any further examination, gave him an oppor
tunity to slide put of the way, when he was soon con
founded with the crowd.
Had they progressed with the search, a cheese would
have enriched the pile of the 'armament,' which was
located at the lower stomach of the Lpafer, putwardly,
"notched, with his private mark,' as were the hams; but
12 v.l

J34 GOING ON BOARD THE FRIGATE.
through the carelessness or fear of the marines, the cheese
was allowed its original destination; that is, after lying in
quietness for a space pf time pn the outward person, it
topk an inward berth, where tons pf other matter had
gone before it, all however to no purpose; for he thrived
not by his heavy feedings, either in body. or in mind; nor
was the Loafer ever known to say he had eaten enough,
or to leave off his gorging, whilst any remained within his
grasp. The search was conducted throughout with much good
will, and afforded amusement to both parties. In no one
instance was there a harsh word used pr a threat given,
that it would be the worse for those, who had goods be
longing to the brig concealed about their persons.
There was one circumstance connected with the search,
which I could not understand; that while our persons
were so rigidly overhauled, our baggage was totally un
noticed, and lay in a pile on deck, alike disregarded by
the officers and crew pf the frigate, whp said we were
entitled to our private property and stores, and should be
allowed to keep them unmolested. Many like the Loafer,
who had come off without losing all that was concealed
about their persons, transferred the remains to their clothes
bags so soon as opportunity offered, and sadly regretted
they had not at first secreted the whole of their -last
night's gleanings in this safe place, made sacred by the
high wprd pf honour of England's commissipned pfficers.
My sea-biscuit were in this way secured in my clothes
bag, not only that I should be rid of the inconvenience
of lugging them about through the day, but to keep com
pany with the quarter cheese therein slumbering, with
the solidity of an alderman in his afternoon's nap — think
ing it a want of taste, and contrary to common usage, to
keep apart such as are, one without the other, sharp and
crusty in their natures, when, the two combined, are unc
tuous and pleasurable companions, making the heart of

GOING ON BOARD THE FRIGATE. 135
him glad who accidentally falls in and joins fellowship
with them.
As a stimulant for the men to keep a sharp look-out, on
the mainmast of the frigate was a placard, which I noticed
when first mounting the deck, offering a 'reward of £100
to the man who shall- first descry the American frigate
Constitution, provided she can be brought-to,' with a
smaller reward should they not be enabled to come up
with her. Every one was eager in his inquiries about
this far-famed frigate, and most of the men appeared
anxious to fall in with her; she being a constant theme of
conversation, speculation, and curiosity. There were, how
ever, two seamen and a marine (one of whom had had his
shin sadly shattered from one of her grape-shot,) who were
in the Java frigate when she was captured ; these I have
often heard to say, in return to their shipmates' boastings,
'if you had seen as much of the Constitution as we have,
you would give her a wide berth, for she throws her shot
almighty careless, fires quick, aims low, and is altogether
ah ugly customer.'
We had a tall swarthy Portuguese in the brig, of an ex
ceedingly slim and wiry frame, who had been carousing
the entire night previous, and was jus't becoming sober
when taken to the frigate.; or at least so he thought,
although his senses were as yet much wandering, giving
him a wild and unnatural appearance. The efficers and
others of the frigate took this fellow to be an American
Indian, with his native wildness and freedom still un
tamed, or his savage disposition, as when roving his forests
wilds, withput check pr hindrance, yet unbroken. One of
these officers declared he was the only real American in
the prize — all the others were either Europeans or their
descendants. A pretty safe assertion, considering the lati
tude on which he ventured to build the remark.
This 'native' managed to keep upon his feet while as a
locomotive, or going ahead, but not upright, He would

.186 GOING ON BOARD THE FRIGATE.
wallop and twist abput the deck — darting first at this boy,
secpnd at ypn negro, then slap into the marine who was
being relieved from standing sentry at the gangway, hoop
ing both him and the relieving cprppral together with a
fraternal hug, disarranging all their starched gravity pf
discipline ; now, squirming with the sinuosity of the eel,
between the guns, over the booms, or through the rounds
of the hatchway ladder ; and after poising his reeling body
for a..- full swoop at the loblolly-boy, whom he missed, was
at the next minute seen driving athwart ship at the main
mast, a coil of cordage interfering with his aim, enly
again to slide up against the cabcpse — ere finishing the em
brace with it, he was bending his way with hostile inten
tions towards the capstern — the water-tank bringing him
up, by his irregular steering; when, again, he flew off to»
wards some object more agreeable to his fancy, or showed
a willingness to stand still whilst he could payhis devoirs
to it. His staggering gambolings about the decks, afforded
much sport and laughter to those on board, the boys ex
cepted, who were seen concealing themselves under the
guns, and in other places of security, occasionally gratify
ing their curiosity, by peeping out at his wild and unna
tural behaviour, at the risk of 'being eaten up by this
American savage.'
He carried on his anticks unmolested, till he. became
sobered enough to sleep ; and when waking, knew nothing
more of the harlequin capers he had. been cutting, than
the greater part of the frigate's crew knew of his having
been in liquor, they really supposing him to be a native,
just from the forests of our country, merely indulging in
his habitual weodland frolics.
We were allewed the range ef the spar and gun*decks,
from the waist forwards, and were unmplested in eur
foungings and speerings about, to satisfy the varipus curi
osities possessed by our motly crew, who in appearance,
speech and, deportment, were far beneath those of the
frigate's orderly and well-dressed seamen.

139
CHAP. X.
FIRST NIGHT BELOW.
A whole chapter 'below at night,' for a subject, neces
sarily must be extremely dull, and confined to the smallest
limits, as were each of us at the time, with not^a ray of
light to see our location ; so now is my subject as rayless
as was this dismal orlop deck of the frigate, in which we
spent the sixteen hours, out of which I am striving to
recollect events to make matter for this chapter. But,
alas, my struggles are in vain, and how similarly are my
mental efforts to my former bodily writhings; and how to
the like effect ; for my ideas now, like my body then, are
so cramped, wedged, and confined, that I can say nothing
except to narrate facts as they occurred, gloomy, though
they may appear in pages, yet not a thousandth part so
gloomy as the reality proved. Those who are not fond of
the horrors and scenes of misery, will do well to pass over
this chapter, and we will meet again, when in a better
mood to enliven a subject, or when we have more mirth
ful scenes to relate, and more space and light wherein we
can work to advantage.
At four o'clock, p. m. the prisoners were 'piped below,'
when I clutched my baggage and bedding, as if 'it was
my all,' but was politely told, with a voice and smile
bland enough to grace a cpurtier asking favours;- that, 'the
space belpw is but scanty even for ourselves, and that for
this night only, the baggage must remain on deck; but its_
safety should be looked to, till more spacious accommoda
tions were provided, which should be at the earliest pos
sible time.'
I had my misgivings at the moment, that 'my all' was
on my back — not that I in the least doubted the assurance
of so worthy, and soft spoken a gentleman, as was our

140 FIRST NIGHT BELOW.
conductor, the master-at-arms, that my 'baggage sheuld be
Ippked to,' but whether for my benefit, or that of the
frigate's crew, did my faith waver till I became sceptical
in the highest degree.
The 'accommodations' allotted to the prisoners, were in
-the cable tier, being the fourth deck downwards. We
were on the way thither under the pilotage of the master-
at-arms, and had reached the hatchway on the berth deck,
when, by some hindrance we were detained ten or fifteen
minutes. 1 was improving the short time before we
should move on, very judiciously, by viewing and admir
ing the novel scene of five hundred men at their night
meal, by candle-light, seated around their mess tables,
which were uniformly of one length, size, and, notwith
standing the number, without the least variation from one
end of the deck to the other, when a side door opened,
near by where I was standing, a little apart from the body
of the prisoners, and out stepped the commodore of the
frigate, attended by his suit, on his way whilstgoing the
rounds of the deck, a ceremony of no little bustle and
show, more especially when strangers were known to be
amongst the spectators. The commodore was in halt-
dress uniform, with the exception of his hat, in lieu of
which, he wore a large bear .skin cap, that added much to
bis fierceness of aspect and savageness of demeanour,
without its lessening his top-heavy appearance, or steady*
ing his staggering roll, made the worse by the unstable
deck beneath him. When he saw us, he asked the first
lieutenant who we were, and pettishly inquired what we
were doing ? , His second in command gave him the re
quired information, that we were the prisoners from the
prize brig, and were going below for the night. The old
fellow, with the sourness of sixty winters upon his coun
tenance, gashed with the hackings of many a hard fight,
stepped directly up to me, raised his crutch-headed cane
in a menacing manner, over my head, and broke out

GOING ON BOARD THE FRIGATE. 137
The marines, however, as to good looks, were an
exception to the above remark, and early attracted my
attention, by their grotesque appearance and unsoldierlike
bearing. They each had his red coat, or rather the re
mains of what had been a coat; for many had neither
facings nor buttons, and one or more of the skirts were trans
ferred to the elbows, there to cover certain deficiences, or
to aid in lengthening the worn-out cuffs ; thus, to use a
military phrase, drawing in the outskirts to strengthen the
wings and centre. The person as well as the coat was
girt about the middle with a wide leathern belt, to hold a
pair of large horse-pistols, that wanted but a year's further
growth to be full-grown blunderbusses; — a pair of sailor
trousers, whose length had been defrauded, to add to their
breadth, needlessly showing the calf below, when all was
allied to the same family above, as was manifest to the
most ignorant, by their poking propensities ; and to com
plete the armament and martial appearance of these Boba-
dil heroes, each had a naked, rusty ship's sword, of length
sufficient for a studdingsail-boom, either thrust inside the
belt, or hanging from under his arm. In plainer terms; I
never supposed a set of men could be brought together of
such heterogeneous make, dress and appearance,, as were
the marines on board of this frigate.
By after inquiry, I was informed (whether true or false
I cannot say, as I have never seen documents to confirm
or disprove it) that the marines were of the rejected infan
try, either from ill looks, bad behaviour, or inability to land
service. When such were enlisted into the infantry, and
were proved to be a disgrace to the profession or his com
rades, they were -turned over to the marine corps. The
circumstance of such a number, upwards "of sixty, being
on board of one ship, all of the worst stamp, not allowing
the usual degrees of comparison, the whole coming under
the superlative, ugliest, strengthened the belief, that my
informant was correct, that they were the rejected of the
12* v.l

138 GOING ON BOARD THE FRIGATE.
common soldiers of the line, taken into the marine service,
from Which should they be rejected, a place must be
sought out, not yet laid down in any chart of sacred or
civil history, whither they might be sent; for their calling
is the last on this terrestrial globe of ours, and Wow— why
they would there be rejected by lynch law, without the
ceremony of a trial.
We lay-to for the brig to refit, which was hastened with
all the aid wanted from the frigates the entire day ; and so
far had the men carried their devastating propensities the
night previpus, that it was dark before they could get sail
on her, nor then in sufficient quantity to keep up with the
squadron. It afterwards appeared, that those who were put on
board of the brig, did not understand her trim, or could
not manage clipper-built crafts like the one in question,
throwing the blame upon the too large size of her masts
and spars, in comparison to her hull. At all events, they
could not get more than seven or eight knots per hour out
of her, with the most favourable wind while in company
with the frigates, which were constantly heaving-to, every
three hours for her to come up. Yet it was said en board
of pur vessel, (probably as an excuse for the lack of good
management of the brig, for during the chase, she was
once running off at the rat© of twelve and a half knots
per hour,) that her inability to keep up, was entirely
owing to the injury done to her by her own crew.
On the night of the fourth day after her capture, she
fell astern till out of sight, when we saw her np more.
Some time after our going to prison, her arrival at
Penzance was announced in the newspapers, accompanied
by many high encomiums, as to her make, strength, arma
ment, fitting out, &c. Ampng her pfher gppd qualities,
she was said to be a first-rate sailer, and, altogether, far
superior to others of like dimensfons.

FIRST NIGHT BELOW. 141
with the most abusive threats and denunciations, that I
ever before or since have heard reeled off from the black
guard slang of any Billingsgate deelaimer — gracing his
epithets with the most obscene as well as profane expres
sions, keeping it up, till I began to suppose I had unwit
tingly been guilty of spme gross indecorum or heinous
misdemeanor, pr that he had mistaken his man; and I
began to cast about to see upon whem I might depend for
reference, but before I could satisfactorily make my selec-
tipn, from the many ef worth and- standing grouped about,
his wind failed, which saved him from farther degradation,
and me from farther fear. He gave full assurance, both
by his manner, speech, and delivery, that he h?d made
the slang dictionary his only study, and with it he had
finished his education.
Had not a similar scene subsequently taken place, I
might have set his language down, in my own mind, as;
being rougher than it really was, by its being directed to
me personally (by position only, do I claim any past intro
duction to this knighted commodore) but I was afterwards
convinced, there was nothing so vulgar, as not to be made
more vulgar, while passing from the vulgar mouth of this
wholesale vulgarity, personified.
We were ushered below singly, in the dark; and when
all were rammed in, (I know of no other word which can
explain my meaning) a marine was kept setting in the
hatchway, that none should attempt to return, except
upon the most urgent necessity. I was about the fourth
one below, and was making my way towards the wing of
the ship's hold, to be out of the direct track of those
that were to follow, when I found my way shoaling
upwards, till I became fast between two beams of the
deck abOve.
I crave pardon for digressing! or retrograding a little
from this so far straight forward narrative ; and believe I
shall find leniency, if there be truth in the old adage, 'he

142 FIRST NIGHT BELOW.
who seldom asks is seldom refused;' promising to be
again at my post, with this warranty, that I am now too
securely wedged up between the beams of the deck, to
wander far from my station or subject.
In some narrative of imprisonment, which I had read
as occurring in the commencement of the present war, I
was much distressed at the account, 'that the prisoners
were confined in a place so low, as not to enable them to
sit upright.' This appeared to me the most horrible of all
human torments, and was constantly uppermost in my
mind ; — not only while awake, but often in my sleep was
I tormented with the terrible idea, of being compressed
between too close a space to breathe, and would awake
with a sense of suffocation and distress not easily de
scribed. My imagination has carried me on to the pitch
of crawling beneath narrow places, to try if confinement
in so cramped a space could be sustained, or that respira»
tion were easy in so confined a situation ; but I received
nn relief from the experiment.
This bugbear pf the imaginatipn at last were off, and
was entirely forgotten ; nor did it return to my torment,
till the reality was experienced this first night of reposing;
no, nor resting, nor sleeping, but smothering on board of
his majesty's frigate Leander. I was not only in a place
where I could not sit upright, but I was actually wedged
in, face downwards, athwart ship, so that I could not turn
upon either side, advance, or retreat, for the entire of my
sixteen hours 'below deck.' I was, at each alternate roll
of the ship, first nearly upright in position, and then, head
on, as positively in a downright bad fix as I ever had been
during my life, or ever wish to be again. Whilst keep»
ing in view my .'fixed' position of the first sixteen hours
below, the reader, if candid, must acknowledge, I use no
arrogance in saying, my wpes were npt altogether either
mental or imaginary. I really theught we must have
passed days, if not weeks, in our uncomfortable stowage,

FIRST NIGHT BELOW. 143
before we were allowed to go on deck at eight o'clock the
following morning, so slowly did time wear away in this
vessel's dark and dismal hold. I had here a fair oppor
tunity of examining coolly and impartially, the difference
of a practical and a theoretical confinement; and I sin
cerely hope my reader will not accuse me of a lack of
judgment or a want of taste, when I gave the preference
tp the latter ; nor brand me with too great a presumption,
if I suppose he must coincide with my decision at ence,
rather than wait till he has an eppprtunity to mature his
judgment, whilst elucidating the practical part in the orlop
deck of a hostile frigate.
I had been quietly running over in my mind the various
scenes I had passed through for the last fifteen days, so
opposite to any thing I had ever before seen, or been en
gaged in, but could not persuade myself, even with the
strong bias of my former propensity for the sea, in my
favour, that my condition was in the remotest degree im
proved, or that my romantic notion of becoming a sailor,
was like tp benefit me in mind or body, by the turn events
had taken ; and I was soothing myself with the consola
tion, that as bad as my situation was, I could not now
better it, by grumbling and telling my troubles to others,
only to be jeered and laughed at for my folly of going to
sea ; and had fully concluded to let my companions then,
as I shall my readers now, remain in the dark as to my
wishes or regrets, when I heard a voice faintly calling me
by name. Glad was I, that it proceeded from my friend
the Fifer, who was so near, that by converse we could
while away some portion of the fong and tedious night
before us.
He appeared so weak and faint at first, as scarcely to be
able to recpunt his wpes ; but by degrees his veice grew
stronger, till, in his ire with the scurvy accommodations
allotted us, he became the loudest talker in the hold. He
was lying the third beam from me, on my larboard quaf-

144 FIRST NIGHT BELOW.
ter, and had the advantage of me in the height of his
apartment by spme inches, enabling him to ease his bOnes
occasionally by change of position, which luxury was pro
hibited me, by the architectural beauties of mine. Every
hour of that suffocating night did the Fifer recount his
Woes, and leave, requests to be conveyed to his relatives,
should any be so fortunate as to survive and return to their
homes. -
'I know,' said he, 'as well as though I were dead alrea
dy, I shall not be alive in the morning, for no earthly be
ing can live here in this mfernal dog's hole, where we are
wedged in, as though never more to be mpved. Who
wOuld not sooner be dead in a decent place; than but par
tially alive here, to be dying by inches. The man that
can so far harden his heart as to confine one here, should
be drummed out of the regiment. Had I a dog that was
frothing with madness, I should be ashamed to put him in
a hole like this dark dismal one we are smothering in. If
the world does not come to an end, it is not because wick
edness is not abroad. I have sinned, and expect to sin
more if I live through this night, but I will risk all here
after punishments, for none can come up to this. I should
like to have those who sent me packing from home, to
take a peep at what is left of me, in this dungeon of i
place, and if their hearts would not burst, they are harder
than I believe them to be, and must be secured with
leather casings.'
These sentiments of the Fifer were not delivered in
successive or regular continuance, but were given out as
his ill humour suggested, in parcels and at intervals. In
all his grumblings, which were many and often, he would
wind up with a desire to have thpse at his home see, or
knew of his situation, as though he expected relief from it.
Had he the many lives the antiquated saying has given
the cat, with the faculty of renewing them at will, he
would have expended them each hour of this, his first

FIRST NrGHT BELOW. 145
night below, if his assertions and predictions had but in
part proved as 'he knew they would.'
'Ah, the Fifer has taken his grumbling tackles on board,'
said some one, nearer the hatchway than we were, 'and
nbw we shall go off swimmingly with a ten-knot breeze
to grumbleton pprt, where may the devil rest him, for dis
turbing those who wish to sleep.'
' 'It is well for you, who have the advantage pf a little
air from the hatchway, tp talk about sleeping, but here
there is but one sleep, and that will be eternal.'
'Tip us a stave upon your fife, man, and I will join in
with a four-limbed reel, for I have room enough to show
my graces on all-fours,' said another from a farther part of
the hold.
'Yeu may have repm for ypur antics, but ypu will be
the only ene to enjoy them, in this bedlam of utter dark
ness,' came from another, whese location was pnly known
by guess.
'If ypu want light, stick ypur thumb in the lee cprner ef
ypur eye, and make it starlight.'
'Were I within striking distance ef that would-be dan
cing bear, I would insinuate a wipe across his smellers,
that would affprd him sparks pf light for the next ten mi
nutes, at least.'
These cut-and-thrusts were sp frequent, as to prevent the
Fifer's replying to the invitation, for him to regale the
others with the beauties of his favourite instrument ; and
at the first gap in this buffetting of wprds, he came in. with,
'My fife is where I wish my pppr carcass was, among
the other armaments of the brig, instead of here rasping
across the rough cable of the ship, at each roll she is con
stantly making, for my especial torment, in being so great
a noddy to leave home, where now I might be snug and
comfortable.' 'But you can whistle, gepd Fife, which is better than
ypur fifing, when yeur acticn is left out, as here it
13 v.l

146 FIRST NIGHT BELOW.
must be ; for with your present positipn, ypu can imitate
.nothing but the frog in your leaps, to give force to your
semiquavers. ' Try 'home, sweet home,' my man, 'twill
ease you of a load of trpuble ; or 'the girl I left behind
me,' if it suits you better.' This was a spre thrust for
pppr Amos, who replied not ; but his audible sobs soon
after told plainer than words, the wound this random shot
had inflicted upon this simple but tender-hearted being.
From present appearances, little sleep could be ex
pected this night, notwithstanding we were without any
the whole of the one previous ; at least to me, as I was
suffering with my usual nervpus headach, made wprse by
the ppsitipn in which I was lying, athwart ship. In vain
were my exertiens to undp my bedding, in my narrow
quarters, and I was compelled to submit, as best I could,
to my uncomfortable berth, in which I was so cramped for
room, that at no time could I turn upon either side, the
breadth of my shoulders being greater than was the height
of my apartment, from the circumstance of the cable
nearly filling the hold. I resolved in my own mind, "the
next night, to make an exploration before locating, and if
possible to pitch upon a better choice, if better could be
found. Experience is valuable even in squatting; but
then I failed not so much by inexperience, as by headino-
the wrong way.
Even as horrible as our situation was, one could not but
listen to the rough jokes that were passing current among,
us ; and to listen, was but to be amused. I early learned
to ward off the intended hpax, by meeting it with its like ;
for as sure as the seamen found one, who would grumble
or show temper at their jestings, so sure would they double
the raillery upon his unfortunate head. But if all were
taken in a friendly way, with a dove-tailing in of an occa>-
sional witticism, the joke, fell harmless, or was passed on
till it found a resting place with some one, who could not
enjoy it, or whp shpwed temper with the freedom taken
with his infirmities or weak points.

FIRST NIGHT BELOW. 147
'Jim, Jim Taylor, where are you, old boy ?' said a voice
as if coming from a deep^cell.
'Holloa!' was sung out in a hollow tone, from a dis
tance, to the first speaker.
'Whereaway, shipmate, and what cheer ?'
'Hard wedged in between the layers of the cable close
upon a lee shore. If my old hulk isn't hogged by the
morning, it will be no fault of the breakers underneath,
which are doing their best to loosen the joints of my back
bone, in their tender nudgings, to find out the most deli
cate parts in the neighbourhood of my kidneys. How
gets you on, brother shipniate ?'
'Bravely, bravely, Jim, my boy ; but have a hard time
of it, to find out the soft parts of the cable for my old
craft to rest upon. If the rope ever part, it will be where
it is chaffed by my starboard hip, which has now become
so dull with its tough job, as to be of little further use in
this way. Now I am trying, however, to get my larboard
one to bear upon the same spot ; and its a pity, with a fresh
onset, if I can't cut it quite in two by the morning, which
will kick up no small breeze, when known to the officers
above^ that their best bower cable is parted in the middle.'
'Why, Zeke, you may yet make yourself notorious, by
applying to congress for compensation for disabling ^an
enemy in their cruisings ; or rise to distinction by dangling
at the yard-arm, for mischief done to the frigate's cable.'
'Hush ! the marine who is sitting in the hatchway,
will overhear your plannings, and will bring upon your
knowledge box, some of the threatenings the old common
dore sO lavishly dealt out, in feat that damage might be
done to his favourite cable, as we were on the way to this
pig-sty of a roost.'
'Oh, the old fellow was muzzy, and has forgotten before
this, that any prisoners are on board, especially if he took
a second pull at the monkey, which he deserved for his
gentlemanly advice to us. .My eyes, how I longed to tip
him the good fellowship of a Turk's head, in the shape

148 FIRST NIGHT BELOW
and fashion of four fingers, neatly rolled up and clenched
with a thumb already too eager for mischief, by the length
of time since it has seen play.'
'Why didn't you exercise your hand a little? there
were enough on each side to prevent foul play.'
'Oh, a chap must sometimes swallow his own passion
for convenience sake, or to show his gentility and high
breeding. As for the lobster soldier in the hatchway, no
fear of him, for he is fast dreaming of his pea-soup of to
morrow, the grog hour, or some such interesting affair,
which to him is worth more than ten such cables as we
are rocking upon.'
'Pass a rope this way,' said some one near the marine,
'and I will slip a noose over his hoof, make it fast below,
so when the relief comes round, with his sudden jump, he
will be brought down sprawling in the cable tier.'
No rope could be found, or the trick would have been
carried into execution, at least so far as to the fastening
the cord to his foot.
'Avast, there ! who is that eating, while all others are at
their prayers ?' came from some one at the extreme left.
'It's me of the lame arm — I have as nice a herring as
ever need slip through the gullet ef the best congress-man
in the States.'
'Ah, that manoeuvre of yours was clumsily done-
nothing to boast of — spells clodpole in every way you
may turn it. Had I been the sergeant, you should have
walked up to the gangway, and been christened with a
two-dozen dressing, for the bungling manner you pretend
ed to cheat.'
'Net so bad as you suppose ; for the canvas was a breadth
from the storm-staysail, which you know was burst- the
night before our capture, and was of no value ; but I saw
the sergeant was only expecting canvas, so I kept my
lame side next to him, gave it up willingly, and got off
without having the other side examined, which was the

FIRST NIGHT BELOW. 149
one of real value after all, by being stuffed from shoulder
to heel with the finest herrings ever yet ate, as I now can
testify by the one on trial.'
'I too was alike lucky,' said the Persian that was ; 'for
the rich prize of the tall cap so turned the mUmble-toney's
brain, (if soldiers have brains, which is doubtful ; or if any,
so little, that they require as much more to know what use
to make ef that little, which, taken as a whole, is tanta
mount to their having none,), that he forgot there was any
other part but the head to the man he was searching, and
I secured the goodly things stowed beneath my waistcoat,
such as slices of ham, chocolate, pilot-bread, and fixens
of this sort, to a fair amount, enough to cause your worth
less herrings to blush at the comparison.'
'Pass over a biscuit in exchange for one of my fish, and
you shall have an opportunity to judge of your error.'
'I found them inconvenient to carry about with me, and
transferred them to my bag, which is on deck with the
others.' 'Where, if you see it again you will be more lucky than
I think you are. It won't do for you to banter others
about their clumsiness in this handiwork, when you can't
take care of what is left you. The best advice I can give
yOu, is, to go again to school, and finish your education so
poorly begun. Stow your grub in your bag, for the sol
diers to pilfer ! indeed — why the greenest hand on board
will shun you hereafter for a lubber.' ,
'I thought it would be so,' 'came from the Loafer, who
before this had not been heard, 'and so I brought my
cheese with me; and to make safety doubly sure, I'm
doing my best to stow it where none can find it ; yet I'm
beginning to think that without something to drink, I must
adjourn my exertions to another period, however contrary
to my usual mode of proceeding in business of this kind.'
'Loafer, why did'nt you salute the sergeant with that
smile of yours, before he lessened your bulk, for then he
13* v.l

150 FIRST NIGHT BELOW.
would have let you pass by, hump and all, as he did after
securing the hams.'
'My smile was not voluntary, but arose from thinking
how I had gpt the first taste, by a ccuple pf pounds or sp,
from each ham. Had he left me but one of the two, I
wpuld have heHPured him with a smile wprthy to be
looked at.'
'If you have any thing more hideous to offer, than we
have already seen, may this pitchy darkness never be less,'
said Tom Garret, a personage of the Benbow fraternity,
but for certain failures of memory, was often called Long
bow Tom. 'Now, I was not more than six fathoms off,
when you broke lopse with your laugh, and I distinctly
saw what you had eaten the night previous — there was
ham, beef, bread and cheese, not to count the herrings
and such other small fry, as were thrown in for chocks,
sufficient to freight the frigate's long-boat; all stowed
away in the most careless manner ; so that with any other,
tl>e first roll of the ship would shift cargo in the hold, and
make the craft lopsided the rest of the voyage.'
A short he-uk ! ye-uk ! yuk ! yuk ! ya, ya, was heard in
the direction of the Loafer, but whether voluntary, or by
the way of practice for exhibition hereafter, I was not near
enough to learn.
'Avast there, you lumber-limbed yaw-haw, of creation's
last making, from the remnants of thumbs and oakum,
after all human kind had been completed,' rolled out from
Cluegarnet Bob ; 'what in the name of cat's claws and
grappjings, are you doing with my head, Mumble Tony
Clodpole? 'Oh, is that your head ? well I did'nt know it,' timidly
failltered out Nimble Billy.
'Here is a pretty sample of a simpleton to go to sea;
who don't know the difference between the green noddle
pate on his own shoulders, and that of a thirty years' ser
vice on shipboard ; and the quicker the world comes to an

FIRST NIGHT BELOW. 151
end the better, unless times alter. Now, Billy Simple, or
whatever your name may be, just take a fopl's advice and
draw yourself off, where you can make no such mishap
again, of mistaking my head for yours, or vice versa, .else
I'll work a traverse upon your carcass, that will cause
your ghost ever after to take up its abode in this choice
place, pnly fit for such likes as they, whp live by dancing
in pther pepple's shape.'
'Holloa, Bob ! I thought after the twisting you got from
the two marines, when they unreeled your windings, that
you would be. quiet to-night at least ; or was the sergeant's
treat not strong enough to put you to sleep ?'
'May I be gorged with three-water-grog, the rest of
my days, if it would'nt make any fellow grumpy, to be
placed next to such trash, as this cow-heeled, scupper-
mouthed clodpole, whose father was a dung-fork and
mother a corn-sheller, and ashamed of their bantling at
last — if matters don't mend, ypu will hear from me in my
roughest state, if not, may I be blessed with being ridden
with the night-mare forever after, and, to Nimble Billy's
safety, Cluegarnet Bob was soon heard snoring.
Thus was kept up joke upon joke, till the greatest
portion of the night had passed, preventing those from
sleeping who could. At last, the stench of the hole, and
the suffocating effect of the confined air, began to sober or
silence even the most roisterous. By four o'clock in the
morning, not a word was spoken by the prispners — all
appeared to be subdued, by the horror pf mind they were
labouring under, and the wretchedness of their condition,
which brought sufferings only to be imagined, for no pen
can narrate our agonizing torments intelligibly to the
reader. Maiiy began at this early hour, to crowd near
the hatchway, either tp gain a breath pf fresh air, pr to be
in readiness to be the first en deck, altheugh it was knpwn
that we could not leave the hold till eight p'clpck. As
the light from the watch lantern above, cast its red glare

152 FIRST NIGHT BELOW.
through the hatchway, upon the anxious upturned coun
tenances, who were grouped beneath, looking up with a
sickly hope of being relieved from their dismal place of
suffocation and distress, I could but be struck by the
earnestness of their gaze, as if they could, by intenseness
of look, anticipate the time of release, or shorten the
lagging hours of their misery; yet they knew very well,
it was long, long before they could be relieved from the
oppressive difficulty of breathing, from that horrid stench
and noxious, deleterious, stagnant air, with which the hold
was filled, by being allowed to go on deck. Those who
clustered under the hatchway, made their situation worse,
by so closely huddling together, and suffered much more
than the others, who kept farther apart, and remained
quietly awaiting for the time to arrive which was to
relieve them. ,
I have dwelt longer, perhaps, upon the 'first night in
the frigate's hold,' than the occasion warrants ; but to me
it has always been a subject for reflection; and now,
although more than a quarter of a century has intervened
since these scenes occurred, my mind cannot turn towards
that night, and trace out my feelings and sufferings, with
out a curdling chill of horror, usurping the place of all
calm thoughts, which at times greatly impedes a free
respiration. When the hour came for us to go pn deck, had there
been a band pf savages in the rear, seeking our destruc
tion, there would not have been a greater rush to avoid
being the last man in the hold of the frigate.
On seeking the place, where we had left our baggage
the night previous, we found nothing but the empty bags ;
every thing else had been taken during the night, and
was conveyed out of our sight. All that was left to me,
was the belt to my great coat, a woollen stocking, one 01
my 'go-ashore pumps,' and about a third of a sea biscuit
The odd pump I held up and publicly offered to draw lots

FIRST NIGHT BELOW. 153
with the holder of its match, without exposing, him, to say
who should have the twp. This offer, strange to say, was
npt accepted by the one who held my other slipper, caus
ing the Fifer to remark, 'the chap that took your shoe is no
yankee, else he would jump out from the crowd with
eagerness for a trade, regardless of consequences.'
Again with the moiety of biscuit, I inquired, 'where is
the stray mate (of cheese) to this disconsolate fragment
of bread ?' but not a crumb of comfort could I receive
from the inhuman_ separators, of what should ever be as
one. By carefully discussing the matter of the bread
alone, I learned the error of my school-boy days, of
always supposing the words to be inseparable, notwith
standing the many striking examples I had received, to
make my readings better ; but previous habits, like here
tical doctrines, when leng indulged in, are stubbern to
rempve, and nething but practical demenstrations can
eradicate tnem from the mind that has been warped by
their influences.
During the day I had occasion to leave my bedding
but for a few moments, when, on my return, it too had
vanished ; and the only answer I could get to my urgent
and numerous inquiries, was, 'that it had gone to look for
the contents of my clothes'^ bag.' I had stuck so closely
to it till it was missing, as, npt unlikely, to excite the
curiosity of some light-fingered one, that there was value
within, greater than the outward appearance warranted.
Like most travellers, who are robbed, they first attract the
eager eyes of the pickpocket, by constantly feeling if the
parcel of value be safe, and thus make known where it is
concealed. I regretted much losing my bedding; for I
knew the loss would prove an inconvenience, and one that
could not readily be repaired. My baggage I could do
withqut, as I had a superabundance on my person, much
to my inconvenience, but which I would rather endure,
then run the risk of its 'gping to look for my bedding-'

154 FIRST NIGHT BELOW.
I was not alone in having my blanket and hammock
taken from me the second day after our being in the
frigate. Many others fared like myself, and lost all but
what they were standing in — few. however, had the same
'stress' of clothing as I was sailing under;' for I still had
the three suits and the heavy great-coat to carry about
with me, and knew no better mode of securing them,
fhan by keeping all on my back day and night.
The second night below, I was more lucky in my wan
derings, and selected a place of comfort, compared to the
one previous. This I was enabled to keep for the two
weeks I spent in the frigate. Besides, my resting place
was none the less pleasant, by being next to my friend the
Fifer, as he possessed a kind spirit and none of that
coarseness and vulgarity with which many of the others
were censtantly indulging.
I now sensibly felt the loss of my hammock and
blanket — not that I could have swung the former, as the
space in height that I had chosen, was not more than
twenty inches, but because I suffered most intolerably for
the want of something between me and the rough twists
of the cable underneath. I had likewise a thick double
cap of lamb's wool, which relieved my head from the
harsh rubbing upon the cable, but as the Fifer had lost his
hat a day or two after coming on board pf the frigate (by
handing it to a by-stander to hold for a moment, while he
was endeavouring for the fortieth time to 'bring a pail of
water from the outside,') and had no covering for his
head, I gave him the cap. From this time I had nothing
but my hat to guard my head through the night. With
this I could manage very well while awake, but the
moment I slept, and the frigate rolled mpre than usual,
the hat would slip from my head, leaving it to grate upon
the cable, which would instantly awaken me. Thus night
after night I enly slept in snatches, ef neither ccmfort nor
rest. The lying upon the cable was compared by the

FIRST NIGHT BELOW. 155
Fifer, to the 'riding upon a load of wood over a rough
road;' and however homely the comparison, I know of
none which will come nearer to the reality, with this dif
ference enly ; — the ene riding cpuld take his cheice ef
position, with the certainty ef the mptive ppwer tiring
sooner or later, while here but one posture, reclining,
could be indulged in, with self-evident proof of tiring
long before the ship should hold still. It was optional,
however, for each one to vary his position, with as many
twistings and turnings as his humour or uneasiness sug
gested, whilst.the variety was still more manifest, by each
change appearing more painful than the last; for every
new twist of the body seemed to partake so much of the
nature of the cable, as to be a part and parcel of it, while
the pain and irritation of the channgs were all upon
one side.
As the greater portion of our time was spent below,
while in the frigate, I hope I shall be pardoned for giving
more space to our doings therein, than while pn deck.
Many of the first hours each night were spent by story
telling, singing, or 'rigging' each other, all endeavouring
to join, in some way most congenial to his inclinations and
spirits, to help pass off the time easily, which in spite of
our merry-makings, hung too heavily upon us.
The singing was made up of such songs as seamen
generally have by heart, and can rattle off from memory ;
in general, detailing sea adventures, with a sprinkling of
some love affair, to make them the more entertaining, and
enough pf the superstitious to insure their belief. By the
quickness of the Fifer's ear, he was soon enabled to lead
off with any song that was sung tp him pnce cr twice ;
and, to his other qualifications, he decidedly was the best
singer on board, possessing a manly} clear, and highly
musical voice.
One night it was understood some of our naval victory-
songs were not well relished by the officers on deck,

156 FIRST NIGHT BELOW.
which only brought put others with a louder chorus than
before, and an extra 'hurra for the yankee thunders.' At
this, half a dozen of the best English songsters were
picked, with some dozen to join in their choruses. These
assembled around the hatch above us, for the purpose of
silencing us, singing us down, or to rival us in noisy
melody and patriotic verse. They were allowed to finish
their song unmolested by us, but the moment they were
through, we struck up with ours, each one striving to
outdo his shipmate, especially in the choruses. Knowing
that the character of our country was at stake, and that it
depended much upon our zeal and good management,
whether it should be upheld in the face of our enemies,
we strove accordingly to do our best, as its representa
tives ; and I trust I shall be able to prove, for the benefit
of coming generations, that our efforts were not entirely
unrequitted, or at least, enough was done for historians
hereafter to give us a place — nay, we claim, as fearlessly
earned, bravely gained, and dearly bought, a conspicuous
niche in the temple of fame, among the titled dignitaries
naval heroes, and military bull-dogs of renpwn, who have
gone before us in times past, pr may cpme after us in
ages to come.
The contest was kept up for some time, evidently to our
advantage, not only as to the quality of the singing, (for
in this, our opponents could not hold their own a moment,
in comparison with us,) but to the number and subject of
the songs ! they having run out with their victories over
the 'yankees,' before our party were fairly warm with the
contest. That they should not flag in the game, they took
up with the 'First of June,' the 'Battle of the Nile,' be
sides many others, in which we felt no national interest,
and did not fail grVing thein the hint, in plain English,
that they were dodging the contest, as first agreed upon.
This they cared far less for, than they did for a home-
thrust victory over them, from the 'yankees,' to each one

First night below. 157
Of theirs over the French. At last our fire became so
warm, that they were compelled to back out of the contest
chop-fallen; and they had the satisfaction of having their
defeat announced to all on board, by three-times-three
cheers from the victors below, accompanied with the clap-
ing of hands, and such other noises as each and all could
invent, in our zeal to putdp pne another, and uphold the
honour of the country we hailed from, whose emblem is
the stars and the stripes.
Word came from the deck, that such noises could not
be tolerated, and that we must be quiet. This only roused
the prispners to greater exertions, making what was sing
ing before, yellings now, as discordant as sixty loud throats
could make them, each tuned upon a key peculiarly his
own, with no vent whereby the hoarse bawlings and loud
noises could escape, only upwards through the hatchway,
when, as it found freedom from the pressure it had under
gone whilst forcing its way out, it spread proportionably
throughout the ship. In a few minutes, the officer of the
deck came down with blustering threats, 'that if order was
not kept in the hold, means would be resorted to of an
unpleasant nature.'
If the most savage tribe of Indians in North America
had at once broken loose with the terrific war-whoop, it
could not have been louder nor more grating to the ear,
than the screamings that followed the termination of the
watch officer's speech, who, when he could get a hearing,
tried to reason as to the absurdity of the prisoners persist
ing in this unequal contest, saying, 'the order of the ship
must and shall be maintained — -if by no other means, I
will order the marines to fire into the hold, and when too
late, you will learn your folly.' Had the advice been
tendered previous to the threatenings, it might have had
the desired effeet of cooling the mad brains of those in
the hold, but now it was too late, the advice and threats
alike were sent back with the utmost scorn and contempt.
14 v.l

158 FIRST NIGHT BELOW.
One near the hatchway, who could be distinctly heard
on the berth-deck above, followed the termination of the
officer's speech; —
'Crack away, my Johnny, you can make ' killing no
murder, but you can't easily mend the shot-holes in your
best bower cable.'
'If he mends his manners he'll have task ennugh, with-
put troubling himself with the cable.'
'Yes, patchwork is bad enough in the whole, and not
easily mended by a swabber.'
Is it to be a pop-and-let-alone running fire, or a regu
lar crasher, and-be-done-with-it ?'
'If your fire be no more effective than when in chase
of the brig, a penny a shot, pay as you go, and you may
fire away till you fall in with the Constitution, when she
will pay you back with interest, or ease you of the trouble
of taking your ship into port, as she has done to two of
your frigates already.'
'Yes,' said another, 'you were deliberating when and
where to fire on Lake Erie, and before making up your
mind; you were following in Perry's wake, with your
colours second from the top, at the peake.'
'Hurrah ! for old Ironsides.'
'Three cheers ! for the gallant Perry.'
'Down here, you Johnny Bull, and learn manners from
your betters.'
Many such expressions were pouring forth from every
side, in various keys and many voices, when the officer
withdrew, and his retreat was greeted as were the discom
fited singers, with nine hearty good cheers. I expected
unpleasant Consequences to follow immediately after his
leaving the hatch, as did all those whose mad excitement
left them senses enough for a moment's sober thought ; but
we were not disturbed in our enjoyments for the remain
der of the night. The singings, hootings, and yellings
were kept up till the morning broke, not allowing the

FIRST NIGHT BELOW. 159
ward-room officers a moment's rest, as they were situated
on the deck immediately above us, and their location was
such as not in the least to screen them from the din and
racket underneath.
We were told the next day, that we should be provided
for, if we persisted in disturbing the ship's company in
their rest, as we had the night previous. But nothing
daunted by the hint thrown out, when the prisoners went
below most were in high glee, with a full determination
for a similar frolic to the one just narrated.
The songs and choruses had progressed as usual, with-:
out any notice being taken of our proceedings, for two
hours or more, when all at once a dozen shot of the
largest size, forty-four pounders, were let loose on the
deck above us, and left free to roll with the motion of the
ship, the live-long night. Scantling were so fixed on the
deck, as to confine the orbit of the rolling shot within our
range ; and, as they passed from one side to the other, at
each roll of the frigate, with a low, harsh, thunder-tike
rumbling, as deafening as dreadful, and more horrible than
the booming of ten thousand Chinese gongs, intermingled
with as many bell-clappers, set in motion by one who is
sworn to drown all else by his own noisy clatter, they
were brought suddenly to a stand, when coming to the
scantling, with a jar and noise but little less than a dis
charge of small artillery. In this there was no variation,
except as they came in contact with each other, when the
sharp snap of the balls meeting, was enough to split the
brain of us who were underneath the deck, with the ad
vantage ef the planks immediately above our heads, to
convey and magnify the rumbling noise, as a sounding-
board, a hundred fold.
Many were determined to brave it put, and let those on
deck know that they still had the same party to deal with,
who, the night previous, had come out of the contest
so proudly victorious ; for, 'unscathed was every feather

160 FIRST NIGHT BELOW.
in their lordly plumes.' Some strove hard to keep up the
power of song! — but the power of the cold shot was the
greater. Some jeered, laughed, and joked ! — the rolling
shot were impervious to all such inducements tp quit their
neise, and be done with their foolishness. Some swore,
raved, and damned ! — the shot went booming on, stupidly
dead to every alluring blandishment for them to turn in
and be quiet. Some hallewed, yelled, and whnpped ! —
on came the shot, as doggedly indifferent to the Command
to cease their rumblings, as they manifested fear of the con
sequences. Some blustered, threatened, and stormed! —
still rolled the shot, as stoically unconcerned of danger
as though at their legitimate employment. Some sighed,
groaned, and roared ! — rumble-bump ! went the shot, utter
ly callous to any wily enticements or wicked devices, for
them to stay their steps, cease their roaming, and deign to
turn aside, to assuage the throbbing ears of the afflicted.
The singers, the jokers, the swearers, the whoppers, the
stormers, and the roarers ! pne by pne dropped off, till the
whole were silenced, and all was hushed, — not a sound
was to be heard, save these dull heavy messengers ef their
anguish, which kept rolling their unceasing rounds, with
their loud, monotonous rumblings, never to be quiet for an
instant, creating torments only fit for the damned.
I ha,ve somewhere read, that the greatest punishment
yet put upon the human frame, was, that of being placed
in a confined situation, where water was slowly but con
stantly dropping by single drops, upon the bare head.
But I am sure, the originator of this assertion could never
have been in the situation we were this night, when in
the frigate, with the shot rolling over the planks of the
deck so near our heads, or else he would have qualified
his assertion, by making this an exception to his water
dropping. Ever after, if we continued our songs later than ten
o'clock, the shot were sent rolling till our songs ceased;

THINGS IN GENERAL WHILE IN THE FRIGATE. 161
an accompaniment neither agreeable to the performers nor
melting to the hearers, and which we were glad to dis*
pense with, even at the expense of our losing the reputa
tion we had so fearlessly gained, by the display of our
vocal talents, under the very thunder of England's hea
viest armament, whose deafening roar, was only equalled
by its never ceasing roll, which, slackened not, till her
every opponent lay low in silence.

CHAP. XI.
THINGS IN GENERAL WHILE IN THE FRIGATE.
Soon after being a prisoner, my indisposition, T found
to be of a more serious nature than the usual sea-sickness,
such as the other green hands had suffered with, but of
which they were by this time rid, having gained their
wonted strength. Each morning when, crawling on deck,
from the unquiet sleep of the past night, in the loathsome
hold wherein we had been kept, I felt myself becoming
weaker and weaker, and less able to exert myself to action.
My nervous headache had also become so exceedingly
aggravated, as at times to cause fear that I ' should be
crazed. My appetite did not return in the least, and the
little I ate, was without relish to the taste or nourishment
to the body. However on this score I did not suffer so
much as those who had their health and full; appetites,
without the means of satisfying the latter; for the little
We were allowed as prisoners, was npt sufficient to content
any man in health.
We were put upon an allowance of 'six upon fottr;'
which means, six prisoners were allowed the same rations,
spirits excepted, (the which we had none,) as four pf the
14* v.l

162 THINGS IN GENERAL
men of the frigate ; . a rule of long standing in the British
naval service. The cocoa, given us in the morning about
two-thirds of a pint to each man, well sweetened, was nour
ishing, and the only warm beverage we had taken since
the night of our leaving port. To me this cocoa was a
cordial beyond price, and' so much did I feel relieved after
partaking of it each morning, I was fully convinced, that
all I required was wholesome fppd and quietness to recruit
my strength and spirits, already nearly exhausted.
The manner this pittance was given to each pf us, made
it of less value than otherwise it would be ; or had we
conveniences to husband the little granted us, that little
would have been of far more service. For instance, at
eight o'clock the usual allowance of hot cocoa was put
in a small tub, to be divided among the mess, as we could
agree with ourselves. As some had neither tin pot nor
spoon, they had to take their slops, as did our first parents,
by dipping their bills into the mess-kid, and suck it up
as best they could, or be indebted to the loan of a mess
mate's porringer, when its owner had finished his repast,
and be content to sip his cocoa, after it had cooled and
become valueless. As little as I knew of privateering, I
had provided myself with those ne'cessary utensils, pot,
spoon, and jacknifej^nd had not to wait till others had
eaten, for the scanty portion of the meal allotted to my
share. As I was saying above, had we conveniences to put any
portion of our provisions by, it would have gone farther
than' to swallow all, at once as it was given to us. With
*I was lately taken quite aghast, by the scullion making her
appearance, with a stormy aspect, threatening to relinquish her task,
unless furnished with better tools ; saying, 'dis won't do, no how, ibr
it bruk da fust hoister I stuk, an' twon't stan hammerin a barnakul,'
exhibiting to 'my gaze this only relict of my cruisings,' minus its
point. It has since been secured, where no menial hands can hence
forth put it to such undignified use.

WHILE IN THE FRIGATE. 163
the cocoa came our bread, which was generally devoured
for the purpose of securing it, as soon as obtained, leaving
the salt junk alone to be eaten at twelve o'clock, which,
without either bread or vegetables, created a thirst more
tormenting, than the hunger it was intended to relieve,
without the possibility of the thirst being alleviated, by the
small quantity of water we were allowed while on deck,
and not having a drop for the sixteen hours we remained
below. I suffered nothing from hunger as those did in health,
but for the want of water, my torrnents at times were
excruciating ; and I was wasting and pining fast away for
the aid of some nourishment or medicine that would
strengthen me. Of this I was fully sensible, by a trivial
circumstance which I will relate, if for no other reason,
than to hold in remembrance a philanthropic kindness
shown by one stranger to another.
I had been more than usually unwell through the day,
and had early gone below as far as the hatch, which led
to my sleeping hole, anxious to lay myself down, gain a
little quiet, however bad was the resting place, and I felt
careless whether it were the last or not. While waiting
for the few minutes to expire, before being permitted to
go below, one of the hands, who was taking his night
meal, came up to me, sipping his tea and eating his hard
biscuit, and, after a few moment's conversation, asked if I
would join him with his supper. I. replied, I had no
desire for eating, but that I would be more than thankful
for a drink of his tea. The kind-hearted fellow prepared
for me a pint bowl to the brim, of the same, hot and well
sweetened, which I drank with a relish the reader can
little imagine. I never have felt so instantaneous rehef
from the effects of either cordial or medicine, as after
swallowing the tea given me by this generous seamen. I
was another person in spirits from what I had been
through the day ; partook with hilarious glee in the song

164 THINGS IN GENERAL
singings and joking frolics of my shipmates in adversity;
and became so jovial, that some one observed, I must
have made acquaintance with the skipper, and 'had an
invite to the after cabin,; by the uproarousness of my
conduct, cpmpared to my late inertness. I regretted that
I could not afterwards make out this generous-hearted
individual from among the numerous crew, in order to
thank him for the kindness shown to one, in whom
he could have no interest, except the gratification of
indulging a kind feeling of the heart, and displaying a
generosity of soul, planted there by his Maker, who re
wards to the fullest extent, either here or hereafter, the
giver according to his ability to give.
The first Sunday after being in the frigate, all hands
were piped to quarters, and afterwards to attend prayers.
It was customary, while the men were at quarters, for the
commander'to inspect them, as to their cleanliness, dress,
and uniforms, a ceremony attended with much pomp and
parade by the officers, and of much preparatory shaving,
scrubbing, and trimming up, on the part of the men ; for
wo was it to the delinquent, who was deficient of a clean
chin, nice trim, pr a Sunday [parade] dress. If the latter
was wanting, the shabby one must stay below, out of
sight, till the inspection was over, as no excuse was taken
for deficiences of this sort at reviews.
The day was exceedingly boisterous, with a heavy sea
running, causing the frigate to roll to such a degree, that
but few could keep their feet on deck with either comfort
to themselves or grace to the beholder. Although it was
usual to have ropes stretched from gun to gun around the
quarter-deck, for those to steady themselves by occasion
ally, who were doing duty thereon, this day they were
stretched entirely around the upper deck, of a convenient
height to hold by.
The prisoners were placed forward upon the forecastle
to be as far as possible from observation, being no doubt

WHILE IN THE FRIGATE. 165
a disgrace for so respectable a squad to encounter, as
was going the rounds of the deck. All being in readi
ness, or rather the moment arriving, when the commodore
should leave his cabin, a flourish of the bugle was given,
starting every soul at. quarters, a full inch higher than
nature intended them to measure, and brought the com
modore in full view, followed by his numerous retinue,
according to seniority. After inspecting the larboard
waist, he continued round on the forecastle, till he came
face to face with the prisoners, who had the range of the
booms to perch upon, as well as a part of the forecastle
deck to perambulate.
Asvwe, from time immemorial, have heard much of the
high-souled, gentlemanly conduct of Old England's dis
tinguished commissioned lords, Ifeel it my duty to cast in
my mite — not that it may add or take from the renown
of this order decorated veteran, but because his conduct
struck me at the time as being (in vulgar parlance) 'wery
pecoolier.' In the following, I will endeavour to give as
pl||n a statement of what occurred, as memory will per
mit, promising to add nothing but what was said or done.
When confronting the prisoners, Sir Commodore draws
up with a magisterial air, and gruffly demands,
'Who have we here?'
His second in command, touching his hat, said,
'The American prisoners, that lately belonged to the
prize we last took.'
'Ah, yes ; and we'll have every damn'd yankee in the
country yet,' turning towards the body of the prisoners,
'we have a strong place in England built only for such as
you, where you shall be kept your life-time, every bugger
of ye. What's the name of the place where such fellows
as these are confined ?' directing his inquiry to his suite.
z 'Castle William,' said one — 'Dartmoor,' another— 'Mill
Prison,' said a third, and many other names were given,
each desirous of mentioning a place where we could be
lodged in safety.

166 THINGS IN GENERAL
'Castle William is the best place ; that will hold all in
the country,' returned the commodore. Suddenly altering
his tone, he burst upon one in his front, with the force
and unexpectedness of a rocket,
'You are an Englishman, and shall be hung for being
taken in arms against your countrymen ! — you whelp ! —
who are youV raising his voice as he proceeded, till it
reached its height at the termination, and breaking with
the angry and overflowing spleen of the speaker, either
in earnest, or well assumed for effect.
This philippic and heinous charge was directed to a
diminutive man, who stood directly in front of the
commodpre, in red flannel shirt, wepllen cap, and tarry
trousers, being all he had saved from the successful
night's depredations of the frigate's crew ; and was as un
like an Englishman, as an egg is unlike a piece pf chalk
in its mos't angular form. He was at best but a scant
pattern of nature's doings, both in height and breadth of
beam — by trade a tailor, and just out of his apprenticeship.
Allotting him his full inheritance, the entire ninth, be^jre
the notice taken of him by the exalted of England's boast,
he instantly dwindled, pr rather the ninth shrunk te the
lowest decimal that the trade stands to the whple man—*
his eyes excepted, which gathered size as the surrounding
parts grew less, till net much else was left above the
shoulders, to substantiate his birth and parentage. As
soon as he could collect a sufficiency of breath to make
his voice audible, which he had been gasping to accom
plish, as long as it takes to narrate the circumstance from
where the commodore's explosion ended, he said :
'My name is Nathan Slocum — I was born and always
lived in the town of Boston — where my mother new is ; —
I am a tailpr by trade-ah ! and never was from home
before-ah ! in my life-ah !' delivered mechanically, with a
shaking fear at the dire threatenings -of the rough old
commodore — redoubling the gaspings at the termination

WHILE IN THE FRIGATE. 167
of each sentence, with a spasmodic stretching of the
neck, that made some believe he was thus early trying
to accommodate it to the height of the yard-arm above.
'You lie ! — you are an Englishman, as I can tell by
your eye ; — it is no more than you deserve, to string you
up to the yard-arm, and hang you for a traitor as you
are — to warn others how to behave ; but we will wait till
we arrive in England, where you shall get your deserts,
and where we will soon have all the yankees in the coun
try — every damn'd ***** of 'em;' and moved off,
muttering, 'we'll fix 'em — take the whole pf 'em — keep
'em on bread and water for life, damn 'em.'
The poor tailor stood petrified, with a ghastly fear de
picted upon his countenance, and his frame shaking as
with an ague fit, till he was brought-to by some one slap-
ing him upon bis back, and telling him to 'haul taut his
eye backstays, or he would pitch all forward.'
The boastof England's pride, with his suite, continued
his review previous to prayers. He had gone through
with all but the marines, and had just begun with them,
when the further ceremony was dispensed with for the
day,1 by a circumstance as ludicrous as it was unmilitary.
The marines were drawn up in a line lengthwise on the
quarter-deck, about sixty in number, without arms, for the
better purpose of balancing themselves to the roll of the
frigate. I had for some time been watching them, and
was no little engaged with their swayings to and fro, in a
body as but one, thinking at times it was impossible for
them to keep their feet, at the alternate slanting of the
deck under them. Just as the commodore was prepared
for their inspection, and but a step from their -front, a
heavy sea struck the frigate at her upward roll, causing
her to lay over much more than usual, and threw the
whole body of marines, to a man, to the further side of
the deck, from where their line was drawn up; taking
-with them such ef the cpmmodore's suite as happened to

168 THINGS IN GENERAL
be in the direct course of this sweeping avalanche of red
coats, blue trousers, feathered caps, pipe clay and cross
belts ;— all tumbled helter-skelter, pell-mell— officers, sol*
diers, sailors and boys, with no regard to seniority as to
precedence — the whole went crumbling together to the
leeward, there to separate as best they could. This put a
stop to the farther inspection for the day, nor did they
attempt to dress the marines in line again till the gale
abated. Many were more or less hurt — three having to
be carried below and placed under the surgeon's care.
The commodore, not having advanced so far as to fall in
with this sweeping current of human bodies, held his
footing with the aid of the rope rove for the purpose.
The scene was unique and truly laughable, so much as
to raise a broad yaw-haw among the prisoners, and a smile
upon the faces of such of the frigate's crew as dared to
show they were pleased ; besides, I saw many of the
petty officers busy with their handkerchiefs to their faces,
when it was plain they were not in search of their noses,
as they were bobbing up and down, in unison with their
heads, faster than the shaking wipers could follow. The
petrified tailor was interested for the first time since the
commodore had so signally noticed him above his ship
mates in adversity, by his saying, 'I would give the best
sleeve in my coat, if they had taken the old commodore
along to leeward with them.' Some one observed he
might afford a more generous offer, as by the old fellow,
by chance, becpming crippled, he would escape the im
pending fate in store for him. Whether the tailor pro-
fitted by the suggestion, the deep respect in which I hold
the trade, ever will compel me to remain silent, maugre
all inquiries. The curiosity of Nimble Billy was likewise
excited, with this certainty as to its cause, that he ex
claimed, 'I never seed the likes of that in my born days.'
With no assurance, however, he would not expect the
same occurrence to take place at the next review, as a

WHILE IN THE FRIGATE. 169
part of the ceremony pertaining thereto, sp unutterably
strange was every thing he had encountered since his
leaving. home, and opposite to that expected by him, in
his 'vige to earn something the coming winter.'
I too had a 'lee lurch,' which came near proving fatal,
during the tossing about of this woigt of all rolling frigates.
It was banyan-day, which means 'no meat for dinner;'
but in lieu thereof, we had flour given us, which by mix
ing with water and a few raisins, together with six hours
boiling, made a tolerable pudding, or 'dough,' (duff, as
generally termed on shipboard ;) but were a t to supplant
the d in the word, (as np dpubt originally intended,) its
name would then comport with its nature, and it would
have rendered this explanation on my part unnecessary ;
for as far as solidity and toughness went, the article in
question was perfection itself.
The mess had just divided the whole of one day's allow
ance into parts enough for each to have his exact portion,
even to the 'ninth part of a hair.' I had taken mine and
thrust the handle of my iron spoon through it, with the
intention of nibbling around it, to make a long dinner
from my short allowance ; and was standing on the gun-
deck between two guns, where we had spread our 'cloth'
for the dinner, with my back opposite the main hatch,
which was open.
As I was saying, to lengthen my allowance, I first fan
cied its angular shape incongruous, and began chipping
away till I had an exact square ; when a freak told me a
globular form was the more becoming, with less variation
if viewed from different points ; — now, after shaving its
corners to its desired ball-shape, with a prodigal waste of
material that alarmed me, imagination said an oblong
was an architectural order easily measured ; but, as this
required a greater using up of stock than the last trans
formation, I was debating in my mind if some other shape
would not be as acceptable to its proprietor, without so
15 v.l

170 THINGS IN GENERAL
wickedly lessening its bulk, when, as I was swaying back
ward and forward, to preserve my balance, a sea struck
the vessel, precisely as when the marines were thrown to
leeward. I felt I was going, and made a whirling spring,
so as not to come down upon my back ; and so slanting
was the deck, that I tjpuched nothing till I fell directly
over the hatchway, with my feet hanging by the combing
arOund it on one side, while my left hand and arm rested
against the cable, which was run up from the hold below,
about amidships on the one side of the hatch.. The
frigate at the instant brought up, easing my fall, otherwise
I should have gone through the open hatches beneath, a
depth of more than twenty feet. A by-standej relieved
me from my perilous situation, my position not allowing
me the use of myself in the least, and it was likewise
such as not enabling me to maintain for an instant — the
next roll would have sent me headlong to the hold below.
When I recovered my upright position, the deck was
strewed with every thing mpvable> Many of the men
were more or less hurt, who had not fallen half the dis
tance that I had ; for from where I was standing, between
the guns, to the hatchway, was not less than eighteen feet,
the whole pf which was I thrown, without being in the
least the worse for the fling, except that my day's allow
ance with its handle', had continued their tumblings to the
bottom of the ship, where nothing but an especial Provi
dence had prevented me from following. It was a matter
of thrilling astonishment tp the by-standers, that I was net
dashed to atoms among the rubbish of the hold.
Hpwever reluctant to pitch headforemost to the third
deck below, on learning the direction of my 'duff' and
spoon, no unfortunate wight with his fresh sprouting horns,
ever followed his peace destroyer and his gay paramour,
with greater zeal and alacrity, than I did these stray ones,
without stopping to care whether the pudding had been the
enticer of the spoon, or whether, the latter by its sly ogling,

WHILE IN THE FRIGATE. 171
had been the gay deceiver, enough that they were off, for
me to follow in their wake. I found the spoon only, those
below averring nothing else had come down. The 'duff'
being of the things that allowed stowing in places un
searchable, was beyond my reach, I concluded, like
Launcelet Gobbo, that 'I must fast another day,' which,
when thrown into the aggregate of our fastings, was not
worth the notice of remembrance.
While speaking about the rolling of this frigate, I will
merely say, that I have repeatedly seen the New-Castle's
keel, when sailing by the side of her, and she was said to
roll less than the Leander. This was occasioned, as was
said Pn board, by her high masts, heavy spars, and full
tier of guns, forty-four pounders,, on her spar deck. I
have often pressed her leeward shrouds together, till they
Would touch, with the bending of her mast by the force of
the wind. This rolling and pitching about made the duty
on board extremely irksome and laborious to the crew,
especially during the continuance of the three or four days
that the gale lasted. Although she had a complement of
more than five hundred men, still, all hands were called
as often as any thing gave way, or whenever any extra
duty was to be perforhied. Her sails and rigging were of
the heaviest order, totally unmanageable with a few hands,
and but slowly handled with the many. I once whilst the
wind was freshly blowing, counted ninety-six at the main-
sheet, which was run down, and stretched along the gun-
deck ; and even then, they found it difficult in sheeting
hpme the sail. Again, I saw as many as could lay upon
the main-yard, more than half an hour clewing up the
mainsail, notwithstanding the men were hurried on by the
officers on deck, with threats and oaths as is usual in such
cases when their mandates are tardily executed.
During the buffetings about in this gale, the frigate car
ried away one of her boom-irons at the main-yard, that
was broken short off; to mend which, it appeared, was a

172 THINGS IN GENERAL
jeb that required additional aid to the blacksmiths already,
belonging to the frigate. The offer of full allowance was
made to our armourer, provided he would assist in its
welding, and by him the offer was gladly accepted. This
it afterwards appeared was tantamount to volunteering into
their service. Instead of going to prison, the armourer
was retained on board of the frigate, and not only kept at
full allowance of 'grub,' but was plied with double allow
ance of duty. The same offer was made to our Fifer,
(who, when they had asked him his age, name, &c. gave
them his former occupation, and began to branch out with
his pedigree, till told, 'that will do,') but with different
effect; for he drew himself proudly up, and boldly said,
'I have always been a staunch democrat, as was my
father before me, whilst fighting against you in the last
war, — he taught me to hate the English worse than a
kicking horse ; and if your boom-irons, as you call them,
are not welded till I blow the bellows or swing the
sledge, you will cruise without them,' muttering in his
anger at the very theught pf wprking for the 'British, whe
had feleniously taken from him his fife, and stowed him
in a hole not fit for a worthless skunk to burrow in.'
The Leander was built expressly to cope with the Ame
rican frigates, and was equipped in the most complete or
der, having experienced officers, and a picked crew from
the best men in the service, numbering upwards of five
hundred. Yet I have seen the crews of our frigates while
in harbour, go through with the duty of making and taking
in sail, in much shorter time than I ever did those of the
Leander; as likewise, when at quarters and exercising
their guns, the latter were much less expert than the for
mer. Her bulwarks were exceedingly high, but would
not bear a comparison with those of the Constitution as to
thickness or strength, the Leander's being of light fir,
while the planks of the former were of live oak. Had
they encountered each other, there would have been no
fear of the result.

WHILE IN THE FRIGATE. 173
In a general conversation a question was put to a junipr
officer, who was near by, asking what disposition would~be
made with the prisoners, if an engagement should take
place between his frigate and the Constitution ?
'If in the day time,' said he, 'you will be placed upon
the booms on the upper deck, to see how your country
men direct their fire in comparison to ours, and keep tally
which oftener hit ; if at night, you will be kept below, to
be in readiness to pass the word up, when the ship is in a
sinking condition.'
After a consultation among ourselves, and a slight
glancing at the hazard we should be exposed to, lest the
Constitution's sharp-shooters might not recognize us as
countrymen of theirs, in their usual hurryings in matters
of this kind, in order to excel each other in the quickness
of their firing, and the amount of execution', it was voted
by a very respectable majority, 'that it was inexpedient to
fall in with the Constitution.'
I was one day standing on the gun-deck, seeing the
purser's squad cutting the pork into pieces of proper sizes
for the next day's allowance, when I was suddenly caught
by one of the men in attendance, and sent whirling half
the breadth of the deck, without the least provocation on
my part, as I was neither in their way nor hindering them
from their work. I turned and was going back to demand
the reason of such roughness to one, who had harmed
them not; but feeling a lump in my side, which I was
convinced could not be caused by a blow, although it
might have arisen from the rough handling of the meat
chopper, I thought it best to investigate the cause and
effects in a cool, dispassionate manner, rather than kick up
a dust, or beard the lion in his den,, and demand an apo
logy at a more suitable opportunity. Upon examination,
I found the lump consisted of a piece of fat pork, of at
least three pounds in weight, which this generous hearted
fellow had thrust inside my jacket, covering the kindly act
15* v. 1

174 THINGS IN GENERAL.
with the semblance of the roughness aforesaid, at the risk
of being brought to the gratings at punishment day, for
cribbing from the frigate's stores.
This was seasonable, and of value beyond price, fully
compensating me for the ample coating of grease and slush
that it left adhering to my inner garments, for with a thin
slice broiled upon the point of my knife, and a hard bis
cuit, I could take my lunch with a relish but little known
to those who have never been deprived of their regular
three meals per day. But this windfall proved a greater
relief as a curative, than as the stamina of life ; for how
ever absurd it may sound, that pork should be used in a
medicinal way, nothing of the kind being found in pur pre
sent pharmaecpseia, yet in one instance, I can bear witness
of receiving the greatest benefit from its application, other
wise than as a leading adjunct to either of those never-
cloying dishes, beans, greens, or hominy.
While below one night, I was seized with the ear-ache,
that most troublesome of all pains, when severe, as was
mine, and could get neither rest nor sleep, at times think
ing I must gp mad with agony. Towards morning I be
thought me of the residue of the pork in my pocket, which
I took out in the dark, and with my knife shaped a piece
as well as I could, thrusting it with desperation deep into
my aching ear, and in a short time I felt relieved, the pain
lessening gradually till it entirely ceased, allowing me to
take a comfortable nap before going on deck. From that
night to the present time, I have never been troubled with
the ear-ache, nor used pork otherwise than as a christian
should use it.
On the morning of the sixth of January, a brig was
seen in the distance, and the squadron was headed towards
her. On nearing the strange sail, no little^curiosity was
excited to learn what she could be ; for she was yawing
about in the wind, with but a part of her fore-topsail set,
some of her other sails flapping with the wind in a ragged

WHILE IN THE FRIGATE. 175
state, her maintop-gallantmast gone, as likewise were all
her lighter spars. She was supposed to be a vessel aban
doned, till a nearer approach shpwed us her men moving
about the deck. When within hail,, she was ordered to
heave-to, and send a boat on board of the commodore.
The answer was, that all were drunk except one man and
a-boy, who were unable to heave-to or lower the boat.
One was sent from the commodore, and took possession of
her. She proved to be a prize, captured seven weeks
previous by a privateer from New York, with a cargo of
goods invoiced at $70,000, manned with a prize crew,
who had orders to reach any port in the United States,
with the greatest possible expedition. The brig had at
one time been within six hours of reaching the harbour of
Portsmouth, N. H. ; but the prize-master had abandoned
all other considerations for the bottle, the crew following
their superior in his debauchery and drunkenness, with
the exception of the man and boy before mentioned, till
from drifting about, they knew not where they were ; and
from soon after being captured till falling in with the fri
gates, the duty was left to these two alone, who were
almost exhausted, neither being able to go aloft.
The brig had drifted from off Portsmouth, to near the
Western Islands ; for the sober man said he had not at
tempted to keep headway on her, any further than was
necessary for her safety during high winds. Had they
been left to themselves three days longer, when a severe
gale commenced and continued seventy hours, every soul
must have perished, for the brig never could have weath
ered it.
When the prize-master was brought on board of the
frigate, he was just in that glorious state of uncertainty,
as to totter without falling, be impudent without being
dangerous, and know every thing, without having sense
enough to know he was, or had been drunk. He de
manded audience with the commodore, saying 'he had

176 THINGS IN GENERAL
seen such tricks before, but he was no green-horn, he
could smoke 'um, in spite of their red-coated marines — its
all flam, flummery, no go — I want to see the commodore,
old Decatur himself—he' knows me and I know him — we
were school boys together — he arn't agoing to detain an
old shipmate with a valuable prize, who is endeavouring
to reach port.' He was still under the belief that this was
the American frigate United States, under the command
of Decatur, shamming English colours and exteriors, as is
sometimes the case, for effect, to worm out confessions.
The prize-master was so intent on seeing his 'dear friend,
commodore Decatur,' that several times he tried to force
his way to the cabin, from whence he would as often be
forced back by the sentry at the dpor.
When he came to his senses and learned his true situa
tion, what an ass he had made of himself, by throwing
again into the hands of the enemy so valuable a prize,
which, had he secured it, as easily he might, would have
enabled him to remain at hpme at his ease during the con
tinuance of the, war, it completely unmanned him ; and
for the remainder' of the time he was in the frigate, he
was scarcely heard to speak a loud word. He was a man
of good education, had been employed and held command
in the merchant service for many years, and to every
appearance he was capable of being entrusted with stations
of ccnfidence, honour and profit. But this unlucky pro
pensity for the bottle, spoiled all his past as well as future
prospects ; 'for,' said he, 'who will again trust me with a
cock-boat, after the bad management of the late prize
put under my command.'
We lay-to for the day, to give the crew that was sent
on board of the recaptured prize, time to refit and bend
new sails. She proved a bad sailer, when filling away,
and fell so far astern, that the squadron was obliged to
heave-to every hour or two till she could come up. The
day following, a long hawser was run out from' our frigate's

WHILE IN THE FRIGATE. 177
stern, and made fast to the brig's bows, giving her a pull
to quicken her speed, enabling the squadron to pursue
their course, without farther hindrance from the prize. I
i have sat for hours highly amused, whilst watching the
jerkings our heavy frigate gave the brig ; for on she must
come through the waves of the sea, the rope unceremo
niously dragging her gunwale deep, if she had not time
to rise over them. At times when she was just lifting her
bews to gain the top of a heavy swell, the hawser would
straighten with a plunge of the frigate, pulling the brig by
the head through all, deluging her decks with tons of
water, and giving the crew as uncomfortable a time as it is
possible to imagine. During the third night, when the
gale was at its height, and the waves running nearly mast
high, the hawser parted, and when day-light came, the
brig was not to be seen. On hauling in the rope, the
parting was found to be at the end next the brig — hot by
the strain put upon it, but by a sharp instrument, which
had been used by some one on board, who was tired with
the nosing and drenching, he had undergone for the two
days previous, and had doubtless chosen this dark, tem
pestuous night, to cut the connexion between him and his
superiors, well knowing the trick could not be discovered
till the frigates were out of sight. We saw nothing more
of her, and kept on our course towards the Western
Islands, for the purpose of falling in with some vessel, in
which our troublesome selves could be sent to England,
the frigates not intending to give up the chance of a fight,
in this cruise for the Constitution,

178
CHAP. XII.
THE CREW OF THE FRIGATE.
Of the frigate's crew, I shall say but little, but that
little I hope not altogether uninteresting to those who
may have the curiosity to peruse these pages.
The commodore I have already passed by, after show
ing my military respects for his seniority, by first honour
ing him with my notice.
The first lieutenant was a thorough seamen, appearing
to be an efficer of value to the ship he was in, and the
service he had chosen for his profession ; for he saw every
thing done on board, was ever active, on deck continually,
proud of the station he held, but he was a great tyrant;
and one much feared by the crew. It was not unfre-
quent that he would call the men aft for a reprimand, and
end with knocking them down with his fist, for the pur
pose, as I thought, to show the herculean strength of the
arm that sent the blow; for it occurred so often, that the
men, if guilty, must have deserved a worse punishment,
for their oft repeated delinquences. The easy tumbling
some of them received, was conclusive, they understood
this propensity of their lieutenant, either through instinct
or long practice, and were willing to aid him in his autho
rity, by meeting his wishes half way ; for often was the
offender seen toppling, before the uplifted hand had im
parted the blow, which was to fell him to the deck,
making the task of the lieutenant less arduous, but to all
appearance equally satisfactory to both parties.
I was at first much amused by the deep, gruff and gut-
teral voice assumed by the officers, when issuing their
commands to their inferiors, as though the hoarser the
sound, the more sure of obedience. The younger mid-

THE CREW OF THE FRIGATE. 179
shipmen, who could not hope for the sprouting of their
beards, till a ten years' growth was added to their persons,
were always trying their utmost to ape their superiors,
jby growling out their mandates. When the men were
ordered up to the duty of the ship, these admirals in pros
pective, after stationing themselves one at either side of
the ladder, at the main hatchway, with each a rope's end,
would lash away to the extent of their strength,<-upon the
backs of those who were of years sufficient to be their
grandfathers. This was styled infusing spirit into the
men, and teaching them to move lively.
There was one whom I cannot pass by, if for nothing
more than his singularities. He held the station of
master-at-arms, but what his particular duties were, I
never could learn, except that of flogging the boys ; for
he was continually at them — first and last, none escaped
his rattan. It was said on board, that he had never set
his foot on land, having been born on shipboard, and sent
from one vessel to another when wanted, without the
necessity of his going to the shore, which he hated as
others loathed an infected prison.
This man was about forty-five years of age, tall, and of
a remarkably thin figure, hatchet-faced, sharp, grey eyes,
which peered into and beyond every thing in his range.
His legs were pertaining to the knock-kneed form, giving
him a bracing position from the knee downwards, and ena
bling the foot, hollow and all, to suck the deck so firmly
as to make it impossible for him to slip with the rolling of
the ship. His body was of as many crooks, shapes and
angles, as a supple-jack when in full operation, varying at
every pitch of the frigate, in his hurryings to and fro, be
yond all similitude or comparison, never retaining for a
moment any one attitude of body or limb, the bracings
and suctions aforesaid excepted. It was not known that
he had ever held a word of familiar conversation with any,
simply for the want pf time ; he was always pacing from

180 THE CREW OF THE FRIGATE.
one deck to the other, pointing his long pinched nose into
the scuppers, where, shpuld he be fortunate enough to
find a stray bucket bottom up, a kid with the after meal's
rinsings, or the least remains of the swabber's or sweeper's ,
leavings, the obnoxious article must net be touched, till
its legitimate ewner was discevered, whp never escaped
being found, by the all-searching propensities pf this
master-at-arms. Wee was it, to the ppor culprit when
ferreted out, for the rattan was brought into full play,
during the removal of the sloven's former delinquencies.
His searchings for 'things out of the way,' brought to
mind a nursery story of my childhood, the particulars of
which I have forgotten; but the principal features were
contained in a character who was ever hurrying forward,
looking about with the greatest eagerness, continually
whining, 'its gone ! its gone !' or 'I've lost! I've lost!' So
with this man; after hours sliding the deck, (one is not
safe in saying he walked them,) poking between every
gun, rummaging in the bottoms of the beats, snuffing
about the caboose, tearing up and down the hatchways,
thrusting himself into the many mess places of the men
on the berth-deck, squeezing himself into all the multi
farious holes and cprners pf a man-pf-war at sea — were
he sp fortunate as to find the least thing out of its regular
place, his eyes were seen to dilate with pleasure, a partial
smile would light up his countenance, giving propf that
his labours were fully rewarded.
I never saw this man either sit er stand still for a mo
ment; but he was always on the go. Whether he con
tinued his labours through the.night, I cannot say, as my
'sixteen hour system' below commenced long before his
various duties were completed for the day ; and when I
was allowed to come on deck in'the morning, he was still
at his rummagings ; so I have no authority to say he ever
slept— ergo, he never did sleep. For the latter circum
stance, were I writing a work of fiction, out of this

THE CREW OF THE FRIGATE. 181
oddity's peculiarities something might be made, but in
historical or narrative writings, such fancies must not be
indulged in.
I can safely venture the assertion, however, that this
World was created and peopled (or that portion of it
which is covered with a sufficient depth of water to make
navigatipn safe,} for the express purpese of producing a
gpod and efficient master-at-arms ; and all had been dis
carded and assigned to meaner occupations, as unfit to fill
so high a station, till this man was fallen in with and
retained, greatly to the renown of the British empire.
The world has produced but ene Nappleen, yet I dpubt
many others as great as he will be forthcoming, ere
another like this master-at-arms to his Britannic majesty's
frigate Leander, is again seen and brought out, at least in
his own estimation.
Yet there is one other I cannot part with, as this sepa
ration must be forever, without again bringing him into
notice; his peculiarities justifying, and my only apology
for his second introduction to the reader.
The sergeant of marines, as noticed in the last chapter
but one, was a man possessing uncommon natural abili
ties, both mental and physical. His tall, erect, and well-
proportioned frame, together with a countenance of an
unusually prepossessing expression, having a greater share
of nature's gifts, as to comeliness, than fell to the lot of
many, distinguished him from others at a glance ; and the
whole bearing of the man commanded respect and admi
ration at first sight, which was in no wise lessened by
subsequent acquaintance.
This man's extraordinary exuberance of spirits, which
were ever over-flowing with laughter-loving fun, made
him a general favourite among the men, and a welcome
companion to all on bpard ; the blue-jackets excusing their
derelictipn pf caste, in thus associating with the 'soger,' by
saying, 'a stray soul had by accident taken berth on board
16 v.l

182 THE CREW OF THE FRIGATE.
of this marine, and so far neutralized his nature, as to
make his company tolerable and no disgrace.'
His general favouritism gained him the office of 'rousing'
up the watch from below, during the night. No one could
be better fitted for the duty than he was, as he could say
mpre and gp greater lengths with the crew, than any ether
in the frigate, witheut raising their ire pr hatred. His un
accountable quickness of movement and readiness of wit,
enabled him to take the range ,of the berth-deck, as it
were, in a mpment, giving this hammock a shake, that a
rap with his rattan, and anpther, whese ewner was a con-
firmed snoozer, he would nearly turn bottom up in his
passage, delaying not a second at any one of the sleepers,
merely nudging gently, for them to know he was passing,
qualifying his hints or doings with - some trite saying, a
rhyme, a song, or whatever came uppermost in his lively
and fertile imagination. This Went far towards softening
his unwelcome visits to the watch below.
The sergeant could neither read nor Write ; yet this was
not easily known to one in conversation with him, so cor
rect Were his pronunciation and language. His memory
was astonishing, for what he once saw or heard, he appa
rently never forgot ; and any odd saying he accidentally fell
upon, he could dress up into as many shapes and colours,
each better than the -former, as would leave Matthews, at
times, far in the back ground- My berth being near the
hatchway of the berth-deck, gave me an admirable oppor
tunity of listening to the amusing f tricks and drollery he
reserted to, for the purppse pf getting the sleepers up by
roll-call, which was fifteen minutes after the watch was
notified to go on deck. Whoever was absent at the call,
the same Was reported, and if repeated, the delinquent
was brought to punishment, either by extra duty, loss of
grog, or whipping.
Various were the excuses of the men for not turning
out; some plead sickness, others indulgencies granted

THE CREW OF THE FRIGATE. 183
by an officer, some one thing, some another ; to all of '
Which, quick as thought, he had his ready answer, either in
poetry or prose; which rolled out as sppntanepus as the
spring gushes from its native fountain. His voice was
highly musical, even in conversation, but when in song,
there are few professional singers who would not be proud
to possess it, even in its untutored state, as when I enjoy
ed its melodious warblings. So apropos were his snatches
of songs, that I had no doubt at the time they were ex
tempore, and made without the least effort or exertion of
thought, as, for aught I knew, were likewise the rude, and
unmeasured melody with which he chanted them.
I feel quite incompetent to give a correct delineation of
this man's characteristic traits, and only wish the pen was
held by a more able hand, and by one possessed of more
lively imagination to record his worth. However, with a
little brushing up of a bad memory, I will endeavour to
make his sayings and doings intelligible to those who will
take the trouble to follow me a few pages farther.
We will suppose it twelve o'clock at night, and the
harsh grating voice of the boatswain, immediately follow
ing his piercing whistle, with —
'T-h-e 1-a-r-b-o-a-r-d w-a-t-c-h, a-h-6-y-y! ! !'
Before the guttural sounds have ceased, the clear, high-
toned voice of the sergeant is heard, from the ladder on
which he is standing, with —
Don?t you hear the boatswain's whistle,
With his voice so deep and hollow ;
Up ! my merry men of mettle,
Let the sluggard's reward follow.
Finishing his song with a leap to the deck below,
making as much noise as possible, darting ahead on his
uprousing- round, giving each hammock a sudden jerk or
swing in his passage, singing out with a high voice, so as
distinctly to be heard throughout the deck, with an ex
ceedingly quick articulation —

184 THE CREW OF THE FRIGATE.
'Tumble up ! tumble up ! tumble up ! ! larboards away !
larboards away ! ! Ho ! ye sleepers, wake, wake up ! turn
out! turn out! turn out! Come, come ! be lively my lads,
my merry, merry lads! you're wanting on deck, on
deck ! on deck ! ! Be quick, be quick ! be quick ! !'
• 'Haul in your sleeping-tackle, and set taught your eye
lid backstays — reeve a bit of resolution into your noddle-
blocks — lay not gaping and walloping about like a har
pooned grampus, giving time for a stick with the lance, as
you now do for a chance of my stick, unless you bestir
yourselves with mpre spirit and suppleness,' rounding off
with a verse or two of some common-place ditty :
Hark, ye, hear ! the larboard call ; —
Time you're losing, losing, losing ;
Out your lazy bodies haul;
Not lay snoozing, snoozing, snoozing. >
The starboards now on deck are weary,
For you waiting, waiting, waiting ; —
Rouse ye up ! and, let them, cheery
Know you're waking, waking, waking.
In the sergeant's rounds for those whose location he
knew without inquiry, so oft had he been at their snug
quarters, pn this same kind office, he would disturb their
gentle slumbers with an ungentle shake, no little softened-
however by the good natured accompaniment given with
the rap, shake, or twigging, they had to undergo, in his
hurry to get through with his compliments to the rest in
waiting. The timing in of his jokes were always well-
fitted ; and from one of less ready wit, his hurry in dis
turbing the sleepers would be no joke, but cause for a
growl, grumble or fault-finding. But with the sergeant, all
went smoothly; for whilst pestering one, he would raise
his voice in a song intended for another, as often as direct
ing it to the one to whom he was paying his respects in
his own peculiar manner.

THE CREW OF THE FRIGATE. 185
Hallo, sailor Jack, you're flat on your back;
That snore of yours is a tell-tale ;
'Stead of being at home, close and snug with your chum,
You're boxing about with the gale.
After he had made his first round, the watch were
pretty generally stirring, and his only remaining duty was
to get the old stagers and skulkers in the same mood.
This, commonly, was no easy task, but gave him full
employment, allowing him an opportunity to shpw off his
peculiarities, his threats and scoldings, and, as a dernier
resprt, his rattan was sometimes brought into requisition,
tp quicken their sluggish riipvements. When time admit-
ed, he would enliven the men by carolling a stanza of an
encouraging nature, continuing it till wanted elsewhere,
by seeing a knot of laggers, who required his attendance,
Tramp, tramp away on deck, my boys,
So cheerly, cheerly, cheerly, —
Who, like us, so fond of joys —
. So merrily, merrily, merrily ;
For every kick, we'll give ten blows,
Most freely, freely, freely.
A happy, jovial life lead we,
While sailing, sailing, sailing —
Laugh, joke, and do our duty free,
Without failing, failing, failing ;
And meet the rubs, what'er they be,
Without quailing, quailing, quailing.
To friends who now off a lee-shore,
Are coasting, coasting, coasting,
We'll lend a hand, and something more,
Without boasting, boasting, boasting ;
While him we'll give, who spurns the poor,
A roasting, roasting, roasting.
Up, up ! my merry hearts of oak,
So sprightly, sprightly, sprightly ;
For foes you'll keep a sharp look-out,
So brightly, brightly? brightly ;
Them we'll trim up, and box about,
Most tightly, tightly, tightly:
16* v.l

186 THE CREW OF THE FRIGATE.
There's that long, low, black schooner lad,
Now cruising, cruising, cruising ;
We'll spoil his ugly figure head,
From musing, musing, musing,
And freely give him, in its stead,
A bruising, bruising, bruising.
We're nearing fast our happy home,
Now daily, daily, daily ;
Where many a gleesome voice and song
Will hail ye, hail ye, hail ye,
While dancing on the sunny lawn,
So gaily, gaily, gaily.
'Sergeant, I believe you make a pitch at my hammock
at every watch-call, whether it is my turn on deck or
below; and for what reason, I know not, unless to tor
ment me, because of my rheumatic shoulder, which now
you are tugging at, as though you were warping against a
strong current. The boatswain's whistle is not fairly done
piping, and you are here the second time ; — was it grog
hour you would be excused for your officiousness, but as
it is, I can look upon your conduct as only personal, and
as such I shall take it if persisted in.'
'Personally ypu shall take it {giving him a few sharp
cuts with his rattan) you meanest of the afterguard's awk
ward squad ; ten minutes have already gone by, and you're
still in your hammock. You have but five minutes more
to rig yourself, go on deck, and answer to your number.
If you miss this as you have the two last, you will have a
sample of the boatswain's personalities, through the agency
of a nine-tailed cat ; and that you will take with livelier
feelings than my persuasions, depend upon it.'
'Shame, shame on you sergeant; I am thrown all aback
at your loese assertions, 'that' I have missed the two last
calls before this.' I hope yeu may ccrrect ycur memery
before again hazarding sp ungenerous a fling. This pes
tering I cannot put up with much longer, and to one who
is ever ready and willing'—

THE CREW OF THE FRIGATE. 187
'At his grog and his grub ; but beyond these I can say
nothing farther in your favour than —
Ah, my darling red-coat soldier,
Ever* did you prove a dodger,
First complaining, then you're fretting,
Wheezing, whining, teasing, sweating ;
With your would-be's
And your should-be's,
And your could-be's —
But up get ye,
And that quick, ye,
Else I'll stick ye ;
For you're loitering here to slumber —
Up ! and answer to your number.
'But here is a fellow gurgling and blowing in his sleep,
like the noise of the water struggling its way up through
the lee-scuppers, with a back sea to give it force. I must
ease him of his night-mare. Holloa, my hearty ! hold on
with your drowsy music, which twangs more of the nose
than I like to hear ; — ease off your mainsheet, and round-
to before you get upon breakers.'
'Sergeant, you essence of nocturnal troubles, dread
fears, and witchcraft ugliness ! you have spoilt "one of the
pleasantest dreams I have had for a month,, and for the
kindness you have done me, may your's be of hobgoblins,
she-devils, and mince-pies seasoned with scupper nails, or
any such kind of fancy hardware as may stick in your
throat; you have done murder in the second degree, by
cutting off my dream — caused more injury than if you
had turned Turk and quit your prayers.'
Cut short your home- bound dreams of pleasure,
Now just begun,
Which you can finish at your leisure,
When your work is done.
But first, for fear you may not know,
Where tq begin,
Where you left off, I tell you now,
Just stick a pin.

188. THE CREW OF THE FRIGATE.
. 'Oh, the1 splicing of a cable is no easy job, but the
splicing of such a dream as I had underweigh, is still more
difficult, and cannot be ; for a prettier sample of imagina-
tipn was never set afleat. If ypu behave ypurself hand-
spmely hereafter, seldier though you be, you shall have
the long and . the short of it, to where you clapped yeur
stopper pn, in no genteel way, any how; for which you
have my blessing, as old Moll, the sweeper's wife, said,
when she cursed the first lieutenant for breaking the bottle
of jorum she had in her bosom.'
This intended blessing was lost upon the sergeant, who
was tugging away lustily uppn a cpnfirmed sleeper, but
could get nothing more than a grunt or a grpwl from him;,
with a word now and then — 'clear out, sergeant, or devil's
imp — who could ever think of putting a red-coat to teach
a blue-jacket of my years his duty. Now, soldier, I know
my duty, and can do it, without your meddlings, so make
yourself scarce — clear out and begone, before my temper
gets the upper hand of me; — I want to take another
snooze, and can do it without your interference.
, Oh, ho ! my fine fellow,
You're snug in your. pillow ;
By the hokey, my lad, but you'll catch it.
I wish you no harm,
But your back will be warm,
Without th' aid of your old rough pea-jacket.
'Out, you hound — if you give me this trouble again, I
will report you to the watch officer; and you well know
his ease of handling, even for less offences than this ; for
you have often been under the kindness of his treatment.'
'I am sick, very bad, and cannot positively go on deck ;
so if ypu repprt at all, let it be to the surgepn.'
'What shall I say ails you now ? as I have so often car
ried messages to the surgeon, without a show of disease,
I am determined to scrutinize the patient before I go
again.'

THE CREW OF THE FRIGATE. 189
'Say I'm "most confounded bad — havn't slept a wink for
a fortnight, eat nothing for a month — am dizzy, and run
ning off with a ten-knot breeze head-ache.'
Oh, sadly no doubt, your head is now aching,
You goggle-eyed tippler, and rum-sucking donkey ;
We very well know, that you have been taking,
As always, you rogue, a pull at the monkey.
By the Mogul's great beard, if thus you go on,
At punishment day, you will stand number one.
'May I never eat worse than soft tack and plumb-pud
ding, with sauce of my own choosing, if here isn't this
lubberly, muggy-headed Tom Clamp, still rolled in his
blanket, with as much ease and security as though the
trim of the ship depended upon his lying still, while every
boy is on deck. Shame, you double compound of snoring
stupidity and high-pressure laziness. Up, and be moving,
else you will miss your number, which is not among the
highest, and you well know the consequences.'
'Just bear in mind, sergeant, that it's my ear you are
lugging at, instead of the weather-earing at the fore-topsail
yard-arm. By the purser's honesty, I advise you to douse
your soldier uniform, and ship the respectable dress of a sai
lor ; and if your grip and strength, when aloft, be half so great
as now, you shall be captain of the foretop in a week.'
'Sail ho !' said one who had just ccme from the relieved
watch, 'as I have my grub to get at eight bells. Call the
corporal of the guard! here is a dirty-faced, lantern-jawed,
scupper-mouthed lubber of a marine in my hammock,
where he expects to ride out the watch, if it's only for the
sake of saying hereafter, he has been in decent company.
Lend a hand, and we will ease him on deck, as the soldier
officer's fancy man in petticoats was eased into the bpat
alpngside of , the frigate, by the parting pf the tackle-falls.
A little rough handling will mend his manners, and learn
him where to stow his maggoty carcass next time, among
the red-coats of his own kidney, not here with his betters ;

190 THE CREW OF THE FRIGATE.
for may I ever live upon salt junk, without a drop of grog
to freshen it, if I don't hate a soldier as I do the French,
and this is a clincher to my oath,' giving the one in the
hammock a kneading in the short ribs, that would have
awakened a Samson, who was too drowsy to know his
head was getting shaved. The sergeant, as an accompani
ment, that the blows might be planted with measured pre?
cision, chimed in with —
You're skulking, oh, ho !
By my mother's great toe —
' Up you Shall go,
Whether or no,
To relieve your companions on deck,
From the task of the watch they're at ;
They are wearied with the storm,
And must rest till the morn.
After the sergeant had gotten the watch upon deck, he
would shuffle about with the nimbleness and ease of a
French dancing master, timing his steps to his Whistiings, .
seemingly the merriest of the merry. Not unfrequently,
however, as the noise died away to a stillness, was he
heard singing in an under tone, apparently for his own
amusement, but in more sentimental or melancholy strains
than any of the foregoing. This, together with some other
circumstances of a trivial nature,- convinced me, that his
light and hilarious spirits were more forced than natural to
himself, or they were not so much a spontaneous overflow
ing of the heart, as was manifest to his every-day hearers.
He was often singing, with a subdued and pathetic voice,
the following :
The larboards to the deck have gone,
The starboards here are snugly stown ;
And'I, too, now will -take my rest,
If rest can come to one, unblest
With one bright hope. It must be borne.
Far, far from friends, and her to whom
I once could ease my heart from wo —
But now, alas ! nought cheers,— oh, no.

THE CREW OF THE FRIGATE. 191
I may have dwelt longer with the sergeant, than his
character requires ; still, I have not given him his merits.
It has very justly been said, much depends upon first im
pressions for mankind to like or dislike ; so with the ser
geant. His social, free and easy manner, while searching
the prisoners, made an impression upon my mind that I
shall never forget ; and subsequent acquaintance with his
comical peculiarities, raised my admiration to the highest
pitch, as his actions were ever without vulgar buffopneay
pr low ribaldry.
Friday of each week was punishment day. On the first
that followed after our capture, three culprits were punish
ed by being whipped with the cat, for misdemeanors of
which they had been convicted previously.
The frigate's crew were called to quarters, and after
wards, 'all hands piped to witness punishment,' ourselves,
as well as those belonging to the ship, being assigned
stations, so that the whole could witness the ceremony.
Having a natural or unnatural curiosity for such exhibi
tions, I managed to get in the inner circle, . within ten feet
of those who were to be flogged, and had an admirable
opportunity to gratify my propensity for sights of the kind.
The first culprit being stripped to his trowsers, was tied
with his hands extended to the main rigging, so high as
not to enable him to stretch himself higher, and so secure
as to prohibit him from shrinking or twisting out of his in
tended position. His feet were likewise made fast to the
deck, to prevent him from moving ; and every exertion he
made, either to free himself, change his posture, or swerve
his body from the lash of the whip, necessarily made it the
more painful, by throwing a strain upon the lashings with
which he was confined.
Whilst in the above position, his offence and criminal
conduct was made known, together with the proceedings
of the trial by which he was convicted, and the whole ex
patiated upon for a considerable length of time, greatly to

192 THE CREW OF THE FRIGATE.
the annoyance of the culprit, who stood with a pallid fear
upon his countenance, and I could plainly see his flesh
creep and shudder with the dread of the anticipated whip-
ing it was presently to receive. It appeared to me, that
this part of the ceremony was even worse than the flog-
ing— - standing in the celd blast, naked before his ship
mates and superiprs, waiting till the whple pf this show
or ceremony was finished, knowing he was then to be
lacerated and cut by the boatswain's mate, whp stppd in
his pnsition clnse by, with the dreaded instrument pf tor
ture in hand, cpply separating the lashes, and twirling
them through the air, with a peculiar prcfessipnal npncha-
lance, which use and lOng habit had given him;
When the sentences were read, the sermnnizing upon
the enormity of the crime committed were over, and all
the little nothings had been gpne through, the surgeen
Stepped forwards, to be in readiness to say when the pepr
fellow could bear no more. The whipper was directed
how and where to apply his blows, with as many direc
tions as though this was a new mode of punishment, never
before tried, and in the nicety of its performance depend
ed its adoption into the service. The one with the cat
was admonished that should he favour, or seem to favour
the culprit, he would have a chance of taking his place.
With this advice the boatswain's mate neither spared his
strength nor his skill in making his 'cuts tell,' in profes
sional parlance.
¦ For the first dozen blows, the man did not groan nor
complain, but ground his teeth with desperation, as they
could be plainly heard grating together by the lookers-on ;
Re looked pale, but stood it nobly. The blows were given,
as near as I could judge, about eight to ten per minute,
the mate clearing the lashes after each blow, from any
tangling they might be in, and held their ends in his left
hand, whilst he was giving his 'right arm a swing for the
next hit.

THE CREW OF THE FRIGATE. 193
When the 'first dozen was finished, each blow being
counted aloud by an officer in attendance, distinctly
enough to be heard over the deck, a 'fresh hand' was
called to take the cat. The culprit's countenance changed
at once, when he saw who was next to exercise his
strength and skill upon his bared carcass. On the sur
geon's second examination, and his saying 'all is right,'
the 'fresh hand' commenced, and drew blood at the first
stroke, (the first drawn,) which was followed by a shriek
frorn the poor fellow undergoing the whipping, that clearly
indicated the height pf his* agpny. At each successive
btow, the ferocipus scpundrel with the cat, seemed to gfoat
at the havoc he was making of the reeking back, the very
officers looking daggers at the villanous manner he was
cutting into the flesh of the one under punishment. At
the end of the second dozen, he was untied and led
away. The first culprit's place was given to another, who like
wise took the two dozen, when his station was given to
the third and last, which completed the ceremony. Two
boatswain's mates frere employed with each culprit, none
being allowed to strike more than one dozen lashes upon
the same individual.
One, while handling the cat,, was evidently favouring
him under the lash, but seemingly exerting more strength
than any, of his predecessors, till he was given to under
stand that his motipns were pbserved, when he put the
finish to all humanity, by settling the lashes far into the
fellow's flesh ; thus showing a willingness to make up for
his former delinquencies, and gain esteem from those with
whom he had lost favour.
I really believe I was as sick (probably not painfully so)
as was either of those Who had undergone the flogging,
whilst looking on, and by being so near the whole pro
ceedings ; for the first blow struck went deeper into my
feelings, than into the flesh of him that received it.
17 v.l

194 THE CREW OF THE FRIGATE.
Hpwever unpleasant were my sensatiens, I was prepared
to see a much mere horrible sight than was here exhibited,
by the many acccunts I had formerly seen, of the 'flog
gings in the British navy,' where 'the back was left bare
pf flesh to the bones, from the shpulders to the hips, and
afterwards sprinkled with fine salt, gunppwder,'' etc. etc.
Of the many whippings that I witnessed while in this fri
gate, and afterwards in prison, with the exception pf the
twp cases above noticed, the skin was rather roughed Up,
than cut into, by the ends of the lashes ; and but rarely
did I notice the skin broken, till the .first dozen was com
pleted. In more cases than one, Ihave seen the entire
two dozen finished without the sufferer complaining, pr a
drop pf blood being drawn. From this circumstance, I am
inchned to believe, that the flogging with the cat is not
sn painful nor so lacerating as that with the cowhide ;
neither will the former disfigure so badly as the latter.
Many of the crew were constantly upon the black list,
and for minor offences, were punished in various ways —
pplishing shpt, dpuble duty, stoppage pf spirits, pr one-
fourth spirits and three-fourths sea watajft and forced down
in large doses. These punishments were the most promi
nent for the most trifling offences, or neglect of duty, and
many times, no doubt, to give vent to the spleen of the
junior officer, or for them to show that they had authority
and could use it. This 'three-water-grog,' so termed by
seamen, appeared to be most particularly obnoxious to
those drenched with it, and if horrid retchings, sickening
nausea, profuse vomitings, with grimaces of all sorts be
authority, I speak but truth when saying, it went most
sadly against the grain.
A large number belonging to the frigate were impressed
into the Service, and many were detained under peculiar
hardships. Near by where I lay in the hold, slept one
of the crew, together with his wife, who had prepared and
preferred this place to swing his hammock, instead of the

.THE CREW OF THE FRIGATE. 195
berth deck, to relieve his wife from the annoyance to
which she was exposed, whilst his duty called him to the
deck through a portion of each night. He had chosen a
spot near the ^hatchway of sufficient space for his swing
ing couch, and one of comparative comfort, if we except
the stench necessarily arising from the cable being coiled
away while wet, and the stagnant, confined air of which
the hold was never free for the want of proper ventila
tion. Npne slept between his hammock and myself,
which afforded me an opportunity of learning his his
tory, and with which I was much interested.
He had formerly been a cheesemonger in London, had
met With , many difficulties in gaining a business, till at
last, after four years' untiring industry, unceasing assi
duity, and economizing to a~ degree of miserly meanness,
by depriving himself of almost every necessary of life, he
became so firmly established, and had so far increased his
capital, as to believe he was able to maintain a family, and
accprdingly united himself to the one to whom he had been
attached longer, than he had been striving to gain a busi
ness. He had been married aljout four months, when, as
he was returning from his shop to his home, between ten
and eleven o'clock of a Saturday night, he was intercepted
by a press-gang, immediately conveyed on board of a ten
der, and afterwards sent to a man-of-war*ship. He used
every exertion to have his case made known to the admi
ralty, but without avail or having his letters attended to.
When his young wife found there was no possibility of
his gaining his liberty, she petitioned, without her hus
band's knowledge, to have the privilege of following him,
and had ever since been buffeting about through tempests
and storms, battles and wrecks, by his side ; neither having
set fopt pn land for the seven years since his impressment.
Both were constantly and as deeply deploring their sad
fate, as though it was the first week of their change from a
life of comfort, surrounded by friends, to a dragging one of

196 THE CREW OF THE FRIGATE.
danger, hardships and misery, with no associates but such
as circumstances had forced upon them, as unlike to their
natures, as the cause of his detention was damnable to the
nation that sanctioned it.
She was yet yeung, mpdest, reserved, and beautiful,
possessing traits both in speech and deportment, that awed
and kept aloof the vulgar, which entirely prevented all
undue familiarity from those with whom she was constantly
and unavoidably thrown in contact. Her whole appear
ance manifested unerringly, that her early education had
been attended to with much care, and that it had npt been
misapplied. He likewise shewed many prepfs pf being
fitted for a mpre wprthy calling. He was ever speculating
upon getting free from the service, and commencing anew
his old business of a cheese-dealer,— declaring, whenever
he should be detained from home of nights, he would risk
his wife alone, rather than run the chance of again encoun-
tering a press-gang. Tp this his better half cerdiatiy sub
scribed, even sheuld he lengthen his stay for a week at a
time. I never knew him. to speak to her otherwise than
with the utmost tenderness, except once, when he came
from his four hour's watch on deck, of, a rainy, boisterous
night, a little crusty, and, finding her asleep, pettishly said,
after waking her, he was glad she had gained such fami
liarity and confluence with the surrounding men (prisoners)
as to Ke able to sleep. She did nothing but weep the
remainder of the night, and ever after followed him to the
deck, when Tiis watch called him up, regardless of his
entreaties to the contrary.
Another impressed hand was on board of the Leander,
with whose whimsicalities' I was often much amused.
For the three years that he had been in the service,
he never yet could" be made to do his duty. In spite
of the cat, ceal-hple, shot-polishing, holy-stoning, or three-
water-grog, work he would not, and the patience of thOse
who were trying to force his task upon him, were long

THE , CREW, OF. THE FRIGATE. 197
since exhausted, before his determination of resisting their
efforts was beginning to tire. This quizzical son of Eme
rald's green Isle, showed nothing but fun, frolic, and drol
lery in every lineament of his face, which was more deeply
pourtrayed in each motion and turn of his. body. Often
when under the drill sergeant, surrounded by the officers
on deck, who, with all their starched gravity a lOng school
of severity had engendered, could not suppress their
laughter at his nonsense, he would carry on his sport,
although he knew it must draw down upon him a punish
ment; yet it cooled him not- — his joke, his ridicule of the
service, of the marine corps, of every thing within his
gaze, would come out, and with such irresistible drollery,
as of necessity .to make the descending rattan fall harm
less. After an hour's perseverance, at the drill, his task
masters would abandon all further, attempt, for the time,
and dismiss him with a nominal punishment whose seve
rity was s,s light as the spirits of him upon whom it was
inflicted. The drill sergeant had him one day with his musket,
and whilst going through the exercise, surrounded by the
idlers on deck, officers as well as men, he was ordered to
'present arms !' 'Hush !' said he, throwing his eyes and
pointing his musket aloft, breech foremost, 'wait abit, till I
pop the pidgeon from yonder yard-arm,' sd suddenly and
earnestly as to attract all eyes thither, 'oh ! its all in my
eye, and now I'm ready for the 'present !' This, trivial
as it reads, was done in such an inimitably laughable man
ner, with his tongue thrust in his cheek at the hoax, and
a grimace peculiar to himself, that none could hold in, the
men imitating their superiors, who thought it useless repri
manding for a fault they were guilty of themselves. The
only duty I ever saw him perform, was to stand^ntry
at some of the lower deck ladders, or over some one
under arrest. And even here he was ever at his monkey
antics. His bayonet, (the only weapon when at this duty)
17* v.l

198 ARRIVAL AT FAYAL.
he could use in manifold ways for the amusement of the
surrounding crowd, or to work off the surplus of his mis
chievous humour, which was ever gathering to the brim,
first as a musket, then as a broadsword, again as a board
ing pike, he would show an aptness at exercise, as before
he had displayed his awkwardness under the drill sergeant.
Now he was using it as a balancing pole to facilitate his
dancing to a crack in the, deck — poising it upon his nose
while reciting the paternoster, — bellowing through its
barrel as a speaking trumpet, when calling the corporal pf
the guard, — ending with a straddle upon it as a capering
pony ; and had it been one in reality as mettlesome as its
rider, nothing could be more amusing, than to watch the
contention of the one with the contrariness of the other.

CHAP. XIII.

ARRIVAL AT FATAL.

On going to the deck, on the morning of January the
thirteenth, we found the vessel was close in shore, moving
. through the water with a gentle breeze, and the tempera
ture of the weather such as we were accustomed to enjoy
in the first weeks in June — balmy, cheerful and lovely.
My feelings were much exhilirated by again beholding
land, although to me it could be of no farther comfort,
than the gratification it afforded the sight, and the associa
tion it brought to mind, of again seeing pastures covered
with the richest verdure, fields teeming with a luxuriant
growtiL and nature in its loveliest form — a lively green
predominating over all, such as I was used to enjoy, before
knowing aught of the world or the world's doings.
The picturesque appearance of this island is far beyond

ARRIVAL AT FAYAL. 199
my power to describe, heightened as it was by a charming
morning and transparent atmosphere. We had an admira
ble opportunity of enjoying the view, as we were sailing
leisurely along its shores for several hours.
This island rises gradually, but regularly, from the shore
to the summit, which is gently rounded, giving to the
beholder from the offing, a sight of the whole portion
between him and its top, at once , all under a high state
of cultivation. Not a promontory, hill, crag, pr woodland
intervenes to break the smoothed surface of the soil, nor
hinder the eye from an enjoyment but little less than
enchanting, whilst resting upon this villa-dotted island.
The entire surface of the ground appeared separated into
small enclosures, by hedges of orange trees, now in a lux
uriant state of cultivation and bearing. The square plats
or fields seemed to be vieingr in richness and colpuring
with those hedges, with which they were so fancifully
begirded, conveying to the beholder at a distance, the
idea of a richly bespangled carpet, more than ef culti
vated pastures and fields.
The effect of this tantalizing sight of -the green fields, to
those who before had never been separated from them,
was various and interesting to a looker-on. Some de
clared they would willingly bind themselves to a life's
bpndage, if they 'could, but enjoy a week's ramble on
shore, ampng fields so much like what they had left
behind them for this Quixotical cruise at sea.
But none was affected like Nimble Billy, who stood for
hours apart from all, without saying a word, with his gaze
fixed on the shore; the tears coursing each other down
his wan and sunken cheeks, exhibiting a picture of dis
tress which gained the sympathy of every beholder. His
thoughts' were wandering tp that happy home from which
he was thus far separated, and was dwelling upon his aged
parents, who needed his aid for their comfort, but who
now, by the common course of occurrences, could neither

200 ARRIVAL AT FAYAL.
hear from nor see their son for perhaps years; as no
doubt the mourner very well knew, that he was to be
imprisoned during the continuance of the war, and till a
peace was declared, he would be estranged from the circle
of his friends at home ; for none were exchanged but such
as were captured in national vessels, or troops under the
pay of the government of the United States. Tp look
upon this poor fellow's sorrowings, went far to make me
forget I too was a prisoner under the like circumstances.
I gladly would have consoled him, but on trial found my
soothings only made the wound bleed the fresher; for his
reply was not far from being correct when he said,
'I am not alone the sufferer ; if I were, I could stand it
like a man, for it is no more than I deserve ; but my poor
parents, who can console them in their aged grief?' His
tears completed the sentence. To suCh, the only consola
tion that can give relief, is silence.
The sailing nearly half around this island, gave us an
opportunity of seeing a large portion of it, and to great
advantage ; for, as the frigates were obliged to stretch out
and in,, whilst beating round to gain the harbour, they
were occasionally close! in upon its bold shores, and at no
time were they more than from three to five miles from
the land.
We came to ancher in the outer harbour, at some dis-?
tance from the town, yet not so far but that we could
distinctly see its snow-white buildings shelving up the
rising slope upon which it is built, one over-topping the
other as they receded from the shore, adding fancy to the
before picturesque view ; whilst the back-ground stretched
far in the rear, still rising — the fields dwindling in size as
they grew in distance till they were lost in the clouds,
with which the summit was at times capped throughout
the day. The harbour was enlivened with the many
small vessels and row-boats of strange rig, and with crews
of stranger costumes, which were busily plying about

ARRIVAL AT FAYAL. 201
amid the larger shipping, at their several anchorage
grounds — some men-of-war, others merchantmen, and all
helping to fill up this fanciful picture. The combining
whole conveying the idea of an - enlarged panoramic
painting, more than any thing of reality.
On coming to our anchorage, a circumstance occurred
at which I was much amused, although at first it promised
to be of a serious nature.
We ran in with a south-west wind that had fresh
ened to a stiff breeze, till coming under the lee of the
Peak of Pico, opposite to Fayal> which aided„a little to
break the wind, and the heavy swell, which came roll
ing in from the open sea beyond without a hindrance, till
meeting this slight barrier, when its force was some little
checked. Immediately to leeward, was a rocky perpendi
cular bluff, of three hundred feet in height, which the sea
was breaking against with the greatest fury. I had taken
my perch upon the booms, so as to have a chance of
clearly seeing the working of the frigate, as well as the,
different objects of curiosity within my range, which were
many ; and as I ever was a lover and observer of things
that were either strange or new, I here let no opportunity
pass, by which I could gratify my eager curiosity.
The anchor was let go, and the cable spun out to its
entire length with the most fearful swiftness. But when
all was out, tjje frigate still went stern on towards the
bluff, as though the anchor was yet at the cathead; and
when she had drifted so as to be without the shelter of
tire Peak, and exposed to the wind and heavy swell, both
driving her on to inevitable destruction, unless suddenly
checked in her course, none were so blind as not to see
the peril, the almost instant annihilation, with which the
frigate was threatened, and in a twinkling it was known
the anchor had not taken hold, but was dragging.
What means were adopted for the safety of the .ship, I
know not, for my curiosity had full employment in follow-

202 ARRIVAL AT FAYAL.
ing the old commodore about the deck in his mad ravings.
I have read and heard much of the coolness, intrepidity
and readiness of the English naval officers, in all sudden
cases of emergency and danger, and, as this commodore
was one of the oldest in commissipn, and a staunch veteran
in the service, it is rank heresy to say he was not a fair
specimen of those who are prompt to act, cool in issuing
orders,' meeting dangers with indifference, as well as col
lected and firm in all cases of unlooked for trials, Inas
much, as he had seen long service, fought many a fight,
been slashed and cut to disfiguration, as his numerous scars
plainly told — had had one of his legs broken at three differ
ent places, at three separate periods, between the hip and
knee, each setting worse than the last, making his leg
crooked, more crooked, most crooked, we will set him
down, as of right he ought to be, one of England's best—a
very nonesuch.
When he saw the frigate was gathering sternway to
wards the bluff, he raved, stormed, and swore at the ship,
cable, anchor, officers, men, boys, hell and the devil,
clinching each oath separately by a whack with his cane,
at and on every thing within his reach. Now he was run
ning towards the wheel at the stern, then "furiously driving
across the decks to the hawse-holes at the bows, tacking
first to the larboard, then to the starboard side of the ship,
yelling at the first lieutenant for not making the anchor'
hold on — swearing at the anchor for not obeying the lieu
tenant — damning the cable for not being longer— the water
for being so deep — the bottom for laying so low; and, at
last, when he had nothing else to crisp with his red-hot
blessings, he blasted his own eyes, heart, liver and lights,
winding up with a curse upon the prisoners, conveying
their poor souls, in a trice, to the lower regions, without
benefit of clergy, for being the cause of all the disasters in
store for him and his frigate henceforth and forever.
At last, the second anchor brought her up, and lucky it

ARRIVAL AT FAYAL. 203
was, that it did ; for she had drifted within five minutes'
distance of the bluff, when the frigate would not have held
together other five minutes after striking the rocks ; as she
must have gone on with a full exposure to the freshened
wind -and the lashing waves, new throwing their frothy
spray mast high from the rocky cliff, that had put further
bounds to their onward course. In all likelihoods, had the
second anchor not held on, every soul on board must have
been lost, for the water was deep, and the first thing the
frigate would have struck, was the perpendicular cliff,
whpse height and uprightness was such, that no being
without wings could ever ascend to its top, and the time
would not have allowed a single bpat to be lowered ; and
probably, if they had been gotten out, they alike must have
been instantly dashed against the cliff, and fared as would
the frigate.
I was as fully sensible of the danger oT pur situation as
any one, but I could not suppress my laughter at the
antics which this hero of many wars was cutting about
the decks. I have np simile nor comparison for his move
ment ; for verily there are none. It was not a hitch-and
go-ahead, nor a half-hitch and side-lurch; neither was it a
back-and-fill balance-haul, nor a bob-and-hpp straddling
slide ; np mpre a cocked-and-primed tip-toe dance than a
toe-and-heel fore-and-after ; as little like a cut-and-thrust
forward-spring, as a back-staggering blinker- wiper ; but it
partook of the whole in about equal parts, although most
incongruously intermingled. In fact, I could liken his run
with his cropked leg, tp npthing but an effort of the crab to
walk upright upon a slippery surface, whilst doggedly in
tent to win the wager of the half-blown terrapin, who, in
the same attitude, is being baulked in his first trial at the
double-shuffle, by attempting it in wig, gown and Welling
tons, instead of short-cuts and pumps, and going at it with
sleeves rolled up, as an honest one should. Nor could I
imagine his hitching, pitching, grabbling and poking hither

204 ARRIVAL AT FAYAL.
and thither with his cursing yells and chilling whoops, to
partake of any thing but the actions of a famished cur
when encountering a piping-hot potatoe, and after pawing
and nosing it about with a slobbering, guttural, snarling
growl, made the more harsh by his hunger, he suddenly
bolts it; when, to make known its blistering effects, he
ends with a hideous howl of eternal regret.
I wish my readers most particularly to understand me,
that I do not say,, the actions of this old commodore were
not all right and perfectly military, my inexperience being
such as not ^allowing me any opinion of my own on the
subject; and then,, probably this is the only way men of
renown can make manifest their greatness before the eyes
of the, ignorant. If so, and there be any aspirants to naval
distinction, of either old or young, who do not yet consider
themselves adepts at the like displays, let me simply ad-.
vise them to be early improving, for nothing but long prac
tice can make perfect that which, when well done, as in
the abovt instance, can never be rivalled. But most
likely, as he had exerted himself with such , signal effect
on two separate occasions, and knowing this to be the last
chance of exhibiting his distinguished acquirements before
the present body of strangers, he had reserved his prettiest
for the denouement. If I have set down aught to his dis
paragement, let me hasten to cancel it, by saying, he is,
for effect, the most' renowned of all within my (not read
ings, for such testimony-cannot be relied upon) knowledge.
. The opportunity I had of judging of the old fellow's
locomotive, powers, ccnvinced me, that he cpuld not have
gntten pver the deck at all, only for the tremendous head
pf steam (either pf fear, indecision, want of coolness, or
excess to the contrary of all) that he had on ; this, with
the help pf his arms and cane, which served as wings or
paddles, enabled him to make this grand display before,
the eyes of five hundred persons.
We had not been at our anchorage ten minutes, before

ARRIVAL AT FAYAL. 205
the water around the frigate was alive with boats from the
shpre, each-rOwed by from pne to four persons, and loaded
with oranges, which their owners had brought off for sale.
These boatmen were* swarthy Portuguese, who exhibited
in their dresses the extremes of both poverty and riches.
Some had barely shirt sufficient to cover their nakedness,
with its bosom and collar filled to profusion with richly
wrought gold buttons ; so also were the waistbands to what
had pnce been trowsers, cpvered with buttons pf an inch
in diameter of solid gold, whilst the tattered parts pertain
ing thereto were sp used up, as to leave the greater por
tion of their brawny legs exposed tp view. Anether weuld
have the value ef a year's wardrobe for a moderate family,
in his knee and shoe-buckles, with neither stockings nor
covering of any kind from the knees to the shoes; the
latter showing their gaping propensities, by allowing free
space for the protrusion of the toes of their owners, in all
their native loveliness.
These boatmen, I was afterwards told, were mostly
wealthy inhabitants of the island, and- the fruit, which
they were now endeavouring to dispose of to the crews of
the newly arrived frigates, was the produce of their own
fields. Their usual mode of living, I was likewise in
formed, was in perfect keeping with their gold-adorned,
tattered garments, partaking alike of sumptuous riches and
abject poverty,— richly burnished jewelry nestled amongst
filthy rags and party-coloured patches.
Feeling a desire to taste the delicious fruit, which was
exhibited in such great abundance in their baskets^ I
quickly climbed over the hammock-nettings, got outside
in the main chains, (the boatmen not being allowed to
cpme on board,) and took from my pocket three Spanish
pistareens, exhibiting them, it being the only manner we
could converse together, and at the same time made signs
that I wanted some of their fruit in exchange for the mo
ney — gingling the pieces together, knowing it to be a Ian-
18 v.l

206 ARRIVAL AT FAYAL.
guage all nations, kindred, and tongues perfectly under
stand, without the aid of an interpreter. Before I was
aware of the movement, a fellow leaped from his boat,
grabbed the money from my fingers, tossed me three
oranges, and instantly pushed beyond the reach of harm ;
one of them I caught, whilst the other two fell into the
water, and were greedily seized by another of the boatmen,
who claimed them as a prize for the dexterity he exhibited,
without my being able to convince him by signs (argu
ment was out of the question — his motions were perfectly
understood by me, why were mine so inexplicable to
him ? — thought I, pne pf us is a dunderhead,) that the
eranges were mine by fair (npt quite truth) purchase, and
forthwith gave up a centest, in which I was as far behind
my epponent in grimace and gesticulation, as he was
ahead of me in securing the oranges, without bringing in
question the cash advanced in the purchase, which was as
little like to redound to my profit, as the whple transaction
did to my credit.
This kind ef barter, if ccntinued, I found must ultimate
ly prove a losing business, even should I, by.tonger expe
rience, be enabled to secure all, instead pf a third pf what
was coming tp me by just rights.' I wisely concluded,
after due deliberation, to abandon the cnntest of tri pista-
reens vs. orange, thus inauspiciously commenced, and forth
with clambered back the way I had come. However
chagrined for the loss of my money, I was more than
compensated by the jeerings 1 gratuitously received from
my messmates, whp began to rig me heartily, and conti
nued till I would have gladly given them the remaining
prange to be quit.
'Are you going to set up for a fruiterer ? for your stock
is ample enough to drive a round business.',
'Wholesale, no doubt, or else he would not have bought
so largely.'
¦I doubt, my lad, you'U rue it; for I think you have laid

ARRIVAL AT FAYAL. 207
in with a falling market, and you may lose, unless you sell
out early."
> 'You are wrong, messmate, for1 when he took the article^
it was rising, and fell only when he ceased taking, which
shows the high standing he held in the market.'
'His standing was high, but his judgment is proportion-
ably low.'
'Yes, his standing may be high, but his pocket will be
lower than the lowest, if he keeps on as he has begun.'
'High, low, jack, and the game, being interpreted, reads
paying too dear for the whistle— minus three and seven-
pence happenny, yankee currency — the family he hails
from — on the wrong side of the account.'
This trick was played upon so many, not only the pri
soners, but also the frigate's crew, that the officer of the
deck placed men outside in the chains, with heavy shot,
who had Orders to try the solidity of the bottom of the first
boat which might come within heaving distance. With
the anxiety displayed by those in the chains, the boats
would have speedily been bettomless, had their owners
accepted the many enticing offers held out to them for the
purchase of their fruit; but they were too wary, and kept
off, not at all liking the appearance of those cold projec
tiles, even when propelled by'manual labour. This made
me suspect that the above precaution had before been re
sorted to by other vessels than ours; for they took the
hint the moment the men were seen getting outside, and
hauled off, where they remained during the day.'
. Permission was afterwards granted for one at a time to
come pn board, and bring with him his baskets ef fruit;
and seldom ever was any carried back. One took the
place of the first, after he had sold out, then another, and
so on in rotation throughout the day. The prediction of
my waggish shipmate, who advised me to sell early, if I
did nOt wish to have stock on hand while the article was
fallin01, proved true ; for they were constantly lessening in

208 ARRIVAL AT FAYAL.
price, till at last the finest oranges could be purchased
from four to six dozen for six and a quarter cents. Verily,
thought I, what a surfeit I cpuld have had for my money,
if I had but held back. Yet there probably was net a man
or boy on board, that had not feasted to satiety long before
they fell to thelpwest price.
One pf the frigate's crew, in the after part of the day,
made a complaint to the officer ef the watch, that the
beatman then on deck had cheated him in counting the
oranges that he had recently bought of him- Withput
farther ade, he was seized and pitched headleng into his
boat by the side of the ship, which happened to be in the
right place to receive him, without the knowledge of his
wprthy gangway attendants. I am not sure that the fruit
dealer would not have had his boat any where else, for
the time being at least, as it would have taken up less
time to wring the salt water out of his clothes, than it did
to chafe and rub the bruises from his carcass. I pitied him
none the more, for ,his being the same chap that snatched
my small change from my hand ; and had I have known
that correction so soon followed complaint, on the decks
of the Leander, my cause should have had precedence.
But then they might have said the offence against me was
committed in Portuguese waters, and without the juris
diction of British authority. Upon the whole, it is as
well that I did not prefer charges against the boatman, as
I might have been retained to substantiate them, for the
want of bail.
The relish of this fruit was a great relief to us, who had
been kept uppn shprt allewance, since we had been pri-
spners in the frigate ; but beyend the eranges, we could
buy nothing of these half-ragged, half-jewel bespangled
boatmen. Soon after our arrival in the harbour, it was understood
that a part of us were to leave the frigate, and take passage
on board of a sloop-of-war, which was lying in the puter

ARRIVAL AT FAYAL. 209
roads, within sight of our anchorage. At half past eight
o'clock, on the morning of the fourteenth, prisoners were
piped to leave the ship in one hour, with their baggage.
The latter part- of the order might have been omitted,
without defacing the general order-book, for but few had
baggage to take with them. Had. the word been given
for the prisoners to be in readiness at ence, the beats
might have been filled while the boatswain's whistle was
yet piping, so easily could we have gathered our where
withal for a foreign tour, and been in readiness to leave
the ship.
The morning was dark and lowering, with a high wind
from the southwest, .which brought rain ere the first boat
was filled ; and while the prisoners were ponringfrom the
gangway in numbers, they were suddenly told to 'hold on.'
We were ordered to proceed without 'filling up,' when in-.
stantly the man at the bows pushed off, and the ears fell,
at pnce separating us from the frigate and many pf our
companions. Among those left behind, was my friend
the Fifer, with whom I had formed an intimacy which I
regretted should thus suddenly be brought to a close,
without a parting good-bye, as the separation might, for
aught I knew, be for life. However, we were not thus to
part without a consoling word on. a friendly farewell ; for
as the boat rounded under the vessel's stern, and ranged
up on her opposite side, for the purpose of answering a
hail from the frigate, the Fifer took the opportunity to
thrust his head through a gun port, from the main deck,
and with a loud voice, calling me by name, cried out-™
. 'Good-bye,, gppd-bye, farewell to ye — if we never meet
again, I shall not forget the kindness of the loan of your
cap; .but if ever we da meet, you shall he paid its full
value, with interest for its use.'
There was nothing in this worthy a paragraph to the
reader, except the expression of a kindly feeling, springi
ing spontaneously from a kindlier heart. But to those took-
18* v. I

210 ARRIVAL AT FAYAL.
ing on, the effect was quite different ; for the Fifer's head,
capped with the very crimson cap in question, and his
large, oval, whisker-encircled face, were all that was seen
by those in the boat; this, together with his promise of
payment being thrust in with the command from the gang
way of the frigate, for the officer to convey to the sloop-of-
war, his destination, so distracted the attention of the lieu
tenant in the stern, who was industriously striving to see
both and hear all, by rapidly changing his look from one
to the other, that it was difficult to say whether his rer
sponding 'aye, aye, sir,' was meant for the red cap at the
gun_-port, or the swab-shoulder at the gangway. The
whole combined was too ridiculous for the gravity of
either ourselves, the men at the oars, the marine guard,
er the pfficers pf the bpat ; and all burst put with a hearty
and spul- cheering laugh, as she fell off with her bows
heading towards her intended destination ; at the same
time, the red cap, after bobbing a suitable number of
recognitions, for the notice thus signally taken of it, was
withdrawn from the port-hole, and lost to my view.
I now had an opportunity to see who was in the boat
besides myself; and after counting, found there were
three officers, eight at the oars, with a guard of the like
number of marines, besides forty -nine of us prisoners,
including the captain of our brig, making altogether
sixty-eight souls, all crowded into an open boat of
npwise large dimensiens. What was meant by its being
prdered pff before 'filling up,' my inexperience in boat
duty did not enable me to learn, unless their original
intention was to pack us in layers ; if sO, we had reason
to be thankful their first designs were not fully carried
into effect, for the ground-tier of the stowage wpuld have
been in a pepr plight to make their debut pn bpard pf the
ship in which we were destined to cpmplete our jaunt to
England. . The sloop-of-war that was to take us pn board, lay in the.

ARRIVAL AT FAYAL. 211
•extreme outer roads, about three 'miles directly to windward
of the frigate. The weather was so boisterous, and the sea
so rough, that we were two hours in reaching the ship.
The spray was constantly dashing over the bows of the
boat, which, together with the rain that came down in tor
rents before we were half way to our journey's end, nearly
filled her, and added no little to our other discomforts.
The marines, whilst bailing, had ample employment in
endeavoring to free her from , water, without manifesting
any great precaution of watching us, whether we should
rise and take the boat to some other destination than first
intended. Memory of long standing is poor authority-
without calling it treacherous ; but even at this distant day,
I am safe in saying, the prisoners were as anxious to reach
their prison-house on board of the - sloop-of-war, as the
marine guard and the men at the oars were desirous pf
;keeping the bpat from grounding on a twenty-five fathom
bottom. When we ran alongside of the ship, she was
-nearly gunwale under, and in the utmost peril of being
swamped, which inevitably must have been the case, had
we but the shortest distance farther to row.
To reach the deck of the sloop-of-war, we had again to
enact the scene mentioned in a preceding chapter, when
conveyed from the brig to the frigate. But now experi
ence taught me to time my leapings 'solitary and alone,'
swhich I found, upon trial, much better than in company of
pairs, as before. I was willing to run the risk of being
charged with unsociability whilst working out the contra-
dictipn pf the maxim, 'that it is wrong a man should be
alone,' to the conviction of all, that it is better for a man at
times to be by himself, and hang upen his own responsi
bilities, especially when he is to spring from a tottling boat,
.over a rough sea, and make gppd his hpld to a rope at the
end of his leap, or take a dip in the briny element beneath
him. The jump was made without missing the grip at the
hand-rope, and all ascended to the deck without farther

212 ARRIVAL AT FAYAL.
mishap, but in as pitiful a condition as the reader can ima
gine, after two hours' severe buffetings with the rain and
salt-water spray, which had drenched us to the skin, not
leaving an inch of our garments dry, and without the pos
sibility of a change during the day, as the rain kept pour
ing down incessantly. The few who had consigned a part
pf their wardrobes to their clothes-bags, were no better off
than thpse who had the whole upon their backs, for the
bags were floating in the boat an hour before we reached
the vessel, and were as completely drenched as ourselves.
We were mustered on the deck of the slopp-of-war
Pheasant, and an attempt was made to dress us in line for
sometime, but for what reason I knew not. In this, the
marine found no difficulty, except his discipline varied not
from the straight line, whilst ours acknowledged nothing
but what partook of the zigzag, curve, er rectangular, each
striving to gain esteem in. the eyes ef the surrounding
crowd, by displaying his fanciful eccentricities' in all the
varieties Jack, in his exuberant spirits, is heir to. An pfficer
ctose by ebserved, 'this squad exhibits manoeuvres npt laid
down in any code of discipline within my readings ; and if
all across the water are as apt at a new exercise or fanciful
positions, they have material for bush-fighting in abund
ance — none can get a shot at them for their wriggling.'
The farther project of forming us in line was abandoned as
impracticable, and we were dismissed to range the decks
at our pleasure.
Soon after being at large in our new vessel, a man in
citizen's dress and genteel appearance, singled me out,
entered freely into conversation, inquiring into my motives
for going to sea, former occupation, prospects hereafter,
etc. laudably commiserating my present unfortunate situa
tion — dwelt long upon my unhappy prospects of lying in a
loathspme prison, from which I certainly should not be
released till the war ended, were it to continue twenty
years — nay, he had known some of the French who had

ARRIVAL AT FAYAL. 213
suffered in confinement a much longer period, and grown
grey and decrepid while therein, who were no older than
myself on entering the prison.
As the conversation paused at times, I tried to rally my
thoughts, and would Wonder why I was thus particularly
noticed by so genteel and well-spoken a man. I cast
glances over my dripping garments, to see whether I
could discover any thing more attracting than appeared
belonging to my shipmates in adversity. But I could
gather nothing from my exterior in the least inviting. I
next supposed that my face might have a more benign arid
engaging aspect, or show an indication of more dignity or
high life, than is usual with persons in my plight; but
then, on second thoughts, (I had not the opportunity of
viewing myself in a mirror, and had I, probably my con
clusions would have been the same,) I was sure nothing
especially inviting to a man of taste and refinement, could
be therein discovered, through its crusted covering ; for I
already knew the salt spray was fast crystalizing thereon,
as well as matting my hair close to my head, which was
sticking out from under my hat in adhesive clusters, like
the bristles from the cast-off brush of a white washer. I
knew the picture was varied in the colouring, however, by
my oft repeated attempts to clear my eyes of the salt
spray, whilst in the boat — each rubbing lessening the coat
ing of grease and tar from the hands, without losing any
thing by the operation, as what was rubbed loose from
them adhered to the eyes and surrounding parts, giving to
the whole phiz, a coup d'ail, not unworthy the attention
of a Cruikshank.
Be my looks ever so attractive in the way as above de
scribed,! was convinced that none in my party showed
to better advantage, and had I second testimony, I would
boldly assert that many of them were far worse in appear
ance than myself. Upon the whole, no one will say it was
my outward show that had gained the cpmpassipn of this.

214 ARRIVAL AT FAYAL.
man of kindly feelings, who still held me in conversation,
without my divining the cause, or who he was.
Upon summing up my stray thoughts, I settled in my
own mind, that his attentions to me, in preference to any
other of the prisoners, were wholly owing to first impres
sions ; that he had discovered something in- my appear
ance and wretchedness, that actuated his kind feelings to
soothe or console one in adversity, who was not able to
console himself. Be his intentions what they may, said I,
within myself, he is a gentleman from head to fopt, and I
can Ipse nothing from the acquaintance, but may gain —
let us see.
At one time I supposed him to be the chaplain, till he
spoke with military phrases, when I set him down as the
schoolmaster of the ship — not entirely for his military
knowledge, but for the smoothness of tongue and ease of
handling any subject upon which he touched, without his
Uttering a word of profanity, or showing an indication of
levity pr vulgarity from first to last.
I was asked if I had ever seen service upon land ; and
on my answering him I had been drafted and served a
short tour of duty in the militia, his eyes dilated, and his
attentions to me were doubled, if possible, from his former
politeness. At the question whether I could or had ever
manoeuvred a platoon, a long controversial disputatipn fol-
lewed, as to the merits Pr demerits of this or that plan —
hpw and when a hollow-square should or should npt be
formed — whether changing fronts under fire was orTwas
not sterling — are echelon movements practicable in large
bodies, and whether preferable in advance or retreat ? In
all of which I strove hard to keep my end pf the ypke
even with his ; and as pften as 1 cpuld npt pull square, pr
was cornered, I cloaked my ignorance by boldly saying,
my system of tactics was dissimilar to his, or that we had
studied under different masters, but in practical operaticnsj
the results would be the same.

ARRIVAL AT FAYAL. 215
This was carried on for some time, till I was certain I
had made a more valuable and lasting acquaintance than
when in the passage of the boats from the brig to the
frigate, with the inquisitorial marine lieutenant, that sp
unhesitatingly, en his arriving ampng cpmpany, cut his
informant, who had strove to stpre his mind with valuable
information. My expectations were on tiptoe, when he
said he had a paper he wished to submit to my considera
tion, and hoped I would profit by it; for ultimately it
might be of the greatest service to me, by its relieving
me from going to a loathsome prison. I made up my
mind at once, that this paper could be nothing short of a
letter of credit, or an introduction to some man in power
in England, who would instantly on receiving it, release
me from my unhappy situation, and afterwards have me
safely returned to my friends, or offer me some lucrative
inducement to stay in England, or, softly crept in, take me
as a son-in-law, for one of the many amiable daughters he
must have, as all good, rich, and kind men have them in
abundance, with a desire to bestow them upon those of
worth and honourable stations in life; or, mayhap — any
thing that will prove a help.
My kind friend slowly pulled from his pocket, and ex
hibited to my gaze the paper in question, with these intro
ductory remarks, for my better understanding its purport,
setting his basilisk eyes upon me, to see the effect of his
every word, whilst their snake-like charm made him
suppose his mark was sure.
'I am authorized by his majesty, to recruit for the royal
marine service; and shall be more than happy to add so
respectable a one as yourself, to my already greatly:
respected corps.'
I was thunderstruck ; but that he should not see I was
taken all aback, which he never could discover by any.
change of my countenance, thanks to the coating of tar,
grease, crystalized salt, etc. etc. I coolly answered —

216 ARRIVAL AT FAYAL.
'Your proposition is very good and well-timed ; but as I
have a few friends I wish to consult on so important a
change of life, you must allow me a short time for con
sideration, as well as for their counsel.'
• 'But,' said he, and the daemon shone through his leering
sardonic look, whilst his exulting sarcastic smile was more
hateful to my sight, than his speech had before appeared
fascinating to my high- wrought expectations, 'perhaps they
have been taught under different masters, or their tactics
are dissimilar to ours, what then ?'
'Why, any port in a storm ;' and I sheered off, ever after
giving him as wide a berth as possible, being in no wise
either flattered or proud of this first-impression acquaint
ance. It struck me for the first time, after reflecting upon the
manoeuvres of this cunning and oily-tongued feltow, (the
like pffers were made to pthers, with the like effect,) that
when the marine made the attempt to form the prisoners
in line, my attention was aroused with the soldier-like
manner in which he gave out his commands ; and mpst
likely spme latent feelings of .^y-gone times, (the reader
must keep in remembrance my former penchant for and '
service in the militia) which had to give place to a greater
desire for cruising, that had lain dormant since iny sea
sickness, were awakened by his military voice, and pro
bably I had straitened a little, and dressed in line better
than some others, thereby attracting the eyes of this man,
who, I now remembered, was standing in our front the
while. The ship was taking in water and provisions from the
shore, when we went on board, and I was much amused
at the manner of hoisting in the live bullocks, from the
large flat-boats at her side. This was done by making fast
a rope around the horns of the animals and hoisting them
up by a tackle, from a boom rigged for the purpose, which
swung round so as to bring them over the main hatchway,

ARRIVAL AT FAYAL. 217
where they were lowered to the gun-deck, and there kept
till butchered, at such periods as they were wanted during
the passage to England. These bullocks, whilst in the
boats, were so fractious as to be entirely unmanageable,
unless confined with strong cords ; but the moment they
felt themselves rising by the purchase, they did not move
a limb nor exhibit the least signs of life, till standing on
the gun-deck, when they again became so furious, that it
was dangerous for any one to approach them, even after
they were lashed fast to the upright stanchions, placed
there to secure them.
When we were in the frigate, we lay so close to the
Peak of Pico, as to make one dizzy to look at its summit,
especially whilst the clouds were in rapid motion past it,
as they were constantly during our stay in the harbour of
Fayal, many times totally obscuring the top from the
sight of the beholder. But, when we were shifted to the
sloop-pf-war, we were at a convenient distance to view
it to advantage.
I have never seen a geographical description of this
Peak, farther than to learn, that it is supposed to be of
volcanic origin, and is second to none in height, except
the Peak of Teneriffe, outvieing even that in regularity
of taper and smoothness of surface. Its steepness is such,
as to make it an impossibility for any one to ascend more
than a third of its height, which is as far I believe as has
ever been attempted by man. The top is constantly
covered with snow, even in this ever temperate climate,
and vegetation ceases at a short distance from its base,
principally, However, on account of the nature of the soil.
The shape of this Peak is precisely like that of a sugar-
loaf, tapering gradually from its base to its summit, which
appears to be merely rounded, and not flattened.
As we lay at our anchorage in the frigate, we could
distinctly see the fort, under which the American priva
teer General Armstrong lay, when her crew gained so
19 v.l

218 ARRIVAL AT FAYAL.
great a renown, by beating off the boats of the combined
force of three ships of war, one of which was a three-
decker. Although foreign to my design, such records
deserve notice, from however humble a source they may
spring. Whilst warping under this fort, after dark, for protec
tion as a neutral, those in command of the privateer .saw
the boats of the enemy approaching, and hailed them,
Without receiving an answer. They were then fired into
with such destructive effect, that they precipitately retired,
after returning the fire, killing one man and wounding a
lieutenant. At twelve o'clock, the boats were collected
from the three ships, twelve to fourteen in number, armed
With carronades and swivels, crowded with men, (supposed
not less than four hundred,') and sent again to the attack,
with a certainty of being successful, by their greatly supe
rior force enabling them to make the onset simulta
neously from different points. As they ' approached, a
destructive fire was opened upon them, when a carnage
unprecedented followed, by the brig scattering her grape
and langrage, (from guns filled to the muzzles, at so
deadly an aim,) among . these crowded and over-filled
boats, killing and wounding, as was supposed, full one-
half of those who had originally left the ships. The
boats soon retired a second time, discomfitted, shattered,
and sorely cut up, from a fight as short as it had proved
sanguinary, and as unequal as it was disastrous to the
assailants. Two of them nearly filled with the dead,
were left by the side of the brig. The next morning,
the smaller of the three hostile vessels warped in by the
side of the privateer ; previous to which the crew had
thought it the more prudent to retire to the shore, after
setting fire to their favourite vessel. Soon the broad
sides from the enemy's ship completed what the fire had
commenced, and she shortly afterwards sunk. But few of
¦the crew pf. the brig were either killed pr wpunded.

SAILING FOR ENGLAND. 219
As an excuse for disregarding the rights of a neutral's
protection, in the enemy's official account to the board of
admiralty, they say, the boats had no intention of attack-
ing*the brig, but were reconnoitering enly, when they
were fired into. The second attack was made as a chas
tisement for the little respect shown to his majesty's boats;
when on so harmless an enterprise, as rowing with muf
fled oars towards an enemy's vessel after night-fall.

CHAP. XIV.
SAILING FOR ENGLAND.
About four o'clock, of the same day we had been sent
* on board of the sloop-of-war, a signal was made by the
commodore, which was immediately answered by the ship;
This was soon known to be for our sailing, by the many
active preparations on board. To heave up the anchor,
make all fast, and spread the sails to the wind, was but, the
work of an hour, and we were standing out to sea, with a
close reefed topsail breeze, and heading towards England,
leaving the remainder of our shipmates, still on board of
the three frigates, the day being too boisterous to attempt
bringing more to the Pheasant in open boats.
The prisoners were not permitted to go below till later
than usual, on account of the stowing or coiling away the
cable, in the orlop-deck, which was to be our resting place
for the night. When we were piped down, every pre»
caution was adopted for our safety, or rather for the ship's
safety, by taking from us and securing our Knives, while
we still were on deck. The guard took every thing from
us which could be used as a weapon of offence or defence,
from a toothpick to a jack-knife.

220 SAILING FOR ENGLAND.
It was spme time before we could all get below; for
thpse whp had hammpcks were sent down first to swing
them, as best they ceuld in the dark, and when there
were np mpre who had them to swing, the pther prisoners,
follpwed. Hpwever unpleasant nur berth places were
on board the frigate, we did not need the aid of a light
to know that here, they were far worse, and infinitely
more so than one could imagine. The space allotted for
us to spend two-thirds of each twenty-four hours in, was
not sufficiently large for all to lie down, although some
what higher than where we were confined aboard the
frigate. Yet, by a part swinging their hammocks and
keeping in them, the others could barely squeeze under
neath; and when stowed close, each found the room
allotted him. We obtained no relief from the air above,
as the hatches were battened down the moment we went
below, leaving no opening except a small aperture, suffi
ciently large to admit one's body to pass through; and
even this was much obstructed, by the two guards-men
sitting with their feet hanging below, to be in readiness in
case of a revolt of the prisoners, of which the officers of
the ship were evidently afraid, as was manifest from many
other circumstances that afterwards occurred, not necessary
to mention, besides that of taking from us our knives.
The hot air in our sleeping apartment soon became
exceedingly unpleasant and almost suffocating. This, to
gether with the steam arising from our wet clothes, which
had not in the least been dried since the soaking they
received in the boat, while coming from the frigate, filled
the hold with a noxious vapour, that was as difficult to
breathe, as it proved unpleasant to our olfactories. My
clothes did not become dry, till the third day after sailing,
which gave me a severe' cold, and from which I was not
relieved for four mpnths afterwards. This, added to my
nerveus head-ache, in np wise lessened by sp clpse a stow
ing of myself in this second edition, with improvements

SAILING FOR ENGLAND. 221
upon the first, of Calcutta black-hole memory, made my
case truly pitiable, and to many, a wpnder I ever survived.
Our cnnfined apartment and wet clothing was net our
greatest discomfort. The cable had been stowed away as
it came dripping with the briny water and mud from the
bed of the ocean ; and between our bodies and this filth
of all filth in the way of stench, was nothing except the
scanty clothing each had upon his person ; nor was there
any possibility of avoiding this cable, dirty and wet as it
was ; for it was coiled entirely upon the surface of our
apartment, and when all had their places no space was
left — not enough for one to straighten his great-toe, sheuld
it heepme cropked by the cramp, and require the usual
antidote, a chafing or a pull, to give it its wonted comely
appearance. My clothing I found too burthenseme; for
be it known, I still retained my 'three suits.' Not wishing
to endanger sp valuable a wardrobe, by the pilfering my
bag underwent, the first night I passed in the frigate, I
kept them upon my back, wet, soaking wet as they were
with salt water. Here, however, the precaution was unne
cessary, as we had arrived among another set, who were
pf less light-fingering propensities ; for whilst I was in the
Pheasant, I never heard of a single theft, and I am certain
none was punished for stealing, nor did a single complaint
emanate from the prisoners that aught had been missed.
This close contaminated air, made worse by the stench
cf the. held, became so offensive and suffocating before
rooming, that many were extremely sick, and seemingly
enly wished their end might come, to be at once rid of
their torments and their misery. But little sleep was ob
tained this night by the prisoners ; nor was joking carried
to the extent it had been the first night on board of the
Leander. Each appeared absorbed with his own misery,
and quietly sunk subdued under the over-burthen of his
wretched condition, and the excruciating horror of mind
with which he was suffering,-
19* v.l

222 SAILING FOR ENGLAND.
When meraing came, and the hpur arrived for the
prisoners to crawl on deck, the sudden inhaling the fresh
air had a peculiar effect upon the men, which I have never
seen noticed in any accounts I have read of those similarly
situated. No sooner did each get to the deck above our
sleeping place, than his looks changed suddenly to a sickly
pallidness, when he was seized with a partial fainting, or
lassitude of nerve, or inability to muscular exertiOn, and
would be compelled to drop to the planks, or rather ease
himself down, where he would remain from half to one,
two, or five minutes, till his strength and volition returned,
and his partial sickness wore off; after which he would
leisurely proceed on to the deck above, generally without
taking any notice of this interruption himself, or the cir-
'cumstance being thought by others, as any thing unusual
'or of a serious nature.
I have often been amused, although I was as frequently
thus affected as the others, at seeing the men come
through the hatch, chattering away with their lively non
sense, — at once, the speaker would suddenly cease, his
"talking, squat to the deck till the fainting or weakness
passed off, when he would rise up and pursue alike his
chat and his walk, apparently without knowing he had
made a pause in the one, or a break in the other ; for his*
animation was restored almost as instantaneously as he
had been deprived of it. As regards myself, I could
scarcely perceive when I was affected until I was rid of the
fainting. Apparently, it did not in the least affect my
senses, yet many times when coming from below, I would
form the resolution to brace up, not to give way, and,
if possible, to avoid what proved inevitable — a relaxation
of mind and a wilting to the deck. I would not know I
had broken the contract, till too late to remedy my credit.
To use a homely comparison, I could liken those spells to
nothing but a want of energy to think, and a will not
to submit without an effort. The seamen of the ship

SAILING FOR ENGLAND. 223
'dsed jeeringly to say, we were christian bred, by thus
returning thanks for the good accommodations afforded
"Us the past night — meaning we were at our secret devo
tions, when becoming so silent all at once — rating our
piety according to the manner each went to the deck.
Seme would drop to one knee only; another would go
plump upon both ; a third wpuld imitate the eastern
mpde of doing homage, by coming on all-fours ; while a
fourth would crumble down, and fall either back or face
up, as the roll of the ship gave him the cant. The
first position, by these never-ceasing lovers ef fun, was
cpmpared, gppd; the second, better; the third, best;
whilst the fourth was said to be overdone, a semblance of
devption only belonging to a hyppcrite.
Who has not heard or read of the sufferings of these
who were confined in the 'Jersey Prison Ship ?' But I
will put the orlop-deck of the sloop-of-war Pheasant, as it
was during my sojourn therein, against all that has been
said or written (in truth) of the former ; and, moreover, if
any one can conceive a place (on this terrestrial, mind ye)
of the same size which contains more cubic inches of
misery than that did, I will hold myself beaten, and he
shall have the enjoyment of his new abode to himself,
unmolested by me, for his ppwers ef discovery.
We soon found, after getting to sea, the difference
between the accommodations pf the frigate during the day,
and those to which we now had to submit, was very great.
In that nf the former, we were alto wed the range pf the
decks and free cenverse with the crew ; but here, we were
restricted to as small a pprtion of the gun-deck as we could
be made to stow purselves together, with sentries so placed
as to prevent us from walking a step from our prison limits,
and to prohibit us from holding any conversation with the
crew of the ship, who were said to be in a dissatisfied
state, bordering on mutiny; yet they showed npthing in
their behaviour, that this was the case, but, on the con-

224 SAILING FOR ENGLAND.
trary, ever appeared with a ready willingness to aid in the
duties of the ship, in storm or calm.
Besides being prohibited from exercising ourselves by
walking the deck, alone, a serious deprivation, after the
many hours of confinement below, we were much worse
fed than when in the frigate. The bullocks taken in at
Fayal, were slaughtered as they were wanted, and the
meat given to us boiled in its fresh state, without a particle
of salt, and bull beef, withal ; about as nauseous a dish as
flesh and water can make, or as mawkish a stew as flesh
and blood can stand. Why we were not allowed salt, we
cpuld npt learn, unless it was to save us from the thirst it
unavoidably creates, without the possibility of its being
fully relieved ; for the ship was short of water, the crew
upon a limited allowance, and the prisoners restricted to a
tin pot filled but once a day, and that of a bad quality,
partaking, in nearly equal parts, of water, gluten, acid and
animalcule — not requiring the aid of a microscope to dis
cover their colour, make and propensities. This was given
to us with the choice of swallowing the whole at once, or to
throw overboard, and let our appetites sharpen till the next
day's allowance of the same kind came again. I used
generally to preserve mine in my tin cup, which I still
retained, made fast with a lan-yarn to a button, in the
fashion of my jack-knife, till my thirst enabled me to
overcome my squeamishness, and slake it by a little at odd
periods ; whilst, between times, I could enjoy myself by
watching the gambolings of the sinuous shole which it con
tained, the rascals appearing the more frolicsome by having
fallen into hands, whose daintiness gained them a short
respite, that the greater part pf their fraternity knew nothing
of. By thus dividing my allowance, and lengthening it
throughout the day, I suffered far less than others did, who
were compelled to drink the whole of theirs, for the want
of something to keep a portion in till another period.
The only pastime we had, was to munch cur allpwance

SAILING FOR ENGLAND. 225
of Portuguese bread, given to us each day, which differed
from every thing of the bread kind I had ever before heard
of. It appeared to me to be made of cracked Indian corn,
baked in irregular angular-shaped balls, about the size of
an egg, without salt, and so exceedingly hard, that it re
quired an hour's tough work, with a good set of teeth, to
get through with one of them. The five or six each of us
received daily, generally gave us employment till we were
piped below ; and even -there, in that place of utter dark
ness, could be heard, in different parts of the hold, men
whese teeth were such as would not enable them to com
plete the task during their hours on deck, gnawing at these
bread'balls of granite hardness and grit, whilst, as regards
taste and digestion, they were closely allied to anthracite.
It was really amusing to see fifty persons cooped up
within the space of three or four guns, on one side of the
deck, busily engaged grubbing away with the earnestness
of piece-workers, for hours together, without apparently
making any more impression upon these balls of rubble-
stone shape, than upon their own appetites. It was like
the attempt to gnaw the adhering parts from a cling-stone
peach — the more labour bestowed, the more slippery the
ball became, but nothing less in size, while the teeth were
grating a harsh dislike at the slippery tricks put upon them
by their sliding opponents.
At my left one day, I overheard the following dialogue,
of little interest to the reader, yet had he been thus simi
larly situated, he would have had his mind diverted, and
found a momentary relief, even from these coarse jokers,
with a thankful heart, that relief could be had from any
source. <I say, Phil, let's take a game at balls, as there is nothing
better offers in the way of amusements.'
'Done, my old hearty ; and I'll bet the first drink at to-
mprrow's grog, that I will be through with mine, two
bells sppner than you are with yours.'

226 SAILING FOR ENGLAND.
'You mean it will be through you two bells earlier, else
you never would make so rash a bet with those stubby
teeth, which are not fit for soft tack, let alone this hard
ware gingerbread concern, fashioned from brickbats, baked
in the sun, and only suitable for langrage shot; for no
enemy would stand for a second grist, if scratched by the
first.' 'Bolt it,' said a third one, 'as I did yesterday, after
spending the best part of two watches at gnawing the cor
ners, so that it might not hang fire by the way, when I
grew desperate at the small headway I was making, and
swallowed it as it was ;. but it is yet rolling about in my
inner bosom, like a stray shot across the forecastle deck,
with a stiff breeze to keep it in motion.'
'Try the hair of the same dog, if you would be rid of
your trouble ; by stowing a couple more side by side in
the same tier, they will roll and box together, till, like
the Kilkenny cats, they destroy each other; then your
teeth and labour may be spared for better purposes.'
'While you are at it,' said another, 'throw down a few
belaying-pins, together with the loblolly-boy to set them
fup, and I and Pete Wilson will follow, and take a game
of nine-pins.'
'A shilling a game, one-half to the loser, and its
clinched.'
, 'I have heard of a scratch game, but till now, I was
ignorant of its meaning,' said one who was gulping and
jerking his neck forwards, as though he was striving to
add a few more inches to its length, but could not do it
till first ascertaining of what portion of India rubber it
consisted. 'Scratched ! why, I'm blessed if my throat ain't raked
past cure, by the one I swallowed yesterday.'
'It's a blessing granted, by giving us wherewith to make
a long meal,' came from one, with looks of solemnity.
'Egad, long it is ; for grub me into a box to hold a chain

SAILING FOR ENGLAND. 227
cable, and pay it out every half hour, if I wern't chewing
my dinner yesterday, while the barkey was running down
two degrees of latitude, and then had soldier rations left.'
'What do you mean by soldier rations, Pete ?'
'Why, whatever an honest blue-jacket leaves, to be
sure — too good for such, if it's only the smell of the pan-
niken that last held the grog.'
'Pete ! did you never study the primer ! — to call a name
in vain which is held so sacred ?'
'I don't know, Jerry, that I have blasphemed.'
'If scarce means sacred, grog is the only sanctified mat-
ter here, and you named it in the same breath with a
marine.' 'If I live to return, I will prove my repentance by
taking a double allpwance, at shcrt watches, and stand at
the head of the saints.'
'Yes, if yeur deliverance depends upon heavy drinking,
your redemption is sure, and for a chaw p'tobaccp I'll take
ypur chance.'
'At the panniken, if well charged with a real stiff'ner;
np doubt you would, but what you'd leave, would'nt be
worth a second-hand chew, picked out of the lee scuppers.'
Such jestings, common-place and coarse as they were,
helped materially to wear away the time, which every
, day's sameness proved more and more oppressive and
wearisome. , After we were at sea a few days, we came into a cooler
atmosphere, which, though pleasant for a time, continued
to grow more so, till it was uncomfortably cold.
The officers and men of the sloop-of-war, were as unlike
those in the frigate, as they were unlike the most quiet
family circle ashere. Np blustering, swearing, yelling,
npr bravadp, was indulged in by the superiors towards
those under them; and the men too were as orderly and
-still as though but half a dozen were in the vessel, and
these shipped expressly for good behaviour. Why it was

228 SAILING FOR ENGLAND.
the crew could not be trusted, I never learned; but so it
proved, for a part of them were sent from the ship, on
her arrival in England, and others brought on board in
their stead.
One of the junior lieutenants was of a social turn, and
did not fear lessening his standing by holding conversation
with the prisoners, as many others did. who looked upon
us as only felons, and probably supposed none were
worthy of a nod, who were born beyond the island they
hailed from, which to them contained all that was civil
ized. I have passed hours in conversation with this
officer, who was striving to learn as much of the geogra
phy and general appearance of America, and the man
ners, ways and customs of its inhabitants, as he could
gather from me and others — multiplying his inquiries to
irksomeness, upon subjects on which I had to tax my
memory to desperation, often making bold assertions,
depending upon my future study to prove their truth or
fallacy ; and even with this I often feared my knowledge
of geology, geography, and physiology, was not duly
appreciated, or was doubted by the better remembered
readings of my loquacious lieutenant, though he had the
politeness never to say so. Yet, I could not interpret his
often suppressed smile to my credit, neither at the lucid-
ness of my learning, nor to the triteness of my memory ;
but the rather had to set it down to my confirmed impu
dence, for making assertions I could not back with any
author extant.
I thought he was about as unfit for the naval service, as
any one I had seen ; yet he was always at his duty and
generally esteemed by the men. He was calculated to
shine in genteel society, and possessed the attributes of a
well educated and polished gentleman. But there was
certainly some mistake, when his present employment
was chosen for him, as it was fully evident by his conver
sation, he did not follow it by his own free will, but by

SAILING FOR ENGLAND. 229
the desires of others, that one in the family should be
come distinguished. To this he may have arrived ere
now, but it must be by interest, rather than by naval
acquirements gained by enthusiasm for the service ; for if
he would fight when he could avoid it, no man ever ought
to be condemned till proved chicken-hearted.
I find it about as difficult? to make this chapter accepta
ble to my readers, as I then did to make the time of this
monotonous sail to England agreeable to myself. Then
I would take my straddle upon a gun in the morning, and
thereon sit till piped below in the afternoon, nothing
better offering upon which to while away the hours. I
used to spur most furiously, to keep my blood from be
coming entirely stagnant — knowing mine to be a steed of
metal, whose snort is greater than the war-horse of the
desert, whose kick is like the battering-ram of old, and
whose prancing thunders, when bereft of charge, is only
equalled by its fiery spirit, which, when once ignited, like
the lightning's flash, cannot be staid — and whose kick,
snort, prancing, thunder and lightning combined, carrying
ruin and death in its path, are not unlike the pallid horse
of holy writ, (rider excepted, who always rode facing the
breech) and but little less destructive. But now I have not
even the gun to spur on to the end of the chapter, and
but little material to work upon, so much was one day
like another.
I have before mentioned that singing and joking was not
carried to so great a length, as it was in the hold of the
frigate ; but seamen are seldom at a loss for diversion of
some kind, place them where you will. So here, instead
of harmlessly rigging their comrades, they fell to work in
downright good earnest, to pummeling each other, in a
spree that was kicked up one night when below, which at
the time I condemned most heartily; but, short-sighted
mortals that we are, no doubt it was expressly so ordered,
to afford subject to complete this, but otherwise, half a
20 v.l

230 SAILING FOR ENGLAND.
chapter. This was the only instance of a fight, or even a
misunderstanding having occurred, between the different
members of the brig's crew, from the time of her sailing,
till we reached our homes after our imprisonment, with the
exception of the one already recorded as taking place on
the decks of the Leander.
We had been below one ni§ht some time, when he that
was our steward in the brig, ever a grumbler, complained
that the man underneath his hammock, disturbed him, by
frequently nudging it, which prevented him from sleeping.
The accused declared he had not touched it, except as
he shifted from side to side, to ease his aching ribs from
the rough fakes of the cable he was grinding upon, and
then only because there was not sufficient space between
the hammock and himself, to allow him to turn without
grazing it. This might have satisfied any reasonable per
son, but the steward seemed determined to find fault,
while the one underneath was soon in the humour of
turning every five minutes or oftener, as either his bones
ached, or his love of mischief increased.
At last the steward grew hot with anger, and swore he
was scurvily treated, by thus being placed among the
blackguards, whilst he ought to have quarters assigned him
as one of the officers of the brig. He never had been a
favourite with the men, and this speech did not in the
least soften the ill will, or lessen the misunderstanding
which time had engendered; for before it was fairly out,
and the whole of the hang-dog crew duly conveyed to the
lower regions, his hammock lashing was slipped from the
fastening at pne end, bringing him dpwn 'head pn,' while
his heels were pillowed higher than mpst people would
call comfortable, even without the roll of the ship to aid
him in his awkward predicament.
The chap the steward fell upon, said he had bargained
for no such covering, and forthwith pushed him beyond
his premises, to the top of another, who, in turn, did not

SAILING FOR ENGLAND. 231
fail to lend him a shove forwards, singing out for his neigh
bour to 'heave ahead — keep moving,' which might have
been continued till the present time, before the steward
could have been shoved into a. vacant place ; for, as I
before said, the space below was only sufficient for two
layers, and every inch of room was occupied by the under
one, wedged to a decided jam, without reference to a
dictionary to know its meaning. At last, the steward's
steam, by the buffetings he was so lavishly receiving, was
raised to fighting guage, and he began to lay about him
lustily, as little knowing whom he hit in the dark, as did
those know to whom they returned the licks they them
selves were so unwillingly receiving, till all in the hold
were giving and receiving blows from friends as well
as from foes.
My position was such as to be out of harm's way at the
beginning of the fracas, but I was soon able to understand
that the belligerents would fight their battles, in part at
least, upon the territories of the neutrals ; and knowing it
was better to join sides with the one party, than to contend
with both, with no chance of redress of grievances from
either, in case of disasters, as is usually the predicament
with neutrals, especially when in the minority, I entered at
once into an offensive and defensive league with my two
side companions, sturdy fellows, who feared nothing, to
mutually fight for, against, with, and at all aggressors,
come they from where they might.
This was an advantageous coalition for me, (I wish my
colleagues had as good grounds to boast of their negotia
tions,) for which, at the time, I prided myself no little, by
displaying so much of the diplomatist. The advantage the
reader can at once see, and to see, is but to enter into my
notions of self-praise, when he fully understands the nature
of the ground we occupied, as well as that now in the pos
session of the belligerents. My head was protected by 'a
partition in such a manner, that no foe could assail me

232 SAILING FOR ENGLAND.
from that direction, either by force or stratagem. Upon
my right and left, I was likewise securely flanked by my
sturdy celleagues, in whpm I had the most implicit confi
dence, and left each to maintain his ground as best he
could without my interference, well knpwing npthing
could reach me over them, till they were effectually
silenced. Sp npw, I had nothing to defend but the ante
rior portipn of the citadel, which was made impregnable
by a pair of moveable chevaux-de-frize, each drove by fear,
of ten-horse power, in readiness to be set in operation the
instant they could be worked to advantage without waste
of steam.
The only restrictive article enjoined upon the parties of
this coalition, was, that none should leave the territories
occupied, (another item in my favour,) to seek a fight with
the belligerents, however any one's individual propensities
might bias him to lend a hand to a friend like to be
worsted, (I felt certain I could not have abandoned my
faithful colleagues, nor break the contract for a dozen re
treating parties, each headed by a cousin direct,) but each
to remain where he was, and battle it manfully, even
should he be attacked by the main body and reserve at the
same time, with a prospect of his rear being menaced, and
his retreat cut off by the light troops and flankers ; in fact,
no excuse would avail for either party of the coalition to
leave his post a moment., I most heroically stood at mine,
and kept a watchful eye upon my companions, that they
should not abandon theirs, knowing that our safety, or
mine at least, depended mainly upon a union of strength.
As we are waiting for the enemy's onset, a suspense
many times much more painful to be borne than the ensu
ing contest, we will relieve our anxiety, as well as. that of
the reader, by taking a look on deck, where the din and
noise has long since reached, and preparations are making
to quell us, who are the cause of this uproar in the lewer
regions of their good ship Pheasant. The marines at the

SAILING FOR ENGLAND. 233
•
'hatchway were peremptorily ordered below; but they
quailed at the landing, and held back. The sergeant of
the guard next essayed to do a deed that would have won
him his epaulet, and placed him at the ward-room mess-
table ; but he, too, paused and pondered, as soon as he
came in sight of the flying phalanx betow, wielding their
engines of war, with a recklessness pf danger alike fatal to
friend pr foe ; and when fairly comprehending the nature
of the job he had so rashly undertaken to accomplish, he
jumped back, as theugh unexpectedly beset by a dpzen
hungry lions. I now heard the heavy tread and gruff voice
of the first lieutenant, whose bold bearing and every linea
ment told nothing of fear, approaching with all the John
Bull spirit he could force to the brim, swearing roundly, he
'could quell all the damned Yankees afloat with a wink of
his eye,' rattling his cutlass so we should not mistake his
meaning; and, without faltering at the edge of the hatch
way, he at once leaped below amongst us, with his naked
sword glistening from the light in the watch lantern abpve,
in readiness to back the 'wink,' sheuld it not have the
desired effect.
But unfortunately for the renown of this bold one, who
had volunteered to upheld the sway of England's glory,
and maintain her stern naval discipline to the end, a re
treating party in the hold had that moment rallied with
renewed vigour, and after a deadly struggle had succeeded
in driving their assailants back, with such precipitation as
nearly to upset this heart of oak, who was in the way of
the back-heaving current. This, together with the shout
and yell that followed from the rallying and now victorious
party, as well as the death screams of the vanquished, and
a few scattering missiles of shoes, hats, and whatever else
could be grasped in the dark, made the ground too hot for
his Britannic majesty's lieutenant, and he leaped back, the
way he so lately came, with renewed zeal and alacrity,
without stopping to inquire whether the kicks, cuffs and
20* v.I

234 sailing For England.
blows, he had received, were intentional or by accident-
saying as he made his exit, 'they are a murdering set, and
the quicker they kill each other, the better will it be for
those who have them to feed ; for they have as little re
spect for a king's officer as they have for themselves.'
The prisoners were left to fight out their fight in the
dark, to their hearts' content, which was cpntinued for
nearly twp hours ; and only then brought to a ctose by the
efficer nf the deck saying he would, take the steward
under his keeping, so that the others might no more be
annoyed by his company.
I came off scatheless, except now and then a blow,
which served to make me the mere vigilant, as well as to
inform me I was still in the way of danger; but whether
these came from an enemy or my colleagues in the strife,
the darkness and hurry did not permit me to say at the
time, and nothing has since fallen in my way upon which
I can rely as truth. But I have reason to believe, from
sources uninteresting to the reader, my colleagues received
the greatest share of the favours intended for my use and
benefit; as I kept plying my feelers most lavishly, when
ever I felt a set of ribs within reach to my liking, without
asking to whom they belonged. This, it appeared, was an
exceedingly great annoyance, and roused the ire of those
kicked, from whence they knew not, and by whom they
could' not tell, but who returned their dues uppn thpse
nearest at hand, and towards the place whither they sup-
ppsed the kicks emanated, (swerving either to the right or
left, to avpid a repetitipn pf what proved sp to their dis
taste,) withput keeping tally whether they were cancelling
a claim er running in debt, but kept sccring away, with an
utter disregard as to knowing on which side of the acceunt
the balance was accumulating.
There was ene chap whp for some days afterwards com
plained sadly of the soreness of his kidneys, and gravely
averred such blows never cnuld have proceeded from a

SAILING FOR ENGLAND. 235
fist. I thought ditto. Had I been anxious to display my
knowledge, I could have told the owner of the diseased
kidneys, of the body that the foot belonged to, that had
preferred this spot in preference to any other, to plant the
kicks in, for the purpose of closing an account of long
standing ; but not wishing to make a display of my lore, I
was as ignorant as the unconscious heel that had done the
mischief. Black eyes were much more abundant the next
day and the week following, than were good dinners for
the rest of our passage to England.
In the above battle, I may have erred in some of the
manoeuvres, it -being my first upon the ocean, in which I
had 'fleshed my maiden' — shoe-heel, (the exact quota
tion disremembered ;) if so, and there be any tactition whp
can do better, he shall retain both the honours of the fight
and possession of the battle-field undisputed by me, pro
vided the latter is done by himself in propria persona.
We had been about ten days in the Pheasant, when in
addition to my nervous head-ache and heavy- cold, that
had fallen upon my lungs, I was taken one night after
being below ahout two hours, with a severe cramp in my
breast, which was greatly aggravated by the position in
which I was obliged to continue. After suffering an hour,
some of my shipmates prevailed on the sentry to acquaint
the surgeon that one of the prisoners was exceedingly ill,
and begged permission for me to be conveyed to the
cock-pit for his assistance. Word came, that 'the sick
prisoners would be administered to as usual, at from half
past eight to nine o'clock, and the regulations of the ship
did not admit of the infringement of orders already esta
blished.' Before going for relief, I had to suffer two
hours longer ; and when assisted to the surgeon's room, he
merely gave me a powder, with a request to call at nine
next morning, and say how I felt.
I was compelled to go again to my uncomfortable berth,
and remain either to live or die in the dark, as I might ;

236 SAILING FOR ENGLAND.
for np further relief could I expect till twelve hours should
elapse, so little was the life of a fellow-mortal in the eyes
of the surgeon, in comparison to the adopted orders of the
ship. The horrors of that dismal night were too great
even for remembrance. Had I but a drop of water to
assuage the parchings ef my fevered tongue, brought on
by the agony of the inward cramps, or a pillow to ease
my aching head from the rough cable beneath- — made the
more racking by the unceasing motions of the ship, it
would have been a relief. A part of the night I was unr
conscious of any thing, and when enabled at lucid spells
to reflect upon my situation, I could scarcely hope to see
daylight again.
Thanks to a kind Providence, the cramps lessened ber
fore morning, and, when it was time for me to call on the
surgeon, I was entirely free from pain, but was left with
considerable fever, unusual debility and great screness in
the breast. When going to the dectpr in the morning, he
asked hew the powder had operated ? I replied it had
relieved me ef the cramps, several hours after taking it,
but it had not operated at all. He appeared for a moment
uneasy, saying, 'it was strong enough to go through my
ribs, unless cased with iron,' and gave me another of the
same kind, with instructions to take it immediately, to
prevejit the first doing me mischief. I took it, but not the
way I had taken the first, neither according to h\s orders,
but to throw overboard, which I did as soon as I went on
deck, not wishing to risk my ribs to any farther such trials
as he in his practice chose to put them to, in trying to
ascertain the strength of his powders. Besides, his volun
teering a pitched battle with my ribs was without solicita-
tion on my part, and altogether gratuitous on his side, as I
had distinctly stated the disease was in the breast and
nowhere else. But then probably it might have been a
part of his code of practice, by counteraction, to create a
worse disease than the one complained of. I resolved in

SAILING FOR ENGLAND. 237
my own mind to go to him no more, preferring to lie down
and die without any assistance, than putting myself under
the treatment of an ignoramus, or, otherwise, one that was
quite indifferent as to what result his prescription might
lead. In a day or two I felt much better, and had reason
to he thankful I had not again applied to the surgeon for
physic. On the twenty-fifth of January, early in the morning,
there was an unusual stirring on deck ; and when eight
o'clock came, the hour for the prisoners to gp up, we were
told to remain where we were ; that but two at a time
could go to the deck, and then only by permission. I
soon had an excuse to go above, and managed to stay there
long enough to see what was going on, when I was obliged
to tramp below, to make room for others, whese necessi
ties cr inquisitiveness were as strong as mine. I framed;
feigned and plead excuses te get on deck three several
times, at each making such observations as my awakened
curiosity prompted. This, with the little I could gather
from the orders given to the men by their superiors, ena
bled me to learn the reason of the precaution of keeping
us below, and calling the crew of the ship to quarters.
A sail was discovered dead to the windward of the
sloop-of-war, bearing down under a heavy press of can
vass, which the captain supposed to be an American priva
teer, as was evident, by all hands being at their stations,
the ship hove- to, ports shut, and the vessel otherwise dis
guised so as to appear not as a man-of-war. She was
manoeuvring with the intention of decoying the stranger
within the range of her guns, when she would be at once
within her grasp.
The position which the strange sail held, was such as to
enable her to do no little damage to the ship we were in,
provided she had a long gun amidships, upon a pivot, as
most vessels of her class had, while she could still keep
out of harm's way of the Pheasant, by her being to wind-

238 SAILING FOR ENGLAND.
Ward, and by the superiority of her sailing. The British
commander knew very well the predicament he was in, if
the schooner cpuld make put the nature 6f his ship, and
was determined en either mischief er Spprt ; for his short
carronades (the Pheasant had but two tong guns, and
those were but ef small calibre,) ceuld dp no damage
against the long-tom of the schooner, which was now
nearing him every moment, causing him much uneasiness,
as could plainly be seen by the workings of his counte
nance and the furtive glances he was throwing both alow
and aloft, whilst his to and fro uneven walks of haste and
agitation, as clearly demonstrated that his upper spars
were not proof against round shot, nor his sails any the
more valuable by being riddled with grape.
As the schooner was coming within the range of her
long-tom, the anxiety was exceedingly great ; for instances
had occurred during the war, of small privateers with but
a single gun of large calibre, attacking larger vessels than
the one we were in, when the smaller had the advantage
of the wind and sailing; and after planting a few round
shot into the ribs of her. proud enemy, she would haul up
and be eff — the skylarking captain chuckling pver the feat
he had performed, as he enters it in his log for future pub
lication, whilst his powerful enemy is grinding over his
discontent, at having been so scurvily treated by the admi
ralty board, by being put in command of a hulk with no
sailing qualities, and guns only fit for ctose quarters, and
subject to the insult of every piccaroon who might choose
to exercise his skill at gunnery for mere pastime, by making
him his target. The chagrin of the discomfited commander
made the more sour, by knowing that every print in Chris
tendom will hand down to posterity, as an exhibition
worthy of remembrance, the circumstance of his humility.
The schooner showed no colours, but came boldly on
till within range of the guns of the ship, when it was sup
posed she could not be an enemy, and thus run directly

SAILING FOR ENGLAND. 239
info the jaws of destruction ; still, the anxiety was not
lessened, although all former fear of her impudence had
passed away. She came within hailing distance, but did
not shorten sail nor heave-to. While passing close astern
of the ship she ariswered the hail, and proved to be a Por
tuguese schooner, but four days from England. To the
question, 'what news,' she answered distinctly in English,
so as to be heard by all on deck — 'Peace is declared
between Great Britain and the United States of
North America.'
It was now, 'hurrah! my boys' — 'tumble up, prison
ers' — 'bear-a-hand, my hearties' — 'stand by for three-
times-three for Great Britain and the United States.'
Now was all hail-fellow-well-met, and nothing thought of
but cheer and joyous hilarity. The officers of the sloop-
of-war enjoyed the good news equally as well, to all out
ward show, as did we the prisoners, and for a time re
laxed the taut-strained discipline of the ship. There was
not a boy on board, that was not rejoicing and showing his
merriment, by the many antics he was striving to display
about the decks, his joy quickening his agility to the
nimbleness of the monkey. All was congratulation, good
humour, and jollity.
The very purser's steward entered heart and mind into
the speculation of being discharged from the service ; to
corroborate which, I am more than pleased at having
authority to show for it ; otherwise, upon the occasion of
so much rejoicing, a man's simple assertion has but little
weight, and might be passed over as naught. It happened,
to be my turn this morning to draw the day's rations for
the mess, and so fully was the mind of the purser occu
pied with leaving the vessel, that he overlooked the extra
pound of bread he threw into the scales, and gave down
weight with that. This extra allowance, (the first fruits of
a gtoripus peace — may it be lasting, and at its clpse bring
the like gppd fortune to those who may thus appreciate its,

240 SAILING FOR ENGLAND.
blessings, by a full, candid and impartial admission of be
nefits received,) was duly distributed to my messmates, as
though they of right had claim to it, (and may the future
beneficiary in the same generous manner make as gopd a
disppsitipn of his showered gifts.) This generosity on my
•part, was gratefully acknowledged by the mess, and a
proposition made that I should stand cook each day for the
remainder of the voyage, as a reward for the good luck I
had brought them. The intended honour was appre
ciated, but the post mOst respectfully declined, as I was
fully satisfied with my turn as it came, without taking
from the others their share of this highly honourable
office. There were other duties pertaining to the sta
tion, besides drawing extra rations, without its perquisites,
which were, to keep in suitable condition our kitchen
utensils ; each one being accountable for the whole during
the day he was officiating ; when at the expiration of his
term, he must render an account of what he had in hand,
and give up both office and emoluments to his successor.
I have since heard much of rotation in office, but this
plan of our mess was the only one I ever saw work prac
tically well, for during our whole cruise, none who held
this highly trust-worthy station, ever embezzled, or re
tained it a moment longer than his legitimate term
required; probably, by our having no releasements by
bond, less chance of an escape abroad, with a dead cer
tainty of a lambasting following conviction, instanter.
From this time till our arrival in England, we had a
greater range of the deck, and were permitted to converse
more freely with the crew, than previous to receiving this
news, which not a little lightened our captivity the re
maining few days we were on ship-board. We also were
assured by the officers, that no sooner than reaching port,
we should be transferred to a cartel, and immediately
sent back to our homes, which we had but so lately left.
Our fare varied not, however, from what it had beea,

SAILING FOR ENGLAND. 241
except, in lieu of fresh beef, the bullocks being all slaugh
tered, we had our allowance in salt-junk, which we found
infinitely preferable to a bpiled marrow-bone, without salt.
We suffered much by thirst, not only by the scantiness
and putrid state of the water, but by the manner it was
dealt out to us — but once a day, and at a time, perhaps,
when many did npt require it.
We likewise suffered severely from the severity of the
weather, it being intensely cold, bringing with it sleet and
hail, for two or three days before reaching our port of des
tination. Still we did not mind it, as we were buoyed up
with the prospect of soon being on our return home, where
many of us now wished ourselves in safety. I, for one,
was no little disappointed at the prospect of thus suddenly
being sent back the same track, I had but so recently
come, wishing to see something of England, that I could
say hereafter, 'I had been abroad.' For this purpose I
asked my sociable lieutenant if it were not possible to get
permission to go on shpre and spend a few days after Our
arrival, previous to being sent again across the Atlantic.
He replied, 'very probably, but it will depend much upon
circumstances, and the respectability nf the parties making
the application.' I thought the chance was small of my
seeing aught of England ; and probably the mind of the
reflective reader has already subscribed to the same senti
ment, else I should go more fully into the sage cogitations
which brought mine about.

31 v.l

242

CHAP. XV.
ARRIVAL IN ENGLAND AND MARCHING TO PRISON-
The whcle pf the twenty-ninth pf January, we were
Within sight pf the white chalky cliffs ef England, but
with so boisterous a head-wind that we made but little
progress. The sight of these cliffs from our ship was
cheerless in the extreme, for no portion exhibited the least
indication of either fertility or life ; — nothing could be
discerned but the low white-covered shores of this angry
and troubled ocean, whose waves, by the fierceness of the
head wind that we were vainly contending against, were
tossing the ship about and baffling her crew in their every
exertion, in a way that showed but little chance of their
accomplishing their object; for as often as we stretched
towards the land after an hour's beating, sO often would
the wind balk all the trials made, and drift the vessel
apparently farther out to sea.
It was supposed that we should be enabled to reach the
harbour of Plymouth about two o'clock on the morning of
the thirtieth ; and more than once I feigned an excuse to
go on deck, for the purpose of seeing the entrance to this
far-famed naval station. But at twelve o'clock, the ship
was struck with a squall, and taken directly aback ; when,
in wareing round, she came very near being capsized with
the violence of the wind ; this obliged her to put out sea
ward for more room, and she ran before the gale several
hours, with a velocity much greater than she had pre
viously done, whilst endeavouring to gain the shore.
A midshipman, during this boisterous night, for some
misdemeanor, was compelled to take a two-hours' look-out
from the mast-head, as did the delinquent dandy on board
of our brig, some two nights before she was captured. I

ARRIVAL IN ENGLAND. 243
happened to go on deck just as his mast-heading service
ended, when he came down literally covered with icicles,
and so benumbed with the cold, as scarcely to be able to
speak. When morning came, the cliffs that we were viewing
the day before, were out of sight, with little indications of
our again seeing them for the day. However, the wind
chopped about till it came to a favourable quarter, when
all sail was crowded on the yards, that could be spread,
and shortly we were again within sight of land, which
appeared more and more cheerful to the eye of the
beholder, each hour as we drew nearer and nearer to it.
At ten o'clock, a. m. we came to anchor far up in the
harbour of Plymouth, having passed numerous vessels,
when running in, of every fashion and rig ; as well as
many forts and views which were not only picturesque,
but extremely interesting to those who never before had
seen the entrance to this romantic harbour.
I was much surprised at the sudden and great number
of boats, which were awaiting for the ship to anchor,
loaded to their gunwales with eatables and gew-gaws of
every description, to entice the hard-earned money from
the pockets of the sailors. Many of these bpats were
occupied by those who were prepared for traffic ; — long-
bearded Jews, woolly-mouthed christians, blarney-primed
Irish, burley-bellied English, and ^ skip-jack grinning
Frenchmen, were all eager to show off the good qualities
of their merchandise, and depreciate that of their neigh
bour, each with an earnestness, dialect, and grimace
peculiar to himself. But the greater portion of the boats
contained the wives and children of the seamen, who
came off to welcome again their husbands and fathers to
their homes. I could not account for this prepared recep
tion, till I was informed the ship had been telegraphed
early in the morning pf the day previpus, and that her
arrival was anticipated with certainty.

244 ARRIVAL IN ENGLAND
It being on Sunday that we arrived, the people from the
shore had a better opportunity of visiting the ship, than
they would have had on any other day in the week,
which accounted for the vast number of persons who
came off to see their friends, all claiming relations on
board, which procured them permission to enter with
freedom. I thought at one time, half the people of Eng
land had the largest share of their relatives in this vessel,
so numerously they appeared, and so constantly were they
going and coming this entire day of our arrival.
There was one man in the Pheasant, I think the captain
of the fore-top, who was as much esteemed by his ship
mates, as he was a general favourite among those who
came off from the shore ; for there was scarcely a boat
that had not a wife, a sister, or mother of his on board, of
all ages, from the gay, laughter-loving lass of sixteen, to
the staid matron of fifty. Nay, some were entirely
freighted and peopled with those pertaining to his family,
by far the greater part (children excepted) claiming him
to be their liege lord. Had he but the least portion of
these motley and bedizzened families to provide for, his
chance was small of becoming rich from the savings of
his monthly pay, or paying off the debt of his nation,
should he wish to be handed down to posterity as a public
benefactor. However, this bashaw in disposition and
enjoyments, knew where good living could be had, and
how to keep on the' fair-weather side of those who rioted
in abundance, if one be allowed the privilege of an
opinion, by the store of eatables each brought off for the
regaling of themselves whilst visiting the ship, and the
carte-blanche for free quarters he enjoyed with the whole
tropp day and night.
That sailors had a wife in each port they touched at,
I was aware, but this adding legions to the number, I was
not prepared to see, and only proved my ignprance in
these matters. But were all wives to provide as liberally

AND MARCHING TO PRISON. 245
as these did, it certainly is not so uncomfortable to have
them in abundance.
To show the number of females that flock to these men-
of-war, as they return to port, I will relate what a man has
since told me, who had served for seven years, as quarter
master on board of a seventy-four. At a time when in
harbour, he had the curiosity to ascertain the number of
women on board, and went round asking a pin from each,
with a request, should he call a second time to be refused.
He continued his gatherings till he had upwards of seven
hundred, and yet from none, did he take more than
one pin.
About an hour earlier than usual, on the morning after
our arrival, the prisoners were piped up, with the com
mand, as near as we cculd learn, from the deep growl pf
the boatswain, 'to bear-a-hand, and go ashore.'
'Ah!' said one, "we have found favour, and will go
ashore to see the city this morning, sp as to be back time
enough for dinner.'
'I would sooner take the dinner without going on- shore,
if it's all the same to the skipper; for I am sharp-set
enough now, to eat the head from a nine inch bolt withi
out spice or salt,' came from another.
'Hold on with your appetite, and you will be in better
trim to show your respects to the shore-grub that.you may
fall in with,' chimed in a third.
'A walk on land will give one an appetite, after the
cooping up we have had, beyond the means of satisfying
it, without the slight fasting of nineteen hours.' ; '
'For one, my appetite is sufficiently sharp as it is withi
out the walk.'
'And so is mine; for since yesterday I have tasted
nothing, but a thimble-full of pea-soup, not -enough to say
whether it was victuals or physic'
'Physic me into a figure-head, to lap cold spray, and
watch sharks making love to dolphins, but I waul&'ga
31* v.l

246 ARRIVAL IN ENGLAND
ashpre and list, rather than stay here lenger, in this dog's
hele we are forced to sleep in.'
'Aye, that would I too, Jack ; for here one breaks his
fast less often, than he does spme one of the ten command
ments, and at this rate, when shall we receive absolution ?'
'If fasting brings holiness, I have been free from sin,
since twelve of yesterday, for since then I have not broken
it ; but it's a severe way pi proving one's reformation.*
'Yes, I'm blessed if it is'nt, for I have tried it, and find
the cure worse than the ailment.'
'And,' said one who had not before sppken,' if I am not
blessedly mistaken, you will not break your fast again for
twenty-four hours yet to come, unless you take a slice
from your shpe heel ; for depend uppn it, this early geing1
ashpre before breakfast is served put, means nothing more
nor less than tramping to prison.'
So it proved ; for in less than thirty minutes after we
were called, the priseners were tumbling over the side of
the ship, bag and baggage, into a launch prepared for the
purpose. Each sixth man, as he passed the gangway, had
thrust into his hands or pockets, the mess' rations for the
day, of hard biscuit and a piece of raw salt beef, dripping
from the briny tub, out of which it was but just taken, and
transferred to us, who could make no use of it on our
march, in its uncooked state. This was all we had from
twelve o'clock the day previous till the day folfowing.
The distance from the anchorage to the landing,*as near
as I could judge, was" from two and a half to three miles,
and lay amidst the shipping of the port, the majority of
which were men-of-war of the first class. We passed some
of the largest forts of the harbour, as well as within full
view of Plymouth and its environs. We ran close by the
side of the late American frigate Essex, which was laid up
and dismantled, and saw distinctive marks of the unequal
contest, in which she was captured. We, likewise, passed
clpse under the stern of Lord Nelson's pne hundred and

AND MARCHING TO PRISON. 247
ten gun ship, Victory* on the deck of which he received
his mortal wound, during the battle of Trafalgar. Many
others were pointed out, whose names have become re
nowned in the history of naval warfare. The row was the
most interesting imaginable, and went far towards making
me forget that I was going to a dismal prison for an un
limited period. I was still buoyed up with the hope of
being shortly on a return to that home, from which, it
appeared I had been absent years, by the circumstances
.that had transpired since I had left it, only eight weeks
past. The ratification of the treaty of Ghent, which was there
signed the twenty-fourth of the month previous, (Decem
ber, 1814,) not yet being consummated, was the cause of
our detention, the board of admiralty not having altered
the order previously adopted, of sending 'all prisoners of
war to the Depot at Dartmoor, as soon as arriving from sea,
at a contiguous port.' So now I had a prospect of indulg
ing my curiosity of going ashore, but with a different pros
pect from what I expected, when asking the lieutenant's
advice, how permission could be obtained.
When landing, at Plymouth Dock, we found a company
of soldiers drawn up to receive us, and under whose escort
we were to march to prison. During the short delay, after
getting upon the wharf, I was highly amused at the by
standers, who were numerous, wondering that we were
Americans; many of them, no doubt, expecting to see
savages in their wildest nature, with tomahawks yet reek
ing with the blood of the many victims we had murdered,
scalped, and eaten; at least, their strange wonderment
could not otherwise be interpreted by me.
I observed a pair of worthies at the upper end of a
steep street, of a boprish make and appearance, whose
full flushed cheeks were made more red, by the rapid
pace they were running towards us ; said cheeks brought
into bolder relief by the sparse and scattering apologetic

248 ARRrVAL IN ENGLAND.
sun-bleached whiskers with which they were surrounded,
with dilated eyes, encircled by lashes of kin and texture
to their own porkers, with which they were more con
versant, than with mankind. The dress of these fel
lows was in perfect keeping with their persons — their
large fustian coats having in the skirts alone, material
enough for the entire garment, garnished with metal but
tons of dimensions commensurate with the breadth of said
skirts ; corduroy breeches, made full above, and tapered
to the knees, which they closely bound, showing to ad
vantage the coarse blue woollen stocking, covering their
paunched-shaped calves ; these again were hid in the
hob-nailed laced boots of the wearers. Both were capped
with pumpkin-crowned brimless hats, of light drab colour,
to match the hair they covered, which was sticking out
with sturdy stiffness, the moment it found vent from un
derneath the lower edge of the hat, forming a good sub
stitute for the brim, by the regularity of its diverging pro
pensity. Their well-fed rotund bellies were covered with
long waistcoats, (fashionable, no doubt, at the close of the
seventeenth century,) vieing in scarlet with the circular
faces before noticed.
As they came down the hill at a full gallop, each oc
cupying his full share of the paved portion of the street,
with his wide-spread legs and outstretched arms, I was
not at first sure they were not approaching in a hostile
manner, supposing th'ey might be the van of a detachment
yet to follow, to complete the charge these forerunners
bade fair to begin, with a rush and devotion that would
insure them promotion did they belong to the French
cuirassiers ; and, together with my fellow- prisoners, we
gathered within a closer compass, to receive with a firmer
front this menaced onset. However, we were happily
relieved from the deadly fear which began to pervade our
column, by their halting on its outer edge ; and, after
Staring with open mouths and goggle prqtruding eyes, for

AND MARCHING TO PRISON. 249
a moment, one said to the other, 'theys bees no more
sawages nor we bees, and can talk hinglish has wol has
wees, dusn't ye mind so, Jock ?'
Jock's response was lost upon the squad, of which I
formed a member, by the too early burst of laughter that
followed, much to my present disapppintment ; for, from
so merry a set, who were ever ready for a reply or a
joke on all subjects and occasions, something good might
be expected. But sheuld I put in an answer, and palm it
uppn any pne pf the crowd pf jpkers, it might mar the
rest pf the article, by making it appear as fictitious, a
circumstance I should exceedingly regret in having any
agency in bringing about. *
The morning was cold, thick, and lowering, with indi
cations of rain. I had determined in my own mind, when
landing, to walk, and if possible, to keep at the head of
the column ; although I was offered, on account of my
debilitated state, a ride upon the top of the baggage, with
three others, who had taken their places in the wagon,
being alike unwell with myself. But, no; I felt a re
newed vigour, when again standing on terra firma, and
was resolved to tough *it out, if for no other reason than
to let my shipmates see that I flagged not npr gave up at
any thing, enpugh pf them always standing ready with
their ridicule to launch their cutting jeers at the first poor
wight who gave up, however great the difficulties he
might be labouring under at the time. For this purpose
I had divested myself of a part of my tri-suits of cloth
ing, previously to my leaving the ship.
As soon as the commander of the detachment received
his final orders, we started off, without music, passing
through various streets, which were lined with spectators,
gazing in silence at our tatterdemalion column. We
were not spoken to by any, nor jeered at by the crowd ;
but, on the contrary, much cpmmiseratipn was manifested
by these tooking on, for the wp-wprn and unhappy spec-

250 ARRIVAL IN ENGLAND
tacle we must have exhibited to their sight, with out
filthy garments and wan faces, covered with beards of
seven weeks' growth. The windows of the buildings
lining the streets, were likewise filled with the inmates,
whose curiosity had brought them tp view the line ef
prispners wearily Wending their way te that strong-hpld,
the Depot at Dartmopr, therein to be confined for an
indefinite peried. '
We early found our walk was like to be an arduous
one, even should it npt rain before reaching our journey's
end ; for the mud was more than shoe deep, as soon as
we were beyond the paved streets of the city, except
occasionally as we cpuld pick pur way by the road-side.
The guard did net hinder us from strolling along as we
pleased, sp we kept the right course, and did not wander
without the road's enclesure. Little attention was paid to
us in any wise, only as individuals could be selected of a
social turn ; when such freely entered into conversation,
lightening the tediousness of the march, and lessening the
anxiety of one's mind, which otherwise would have been
brooding over the gloomy future.
The first run of clear water we came to, all, to a man,
pitched towards it, with the eagerness of overheated
cattle; many imitating the four-footed beasts of creation,
by getting down and thrusting their faces deep into the
crystal fluid, drinking with a relish and appetite propor
tionate to the length of time they had been debarred from
its use. I thought it the sweetest cordial I had ever
taken, and could scarcely be satisfied with leaving any
for my shipmates ; for, when passing any of the small
streams, which were numerous in the first five miles of
our march, I never omitted dipping in my tin cup, and
taking a hearty quaff of this, to me, nectar of life, till
ultimately feeling the bad effects of thus too often grati
fying my appetite, I was reluctantly forced to refrain
from any farther indulgence.

AND MARCHING Tp PRISPN. 251
We had npt been on our journey more than an hour
before it commenced raining, which ceased not for a mo
ment throughout the day, and was the more disagreeable
by the high wind that was blowing at the time, driving it
directly in our faces. This, together with the before
muddy roads, now much worse by the rain, made out
march a weary one indeed.
I had now an opportunity of looking about, for the pur
pose of seeing how our detachment was guarded ; when,
upon counting, I found we had for our escort, sixty-three
officers and privates, with bayonets and loaded muskets,
whilst we numbered but forty-six ; yet these forty-six con
tained more fun, frolic, mischief, or devilment (as it suits
one's fancy to name the ever overflowing spirits and jollity
of actions of the American seamen,) in their systems,
than all the regiments in the British service combined, if
the few Imet with were a fair sample of the whole. It
was not intended, at starting, to march us in line, in sec
tions, or in any other manner, than such as the fancy of
each chpse to take ; and the probability is, if the officers
had attempted to put us in marching shape, they weuld
have found out that they had undertaken a job beyond
their abilities to perform, pr wpuld have seen material
enough tp introduce an appendix to their present military
cede of tactics, and pf a character that wpuld have made
the efficers nf the old school stand more aghast than did
the often routed, phlegmatic generals, who scornfully
averred that Bonaparte was entitled to no credit for gain
ing his battles, differently than by studied rules, but
rather deserved to be court-martialed for departing from
established plans of long standing. We had not been an
hour on the road, before the straggling line occupied a full
half mile of the highway, and still manifested signs of
further lengthening, as much by design and cpntrariness
as necessity, or inability to keep up.
I entered into conversation with a corporal of the de-

252 ARRIVAL IN ENGLAND
tachment, and was much amused with the account of his
campaignings in the Peninsula, where his regiment, the
• twelfth, royal Irish,' had been nearly cut up and der
stroyed, having lost their standard; and most of their offi
cers. The remnant was now at home, recruiting their
numbers. His stories served much to beguile the ter
diousness of the march, and but for which I should, early
in the day, have been among the laggers at the tail end
of the detachment, that was still stretching out, notwith
standing the exertions the soldiers were making to keep
up the rear, as near to the front as possible. I will not
attempt to detail the corporal's or his comrades' wonder
ful exploits, lest my readers shall think I took all he said
as fact, and laugh at my gullibility : besides, they
smacked much of the romantic, a feature entirely foreign
to my province, or the work before the reader.
After I had marched about six miles, I found it almost
impossible to keep with the foremost ranks, from my ex
treme weakness. As my thick great-coat became soaked
with rain, it was too burdensome to wear, and I pulled it
off, for the purpose of lightening myself, intending to
throw it away ; but was persuaded to keep it, as I should
feel its loss when too late to remedy my error. This I
attempted three several times, and was as often prevailed
upon to resume it. I afterwards had reason to be thank
ful I had not parted with it, as, of my entire wardrobe,
this I found the most comfortable, when thrown over all,
during the continuance of those heavy fogs which pre
vailed most pf the time while I was in prison. As we
ascended a hill, I could see the line of our detachment
stretching far behind, with its rear a mile or mere from
the front, the red coats pf the soldiers mixed in with the
dark and motley dresses of the prisoners, making the
whele a sight, from our elevated prospect, worthy to be
seen, for its oddity alone.
The prisoners displayed a mischievous daring, or reck-

AND MARCHING TO PRISON. 253
less sang-froid, during the march, that none others but
American seamen could, have indulged in with impunity.
Many a one might be seen, when he could not prove to
the satisfaction of the guard his right to tarry, whilst the
detachment was proceeding on, and the spldier beceming
a little crusty with the pther's contrariness, throwing back
his jacket, as a preparatory measure for stripping, to make
plain his right to do as he pleased, by the good old pugi
listic argument of right and left boxing ; and if he had
not been humoured by the guard, he would have made
the first onset. This would not have been tolerated a
moment, by the rigidity of a South Boston discipline ;
and I greatly wondered to see such concessions, coming
from these red-coated veteran warriors. It seemed im
possible for these seamen to be , placed in any situation,
that wpuld cppI their mischievous natures ; but, on the
contrary, their frolicksome spirits appeared to gain strength
by the difficulties with which they were surrounded, and
under which, if possessing temperaments at all analogous
with those of the human family at large, it might be
supposed they would quail at the beginning.
The falling behind by many of the prisoners, was in
mere wantonness of mischief — as much to teaze the guard
as from an inability to keep up, or any other purpose ; and
to a looker-on, no little amusing, whilst often it was truly
laughable. One in conversation with a soldier at his side,
as the debate grows warm, all at once declares he can do
but one thing at a time — carrying on an argument and
walking was too much for him. and down he sits.
'Come, come, man — this won't do; you see others are
passing by, while you are loitering,' says the guard.
'Well, my skylark,' returns the loiterer, 'you're dodging
the subject — is this proof that a stab with a bayonet is
equal to a push with a boarding-pike, especially when
you happen to tip a fellow in the groin a couple or
three inches?' 22 v.l

254 ARRIVAL IN ENGLAND
'We have no time here to argue ; so you must up and
join the rest.'
' 'Must! you baboon in regimentals ; d'ye know my dad
tore the leaf from the dictionary, before he'd learn me to
read the word ? — must, indeed !'
'Well, well, have it your own way, so you don't stop
here, for the detachment has gone ahead already, and it
will take a brisk trot to come up with it.'
'Soldier, hearken to me a minute ; now for your impu
dent must — 'for letting out a word you don't mean to put
in force, work me into a ring-holt, for every one in the
dark to stub his toe against, if I budge an inch till you say
please.' 'Please — tramp ahead, and that with double quick time,
or I'll pink you for your daring sauciness.' All but the first
word of the soldier's sentence is lost upon the sailor, who is
on the road towards the detachment, kicking up his heels,
and throwing his arms' about in such a manner, to make
manifest his joy at having gained his end, that it is diffi
cult for an observer accurately to say, whether his legs are
not situated where the arms should be, or vice versa; or
whether his locomotive powers lies in his legs, his arms,
or equally distributed between the two pair.
Again, one stops by the road-side to take a drink from
the running stream ; and so very nice he has become all
at once, that he finds great difficulty in selecting a place
to kneel, without soiling his 'gcashore clothes.' All the
while the detachment is leaving him and his guard far
behind (none was allowed to tarry a moment in the rear,
without a soldier by his side ;) and now that he has se
lected a place to his liking, one would suppose he is desi
rous of laying in a stock of water against his next capture,
or that it is his intention to leave none for the next comers,
by the length of time it takes to satisfy his thirst. If the
guard was any wise impatient, showed anger, tried to
quicken his movements, or shorten the drinker's allowance

AND MARCHING TO PRISON. 255
by persuasions or threats, he was met with a ready answer
either in earnestness or banter.
'Hav'nt you water enough here in England, that you
begrudge a. popr fellew a sip, for the want of something
more christian-like to keep up his spirits ? or do you keep
it all aloft, to serve out, as the purser serves out his
slops — when' he can't help it — throwing them, upon the
good and the worthless, upon red-coats and blue-jackets,
alike, as though they belonged to one family.'
'You'd come in for a poor share, for you belong to no
family but the devil's own.'
'Why if you throw off such home-thrusts, your company
is worth having — so take a seat by my side, and we'll
have a drink to our better acquaintance.'
'You'll excuse me, I find it wet enough standing.
Gome, come, hear-a-hand.'
'Yes, it is wet enough. I wish whoever has the serving
out of this rain, he would make it banyan day till we can
find shelter ; for I will say as did our gunner when half-
corned, to his wife (who, by-the-by, was a little more hoW-
come-you-so, than her husband) when she filled his nog
gin with soap-suds, instead of the stiffner he had been
taking, 'top much of a good thing is nauseous ;' thinking
'twas his overloaded stomach, and not the change of the
drink, that had made him sick.'
Such jibes he would use, till the soldier was out of all
patience, when the prisoner would start ahead to bring up
with the detachment, which by this time was far onward —
running with all the speed he possessed, the guard follow-
ino- after as rapidly as his arms and accoutrements per
mitted him to do.
A third suddenly is seized with a violent cramp in his
leg, which barely enables him. to hobble to the first stone
by the road-side, whereon he seats himself, writhing and
twisting with the acute pain, which the spasm always
brings— frequently distorting his limbs to the pity of the

256 ARRIVAL IN ENGLAND
beholder; who, by the others having passed on, is none
but the guard. He, kind spul, is always willing to admi
nister to the relief of the afflicted, by chafing the now
crooked limb, and using such other remedies, as the one
in pain suggests, to ease his intolerable agony. When the
guard is at his busiest, striving to pull the cramped limb
straight, with an altered voice the sick man sings out,
' Avast heaving, soldier ! do you know whose leg you
are tugging at, as though you were at the weather main-
sheet with a squall coming on ?'
' Why, yours, to be sure, not mine.'
'By Beelzebub's high-heel monkey-jacket! one would
suppose such a pull was intended for ypur own benefit,
and not lost upon a stranger as it is upon me.'
'Why, ain't your leg crooked by the cramp ?'
' As much as is the barrel of your gun, by pointing it
the wrong way to harm an enemy. My leg? it's as
supple as the cook's elbow, when piped to scour knives,
as you shall see, provided you keep near enough in my
wake to see me at all; so, bear-a-hand, here goes, my
hearty,' and off he starts, after turning a couple of flip-
flaps, by the way of getting his propelling force under
way, displaying as much gladness that he has fooled the
red-coat, as though he has been piped to splice the main-
brace. Again is another taken with a serious cholic, quite
doubling him up with the violence of the attack, com
pelling the pepr feltow to halt, for another step he cannot
go, were they to run him through with their bayonets.
The seriousness of the attack makes it extremely doubtful
whether he can stand it long ; and as he has a few last
words to convey tp his relatives, his request is granted,
that his particular friend may, tarry a few moments, to
receive his last dying request, and convey it to his absent
relatives, with the addition of another soldier to the guard.
The sick man and his friend sit apart some ten or fifteen

AND MARCHING TO PRISON. 257
minutes, in a close and confidential conversation, unin
terrupted by their attendants, till the former suddenly
stretches back, appearing to be in his last death throes, in
which he exhibits a greater strength than his companion
can master, when the guard steps forward to assist in
holding the dying one from the mud, till 'he seems to re
vive from the fit he is in, and shortly is enabled to say,
'all that is wanting to complete the cure, is a sharp
exercise,' and leads off briskly, leaving the guard behind
to free themselves from i lashing of cord, that has been
attached to each, by the companion of the sick man,
whilst they were assisting to keep him from the mud.
The twp roasters arrive early enough to acquaint their
companions of the hoax put uppn the red-coats, and by
the time they come up, jekes enough are cencccted, and
dealt put to the guard's annoyance, to last till semething
new offers, which was seldom long. Were I to record
the half of what was said and done on the march, I
should swell this work to a third volume, which I intend
shall not be the case ; for who has ever read, since the
time of the Great Unknown, a work of three volumes ?
Throughout, we had a change of dishes in this way, and
as often as the most particular could desire, this mischief-
loving, roguish spirit never flagging for a moment, the
soldiers enjoying the raillery heaped upon their comrades,
as much as did the party with whom it originated.
The bead of, the column encountered a country gawky,
with his donkey and cart, in a narrow passage between
two abrupt banks, whose steepness was such as to prevent
his turning out. Those at the head of the detachment saw
this, and |hey were determined to turn it to mischief.
Had there been sufficient space for the cart and the head
of the column to pass each other, in the track of the road,
probably the fellew would have gone on his journey un
molested. Those who first met the man, donkey, and cart, said
22* v.]

258 ARRIVAL IN ENGLAND
they would pay all due respect to his majesty's two-legged
subjects, provided always they behaved themselves ; but
these four-legged craft they could not abide, and forthwith
formed a close band across the road, and came to a stand
still. The officer commanding the detachment, knowing
the peculiarities of the prisoners, having seen enough of
their doings to learn there was no evil in their intentions,
and understanding the true nature of the case to be
Frolick vs. Jackass, did not attempt to force on the
march, but fully enjoyed the scene that followed.
The prisoners declared the team should turn out. This
the owner was more than willing to do, if it were at all
practicable, and said as much, in as plain English as his
fear and thick tongue allowed him. To turn about and
retrace the road he had so lately come, he was also will
ing to try ; but this was putting a stranger to too much
trouble. The offer was made to assist the donkey to back
his cart up the bank ; and without waiting for the owner's
acquiescence, presuming upon his former readiness of fall
ing in with their every proposition, half a dozen laid hold
of the donkey and cart, and pushed them up the bank
some twenty feet, the cart uppermost, with the donkey's
head towards the line of prisoners, knowing it unmilitary
for him to stand 'tail end on,' while this respectable
body of warriors were passing in salute. The owner of
the donkey, or senior partner of the concern, stuck close
to his property ; and as the prisoners had no better prop to
secure the donkey and cart, or junior partner, from coming
headlong down the steep declivity, the moment they were
left to themselves, he was jammed in front of all, as a
chock to secure this dangerous slide from overwhelming
the line of our march.
Matters were in this state when I came up, for in spite
of my determination at starting, I had fallen considerably
behind from the foremost ranks, and a more laughable
sight I never beheld. The donkey was of the smallest

AND MARCHING TO PRISON. 259
breed, being not much taller than the largest kind of
Newfoundland dogs, with rough, shaggy hair, but with the
most placid countenance imaginable. The cart to which
he was harnessed, was of size, fashion, and in perfect
keeping with the moving power attached thereto. The
senior partner was a fresh, rosy-coloured bumpkin, dis
playing much of the John Bull rusticity, both in his robust
persen and singularity of dress ; — he was about fourteen
years of age, judging from the cpuntenance, but by bulk
and proportions at least forty, his waistcoat alone contain
ing the contents of two well-fed aldermen in the rotund
protuberance which it covered — and with a countenance
of as much stupidity as his junior's boasted of placidness.
This bulk of stupidity, in leathern breeches and red
hose, was supporting the firm under his charge by having
dug his heels deep into the dirt, and was bracing back
might and main — resting on the miry ground with his
broad seat, his back firmly fixed against the donkey's
breast and forelegs, who in like turn was bracing his por
tion against the goods and chattels of the firm ; but the
duty of the latter was a sinecure compared to that of the
senior in his front, always supposing judgment be based
upon the expression of countenance, or anxiety exhibited
in each of their looks, at the imaginary danger of a slide,
or pf cpming down with a rolling tumble to the road be
low. In plainer language, it was easily seen by the most
careless observer in such matters, that the junior relied
mostly, if not altogether upon his senior in trade for the
support of the house, by the careless indifference he dis
played with his half-shut eyes, as he rested his chin upon
the head of the prop beneath his front, lazily fanning the
rain drops from bis large paddling ears, upon the half-
up-turned face of his owner, thinking, no doubt, he was
doing an act of mercy, by cooling his blood-red heated
countenance, in the hard task he had to perform.
Not so did the senior take the probable downfall of his

260 ARRIVAL IN ENGLAND
house; for his rolling eyes, wide-stretched mouth, and
rigidly-strained nerves, explained to the lookers on the
anxiety he felt for the concern, to which he stood the
sole prop.
There was much consolation in store for this man in
trouble, each proffering it as he came up in a way he
supposed most acceptable to the partnership concern, to
himself, or to his comrades of the march. Many of the
prisoners manifested their philanthropy, by clambering up
the bank, and pushing the donkey and cart still higher
up, the owner willingly following inch by inch his re
treating phalanx', not allowing the donkey to be a step
behind in this unnatural, up-hill backing out ; but still he
showed a full, bold, andunyielding front to the line of his
adversaries. Tp comfort him in his high station, he was
hailed by those that came up, in the usual coarse jqking
in which seamen so freely indulge, whenever a subject
offers for their merriment ; and verily, the ludicrous situa
tion of this twain was enough to create laughter among a
crowd of anchorites, who were under a penance of seven
days fasting.
'At anchpr there, ahp-y! throw out another grapnel — >
you're on a soft bottom — look sharp or else you'll drag.'
'Wat Greely, which did you hail — there's two?'
'Why the one with the long ears, to be sure ; the other;.
jammed in to the bows, is only a spiked-on figure-head,
you gummy, can't ye see ?'
'She's not at anchor, but upon her stocks, Wat— you'd
better scale your own eyes before overhauling your neigh
bours.' 'You're right, Jerry — I must countermand orders.
Above, there ! hold on with the grapnel — knock away
your chock-block, and ye'll have a clean run — your ways.
are well slushed, with no danger of striking hard bottom.'
'It's not a craft,' said a third — 'it's a mushroom, the rain
has just sprouted up ; by the time we return it will be in,
blossom.'

AND MARCHING TO PRISON. 261
'As much of a mushroom, as you are a christian ; it's
one of the images they worship in these parts.'
'If bowing before unclean things be sinful, we are in
the land of heathens, for the idol is sunk to his bends
in yellow mud.'
'No, no, it's a time-piece setting in a bow-window — see
the face above, garnished with strange devices ?'
'Old Time, ahoy ! can you tell when it will clear up, if
it thus keeps on raining?'
'Or can you say when you're like to make a slide, for
I'll give you a wide berth ?'
'Yes, a jack's hide and bull's tripe, dished up in mud,
is a hash beyond my huckleberry.'
'You don't call that a hash, Joe — why, it's as clear as
grit, the fellow is in a tremendous stew.'
'Hash or stew, he's full of grit, as far as mud and
gravel go.'
'You're all wrong,' rejoined another, 'it's a concert, as I
¦hope to be pretty' by the time I'm ninety; — don't you see
the big drum in front, and the trombone player astern ?'
'That's a fact — give us a tune, old Tody, (hailing him
with a loud voice,) and I'll carry round the hat.'
'And keep what you collect — water drops.'
'Your drop will give the surgeon a job of cutting up.'
'Come, come, Gust, drop that subject, it's far-fetched.'
'It will be too near home when it is drop'd — within a
fathom of the landing.'
'These cutting jokes of yours are not more personal
than feeling.'
'I see they prove a home-thrust more probing than the
ticklish sensation they create, by your squirming.'
'I would retort to your air-dangling jibes, only they
have less understanding than keenness.'
'Give him another shot,' said a friend to the last speaker,
'slip into him, for it's a neck-and-nothing game, as he very
well knows.'

262 ARRIVAL IN ENGLAND
'It's a noose of his own toggling, easier slipped into
than out of, else he'd let it slip before this.'
'Darken my blinkers,- Gust, but your jaw-tackle is too
kinkified for me to overhaul with my shot wad of a
noddle, that has less metal than oakum ,in it.'
'Why, Dick, that fellow above there is a banker.'
'Yes, Harry ; but if he don't find it a slippery concern,
I'll accept of the first invitation to dinner that offers, if
it's only upon roast pig, puddings, pies, and other fixens
in such cases made and provided, eased off with a Ja
maica stiffener.'
'Slippery or not, he's well backed.'
'Back me into a mop-handle when the old woman is
belabouring her husband, before I'd be in his berth, for
all hands to jeer at J
'Jeering Jack! why d'ye stand there gaping; are ye
dumb at seeing y're uncle in so elevated a station ?'
This last question was put to one of the prisoners, who
had gained the above soubriquet by his propensity for
rigging ; but upon the present occasion he had not opened
his mouth since the scene began, although he looked on,
and evidently enjoyed the whole with much satisfaction.
He seemed to be roused by his comrade's inquiry, sud
denly leaped up the bank, seized the countryman's large
brimmed hat, placed it on the head of the donkey, made
it fast with a piece of spunyarn from his pocket, saying
in the attitude of a benediction, with his hands raised
above the head of the donkey, 'to thee be the crown,
'stead of this bloated clown, who here sits him down,
(and wonders if ever there's end to these tricks,) to rumi
nate well, in this rainy spell, how the devil to tell, he's
going to get out of this bloody bad fix.'
When they were worked as near the brow of the hill
as was practicable, lest nearer would enable the owner
to extricate himself and property from danger, and thus
spoil the intention of these worthy helpers of the needy

AND MARCHING TO PRISON. 263
and distressed, the man with his charge, was left to him
self, to muse upon the fickleness of human nature. The
last I saw of him was as above described ; he was still
braced back as a prop before his ass, waiting for some
wayfarer, who might be passing the road, to extricate him
from his predicament, of a more friendly nature, or of
less hoaxing propensity, than were those who first placed
him in jeopardy.
This one act of folly gained the prisoners a reputation,
with pur escort and their officers, that weeks of good con
duct could not have established ; and from this time we
had pretty much our own way of getting along, provided
it was not attended with contrariness.
When about nine miles from Plymouth, we came upon
a company of Derbyshire militia, who were ensconced
under the lee of a large rock, by the road-side, to screen
themselves from the pitiless storm of wind and rain,
which was driving fiercely across the extensive and bleak
plains we bad gained. This company were awaiting our
arrival, to relieve the one that had been our escort from
Plymouth ; and unlike our first, each was well and com
fortably wrapped in a dark mixed great-coat, with cape
or hood to turn the rain from his neck and shoulders.
The short delay, for the necessary manoeuvres, of the one
guard relieving the other, enabled me again to reach the
front ; only in time, however, to again march on, without
being allowed a moment to rest my lagging limbs, which
now, I was sensible, could not possibly hold out much .
longer ; for those at my side quickly left me, as likewise
did those who had been farther behind in the detachment,
pass by with ease, compared to my feeble and laboured
gait, although I exerted myself to the uttermost to
keep up.
I had fallen rearwards about a fourth of a mile, when
the head of the column reached the summit of a gra
dually rising hill, the base of which was far below where

264 , ARRIVAL IN ENGLAND
I was trudging. The ascent of the hill was so regular,-
and the road so straight, that I could plainly see both
the front and rear of the column of our motley detach
ment, as it was laggishly toiling up this long and weari
some rise ; and as near as I could judge, I was about in
the centre from the extreme ends.
As the head came to the brow of the hill, it met two
equestrians, one an old man, the other a sprightly female
of not more than eighteen or twenty years of age ; both
well mounted on young and spirited horses. The riders
had no. little difficulty at first, getting by the headmost
section of the escort, which had respectfully opened from
its centre, leaving an alley for them to pursue their jour
ney unmolested. Whilst the horses were prancing about
under the spur and lash, which were freely applied to
them, some one of the seamen more conversant with the
management of unruly steeds, than are the generality of
the profession, caught the old gentleman's nag by the tail,
gave him a jerk, with a slap and a kick, rounding off
with a regular 'heave-yo ! go ahead, my hearty,' loud
enough to be heard by those at a greater distance than
myself, accompanied with yells and shouts from such
others as wished to shpw pff, pr whp were desirous of
gaining favour with the fair one on horseback. The
whole combined had the desired effect of starting the
steeds ahead with their riders, the column opening as
they came pn, and the mischief-lcving spirit flying from
end to end of the detachment, infusing itself into many
whp at first deprecated all such npnsense, till few were
clear pf the cpntagton. Each pf the prispners, as did
many of the guard who could not withhold their mite,
strove to outdo his predecessors in exclamations, to facili
tate the old man and his charge on their journey.
By the time they had reached that part of the column
where I was standing, (a halt had taken place throughout
the line by tacit consent,) the horses had gained their

AND MARCHING TO PRISON. 265
greatest speed ; the young lady was a rod or two ahead
of her companion, sitting upon her horse with the ease and
grace of a trained trooper, seeming to care but little, ex
cept to keep her steed in the centre of the road. The old
man had dropped his reins, and in their stead, had formed
a coalition with his saddle pummel, clinching it with the
grasp of eternal friendship, as though through his long life
he had found all else worthless, and for the remaining few
days he could expect to spend here, he had determined
with religious tenacity, to rely, on that alone for security,
and with zealous phrenzy to stick to it to the end of his
involuntary and hasty ride. His cloak had disengaged
itself from his person, except that the clasp at the throat
still held on, allowing the skirts to flow far in the rear,
like a top-gallantsail in the sudden blast of the hurricane,
with the loss of all fastenings below. His hat had early
found it difficult to keep up with the race, abandoned all
claim to the prize, and bolted the track, leaving the old
man's tong gray hairs to float with the wind as they might.
As they were passing in their rapid flight, one near me
sang out —
'Holloa, old man ! if you don't keep your mouth shut,
you will take in more wind, than will serve for a West
India hurricane — throw out a kedge'to drag, till you can
stow away what you have already taken in, else you'll be
top-heavy, and capsize at the next coming about.'
'He ain't agoing to unship his figure-head before com
pany, is he ?'
'Well,' said another, 'I have heard pf one's being blown
with a race, without knowing its meaning till now ; and if
that old fellow is'nt puffed up like a bladder, when he gets
at his journey's end, it wen'.t be because he don't open his
fore-hatches wide enough to take all in that comes.'
'Yet, with all your friendly caution, he is gasping for
more.' 'If the old feltow's top blpck keeps cpening in this way,
23 v.l

266 ARRIVAL IN ENGLAND
by-and-bye the wind will take it aback, and he, will have
to speed on his journey without top-gearing enough to
keep him steady.'
'He may then make but one job of looking for his
figure-head and the, hat.'
'Set the one to search for the other, as they will be on
the same road, and all the better fitted to keep each others
company by long companionship.' ,
On they went, and were out of hearing of tiie wag's.
caution, before half uttered. Each one composing the
two lines at either side of the road, strove to do more than
his comrade in shouting, yelling, swinging or throwing
high his hat, turning summersets, jumping on his fellow-
traveller's back, or to display any other mischievous devil
ment his brain could devise upon the emergency, to faci
litate the riders' progress towards the completion of their
journey, or to make himself conspicuous in the eyes of his
companions. The speed of their horses did not slacken
while in sight, but was kept up with spirit, the lady still
having the lead, as they turned with the road, which hid
them from our sight.
This afforded subject for jest and merriment throughout
the line, no little enlivening the spirits of those who were
drooping with the tediousness of the march and the bur
then of their difficulties. Conversation continued till we
arrived at our halting place, twelve miles from Plymouth.
I fell within the hearing of a worthy trio, who were dis
cussing the merits and demerits of the two riders, which
diverted me for the time, and will here record the dia
logue, as it may likewise be diverting to the reader, if he
should happen to be in the like trouble under which I
was labouring — trudging a muddy road, soaked to the skin
with the driving rain — spiritless, wearied, debilitated with
sickness — and what relief can be expected at the journey's
end ? — a loathsome prison.
'I say, Billy, my boy, did you see the flash of her bright
eye as she passed us?' alluding to the pld man's ccmpanion.

AND MARCHING TO PRISON. 267
'Did I see it? why it was intended for me and none
else ; and had'nt I. dodg'd, (I thought she was coming it a
little too strong for a beginning,) you never would have
seen it, for it wpuld have lodged in my heart, where nes
tle many such, since this old hulk of mine was in a trim
to enjoy them.'
'Why, Billy, you must be smitten with either the girl's
looks or her riding, by the glowing feelings you display.'
'I'm charmed with both — flumbergasted for life ; for by
the hoky, she is a trimmer of a craft, worth lpoking at, and
none the worse for her ride or the company she last passed
through.' 'That is, if she is not capsized in broaching to.'
'Never fear that; for so trim built a cutter, must be a
daughter of a sailor, by the way she manages her tiller
ropes, always, supposing she is a daughter of any body;
but my plain opinion is, she is an angel, and fit company
for sailors only.'
'She must be a daughter of Old Grey-beard.' joined in
our third speaker, 'who was trying to keep in her wake.
Do you think, shipmate, he made any the faster headway,
by the manner he was jerking at the saddle ?'
'It's hard to tell whether he was using it as a tiller or a
scull ; but it's the way these soldier chaps ride, I suppose,
that hav'nt got the roll of the bark they are on ; — at the
awkward way he was working, I'd advise him to ship into
some other service, if he ever expects promotion.'
'He found it as hard work to cling to his horse, as the
horse found it difficult to keep up with the beauty. Did'nt
you see how steady her eye was kept on the head of the
clipper under her command, ready at a moment to tack or
ware, as the squall might strike her larboard or starboard ?'
'Do you think my eyes were playing bo-peep with the
gravel stones at my feet, or were on an exploration of
the man's gentility in the moon, by seeing whether he

268 ARRIVAL IN ENGLAND
chews pigtail or niggerhead ?' quickly interposed Bill, who
suffered no encomium on the fair one to be answered by
others, 'why they never winked, nor never will again as
before; for I'm blessed if her brightness has'nt cast a
glommary over 'em, that's not easy to get rid of. I did not
take my blinkers off her face, from the time she hove in
sight, till she up helm and crossed the old fellow's -bows,
at the bend of the road, which was done as' prettily as any
fancy skipper can do it in the States. As she eased off
her sheets, showed her broadside to the old fellow, while
crossing his fore-foot, I thought I was floating in the air, so
light was my heart ; for she done it handsomely, and in a
way that would have won a pair of epaulets to one in tight
pants, and eagle buttons; while the old chap went yawing
round, as though he was on an exploring expedition and
had lost his reckoning.'
'You booby, what do you know of land tacks and
human nature ? Had the old man brought up of a sud
den, it would have broken his horse's tail short off in the
shank ; but .by taking a sweep round, he had time to clue
in and gather it up, which he could not have done whilst
under full sail.'
'That's a fact; for as he passed us, it stuck out as
straight from his taffrail as the boom of a North River
sloop ; and I could not make out its use at the time, but
supposed it were some private signal.'
'It was a signal of going ahead at a rate I should not
like to travel, even with the company he had, to enliven
my trottings.'
'With her, a boat-hook, and a good pair of spurs,' re
joined Bill, with much fervour in his upturned devotional
look, 'I would mount the first shark we met, cruise
among strangers in the world to come, and let them see
what kind of craft we have to enliven us here upon
earth.' 'When you start on your jaunt, try to get where there

AND MARCHING TO PRISON. 269
is less mud ; for the old cock and his beauty has set this
flying about, till it don't know when to leave off, or how
to life still.'
'They took no small portion with themselves, which
improved their outer works as little as it induced them to
nptice us in the passing salute.'
'This bespattering is an earnest cf their acknewledg-
ment for the kindness shewn them, in lieu ef ducking
bows and paddling hands.'
'As much mud as they took, they have left enough
behind to serve for a six mpnths' cruise, with double
allowance on holidays.'
'This mud is like a true friend, for it sticks to one in
distress. May I be turned into a poker with two fires to
stir, if I ain't paid over three inches deep, with a chance
of another layer being added every half hour.'
'Why, at this rate, Frank, you'll soon be a landholder.'
'With a title indisputable ; for whoever attempts to
dispossess him of his rights, will surely get the worst
of it'
'Earth to earth is a, law of nature, and Frank is only
working it out in his own humble way.'
'But filth to rottenness is a compound defilement, as
uncomely as it is unscriptural.'
'I don't believe scriptural doctrines,' said Frank, as he
slipped flat to the road, 'when they say 'dust thou art,
and unto dust thou shalt return;' for here is proof posi
tive that it's only mud to mud, and a mucky concern
it is.' 'A pleasant snooze to you, Frank, but you show an
odd fancy in the choice of your bed.'
'Give me one of Pharoah's kneading-troughs, with no
other material than Egyptian bull-frogs, and if I can't
fashion a loaf more palatable to the taste than this proves
a comfortable bed, I'll turn christian, and risk the con
sequences.' 23* v.I

270 ARRIVAL IN ENGLAND
'It's difficult to say why legs were made;' said ane-
ther, 'arid mere difficult to know how to use them ; for
mine have been eut pf sight this lmur, by the way they
settle dpwn at each step.'
'I have been trying to learn how deep the mud is,
but I am not long enough by a fathom, to reach sound
ings.' 'You know nothing as to depth where you are ; but
here, I have got down to the third tier, with a pro
mise of more as I descend, without a ratline I can
cling to, should I come to the hole in a chimney-top of
the other world.'
' If you are on your downward slope, say we can't
come, till we try the good qualities of yon tavern just
hpve in sight, which we have been trying to make put
through the fog the last half hour.' This was the 'half
way house,' as termed, although we had travelled twelve
miles of the seventeen, to come up with it.
The detachment had permission to halt, till the rear
clesed up to the front, which was about thirty or forty
minutes. Not more than two at a time were allowed to
enter the hotelK and they could tarry but a short time,
when they had to give place to others in waiting, which
gave all an opportunity of buying some little refresh
ment, who had the means of paying for it. So weary
and tired were most of the prisoners, that they sat imme
diately down as they were halted, without even seeking a
stone or a bank, to keep themselves from the mud be
neath. More wet we could not be, and but little more
mud could be added to pur already well besmeared per
sons ; still, thus sitting Upon the miry and cold ground,
after our toilsome march, had the most serious effect upon
our limbs, as we soon learned when again taking up the
line, of march.
I sat upon a bank as high as I could get from the un
derneath rivulets, (the fountains from above could not

AND MARCHING TO PRISON. 271
be evaded,) and I had probably been sitting fifteen
minutes, when the captain of our brig came up with the
others, whp had fallen in the rear. I never saw se de
jected a picture exhibited in living form, as he presented.
In him was seen wretchedness and despair personified.
His distress was not only bodily, but his mental woes far
exceeded the former. As he came draggling through the
mud, his garments dripping from every part with the
continued rain, he stopped nearlyin my front ; and while
he was slowly turning his eyes upon the surrounding
group of misery and wretchedness, as I thought, to look
for a seat on which he could rest himself, I made a slight
move, indicating that he might share mine ; he again
turned his gloomy gaze upon the prisoners, many of whom
had squatted directly in the road, wherein they had
halted, regardless pf the mud and water beneath them,
and in the agony pf his soul, as being the cause of so
much wretchedness, exclaimed, 'God of mercy, what
have I done!' and he burst into tears. No one spoke
a word for some minutes — each seemed to be entirely
absorbed with his own wretched condition.
When the rear joined the front, we were ordered to
proceed. As I had had a reasonable time for rest, I was
now determined to take the lead dnd keep it,- in spite of
the lagging propensities that had before so unaccountably
crept over me. But on rising, I was astonished at the
stiffness of my limbs ; for it was such as barely enabling
me to put one foot before the other ; all feeling seemed
to have left me, from my hips downwards. This was
attended with not the slightest pain, however, which
encouraged me to believe, that with a little walking it
would wear off, or sensation would return with exercise,
and so I trudged on as best I could, but was shortly tj^e
hindmost of the line.
I kept along, till we came to the foot of a ', mountain,"
as it was termed, of about one mile in ascent, and had

272 ARRIVAL IN ENGLAND
proceeded about a fourth of the distance towards its
summit, when the officer cpmmanding the detachment
came to me a second time, (the first was soon after start
ing,) saying, ' from the time we get to the top of the
hill, till we reach the prispns, there is net a habitatipn of
any kind, and the upper portion of the road is covered
with snow more than a foot in depth, made worse to
travel through by the rain; and in your present state,
you can never pass the heath at the top, and will as
surely perish, as you persist in proceeding on foot. It is
not yet too late for you to return to the tavern and await
the baggage wagons, which will take you on with com
fort, compared to the walk you are attempting.'
This he had before told me, when the line was set in
motion, as soon as he saw the stiffness of my joints. As
there were four others knocked up, who had not mani
fested any intention of starting from our resting place, I
had less fear of being rigged for giving out, or rather I
supposed the rigging would be divided equally between
the whole of us, so I turned about and was marched back
to the tavern between a file of his majesty's 'regulars,'
armed to the teeth, with as much wariness as though I
had been the military chest, and in a hbstile country ;
when, at the same time, had they given me my liberty,
I could not have clambered beyond the hedge at the
road-side. I will endeavour to describe the inn to which I was
taken, as we have heard much of the superior comforts of
the English country taverns ; and as this is the 'half-way
house, between Plymouth and Dartmoor,' as well as on the
road to Tavistock, a borough town of Derbyshire, it is to
be presumed, that it is a fair sample of others, situated no
further in the interier.
The hpuse was ef irregular stone masonry, nearly square,
two stories in height. The whple pf the inside first story
was thrown into pne apartment, except a partitien dividing

AND MARCHING TO PRISON. 273
a small passage from the room for a stairway which led to
the second story. This one room was 'floored' with com
mon flag-stones in their roughest state, not jointed or ham
mered, as cpuld be seen by the irregular seams pf dirt
between them, and the numerous puddles of water which
lay in their hollows. This apartment was occupied as the
bar-room, kitchen, sitting-room; coal-house, shelter for the
harness of the working cattle, farming utensils, and the
like ; the latter thrown into a pile in as negligent a man
ner as carelessness could do it. The wayfarers, family,
gppds, chattels, and hprse furniture, all received the light
of heaven from a windpw formed by six panes of the
smallest sized glass.
The landlady was a blowsy, red-faced woman of forty,
such as the English people love to boast of, when going
principally for bulk. She had done well towards keeping
good the number of his majesty's subjects, by raising a
number beyond count, of her own likeness, both as to
floridness of complexion, profusion of fat, unintelligible
articulation, and superabundance of dirt, which had loca-
ted with adhesive tenacity to their garments and persons.
These were luxuriating upon the benches, chests, or what
ever else they could crawl upon, to be 'hout of 'arm's way
of the poodles of 'ater in the flure,' as per the language of
their mother.
I was speedily seated upon a bench with my jaded and
invalid comrades, before a coal fire, which was already
raising a fog from their wet clothes, by its cheerful heat.
The corppral pf the squad, left to guard us, took a seat by
my side, and soon entered into conversation — inquired
much about the United States, saying, he intended to
make it his home, should he effect a discharge, which
he was then drying to obtain, and not without hopes of
success. For this purpose, he had let no work escape
him, by which he could obtain any information as to
localities of states and cities, difference of climates, em-

274 ARRIVAL IN ENGLAND
plpyments, or whatever else might be of any service to
him, should he be so fortunate as to reach there.
I felt much interested with this man's views', and sopn
found his knowledge of the United States, was far more ex
tensive than my own ; and I strove to hide my ignorance,
either by convincing him of his error, or confidently say
ing, such a place lay sp-and-so, when, at the same time, I
was not certain that I had ever heard of it before. I had
reason to be ashamed both of my former readings and my
memory — that I could not hold a conversation with a
common soldier of the English infantry, who, we had been
taught to believe, were but a pace removed from the brute
creation. The corporal startled me not a little, by the frightful
picture he represented of the ravages the small-pox was
making in the prisons I was on the way to join — saying,
upwards of three hundred had died since the disease had
first broken out, and that but few recovered from its ma
lignancy, owing either to the virulence of the malady, or
the bad treatment of those attacked. He likewise cau
tioned me how to take care of myself the first week in
prison, or till I became acclimated to the fogs of the heath
and the damp atmosphere of the stone buildings. He said
he had known many, since his duty had placed him there;
who, being similarly situated like myself— suffering with a
severe cough and debility of person, did not stand it a
week after their arrival, by the carelessness of exposing
themselves to the heavy and constant fogs with which the
district was visited at the present season of the year ; or
by camping down upon the floors of the prisons, till they
could find convenient places to swing their hammocks,
many had contracted a disease of the chest, which sopn
carried them eff. »
I asked the landlady if she cpuld give us any kind pf
refreshment, when she answered —
'Ye can 'ave a rasher p' beekpn an' a ppt o' beer, hif
ye 'ave th' mounee.'

AND MARCHING TO PRISON. 275.
I showed that I had the needful, by exhibiting an Ame
rican eagle half dollar, the only kind of change I had taken
with me, except the pistareens, which were so judiciously
employed in the orange speculation at Fayal ; but she
shook her head knowingly at the worthless coin, saying —
'Ah, noo, noo, my lad ; ye can't kum it — I'se seed th'
tricks afore. t' day — it's noo ezee to get th' beer agin when
oonce in ye'r paunch,' she suppesing the cpin to be base.
The worthy cprporal paid for a couple of slices of ham,
and a pot of beer, which, together with my portion of hard
biscuit I had received in the morning, was extremely
refreshing to one in my situation, not having eaten for
more than twenty-four hours. I only regretted there was
not enough to go round among my comrades in adversity,
who had not ingratiated themselves with those of as kind
and s philanthropic feelings, as my worthy corporal pos
sessed ; for he had thus freely expended upon an entire
stranger, the best part of his week's pay, without the
possibility of its being returned, or the least probability of
ever again meeting the more than half-famished prisoner,
to whom he had extended the hand of friendship, and (for
one in his situation,) had most lavishly fed.
When the wagons came up, the drivers said they had
their weight according to contract, and they would not
take a pound more, 'hif hall the lazy devils (meaning us)
should perish hin her lump — hit's 'ard henuf to carry their
filthy baggage, let halone their rotten carcasses.' But they
had a sturdy fellow in the corporal to deal with, and one,
by his coolness of managing such contrariness as the
wagoners exhibited, not easily got by. The corporal
could not only out-bluster them with slang, but he could
show" by authority he was acting aright.
'Out upon ye, ye hounds,' said he, 'you shall carry
them and give up your seats to them, likewise, and trudge
yourselves by your horses' bridles to the end of the jour-
Hey— company too good for such inhuman stable-stained

276 ARRIVAL IN ENGLAND
«
brutes as you are ; — if you dare demur, there is a sectipn
of the law, which sets forth certain penalties, for the
benefit ef drivers who leave their horses' heads upon the
king's highway, as you can see by reference to a small
memorandum book in my possession, and which never
fails setting things as they should be.'
One of the wagoners was still surly, and attempted to
drive on without his portion of the prisoners, when his
horses were seized, as was himself by the corporal and
two of his men, and, while the scuffle was going on, I too
was seized by others of the soldiers, and pitched on top
of tile wagon-load of baggage, with as little ceremony as
though I had been a bag of grain. When the corporal
saw 'all was loaded,' he sang out good naturedly, 'all
right! (altering his voice to military firmness,) men, to
your places!' — seized his musket, presented it towards
the driver, and with a voice pf cpmmand, said,
'Drive on without delay to the Depot at Dartmoor — you
are already half an hour behind your time — yOu know the
consequence.' Whether there were cabalistic meaning in the corporal's
words, or a desire on the part of the wagoner to drop fur
ther strife, I know not, but I thought the pointed argument
at the muzzle of the musket, was the principal agent in
causing the driver to whip up without another word.
We had not proceeded far, before the corporal and his
fellow-guardsman, found it difficult to keep pace with the
wagoner's driving ; for it appeared he was determined to
make up for the half hour he had lost, and come in at the
end of his journey, with the balance on the other side, at
the expense of blowing his horses, and testing the speed
and bottom of the corporal and his guard, to whom he
owed no small grudge, as his surly face plainly told, when
ever, for a moment it was turned rearwards. The soldiers
early after starting, deposited their muskets by my side,
jocosely saying, 1 did not look, as though I intended to

AND MARCHING TO PRISON. 277
«
'rise and take the baggage and reserve.' Their muskets
were soon followed by their great-coats, in which I was
snugly wrapped by their generous owners, who said, to
themselves, (whilst the wagoner kept up his furious driv
ing,) they were a burthen, but te me they wpuld prove a
comfort. And thus I rode the whole of the five miles,
although fully exposed to the pelting rain, still I was
cheered on by the light and rattling talk of these kind-
hearted fellows. This no little lessened the agony of
mind under which I was suffering.
As I lay upon the baggage in the wagon, reflecting
upon the past, the present, and the future, my mind fast
partaking of the scene around me, where was naught but
rugged roughness in the face of the hill we were cross
ing, and a fierce whistling and deep moaning of the storm,
with a melancholy darkness pervading the atmosphere,
I saw the corporal pull the watch from his pocket, and I
asked him the time.
'Four o'clock, precisely.'
It instantly occurred to me, that eight weeks previous,
as I was on the way to join the brig, a neighbouring bell
struck that hour ; and so vividly was it brought to my
mind, I could but believe the sounds of the bell were
yet faintly booming. As my thoughts wandered thither,
tracing the intermediate eight weeks of difficulties
through which I had passed up to the present time, with
the uncertain future before me, I compressed my eye
lids with desperation, striving to shut out the hprrid
reality, pnly to have it the more vividly portrayed to my
inner mind, by not being detracted by surrounding ob
jects. On arriving at Princeton, within half a mile of the De
pot, a halt was called, for the soldiers to resume their
arms, and appear a little more in military array. At the
expense of the steward's purse, as a loan till the morrow,
which contained money of a stamp that was known, I
24 v.l

278 ARRIVAL IN ENGLAND.
procured a pint of Jamaica spirits for the soldiers to toast
us a farewell, the first and only drop of spirituous liquor
I tasted while in the fast-anchored isle.
We proceeded on, and entered the outer gates of the
prisons, just at dusk, the rain still pouring down in tor
rents, and the fog so dense as to make it imppssible to
discern any object at a distance pf twenty feet, while the
wind was blewing with the viplence ef a tornado.
With the turbulence of the storm, the murkiness of the
atmosphere, together with my debility and glopmy som-
breness, unavoidably forced upon me by cpmbining cir
cumstances, I could not but believe it was a forebpding pf
cpming miseries, beypnd a desire to knpw. And npw, in
after life, while running pver in my mind the sickening
desppndency, that ageny nf the spul, with which my mind
was sp heavily depressed on entering the prisons — that
heart-bursting horror, whose very memory curdles the
imagination while seeking a comparison, and leaves the
sentence but half expressed — I know not what sustained
me, except Him, who ever tempers the wind to the
strength of the shorn lamb that encounters it.

END OF VOL. I.