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diff --git a/old/63273-0.txt b/old/63273-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index a93351e..0000000 --- a/old/63273-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,7637 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Thirty Years from Home, by Samuel Leech - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Thirty Years from Home - or, a voice from the main deck, being the experience of Samuel Leech - -Author: Samuel Leech - -Release Date: September 23, 2020 [EBook #63273] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THIRTY YEARS FROM HOME *** - - - - -Produced by MWS, John Campbell and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) - - - - - - - - - - TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE - - Italic text is denoted by _underscores_. - - Footnote anchors are denoted by [number], and the footnotes have been - placed at the end of the book. - - A superscript is denoted by ^x or ^{xx}, for example ESQ^R. - - The warship USS _Syren_ is referred to as _Siren_ throughout the - book (except for the title page); this has not been changed. - - Some minor changes to the text are noted at the end of the book. - - - - - THE - - MAGAZINE OF HISTORY - - WITH - - NOTES AND QUERIES - - Extra Number--No. 9 - - - COMPRISING - - - THIRTY YEARS FROM HOME, OR A VOICE - FROM THE MAIN DECK: BEING THE - EXPERIENCE OF SAMUEL LEECH. - - - WILLIAM ABBATT - EAST 25th STREET, ⁂ ⁂ NEW YORK - 1909 - - - - -[Illustration: THIS REPRESENTATION OF THE U. S. FRIGATE UNITED -STATES, STEPHEN DECATUR ESQ^R COMMANDER, CAPTURING HIS BRITANNIC -MAJESTY’S FRIGATE MACEDONIAN, JOHN S. CARDEN ESQ^R COMMANDER - -_Is respectfully inscribed to Captain Stephen Decatur his Officers -and Gallant Crew by their devoted humble Servant_ - - James Webster.] - - - - - THIRTY YEARS FROM HOME - - OR - - A VOICE FROM THE - MAIN DECK - - - BEING THE EXPERIENCE OF - - SAMUEL LEECH - - WHO WAS FOR SIX YEARS IN THE BRITISH AND AMERICAN - NAVIES: WAS CAPTURED IN THE BRITISH FRIGATE _MACEDONIAN_: - AFTERWARDS ENTERED THE AMERICAN NAVY, - AND WAS TAKEN IN THE UNITED STATES BRIG _SYREN_, BY - THE BRITISH SHIP _MEDWAY_ :: :: :: :: - - - BOSTON - PUBLISHED BY TAPPAN & DENNET - 114 WASHINGTON STREET - 1843 - - - NEW YORK - Reprinted - WILLIAM ABBATT - 1909 - - (Being Extra No. 9 of THE MAGAZINE OF HISTORY with Notes and Queries) - - - - - PREFACE - - -I have often been solicited, by my personal friends, to commit the -incidents of my life to paper. It was thought that they contained -sufficient interest to command public attention. At any rate, there -is a novelty in the fact of an unlettered sailor’s appearance before -the public, detailing the secrets of the naval Main Deck. The Quarter -Deck has long and often told its own story, and has given its own -coloring to naval life. Here, however, is a voice from the main deck, -revealing life in a man of war as it appears to the sailor himself. -As such, this work has some claim on the attention of the public. - -I have endeavored to state facts as they were when I was a sailor, -and in the ships to which I belonged. My object is to give a true -picture. That, I have done, as far as a remarkably strong memory -enabled me. I kept no journals, and consequently some slight mistakes -in names, dates and places, may be found in my book; but I have been -careful to state nothing as _facts_, of which I was not certain. - -That the naval service has improved since I belonged to it, is, I -believe, universally admitted. I rejoice at it. Still, it is not yet -what it should be. If this work should, in any degree, stir up the -public mind to amend the condition of seamen, I shall feel gratified, -and fully repaid for the labor of placing these facts on record. - -With many prayers that the perusal of these pages may do good, I -leave the reader to pursue his way along the track of my experience: -assuring him, that what may afford him pleasure to read, has cost me -much pain to suffer. - - SAMUEL LEECH. - - - - - RECOMMENDATIONS - - - _From the Hon. Erastus Corning._ - - - ALBANY, N. Y., December 3, 1842. - - TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: - - I have known and have had intercourse with Mr. Samuel Leech, for - the last twenty years, and have always found him honorable in his - dealings, and consider him entitled to the confidence of the public - as a man of strict integrity. - - ERASTUS CORNING. - - - The undersigned, being acquainted with Mr. Samuel Leech, the author - of the following work, do cheerfully vouch for his moral and - Christian character; and assure the public, that the interesting - volume, which he here presents to the world, may be relied upon as - an honest statement of facts, with which the writer was personally - conversant; and as having no fellowship whatever with those - fictitious tales of the sea, which, under the garb and professions - of truth, have been proffered to the reading community. - - CHARLES ADAMS, - _Principal Wes. Academy._ - - JOHN BOWERS, - _Pastor Cong. Church, Wilbraham, Mass._ - - WILBRAHAM, May 4, 1843. - - DAVID PATTEN, - _Pastor, Providence, R. I._ - - REUBEN RANSOM, - _Presiding Elder, Springfield Dis. N. E. C._ - - HENRY CHASE, - _Preacher to Seamen, N. Y._ - - - - - PREFACE - - -Narratives of service, a century ago, written by private soldiers, -are rare, but such by common sailors are almost unknown. - -Samuel Leech’s narrative “Thirty Years from Home, a voice from -the Main-Deck” is a unique book, and now scarce. It is a valuable -contribution to our history, giving a sailor’s experience in both -British and American navies, and being the sole account by a British -seaman of the capture of the _Macedonian_ by the _United States_, in -1812. - -The revelations he makes of the cruel treatment of their men by -British naval officers are unfortunately matched by the similar -account of life on the same frigate _United States_, then under -command of “_Captain Claret_” in 1843-44, given by Herman Melville -in his remarkable book “White Jacket, or the World in a Man of War.” -Though he is writing of an era thirty years later than Leech’s, the -picture is equally distressing. - -Leech also gives almost as bad a character to Captain David Porter -(father of the late Admiral David D. Porter) as to the British -tyrants. - -It should be recorded in this connection, that flogging was abolished -in the United States navy in 1851, through the efforts of Commodore -Robert P. Stockton. - -The book has never been reprinted before since its original -appearance (1843.) - - EDITOR. - - --The late Rear Admiral S. R. Franklin (_Memories of a Rear - Admiral_, 1898), who was midshipman on the _United States_ when - Herman Melville was of the crew, says _Captain Claret_ was Captain - James Armstrong, and the _Commodore_ Thomas Ap Catesby Jones. He - adds: “Melville’s _White Jacket_ had more influence in abolishing - corporal punishment in the Navy than anything else. A copy of it - was placed on the desk of every member of Congress, and was a most - eloquent appeal to the humane sentiment of the country.” - - - - - A VOICE FROM THE MAIN DECK - - - - - CHAPTER I - - -Were it not that the most common of all inquiries, respecting every -man who comes before the public, is, “who is he? whence did he -proceed? who were his parents?” &c., I would not detain the reader -with any account of my humble ancestors and their circumstances. -But, since men naturally expect this information, and would hence -consider my narrative imperfect without it, I shall take the liberty -to introduce them. - -My father’s occupation was that of _valet de chambre_ to Lord William -Fitzroy, son of the Duke of Grafton. My recollections concerning him -are few and indistinct, as he died while I was yet scarcely three -years old. One little incident alone reminds me of wearing a mourning -dress as a memento of sorrow for his death. Returning from the parish -church in Walthamstow, I observed the larger boys amusing themselves -by swinging across the rails of the fences; endeavoring to join in -their amusement, my hands slipped, and falling into a muddy ditch, I -nearly finished my course, ere it was well begun, by a violent death. -A benevolent stranger, however, rescued me, and once safe, my grief -for the sad condition of my little black frock was excessive and -inconsolable. A trifling cause for sorrow, to be sure, yet men and -women often grieve for causes equally contemptible. - -Although my personal remembrances of my father’s death are so -indistinct, yet the frequent mention made of him by my mother, has -left the pleasing impression on my mind that he died a Christian. “I -have thought of my numerous sins, but God has forgiven them all. Be -not troubled, for the Lord will provide for you and your children. -You need not fear to leave me, for I am not alone; God is with me, -though you are out of the room,” were among his dying expressions; -when, after fourteen months endurance of the pains which accompany a -slow consumption, he approached “that bourne from which no traveller -returns.” I expect to find my honored father in heaven. - -Wanstead, in Essex, about seven miles from the great metropolis -of England, was the town, and 1798 the year, of my birth. Were it -necessary to designate the place more particularly, it might be said -that the part of Wanstead where I first struggled into being, was -called Nightingale Place; a most musical name, conferred in honor of -the nightingales which abounded in the vicinity. - -Two years subsequently to my father’s demise, my mother became an -inmate of the family of Lady Francis Spencer, daughter of the Duke of -Grafton, and wife of Lord Spencer. As a consequence of this event, -I was deprived of a mother’s care and consigned to the charge of my -aunt Turner, whose family amounted to the very respectable number -of twenty-two sons and two daughters. The transfer of a child from -the care of its parent to that of another person, may appear, at -first sight, to be a very unimportant incident; but trifling as it -seems, it often exerts an influence which very materially changes -the destiny of the child: it was so in my case. Most of my cousins -were sailors, and some of them were constantly returning home, -bringing, with true sailors’ munificence, the pleasing and curious -productions of distant climes as presents to their parents and -friends; then, seated round the bright hearth-side, they used to tell -of wild adventures and hair-breadth escapes, spinning out the winter -evening’s tale to the infinite delight of their willing listeners. -Poor fellows! three of them died at sea; two more, John and Richard, -perished in the ill-fated _Blenheim_, a seventy-four gun ship of the -British navy, which went down off the Cape of Good Hope, with seven -hundred as brave men on board as ever trod a plank. Notwithstanding -these sad recollections, and though none perceived it, my three -years’ residence among these “sailors bold” decided the nature of my -future calling; it captivated my imagination and begat a curiosity, -which ultimately led me to make my “home upon the bounding deep.” - -An orphan is ever exposed to changes. The loss of either parent -calls for a degree of sympathy and kindness from others, which -they are rarely willing to expend except on their own. Such is the -almost universal selfishness of human nature. My experience affords -a verification of the truthfulness of the remark. For some cause or -other, it became inconvenient for me to remain with my kind aunt -Turner, and my next home was with a widowed aunt, at Wanstead, where -I did not meet with the same kindness of treatment. The breaking of -a cup, or any of the thousand-and-one offences found in the list of -juvenile defects, was sure to bring upon me the infliction of the -rod; and, what was equally painful, my most economical aunt exacted -the full payment for all these losses from the little pocket money -I obtained by holding a horse, running errands, or as new-year and -Christmas presents; thus gratifying her temper and her covetousness -at once, besides embittering, to some extent, the boyish hours of my -unfortunate self. - -There is no evil in the management of children to be more deprecated -than that species of treatment which tends to destroy their -happiness. Correction for obvious faults, in a proper manner, is -essential to their proper moral training; but a habit of incessantly -scolding them for every little accident or offence, only serves to -excite the growth of evil passions and to make them dislike their -home; things to be avoided as much as Scylla and Charybdis by the -careful mariner. The influence of such mal-treatment follows the -child through life, like an evil genius, materially affecting his -views of life and the temper of his mind. For aught that now occurs -to me, but for this unkindness, my early predilection for the sea -would have died within me; while, as it was, I panted to enjoy -the freedom my fancy painted in its pictures of sailor life. To -add to my sorrows, my mother removed my sister, who had been my -cheerful companion and true friend, to a lady’s school at Woodstock, -in Oxfordshire, for the twofold purpose of affording her greater -literary advantages, and of being able to see her more frequently. - -Several incidents occurred during my abode here, which tended to -increase my growing desire. A smart, active sailor, over six feet -in height, and well-proportioned, one day presented himself at my -aunt’s door. He told us he had been to America, where he had seen a -young man named George Turner, who was her nephew and my cousin. He -proceeded to tell many fine stories about him, and at last inquired -if she should not like to see him, and if she should know him. - -“I don’t know as I should,” said my aunt, “he has been away so long.” - -“Well, then,” replied he, “I am George Turner!” - -This fine, bold seaman, then, was my own cousin, son to my aunt -Turner; he had been eleven years at sea, and, after visiting his -parents, took this method of surprising his aunt. Most likely he -has made this adventure the subject of many a forecastle yarn since -then. While he remained he was so jolly, so liberal, and so full of -pleasant stories, that I began to feel quite sure that sailors were -noble fellows. - -We were also favored with a visit from an uncle, then visiting Europe -from the West Indies. He was one of two brothers, who were educated -at Greenwich for the navy. One of them had entered the British navy, -and by dint of merit and hard service rose to the possession of a -commission in the service, but ultimately perished at sea. This one -had chosen the merchant service, but afterwards settled at Antigua. -He took me with him to London, and carried me over the West India -docks; he being well acquainted with many of the captains, they -treated me with playful attention, inquiring if I did not wish to -be a cabin-boy, and the like. When I returned to Wanstead, it was -with a stronger desire than ever to be a sailor. My uncle went to -Trinidad, and died shortly after. - -A very pleasant piece of intelligence greeted me soon after these -incidents; it was nothing less than my removal from the care of my -unkind aunt to the roof of my mother. Weary of her widowhood, she -had again become a wife. My new parent was a widower with one son; a -carpenter by occupation, in the employ of the Duke of Marlborough. -Great was my joy when this fact was communicated to my young mind. I -hailed it as a deliverance from bondage, and with beaming eyes and -cheerful face hurried to bid adieu to my classmates in the day and -in the Sunday school--a sad proof of the unfitness of my aunt for -her task; since a child properly treated, will love its _home_ too -well to quit it without a tear; and if parents and guardians wish to -prevent their children from being wanderers and stragglers through -the wide world, let me bid them exert the utmost effort to make their -home pleasant. Throw a charm round it, make it enchanted ground, -cause it to become, in the language of a living poet, - - “The fairy ring of bliss” - -and then your children will love it too well to wander. - -But I was now about to leave Wanstead, and, although delighted to -be rid of the surveillance of a cross old relation, there were some -things which threw an air of sadness occasionally over my mind. -There were many pleasant associations connected with the place; its -beautiful park, with herds of timid deer grazing under its tall oaks, -upon whose green old heads the sun had shone for centuries; the -venerable mansion, seated like a queen amid the sylvan scene; the old -parish church, with its gorgeously painted windows, to which I had -often walked on the Sabbath with my fellow-scholars in the Sabbath -school, and beside whose deep-toned organ I had sat listening to -the learned priest; the annual hunt at Easter, in which I had often -joined the crew of idle lads that gave chase to the distracted deer; -and the pleasant walks, made cheerful by the songs of innumerable -birds, in Epping forest, were all to be left--perhaps forever. -This thought made me somewhat sad, but it was swallowed up in the -joy I felt when my mother appeared to conduct me to Bladen, some -sixty miles from London, which was the place of her abode since her -marriage. - -Behold me then, gentle reader, seated with my mother on the outside -of a stage-coach, with some ten fellow-passengers. The stage-coach -of England is quite a different vehicle from the carriage known by -that name in America. True, it is drawn by four horses, and it runs -on four wheels, but here the likeness ends; instead of being built -to carry twelve persons inside, it carries but six, while outside it -has seats for twelve. Three or four passengers ride very comfortably -behind, in what is called the basket, which is the territory of the -guard, as the boot before is of the coachman. All mail coaches, and -all others travelling in the night, carry a guard, or an armed man, -for the purpose of protecting the coach from the attacks of footpads -or highway robbers. - -The dullness of our journey was somewhat relieved, after a long -season of silence, by the distress of an unfortunate passenger, who, -falling asleep, nodded so violently, that his hat, supposing it was -receiving notice to quit, very unceremoniously took leave of the -skull it covered, and plunged into the mud. The outcry of the poor -passenger, who was soon waked by the wind sporting amid his hair, and -his unavailing requests to stop the stage, put us all into good humor -with ourselves and with each other. - -We had another source of relief in the antics of a wild, hair-brained -sailor. From spinning yarns, which looked amazingly like new -inventions, he would take to dancing on the roof of the coach; at the -foot of a hill he would leap off, and then spring up again with the -agility of a monkey, to the no small amusement of the passengers. -The more I saw of this reckless, thoughtless tar, the more enamored -I became with the idea of a sea life; and thus this journey to my -mother’s new abode was another link in the chain that decided my -future destiny in the drama of life. How strangely and imperceptibly -do small events tend to unexpected results. A match may fire a city -and lay desolate the work of ages; a single leak may sink a bark -and carry desolation to a hundred firesides--and trifles in the -daily scenes of human life, give character to our immortality. We -cannot, therefore, too carefully watch the influence of small events, -especially on young minds. - -At Woodstock, famed in the annals of England as the scene of the -loves of King Henry and Rosamond Clifford, we quitted our stage -companions, and proceeded on foot to Bladen, two miles distant. -Our road lay through Blenheim or Woodstock park, which we entered -through the triumphal arch, a spacious portal, erected to the memory -of John, Duke of Marlborough, by Sarah, his duchess. On entering the -park, which is nearly twelve miles in circumference, one of the most -beautiful prospects imaginable disclosed itself. Blenheim Palace, -which is among the most magnificent piles of architecture in England, -appeared in front; on the left were to be seen a part of the village -of Woodstock, and on the right a broad and spacious lake, crossed by -a superb bridge;[1] a lofty column on the rising ground, erected in -honor of John, Duke of Marlborough, on which is the statue of that -noble warrior; a delightful valley, hills, plantations, herds of deer -feeding, shady groves and ancient trees, all conspired to render the -scene enchantingly beautiful. - -Blenheim Palace, or Castle, was built at the public expense, in -the reign of Queen Anne, and was given, with its annexed demesnes, -in concurrence with the voice of parliament, to John, Duke of -Marlborough, as a testimony of royal favor and national gratitude -for his successes over the French and Bavarians; particularly for his -victory at Blenheim, on the banks of the Danube, on the 2d of August, -1704. - -Crossing the park towards Bladen, we were met by my father-in-law,[2] -who received me with a kindness which prepossessed me at once in his -favor; he conducted us home, where, to my no small gratification, I -met my sister. - -My father-in-law appeared to be in comfortable circumstances. He -resided in a very neat house, built of stone, shaded by a noble -apricot tree, and ornamented with a small but pretty garden. This, -together with another similar tenement, was his own property. To add -to my satisfaction, I perceived that he was very kind to my mother, -and also to myself. She one day expressed a desire to have the cold -stone floor of the kitchen removed, and boarded instead; my father, -at considerable expense, gratified her wish; this assured me of his -regard for her comfort. - -With the village itself, I was equally well pleased. Though -containing few houses, it was delightfully pleasant. Fine farms, -with large flocks of quiet sheep grazing on their hill-sides; -expansive fields, surrounded with fragrant hawthorn hedges; and old -farm-houses, with their thatched roofs, and massive wheat ricks, met -the pleased eye on all sides; while cultivated gardens and numerous -wild flowers, especially the modest cowslip and humble violet, -scented the air and perfumed the breeze. Thus far, perhaps, Bladen -was equal to Wanstead; but in its moral aspects it was inferior. -There was far less regard for the Sabbath; less attention to the -moral culture of the young, than at the latter place. That blessed -institution, which has vivified and renewed the church, which has -filled her with the vigorous pulsations of youth--from which, as -from some prolific nursery, she has obtained the plants, which now -stand on her mountain-tops like the tall cedars of Lebanon--the -modest, unassuming Sabbath school was not there. Consequently, the -Sabbath was spent in roaming about the fields, in amusements, in -visiting, in taking excursions to a place called Ramsden, some seven -miles distant. True, there was a parish church, with two clergymen -belonging to its altars, but there was service only once every -Sunday within its ancient walls. During Lent, however, both priests -and people were more religious; the church was better attended; the -children were examined as to their knowledge of the church catechism! -They were even excited to diligence in committing it to memory by -the inducement of reward. A Bible and two prayer books were given to -the lads who excelled in answering the questions. At the first Lent -examination after my coming to Bladen, the Bible, the highest prize, -was awarded to me, and the second year the minister assigned me the -task of hearing the others recite--a striking proof of the benefit -of Sunday school instruction; it gave me both a moral and mental -superiority over all my compeers in the little village of Bladen. -This special attention to religion only lasted during the term of -Lent; when, with a return to the use of meat, the people returned to -the neglect of the Sabbath. - -The inhabitants of Bladen were very social in their habits. They held -an annual feast, called Bladen feast, to which they invited their -friends from other towns; it commenced on Sabbath and continued three -days. Eating, drinking, talking, fortune-telling, gambling, occupied -three days of wassail and jollity; after which the visitors returned -to their respective towns, and the people to their occupations. The -neighboring villages gave similar feasts in their turn. They were -occasions of much evil and folly. - -My time flew very rapidly and pleasantly away for two or three years, -until, like most children, I began to sigh for deliverance from the -restraints of home. I had already left school, and for some time, -being now about thirteen years of age, had been employed in the -pleasure-grounds of Blenheim Palace. This, however, was too tame a -business for a lad of my spirits. I had heard tales of the sea from -my cousins; my mother had filled my mind with the exploits of my -grandfather; my imagination painted a life on the great deep in the -most glowing colors; my mind grew uneasy; every day, my ordinary -pursuits became more and more irksome, and I was continually talking -about going to sea; indeed, I had made myself unhappy by being so -discontented. - -Little do lads and young men know of the difference between the -comfort of a parent’s roof and the indifference, unkindness, and -trouble they invariably experience, who go out into the world, until -they have made the experiment. They paint everything in bright -colors; they fancy the future to be all sunshine, all sweets, all -flowers, but are sure to be wofully disappointed, when once away -from the fireside of their infancy. Let me advise young people, if -they wish to escape hardships, to be contented, to remain quietly at -home, abiding the openings of Providence, obeying the wishes of their -parents, who not only have their best good at heart, but, however -they may think to the contrary, actually know what is most for their -advantage. - -My passion for a seaman’s life was not a little increased by a -soldier, who was sergeant to a company in Lord Francis Spencer’s -regiment of cavalry. Seated by my father’s hearth-side, this old -soldier, who had once been a sailor, would beguile many an evening -hour with his endless tale, while I sat listening in enrapt -attention. My mother, too, heedlessly fanned the flame by her -descriptions of the noble appearance of the ships she had seen when -at Brighton. Besides this, a footman at Blenheim House used to sing -a song called “the poor little sailor boy;” which, although somewhat -gloomy in its descriptions, only served to heighten the flame of -desire within me, until I could think of nothing else, day or night, -but of going to sea. - -Finding my desires so strong, my kind-hearted mother mentioned -them to Lady Spencer. Just at that time, her brother, Lord William -Fitzroy, who was then expecting the command of a frigate, and with -whom my departed father had lived as valet, happened to visit -Blenheim, previously to going to sea. Anxious to serve my mother, -Lady Spencer mentioned me to Lord Fitzroy. He sent for me. Trembling -in every joint, I was ushered into his presence. He inquired if I -should like to go to sea. “Yes, my lord, I should,” was my ready -answer. He dismissed me, after some further questionings; but was -heard to say, before he left, that he would take me under his care, -and see to my future advancement. - -These dazzling prospects not only well nigh turned my brain, but -decided my parents to send me to sea. To have their son an _officer_ -in the navy was an unlooked-for honor; and they now entered into my -plans and feelings with almost as much ardor as myself. Alas! We -were all doomed to learn how little confidence can be placed in the -promises of nobles! - -Not long after Lord Fitzroy’s departure, we received a letter stating -the fact of his appointment to his majesty’s frigate _Macedonian_, -which, being out of dock, was rapidly preparing for sea. This -intelligence was the signal for bustle, excitement, preparation, -and I know not what. Friends and gossips constantly crowded in to -administer their gratuitous advice; some predicting, to my infinite -delight, that certainly so smart a boy would make a great man; others -wore very grave countenances, and gave certain expressive shrugs of -the shoulders, while they told of flogging through the fleet, or of -being “seized up” for merely a look or a word; in short, but for a -strong conviction in my own breast that this was all said for effect, -it is doubtful whether they would not have succeeded in deterring me -from my purpose. - -At last, after much ado, the long-expected day arrived when I was to -bid farewell to home and friends, to venture abroad upon an unknown -future. It would only vex the reader by its commonplace character, -or I would reveal all the nice little acts of parental, brotherly and -neighborly affection which took place. Suffice it to say, that my -parting was very much the same as that of all other boys of twelve, -when they leave home for the first time--a mixture of hopes and -fears, of tears and smiles, of sunshine and cloud. - -Attended by my mother and her infant daughter, on the 12th day -of July, 1810, I turned my back on the quiet hamlet of Bladen. -Henceforth my lot was to be cast amid noise, dissipation, storms -and danger. This, however, disturbed my mind but little; brushing -away a tear, I leaped gaily on to the outside of the coach, and -in a few minutes, enveloped in a cloud of dust, was on my way to -London, filled with the one absorbing idea, “I am going to sea! I -am going to sea!” Should the reader take the trouble to read the -following chapters, he will learn the mishaps, hardships, pleasures -and successes that befell me there; and though my narrative may not -be filled with the witching tales, and romantic descriptions, that -abound in the works of the novelist, it shall at least commend itself -to his notice for its truthfulness. - - - - - CHAPTER II - - -Before we sought the decks of the _Macedonian_ we paid a short -visit to Wanstead, where we met with very pleasant reception, very -hospitable entertainment, very affectionate adieus. Returning to -London, we hired a boat and sailed down the Thames, on whose bosom -reposed the commerce of the world, to Gravesend, where we spent the -night. The next morning I experienced a new gratification, which -was nothing less than being arrayed in a complete suit of sailor -apparel; a tarpaulin hat, round blue jacket and wide pantaloons. -Never did young knight swell with loftier emotion when donning for -the first time his iron dress, than I did when in sea dress I trod -the streets of Gravesend. This had always been my highest ambition. -The gaudily dressed soldier never had charms for me; but a sailor, -how nice he looked! Well, here I stood, at last, in the often coveted -dress; it was the first luxury connected with my life at sea. Pity -that each successive step had not yielded me equal delight. But it -was mine to learn that anticipation and reality were not born twins; -that in fact there are scarcely any two existences so essentially -different in their characteristics. That I should not lack the means -of comfort, my good mother purchased me a chest of clothing, and, as -her last token of maternal care, presented me with a Bible, a prayer -book, and, strangely inconsistent companions, a pack of cards! Thus -equipped, we once more hired a boat and descended the river two miles -below Gravesend, where lay the _Macedonian_, in graceful majesty on -the sparkling waters. - -The first guest we met on board was _disappointment_. From the -promises of Lord Fitzroy, we very strangely supposed that he felt -my importance nearly as much as did my mother or father. Judge then -how we felt, when we learned that no one knew anything in particular -about my veritable self; yet, as his Lordship was absent, they said -I might remain on board until his return. This was rather a damper -on my spirits, but flattering myself that all would be right on -his return, I soon rallied again, and, aided by the presence of my -mother, passed a very agreeable day. - -Towards night, my mother left me; it scarcely need be said, she wept -when we parted. What mother would not? She did weep, she strained me -to her heart, and impressed affection’s purest kiss upon my cheek. -How like a dream that moment fled! Now, she held me in her arms; a -moment after, she was seated in the light boat and gliding along the -turbid Thames, on her homeward way. I leaned over the taffrail and -gazed on the departing boat, and when it disappeared, I turned away -and wept. - -The morning after my arrival, I was put into a “mess.” The crew of -a man of war is divided into little communities of about eight, -called _messes_. These eat and drink together, and are, as it were, -so many families. The mess to which I was introduced, was composed -of your genuine, weather-beaten, old tars. But for one of its -members, it would have suited me very well; this one, a real gruff -old “bull-dog,” named Hudson, took into his head to hate me at first -sight. He treated me with so much abuse and unkindness, that my -messmates soon advised me to change my mess, a privilege which is -wisely allowed, and which tends very much to the good fellowship of a -ship’s crew; for if there are disagreeable men among them, they can -in this way be got rid of; it is no unfrequent case to find a few, -who have been spurned from all the messes in the ship, obliged to -mess by themselves. - -This unkindness from the brutal Hudson rather chilled my enthusiasm. -The crew, too, by some means had an impression that my mother had -brought me on board to get rid of me, and therefore bestowed their -bitterest curses on her in the most profuse manner imaginable. -Swearing I had heard before, but never such as I heard there. Nor -was this all; in performing the work assigned me, which consisted in -helping the seamen take in provisions, powder, shot, etc., I felt -the insults and tyranny of the midshipmen. These little minions of -power ordered and drove me round like a dog, nor did I and the other -boys dare interpose a word. They were _officers_; their word was our -law, and woe betide the presumptuous boy that dared refuse implicit -obedience. - -These things reminded me of what had been said to me of the hardships -of sea life in a man of war. I began to wish myself back in my -father’s house at Bladen. This, however, was impossible, and to add -to my discouragement they told me I was entered on the ship’s books -for life. Dreary prospect! I felt more than half disposed, as I went -to my tasks, to use the language of the Irishman, as sung by my -shipmates. Tempted and beguiled while intoxicated, he had enlisted -for a soldier, but found the sergeant at the _recruiting office_ and -the sergeant on the _drill-field_ very different personages. He is -hence made to say, - - “It was early next morning to drill I was sent, - And its och to my soul! I began to lament; - Cannot you be aisy and let me alone? - Don’t you see I’ve got arms, legs, and feet of my own?” - -But although somewhat grieved with my first experience of sailor -life, I secretly struggled against my feelings, and with the most -philosophic desperation resolved to make the best of my condition. -We were kept busily at work every day until the ship’s stores were -all on board, and our frigate was ready for sea. Then two hundred -more men, draughted from receiving ships, came on board, to complete -the number of our crew, which, after this addition, numbered full -three hundred men. The jocularity, pleasantry, humor and good feeling -that now prevailed on board our frigate, somewhat softened the -unpleasantness of my lot, and cultivated a feeling of reconciliation -to my circumstances. Various little friendships, which sprang up -between me and my shipmates, threw a gleam of gladness across my -path; a habit of attention, respect and obedience in a short time -secured me universal good will. I began to be tolerably satisfied. - -Many boys complain of ill usage at sea. I know they are subjected to -it in many instances; yet, in most cases, they owe it to their own -boldness. A boy on shipboard, who is habitually saucy, will be kicked -and cuffed by all with whom he has to do; he will be made miserable. -The reason is, I imagine, that sailors, being treated as inferiors -themselves, love to find opportunity to act the _superior_ over some -one. They do this over the boys, and if they find a saucy, insolent -one, they show him no mercy. Permit me, then, to advise boys who go -to sea, to be civil and obliging to all; they will be amply repaid -for the effort it may cost them to make the trial, especially if they -gain the reputation, as I did, of being among the best boys in the -ship. - -A vessel of war contains a little community of human beings, -isolated, for the time being, from the rest of mankind. This -community is governed by laws peculiar to itself; it is arranged and -divided in a manner suitable to its circumstances. Hence, when its -members first come together, each one is assigned his respective -station and duty. For every task, from getting up the anchor to -unbending the sails, aloft and below, at the mess-tub or in the -hammock, each task has its man, and each man his place. A ship -contains a set of human machinery, in which every man is a wheel, a -band, or a crank, all moving with wonderful regularity and precision -to the will of its machinist--the all-powerful captain. - -The men are distributed in all parts of the vessel; those in the -tops are called fore-top-men, main-top-men, and mizzen-top-men, -with two captains to each top, one for each watch. These top-men -have to loose, take in, reef and furl the sails aloft, such as -the top-gallant sails, top-sails, top-gallant royal, and top-sail -studding-sails. Others are called forecastle men, waisters, and the -after-guard; these have to loose, tend, and furl the courses, that -is, the fore-sail, the main-sail and lower studding-sails; they -also have to set the jib, flying-jib, and spanker; the after-guard -have a special charge to coil up all ropes in the after part of -the ship. Others are called _scavengers_; these, as their not very -attractive name imports, have to sweep and pick up the dirt that -may chance to gather through the day, and throw it overboard. -Then come the boys, who are mostly employed as servants to the -officers. Our captain had a steward and a boy; these acted as his -domestic servants in his large and stately cabin, which, to meet -the ideas of landsmen, may be called his house. The lieutenants, -purser, surgeon, and sailing-master, had each a boy; they, together -with the two lieutenants of marines, who were waited upon by two -marines, form what is called the ward-room officers. The ward-room -is a large cabin, (I mean large for a ship, of course,) below the -captain’s, where they all mess together; aft of this cabin is a -smaller one, which serves as a species of store-room. Besides -these accommodations, every ward-room officer has his state-room, -containing his cot, wash-stand, writing-desk, clothes, etc. The -gunner, boatswain, and some others, are also allowed a boy; and a -man and boy are appointed to be the servants of a certain number of -midshipmen. - -Another arrangement is that of forming the ship’s company into -watches. The captain, first lieutenant, surgeon, purser, boatswain, -gunner, carpenter, armorer, together with the stewards and boys, are -excused from belonging to them, but are liable to be called out to -take in sail; some of the last mentioned are called _idlers_. All -others are in watches, called the larboard and starboard watches. - -Stations are also assigned at the guns, to the whole crew. When at -sea, the drummer beats to quarters every night. This beat, by which -the men are summoned to quarters, is a regular tune. I have often -heard the words sung which belong to it; this is the chorus: - - “Hearts of oak are our ships, jolly tars are our men, - We always are ready, steady, boys, steady, - To fight and to conquer again and again.” - -At the roll of this evening drum, all hands hurry to the guns. Eight -men and a boy are stationed at each gun, one of whom is captain of -the gun, another sponges and loads it, the rest take hold of the side -tackle-falls, to run the gun in and out; while the boy is employed in -handing the cartridges, for which he is honored with the singularly -euphonious cognomen of powder-monkey. - -Besides these arrangements among the men, there are from thirty to -forty marines to be disposed of. These do duty as sentries at the -captain’s cabin, the ward-room, and at the galley during the time of -cooking. They are also stationed at the large guns at night, as far -as their numbers run. When a ship is in action, and small arms can be -brought to bear on the enemy, they are stationed on the spar-deck; -they are also expected to assist in boarding, in conjunction with -several seamen from each gun, who are armed with pistols and pikes, -and called boarders. - -The great disparity of numbers between the crew of a merchant ship -and that of a man of war, occasions a difference in their internal -arrangements and mode of life, scarcely conceivable by those who have -not seen both. This is seen throughout, from the act of rousing the -hands in the morning to that of taking in sail. In the merchantman, -the watch below is called up by a few strokes of the handspike on -the forecastle; in the man of war, by the boatswain and his mates. -The boatswain is a petty officer, of considerable importance in his -way; he and his mates carry a small silver whistle or pipe, suspended -from the neck by a small cord. He receives word from the officer of -the watch to call the hands up. You immediately hear a sharp, shrill -whistle; this is succeeded by another and another from his mates. -Then follows his hoarse, rough cry of “All hands ahoy!” which is -forthwith repeated by his mates. Scarcely has this sound died upon -the ear, before the cry of “Up all hammocks ahoy!” succeeds it, -to be repeated in like manner. As the first tones of the whistle -penetrate between decks, signs of life make their appearance. Rough, -uncouth forms are seen tumbling out of their hammocks on all sides, -and before its last sounds have died upon the air, the whole company -of sleepers are hurriedly preparing for the duties of the day. No -delay is permitted, for as soon as the before-mentioned officers have -uttered their imperative commands, they run below, each armed with -a rope’s end, with which they belabor the shoulders of any luckless -wight upon whose eyes sleep yet hangs heavily, or whose slow-moving -limbs show him to be but half awake. - -With a rapidity which would surprise a landsman, the crew dress -themselves, lash their hammocks and carry them on deck, where they -are stowed for the day. There is system even in this arrangement; -every hammock has its appropriate place. Below, the beams are all -marked, each hammock is marked with a corresponding number, and -in the darkest night, a sailor will go unhesitatingly to his own -hammock. They are also kept exceeding clean. Every man is provided -with two, so that while he is scrubbing and cleaning one, he may have -another to use. Nothing but such precautions could enable so many men -to live in so small a space. - -A similar rapidity attends the performance of every duty. The word -of command is given in the same manner, and its prompt obedience -enforced by the same unceremonious rope’s-end. To skulk is therefore -next to impossible; the least tardiness is rebuked by the cry of -“Hurrah my hearty! bear a hand! heave along! heave along!” This -system of driving is far from being agreeable; it perpetually reminds -you of your want of liberty; it makes you feel, sometimes, as if the -hardest crust, the most ragged garments, with the freedom of your own -native hills, would be preferable to John Bull’s “beef and duff,” -joined as it is with the rope’s-end of the driving boatswain. - -We had one poor fellow, an Irishman, named Billy Garvy, who felt very -uneasy and unhappy. He was the victim of that mortifying system of -impressment, prevalent in Great Britain in time of war. He came on -board perfectly unacquainted with the mysteries of sea life. One of -his first inquiries was, where he should find his bed, supposing they -slept on shipboard on beds the same as on shore. His messmates, with -true sailor roguishness, sent him to the boatswain. “And where shall -I find a bed, sir?” asked he of this rugged son of the ocean. - -The boatswain looked at him very contemptuously for a moment, then, -rolling his lump of tobacco into another apartment of his ample -mouth, replied, - -“Have you got a knife?” - -“Yes, sir.” - -“Well, stick it into the softest plank in the ship, and take that for -a bed!” - -Poor fellow! what was sport for others was pain to him. He had been -used to kind treatment at home. After he had received his hammock, -when turning out in the morning, with the boatswain’s mates at his -heels, he used to exclaim, “When I was at home, I would walk in -my father’s garden in the morning, until the maid would come and -say, ‘William, will you come to your ta, or your coffee ta, or your -chocolarata?’ But, oh! the case is altered now; it’s nothing but bear -a hand, lash and carry. Oh, dear!” - -I confess that Billy Garvy was not the only one who contrasted -the present with the past, or who found the balance to be greatly -in favor of the former. I often looked back to the village of -Bladen, and thought how preferable would be the bright hearth-side -and pleasant voices of that quiet home, to the profane, rough, -uncomfortable life we led on shipboard. As these reflections were -anything but pleasurable, I banished them as quickly as possible, -with a determination to be as happy as I could in my station -of servant to the surgeon of His Britannic Majesty’s frigate -_Macedonian_: a resolution which I commend to all lads, who, like me, -are foolish enough to quit the quiet scenes of a native village, for -the noisy, profane atmosphere of a man of war. - -As our fare was novel and so different from shore living, it was some -time before I could get fully reconciled to it: it was composed of -hard sea biscuit, fresh beef while in port, but salt pork and salt -beef at sea, pea soup and burgoo. Burgoo, or, as it was sportively -called, skillagallee, was oatmeal boiled in water to the consistency -of hasty pudding. Sometimes we had cocoa instead of burgoo. Once a -week we had flour and raisins served out, with which we made “duff” -or pudding. To prepare these articles, each mess had its cook, who -drew the provisions, made the duff, washed the mess kids, etc. He -also drew the grog for the mess, which consisted of a gill of rum -mixed with two gills of water for each man. This was served out at -noon every day: at four o’clock, P. M., each man received half a pint -of wine. The boys only drew half this quantity, but were allowed pay -for the remainder, a regulation which could have been profitably -applied to the whole supply of grog and wine for both boys and men. -But those were not days in which Temperance triumphed as she does -now; though, I believe, the British navy has not yet ceased to -dispense the “drink that’s in the drunkard’s bowl” to her seamen. - -Shortly after our captain came on board, his servant died somewhat -suddenly, so that I had an early opportunity of seeing how sailors -are disposed of in this sad hour. The corpse was laid out on the -grating, covered with a flag; as we were yet in the river, the body -was taken on shore and buried, without the beautiful burial-service -of the church of England being read at his grave--a ceremony which -is not omitted at the interment of the veriest pauper in that country. - -I have purposely dwelt on these particulars, that the reader may feel -himself initiated at once into the secrets of man-of-war usages. He -has doubtless seen ships of war with their trim rigging and frowning -ports, and his heart has swelled with pride as he has gazed upon -these floating cities--the representatives of his nation’s character -in foreign countries: to their internal arrangements, however, he -has been a stranger. I have endeavored to introduce him into the -interior: a desire to make him feel at home there, is my apology for -dwelling so long on these descriptions. - -After various delays, we were at last ready for sea and under sailing -orders. The tide and wind were both propitious; then came the -long-expected cry of the boatswain, “All hands up anchor ahoy!” The -crew manned the capstan in a trice, and running round to the tune of -a lively air played by the fifer, the huge anchor rapidly left the -mud of the Thames, and hung at the bows of our taut frigate. Then -came the cry of “All hands make sail ahoy!” As if by magic, she was -immediately covered with canvas; the favoring breeze at once filled -our sails, and the form that had lain for weeks inert and motionless -on the waters, now bounded along the waves like a thing of life. -Rapidly we ran down the Channel, and before we had well got under -weigh came to an anchor again at Spithead, under shelter of the -garden of England--the Isle of Wight. - -Short as was the period between weighing anchor off Gravesend and our -arrival at Spithead, it gave opportunity for one of those occurrences -which are a disgrace to the naval service of any nation, and a -degradation to our common humanity, which the public opinion of the -civilized world should frown out of existence: I allude to the brutal -practice of flogging. - -A poor fellow had fallen into the very sailorlike offence of getting -drunk. For this the captain sentenced him to the punishment of four -dozen lashes. He was first placed in _irons_ all night: the irons -used for this purpose were shackles fitting round the ankles, through -the ends of which was passed an iron bar some ten or twelve feet in -length: it was thus long because it was no unfrequent case for half a -dozen men to be ironed at once. A padlock at the end of the bar held -the prisoner securely. Thus placed in “duress vile,” he was guarded -by a marine until the captain bade the first lieutenant prepare the -hands to witness the punishment. Upon this the lieutenant transmitted -the order to the master at arms. He then ordered the grating or hatch -full of square holes to be rigged: it was placed accordingly between -the main and spar decks, not far from the mainmast. - -While these preparations were going on, the officers were dressing -themselves in full uniform and arming themselves with their dirks: -the prisoner’s messmates carried him his best clothes, to make him -appear in as decent a manner as possible. This is always done, in -the hope of moving the feelings of the captain favorably towards the -prisoner. - -This done, the hoarse, dreaded cry of “All hands ahoy to witness -punishment!” from the lips of the boatswain, peals along the ship -as mournfully as the notes of a funeral knell. At this signal the -officers muster on the spar deck, the men on the main deck. Next came -the prisoner; guarded by a marine on one side and the master at arms -on the other, he was marched up to the grating. His back was made -bare and his shirt laid loosely upon his back; the two quartermasters -proceeded to seize him up; that is, they tied his hands and feet with -spun-yarns, called the seizings, to the grating. The boatswain’s -mates, whose office it is to flog on board a man of war, stood ready -with their dreadful weapon of punishment, the cat-o’-nine-tails. This -instrument of torture was composed of nine cords, a quarter of an -inch round and about two feet long, the ends whipt with fine twine. -To these cords was affixed a stock, two feet in length, covered -with red baize. The reader may be sure that it is a most formidable -instrument in the hands of a strong, skilful man. Indeed, any man who -should whip his horse with it would commit an outrage on humanity, -which the moral feeling of any community would not tolerate; he would -be prosecuted for cruelty; yet it is used to whip MEN on board ships -of war! - -The boatswain’s mate is ready, with coat off and whip in hand. The -captain gives the word. Carefully spreading the cords with the -fingers of his left hand, the executioner throws the cat over his -right shoulder; it is brought down upon the now uncovered herculean -shoulders of the MAN. His flesh creeps--it reddens as if blushing -at the indignity; the sufferer groans; lash follows lash, until the -first mate, wearied with the cruel employment, gives place to a -second. Now two dozen of these dreadful lashes have been inflicted: -the lacerated back looks inhuman; it resembles roasted meat burnt -nearly black before a scorching fire; yet still the lashes fall; the -captain continues merciless. Vain are the cries and prayers of the -wretched man. “I would not forgive the Saviour,” was the blasphemous -reply of one of these naval demi-gods, or rather demi-fiends, to a -plea for mercy. The executioners keep on. Four dozen strokes have cut -up his flesh and robbed him of all self-respect; there he hangs, a -pitied, self-despised, groaning, bleeding wretch; and now the captain -cries, forbear! His shirt is thrown over his shoulders; the seizings -are loosed; he is led away, staining his path with red drops of -blood, and the hands, “piped down” by the boatswain, sullenly return -to their duties. - -Such was the scene witnessed on board the _Macedonian_, on the -passage from London to Spithead; such, substantially, is every -punishment scene at sea; only carried, sometimes, to a greater length -of severity. Sad and sorrowful were my feelings on witnessing it; -thoughts of the friendly warnings of my old acquaintance filled my -mind, and I inwardly wished myself once more under the friendly -roof of my father, at Bladen. Vain wish! I should have believed the -warning voice when it was given. Believe me, young man, you will -often breathe that wish, if ever you wander from a father’s house. - -Flogging in the navy is more severe than in the army, though it is -too bad to be tolerated there, or indeed anywhere. Other modes of -punishment might be successfully substituted, which would deter from -misconduct, without destroying the self-respect of the man. I hope -the day will come, when a captain will no more be allowed to use -the “cat” than he is now to use poison. It should be an interdicted -weapon. - -Though I have spoken severely of the officers of the navy, let it -not be thought that the whole class of naval officers are lost to -the finer feelings of humanity. There are many humane, considerate -men among them, who deserve our highest respect. This was the case -with the first lieutenant of the _Macedonian_, Mr. Scott. He abhorred -flogging. Once, when a poor marine was under sentence, he plead -hard and successfully with the captain for his respite. This was a -great victory; for the captain had a profound hatred of marines. The -poor soldier was extremely grateful for his intercession, and would -do anything for him to show his sense of the obligation; indeed, -the sailors, in their odd way, showed their preference for him by -describing him as a man who had a soul to be saved, and who ought to -go to heaven; while of the captain, they whispered that if he did not -go to perdition, “the devil would be cheated of his due.” These are, -in a manner, proverbial expressions of like and dislike, on board a -British man of war. - -One of the effects of this exhibition of cruelty was seen during the -short time we lay at Spithead. The two boys, who were servants to the -first and second lieutenants, conceiving a special dislike to the -idea of being flogged, took it into their heads to run away. Being -sent on shore, they shaped their course for the country. It was well -for them that they were not re-taken. - -Our frigate had orders to convey between two and three hundred troops -from Portsmouth to Lisbon, to assist the Portuguese against the -French. The soldiers were stowed on the main decks, with very few -conveniences for the voyage; their officers messed and berthed in the -ward-room. Having taken them on board, we again weighed anchor, and -were soon careering before the breeze on our way to Lisbon. - -As usual, we who were landsmen had our share of that merciless, -nondescript, hateful, stultifying disease, yclept sea-sickness; as -usual, we wished the foolish wish that we had never come to sea; as -usual, we got over it, and laughed at ourselves for our sea-sick -follies. Our good ship paid little attention, however, to our -feelings; she kept along on her bounding way, and, after a week at -sea, we were greeted with the pleasant cry of “Land ho!” from the -mast-head. As it was now near night, we lay off and on until morning; -at day-break we fired a gun for a pilot. The wind being nearly dead -ahead, we had to beat about nearly all day. Towards night it became -fair, and we ascended the Tagus. This river is about nine miles wide -at its mouth, and is four hundred and fifty miles in length; it has -a very rapid current, with steep, fertile banks. Aided by a fine -breeze, we ascended it in splendid style, passed a half-moon battery, -then shot past Belem Castle into the port of Lisbon, about ten -miles from its mouth. Here we found a spacious harbor, filled with -shipping. Besides numerous merchantmen, there were two ships of a -hundred guns, several seventy-fours, frigates and sloops of war, with -a large number of transports; all designed for the defence of Lisbon -against the French. - -Lisbon has a fine appearance from the harbor. A stranger, after a -long sea-voyage, while standing on the deck of his vessel, and gazing -on its battlements and towers, might fancy it to be a terrestrial -paradise; but, on landing, his admiration would certainly sink below -zero, as he plodded his way, beset by saucy beggars at almost every -step, through its narrow, filthy streets. Such, at least, was my -impression, as I perambulated the city. Among other things, I noticed -a great variety of churches and convents, which furnished swarms of -plump, good-natured friars, under whose spiritual domination the good -people of Lisbon were content to rest. I also counted thirteen large -squares. One of them contained a huge black horse, standing in its -centre, with the figure of a man upon his back, both much larger than -life. What this monument represented, I did not learn. That square is -denominated Black Horse Square. - -On the day after our arrival, the _Macedonian_ was the scene of -considerable bustle. The troops, who seemed to forget their proximity -to a field of carnage, in the delight they felt at escaping from the -confinement on shipboard, were landed; several boats’ crews were also -sent up the river to assist in the defence of the place. - -While we lay here, our ship was well supplied with fruits from the -shore. Large bunches of delicious grapes, abundance of sweet oranges, -water-melons, chestnuts, and also a bountiful supply of gigantic -onions, of peculiar flavor, enabled our crew to gratify their palates -in true English style. Poor fellows! they feasted, laughed, and -joked, as if the future had nothing to develop but fairy scenes of -unmixed delight. Little thought, indeed, does your true tar take of -the morrow. - -Amid these feastings, however, there rose something to trouble -Macbeth, in the shape of an order from the admiral to prepare for a -cruise. This was peremptory;--for a cruise, therefore, we prepared. -Our boats’ crews came on board; the officers stored their larder with -the means of gustatory gratifications; and we stood out to sea again. - -The port of Corunna, in Spain, was the next place at which we -anchored. While lying in this spacious and safe harbor, our little -world was thrown into temporary confusion by the loss of the -ward-room steward, Mr. Sanders. This man could speak in the Spanish -tongue; he had accumulated a considerable sum of money by long -service, prize money, and an economy little known among sailors. -For some cause or other he had become dissatisfied; so, one day, he -engaged a Spaniard to run his boat under the stern of our frigate; -dropping from one of the stern ports into the boat, unperceived -by the officers, the wily Spaniards covered him with their loose -garments and sails, and then conveyed him to the shore. This was -running a great risk; for had he been detected in the act, or taken -afterwards, he would have felt the cruel strokes of the lash. -Fortunately for himself, he escaped without detection. - -From Corunna, we returned to Lisbon, where, at the cheerful cry of -“All hands bring the ship to an anchor, ahoy!” we once more placed -our frigate, taut and trim, under the battlements of the city. - -As servant to the surgeon, it was one part of my duty to perform the -task of carrying his clothes to be washed. As great attention to -cleanliness, in frequently changing their linen, is observed among -naval officers, a good washerwoman is considered quite a desideratum. -In attending to this matter for my master, I had frequent -opportunities to go on shore. This gave me some means of observation. -On one of my visits to our pretty laundress, I saw several Portuguese -running along, gesticulating and talking with great earnestness. -Being ignorant of their language, my washerwoman, who spoke good -English, told me that a man had been stabbed, in consequence of -some ground for jealousy, afforded by the conduct of the deceased. -Hastening to the spot, I saw the wounded man, stretched out on a bed, -with two gaping wounds in his side, the long knife, the instrument of -the deed, lying by his side. The poor sufferer soon died. What was -done to the murderer, I could not discover. - -Though very passionate, and addicted to the use of the knife, for the -purpose of taking summary vengeance, the Portuguese are nevertheless -arrant cowards. Indeed, it is a question by no means settled, whether -all classes of men, in any country, who fly to cold steel or to -fire-arms in every petty quarrel, are not cowards at heart. We had -an evidence of Portuguese cowardice in an affray which occurred -between some of the citizens of Lisbon and a party of our marines. -Six of the latter, ignorant of the palace or municipal regulations, -wandered into the queen’s gardens. Some twenty of the Portuguese, on -witnessing this bold intrusion on the privacy of the queen, rushed -upon them with long knives. The marines, though so inferior in -number, faced about with their bayonets, and, after much cursing and -chattering, their enemies, considering perhaps that the better part -of valor is discretion, took to their heels, leaving the six marines -masters of a bloodless field. These recontres were quite common -between them and our men; the result, though sometimes more serious, -was uniformly the same. - -As an illustration of the manners of this people, I cannot forbear -the insertion of another fact. I was one day walking leisurely -along the streets, quite at my ease, when the gathering of a noisy -multitude arrested my attention. Looking up, I was shocked at seeing -a human head, with a pair of hands beneath it, nailed to a pole! -They had just been taken from the body of a barber, who, when in -the act of shaving a gentleman, was seized with a sudden desire to -possess a beautiful watch, which glittered in his pocket; to gain -this brilliant bauble, the wretched man cut his victim’s throat. -He was arrested, his hands were cut off, then his head, and both -were fastened to the pole as I have described them. Upon inquiry, I -ascertained that this was the ordinary method of punishing murder -in Portugal; a striking evidence that civilization had not fully -completed its great work among them. Civilization humanizes the -feelings of society, throwing a veil of refinement and mercy over -even the sterner acts of justice; at any rate, it never tolerates -such barbarism as I saw at Lisbon. - -While in port we experienced a change of officers by no means -agreeable to the crew. Mr. Scott, our first lieutenant, an amiable -man, decidedly hostile to the practice of flogging, left us; for -what cause, we could not ascertain. His successor, Mr. Hope, though -bearing a very pleasant name, was an entirely different person, in -manners and conduct, from his predecessor. He was harsh, severe, -and fond of seeing the men flogged. Of course, floggings became -more frequent than before; for, although a lieutenant cannot flog -upon his own authority, yet, such is the influence he exerts -over a captain, that he has the utmost opportunity to gratify a -thirst for punishment. It may appear strange to the reader that -any gentleman--and all officers of the navy consider themselves -_gentlemen_--should possess such a thirst; yet such was the case with -Mr. Hope. Nor was his a solitary example; many a man, who, on shore, -in presence of ladies of fashion, appeared too gentle to harm an -enemy, too kind to injure an insect, was strangely metamorphosed into -a genuine unprincipled tyrant, upon assuming command in a man of war. - -We had already witnessed a number of punishments, especially at -sea: in port, the officers were more condescending, lest their men -should desert; but at sea, when this was impossible, they flogged -without mercy. Cases of offence which occurred while in the harbor, -were looked up; sometimes a half dozen were flogged at once; every -man trembled lest he should be a victim; the ship’s crew were made -wretched; a sword seemed impending over every head. Who, in such -a case, could be happy? Not even a sailor, with all his habitual -thoughtlessness. Yet it is said we must flog, to maintain discipline -among sailors. Pshaw! Flogging may be needful to awe a slave writhing -under a sense of unmerited wrong, but never should a lash fall on a -freeman’s back, especially if he holds the safety and honor of his -country in his keeping. - -Poor old Bob Hammond! Never was man more reckless than this -honest-hearted Irishman; never was sailor more courageous under -punishment. For being drunk he received four dozen lashes; he bore -the infliction with profound silence, uttering neither groan nor -sigh; neither casting one imploring look at his tormentors. On being -taken down, he applied himself most lustily to his bottle, and before -night was drunk again. Rushing to the quarter deck, with a madness -peculiar to a phrensied drunkard, he ran up against the captain with -such force that he nearly knocked him down. With a boldness that -seemed to strike the great man dumb, Bob hiccupped and said, - -“Halloo, Billy, my boy, is that you? You are young and foolish; just -fit for the launch. You are like a young lion--all your sorrows are -to come.” - -The captain was excessively proud; even his officers scarcely dared -walk the quarter deck on the same side with him. He never allowed -himself to be addressed but by his title of “my Lord.” Should a -sailor, through design or forgetfulness, reply to a command, “Yes, -sir,” the lordly man would look at him with a glance full of dignity, -and sternly reply, “What, sir?” This, of course, would put the -offender in mind to correct himself by saying, “Yes, my _Lord_.” -Judge then of his surprise, indignation, nay, of his lordly horror, -when poor old drunken Bob Hammond called him “Billy, my boy!” -Doubtless it stirred up his nobility within him, for, with a voice -of thunder, he exclaimed, “Put this man in irons!” It was done. The -next morning, his back yet sore, poor Bob received five dozen more -strokes of the hated cat-o’-nine-tails. Most heroically was it borne. -No sound escaped him; the most profound silence was observed by all, -broken only by the dead sound of the whip, as it fell every few -moments on the wounded back. The scene was sickening in the extreme. -Let me throw a veil over its details, simply remarking that it is -questionable which of the two appears to the best advantage; poor -drunken Bob, suffering degrading torture with heroic firmness, or my -Lord Fitzroy, gloating on the scene with the appetite of a vulture! -Let the reader decide for himself. - -These statements may at first sight appear incredible. It may be -asked how a man could endure whippings which would destroy an ox or a -horse. This is a very natural question, and but for the consciousness -I feel of being supported in my statements by the universal testimony -of old men-of-war’s-men, I should hesitate to publish them. The -_worst_ species of this odious torture, however, remains to be -described--flogging through the fleet. - -This punishment is never inflicted without due trial and sentence -by a court-martial, for some aggravated offence. After the offender -is thus sentenced, and the day arrives appointed by his judges for -its execution, the unhappy wretch is conducted into the ship’s -launch--a large boat--which has been previously rigged up with poles -and grating, to which he is seized up; he is attended by the ship’s -surgeon, whose duty it is to decide when the power of nature’s -endurance has been taxed to its utmost. A boat from every ship in -the fleet is also present, each carrying one or two officers and two -marines fully armed. These boats are connected by tow lines to the -launch. - -These preparations made, the crew of the victim’s ship are ordered -to man the rigging, while the boatswain commences the tragedy. When -he has administered one, two or three dozen lashes, according to the -number of ships in the fleet, the prisoner’s shirt is thrown over his -gory back; the boatswain returns on board, the hands are piped down, -the drummer beats a mournful melody, called the rogue’s march, and -the melancholy procession moves on. Arriving at the side of another -ship, the brutal scene is repeated, until every crew in the fleet has -witnessed it, and from one to three hundred lashes have lacerated -the back of the broken-spirited tar to a bleeding pulp. He is then -placed under the surgeon’s care, to be fitted for duty--_a ruined -man_--broken in spirit! all sense of self-respect gone, forever -gone! If he survive, it is only to be like his own brave bark, -when winds and waves conspire to dash her on the pitiless strand, -a wretched, hopeless wreck; a living, walking shadow of his former -self. Shameful blot! most foul and disgraceful stain on the humanity -of England! How long before this worse than barbarism will disappear -before the mild influences of civilization and Christianity? - -No plea of necessity can be successfully urged in behalf of whipping -men; for, if subordination or faithful adhesion to orders is expected -to follow such terrible examples, I know, from my acquaintance -with the sufferers themselves, that the expectation is vain. One -of two results always follows. The victim either lives on, a lone, -dark-minded, broken-spirited man, despising himself and hating -every one, because he thinks every one hates him; or he lives with -one fearful, unyielding purpose; a purpose on which he feeds and -nourishes his galled mind, as food affords life and energy to his -physical constitution--that purpose is REVENGE. I have heard them -swear--and the wild flashing eye, the darkly frowning brow, told -how firm was that intent--that if ever they should be in battle, -they would shoot their officers. I have seen them rejoice over the -misfortunes of their persecutors, but more especially at their death. -That it has frequently led to mutiny, is well verified. I have known -such severity to result in actual murder. While we lay at Lisbon, a -sergeant of marines, on board a seventy-four, made himself obnoxious -by repeated acts of tyranny. Two marines determined upon his death. -One night, unperceived by any, they seized him, hurried him to the -gangway, and pitched him overboard. The tide was running strong; the -man was drowned! But for themselves his fate would have remained -a secret until the great day of judgment; it was discovered by an -officer, who accidentally overheard them congratulating each other on -their achievement. He betrayed them. A court-martial sentenced them. -They were placed on deck with halters on their necks. Two guns were -fired, and, when the smoke cleared away, two men were seen dangling -from the foreyard-arm. Only one day previous, a letter had brought -a discharge from the service for one of them. Poor fellow! it came -too late. He was fated to a summary discharge from all service, in a -manner appalling and repulsive to every finer human feeling. - -Such are the actual consequences of severity of discipline on board -men of war. Punishment leads to revenge; revenge to punishment. What -is intended to cure, only aggravates the disease; the evil enlarges -under the remedy; _voluntary_ subordination ceases; gloom overspreads -the crew; fear fills the breasts of the officers; the ship becomes -a miniature of the house of fiends. While, on the other hand, mild -regulations, enforced without an appeal to brute force, are easily -carried into operation. The sailor has a warm heart; show him -personal kindness, treat him as a man, he will then be a man; he will -do anything for a _kind_ officer. He will peril his life for him; -nay, he will cheerfully rush between him and danger. This was done -at Tripoli, when the brave James[3] offered his own arm to receive -the fell stroke of a Turkish scimitar, aimed at the life of the bold -Decatur, on board the frigate _Philadelphia_. Let naval officers, -let all ship-masters, once fairly test the effect of kind treatment, -and I am sure they will never desire to return to severity; unless, -indeed, they are tyrants at heart, in which case, the sooner they -lose their commands the better for their country; for no tyrant is -truly brave or trustworthy. Cowardice and meanness lie curled up in -the heart of every tyrant. He is too despicable, too unsafe to be -trusted with the responsibilities of a naval command. Such, at least, -is the opinion of an old sailor. - -One of the greatest enemies to order and happiness in ships of war is -drunkenness. To be drunk is considered by almost every sailor as the -_acme_ of sensual bliss; while many fancy that swearing and drinking -are necessary accomplishments in a genuine man-of-war’s-man. Hence -it almost universally prevails. In our ship the men would get drunk, -in defiance of every restriction. Were it not for the moral and -physical ruin which follows its use, one might laugh at the various -contrivances adopted to elude the vigilance of officers in their -efforts to procure rum. Some of our men who belonged to the boats’ -crews provided themselves with bladders; if left ashore by their -officers a few moments, they would slip into the first grocery, fill -their bladders, and return with the spoil. Once by the ship’s side, -the favorable moment was seized to pass the interdicted bladders into -the port-holes, to some watchful shipmate, by whom it was carefully -secreted, to be drunk at the first opportunity. The liberty to go on -shore, which is always granted while in port, was sure to be abused -for drunken purposes. The Sabbath was also a day of sensuality. True, -we sometimes had the semblance of religious services, when the men -were summoned aft to hear the captain read the morning service from -the church prayer-book; but usually it was observed more as a day -of revelry than of worship. But at Christmas our ship presented a -scene such as I had never imagined. The men were permitted to have -their “full swing.” Drunkenness ruled the ship. Nearly every man, -with most of the officers, was in a state of beastly intoxication at -night. Here, some were fighting, but were so insensibly drunk, they -hardly knew whether they struck the guns or their opponents; yonder, -a party were singing libidinous or bacchanalian songs, while all -were laughing, cursing, swearing or hallooing; confusion reigned in -glorious triumph; it was the very chaos of humanity. Had we been at -sea, a sudden gale of wind must have proved our destruction; had we -been exposed to a sudden attack from an enemy’s vessel, we should -have fallen an easy prey to the victor; just as the poor Hessians, -at Trenton, fell before the well-timed blow of the sage Washington, -during the war of the revolution. - -Of all places, the labors of temperance men are most needed among -sailors; and I am glad to know that much has been accomplished among -them already. From what I _know_ of the sufferings and difficulties -growing out of intemperance at sea, I most heartily desire to see -a temperance flag floating at the mast-head of every ship in the -world. When this is seen, sailors will be a happier class than ever -they have yet been, from the time when the cautious Phenicians crept -timidly round the shores of the Mediterranean, to the present day of -bold and fearless navigation. - -[Illustration: (Decorative Separator)] - - - - - CHAPTER III - - -Shortly after the Christmas debauch, mentioned in the preceding -chapter, news was brought to the admiral that nine French -frigates were cruising on the Spanish coast: immediately, all was -excitement, bustle, preparation through the fleet. The _Hannibal_ -and _Northumberland_, both seventy-four gun ships, the _Cæsar_ of -eighty guns, called by the sailors the Old Bull-dog, a gun brig, and -some others, I forget the names, and the _Macedonian_, were ordered -to sail in pursuit of the French. This formidable force dropped -down the river, every man composing it eagerly desiring to meet the -enemy. The enterprise however, was unsuccessful; after cruising in -vain for several days, the admiral signalled the fleet to return. -Before reaching port we fell in with a Scotch ship from Greenock, -in a most perilous condition; her masts and rudder were gone, while -her numerous leaks were fast gaining on the labors of the already -exhausted crew at the pumps. Finding it utterly impossible to save -the vessel, we took off the crew; and thus our cruise, though -defeated in its main design, proved the means of rescuing several -poor wretches from a watery grave. It is a question worthy of -consideration, whether this was not a really higher result than if -we had found and beaten the French, and had returned in a crippled -state, leaving some hundreds killed and wounded. Humanity would -answer, yea. - -So far as the effects of this cruise concerned our own little -frigate, they were really quite serious. We were reefing topsails -one night, at sea, when the sailing-master, Mr. Lewis, in a fit of -ill-humor, threatened to flog some of the men. The captain overheard -him. Feeling himself hurt by this assumption of his own prerogative, -he told Mr. Lewis that he was captain in the ship, and it was his -business to flog the men. Sharp words followed; the captain was -exasperated; he ordered the sailing-master to be put in irons. Here, -however, he exceeded his own power, for, though he might place -the common sailor in irons, he might not do so by an officer with -impunity. Accordingly, when we reached Lisbon, a court-martial sat on -the case, which resulted in their both being broken or cashiered. - -This was a hard blow for Lord Fitzroy, and he obviously felt it -most keenly. It also cut off my expectations of being elevated to -the quarter deck; for, although I had never received any direct -encouragement from his Lordship, yet I had always nourished the hope -that ultimately he would keep the promise he made to my mother, -and do something for my advancement. Now, however, my hopes were -destroyed. I was doomed to the forecastle for life. - -Lord Fitzroy was succeeded by Captain Carson. He however, was soon -removed to make way for Captain Waldegrave, who proved to be far more -severe than Fitzroy. He and Lieutenant Hope were kindred spirits: -cruelty seemed to be their delight, for at the presence of culprits -tied to the gratings, a gleam of savage animation stole over their -faces. Punishment was now an almost every-day scene; even the boys -were not permitted to escape. A lad was appointed boatswain over -them, and they were consigned to the care of Mr. Hope, who took -especial delight in seeing them flogged. What a mean, dastardly -spirit for a British officer! How utterly contemptible he appears -engaged in whipping a few helpless sailor boys! Yet thus he did -constantly appear, causing them to be flogged for every trifling -offence. One poor little fellow, unable to tolerate the thought of -the lash, hid himself in the cable tier for several days. He was -discovered, only to be most shamefully punished. - -These severities filled our crew with discouragement. A sailor -dreads the dishonor of the lash. Some, urged by a nice sense of -honor, have preferred death to its endurance. I have heard of one -man who actually loaded himself with shot and deliberately walked -overboard. Among our ship’s company the effects of these severe -measures showed themselves in frequent desertions, notwithstanding -the great risk run by such a bold measure; for, if taken, they were -sure to meet with a fearful retribution. Still, many preferred the -chance of freedom; some ran off when on shore with the boats, others -dropped overboard in the night, and either swam on shore or were -drowned. Many others were kept from running away by the strength of -their attachment to their old messmates and by the hope of better -days. Of those who escaped, some were retaken by the Portuguese, -who delighted to hunt them up for a small sum of money. Two of my -messmates, named Robert Bell and James Stokes, were taken in this -manner. I felt greatly affected at losing their company, for they -were pleasant fellows. I felt a peculiar attachment to poor Stokes; -he had taught me many things which appertain to seamanship, and had -cared for my interests with the faithfulness of a parent. O how -anxiously did I desire they might not be detected, because I knew, -if they were, that they were doomed men. But they were taken by a -band of armed Portuguese; barefooted, desponding, broken in spirit, -they were brought on board, only to be put in irons immediately. By a -fortunate chance they escaped with _fifty_ lashes, instead of being -flogged through the fleet. - -We had another man who escaped, named Richard Suttonwood; he was very -profane, and was much in the habit of using the word “bloody;” hence -he was nicknamed “Bloody Dick” by his shipmates. Well, Dick ran off. -He succeeded in getting on board an English brig in the merchant -service. But how chop-fallen was poor Dick when he found that this -brig was laden with powder for his own frigate! Resolving to make the -best of the matter, he said nothing of his relation to our frigate, -but as soon as the brig dropped alongside of the _Macedonian_, he -came on board and surrendered himself; by this means he escaped -being flogged, as it was usual to pardon a runaway who voluntarily -returned to his duty. The crew were all delighted at his return, as -he was quite popular among them for his lively disposition and his -talents as a comic singer, which last gift is highly prized in a man -of war. So joyous were we all at his escape from punishment, that we -insisted on his giving a concert, which went off well. Seated on a -gun surrounded by scores of the men, he sung a variety of favorite -songs, amid the plaudits and _encores_ of his rough auditors. - -By such means as these, sailors contrive to keep up their spirits -amidst constant causes of depression and misery. One is a good -singer, another can spin tough forecastle yarns, while a third can -crack a joke with sufficient point to call out roars of laughter. But -for these interludes, life in a man of war, with severe officers, -would be absolutely intolerable; mutiny or desertion would mark the -voyages of every such ship. Hence, officers in general highly value -your jolly, merry-making, don’t-care sort of seamen. They know the -effect of their influence in keeping away discontented thought from -the minds of a ship’s company. One of these official favorites paid -our frigate a visit while we lay in Lisbon. We had just finished -breakfast, when a number of our men were seen running in high glee -towards the main hatchway. Wondering what was going forward, I -watched their proceedings with a curious eye. The cause of their joy -soon appeared in the person of a short, round-faced, merry-looking -tar, who descended the hatchway amid cries of “Hurrah! here’s happy -Jack!” As soon as the jovial little man had set his foot on the berth -deck, he began a specimen of his vocal powers. The voice of song was -as triumphant on board the _Macedonian_, as it was in days of yore -in the halls of Ossian. Every voice was hushed, all work was brought -to a standstill, while the crew gathered round their favorite, -in groups, to listen to his unequalled performances. Happy Jack -succeeded, while his visit lasted, in communicating his own joyous -feelings to our people, and they parted from him at night with deep -regret. - -A casual visitor in a man of war, beholding the song, the dance, the -revelry of the crew, might judge them to be happy. But I know that -these things are often resorted to, because they feel miserable, -just to drive away dull care. They do it on the same principle as -the slave population in the South, to drown in sensual gratification -the voice of misery that groans in the inner man--that lives within, -speaking of the indignity offered to its high nature by the chain -that eats beyond the flesh--discoursing of the rights of man, of -liberty on the free hills of a happier clime: while amidst the gayest -negro dance, not a heart among the laughing gang but would beat with -high emotions and seize the boon with indescribable avidity, should -it be offered its freedom on the spot. So in a man of war, where -severe discipline prevails, though cheerfulness smiles at times, it -is only the forced merriment of minds ill at ease; minds that would -gladly escape the thraldom of the hated service to which they are -bound. - -Nor is this forced submission to circumstances universal. There are -individuals who cannot be reached by these pleasantries; in spite of -everything, their spirits will writhe under the gripe of merciless -authority. We had a melancholy instance of this species of mind on -board our frigate. His name was Hill, the ward-room steward. This -man came on board with a resolute purpose to give satisfaction, if -possible, to his superiors. He tried his utmost in vain. He was still -scolded and cursed, until his condition seemed unendurable. One -morning a boy entered the after ward-room, when the first object that -met his astonished eye was the body of the steward, all ghastly and -bleeding. He had cut his throat, and lay weltering in his gore. The -surgeon was called, who pronounced him to be yet alive. The wound was -sewed up, the poor sufferer carried to the hospital-ship, which was -in attendance on the fleet, where he recovered, to be returned to -his former ship, though in another and worse capacity, that of common -sailor. - -We had on board a colored man whose name was Nugent, who possessed -a remarkably fine person, was very intelligent, exceedingly polite -in his manners, and easy in his address. He soon grew weary of the -caprices of our officers, and ran away. He was taken, however, in -rather a curious manner. The officers frequently walked the deck with -their spy-glasses. As one of them was spending a few leisure moments -in looking at the surrounding shipping, what should appear within -the field of his glass, but the person of the fugitive Nugent on the -deck of an American vessel! Upon this, a boat was despatched, which -soon returned with the crestfallen deserter, who was unceremoniously -thrown into irons. By some fortunate chance, however, he escaped a -flogging. - -Of course, my situation was as unpleasant as that of any other -person on board. I could not witness the discomfort and ill-usage -of others, without trembling for my own back. I, too, had thoughts -of running away, as opportunities frequently offered themselves. -But, being ignorant of the Portuguese language, I wisely concluded -that my condition among them, if I got clear, would, in respect to -my present state, bear about the same analogy as the fire does to -the frying-pan. My little adventures on shore gave me full assurance -of this fact. I remember going ashore on Good Friday. Like good -Catholics, the Portuguese had the masts of their vessels crossed, -with effigies of the traitor Judas hanging very significantly at -their jib-booms. On shore, they were exhibiting the blasphemous -mimicry of the solemn scene of the crucifixion. One was bearing -the cross, another a sponge, a third the vinegar. The streets were -crowded with images of the saints, to which all reverently bowed. -Woe betide that sacrilegious wretch who refused this tribute to -their darling images. He _was_ sure of being knocked down; he was -_not_ sure of getting home alive. I was fain to yield my knees to -save my skull; so for the time I was as good a Catholic as any of -them, at least in the matter of bowing and crossing: it was done, -however, with true Protestant mental reservation, and with a sincere -determination to prefer my man-of-war’s life to a life in Portugal. - -On another occasion, some of our officers took me on shore to help -them attend to some purchases. After following them a considerable -distance, they gave me a small commission to execute, with directions -to return to the ship as soon as it was attended to. This was no -easy task, however: they had conducted me to a strange part of the -city, and I knew scarcely a word of Portuguese. There I stood, then, -surrounded only by foreigners, who neither understood my language -nor I theirs. All I knew of my destination was, that our boat lay -near the Fish-market; so, for Fish-market I inquired. Speaking in -English, I asked the first man I met to direct me. He looked at me -with the empty stare of an idiot, and passed on. To the next, I said, -partly in broken Portuguese and partly in my own tongue, “John,” -(they call everybody John, whose true name they do not know,) “do -show me the fish-market.” He could not understand me; so, shrugging -his shoulders, he said, “No entender Englis,” and passed on. I asked -several others, but invariably received a shrug of the shoulder, a -shake of the head, and a “no entender Englis,” for an answer. I grew -desperate, and began to feel as if I had lost myself, when, to my -unutterable satisfaction, I saw an English soldier. I ran up to him -and said, “Good luck to you; do tell me where the fish-market is, -for these stupid Portuguese, bad luck to them, can’t understand a -word I say; but it is all, no entender Englis.” My countryman laughed -at seeing my English temper ruffled, and placed me in the way of -reaching the fish-market. I hurried thither, when, to my chagrin, the -boats were all gone. Here, then, was another difficulty; for, though -there were plenty of Portuguese boatmen, they could not understand -which ship I wished to reach. Here, however, my fingers did what my -tongue refused; our ship had its mainmast out, so, holding up two -fingers and pointing to the mast, they at last comprehended me and -conveyed me on board. Coming alongside, I gave them what I thought -was right; but they and I differed in opinion on that point; they -demanded more, with considerable bluster, but the sentry shouted, -“Shove off there!” and pointed his musket at them. Whether they -thought a reasonable fee, and a timely retreat, better than a contest -which might give them the taste of a musket-ball, I cannot determine; -at all events, I know that boat never left ship faster than theirs, -when they beheld the gleam of the sentry’s musket flashing in their -dark faces. - -Just after this adventure, I came very near being flogged, to my -no small alarm. Happening on shore with two more of the officers’ -servants, named Yates and Skinner, we stayed so late, the ship’s -boats had all gone off. Finding the boats gone, we strayed back into -the city; night came on, and our return until morning was impossible. -We had to wander about the city all night, in constant fear of -being apprehended by the Portuguese as deserters. To prevent this -no very desirable result, my comrades made me a midshipman; for the -satisfactory reason, that if an officer was supposed to be in our -company, no one would trouble us. The summary process by which I was -inducted into my new station, was by means of a stripe carefully -marked on my collar with a piece of chalk, to imitate the silver -lace on a middy’s coat. Thus exalted, I marched my company about -Lisbon until dawn, when I again found myself the self-same Samuel -Leech, servant to the surgeon of H. M. frigate _Macedonian_, that -I was the previous evening, with this additional fact, however, I -was now liable to be flogged. So, in the true spirit of a _Jeremy -Sneak_, we went on board, where, with due ceremony, we were parted -for separate examinations. What tale my fellow-wanderers invented, I -know not; for my own part, I told the truth of the matter, excepting -that I suppressed that part of it which related to my transformation -into an officer. Luckily for us all, one of the party was the first -lieutenant’s servant; if he flogged one, he must flog the whole. To -save the back of his own boy, he let us all escape. - -We were now ordered on another cruise. Being in want of men, we -resorted to the press-gang which was made up of our most loyal men, -armed to the teeth; by their aid we obtained our full numbers. Among -them were a few Americans; they were taken without respect to their -protections, which were often taken from them and destroyed. Some -were released through the influence of the American consul; others, -less fortunate, were carried to sea, to their no small chagrin.[4] - -The duties of the press-gang completed, we once more weighed anchor, -and were soon careering before the gales of the bay of Biscay. Our -reception in this proverbially stormy bay was by no means a civil -one. We met with an extraordinarily severe gale, in which we came -very near foundering. We had just finished dinner, when a tremendous -sea broke over us, pouring down the hatchway, sweeping the galley of -all its half-cooked contents, then being prepared for the officers’ -dinner, and covering the berth deck with a perfect flood. It seemed -as if old Neptune really intended that wave to sink us to Davy Jones’ -locker. As the water rolled from side to side within, and the rude -waves without beat against her, our good ship trembled from stem -to stern, and seemed like a human being gasping for breath in a -struggle with death. The women (there were several on board) set up -a shriek, a thing they had never done before; some of the men turned -pale; others cursed and tried to say witty things; the officers -started; orders ran along the ship to man the chain-pumps, and to cut -holes through the berth deck to let the water into the hold. These -orders being rapidly obeyed, the ship was freed from her danger. The -confusion of the moment was followed by laughing and pleasantries. -That gale was long spoken of as one of great danger. - -It is strange that sailors, who see so much peril, should treat -religion with such neglect as it is usual for them to do. When danger -is imminent, they send up a cry for help; when it is past, they -rarely return a grateful thank-offering. Yet how truly and eloquently -has the Psalmist shown, in the 107th Psalm, what should be the moral -effect of the wonders of the deep. What but a deep-rooted spiritual -perversity prevents such an effect? - -The next incident that disturbed the monotony of our sea-life, was of -a melancholy character. We had been giving chase to two West Indiamen -the whole of one Sabbath afternoon; at night it blew so hard we -had to reef top-sails; when a poor fellow, named John Thomson, was -knocked from the yard. In falling, he struck some part of the ship, -and the wave which opened to receive him, never disclosed his form -again. He was a pressed man, an American by birth, greatly beloved -by his messmates, by whom his death was as severely felt as when a -member of a family dies on shore. His loss created a dull and gloomy -atmosphere throughout the ship: it was several days before the hands -regained their wonted elasticity of mind and appearance. - -My recollections of this cruise are very feeble and indistinct, -owing to a severe injury which confined me to my hammock nearly -the whole period. The accident which ended in a severe illness had -its origin in the following manner. The duty of cleaning knives, -plates, dish-covers, &c., for the ward-room, devolved alternately on -the boys employed in the ward-room. Having finished this task, one -day, in my regular turn, the ward-room steward, a little hot-headed -Malay, came to me at dinner-time to inquire for the knives. Not -recollecting for the moment, I made no reply; when he angrily pushed -me over a sack of bread. In falling my head came in contact with -the corner of a locker. Feeling much pain, and the blood flowing -freely, I went to Mr. Marsh, the surgeon’s mate, who dressed it, -and bade me take care of it. Probably it would have healed speedily -but for the freak of a sailor a few days after, while holy-stoning -the decks. By holy-stoning, I mean cleaning them with stones, which -are used for this purpose in men of war. These stones are, some of -them, large, with a ring at each end with a rope attached, by which -it is pulled backwards and forwards on the wet decks. These large -stones are called holy bibles; the smaller hand ones are also called -holy-stones, or prayer-books, their shape being something like a -book. After the decks are well rubbed with these stones, they are -wiped dry with swabs made of rope-yarns. By this means the utmost -cleanliness is preserved in the ship. It was customary in our ship, -during this scrubbing process, for the boys to wash themselves in -a large tub provided for the purpose on the main deck. The men -delighted in sousing us with water during this operation. After -being wounded, as just mentioned, I endeavored to avoid their briny -libations; but one morning, one of the sailors, seeing my anxiety, -crept slily up behind me, and emptied a pail of water directly -over my head. That night I began both to look and to feel sick. My -messmates said I was sea-sick, and laughed at me. Feeling violent -pains in my head, ears and neck, I felt relieved when it was time -to turn in. The next morning, being rather behind my usual time in -waiting upon the surgeon, he began to scold me. I told him I was -unwell. He felt my pulse, examined my tongue, and excused me. Growing -worse, my messmates got down my hammock. I entered it very sick; my -head and face swelling very large, and my eyes so sunken I could -scarcely see. - -I remained in this sad situation several weeks, carefully attended by -the surgeon, and watched by the men as tenderly as their rough hands -could perform the office of nurse. My destiny was considered as being -sealed, both by the crew and by myself. I was much troubled at the -thought of dying: it seemed dark and dreary to enter the valley of -the shadow of death without the presence of a Saviour. To relieve my -feelings, I frequently repeated the Lord’s prayer, taught me by my -indulgent mother in my earlier and brighter years. But my mind was -dark and disconsolate; there were none among that kind-hearted but -profligate crew to point my soul to its proper rest. - -While lying in this state, my life hanging in a doubtful balance, one -of the crew, named Black Tom, an African, was taken sick. His hammock -was hung up in the sick bay, a part of the main deck appropriated to -hospital purposes. Poor Tom, having a constitution already undermined -by former excesses, soon fell under the attack of disease. He was -then sewed up in his hammock, with some shot at his feet: at sundown -the ship’s bell pealed a melancholy note, the ship was “hove to,” -all hands mustered on deck, but myself; and, amid the most profound -silence, the body of the departed sailor was laid upon the grating -and launched into the great deep, the resting-place of many a bold -head. A plunge, a sudden opening in the water, followed by an equally -sudden return of the disparted waves, and Black Tom was gone forever -from his shipmates! In a few moments the yards were braced round, and -our frigate was cutting her way again through the wide ocean waste. -It seemed to me that she was soon destined to heave to again, that I -might also be consigned to an ocean grave. But in this I was happily -disappointed. By the blessing of a watchful Providence, the aid of -a sound constitution, assisted by the skill of our surgeon and the -kindness of my shipmates, I was at last able to leave my hammock. -Shortly after our return to Lisbon, I was pronounced fit for duty, -and the surgeon having obtained another boy, I was placed on the -quarter deck, in the capacity of messenger, or errand boy for the -captain and his officers. - -With my return to active life, came my exposure to hardships, and, -what I dreaded still more, to punishment. Some of the boys were to be -punished on the main deck; the rest were ordered forward to witness -it, as usual. Being so far aft that I could not hear the summons, -as a matter of course, I remained at my post. The hawk-eye of the -lieutenant missed me, and in a rage he ordered me to be sent for to -receive a flogging for my absence. Excuse was vain; for, such was the -fiendish temper of this brutal officer, he only wanted the shadow of -a reason for dragging the poor helpless boys of his charge to the -grating. While I stood in trembling expectation of being degraded -by the hated cat, a summons from the captain providentially called -off our _brave_ boy-flogger, and I escaped. The _offence_ was never -mentioned afterwards. The reader can easily perceive how such a -constant exposure to the lash must embitter a seaman’s life. - -Already, since the _Macedonian_ had been in commission, had she -changed captains twice. Why it so happened, it is not in my power -to explain; but while at Lisbon, after the cruise last mentioned, -our present captain was superseded by Captain John S. Carden. His -arrival excited a transitory hope of a brighter lot, as he was an -older man than the others, and, as we vainly trusted, a kinder one. -Here, however, we were mistaken; he was like all the rest, the same -heartless, unfeeling lover of whip discipline. At first the men under -sentence tried their powers at flattery with the grave old man; but -he was too experienced a sea-dog to be cajoled by a long-faced sailor -under sentence: when, therefore, they told him he was a kind-hearted -_fatherly_ gentleman, he only replied by a most provoking laugh, and -by saying they were a set of very undutiful sons. - -Captain Carden was mercilessly severe in punishing theft. He would -on no account forgive any man for this crime, but would flog the -thief almost to death. Of this, we soon had a cruel instance. A -midshipman named Gale, a most rascally, unprincipled fellow, found -his pocket handkerchief in possession of one of the crew. He charged -the man with stealing it. It was in vain that the poor wretch -asserted that he found it under his hammock. He was reported as a -thief; a court-martial sat upon him, and returned the shamefully -disproportionate sentence of three hundred lashes through the fleet, -and one year’s imprisonment! Any of my shipmates who are living, will -certify to the truth of this statement, brutal and improbable as it -may appear. - -Nor was that sentence a dead letter; the unhappy man endured it to -the letter. Fifty were laid on alongside of the _Macedonian_, in -conformity with a common practice of inflicting the most strokes -at the first ship, in order that the gory back of the criminal may -strike the more terror into the crews of the other ships. This poor -tortured man bore two hundred and twenty, and was pronounced by the -attending surgeon unfit to receive the rest. Galled, bruised, and -agonized as he was, he besought him to suffer the infliction of the -remaining eighty, that he might not be called to pass through the -degrading scene again; but this prayer was denied! He was brought on -board, and when his wounds were healed, the captain, Shylock-like, -determined to have the whole pound of flesh, ordered him to receive -the remainder. - -But for my desire to present the reader with a true exhibition of -life on board a British man of war, it would be my choice to suppress -these disgusting details of cruelty and punishment. But this is -impossible; I must either draw a false picture or describe them. I -choose the latter, in the hope that giving publicity to these facts -will exert a favorable influence on the already improving discipline -of ships of war. - -The case of our ship’s drummer will illustrate the hopelessness of -our situation under such officers as commanded our ship; it will -show that implicit, uncomplaining submission was our only resource. -This drummer, being seized up for some petty offence, demanded, what -no captain can refuse, to be tried by a court-martial; in the hope, -probably, of escaping altogether. The officers laughed among each -other, and when, a few days afterwards, the poor, affrighted man -offered to withdraw the demand and take six dozen lashes, they coolly -remarked, “The drummer is sick of his bargain.” He would have been -a wiser man had he never made it; for the court-martial sentenced -him to receive two hundred lashes through the fleet:--a punishment -ostensibly for his first offence, but really for his insolence (?) in -demanding a trial by court-martial. Such was the administration of -justice (?) on board the _Macedonian_. - -“Why did not your crew rise in resistance to such cruelty?” is a -question which has often been proposed to me, when relating these -facts to my American friends. To talk of mutiny on shore is an easy -matter; but to excite it on shipboard is to rush on to certain death. -Let it be known that a man has dared to breathe the idea, and he is -sure to swing at the yard-arm. Some of our men once saw six mutineers -hanging at the yard-arm at once, in a ship whose crew exhibited -the incipient beginnings of mutiny. Let mutiny be successful, the -government will employ its whole force, if needful, in hunting -down the mutineers; their blood, to the last drop, is the terrible -retribution it demands for this offence. That demand is sure to be -met, as was the case with the crew of the _Hermione_[5] frigate, and -with the crew of the ill-fated _Bounty_, whose history is imprinted -on the memory of the whole civilized world. With such tragedies -flitting before our eyes, who need ask why we did not resist? - -Just before we left Lisbon for another cruise, my position was -once more changed by my appointment to the post of servant to the -sailing-master; whose boy, for some offence or other, was flogged and -turned away. Here, too, the captain procured a fine band, composed -of Frenchmen, Italians and Germans, taken by the Portuguese from a -French vessel. These musicians consented to serve, on condition of -being excused from fighting, and on a pledge of exemption from being -flogged. They used to play to the captain during his dinner hour; -the party to be amused usually consisting of the captain and one -or two invited guests from the ward-room; except on Sundays, when -he chose to honor the ward-room with his august presence. The band -then played for the ward-room. They also played on deck whenever we -entered or left a port. On the whole, their presence was an advantage -to the crew, since their spirit-stirring strains served to spread -an occasional cheerful influence over them. Soon after they came on -board, we had orders to proceed to sea again on another cruise. - -[Illustration: (Decorative Separator)] - - - - - CHAPTER IV - - -A few days after we had fairly got out to sea, the thrilling cry of -“A man overboard!” ran through the ship with electrical effect; it -was followed by another cry of, “Heave out a rope!” then by still -another, of “Cut away the life buoy!” Then came the order, “Lower -a boat!” Notwithstanding the rapidity of these commands, and the -confusion occasioned by the anticipated loss of a man, they were -rapidly obeyed. The ship was then hove to. But that time, however, -the cause of all this excitement was at a considerable distance from -the ship. It was a poor Swede, named Logholm, who, while engaged in -lashing the larboard anchor stock, lost his hold and fell into the -sea. He could not swim; but, somehow, he managed to keep afloat until -the boat reached him, when he began to sink. The man at the bow ran -his boat hook down, and caught the drowning man by his clothes: his -clothes tearing, the man lost his hold, and the Swede once more sunk. -Again the active bowsman ran the hook down, leaning far over the -side; fortunately, he got hold of his shirt collar: dripping, and -apparently lifeless, they drew him into the boat. He was soon under -the surgeon’s care, whose skill restored him to animation and to -life. It was a narrow escape! - -Rising one morning, I heard the men talking about having been called -to quarters during the night. They said a strange vessel having -appeared, the drums beat to quarters, the guns were got ready, those -great lanterns, which are placed on the main deck, called battle -lanterns, were got out, and the officers began to muster the men -at each division; when they discovered the supposed vessel of war -to be nothing more than a large merchant ship. Upon this the hands -were sent below. All this was news to me; I had slept through all -the noise, confusion and bustle of the night, utterly ignorant of -the whole matter. It was fortunate for me that the real character of -the strange ship was discovered before my name was called, otherwise -the morning would have found me at the gratings under punishment. -Never was boy happier than myself, when made acquainted with my -hair-breadth escape from the lash. - -We had now reached the island of Madeira, occupied by the Portuguese, -and producing fine oranges, grapes and wine. It is some sixty -miles in length, about forty in breadth; the climate is hot, -but salubrious; its harbor, or rather roadstead, is by no means -commodious or safe--so that our stay was short. Here, the Portuguese -lad who had supplied my place as servant to the surgeon, was sent on -shore, for attempting a crime unfit to be mentioned in these pages, -but quite common among the Spaniards and Portuguese. My old master -made an effort to obtain me again, but did not succeed. - -Sailing from Madeira, we next made St. Michael’s. At this pace -we had an increase to our crew, in the person of a fine, plump -boy--born to the wife of one of our men. The captain christened the -new comer, Michael, naming him after the island. This birth was -followed by another. Whether the captain did not like the idea of -such interesting episodes in sea life, or whether any other motive -inspired him, I cannot tell; but when, shortly after, we returned -to Lisbon, he ordered all the women home to England, by a ship -just returning thither. Before this, however, one of our little -Tritons had died, and found a grave under the billows, leaving its -disconsolate mother in a state little short of distraction. A man of -war is no place for a woman. - -Short cruises are very popular with man-of-war’s men. On many -accounts they love being in harbor; on others they prefer being at -sea. In harbor they have to work all day, but in return for this they -have the whole night for sleep. At sea, the whole time is divided -into five watches of four hours each, and two shorter ones, called -dog watches, of two hours each, or from four to six and from six to -eight, P. M. The design of these dog watches is to alternate the -time, so that each watch may have a fair proportion of every night -below. - -While at our station this time, our old friend, Bob Hammond, met with -some little difficulty, which we will here make matter of record. -He was below, and one of his messmates did something that vexed him -exceedingly. Now Bob was not a man to bear vexations tamely, where he -had the power to resist them; so, lifting his huge fist, he struck at -the offender; missing his real opponent, the blow fell upon another -who stood near him. Bob was too much of a bully to offer any apology; -he merely laughed, and remarked that he had “killed two birds with -one stone.” - -Whether the bird, who, in Bob’s figurative language, was killed, -did not like being called a bird, or whether he conceived a strong -dislike to being a mark for Bob to shoot at, is not for me to -say; but he certainly disliked the one or the other, for the next -morning he reported the matter to the officers, which complaint was -considered a most unsailor-like act by the whole crew. - -Fighting was a punishable offence, so Bob was called up the next -morning. The captain mentioned what was reported concerning him. He -acknowledged it was all true, and without any signs of contrition -said, “I only killed two birds with one stone.” The angry captain -ordered two dozen lashes to be laid on; it was done without extorting -a sigh or a groan. He was then loosed from the grating, and -questioned; but he merely replied, in a gruff tone, that “the man who -reported him was a blackguard!” For this, he was seized up again and -another dozen lashes inflicted; he bore them with the same dogged and -imperturbable air. Finding it impossible to extort any acknowledgment -from the stubborn tar, the captain ordered him below. - -About the same time one of our crew, named Jack Sadler, a fine, -noble-hearted seaman, growing weary of the service, determined to -desert. Dropping into the water, he began swimming towards the shore. -It was not very dark, and he was discovered; the sentry was ordered -to fire at him, which he did, but missed his prey. A boat was next -lowered, which soon overtook and dragged him on board. The officer -commanding the boat said, “Well, Mr. Sadler, you thought you had got -away, did you?” “You are not so sure that you have me now,” replied -Sadler, as he sprung over the side of the boat. Nor would they have -captured him, had not another ship’s boat arrived to their assistance. - -The next day, he was seized up and received three dozen lashes, -which, considering his offence, was a very light punishment. I -suppose that his noble bearing, his lion-hearted courage, and his -undaunted manner, produced a favorable feeling in the captain’s mind; -especially as he afterwards became his favorite--a fancy man--as -those men are called who win the favor of their superior officer. - -One of Sadler’s failings was that too prevalent evil among seamen, -drunkenness. Soon after the above affair, he got drunk. Being seen -by the captain, he was ordered to be put in irons. Sadler was Bob -Hammond’s messmate; this worthy, finding his comrade in trouble, -made himself drunk, and purposely placed himself in the way of the -officers, that he might be put in irons also, to keep his friend -Sadler company. The plan succeeded. Bob had his wish, and the two -fearless tars were soon ironed together. Nothing daunted, they began -to sing, and through the whole night they kept up such a hallooing, -shouting and singing as might have served for a whole company of idle -roysterers. Being near the ward-room, they prevented the officers -from sleeping nearly all night. - -As usual, after being in irons, they were brought up for punishment -the next morning. “Well, Mr. Sadler,” said the captain, “you were -drunk, were you, last night?” - -“I was, sir,” replied the offender. - -Had he been any other man, he would have been ordered to strip: as it -was, the captain proceeded,-- - -“Do you feel sorry for it, sir?” - -“I do, sir.” - -“Will you try to keep sober if I forgive you?” continued Captain -Carden. - -“I will try, sir.” - -“Then, sir, I forgive you:” and no doubt he was glad to witness that -contrition in his favorite which made it consistent to forgive him. -Having dismissed Sadler, he turned to Hammond: assuming a sterner -look and a harsher voice, he said, in a tone of irony, “Well, Mr. -Hammond, you got drunk last night, did you, sir?” - -Bob shrugged up his shoulders, and removed his enormous quid into a -convenient position for speaking, and then replied, “I can’t say but -that I had a horn of malt.” - -The captain looked thunder at the stalwart man, as he answered, “A -horn of malt, you rascal! what do you call a horn of malt?” - -“When I was in Bengal, Madras, and Batavia,” said he, “I used to get -some stuff called arrack--we used to call it a horn of malt; but this -was some good rum.” - -Bob’s manner was so exquisitely ridiculous while delivering this -harangue, that both officers and men broke out into an involuntary -laugh. The captain looked confounded, but recovering himself, he said -to Mr. Hope, the first lieutenant, “Put that rascal in irons; it is -of no use to flog him.” - -One of the peculiarities of Captain Carden was an ardent desire to -have a crew of picked, first-rate men. The shiftless, slovenly seaman -was his abhorrence. Had he dared, he would gladly have given all -such their discharge; as it was, he never attempted their recovery, -by offering a reward for their detection, if they ran away; while he -spared no pains to catch an able, active, valuable man like Sadler. -He even gave these drones opportunity to escape, by sending them on -shore at Lisbon, to cut stuff to make brooms for sweeping the deck. -The men sent out on these expeditions were nicknamed “broomers.” Now, -although Bob Hammond was as expert a sailor as any man in the ship, -yet his unconquerable audacity made the captain fear his influence, -and wish to get rid of him; hence, a few days after this drunken -spree, Bob was called on deck to go with the broomers. “You may go, -Mr. Hammond,” said the captain, eyeing him in a very expressive -manner, “with these fellows to cut broom.” - -Bob understood the hint perfectly, and replied, “Aye, aye, sir, -and I will cut a long handle to it.” I scarcely need remark that -the broomers returned without Bob. Whether he remained on shore to -cut the long handle, or for some other purpose, he never informed -us: certain it is, however, that the presence of Bob Hammond never -darkened the decks of the _Macedonian_ again. - -About this time the prevailing topic of conversation among our -men and officers was the probability of a war with America. The -prevailing feeling through the whole fleet was that of confidence -in our own success, and of contempt for the inferior naval force of -our anticipated enemies. Every man, and especially the officers, -predicted, as his eye glanced proudly on the fine fleet which was -anchored off Lisbon, a speedy and successful issue to the approaching -conflict. - -We now received orders to sail to Norfolk, Virginia, with despatches. -The voyage was accomplished without any occurrence of note. We found -ourselves on the American coast, with no very pleasant impressions. -It was late in the fall, and the transition from the mild, soft -climate of Spain and Portugal, to the bleak, sharp atmosphere of the -coast of Virginia, was anything but delightful. - -The most disagreeable duty in the ship was that of holy-stoning the -decks on cold, frosty mornings. Our movements were never more elastic -than when at this really severe task. As usual, it gave occasion to a -variety of forecastle yarns about cold stations. Among these was one -which was attested by many witnesses, and there can be no doubt of -its truth: - -A British frigate was once stationed in a cold climate. The first -lieutenant was a complete tyrant, delighting in everything that -caused the crew to suffer. Among other things, he took especial care -to make the work of holy-stoning as painful as possible, by forcing -them to continue at it much longer than was necessary. Although he -had no watch on deck, he would contrive to be up in season to annoy -the men with his hated presence. One morning, the weather being -unusually severe, the men sprang to their task with unwonted agility, -and contrived to finish it before the appearance of their persecutor. -To their vexation, however, just as they had completed their work, he -bounced on deck, with a peremptory order to wash the decks all over a -second time. - -The men dropped on their knees with the holy-stones, and prayed, as -the tyrant went below, that he might never come on deck again alive. -Whether God heard the cry of the oppressed crew, or whether it was -the action of the ordinary natural laws, the reader must determine -for himself; but when the lieutenant again appeared on deck, he was -brought up “feet foremost,” to be buried. He was taken sick that -morning: his disease baffled the skill of the surgeon, and in a few -days he was a corpse. The opinion that he died a monument of the -divine displeasure against cruel, hard-hearted men of power, and of -disregard for the miseries and tears of the oppressed poor, is at -least worthy of serious consideration. - -Soon after we had descried land, an American pilot came on board to -pilot us into Hampton Roads. The sound of our own familiar tongue -from a stranger, was very agreeable to men who had been accustomed to -hear the semi-barbarous lingo of the Portuguese, and a thrill of home -remembrances shot through our hearts, as, stepping on deck, the pilot -exclaimed, “It is very cold!” - -While at anchor in Hampton Roads, we fared well. Boats were alongside -every day with plenty of beef and pork, which was declared, by -universal consent, to be infinitely superior to what we obtained from -Portugal. Our men said that the Yankee pork would swell in the pot, -which they very sagely accounted for on the supposition that the pigs -were killed at the full of the moon. But I suppose that Virginia corn -had more to do in this matter than lunar influences; though our men -most doggedly maintained the contrary and more mystical opinion. - -The principal draw-back on the enjoyment of our stay at Norfolk, was -the denial of liberty to go on shore. The strictest care was taken -to prevent all communication with the shore, either personally or -by letter. The reason of this prohibition was a fear lest we should -desert. Many of our crew were Americans: some of these were pressed -men; others were much dissatisfied with the severity, not to say -cruelty, of our discipline; so that a multitude of the crew were -ready to give “leg bail,” as they termed it, could they have planted -their feet on American soil. Hence our liberty was restrained. - -Our officers never enjoyed better cheer than during our stay at this -port. Besides feasting among themselves on the fine fat beef, geese -and turkeys, which came alongside in abundance, they exchanged visits -with Commodore Decatur and his officers, of the frigate _United -States_, then lying at Norfolk. These visits were seasons of much -wassail and feasting. I remember overhearing Commodore Decatur and -the captain of the _Macedonian_ joking about taking each other’s -ship, in case of a war; and some of the crew said that a bet of a -beaver hat passed between them on the issue of such a conflict. They -probably little thought that this joking over a wine-cup, would -afterwards be cracked in earnest, in a scene of blood and carnage. - -It was at this port that the difficulty between the British ship -_Leopard_ and the American frigate _Chesapeake_ took place. Several -American seamen, having escaped from the former, took refuge on board -the latter. The captain of the _Leopard_ demanded their restoration; -the captain of the _Chesapeake_ refused submission to the demand. The -_Leopard_ fired into the frigate, which, being of inferior force, -struck to her opponent. As it was a time of peace, the _Chesapeake_ -was not kept as a prize; the claimed men were taken from her, and she -was restored. This was among the circumstances which led to the war -of 1812. - -The despatches delivered, and the object of the voyage accomplished, -we once more put to sea; having first laid in a liberal store of our -favorite beef, together with a quantity of Virginia beans, called -Calavances, which were in high favor with our men. To those of our -crew who were Americans, this was rather an unpleasant event. Like -the fabled Tantalus, they had the cup at their mouths, but it receded -before they could taste its contents. They had been at the threshold -of “home, sweet home,” but had not been permitted to step within its -doors. Some of them felt this very keenly, especially a boy, who -belonged to New York, named Jesse Lloyd. In truth, it was a hard lot. - -A quick winter passage brought us to Lisbon, where the arrival of the -English mail-bag, and orders to proceed to England with a convoy of -merchantmen, put us all into a tolerably good humor. - -The arrival of the mail-bag is a season of peculiar interest on -board a man of war. It calls the finer feelings of human nature into -exercise. It awakens conjugal, fraternal, and filial affection -in almost every breast. The men crowd around, as the letters are -distributed, and he was pronounced a happy fellow whose name was -read off by the distributor; while those who had none, to hide their -disappointment, would jocularly offer to buy those belonging to their -more fortunate messmates. - -During the two years of our absence I had received several letters -from my mother, which afforded me much satisfaction. To these I had -faithfully replied. I now experienced the advantage of the primary -education I had received when a boy. Many of my shipmates could -neither read nor write, and were, in consequence either altogether -deprived of the privilege of intercourse with their friends, or were -dependent on the kindness of others, to read and write for them. For -these I acted as a sort of scribe. I also solaced many weary hours -by reading such works as could be obtained from the officers; and -sometimes I perused the Bible and prayer book which my mother so -wisely placed in my chest, on the eve of my departure. The pack of -cards, which so inappropriately accompanied them, I had loaned to -one of the officers, who took the liberty to keep them. This was, -perhaps, more fortunate than otherwise, since their possession might -have led to their use, and their use might have excited a propensity -to gambling, which would have ended in my ruin. - -After remaining a very short time at Lisbon, we one morning fired a -gun to give notice to our convoy to get under weigh. Immediately the -harbor was alive with noise and activity. The song of the sailors -weighing anchor, the creaking of pulleys, the flapping of the sails, -the loud, gruff voices of the officers, and the splashing of the -waters, created what was to us, now that we were “homeward bound,” -a sweet harmony of sounds. Amid all this animation, our own stately -frigate spread her bellying sails to a light but favoring breeze; -with colors flying, our band playing lively airs, and the captain -with his speaking trumpet urging the lagging merchant-ships to more -activity, we passed gaily through the large fleet consigned to our -care. In this gallant style we scudded past the straggling ruins of -old Lisbon, which still bore marks of the earthquake that destroyed -it. Very soon the merry fishermen, who abound in the Tagus, were -far at our stern. Next, we glided past the tall granite pinnacles -of towering mount Cintra; the high-lands passed from our vision -like the scenes in a panorama, and in a few hours, instead of the -companionship of the large flocks of gulls, which abound in this -river, we were attended by only here and there one of these restless -wanderers of the deep. We were fairly at sea, and, what was the more -inspiring, we were enjoying the luxury of fond anticipation. Visions -of many an old fire-side, of many a humble hearth-stone, poor, -but precious, flitted across the visions of our crew that night. -Hardships, severe discipline, were for the time forgotten in the -dreams of hope. Would that I could say that everything in every mind -was thus absorbed in pleasure! There were minds that writhed under -what is never forgotten. Like the scar, that time may heal, but not -remove, the flogged man forgets not that he has been degraded; the -whip, when it scarred the flesh, went farther; it wounded the spirit; -it struck the _man_; it begat a sense of degradation he must carry -with him to his grave. We had many such on board our frigate; their -laugh sounded empty, and sometimes their look became suddenly vacant -in the midst of hilarity. IT WAS THE WHIP ENTERING THE SOUL ANEW. But -the most of our crew were, for the time, happy. They were homeward -bound! - - - - - CHAPTER V - - -After running a few days before a fair wind, the delightful cry of -“Land ho!” was heard from the mast-head; a cry always pleasant to -the inhabitant of a ship, but most especially so when the distant -hills are those of his native land. Soon after the cry of the man -aloft, the land became dimly visible from the deck, and our eyes -glistened, as the bright, emerald fields of old England, in all the -glory of their summer beauty, lay spread out before us. Ascending the -British Channel, we soon made the spacious harbor of Plymouth, where -we came to an anchor. One of our convoy, however, by some unskilful -management, ran ashore at the mouth of the harbor, where she went to -pieces. - -We found Plymouth to be a naval station of considerable importance, -well fortified, possessing extensive barracks for the accommodation -of the military, and having a magnificent dock-yard, abundantly -supplied with the means of building and refitting the wooden walls. - -Nothing would have afforded me a higher gratification, than a trip -to the pleasant fields and quiet hearth-sides of dear old Bladen. I -longed to pour out my pent-up griefs into the bosom of my mother, -and to find that sympathy which is sought in vain in the cold, -unfeeling world. This privilege was, however, denied to all. No one -could obtain either leave of absence or money, since a man of war is -never “paid off” until just before she proceeds to sea. But, feeling -heartily tired of the service, I wrote to my mother, requesting her -to endeavor to procure my discharge. This, with the promptitude -of maternal affection, she pledged herself to do at the earliest -possible opportunity. How undying is a mother’s love! - -When a man of war is in port, it is usual to grant the crew -occasional liberty to go on shore. These indulgences are almost -invariably abused for purposes of riot, drunkenness and debauchery; -rarely does it happen, but that these shore sprees end in bringing -“poor Jack” into difficulty of some sort; for, once on shore, he is -like an uncaged bird, as gay and quite as thoughtless. He will then -follow out the dictates of passions and appetites, let them lead -him whither they may. Still, there are exceptions; there are a few -who spend their time more rationally. Were the principles of modern -temperance fully triumphant among sailors, they would all do so. - -I resolved not to abuse my liberty as I saw others doing; so when, -one fine Sabbath morning, I had obtained leave from our surly first -lieutenant, I chose the company of a brother to a messmate, named -Rowe, who lived at Plymouth. At the request of my messmate, I called -to see him. He received me very kindly, and took me in company with -his children into the fields, where the merry notes of the numerous -birds, the rich perfume of the blooming trees, the tall, green -hedges, and the modest primroses, cowslips and violets, which adorned -the banks on the road-side, filled me with inexpressible delight. -True, this was not the proper manner of spending a Sabbath day, -but it was better than it would have been to follow the example of -my shipmates generally, who were carousing in the tap-rooms of the -public houses. - -At sunset I went on board and walked aft to the lieutenant, to report -myself. He appeared surprised to see me on board so early and so -perfectly sober, and jocosely asked me why I did not get drunk and -be like a sailor. Merely smiling, I retired to my berth, thinking it -was very queer for an officer to laugh at a boy for doing right, and -feeling happy within myself because I had escaped temptation. - -By and by, three other boys, who had been ashore, returned, in a -state which a sailor would call “three sheets in the wind.” They -blustered, boasted of the high time they had enjoyed, and roundly -laughed at me for being so unlike a man-of-war’s-man; while they felt -as big as any man on board. The next morning, however, they looked -rather chop-fallen, when the captain, who had accidentally seen their -drunken follies on shore, ordered them to be flogged, and forbade -their masters to send them ashore while we remained at Plymouth. -Now, then, it was pretty evident who had the best cruise; the joke -was on the other side; for while their drunken behavior cost them a -terrible whipping and a loss of liberty, my temperance gained me the -_real_ approbation of my officers, and more liberty than ever, since -after that day I had to go on shore to do errands for their masters, -as well as for my own. The young sailor may learn from this fact the -benefit of temperance, and the folly of getting drunk, for the sake -of being called a fine fellow. - -My frequent visits to the shore gave me many opportunities to run -away; while my dislike of everything about the _Macedonian_ inspired -me with the disposition to improve them. Against this measure my -judgment wisely remonstrated, and, happily for my well being, -succeeded. Such an attempt would inevitably have been followed by -my recovery, since a handsome bounty was paid for the delivery of -every runaway. There are always a sufficient number to be found -who will engage in pursuit for the sake of money--such men as the -Canadian landlord, described by Rev. Wm. Lighton, in his interesting -narrative,[6] a work with which, no doubt, most of my readers are -acquainted, since it has enjoyed an immense circulation. Endurance, -therefore, was the only rational purpose I could form. - -Perhaps the hope of a speedy discharge, through my mother’s efforts, -tended somewhat to this result in my case; besides, my situation -had become somewhat more tolerable from the fact, that by dint of -perseverance in a civil and respectful behavior, I had gained the -good will both of the officers and crew. Yet, with this advantage, it -was a miserable situation. - -There are few worse places than a man of war, for the favorable -development of the moral character in a boy. Profanity, in its most -revolting aspect; licentiousness, in its most shameful and beastly -garb; vice, in the worst of its Proteus-like shapes, abound there. -While scarcely a moral restraint is thrown round the victim, the -meshes of temptation are spread about his path in every direction. -Bad as things are at sea, they are worse in port. There, boat-loads -of defiled and defiling women are permitted to come alongside; the -men, looking over the side, select whoever best pleases his lustful -fancy, and by paying her fare, he is allowed to take and keep her on -board as his paramour, until the ship is once more ordered to sea. -Many of these lost, unfortunate creatures are in the springtime of -life, some of them are not without pretensions to beauty. The ports -of Plymouth and Portsmouth are crowded with these fallen beings. How -can a boy be expected to escape pollution, surrounded by such works -of darkness? Yet, some parents send their children to sea because -they are ungovernable ashore! Better send them to the house of -correction. - -There is one aspect in which life at sea and life in port materially -differ. At sea, a sense of danger, an idea of insecurity, is ever -present to the mind; in harbor, a sense of security lulls the sailor -into indulgence. He feels perfectly safe. Yet, even in harbor, danger -sometimes visits the fated ship, stealing upon her like the spirit of -evil. This remark was fearfully illustrated in the loss of the _Royal -George_, which sunk at Spithead, near Portsmouth, on the 29th of -August, 1782. - -This splendid line of battle ship of one hundred and eight guns, had -arrived at Spithead. Needing some repairs, she was “_heeled down_,” -or inclined on one side, to allow the workmen to work on her sides. -Finding more needed to be done to the copper sheathing than was -expected, the sailors were induced to heel her too much. While in -this state, she was struck by a slight squall; the cannon rolled over -to the depressed side; her ports were open, she filled with water, -and sunk to the bottom! - -This dreadful catastrophe occurred about ten o’clock in the morning. -The brave Admiral Kempenfeldt was writing in his cabin; most of the -crew, together with some three hundred women, were between decks: -these nearly all perished. Captain Waghorn, her commander, was saved; -his son, one of her lieutenants, was lost. Those who were on the -upper deck were picked up by the boats of the fleet, but nearly one -thousand souls met with a sudden and untimely end. The poet Cowper -has celebrated this melancholy event in the following beautiful lines: - - Toll for the brave! - The brave that are no more! - All sunk beneath the wave, - Fast by their native shore. - - Eight hundred of the brave, - Whose courage well was tried, - Had made the vessel heel, - And laid her on her side. - - A land breeze shook the shrouds, - And she was overset; - Down went the _Royal George_, - With all her crew complete. - - Toll for the brave-- - Brave Kempenfeldt is gone, - His last sea fight is fought-- - His work of glory done. - - It was not in the battle; - No tempest gave the shock; - She sprang no fatal leak; - She ran upon no rock. - - His sword was in its sheath; - His fingers held the pen, - When Kempenfeldt went down, - With twice four hundred men. - - Weigh the vessel up, - Once dreaded by our foes! - And mingle with our cup - The tear that England owes. - - Her timbers yet are sound, - And she may float again, - Full charged with England’s thunder, - And plough the distant main. - - But Kempenfeldt is gone, - His victories are o’er; - And he, and his eight hundred, - Shall plough the wave no more. - -To return to my narrative: Our ship, having been at sea two years, -needed overhauling. She was therefore taken into one of the splendid -dry docks in the Plymouth dock-yard, while the crew were placed, for -the time being, on board an old hulk. A week or two sufficed for -this task, when we returned to our old quarters. She looked like a -new ship, having been gaily painted within and without. We, too, -soon got newly rigged; for orders had reached us from the Admiralty -office to prepare for sea, and we were paid off. Most of the men laid -out part of their money in getting new clothing; some of it went to -buy pictures, looking-glasses, crockery ware, &c., to ornament our -berths, so that they bore some resemblance to a cabin. The women were -ordered ashore, and we were once more ready for sea. - -The practice of paying seamen at long intervals, is the source of -many evils. Among these, is the opportunity given to pursers to -practise extortion on the men--an opportunity they are not slow in -improving. The spendthrift habits of most sailors leave them with a -barely sufficient quantity of clothing, for present purposes, when -they ship. If the cruise is long, they are, consequently, obliged to -draw from the purser. This gentleman is ever ready to supply them, -but at ruinous prices. Poor articles with high prices are to be -found in his hands; these poor Jack must take of necessity, because -he cannot get his wages until he is paid off. Hence, what with poor -articles, high charges and _false_ charges, the purser almost always -has a claim which makes Jack’s actual receipts for two or three -years’ service, wofully small. Were he paid at stated periods, he -could make his own purchases as he needed them. The sailor is aware -of this evil, but he only shows his apprehension of it in his usually -good-humored manner. If he sees a poor, ill-cut garment, he will -laugh, and say it “looks like a purser’s shirt on a handspike.” These -are small matters, but they go to make up the sum total of a seaman’s -life, and should therefore be remedied as far as possible. - -Our preparations all completed, the hoarse voice of the boatswain -rang through the ship, crying, “All hands up anchor, ahoy!” In a -trice, the capstan bars were shipped, the fifer was at his station -playing a lively tune, the boys were on the main deck holding on to -the “nippers,” ready to pass them to the men, who put them round the -“messenger” and cable; then, amid the cries of “Walk round! heave -away, my lads!” accompanied by the shrill music of the fife, the -anchor rose from its bed, and was soon dangling under our bows. The -sails were then shaken out, the ship brought before the wind, and we -were once more on our way to sea. We were directed to cruise off the -coast of France this time; where, as we were then at war with the -French, we were likely to find active service. - -We first made the French port of Rochelle; from thence, we sailed -to Brest, which was closely blockaded by a large British fleet, -consisting of one three-decker, with several seventy-fours, besides -frigates and small craft. We joined this fleet, and came to an -anchor in Basque Roads, to assist in the blockade. Our first object -was to bring a large French fleet, greatly superior to us in size -and numbers, to an engagement. With all our manœuvring, we could -not succeed in enticing them from their snug berth in the harbor of -Brest, where they were safely moored, defended by a heavy fort, and -by a chain crossing the harbor, to prevent the ingress of any force -that might be bold enough to attempt to cut them out. Sometimes we -sent a frigate or two as near their fort as they dared to venture, in -order to entice them out; at other times, the whole fleet would get -under weigh and stand out to sea; but without success. The Frenchmen -were either afraid we had a larger armament than was visible to them, -or they had not forgotten the splendid victories of Nelson at the -Nile and Trafalgar. Whatever they thought, they kept their ships -beyond the reach of our guns. Sometimes, however, their frigates -would creep outside the forts, when we gave them chase, but seldom -went beyond the exchange of a few harmless shots. This was what our -men called “boy’s play;” and they were heartily glad when we were -ordered to return to Plymouth. - -After just looking into Plymouth harbor, our orders were -countermanded, and we returned to the coast of France. Having -accomplished about one half the distance, the man at the mast-head -cried out, “Sail ho!” - -“Where away?” (what direction?) responded the officer of the deck. -The man having replied, the officer again asked, “What does she look -like?” - -“She looks small; I cannot tell, sir.” - -In a few minutes the officer hailed again, by shouting, “Mast-head, -there! what does she look like?” - -“She looks like a small sail-boat, sir.” - -This was rather a novel announcement; for what could a small -sail-boat do out on the wide ocean? But a few minutes convinced us -that it was even so; for, from the deck, we could see a small boat, -with only a man and a boy on board. They proved to be two French -prisoners of war, who had escaped from an English prison, and, having -stolen a small boat, were endeavoring to make this perilous voyage -to their native home. Poor fellows! they looked sadly disappointed -at finding themselves once more in British hands. They had already -been in prison for some time; they were now doomed to go with us, in -sight of their own sunny France, and then be torn away again, carried -to England, and imprisoned until the close of the war. No wonder -they looked sorrowful, when, after having hazarded life for home and -liberty, they found both snatched from them in a moment, by their -unlucky rencontre with our frigate. I am sure we should all have been -glad to have missed them. But this is only one of the consequences of -war. - -Having joined the blockading fleet again, we led the same sort of -life as before: now at anchor, then giving chase; now standing in -shore, and anon standing out to sea; firing, and being fired at, -without once coming into action. - -Determined to accomplish some exploit or other, our captain ordered -an attempt to be made at cutting out some of the French small craft -that lay in shore. We were accustomed to send out our barges almost -every night, in search of whatever prey they might capture. But on -this occasion the preparations were more formidable than usual. The -oars were muffled; the boat’s crew increased, and every man was -armed to the teeth. The cots were got ready on board, in case any -of the adventurers should return wounded. Cots are used to sleep in -by ward-room officers and captains; midshipmen and sailors using -hammocks. But a number of cots are always kept in a vessel of war, -for the benefit of wounded men; they differ from a hammock, in -being square at the bottom, and consequently more easy. The service -on which the barge was sent being extremely dangerous, the cots -were got ready to receive the wounded, should there be any; but -notwithstanding these expressive preparations, the brave fellows -went off in as fine spirits as if they had been going on shore for -a drunken spree. Such is the contempt of danger that prevails among -sailors. - -We had no tidings of this adventure until morning, when I was -startled by hearing three cheers from the watch on deck; these were -answered by three more from a party that seemed approaching us. I ran -on deck just as our men came alongside with their bloodless prize--a -lugger, laden with French brandy, wine and Castile soap. They had -made this capture without difficulty; for the crew of the lugger made -their escape in a boat, on the first intimation of danger. As this -was our first prize, we christened her the _Young Macedonian_. She -was sent to the admiral; but what became of her, I never heard. - -Before sending her away, however, the officers, having a peculiar -itching for some of the brandy, took the liberty of replenishing -their empty bottles from the hold. This, with true aristocratic -liberality, they kept to themselves, without offering the smallest -portion to the crew. Some of them showed, by their conduct -afterwards, that this brandy possessed considerable strength. We -had no further opportunity to signalize either ourselves or our -frigate by our heroism at Brest; for we were soon after ordered back -to Plymouth, where, for a short time, we lay at our old anchorage -ground. - - - - - CHAPTER VI - - -At Plymouth we heard some vague rumors of a declaration of war -against America. More than this, we could not learn, since the utmost -care was taken to prevent our being fully informed. The reason of -this secrecy was, probably, because we had several Americans in our -crew, most of whom were pressed men, as before stated. These men, -had they been certain that war had broken out, would have given -themselves up as prisoners of war, and claimed exemption from that -unjust service, which compelled them to act with the enemies of -their country. This was a privilege which the magnanimity of our -officers ought to have offered them. They had already perpetrated a -grievous wrong upon them in impressing them; it was adding cruelty -to injustice, to compel their service in a war against their own -nation. But the difficulty with naval officers is, that they do -not treat with a sailor as with a _man_. They know what is fitting -between each other as officers; but they treat their crews on -another principle; they are apt to look at them as pieces of living -mechanism, born to serve, to obey their orders, and administer to -their wishes without complaint. This is alike a bad morality and a -bad philosophy. There is often more real manhood in the forecastle -than in the ward-room; and until the common sailor is treated _as a -man_, until every feeling of human nature is conceded to him in naval -discipline--perfect, rational subordination will never be attained in -ships of war, or in merchant vessels. It is needless to tell of the -intellectual degradation of the mass of seamen. “A man’s a man for a’ -that;” and it is this very system of discipline, this treating them -as automatons, which keeps them degraded. When will human nature put -more confidence in itself? - -Leaving Plymouth, we next anchored, for a brief space, at Torbay, a -small port in the British Channel. We were ordered thence to convoy -a huge East India merchant vessel, much larger than our frigate, and -having five hundred troops on board, bound to the East Indies, with -money to pay the troops stationed there. We set sail in a tremendous -gale of wind. Both ships stopped two days at Madeira to take in wine -and a few other articles. After leaving this island, we kept her -company two days more; and then, according to orders, having wished -her success, we left her to pursue her voyage, while we returned to -finish our cruise. - -Though without any positive information, we now felt pretty certain -that our government was at war with America. Among other things, our -captain appeared more anxious than usual; he was on deck almost all -the time; the “look-out” aloft was more rigidly observed; and every -little while the cry of “Mast-head there!” arrested our attention. - -It is customary in men of war to keep men at the fore and main -mast-heads, whose duty it is to give notice of every new object that -may appear. They are stationed on the royal yards, if they are up, -but if not, on the top-gallant yards: at night a look-out is kept on -the fore-yard only. - -Thus we passed several days; the captain running up and down, and -constantly hailing the man at the mast-head: early in the morning he -began his charge “to keep a good look-out,” and continued to repeat -it until night. Indeed, he seemed almost crazy with some pressing -anxiety. The men felt there was something anticipated, of which they -were ignorant; and had the captain heard all their remarks upon -his conduct, he would not have felt very highly flattered. Still, -everything went on as usual; the day was spent in the ordinary duties -of man-of-war life, and the evening in telling stories of things most -rare and wonderful; for your genuine old tar is an adept in spinning -yarns, and some of them, in respect to variety and length, might -safely aspire to a place beside the great magician of the north, -Sir Walter Scott, or any of those prolific heads that now bring -forth such abundance of fiction to feed a greedy public, who read as -eagerly as our men used to listen. To this yarn-spinning was added -the most humorous singing, sometimes dashed with a streak of the -pathetic, which I assure my readers was most touching; especially one -very plaintive melody, with a chorus beginning with, - - “Now if our ship should be cast away, - It would be our lot to see old England no more,” - -which made rather a melancholy impression on my boyish mind, and -gave rise to a sort of presentiment that the _Macedonian_ would -never return home again; a presentiment which had its fulfilment in -a manner totally unexpected to us all. The presence of a shark for -several days, with its attendant pilot fish, tended to strengthen -this prevalent idea. - -The Sabbath came, and it brought with it a stiff breeze. We usually -made a sort of holiday of this sacred day. After breakfast it was -common to muster the entire crew on the spar deck, dressed as the -fancy of the captain might dictate; sometimes in blue jackets and -white trousers, or blue jackets and blue trousers; at other times in -blue jackets, scarlet vests, and blue or white trousers; with our -bright anchor buttons glancing in the sun, and our black, glossy -hats, ornamented with black ribbons, and with the name of our ship -painted on them. After muster, we frequently had church service read -by the captain; the rest of the day was devoted to idleness. But we -were destined to spend the Sabbath, just introduced to the reader, in -a very different manner. - -We had scarcely finished breakfast, before the man at the mast-head -shouted, “Sail ho!” - -The captain rushed upon deck, exclaiming, “Mast-head there!” - -“Sir!” - -“Where away is the sail?” - -The precise answer to this question I do not recollect, but the -captain proceeded to ask, “What does she look like?” - -“A square-rigged vessel, sir,” was the reply of the look-out. - -After a few minutes, the captain shouted again, “Mast-head there!” - -“Sir!” - -“What does she look like?” - -“A large ship, sir, standing toward us!” - -By this time, most of the crew were on deck, eagerly straining their -eyes to obtain a glimpse of the approaching ship, and murmuring their -opinions to each other on her probable character. Then came the voice -of the captain, shouting, “Keep silence, fore and aft!” Silence being -secured, he hailed the look-out, who, to his question of “What does -she look like?” replied, “A large frigate, bearing down upon us, sir!” - -A whisper ran along the crew that the stranger ship was a Yankee -frigate. The thought was confirmed by the command of “All hands clear -the ship for action, ahoy!” The drum and fife beat to quarters; -bulk-heads were knocked away; the guns were released from their -confinement; the whole dread paraphernalia of battle was produced; -and after the lapse of a few minutes of hurry and confusion, every -man and boy was at his post, ready to do his best service for his -country, except the band, who, claiming exemption from the affray, -safely stowed themselves away in the cable tier. We had only one -sick man[7] on the list, and he, at the cry of battle, hurried from -his cot, feeble as he was, to take his post of danger. A few of the -junior midshipmen were stationed below, on the berth deck, with -orders, given in our hearing, to shoot any man who attempted to run -from his quarters. - -Our men were all in good spirits; though they did not scruple to -express the wish that the coming foe was a Frenchman rather than a -Yankee. We had been told, by the Americans on board, that frigates in -the American service carried more and heavier metal than ours. This, -together with our consciousness of superiority over the French at -sea, led us to a preference for a French antagonist. - -The Americans among our number felt quite disconcerted, at the -necessity which compelled them to fight against their own countrymen. -One of them, named John Card, as brave a seaman as ever trod a plank, -ventured to present himself to the captain, as a prisoner, frankly -declaring his objections to fight. That officer, very ungenerously, -ordered him to his quarters, threatening to shoot him if he made -the request again. Poor fellow! He obeyed the unjust command, and -was killed by a shot from his own countrymen. This fact is more -disgraceful to the captain of the _Macedonian_, than even the loss of -his ship. It was a gross and a palpable violation of the rights of -man. - -As the approaching ship showed American colors, all doubt of her -character was at an end. “We must fight her,” was the conviction of -every breast. Every possible arrangement that could insure success, -was accordingly made. The guns were shotted; the matches lighted; -for, although our guns were all furnished with first-rate locks, they -were also provided with matches, attached by lanyards, in case the -lock should miss fire. A lieutenant then passed through the ship, -directing the marines and boarders, who were furnished with pikes, -cutlasses, and pistols, how to proceed if it should be necessary to -board the enemy. He was followed by the captain, who extorted the -men to fidelity and courage, urging upon their consideration the -well-known motto of the brave Nelson, “England expects every man to -do his duty.” In addition to all these preparations on deck, some -men were stationed in the tops with small-arms, whose duty it was -to attend to trimming the sails, and to use their muskets, provided -we came to close action. There were others also below, called sail -trimmers, to assist in working the ship, should it be necessary to -shift her position during the battle. - -My station was at the fifth gun on the main deck. It was my duty -to supply my gun with powder, a boy being appointed to each gun in -the ship on the side we engaged, for this purpose. A woollen screen -was placed before the entrance to the magazine, with a hole in it, -through which the cartridges were passed to the boys; we received -them there, and covering them with our jackets, hurried to our -respective guns. These precautions are observed to prevent the powder -taking fire before it reaches the gun. - -Thus we all stood, awaiting orders, in motionless suspense. At last -we fired three guns from the larboard side of the main deck; this was -followed by the command, “Cease firing; you are throwing away your -shot!” - -Then came the order to “wear ship,” and prepare to attack the enemy -with our starboard guns. Soon after this I heard a firing from some -other quarter, which I at first supposed to be a discharge from our -quarter deck guns; though it proved to be the roar of the enemy’s -cannon. - -A strange noise, such as I had never heard before, next arrested -my attention; it sounded like the tearing of sails, just over our -heads. This I soon ascertained to be the wind of the enemy’s shot. -The firing, after a few minutes’ cessation, recommenced. The roaring -of cannon could now be heard from all parts of our trembling ship, -and, mingling as it did with that of our foes, it made a most hideous -noise. By-and-by I heard the shot strike the sides of our ship; -the whole scene grew indescribably confused and horrible; it was -like some awfully tremendous thunder-storm, whose deafening roar is -attended by incessant streaks of lightning, carrying death in every -flash, and strewing the ground with the victims of its wrath: only, -in our case, the scene was rendered more horrible than that, by the -presence of torrents of blood which dyed our decks. - -Though the recital may be painful, yet, as it will reveal the horrors -of war, and show at what a fearful price a victory is won or lost, -I will present the reader with things as they met my eye during the -progress of this dreadful fight. I was busily supplying my gun with -powder, when I saw blood suddenly fly from the arm of a man stationed -at our gun. I saw nothing strike him; the effect alone was visible; -in an instant, the third lieutenant tied his handkerchief round the -wounded arm, and sent the groaning wretch below to the surgeon. - -The cries of the wounded now rang through all parts of the ship. -These were carried to the cockpit as fast as they fell, while those -more fortunate men, who were killed outright, were immediately thrown -overboard. As I was stationed but a short distance from the main -hatchway, I could catch a glance at all who were carried below. A -glance was all I could indulge in, for the boys belonging to the guns -next to mine were wounded in the early part of the action, and I -had to spring with all my might to keep three or four guns supplied -with cartridges. I saw two of these lads fall nearly together. One -of them was struck in the leg by a large shot; he had to suffer -amputation above the wound. The other had a grape or canister shot -sent through his ankle. A stout Yorkshireman lifted him in his arms, -and hurried him to the cockpit. He had his foot cut off, and was thus -made lame for life. Two of the boys stationed on the quarter deck -were killed. They were both Portuguese. A man, who saw one of them -killed, afterwards told me that his powder caught fire and burnt the -flesh almost off his face. In this pitiable situation, the agonized -boy lifted up both hands, as if imploring relief, when a passing shot -instantly cut him in two. - -I was an eye-witness to a sight equally revolting. A man named -Aldrich had one of his hands cut off by a shot, and almost at the -same moment he received another shot, which tore open his bowels in -a terrible manner. As he fell, two or three men caught him in their -arms, and, as he could not live, threw him overboard. - -One of the officers in my division also fell in my sight. He was a -noble-hearted fellow, named Nan Kivell.[8] A grape or canister shot -struck him near the heart: exclaiming, “Oh! my God!” he fell, and was -carried below, where he shortly after died. - -Mr. Hope, our first lieutenant, was also slightly wounded by a -grummet, or small iron ring, probably torn from a hammock clew by a -shot. He went below, shouting to the men to fight on. Having had his -wound dressed, he came up again, shouting to us at the top of his -voice, and bidding us fight with all our might. There was not a man -in the ship but would have rejoiced had he been in the place of our -master’s mate, the unfortunate Nan Kivell. - -The battle went on. Our men kept cheering with all their might. -I cheered with them, though I confess I scarcely knew for what. -Certainly there was nothing very inspiriting in the aspect of things -where I was stationed. So terrible had been the work of destruction -round us, it was termed the slaughter-house. Not only had we had -several boys and men killed or wounded, but several of the guns were -disabled. The one I belonged to had a piece of the muzzle knocked -out; and when the ship rolled, it struck a beam of the upper deck -with such force as to become jammed and fixed in that position. A -twenty-four pound shot had also passed through the screen of the -magazine, immediately over the orifice through which we passed -our powder. The schoolmaster[9] received a death wound. The brave -boatswain, who came from the sick bay to the din of battle, was -fastening a stopper on a back-stay which had been shot away, when his -head was smashed to pieces by a cannon-ball; another man, going to -complete the unfinished task, was also struck down. Another of our -midshipmen also received a severe wound. The unfortunate ward-room -steward, who, the reader will recollect, attempted to cut his throat -on a former occasion, was killed. A fellow named John, who, for some -petty offence, had been sent on board as a punishment, was carried -past me, wounded. I distinctly heard the large blood-drops fall pat, -pat, pat, on the deck; his wounds were mortal. Even a poor goat, kept -by the officers for her milk, did not escape the general carnage; her -hind legs were shot off, and poor Nan was thrown overboard. - -Such was the terrible scene, amid which we kept on our shouting -and firing. Our men fought like tigers. Some of them pulled off -their jackets, others their jackets and vests; while some, still -more determined, had taken off their shirts, and, with nothing but -a handkerchief tied round the waistbands of their trousers, fought -like heroes. Jack Sadler, whom the reader will recollect, was one of -these. I also observed a boy, named Cooper, stationed at a gun some -distance from the magazine. He came to and fro on the full run, and -appeared to be as “merry as a cricket.” The third lieutenant cheered -him along, occasionally, by saying, “Well done, my boy, you are worth -your weight in gold.” - -I have often been asked what were my feelings during this fight. I -felt pretty much as I suppose every one does at such a time. That -men are without thought when they stand amid the dying and the dead, -is too absurd an idea to be entertained a moment. We all appeared -cheerful, but I know that many a serious thought ran through my -mind: still, what could we do but keep up a semblance, at least, of -animation? To run from our quarters would have been certain death -from the hands of our own officers; to give way to gloom, or to show -fear, would do no good, and might brand us with the name of cowards, -and ensure certain defeat. Our only true philosophy, therefore, -was to make the best of our situation, by fighting bravely and -cheerfully. I thought a great deal, however, of the other world; -every groan, every falling man, told me that the next instant I might -be before the Judge of all the earth. For this, I felt unprepared; -but being without any particular knowledge of religious truth, I -satisfied myself by repeating again and again the Lord’s Prayer, -and promising that if spared I would be more attentive to religious -duties than ever before. This promise I had no doubt, at the time, of -keeping; but I have learned since that it is easier to make promises -amidst the roar of the battle’s thunder, or in the horrors of -shipwreck, than to keep them when danger is absent, and safety smiles -upon our path. - -While these thoughts secretly agitated my bosom, the din of battle -continued. Grape and canister shot were pouring through our -port-holes like leaden rain, carrying death in their trail. The -large shot came against the ship’s side like iron hail, shaking her -to the very keel, or passing through her timbers, and scattering -terrific splinters, which did a more appalling work than even their -own death-giving blows. The reader may form an idea of the effect -of grape and canister, when he is told that grape shot is formed by -seven or eight balls confined to an iron and tied in a cloth. These -balls are scattered by the explosion of the powder. Canister shot -is made by filling a powder canister with balls, each as large as -two or three musket balls; these also scatter with direful effect -when discharged. What then with splinters, cannon balls, grape and -canister poured incessantly upon us, the reader may be assured -that the work of death went on in a manner which must have been -satisfactory even to the King of Terrors himself. - -Suddenly, the rattling of the iron hail ceased. We were ordered to -cease firing. A profound silence ensued, broken only by the stifled -groans of the brave sufferers below. It was soon ascertained that the -enemy had shot ahead to repair damages, for she was not so disabled -but she could sail without difficulty; while we were so cut up that -we lay utterly helpless. Our head braces were shot away; the fore -and main top-masts were gone; the mizzen mast hung over the stern, -having carried several men over in its fall: we were in the state of -a complete wreck. - -A council was now held among the officers on the quarter deck. Our -condition was perilous in the extreme: victory or escape was alike -hopeless. Our ship was disabled; many of our men were killed, and -many more wounded. The enemy would without doubt bear down upon us -in a few moments, and, as she could now choose her own position, -would without doubt rake us fore and aft. Any further resistance was -therefore folly. So, in spite of the hot-brained lieutenant, Mr. -Hope, who advised them not to strike, but to sink alongside, it was -determined to strike our bunting.[10] This was done by the hands of a -brave fellow named Watson, whose saddened brow told how severely it -pained his lion heart to do it. To me it was a pleasing sight, for I -had seen fighting enough for one Sabbath; more than I wished to see -again on a week day. His Britannic Majesty’s frigate _Macedonian_ was -now the prize of the American frigate _United States_. - -Before detailing the subsequent occurrences in my history, I will -present the curious reader with a copy of Captain Carden’s letter to -the government, describing this action. It will serve to show how he -excused himself for his defeat, as well as throw some light on those -parts of the contest which were invisible to me at my station. My -mother presented me with this document, on my return to England. She -had received it from Lord Churchill, and had carefully preserved it -for twenty years. - - “ADMIRALTY OFFICE, Dec. 29, 1812. - - Copy of a letter from Captain John Surman Carden, late commander of - His Majesty’s ship the _Macedonian_, to John Wilson Croker, Esq., - dated on board the American ship _United States_, at sea, the 28th - October, 1812:-- - - “SIR: It is with the deepest regret, I have to acquaint you, for - the information of my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that - His Majesty’s late ship _Macedonian_ was captured on the 25th - instant, by the United States ship _United States_, Commodore - Decatur commander. The detail is as follows: - - A short time after daylight, steering N. W. by W., with the wind - from the southward, in latitude 29° N., and longitude 29° 30′ - W., in the execution of their Lordships’ orders, a sail was seen - on the lee beam, which I immediately stood for, and made her out - to be a large frigate, under American colors. At nine o’clock I - closed with her, and she commenced the action, which we returned; - but from the enemy keeping two points off the wind, I was not - enabled to get as close to her as I could have wished. After an - hour’s action, the enemy backed and came to the wind, and I was - then enabled to bring her to close battle. In this situation I soon - found the enemy’s force too superior to expect success, unless - some very fortunate chance occurred in our favor; and with this - hope I continued the battle to two hours and ten minutes; when, - having the mizzen mast shot away by the board, topmasts shot away - by the caps, main yard shot in pieces, lower masts badly wounded, - lower rigging all cut to pieces, a small proportion only of the - fore-sail left to the fore-yard, all the guns on the quarter deck - and forecastle disabled but two, and filled with wreck, two also on - the main deck disabled, and several shot between wind and water, a - very great proportion of the crew killed and wounded, and the enemy - comparatively in good order, who had now shot ahead, and was about - to place himself in a raking position, without our being enabled - to return the fire, being a perfect wreck and unmanageable log; I - deemed it prudent, though a painful extremity, to surrender His - Majesty’s ship; nor was this dreadful alternative resorted to till - every hope of success was removed, even beyond the reach of chance; - nor till, I trust their Lordships will be aware, every effort had - been made against the enemy by myself, and my brave officers and - men, nor should she have been surrendered whilst a man lived on - board, had she been manageable. I am sorry to say our loss is very - severe; I find by this day’s muster, thirty-six killed, three of - whom lingered a short time after the battle; thirty-six severely - wounded, many of whom cannot recover, and thirty-two slightly - wounded, who may all do well; total, one hundred and four. - - The truly noble and animating conduct of my officers, and the - steady bravery of my crew, to the last moment of the battle, must - ever render them dear to their country. - - My first lieutenant, David Hope, was severely wounded in the head, - towards the close of the battle, and taken below; but was soon - again on deck, displaying that greatness of mind and exertion, - which, though it may be equalled, can never be excelled. The third - lieutenant, John Bulford, was also wounded, but not obliged to quit - his quarters; second lieutenant, Samuel Mottley, and he deserves - my highest acknowledgments. The cool and steady conduct of Mr. - Walker, the master, was very great during the battle, as also that - of Lieutenants Wilson and Magill, of the marines. - - On being taken on board the enemy’s ship, I ceased to wonder - at the result of the battle. The _United States_ is built with - the scantling of a seventy-four gun-ship, mounting thirty long - twenty-four pounders (English ship-guns) on her main deck, - and twenty-two forty-two pounders, carronades, with two long - twenty-four pounders, on her quarter deck and forecastle, howitzer - guns in her tops, and a travelling carronade on her upper deck, - with a complement of four hundred and seventy-eight picked men. - - The enemy has suffered much in masts, rigging, and hull, above and - below water. Her loss in killed and wounded I am not aware of; but - I know a lieutenant and six men have been thrown overboard. - - JNO. S. CARDEN. - - To J. W. CROKER, Esq., Admiralty.” - -Lord Churchill sent the above letter, with a list of the killed and -wounded annexed, to inform my mother that the name of her son was not -among the number. The act shows how much he could sympathize with a -mother’s feelings. - - - - - CHAPTER VII - - -I now went below, to see how matters appeared there. The first -object I met was a man bearing a limb, which had just been detached -from some suffering wretch. Pursuing my way to the ward-room, I -necessarily passed through the steerage, which was strewed with -the wounded: it was a sad spectacle, made more appalling by the -groans and cries which rent the air. Some were groaning, others were -swearing most bitterly, a few were praying, while those last arrived -were begging most piteously to have their wounds dressed next. The -surgeon and his mate were smeared with blood from head to foot: they -looked more like butchers than doctors. Having so many patients, they -had once shifted their quarters from the cockpit to the steerage; -they now removed to the ward-room, and the long table, round which -the officers had sat over many a merry feast, was soon covered with -the bleeding forms of maimed and mutilated seamen.[11] - -While looking round the ward-room, I heard a noise above, occasioned -by the arrival of the boats from the conquering frigate. Very soon -a lieutenant, I think his name was Nicholson,[12] came into the -ward-room, and said to the busy surgeon, “How do you do, doctor?” - -“I have enough to do,” replied he, shaking his head thoughtfully; -“you have made wretched work for us!” These officers were not -strangers to each other, for the reader will recollect that the -commanders and officers of these two frigates, had exchanged visits -when we were lying at Norfolk, some months before. - -I now set to work to render all the aid in my power to the sufferers. -Our carpenter, named Reed, had his leg cut off. I helped to carry him -to the after ward-room; but he soon breathed out his life there, and -then I assisted in throwing his mangled remains overboard. We got out -the cots as fast as possible; for most of them were stretched out on -the gory deck. One poor fellow who lay with a broken thigh, begged me -to give him water. I gave him some. He looked unutterable gratitude, -drank, and died. It was with exceeding difficulty I moved through the -steerage, it was so covered with mangled men, and so slippery with -streams of blood. There was a poor boy there crying as if his heart -would break. He had been servant to the bold boatswain, whose head -was dashed to pieces. Poor boy! he felt that he had lost a friend. I -tried to comfort him by reminding him that he ought to be thankful -for having escaped death himself. - -Here, also, I met one of my messmates, who showed the utmost joy at -seeing me alive, for, he said, he had heard that I was killed. He was -looking up his messmates, which he said was always done by sailors. -We found two of our mess wounded. One was the Swede, Logholm, who -fell overboard, as mentioned in a former chapter, and was nearly -lost. We held him while the surgeon cut off his leg above the -knee. The task was most painful to behold, the surgeon using his -knife and saw on human flesh and bones, as freely as the butcher at -the shambles does on the carcass of the beast! Our other messmate -suffered still more than the Swede; he was sadly mutilated about the -legs and thighs with splinters. Such scenes of suffering as I saw in -that ward-room, I hope never to witness again. Could the civilized -world behold them as they were, and as they often are, infinitely -worse than on that occasion, it seems to me they would forever put -down the barbarous practices of war, by universal consent. - -Most of our officers and men were taken on board the victor ship. I -was left, with a few others, to take care of the wounded. My master, -the sailing-master, was also among the officers, who continued in -their ship. Most of the men who remained were unfit for any service, -having broken into the spirit-room and made themselves drunk; some of -them broke into the purser’s room and helped themselves to clothing; -while others, by previous agreement, took possession of their dead -messmates’ property. For my own part I was content to help myself to -a little of the officers’ provisions, which did me more good than -could be obtained from rum. What was worse than all, however, was the -folly of the sailors in giving spirit to their wounded messmates, -since it only served to aggravate their distress. - -Among the wounded, was a brave fellow named Wells. After the surgeon -had amputated and dressed his arm, he walked about in fine spirits, -as if he had received only a slight injury. Indeed, while under the -operation, he manifested a similar heroism--observing to the surgeon, -“I have lost my arm in the service of my country; but I don’t mind -it, doctor, it’s the fortune of war.” Cheerful and gay as he was, he -soon died. His companions gave him rum; he was attacked by fever and -died. Thus his messmates actually killed him with kindness. - -We had all sorts of dispositions and temperaments among our crew. -To me it was a matter of great interest to watch their various -manifestations. Some who had lost their messmates appeared to care -nothing about it, while others were grieving with all the tenderness -of women. Of these, was the survivor of two seamen, who had formerly -been soldiers in the same regiment; he bemoaned the loss of his -comrade with expressions of profoundest grief. There were, also, two -boatswain’s mates, named Adams and Brown, who had been messmates for -several years in the same ship. Brown was killed, or so wounded that -he died soon after the battle. It was really a touching spectacle -to see the rough, hardy features of the brave old sailor streaming -with tears, as he picked out the dead body of his friend from among -the wounded, and gently carried it to the ship’s side, saying to -the inanimate form he bore, “O Bill, we have sailed together in -a number of ships, we have been in many gales and some battles, -but this is the worst day I have seen! We must now part!” Here he -dropped the body into the deep, and then, a fresh torrent of tears -streaming over his weather-beaten face, he added, “I can do no more -for you. Farewell! God be with you!” Here was an instance of genuine -friendship, worth more than the heartless professions of thousands, -who, in the fancied superiority of their elevated position in the -social circle, will deign nothing but a silly sneer at this record of -a sailor’s grief. - -The circumstance was rather a singular one, that in both the -contending frigates the second boatswain’s mate bore the name of -William Brown, and that they both were killed; yet such was the fact. - -The great number of the wounded kept our surgeon and his mate busily -employed at their horrid work until late at night; and it was a long -time before they had much leisure. I remember passing round the -ship the day after the battle. Coming to a hammock, I found some -one in it apparently asleep. I spoke; he made no answer. I looked -into the hammock; he was dead. My messmates coming up, we threw the -corpse overboard; that was no time for useless ceremony. The man -had probably crawled to his hammock the day before, and, not being -perceived in the general distress, bled to death! O War! who can -reveal thy miseries! - -When the crew of the _United States_ first boarded our frigate, to -take possession of her as their prize, our men, heated with the fury -of the battle, exasperated with the sight of their dead and wounded -shipmates, and rendered furious by the rum they had obtained from -the spirit-room, felt and exhibited some disposition to fight their -captors. But after the confusion had subsided, and part of our men -were snugly stowed away in the American ship, and the remainder found -themselves kindly used in their own, the utmost good feeling began -to prevail. We took hold and cleansed the ship, using hot vinegar to -take out the scent of the blood that had dyed the white of our planks -with crimson. We also took hold and aided in fitting our disabled -frigate for her voyage. This being accomplished, both ships sailed in -company toward the American coast. - -I soon felt myself perfectly at home with the American seamen; -so much so, that I chose to mess with them. My shipmates also -participated in similar feelings in both ships. All idea that we -had been trying to shoot out each other’s brains so shortly before, -seemed forgotten. We ate together, drank together, joked, sung, -laughed, told yarns; in short, a perfect union of ideas, feelings, -and purposes, seemed to exist among all hands. - -A corresponding state of unanimity existed, I was told, among the -officers. Commodore Decatur showed himself to be a gentleman as well -as a hero in his treatment of the officers of the _Macedonian_. When -Captain Carden offered his sword to the commodore, remarking, as he -did so, “I am an undone man. I am the first British naval officer -that has struck his flag to an American:” the noble commodore either -refused to receive the sword, or immediately returned it, smiling -as he said, “You are mistaken, sir; your _Guerrière_ has been taken -by us, and the flag of a frigate[13] was struck before yours.” This -somewhat revived the spirits of the old captain; but, no doubt, -he still felt his soul stung with shame and mortification at the -loss of his ship. Participating as he did in the haughty spirit of -the British aristocracy, it was natural for him to feel galled and -wounded to the quick, in the position of a conquered man. - -We were now making the best of our way to America. Notwithstanding -the patched-up condition of the _Macedonian_,[14] she was far -superior, in a sailing capacity, to her conqueror. The _United -States_ had always been a dull sailer, and had been christened by the -name of the Old Wagon. Whenever a boat came alongside of our frigate, -and the boatswain’s mate was ordered to “pipe away” the boat’s crew, -he used to sound his shrill call on the whistle, and bawl out, “Away, -Wagoners, away,” instead of “away, _United States_ men, away.” This -piece of pleasantry used to be rebuked by the officers, but in a -manner that showed they enjoyed the joke. They usually replied, -“Boatswain’s mate, you rascal, pipe away _United States_ men, not -Wagoners. We have no wagoners on board of a ship.” Still, in spite -of rebuke, the joke went on, until it grew stale by repetition. -One thing was made certain however by the sailing qualities of the -_Macedonian_; which was, that if we had been disposed to escape from -our foe before the action, we could have done so with all imaginable -ease. This, however, would have justly exposed us to disgrace, while -our capture did not. There was every reason why the _United States_ -should beat us. She was larger in size, heavier in metal, more -numerous in men, and stronger built than the _Macedonian_. Another -fact in her favor was, that our captain at first mistook her for the -_Essex_, which carried short carronades, hence he engaged her at -long shot at first; for, as we had the weather gage, we could take -what position we pleased. But this manœuvre only wasted our shot, -and gave her the advantage, as she actually carried larger metal -than we did. When we came to close action, the shot from the _United -States_ went through and through our ship, while ours struck her -sides, and fell harmlessly into the water. This is to be accounted -for both by the superiority of the metal and of the ship. Her guns -were heavier and her sides thicker than ours. Some have said that her -sides were stuffed with cork. Of this, however, I am not certain. -Her superiority, both in number of men and guns, may easily be -seen by the following statistics. We carried forty-nine guns; long -eighteen-pounders on the main deck, and thirty-two pound carronades -on the quarter deck and forecastle. Our whole number of hands, -including officers, men and boys, was three hundred. The _United -States_ carried four hundred and fifty men and fifty-four guns: long -twenty-four pounders on the main deck, and forty-two pound carronades -on the quarter deck and forecastle. So that in actual force she was -immensely our superior. - -To these should be added the consideration that the men in the two -ships fought under the influence of different motives. Many of our -hands were in the service against their will; some of them were -Americans, wrongfully impressed, and inwardly hoping for defeat: -while nearly every man in our ship sympathized with the great -principle for which the American nation so nobly contended in the -war of 1812. What that was, I suppose all my readers understand. -The British, at war with France, had denied the Americans the right -to trade thither. She had impressed American seamen, and forcibly -compelled their service in her navy; she had violated the American -flag by insolently searching their vessels for her runaway seamen. -Free trade and sailors’ rights, therefore, were the objects contended -for by the Americans. With these objects our _men_ could but -sympathize, whatever our officers might do. - -On the other hand, the crew of our opponent had all shipped -_voluntarily_ for the term of two years only; (most of our men were -shipped for life.) They understood what they fought for; they were -better used in the service. What wonder, then, that victory adorned -the brows of the American commander? To have been defeated under such -circumstances would have been a source of lasting infamy to any naval -officer in the world. In the matter of fighting, I think there is -but little difference in either nation. Place them in action under -equal circumstances and motives, and who could predict which would -be victor? Unite them together, they would subject the whole world. -So close are the alliances of blood, however, between England and -America, that it is to be earnestly desired, they may never meet in -mortal strife again. If either will fight, which is to be deprecated -as a crime and a folly, let it choose an enemy less connected by the -sacred ties of consanguinity. - -Our voyage was one of considerable excitement. The seas swarmed with -British cruisers, and it was extremely doubtful whether the _United -States_ would elude their grasp, and reach the protection of an -American port with her prize. I hoped most sincerely to avoid them, -as did most of my old shipmates; in this we agreed with our captors, -who wisely desired to dispose of one conquest before they attempted -another. Our former officers, of course, were anxious for the sight -of a British flag. But we saw none, and, after a prosperous voyage -from the scene of conflict, we heard the welcome cry of “Land ho!” -The _United States_ entered the port of New London; but, owing to a -sudden shift of the wind, the _Macedonian_ had to lay off and on for -several hours. Had an English cruiser found us in this situation, we -should have been easily recovered; and, as it was extremely probable -we should fall in with one, I felt quite uneasy, until, after several -hours, we made out to run into the pretty harbor of Newport. We fired -a salute as we came to an anchor, which was promptly returned by the -people on shore. - -With a few exceptions, our wounded men were in a fair way to recover -by the time we reached Newport. The last of them, who died of their -wounds on board, was buried just before we got in. His name was -Thomas Whittaker; he had been badly wounded by splinters. While he -lived, he endured excessive torture. At last his sufferings rendered -him crazy, in which sad state he died. He was sewed up in his -hammock, by his messmates, and carried on a grating to the larboard -bow port. There Mr. Archer, a midshipman of the _Macedonian_, read -the beautiful burial service of the church of England. When he came -to that most touching passage, “we commit the body of our brother -to the deep,” the grating was elevated, and, amid the most profound -silence, the body fell heavily into the waters. As it dropped -into the deep, a sigh escaped from many a friendly bosom, and an -air of passing melancholy shrouded many a face with sadness. Old -recollections were busy there, calling up the losses of the battle; -but it was only momentary. The men brushed away their tears, muttered -“It’s no use to fret,” and things once more wore their wonted aspect. - -At Newport our wounded were carried on shore. Our former officers -also left us here. When my master, Mr. Walker, took his leave of me, -he appeared deeply affected. Imprinting a kiss on my cheek, the tears -started from his eyes, and he bade me adieu. I have not seen him -since. - -While we lay here, a few days, several of our men contrived to run -away. I should have done so too, but for the vigilance of the prize -officers, who were ordered to keep us, that we might be exchanged for -those Americans who had fallen into British hands. - -After staying a short time in this port, we got under weigh and ran -into New London. Here we fired a gun as a signal; it was answered -by the _United States_, and both ships were presently sailing in -company to New York. We found the Sound plentifully dotted with -sloops, carrying passengers, for this was before the days of modern -steamboating. After we reached Hurl-gate, vessels here gave us -plenty of employment. Most of them honored us with three cheers, as -they passed. Of course, the prize crew could do no less than cheer -again, so that we passed our time amidst continued cheering. While -here, we were favored with abundant visitors, curious to see the -captive frigate. Finding these visitors extremely inquisitive, and -being tolerably good-natured myself, I found a profitable business in -conducting them about the ship, describing the action, and pointing -out the places where particular individuals fell. For these services, -I gained some money and more good will. The people who had been to -see us, used to tell on shore how they had been on board of us, and -how the English boy had conducted them over the ship, and told them -the particulars of the fight. It soon became quite common for those -who came to inquire “if I was the English boy that was taken in her.” -This civility on my part was not without a motive; it was productive -of profit, and I wanted money to aid me whenever I got clear, which I -was fully determined to do, the first opportunity. - -To this step I was encouraged by our pilot, who brought us from New -London, Mr. Tinker. He promised to take me as his apprentice, if I -ran away. Also a gentleman who visited us told me to call at his -house in Pearl street, and he would give me a dinner. Many others -advised me to get away if possible. But I was so closely watched that -my mind was haunted with fear, lest, after all, I should be sent -back to England in the Cartel, which was expected every day for the -release of the prisoners. To fail in the attempt, exposed me to the -danger of being reported to the officer who might come for us, and -thus I was liable to be flogged whenever I arrived in a British port. -Great caution was therefore necessary in making the effort; since it -was better not to try at all, than to fail of success. - -Christmas was now drawing near. The day before Christmas day, the -Americans contrived to get well supplied with wine from a barrel -they found below. As they had no funds, I bought my messmates some -apples and a turkey, so that on the morrow they were quite taken up -with feasting. We also had a great many visitors that day; many of -them were ladies, and the officers got a chair out, which Captain -Carden had rigged up, to lift ladies on board. It was made from an -old hogshead, in the following manner. One head was knocked out and -the barrel scooped out in front; a seat was then inserted, with a -flag thrown over the whole; so that when it was lowered into a boat -alongside, the lady had but to step in and throw the flag round her -feet; in a trice, the chair was whipt upon deck by the halyards, when -the lady could step out with perfect ease. This contrivance afforded -a great deal of amusement, and kept the officers busily occupied in -waiting upon their lady visitors. Now then, thought I, is my time for -escape, or not at all. I had already made a friend of the American -boatswain, Mr. Dawson, who promised to carry my clothes to New York, -if I got clear. So, looking over the ship’s side, I saw a small -colored boy in a boat. “Can you tell me,” said I, hailing him, “where -I can get some geese and turkeys on shore for our officers?” - -“I guess you can at some of the houses,” responded the lad. - -“Well, then,” I continued, “will you set me ashore? I want to get -some for our officers.” - -To this he replied, “Yes, if you will go and ask my master, who is on -board your ship.” - -This was a damper on my young hopes, since it was not likely that his -master would give permission. I went below, somewhat disconcerted. -There I met a boy named James Day, two years younger than myself. I -told him I was going to run away, and urged him to go with me. He -declined at first, saying, “I have no money to pay my expenses.” - -“But I have money,” returned I, “and as long as I have a shilling, -you shall have half of it.” - -“Besides,” continued he, “I am afraid we cannot get away without -being caught, and so get a thorough flogging.” - -“Never mind that,” said I; “I have contrived that business. -The boat’s waiting to set us ashore. Come along, Jim; don’t be -frightened; ‘Nothing venture, nothing have,’ you know. Come, come, -here’s the boat alongside.” At length he consented; we returned to -the ship’s side, and told the boy his master was willing, provided -he would make haste. We jumped into the boat, and were soon hurrying -towards the shore, full of the hope of freedom. - -Never did my heart misgive me as it did when we were on our way to -the shore; the voice of the boy’s master came echoing along the -waves. “Where are you going with that boat?” he shouted. Recovering -myself, I persuaded the boy he was only bidding him to make haste. -So the lad replied, “I am going to get some geese, sir!” and pulled -on. A few minutes more, and, to my unspeakable delight, I stood on -American soil. Giving the boy a half dollar, we pushed on for New -York, some ten miles distant. - -For this act of running away, I have never blamed myself; for the -means by which it was effected, I have frequently done so. As the -reader has seen, it was done at the expense of truth. I told several -deliberate lies to the deceived boy in the boat. This is inexcusable, -and the only palliation that can be offered is, my want of religious -instruction. I was not then a Christian. Still, the act of lying was -an offence before God, and no man should purchase his liberty at the -price of a lie. He who saves his life at the cost of offending God, -pays dearly for the purchase. I am thankful I have since learned this -lesson, at the foot of the cross of Jesus Christ. - -Not having our “land legs” on, we soon became excessively fatigued. -When within two or three miles of the city, we concluded to stop all -night at a tavern on the road. - -The inmates looked somewhat surprised to see two sailor lads -inquiring for lodgings; so I at once told them we were runaways from -the captured frigate. This made them our friends! The evening passed -quite pleasantly; we relating the particulars of the battle, and -singing sea songs, and they listening with the utmost good humor. - -It seemed strange to us to find ourselves in a bed, after sleeping -two years and a half in a hammock; nevertheless, we slept soundly, -and to our inexpressible pleasure arose in the morning at our -leisure, without being driven by the swearing boatswain at our heels. -After breakfast, our generous host having refused to receive any -payment for his hospitality, we set out for the city of New York. - -Here I very fortunately alighted on one of the crew of the -_Macedonian_, named Fitzgibbons, who informed me that most of our men -had been landed at New London, and confined as prisoners in an old -barn; but that, not being over closely guarded, most of them had run -away. He also introduced me to a sailors’ boarding-house, kept by a -widow named Elms, near the old Fly Market in Front street. - -After spending a week in roving about the city, I heard a tremendous -roaring of cannon in the harbor; it proceeded from the two -frigates--which had dropped down from Hurl-gate and hauled up off the -navy yard. What was more to my satisfaction, however, was the news -that the Cartel had arrived and carried off the British crew, or, -rather, the fragment that remained of them. Had I delayed my escape -three days longer, instead of spending the rest of my days in America -and in the American service, I should have been chained to the -obnoxious discipline of the British navy. The reader may be assured -that the narrowness of my escape very greatly enhanced the value I -set upon my freedom. - -I now ventured on board the _Macedonian_ again to obtain my clothes. -As I stepped on board, my mind misgave me, as Lieutenant Nicholson -eyed me somewhat sternly; but I was reassured, when, kindly speaking, -he informed me that the Cartel was gone, and I was safe. The sailors, -also, congratulated me on my success in getting clear. - -The officers and crew were about to have a public dinner, and to -visit the theatre in commemoration of their achievement. The sailors -invited me to join them. To this I agreed. But overhauling my -clothes, and contriving how I should appear as well as any shipmates, -who were all going to have new suits for the occasion, the bright -anchor buttons, which shone on my best suit, presented an insuperable -objection. For how could I appear among them with the badge of the -British service on my coat? This dilemma was removed, however, by -the skill of my landlady, the widow, who very carefully covered the -buttons with blue cloth. - -There was great excitement in New York, when the brave tars of the -victorious _United States_, walked in triumphant procession through -the streets, in the presence of countless citizens. First, came -Captain Carden’s band, which had now shipped with Decatur; they were -followed by the commodore and his officers, and these by the crew. -At the City Hotel, all hands partook of a sumptuous dinner. This was -followed by rather more than a usual amount of drinking, laughing, -and talking; for as liquor was furnished in great abundance, the men -could not resist the temptation to get drunk. As they left the room -to go to the theatre, the poor plates on the sideboard proclaimed -that “Jack was full three sheets in the wind.” Almost every one, as -he passed, gave them a crack, crying out as they fell, “Save the -pieces;” thus illustrating the old proverb, “When rum is in, wit is -out.” - -The visit to the theatre passed off very much like the dinner, to -wit, there was an abundance of shouting and cheering all the evening. -After the close of the play, all hands scattered to see their -friends, with orders to be on board next day. It was a week before -they all returned. - -I was much struck with the appearance of Decatur that evening, as he -sat in full uniform, his pleasant face flushed with the excitement of -the occasion. He formed a striking contrast to the appearance he made -when he visited our ship on the passage to New York. Then, he wore an -old straw hat and a plain suit of clothes, which made him look more -like a farmer than a naval commander. - -Never had men more friends than the crew of the _United States_ at -this period. Every boarding-house was open to them; every merchant -would trust them; every one was willing to lend them money. What was -it that gained them such public favor? “O their victory, of course,” -replies the reader. Stop; I will reveal the secret. They had some -prize money coming to them in a few weeks! That was the key that -unlocked coffers; the warmth that melted the heart; the spirit that -clothed the face with smiles. But for that--THE PRIZE MONEY--poor -Jack’s credit and favor would, as usual, have been below _par_. - -Of course, this profusion, this universal popularity, almost turned -the brains of some of those old tars; and at every opportunity they -would steal ashore for a spree. This brought them into trouble; it -brought some of them to the gangway to be flogged. These floggings, -however, were not very severe; they were rather a species of farce, -enacted to preserve alive the forms of discipline. To avoid even -these forms, the men were accustomed, after staying on a spree for -several days, to visit the commodore’s lady, with some piteous tale, -begging her to intercede for them with their captain. This she did -with almost constant success. The lucky tar would then go on board, -telling his messmates that she was the sailor’s friend, and using the -usual saying in such cases, “Good luck to her--she has a soul to be -saved.” - -By this time, the late crew of the _Macedonian_, or those of them who -had not gone home with the Cartel, were pretty well scattered over -the country. One of the marines, named Luke Oil, went to Springfield, -Mass., where he was employed as a file-cutter by Colonel Lee, of the -U. S. armory, at the rate of $75 per month. This prosperity, and an -unfortunate marriage, led him into unsteady habits. He enlisted into -the U. S. army; but growing sick of that, Colonel Lee procured his -discharge. He afterwards enlisted again, which is the last I ever -heard of Luke Oil. Two more of our marines, named Shipley and Taylor, -also went to Springfield, and were employed by a Mr. Ames. - -Several of the others enlisted to serve in the fort at New London. -One of these, whose name was Hawkins, was very highly esteemed for -his excellence as a soldier, and was soon made sergeant. But being -an inveterate drunkard, he lost his office, and was degraded to the -ranks. - -I have a characteristic anecdote to record of Sadler, the messmate of -Bob Hammond. He enlisted in the American army, and was quartered at -Hartford. He was so delighted with everything American, that he had -grown to be an enthusiast in his encomiums on the government, as was -exhibited one day in a somewhat peculiar way. The company to which he -belonged was marched to church, one Sabbath, to hear (I think it was) -priest Strong.[15] The text was, “Fear God and honor the king.” This -was too much for the newly-made American; and he put the congregation -into a broad grin, by exclaiming aloud, “Don’t let us hear about the -King, but about Congress.” The good people of Hartford would have -pardoned this violation of Puritan propriety, if they had seen that -brave fellow flogged, as I had, in the king’s service. - -Our fifer, Charles Robinson, also enlisted in the same regiment. -Perhaps some of the inhabitants of Hartford still remember the -soldier who amused them, during his stay, by playing on the bugle in -the morning, from the top of the court-house. Robinson was perfect -master of several instruments, especially the fife and the bugle. - -One of our boys, named William Madden, but better known in the -_Macedonian_ by the nick-name of “Billy O’Rook,” from his practice of -singing a song about that hero, enlisted in the army, and afterwards -performed a signal service for his adopted country, at Sacket’s -Harbor. The Americans were in full retreat before the British troops, -whose general,[16] mounted on a superb charger, was at their head, -shouting, “Huzza, my boys, the day is ours!” when young Madden -rendered desperate by the certainty of being shot, if taken by his -countrymen, deliberately aimed his rifle at the general. The shot -struck him, he fell, and the British retreated. This brave lad -lost his life in a subsequent action. I make this statement on the -authority of Captain Badger, of Williamstown, Mass., confirmed by the -testimony of several other persons. - -The reader has probably not forgotten the name of “Bloody Dick.” He -shipped on board the _Hornet_, sloop of war, and with that vessel -very narrowly escaped falling into the hands of the English. I met -him afterwards in New York. He told me how he trembled during the -chase, knowing that if captured he should be hung for entering the -American service; the British having given express orders for a -strict look-out after our crew, that they might make examples of them. - -Besides the men just mentioned, others of our crew shipped and -wandered in every direction; some in men of war, some in merchant -vessels; some, fearful of the risk of being retaken, settled ashore. -In short, it is impossible to trace them, so variously did they -diverge from each other. I have been particular in mentioning the -history of a few, to gratify the parties, should they be living, and -ever see my book; to confirm the reader in the truthfulness of my -account, and to show some of the changes that followed in consequence -of the victory of the _United States_ over the _Macedonian_. It -would be an interesting task, were it possible, to trace out all the -results of that victory. Having detained the reader thus long in -following the fate of my shipmates, I will resume the record of my -own in the following chapter. - -[Illustration: (Decorative Separator)] - - - - - CHAPTER VIII - - -Nearly two weeks had passed since I left the _Macedonian_. I and my -companion were living upon the sums I had saved from the presents I -received for my civilities to her numerous visitors. One day, as I -was sauntering round the wharves, with my protégé, I met a number of -men-of-war’s men. Stepping up to them, I perceived some of the old -_Macedonians_. Of course, I hailed them. They were glad to see me. -They had shipped on board the _John Adams_, guard ship, to which they -were returning, having been enjoying a few days’ liberty. Nothing -would satisfy them, but for us to accompany them, and ship too. The -midshipman who was with them, joined his entreaties to theirs, and we -at last consented. - -To avoid being detected by the British, it was usual for our men to -assume new names, and to hail from some American port, on shipping in -an American vessel. My shipmates advised me to do the same. To this I -had some objections, because I knew that changing my name would not -make me a Yankee, while it might bring me into as awkward a position -as it did an Irishman, who was found by an English cruiser on board -an American vessel. After he had declared himself an American, the -officer asked him, “What part of America did you come from?” - -“I used to belong to Philamadelph, but now I belong to Philama York,” -replied Paddy, concealing his brogue as much as possible. “Well,” -continued the officer, “can you say pease?” - -“Pase, sir,” said Pat in true Irish style. The officer laughed and -replied, “Mr. Pase, you will please to get into the boat.” The poor -Irishman was unsuccessful in playing the Yankee. - -Mentioning these fears, the midshipman said, “Call yourself William -Harper, and hail from Philadelphia;” then turning to my companion, he -added, “and call yourself James Wilson.” - -“But,” said I, “suppose the officer should ask any questions about -Philadelphia, what should I do?” - -“O say you belong to Pine street.” - -“But what if he asks me in what part of the city Pine street is -situated, and what streets join it?” I answered, determined not to -take a step in the dark if I could avoid it. - -The midshipman assured me that no such questions would be put; -and, partly confiding and partly doubting, I resolved to make the -experiment. Going on board, we were paraded before the officers. -Addressing me, one of them said, “Well, my boy, what is your name?” - -Mustering all the confidence I could command, I boldly answered, -“William Harper, sir.” - -“What part of America do you belong to, my boy?” - -“Philadelphia, sir.” - -Here one of the officers smiled and remarked, “Ah, a townsman.” I -trembled at hearing this, inwardly hoping that they would ask me -no more questions. To my increased alarm, however, he continued by -asking, “What street in Philadelphia?” - -“Pine street, sir,” said I, with the air of a man who feels himself -drawn toward a crisis he cannot escape. - -“What street joins Pine street, my lad?” asked my tormentor, with a -knowing laugh. - -This was a poser; for further than this my instructions had not -proceeded. However, I rallied the little confidence which remained, -and said, “I don’t remember, sir.” - -The officer who had claimed me as a townsman, mentioned the next -street, and my examiner went on by asking me what street joined the -one mentioned by the officer. - -My colors, which had fallen to half-mast before, were now fairly -struck. I had to surrender at discretion; but thinking to get off -with the honors of war, I answered, “Gentlemen, it is so long since I -was in Philadelphia, I have forgotten all about it.” - -This point blank shot might have saved me, when, as if Providence had -determined to make my attempt at lying a total failure, one of them -detected a glittering anchor button, which had contrived to get rid -of the covering placed over it by the fingers of the widow. Pointing -it out to the others, he said, “Where did you get that English -button? Did you pick it up in Philadelphia?” - -This was a shot which raked me fore and aft. I hauled down my colors -and stood silent. The officers laughed heartily as one of them said, -“Go below, my lad; you will make a pretty good Yankee.” - -Through all this procedure the reader will perceive how perfect was -the disregard of truth among all parties, from my humble self to the -officers, who were evidently rather pleased than otherwise at my -attempt to pass for an American. Such an absence of moral rectitude -is deplorable; it exhibits the unfitness of the parties for a mansion -in His kingdom who is a God of truth: it lays the foundation for a -mutual distrust and suspicion among men, and it leaves the offender -to meet a fearful weight of responsibility in the day that shall try -every man’s work. I am thankful that the influences of Christianity -have fallen upon me since that time, in such abundance as to renew -the spirit of my mind, and to fill me with abhorrence towards a -violation of truth. - -The next morning I and my companion, who had escaped the ordeal -that had proved too much for me, were summoned to go ashore to the -rendezvous, that we might sign the ship’s articles; or, in sailor -phrase, get shipped. The officer of the watch shouted, “Boatswain’s -mate!” - -“Sir,” answered a deep, gruff voice. - -“Pipe away the cutter,” said the officer. - -“Aye, aye, sir.” - -“Pass the word for James Wilson and William Harper.” - -“Aye, aye, sir.” - -Then followed a loud, shrill whistle, accompanied with the cry of, -“Away, there, cutters, away!” We were also summoned to appear, -and told to take our seats in the cutter, which by this time lay -alongside, manned by her crew of six men, who sat each with his -oar elevated in the air, waiting the word of command. We were soon -seated, the lieutenant passed the words, “Let fall, and give way;” -the oars fell into the water with admirable precision, and away we -flew towards the shore. - -On our way to the rendezvous, I told my companion I should not ship -in the _John Adams_, because so many of the _Macedonians_ were -already there, and it was impossible for us to pass for Americans. -After some debate, we agreed together not to sign the articles. On -entering the house where the stars and stripes were flying over the -door, in token of its being the naval rendezvous, being anxious to -have my friend Wilson pass the ordeal first, I affected to stumble, -and then continued apparently engaged in fixing my shoe-string. -“Well, my boy, what is your name? Just sign it here, will you?” said -the officer. - -I took no notice, but remained very busy with my shoes. My shipmate -replied in a low, bashful voice, “I don’t like to ship, sir.” - -“Very well, then go below,” said the officer. At this juncture, -feeling encouraged by his remark, I looked up; when, to my -discomfiture, the officer, fixing his eyes on my retreating -companion, observed, “That fellow will certainly be hung;” meaning -that he would get caught by the English. Then, addressing me, he -said, “Now, my lad, just sign your name.” - -“Sir,” said I, “I had better not ship alone. The other boy is only -frightened; let me talk to him a little, and I can persuade him to -ship with me.” - -The shipping officer was too old a bird to be snared with such chaff -as this. So, speaking rather sharply, he said, “Let him go, sir, and -ship yourself; then he’ll come back and join you; and”--he smiled as -he spoke--“I will let you come ashore to persuade him, in a day or -two.” - -Still I pretended not to be convinced, and, after considerable -debate, he let me off. Once more clear, I joined my young shipmate, -and we proceeded together to our boarding-house, congratulating -ourselves on our fortunate escape, as it appeared to us. - -Two weeks of idleness had nearly exhausted the little stock of -funds I had picked up on board my old ship, and it was becoming -necessary for me to find some means or other of supporting myself; -for although the prim widow, with whom I boarded, was quite obliging -while her bills were paid, it was altogether probable that she would -become a little crusty if they should be neglected. At this crisis I -fortunately met with an Englishman, who had visited our frigate at -Hurl-gate. His name was Smith; he was a deserter from the British -army; but was now settled in New York, as a boot-maker, in the -employment of the firm of Benton & Co., Broadway. He offered to take -me and initiate me into the art, science and secrets of boot-making. -Seeing no better opportunity before me, I accepted his kind offer, -and at once entered on my novitiate. - -Behold me then, kind reader, transformed from the character of a -runaway British sailor, into that of a quiet scholar, at the feet -of St. Crispin, where in the matter of awls, wax-ends, lapstones and -pegs, I soon became quite proficient. - -It is altogether probable that the rest of my life would have glided -away in this still and quiet manner, but for a report that reached -me, one Sabbath, as I was wasting its precious hours in wandering -about among the shipping. This was, that there was a tall, stout -seaman on board the _United States_, named George Turner. From -the name and description, I had no doubt that this was my cousin, -who (the reader has not forgotten I presume) presented himself so -unceremoniously to my aunt at Wanstead. - -This intelligence determined me to pay that frigate a visit. Going -on board, I found her crew living in a complete Elysium of sensual -enjoyment. They had recently received their prize money. Salt beef -and pork were now rejected with disdain: Jack’s messkids smoked with -more savory viands, such as soft tack (bread) and butter, fried eggs, -sausages, &c.; the whole well soaked with copious streams of rum and -brandy. - -Those of the crew who had been in the _Macedonian_, hailed me with a -hearty welcome; those for whom I had bought the turkey and apples at -Christmas repaid me fourfold, so that when I went ashore that night -my purse was as heavy as on the afternoon when I quitted my ship. -My cousin did not recognise me at first; but by referring him to -his visit to my old abode, he at last felt satisfied that I was his -cousin. He then charged me not to mention our relationship, because -he wished to pass for an American. Having given me this charge, he -surveyed me from head to foot, and then said, “What are you doing in -New York?” - -“I am learning to make boots and shoes.” - -“I am sorry you are bound to a shoemaker,” said he; “I don’t like -that business.” - -“I am not _bound_ to Mr. Smith, but can leave him when I please.” - -“Well, then,” he remarked thoughtfully, “I don’t want you to go to -sea again. Go to Salem, in the state of Massachusetts. I have a wife -and children there, and shall be at home in a few weeks.” - -This was a kind offer, and I at once agreed to take his advice. I -had already grown somewhat weary with the confinement of my new -mode of life, though, on the whole, considering my education, and -the character of the influence exerted upon me in the _Macedonian_, -I was a steady lad. Mr. Smith had left me pretty much to my own -inclinations during the two months of my residence with him; yet my -utmost misconduct had been the drinking of a little spirit, and the -violation of the Sabbath by roaming about the docks and wharves. My -Sabbath evenings I had usually spent in a more profitable manner, it -being my habit to spend them at the Methodist chapel in Duane street. - -On returning to the house of my kind employer, I lost no time in -communicating to him my change of purpose. He objected, and justly -too, to be left just as the pains he had taken to instruct me were -about to be requited by my usefulness. However, as I offered him five -dollars, he consented to my departure. - -At that time there were no steamboats ploughing the waters of the -Sound, so I engaged a steerage passage to Providence, for five -dollars, on board a packet sloop, and, with a light heart and elastic -step, carried my clothes-bag on board. Here, however, I met with a -trifling loss. While ashore waiting for a fair wind, a negro, who had -engaged a passage in the sloop, robbed my bag of several articles -of wearing apparel, and took French leave. In consideration of this -mishap, the captain exacted only three dollars passage-money. From -Providence a stage, chartered exclusively by a party of sailors, -conveyed me to Boston; from whence I soon reached the house of my -cousin in Salem. - -Mrs. Turner received me with great kindness; indeed, she pretended -not to be surprised at my visit, assigning as a reason the very -satisfactory fact that she had seen me with my bag on my shoulder -in the _grounds of a teacup_! She was a believer in fortune-telling -and dreams, having, for aught I know, received her convictions as -an heirloom from her witch-burning[17] ancestors. At any rate she -was strongly confirmed in her favorite theory by my timely arrival; -verifying, as it did, to the very particular of the bag on the -shoulder, the truth-telling tea-grounds. - -She gave me another proof, after I had been there a few weeks, of -the truthfulness and verity of dreams, by calling me up one morning, -with an injunction to make haste to the post-office, for she had -dreamed of catching fish. Sure enough, if she caught no fish in her -dreams, she caught a very fine one in the letter I brought to her, -for it contained a one hundred dollar bill from her husband, with -information that his ship was blockaded in the port of New London by -Commodore Hardy. - -Accident or curiosity, I forget which, led me to attend the religious -services of the Baptists in Salem. They were enjoying a season of -religious refreshing: several were baptized. The hymn beginning with -the line-- - - “Oh, how happy are they who their Saviour obey,” - -was sung as the converts came out of the water, and made a strong -impression on my mind. Had some devoted Christian made himself -acquainted with my feelings, and given me suitable advice, there is -no doubt but that I should have been led to embrace the Lord Jesus -Christ. How many divine impressions are destroyed, through lack of -faithfulness in Christians! - -Perhaps the great reason why these serious impressions were so -transient, was because the company I kept was so unfavorable to their -growth. Most of my time was spent about the shipping: among these -were many privateers, the profanity of whose crews was such that it -had passed into a proverb. It was usual to say to a gross swearer, -“You swear like a privateer’s-man.” Religion could not flourish in an -atmosphere tainted by their vices. - -Among my favorite pursuits was that of fishing. Sometimes I went -with mixed parties of males and females; at others, with a few -sailor companions. One of these excursions came very near costing -rather more than it was worth. We had been out all night; towards -morning we thought we would get a little sleep, and for this purpose -laid ourselves down under the top-gallant forecastle. Luckily for -us, we had an old sailor, named Lewis Deal, on board. He had been -quartermaster on board the _United States_. Knowing that the coast -was strictly guarded by British cruisers, he kept awake. Just at dawn -the _bang_ of a single gun led him to call us, saying, “There, I told -you to look out for Johnny Bull.” - -Looking about us, we saw an English gun brig in chase after a -Boston sloop. This was a sight that inspired us with a very sudden -and wonderful agility, since we had a decided repugnance to a free -passage in the aforesaid brig to Halifax; especially as in my case -it might have the rather unpleasant termination of an airing at the -yard-arm; which, for very strong reasons I chose to avoid if possible. - -By dint of strong arms and quick movements, we succeeded in -hauling in our anchor and getting under weigh, without attracting -the Englishman’s attention. Expecting a shot at our heels every -moment, we sat breathlessly measuring our distance from the brig. -Fortunately, we escaped notice, and reached Salem in safety. - -Shortly after this adventure, the good citizens of Salem were -thrown into a high state of excitement by the noise of a heavy -cannonading. A general rush took place from all quarters towards the -Neck. I followed with the rest. We found it to be occasioned by the -engagement between the _Chesapeake_ and _Shannon_, in compliance -with a challenge, sent by the latter, which was accepted by Captain -Lawrence, of the former. The result is well known. After a short -action, the _Chesapeake_ struck to the _Shannon_, and was carried -away by the victors, in triumph, to Halifax. One reason for the -defeat of the American frigate, may perhaps be found in the fact that -her crew were newly shipped; some of them were volunteer landsmen, -while none of them had what sailors call their sea-legs on. No ship -is fit for action until she has been at sea at least a month. In this -action the captain, first lieutenant, and several men, were killed. -Mr. George Crowninshield sent a vessel to Halifax for the bodies of -those gallant officers; they were interred in Salem with naval honors. - -My cousin, having now reached home, was desirous to have me devote -myself to some business. He proposed that of a sailmaker; but by this -time I had quite a desire to go to sea again. - -The _Constitution_, the _Frolic_ sloop of war, and the gun brig -_Siren_, were all shipping hands in Boston. My feelings inclined -me towards old _Ironsides_; but my cousin, having sailed with -Captain Parker,[18] of the _Siren_, recommended that officer so -strongly, that I was induced to join his ship, in company with the -quartermaster and several of the former hands of the _United States_. -My cousin also overruled my design of shipping in a false name; so -that, in defiance of my fears, I suffered myself to be entered as -Samuel Leech, on the books of the U. S. brig _Siren_, of sixteen -guns. The payment of three months’ advance, with the sum I brought -with me from New York, enabled me honorably to discharge my board -bills at my cousin’s, and to purchase a little clothing necessary to -fit me for sea. I was then in the seventeenth year of my life. - -Once more in a man of war, my seriousness all vanished like mist -before the sun. Alas, it was poor soil to nourish the seed of -life! barren of everything that related to purity, religion, and -immortality. - -My first impressions of the American service were very favorable. The -treatment in the _Siren_ was more lenient and favorable than in the -_Macedonian_. The captain and officers were kind, while there was -a total exemption from that petty tyranny exercised by the upstart -midshipmen in the British service. As a necessary effect, our crew -were as comfortable and as happy as men ever are in a man of war. - -While we lay in Boston harbor, Thanksgiving-day arrived. Some of our -Salem men inquired if I was not going home to keep Thanksgiving, -for they all supposed I belonged to Salem. What they meant by -Thanksgiving, was a mystery to me, but, dissembling my ignorance, -I obtained leave, determined to learn what it meant. The result of -my visit was the idea that Thanksgiving was one in which the people -crammed themselves with turkeys, geese, pumpkin-pies, &c.; for, -certainly, that was the chief business of the day, so far as I could -perceive. With too many people, I believe that this is the leading -idea associated with the day even now. - -Our brig had before this taken in her guns, consisting of two long -nine-pounders, twelve twenty-four pound carronades, and two forty-two -pounders. Our crew was composed of some one hundred and twenty-five -smart, active men. We were all supplied with stout leather caps, -something like those used by firemen. These were crossed by two -strips of iron, covered with bearskin, and were designed to defend -the head, in boarding an enemy’s ship, from the stroke of the -cutlass. Strips of bearskin were likewise used to fasten them on, -serving the purpose of false whiskers, and causing us to look as -fierce as hungry wolves. We were also frequently exercised in the -various evolutions of a sea-fight; first using our cannon, then -seizing our cutlasses and boarding-pikes, and cutting to the right -and left, as if in the act of boarding an enemy’s ship. Thus we -spent our time from early in the fall until after Christmas, when we -received orders to hold ourselves in readiness for sea. - -[Illustration: (Decorative Separator)] - - - - - CHAPTER IX - - -As we lay waiting for our final orders, a report reached us that -a large English brig of war, called the _Nimrod_, lay in a cove -somewhere near Boston bay. Upon this information, our officers -planned a night expedition for the purpose of effecting her capture. -Our intended mode of attack was to run close alongside, pour a -broadside upon her, and then, without further ceremony, board her, -cutlass in hand. So we took in our powder, ground up our cutlasses, -and towards night got under weigh. A change in the wind, however, -defeated our designs, and we put into Salem harbor, with no other -result than the freezing of a man’s fingers, which happened while we -were furling our sails. Thus ended our first warlike expedition in -the _Siren_. - -Shortly after this affair, we received orders to start on a cruise -to the coast of Africa, and, in company with the _Grand Turk_,[19] -a privateer, set sail from Salem. Passing the fort, we received the -usual hail from the sentry, of “Brig ahoy! where are you bound to?” - -To this salutation the first lieutenant jocosely answered, “There, -and back again, on a man of war’s cruise.” Such a reply would -not have satisfied a British soldier; but we shot past the fort -unmolested. After two days we parted company with the _Grand -Turk_, and by the aid of a fair wind soon found ourselves in the -Gulf Stream; where, instead of fearing frozen fingers, we could go -bare-footed and feel quite comfortable. - -We now kept a sharp look-out at the mast-head, but met with nothing -until we reached the Canary Islands, near which we saw a boat-load of -Portuguese, who, coming alongside, talked in their native tongue with -great noise and earnestness, but were no more intelligible to us than -so many blackbirds. - -While off the African coast, our captain died. His wasted body was -placed in a coffin, with shot to sink it. After the service had been -read, the plank on which the coffin rested was elevated, and it -slipped into the great deep. The yards were braced round, and we were -under weigh again, when, to our surprise and grief, we saw the coffin -floating on the waves. The reason was, the carpenter had bored holes -in the top and bottom; he should have made them only in the top. - -After the funeral, the crew were called aft, and the first -lieutenant, Mr. Nicholson,[20] told us that it should be left to -our decision whether he should assume the command and continue the -cruise, or return home. We gave him three hearty cheers, in token of -our wish to continue the cruise. He was a noble-minded man, very kind -and civil to his crew; and the opposite, in every respect, to the -haughty, lordly captain with whom I first sailed in the _Macedonian_. -Seeing me one day with rather a poor hat on, he called me aft and -presented me with one of his own, but little worn. “Good luck to -him,” said I, in sailor phrase, as I returned to my messmates; “he -has a soul to be saved.” We also lost two of our crew, who fell -victims to the heat of the climate. - -One morning the cry of “Sail ho!” directed our attention to a strange -sail, which had hove to, with her courses hauled up. At first, we -took her for a British man-of-war brig. The hands were summoned to -quarters, and the ship got ready for action. A nearer approach, -however, convinced us that the supposed enemy, was no other than our -old friend, the _Grand Turk_. She did not appear to know us; for no -sooner did she see that our craft was a brig of war, than, supposing -us to belong to Johnny Bull, she crowded all her canvas, and made the -best of her way off. Knowing what she was, we permitted her to escape -without further alarm. - -The first land we made was Cape Mount. The natives came off to a -considerable distance in their canoes, clothed in nothing but a piece -of cloth fastened round the waist, and extending downward to the -feet. As we approached the shore, we saw several fires burning; this, -we were told, in the broken English spoken by our sable visitors, -was the signal for trade. We bought a quantity of oranges, limes, -cocoanuts, tamarinds, plantains, yams and bananas. We likewise took -in a quantity of cassava, a species of ground root, of which we made -tolerable pudding and bread; also a few hogs and some water. - -We lay here several days looking out for any English vessels that -might come thither for purposes of trade. - -Meanwhile, we began to experience the inconvenience of a hot climate. -Our men were all covered with blotches or boils, probably occasioned -by so sudden a transition from extreme cold to extreme heat. What -was worse than this, was the want of a plentiful supply of water. In -the absence of this, we were placed on an allowance of two quarts -per diem, to each man. This occasioned us much suffering; for, after -mixing our Indian for puddings, our cassava for bread, and our whisky -for grog, we had but little left to assuage our burning thirst. Some, -in their distress, drank large quantities of sea water, which only -increased their thirst and made them sick; others sought relief in -chewing lead, tea-leaves, or anything which would create moisture. -Never did we feel more delighted than when our boat’s crew announced -the discovery of a pool of fine clear water. We received it with -greater satisfaction than ever prodigal did tidings of the death of -some rich old relative, to whose well-laden purse he was undisputed -heir. We could have joined in the most enthusiastic cold-water song -ever sung by either hermit or Washingtonian.[21] - -While cruising along the coast, we one night perceived a large ship -lying at anchor near the shore. We could not decide whether she was -a large merchantman or a man of war; so we approached her with the -utmost caution. Our doubts were soon removed, for she suddenly loosed -all her sails and made chase after us. By the help of their glasses, -our officers ascertained her to be an English frigate. Of course, it -was folly to engage her; so we made all the sail we could carry, beat -to quarters, lighted our matches, and lay down at our guns, expecting -to be prisoners of war before morning. During the night we hung out -false lights, and altered our course; this baffled our pursuer; in -the morning she was no more to be seen. - -The next sail we made was not so formidable. She was an English -vessel at anchor in the Senegal river. We approached her and hailed. -Her officer returned an insolent reply, which so exasperated our -captain that he passed the word to fire into her, but recalled it -almost immediately. The countermand was too late; for in a moment, -everything being ready for action, we poured a whole broadside into -our unfortunate foe. The current carried us away from the stranger. -We attempted to beat up again, but our guns had roused the garrison -in a fort which commanded the river; they began to blaze away at us -in so expressive a manner, that we found it prudent to get a little -beyond the reach of their shot, and patiently wait for daylight. - -The next morning we saw our enemy hauled close in shore, under -the protection of the fort, and filled with soldiers. At first, -it was resolved to man the boats and cut her out; but this, after -weighing the subject maturely, was pronounced to be too hazardous an -experiment, and, notwithstanding our men begged to make the attempt, -it was wisely abandoned. How many were killed by our hasty broadside, -we never learned, but doubtless several poor fellows were hurried to -a watery and unexpected grave, affording another illustration of the -_beauty_ of war. This affair our men humorously styled “the battle of -Senegal.” - -After visiting Cape Three Points, we shaped our course for St. -Thomas. On our way, we lost a prize through a display of Yankee -cunning in her commander. We had hoisted English colors; the officer -in command of the stranger was pretty well versed in the secrets of -false colors, and in return he ran up the American flag. The bait -took: supposing her to be American, we showed the stars and stripes. -This was all the merchantman desired. It told him what we were, and -he made all possible sail for St. Thomas. We followed, crowding every -stitch of canvas our brig could carry; we also got out our sweeps and -swept her along, but in vain. The merchantman was the better sailer, -and succeeded in reaching St. Thomas, which, being a neutral port, -secured her safety. Her name was the _Jane_, of Liverpool. The next -morning, another Liverpool merchantman got into the harbor, unseen -by our look-out until she was under the protection of the laws of -neutrality. - -Our next business was to watch the mouth of the harbor, in the hope -of catching them as they left port. But they were too cautious to run -into danger, especially as they were expecting a convoy for their -protection, which might make us glad to trust more to our canvas than -to our cannon. - -Shortly after this occurrence, we made another sail standing in -towards St. Thomas. Hoisting English colors, our officers also -donning the British uniform, we soon came near enough to hail her; -for, not doubting that we were a British brig, the merchantman made -no effort to escape us. Our captain hailed her, “Ship ahoy!” - -“Halloa!” - -“What ship is that?” - -“The ship _Barton_.” - -“Where do you belong?” - -“To Liverpool.” - -“What is your cargo?” - -“Red-wood, palm oil and ivory.” - -“Where are you bound to?” - -“To St. Thomas.” - -Just at that moment our English flag was hauled down, and, to the -inexpressible annoyance of the officers of the _Barton_, the stars -and stripes supplied its place. - -“Haul down your colors!” continued Captain Nicholson. - -The old captain, who, up to this moment, had been enjoying a -comfortable nap in his very comfortable cabin, now came upon deck -in his shirt sleeves, rubbing his eyes, and looking so exquisitely -ridiculous, it was scarcely possible to avoid laughing. So surprised -was he at the unexpected termination of his dreams, he could not -command skill enough to strike his colors; which was accordingly done -by the mate. As they had two or three guns aboard, and as some of the -men looked as if they would like to fight, our captain told us, if -they fired to not “leave enough of her to boil a tin pot with.” After -this expressive and _classical_ threat, we lowered our boats and took -possession of this our first prize. - -After taking out as much of her cargo as we desired, just at night -we set her on fire. It was an imposing sight, to behold the antics -of the flames, leaping from rope to rope, and from spar to spar, -until she looked like a fiery cloud resting on the dark surface of -the water. Presently, her spars began to fall, her masts went by the -board, her loaded guns went off, the hull was burned to the water’s -edge, and what, a few hours before, was a fine, trim ship, looking -like a winged creature of the deep, lay a shapeless, charred mass, -whose blackened outline, shadowed in the clear, still waves, looked -like the grim spirit of war lurking for its prey. - -This wanton destruction of property was in accordance with our -instructions, “to _sink_, _burn_ and _destroy_” whatever we took from -the enemy. Such is the war-spirit! SINK, BURN and DESTROY! how it -sounds! Yet such are the instructions given by Christian (?) nations -to their agents in time of war. What Christian will not pray for the -destruction of such a spirit? - -The crew of the _Barton_ we carried into St. Thomas, and placed -them on board the _Jane_, excepting a Portuguese and two colored -men, who shipped among our crew. We also took with us a fine black -spaniel dog, whom the men called by the name of Paddy. This done, we -proceeded to watch for fresh victims, on which to wreak the vengeance -of the war-spirit. - -The next sail we met, was an English brig, called the _Adventure_; -which had a whole menagerie of monkeys on board. We captured and -burned her, just as we did the _Barton_. Her crew were also disposed -of in the same manner. One of them, an African prince, who had -acquired a tolerable education in England, and who was remarkably -polite and sensible, shipped in the _Siren_. His name was Samuel -Quaqua. - -We now remained at St. Thomas several days, carrying on a petty -trade with the natives. Our men bought all kinds of fruit, gold dust -and birds. For these things, we gave them articles of clothing, -tobacco, knives, &c. For an old vest, I obtained a large basket of -oranges; for a hand of tobacco, five large cocoanuts: a profitable -exchange on my side; since, although I drew my tobacco of the purser, -I fortunately never acquired the habit of using it; a loss I never -regretted. My cocoanuts were far more gratifying and valuable when we -got to sea, parched with thirst, and suffering for water, than all -the tobacco in the ship. - -While in this port, I had to throw myself on the protection of -the officers, to avoid the disposition to abuse which existed in -one of the petty officers. Several of these gentlemen, who messed -together, had a large boy to wait on them. He was unacquainted with -naval usages, and somewhat awkward withal. This led them to oppress -him: they frequently knocked him round, and even ventured to flog -him with a rope’s-end. The poor lad used to cry, and fret about it, -leading quite a miserable life. By some means, it happened that I was -ordered to take his place; and I determined to resist their habit of -punishing their servant; so, one day, when the gunner came below for -his share of the whisky, and found it was gone, his messmates having -drank the whole, and asked me for his whisky, I boldly answered “I -know nothing about it.” - -At this, he broke out into a furious passion, declaring that if I did -not find his whisky he would have my heart’s blood. - -To this _dignified_ and _manly_ threat I made no reply, but proceeded -forthwith to the first lieutenant, and laid the facts before him. The -gunner was sent for, reprimanded, and threatened with degradation, if -ever he either struck or offered to strike me again. Of course, I had -no further trouble with these would-be tyrants. - -The only other difficulty I ever had on board the _Siren_, was with a -young midshipman, who was on his first voyage--who was, in sailor’s -language, “a real green-horn.” He ordered me, one day, to wash his -clothes. I refused, saying it was not my duty. Putting on the air -of a pompous man, he told me it was my duty to obey an officer, and -I should do it. I persisted in resisting this sprig of American -aristocracy, and as I heard no more of it, I suppose he learned that -he was in the wrong. - -The effect of my conduct on the gunner was seen a short time -afterwards, in the following little incident, which will also show -the reader the nature of the pranks practised in men of war, by the -hands. The gunner was a very selfish man, and somehow, when we were -on short allowance of water, he contrived to keep a keg filled, which -he kept in a small state-room; and a man might choke before he would -part with a drop. One night, when my throat was parched with thirst, -I met the boatswain’s mate, and said, “If I were minded to play the -rogue, I could hook some water.” - -The mate, who was as dry as myself, looked mightily gratified at this -piece of news, and asked, “Where?” - -“I have a key that will fit the lock of the room where the gunner -keeps his water keg.” - -“Well,” said he, “give me the key. I will be the rogue, while you -keep watch for the old gunner.” - -After drinking all we desired, we locked the door and returned to our -posts, wondering how the gunner would feel when he found that some -one had been practising the arithmetical rule, called reduction, on -his water keg. - -The next day the offended gunner threw out sundry hints to his -messmates about his loss, indirectly charging them with the robbery. -This drew down their wrath upon him, and he was compelled to be -content with swallowing his choler, and getting a new lock for his -state-room. In all his rage he never uttered a word to me: he had not -forgotten my appeal to his superiors. - -From St. Thomas we proceeded to Angola, where we staid long enough -to clean, paint and refit our brig, from stem to stern. This was the -last port we intended to touch at on the coast of Africa. Our next -anchorage was to be in Boston harbor--at least so we purposed; but -Providence and the British ordered it otherwise. - -To accomplish our object, we had to run the gauntlet through the -host of English cruisers that hovered about, like birds of prey, -along both sides of the Atlantic coast. This enterprise appeared -so impossible to my mind, while we lay at Angola, and the fear of -being retaken and hung operated so strongly on my imagination, that, -more than once, I determined to run away and find a refuge among the -Africans; but my better judgment prevailed at last, and I continued -at my post. - -Still, I used every possible precaution to escape detection in case -of our capture. In accordance with the custom of our navy at that -period, I let my hair grow long behind. To change my looks more -effectually, instead of tying mine in a cue as the others did, I let -it hang in ringlets all round my face and neck. This, together with -the effect of time, caused me to appear quite a different lad from -what I was, when a boy, on board the _Macedonian_. I also adopted -that peculiarity of dress practised by American men-of-war’s-men, -which consisted in wearing my shirt open at the neck, with the -corners thrown back. On these corners a device was wrought, -consisting of the stars of the American flag, with the British flag -underneath. By these means I hoped to pass for a genuine Yankee, -without suspicion, in case we should fall into English hands. - -Having finished our preparations, we left Angola for Boston. We -reached the island of Ascension in safety, where was a post-office -of a truly patriarchal character. A box is nailed to a post near -the shore. Ships that pass send to the box and deposit or take out -letters, as the case may be. This is probably the cheapest general -post-office establishment in the world. - -We had scarcely left this island before the cry of “Sail ho!” -arrested every ear. Supposing her to be a large merchantman, we made -towards her; but a nearer approach made it doubtful whether she was -an Indiaman or a man of war. The captain judged her to be the latter, -and tacked ship immediately. He was unwilling to place himself in the -situation of an American privateer, who, mistaking a seventy-four for -a merchantman, ran his ship close alongside, and boldly summoned -her to haul down her colors. The captain of the other ship coolly -replied, “I am not in the habit of striking my colors.” At the same -moment the ports of his ship were opened, and disclosed her long -ranges of guns, yawning over the decks of the privateer. Perceiving -his mistake, the privateer, with admirable tact and good humor, -said, “Well, if you won’t, I will,” and pulling down his bunting, -surrendered to his more powerful foe. To avoid such a mistake as -this, our captain made all sail to escape the coming stranger, which -was now bearing down upon us under a heavy pressure of canvas, -revealing, as she gained upon our little brig, that she bore the -formidable character of a seventy-four gun ship, under English colors. - -Of course, fighting was out of the question. It would be like -the assault of a dog on an elephant, or a dolphin on a whale. We -therefore crowded all possible sail, threw our guns, cables, anchors, -hatches, &c., overboard, to increase her speed. But it soon became -apparent that we could not escape. The wind blew quite fresh, which -gave our opponent the advantage: she gained on us very fast. We -shifted our course, in hopes to baffle her until night, when we felt -pretty sure of getting out of her way. It was of no use, she still -gained, until we saw ourselves almost within gun-shot of our opponent. - -In this extremity, the captain ordered the quartermaster, George -Watson, to throw the private signals overboard. This was a hard -task for the bold-hearted fellow. As he pitched them into the sea, -he said, “Good-bye, brother Yankee;” an expression which, in spite -of their mortifying situation, forced a smile from the lips of the -officers. - -The sound of a gun now came booming through the air. It was a signal -for us to heave to, or to look out for consequences. What might -have been, we learned afterwards, for a division of the crew of the -seventy-four had orders to sink us if we made the least show of -resistance. Finding it useless to prolong the chase, our commander -reluctantly ordered the flag to be struck. We then hove to, and our -foe came rolling down upon us, looking like a huge avalanche rushing -down the mountain side to crush some poor peasant’s dwelling. Her -officers stood on her quarter deck, glancing unutterable pride, while -her captain shouted, “What brig is that?” - -“The United States brig _Siren_,” replied Captain Nicholson. - -“This is his Britannic Majesty’s ship _Medway_!”[22] he answered. “I -claim you as my lawful prize.” - -Boats were then lowered, the little brig taken from us, and our crew -transferred to the _Medway_, stowed away in the cable tier, and put -in messes of twelve, with an allowance of only eight men’s rations -to a mess; a regulation which caused us considerable suffering from -hunger. The sight of the marines on board the _Medway_ made me -tremble, for my fancy pointed out several of them as having formerly -belonged to the _Macedonian_. I really feared I was destined to -speedily swing at the yard-arm; it was, however, a groundless alarm. - -This event happened July 12, 1814. Only eight days before, we -had celebrated the independence of our country, by dancing and -splicing the main-brace. Now we had a fair prospect of a rigorous -imprisonment. Such are the changes which constantly occur under the -rule of the war-spirit. - -The day subsequent to our capture, we were marched to the quarter -deck with our clothes-bags, where we underwent a strict search. We -were ordered to remove our outside garments for this purpose. They -expected to find us in possession of large quantities of gold dust. -What little our crew had purchased was taken from them, with a spirit -of rapacity altogether beneath the dignity of a naval commander. - -Our short allowance was a source of much discomfort in this our -prison-ship. But, in the true spirit of sailors, we made even this a -subject of coarse jests and pleasant remark. Some would sit and paint -the luxuries of shore life until our mouths watered at the idea of -soft tack, fried eggs, sausages, and those other delicacies which -go to make up a sailor’s idea of a sensual paradise. Others would -discourse about roast beef, boiled lamb, and caper sauce; to which -some old weather-beaten tar would answer, “Give me the lamb and a -knife and fork, and I will cut capers enough.” This would draw out -peals of laughter, to be followed by various yarns of feasts gone -by, and of sprees enjoyed on liberty and paydays. Thus we beguiled -our time; though, with all our laughing, we could not laugh away the -clamors of our hungry stomachs; and when I took my turn of a few -minutes on deck, the gift of a piece of hard, dry biscuit, afforded -me more gustatory delight, than would the taste of the richest -pound-cake, now that I have an abundance of food. - -Enduring this evil, we proceeded on our course. When the _Medway_ -arrived at Simon’s Town, about twenty-one miles from the Cape of Good -Hope, we met the _Denmark_, seventy-four, on her way to England, with -prisoners from Cape Town. The captain had hitherto intended to land -us at the latter place, but the presence of the _Denmark_ led him to -change his purpose, and land us at Simon’s Town. - -The journey from this place to the Cape was one of great suffering to -our crew. We were received on the beach by a file of Irish soldiers. -Under their escort we proceeded seven miles, through heaps of burning -sand, seeing nothing worthy of notice on the way, but a number of men -busily engaged in cutting up dead whales on the sea-shore. - -After resting a short time, we recommenced our march, guarded by -a new detachment of soldiers. Unused to walking as we were, we -began to grow excessively fatigued; and, after wading a stream of -considerable depth, we were so overcome, that it seemed impossible to -proceed any farther. We lay down, discouraged and wretched, on the -sand. The guard brought us some bread, and gave half-a-pint of wine -to each man. This revived us somewhat. We were now placed under a -guard of dragoons. They were very kind, and urged us to attempt the -remaining seven miles. To relieve us, they carried our clothes-bags -on their horses; and overtaking some Dutch farmers, going to the Cape -with broom-stuff and brush, the officer of the dragoons made them -carry the most weary among us in their wagons. It is not common for -men to desire the inside of a prison, but I can assure my readers -we did most heartily wish ourselves there, on that tedious journey. -At last, about nine o’clock, P. M., we arrived at Cape Town, having -left one of our number at Wineburg, through exhaustion, who joined us -the next day. Stiff, sore, and weary, we hastily threw ourselves on -the hard boards of our prison, where, without needing to be soothed -or rocked, we slept profoundly until late the next morning. For a -description of our prison, with what happened to us there, the reader -is referred to the succeeding chapter. - - - - - CHAPTER X - - -The next morning we took a survey of our new quarters. We found -ourselves placed in a large yard, surrounded by high walls, and -strongly guarded by soldiers. Within this inclosure, there was a -building, or shed, composed of three rooms, neither of which had -any floor. Round the sides stood three benches or stages, one above -the other, to serve for berths. On these we spread our hammocks and -bed-clothes, making them tolerably comfortable places to sleep in. A -few of the men preferred to sling their hammocks, as they did at sea. -Here, also, we used to eat, unless, as was our frequent practice, we -did so in the open air. - -Our officers had been sent thirty miles inland, so that we had lost -the natural exactors of discipline among seamen. To remedy this -deficiency, our first step was to adopt a set of regulations in -respect to order, cleanliness, &c., and to appoint certain of our -number to enforce them. - -We experienced some unpleasantness, at first, from the insolence of -some of the sergeants commanding the prison guard. Most of these -petty officers were very friendly and kind, but two or three of them -manifested a surly, tyrannical temper, annoying us in many little -things, enough to embitter our enjoyment, while they were on duty. -This petty despotism we soon cured, by returning their abuse in a -rather provoking kind of coin. We used to plague them by causing -a long delay when the hour arrived for them to be relieved. They -were required to muster us every morning, that we might be counted -before the new guard took us in charge. On those occasions some would -purposely absent themselves; others were sent to find the absentees; -these, in their turn, would hide themselves, and require to be sought -by others. This was excessively vexatious to the soldiers, and as -it occurred only when a tyrannical sergeant was on guard, they soon -understood its meaning. The plan was successful, and we thus got rid -of one source of discomfort. - -Our next difficulty was with the old Dutchman, named Badiem, who -furnished our prison with provisions. He had already learned the -difficulty of cheating a Yankee; for the Americans who were carried -away in the _Denmark_ had been in this same prison, and had taught -the old man that they were rougher customers than the Frenchmen who -had preceded them. We gave him another lesson. - -He undertook to wrong us and benefit himself by furnishing a very -inferior article of bread. After counselling among ourselves, we took -the following plan to bring him to his senses: - -We were visited every day by a superior officer, called the officer -of the day. He was a kind old man, who had seen service in the war -of the revolution, and was at the battle of Bunker Hill. He had a -profound respect for the American character, and could not speak of -that great action without tears. One day a friendly sergeant being on -duty, we gave him a piece of the old Dutchman’s bread, complaining -bitterly of its quality. When the old officer came round as usual, -on a fine, dashing charger, and asked his customary question of “All -right?” our friend the sergeant replied, “No, sir!” - -“What is the matter?” asked the venerable old gentleman. - -“The prisoners complain of their bread, sir,” said the sergeant. - -“Let me see it,” answered the general. The sergeant gave him a small -piece. He examined it, wrapped it up carefully in some paper, clapped -the spurs to his horse, and rode off. The next day, we had better -bread than ever before, and an order came for a man from each room -to go with the sentry to the town every morning, to examine our -daily provision; and, if not what it should be, to reject it. This -completely upset the golden visions of the old Dutchman. With much -choler he exclaimed, “I had rather have one tousand Frenchmen, than -one hundred Yankees.” - -We could not now complain of our fare. We had an abundance of beef -and mutton, beside a full allowance of bread, &c. The beef, to be -sure, was poor, lean stuff, but the mutton was excellent. The sheep -at the Cape have a peculiarity, which may cause the reader to smile. -They have enormously large, flat tails, weighing from twelve to -twenty pounds. These are regularly sold by the pound for purposes of -cookery. Should any one treat this statement as a forecastle yarn, I -refer him to the descriptions of these sheep, given by travellers and -naturalists.[23] - -Besides our prison allowance, we had opportunity to purchase as many -little luxuries and niceties as our slender finances would permit. -These were furnished by a slave, who was the property of the old -Dutchman, and who was so far a favorite as to be indulged with two -wives, and the privilege of selling sundry small articles to the -prisoners. This sable polygamist furnished us with coffee, made from -burnt barley, for a _doublegee_ (an English penny)[24] per pint; the -same sum would purchase a sausage, a piece of fish, or a glass of -rum. On equally reasonable terms, he furnished us with blackberries, -oranges, &c. Our men, who, by the way had eaten fruit in every -quarter of the globe, and were therefore competent judges, pronounced -the latter the best in the world. The berries afforded me a rich -treat at Christmas. - -To obtain means for the purchase of these dainties, our men braided -hats, wrought at mechanical employments, or at such pursuits as their -respective tastes and capacities suggested. These occupations served -to beguile our confinement of much of its tediousness. - -Still, we had many vacant, listless hours. To fill them, we resorted -to the demoralizing practice of gambling. A game with balls, called -shake-bag, loo, venture, all-fours, &c. occupied our evening hours, -and sometimes the whole night. It was not uncommon for the game to -be protracted beyond the midnight hour of Saturday, into the sacred -moments of the holy Sabbath. On one of these guilty mornings, some -of us, on retiring to a shed, found the dead body of a black slave, -hanging by the rope, with which, in a moment of unpardonable despair, -he had committed the horrid crime of suicide. The hour, the scene, -the place, our recent guilty profanation of God’s holy day, conspired -to fill many of us with profound dread. In my own mind it led to a -few transient purposes of amendment. Alas! when the bright sun arose, -these purposes had vanished. The influence of vice triumphed. I grew -more and more hardened in wickedness. - -Cape Town contained a large slave population. These poor wretches -had been extremely degraded under the rule of the Dutch. It was said -that their condition had been essentially improved since the conquest -of the place by the English. Still, as the suicide just mentioned -demonstrated, slavery was a bitter draught. The British have done -wisely since then in granting freedom to the slaves in all their -colonies. May the whole world imitate the noble example! - -We were subjected to frequent and violent gales of wind while here. -The approach of these storms was always faithfully proclaimed by the -mountain that towered up behind us; a large white cloud, resting -on its summit, like a tablecloth, was a certain indication of the -elemental warfare. Whenever this phenomenon appeared, our men -used to remark, “Look out for a blow, the cloth is beginning to -spread.” Very soon the vessels in the bay could be seen striking -their top-gallant masts and yards, and sometimes even housing their -top-masts. In a few minutes the ocean would give signs of the coming -commotion; the waves became crested with clouds of foam, and the -spirit of the storm was seen careering in triumph over the liquid -mountains of the angry deep. - -Besides Table mountain, there was another near it, called the Lion’s -Rump, from its similarity to that noble animal in a sitting posture. -On the summit of this mountain was a telegraph, which informed us, in -common with the people of the Cape, of the approach of shipping to -the harbor. - -At the town, the British had a hospital for the accommodation of -their army and navy. The advantages of this institution were humanely -and properly offered to us, whenever we were sick. Happening to be -quite unwell one day, my shipmates advised me to go thither. Now, -on board the _Siren_, when in a similar state, the surgeon had -administered an ounce of Glauber salts. The dose caused such nausea, -that from that time I held salts in profound abhorrence. When the -hospital was suggested to me, I associated it with the idea of salts, -and, shuddering, remarked that “I would go if I thought they would -not give me salts.” My shipmates all said they thought I should not -have salts prescribed: so, under the guard of a sentry, I sallied -forth to the hospital. “Well, my boy,” said the doctor, “what’s the -matter with you?” - -With many wry faces, I told him my symptoms; when, to my -inconceivable mortification and disgust, he spoke to a sort of -lob-lolly boy, who waited upon him, and said, “Doctor Jack! bring -this boy six ounces of salts.” - -This was intolerable. One ounce had sickened me for months at the -bare mention of salts, and now I was to swallow six! It seemed -impossible. The remedy was worse than the disease. I wished myself -back at my quarters. This was, however, in vain, unless I took -a dangerous leap from the window. I must submit. The salts were -brought, but they were not so bad, either in quality or quantity, as -my dose in the _Siren_. The reason I found to consist in the fact, -that they were Epsom instead of Glauber, and that the six ounces -included the weight of the water in which they were dissolved. So -well was I pleased with my visit to the hospital, and especially with -the privilege afforded me of walking about the streets of Cape Town, -that I afterwards feigned illness to gain another admission. I was -willing to take the salts for the sake of the liberty of jaunting -about the streets. Of the sin of lying I thought nothing. I was a -sailor, caring little for aught but present gratification. The beauty -of truth I had never seen; the hatefulness of a lie I had never -learned. Most gratefully do I acknowledge that Divine goodness, which -has since effectually taught me both the one and the other. - -At Cape Town there was a small prison, called the “Trunk.” To this -place those of our number, who were disorderly, were sent, to be -closely confined, on no other diet than bread and water, for as many -days as the commandant might designate. We always quietly permitted -any offender among us to be sent thither without resistance: but -when, on one occasion, an attempt was made to confine two of our -shipmates unjustly, we gave them a demonstration, which saved us -afterwards from any similar attempt. - -Two of our men had hung out some clothes, they had just washed, in -our yard, near their own shed. Now, it happened that the doctor to -the military stationed at the Cape, had an entrance to his office -through our yard. The clothes were undesignedly hung across his path, -compelling him either to stoop a little in passing, or to ask their -removal. He was too proud to adopt either of these peaceful methods, -but, with manifest spitefulness, he took out his knife and cut the -line, so that the clothes fell into the dirt. The owners, seeing -their wet clothing in this condition, broke out into passionate -inquiries after the offender. “It was the English doctor,” replied -one of our shipmates, who had witnessed the whole affair. This -brought forth a volley of sailors’ oaths from the offended parties. -The enraged doctor overheard their wrathful ebullitions, and, without -further ceremony, ordered the two men to be carried to the “Trunk.” - -Here, then, was a manifest case of injustice. We resolved not to -submit to it, let the consequences be what they might. When the -sergeant came in for the doctor’s victims, we all turned out in -a body, declaring we would all go to the “Trunk” together. The -sergeant, seeing us in this state of rebellion, called out the whole -guard, and ordered them to load and fire upon us. We were not however -so easily scared. We shouted, “Fire away! You will have but one fire, -and then it will be our turn.” At the same time we picked up all the -broken glass, sticks, stones, &c., which were within our reach, and -stood waiting for their firing as the signal for a general _mêlée_. -The sergeant, seeing our resolution, and wisely considering that our -superiority in numbers, might secure us a victory over the handful -composing his guard, ordered the soldiers to retire. We never heard -any more of the little doctor’s indignation: it probably evaporated, -like the moisture from the clothes his petty indignation had thrown -to the ground. How insignificant such acts appear, in men professing -to be gentlemen! - -Shortly after this event, we were thrown into confusion and temporary -excitement, by the approach of a large party to our prison, at -midnight, attended by a band of music. We turned out and rushed -to the gate of our yard. The guard turned out likewise, trembling -under the impression that our countrymen had captured the town and -were coming to give us our liberty. Their fears and our wonder were -quieted, however, by a speedy discovery of the true character of this -midnight party. It was a Dutch wedding, coming to the house of the -old Dutchman, our caterer; the entrance to which being in our yard, -the party had to pass directly through our territories; which they -did, their band playing the tune of “A free and accepted Mason.” - -Notwithstanding we were in tolerably comfortable circumstances, our -confinement soon became exceedingly irksome. We pined for freedom; we -longed to get once more where the “old gridiron” floated in fearless -triumph. A report of the burning of Washington by the British added -not a little to our desire. We began to talk of home. This led to -other suggestions; these to the formation of plans for our escape. We -at length concerted a measure, which was, to break from the prison -in the night, disarm and confine the guard, help ourselves to boats, -and cut out some large ship, in which we might make our escape to -America. The success of this plot, however, was never tested; for, -reaching the ears of the commander, the guards were strengthened; -the light dragoons ordered out to patrol the harbor; and such other -preventive measures adopted, as cut off all hope of forcible escape. -Our only remedy for this disappointment, was submission, and boasting -of what we would have done, had we got into the strife for liberty. - -As the period of our imprisonment drew towards a close, we were -informed that the Rev. George Thom, a missionary, was desirous to -come and preach to us. Some of our men objected, because, they -said, he would preach about his king, and they had no desire to -hear anything about kings. Others said, “Let him come; we will hear -him with attention, and if we don’t like him we can afterwards stay -away. At any rate, don’t let us abuse him; but rather show him that -Americans know what is good behavior.” - -This reply shows the true spirit of the mass of seamen in respect -to religion; for though they care little about personal piety, they -will not, usually, unless intoxicated, insult a minister. This was -once shown in the experience of the eccentric Rowland Hill; when a -mob threatened the old gentleman with mischief, some sailors present -rallied round him, threatening vengeance on any who dared to insult -the preacher. - -Accordingly, we sent our respects to Mr. Thom, inviting him to -favor us with a visit. We then cleaned and fitted up one room with -benches. The following Sabbath he came. His preaching was earnest, -simple and interesting. Instead of discoursing about kings, as some -had predicted, the only king about whom he preached, was the King of -heaven. We invited him to come again. He accepted the invitation, -and our meetings soon began to be profitable and interesting. We had -singing, for several of our men were tolerable singers, and they -were aided by the presence of some pious soldiers from the garrison, -and occasionally by Mrs. Thom, the amiable lady of our excellent -preacher. Our officers, too, frequently came from their residence, -and were pleased to see the good order and happiness apparent on -these occasions. I assure my readers, that the most delightful -moments of our imprisonment were those we spent in singing some sweet -hymn, in the good old-fashioned tunes of _Bridgewater_, _Russia_, -_Wells_, &c. - -Among the texts used by Mr. Thom, I remember the following: “Turn ye -to the strong-hold, ye prisoners of hope;” Zech. ix. 12. “Behold, -I stand at the door and knock,” &c.; Rev. iii. 20. “And yet there -is room;” Luke xiv. 22. It was really pleasing to hear the various -remarks made by our men, after listening to faithful discourses from -these and similar texts. One would remark, “He hit me a clew.” To -this another would reply, “He shot away my colors.” A third would -add, “He shot away my rigging;” while a fourth would say, “He gave me -a shot;” and a fifth, “He gave me a broadside.” Thus, in their rough -way, did they express the impressions made on their minds by the -discourse. - -Mr. Thom was a faithful servant of his Master, the Lord Jesus Christ. -He did not rest satisfied with these public efforts, but, during the -week, he visited us for the purpose of serious conversation. Several -of us were really under strong conviction, and would confess, at -these inquiry meetings, and to each other as we paced the yard, -how often we had sinned, even cursing our Maker when on the yard at -night, amid the roaring of the storm, the bellowing of the thunder, -and the angry flashing of the lightning. A happy practical effect -followed. Gambling ceased, cards and shake-bag lost their charms. -The time was spent in reading useful books. Bibles and religious -books were given or loaned to us. Among these were Baxter’s _Call_, -Doddridge’s _Rise and Progress of Religion_, &c. To some extent we -were altered men. Had we remained much longer under these gracious -influences, most of us, I think, would have become experimental -Christians. As it was, the seed was not wholly wasted. Impressions -were made, which, no doubt, have, in many cases, yielded rich fruit -long before this. - -My own mind was strongly wrought upon. A singular dream added -to my seriousness. In my dream, I saw myself drowning, while a -fierce-looking soldier was pointing his loaded musket at my head. -Thus death threatened me from two sources. In this extremity my -anguish was very great. All my gracious opportunities passed before -me, but now it seemed too late for salvation. “Oh,” thought I in my -sleep, “what would I give, if this were only a dream! How faithfully -would I serve the Lord when I awoke.” Just at that moment I did -awake, scarcely able to convince myself that the ideal scene was not -an awful reality. That day I eagerly sought the missionary, and sat -with serious delight listening to his instructions. Still I did not -give myself up to the service of Christ. So difficult was it for me -to make the requisite sacrifice of my beloved sins. - -Just at this interesting crisis, a glad report of peace between -England and America reached our prison. With joyful faces we -assembled round the good man, when he came that day, to inquire if it -was really so. While he assured us of its truth, he mildly asked “if -it was peace with Heaven;” assuring us that it was a matter of the -greatest importance for us to be at peace with God. - -As a memento of our esteem for Mr. Thom, we made him several little -presents. One of them was a hat made from a _bullock’s horn_. The -horn was peeled into narrow slips, these were scraped, split, and -braided like straw, and then sewed together. We also made him a model -of a ship, fully rigged from stem to stern. The missionary received -these marks of our regard with evident pleasure; and, no doubt, when -looking upon them afterwards, offered many a prayer for the salvation -of the prisoners, who were, for many weeks, the subjects of his -anxiety and labors. Blessings rest on him, if he yet lives! Peace to -his ashes, if he slumbers among the dead! - -Great was the joy of my companions, when the news reached us that -we were to embark shortly, in the _Cumberland_, seventy-four, for -England. Little was now said or done, except what related to our -departure. With strange, yet common perversity of conduct, serious -matters were laid aside for the one absorbing thought, “We shall soon -be free!” Thus, an event which should have given birth to gratitude -and religious service, only served for an occasion of further neglect -and unthankfulness. How strangely wicked is the human heart! - -For myself, the tidings filled me with fear. Directly to America I -would have gladly gone; but to be carried to England, in one of her -ships of war, was like going to certain death. How was it possible -for me to escape detection? How could I avoid meeting with some old -_Macedonians_, who would, of course, recognise and betray me? These -questions had resolved me to volunteer to remain at the Cape, a short -time before, when some of our number were sent to England. Now, -they tortured me beyond endurance. I felt like an escaped criminal -with the officers of justice at his heels. Death at the yard-arm -haunted me day and night, like the fancied ghost of a murdered man, -staring ghastly at the window of his murderer. No one can imagine my -uneasiness, unless he has been placed in a similar situation. I made -many promises to God that if he would carry me in safety to America, -I would cease to be a swearer, and would most punctually attend his -house every Sabbath. These things constituted my highest ideas of -human duty at that time; but even these promises, like those made -during the heat of the battle in the _Macedonian_, were made to be -broken. - -After a little delay, we were conveyed on board the _Cumberland_, -where we soon heard the well-known summons of “All hands up anchor, -ahoy!” A cloud of canvas dropped from her gigantic yards; the -sportive breeze came obedient to our wish; and the huge form of the -_Cumberland_, accompanied by a large convoy of merchant vessels, -was borne rapidly along upon the yielding waves. Cape Town, Table -Mountain, the Lion’s Rump, and our prison-yard, were soon left far -behind, leaving no traces of their existence on the distant horizon; -they were to be known to us hereafter only among the images of the -brain--as recollections, not as realities. We had spent eight months -in the prison of Cape Town. - -Our treatment in this ship was superior to what we received in the -_Medway_. Instead of the cable tier, we had berths on the upper gun -deck, and our allowance of food was sufficient for our wants. - -Arriving at St. Helena, we remained a few days in port. This rough, -rock-bound island had not yet received its future prisoner, the -emperor of France. Here we were removed from the _Cumberland_. -Twenty-four of us were sent on board the _Grampus_, of fifty guns, -the rest were sent home in our old conqueror, the _Medway_; my lot -being cast among the former. - -This transfer to the _Grampus_ greatly alarmed me; since the more -men I saw, the greater, of course, was my chance of detection. I -had already escaped being known on board of two seventy-fours; but -I could not promise myself the same impunity much longer. However, -as I saw no one whose face was familiar, when I went on board, I -felt a little more easy. But that night, I had occasion for great -trepidation and alarm. About nine o’clock, I heard the order from -an officer, of “Pass the word for the boy Leech.” This was followed -by several voices hallooing, “Boy Leech! boy Leech!” My heart beat -like a trip-hammer against my bosom, and a cold sweat crept over my -whole body. My shipmates said they meant me; but I would not reply. -After a few moments, I breathed more freely, and the fear of death -passed away. I heard some one saying, “Your master wants you;” which -convinced me that there was a “boy Leech” among the crew of the -_Grampus_, as well as another boy Leech among the American prisoners. - -On our passage, we made a strange sail. Coming up to her, to our -infinite satisfaction we beheld the stars and stripes at her -mast-head. “Brother Jonathan has come to town,” said one of our men. -“He is a most welcome visitor,” the rest replied; for indeed “the -old gridiron” never looked so pleasant as it did then. This meeting -confirmed us in the report of peace between the two nations. This was -as gratifying to the crew of the _Grampus_ as to us; for they had -recently heard that the war with France was ended, and they were all -hoping to get discharged. This expectation was defeated, however, -by intelligence from some passing ship, that Napoleon was at Paris -again, with a force of sixty thousand men. - -Nothing could exceed the joy of the officers, and the vexation of -the crew, at this piece of information. The former dreaded a peace, -because it would place many of them on half-pay; while the chances of -war inspired them with hopes of promotion; hence they ran alongside -almost every ship in the fleet, shouting, “Have you heard the news? -Bonaparte has got to Paris with sixty thousand men!” Really, some of -them seemed crazy with joy at the idea of protracted war. Not so, -however, the seamen; they longed for peace, since war only brought -them hard usage, wounds and death. While, therefore, the officers -were rejoicing, they were muttering curses and oaths, wishing -Bonaparte and his army at perdition. Nor was it strange that they -felt thus; for the discipline on board the _Grampus_ was excessively -severe. They were constantly flogging in the most harsh and cruel -manner. The _Sirens_ were astonished at what they saw; for on board -our brig, we seldom saw more than a dozen lashes inflicted at one -time, and that not very often. - -At last we came in sight of the white cliffs of old England. To -avoid suspicion, I appeared much interested in everything I saw on -the coast, and asked the men all those questions which are natural -to a stranger, when he sees a new country for the first time. These -inquiries they answered with the utmost good humor; for an Englishman -is proud of his country, notwithstanding he may find hard usage from -her hands. - -My American friends have frequently asked if my language did not -excite suspicion that I was English. It never did to my knowledge; -indeed, so free was I from English provincialisms, that it was often -remarked to me, that I “needed no protection;” meaning, that I should -be taken for a Yankee, without offering proof. - -With all this in my favor, I could not behold myself approaching my -native soil, without many misgivings. To a man who knows a halter -is hanging over his head, everything furnishes cause for alarm; a -piercing look, a whisper, or the sudden mention of his name, is a -cause of disquietude, sufficient to stir his inmost soul. Captain -Nicholson gave me no little uneasiness, by sending for me one day, -just before we arrived in port, to make some inquiries about Mr. -Crowninshield, of Salem, Mass. Luckily, I could say I had seen him; -beyond that, I could give no further information. He supposed me -to be a native of Salem, while I was quaking, through a fearful -expectation of being found nearly as ignorant of that city, as I had -been, on another occasion, of the city of Philadelphia. - -At length we reached Spithead, and were removed to an old -prison-ship, called the _Puissant_, which had once belonged to the -French. Here we were treated with great lenity; we were even allowed -liberty to go on shore. Had I dared, I would have run away; the dread -of the halter restrained me! I did not even venture to write, lest my -mother should be tempted to visit me, or even to write; since even a -letter from any place in England, might awaken suspicion concerning -my true character.[25] - -After a stay of several weeks in the old _Puissant_, orders came for -our transfer to the _Rover_, a gun-brig, which had orders to carry us -to Plymouth. Here was a double risk again before me. I had to risk -being known by the crew of the _Rover_, and by the many persons who -had known me at Plymouth. However, the good hand of Providence was -with me to preserve me. We reached our port in safety, where, to our -great delight, we heard that the _Woodrop Simms_, of Philadelphia, -was to be the Cartel to convey us to America. - -Before we were allowed to tread her decks, however, we had to spend -two or three days on board the _Royal Sovereign_, of one hundred and -ten guns, because the _Woodrop Simms_ was not quite ready to receive -us. Here I was exposed to the gaze of eight hundred men; but none of -them knew me. Indeed, this was my most hazardous situation; for the -_Sovereign_ and _Macedonian_ had sailed in company before the capture -of the latter. Whenever any of her men came near our quarters, I -endeavored to look cross-eyed, or closed one eye so as to appear -partially blind; and in various other ways altered my appearance, so -that even an old shipmate would have been puzzled to recognise me at -first. - -At last, the grateful news reached us that the Cartel was ready. We -went on board with great gaiety, where we met our shipmates who had -left the Cape before us. They had been confined in the celebrated -Dartmoor prison, with a number of other prisoners, where they had met -with rather rough treatment and rougher fare. They were present at -what they called the Massacre. Several of the prisoners were detected -in an effort to escape. To strike terror into the poor victims, -Captain Shortland ordered his men to fire in upon them. Quite a -number were killed, and more wounded, by this cold-blooded act; -the rest sought the shelter of the prison walls. Several Americans -suffered in this wanton assault. Our meeting at this juncture was a -source of mutual gratulation. - -Our ship was now surrounded with boats containing provisions of all -descriptions. To our surprise, the Dartmoor men bought freely of -everything. Where they obtained their money, we could not imagine. We -learned afterwards that their stock consisted of counterfeit coins, -manufactured by the prisoners! It was well for them that our ship put -to sea before John Bull’s peace officers received information of the -fraud. What a school for every species of vice is opened by war! The -corruptions and vices occasioned by the operation of this system, are -beyond the power of the imagination to conceive. - -My feelings were peculiar as I beheld my native land receding from -my vision. I was happy, and yet sad. Happy, because I was now safe; -sad, because I was again leaving the soil which held my mother and my -friends. On the whole, my joyous feelings prevailed. - -A few days out, we were hailed by an English frigate. She sent a -boat alongside to make some inquiries, and left us to pursue our -way in peace. We were all in good spirits; our men being divided -into watches to assist the crew of the ship; our officers all snugly -quartered in the cabin, and myself appointed to assist the steward; -an office quite agreeable to one who had lived on prisoners’ fare -more than a year,[26] because it brought me a few of the spare -luxuries from the officers’ table. - -One morning, shortly after the English frigate had boarded us, -Captain Nicholson asked me something about Salem. I smiled. He -inquired why I laughed. “Sir,” said I, “Salem is not my native place -by considerable.” - -“What do you mean?” asked the captain, looking somewhat puzzled at my -manner of treating the subject. - -I then unfolded the secret of my having been one of the crew -captured in the _Macedonian_. They seemed amazed at the risks I had -encountered since the capture of the _Siren_, and congratulated me -very warmly on my really hair-breadth escape from the halter. It was -a fortunate escape indeed, for which I can never be sufficiently -thankful to that All-seeing Eye, that watched for my safety in the -moment of peril. - -During this voyage, a great deal was said about quitting the seas -and settling down in quietness ashore. One of our shipmates, named -William Carpenter, who belonged to Rhode Island, had a particular -enthusiasm in favor of farming. He promised to take me with him, -where I could learn the art of cultivating the soil. Many of us made -strong resolutions to embark in some such enterprise. The pleasures -of agriculture were sung and praised among us in so ardent a manner, -that he must have been incredulous indeed, who could have doubted, -for a moment, the certainty of quite a number of our hands becoming -farmers, whenever we should gain the land. - -One night we lay in our hammocks, talking with great earnestness -about our favorite scheme, the wind blowing quite freshly on deck. -Said one, “If I ever get home, you won’t catch me on board of a -ship again.” “Yes,” said another; “farmers live well, at any rate. -They are not put on allowance, but have enough to eat: if they work -hard all day, they can turn in at night; and if it blows hard, the -house won’t rock much, and there’s no sails to reef.” While this -and similar conversation was going on, the wind was blowing harder -and harder: from occasional heavy puffs, it at last grew to be a -tremendous gale. Hearing so much wind, though there were hands enough -on deck to manage the ship, some of us got up to assist if we were -needed. It was now blowing most fearfully; the wild howling and -whistling among the rigging, the wilder roar of the angry sea, the -hallooing of the captain, and the impenetrable darkness which lent -its horrors to the scene, were appalling even to a sailor’s breast. -Just as I stepped upon deck she shipped a heavy sea, which drenched -me to the skin. Presently, we heard the crash of falling timbers, and -away went a top-mast, and a yard in the slings. There were now so -many men on deck that we were in each other’s way; some of us went -below and turned in, with the full expectation that our ship would -founder before morning; and thinking it would be as well to go down -in our hammocks as on deck. - -While this state of gloomy foreboding continued, some of my shipmates -manifested great alarm about eternity. They prayed aloud, in deep -distress. Others only cursed, and said, as if in bravado, “We are all -going to hell together.” For my own part I kept repeating the Lord’s -prayer, and renewing those promises so often made in the moment of -apparent destruction. - -At length the day dawned, revealing the sad havoc made by the winds, -of our masts and rigging. We also saw a number of those dwellers -on the ocean, called Mother Carey’s chickens. Our shattered aspect -reminded me of the _Macedonian_ after the battle, excepting that we -had no wounded and dead about us now. Captain Jones, who had not left -the deck a moment during the night, declared that, though he had -been twenty-five years at sea, he had never witnessed such a gale -before. Our ship was nearly new, and an excellent sea-boat, or she -would have shared the fate of many a ship in that terrible gale. As -the wind abated with the approach of day, we repaired our damages -and proceeded on our voyage, frequently passing vessels which had -suffered as severely as ourselves. This gale was on the 9th and 10th -days of August, 1815. Probably many, both sailors and landsmen, will -recollect this and the September gale of that year, which occasioned -such destruction of life and shipping. - -Sailors are superstitious. Our men attributed this mishap to the -presence of some Jonah in the ship. The man they pitched upon, as the -probable offender, was an old sea-captain, who had been cast away -several times. That he had done some fearful deed, was a matter of -undoubted truth among them; but not being so resolute as the mariners -of Tarshish, they did not cast him into the sea; neither did this -liberality on their part cost us our lives, for, after several days -of pleasant weather, we one morning found ourselves safely anchored -at the quarantine ground, near the city of New York. - -The crew of the _Siren_ having obtained leave to go on shore, -full of my good purposes to lead a steady life on the land, I -hurried directly to Broadway, to inquire for my former employer, -the kind-hearted boot-maker. To my disappointment, he had gone to -Philadelphia; so that I returned on board, somewhat chagrined at the -failure of my plan. - -The next morning we were conveyed, in a large sail-boat, on board the -_Tom Bowling_, an hermaphrodite brig. Here I was congratulated by -the old quartermaster, Lewis Deal, who was with me when we narrowly -escaped capture at the mouth of Salem harbor, while on a fishing -excursion. He said he had felt much anxiety for my safety all the -voyage, especially as it was reported that my former captain had made -strict search for the _Macedonians_ among all the American prisoners -who were carried to England. The kind-hearted old man wept tears of -gladness at my safe return. - -While we staid in the _Tom Bowling_, the September gale, mentioned -above, took place. We were right glad, as it broke its fury over -our anchorage in vain, to think we were so safely housed in a good -harbor, instead of being exposed to its wrath on the deep. Many a -brave heart perished in that memorable storm. - -The two years having expired for which we shipped, we were paid off. -With the sum of one hundred dollars, I hurried on shore and deposited -my funds in the hands of my landlord, at a sailor’s boarding-house. -Now followed a life of dissipation and folly. The grave resolutions, -passed at sea, to settle down as steady farmers, vanished into -air. Drinking, swearing, gambling, going to the theatre, and other -kindred vices, took up all our time as long as our money lasted. Our -religious vows were equally slighted and forgotten: instead of being -better, we became worse than ever. We felt as if New York belonged -to us, and that we were really the happiest, jolliest fellows in the -world. - -For my own part, I fell deeper into wickedness than ever before: -drinking, swearing, and gambling as I had never done on any former -occasion. How could it be otherwise? Who cared for the sailor then? -Not one. He was left to his own depraved heart’s promptings. Bethels -and religious boarding-houses did not then throw their genial -influences round his path, to charm his footsteps to the shrines of -virtue and religion. Near the very spot where the Bethel church -now stands in New York, I have frequently gambled for hours, with a -bottle of spirits on the table, uncaring and uncared for by any human -being. Thrice blessed be the man who first established Bethels and -temperance boarding-houses! They are the sailor’s life-boats, which -snatch him from the gory jaws of the unprincipled landsharks who -fatten on his ruin. - -Sometimes, in a sober moment, I thought I would break away from -this wicked mode of life. I even engaged myself to a boot-maker, -to complete my knowledge of his business; but, the dread of the -confinement to the shoe-bench, which my riotous fancy painted as -being worse than a prison, drove me from my purpose, and left me -still among my shipmates. - -At last my landlord told me my money was all expended, and that I -must look out for something to do. My shipmates were in a similar -dilemma, their number decreasing every day, as one after another -shipped in the various merchant vessels preparing for sea. Alas! -for our farmers in perspective. Their dreams of ploughing the land -evaporated, leaving them what they were before, and what most of -them remained until death, the ploughmen of the ocean. My landlord’s -gentle hint put a stop to my excesses, for the very sufficient reason -that it was attended with a protest on my further checks for funds. -For a while, I found employment in loading and unloading ships, and -in assisting to fit them for sea. But this proving an uncertain -employment, I was induced to join a number of my fellow-boarders in -going to the rendezvous of the United States brig _Boxer_. Here we -shipped for two years more. I was then eighteen years of age, and was -rated as an ordinary seaman, with ten dollars per month wages. Behold -me then, dear reader, once more on board a man of war, in spite of -all the dangers I had escaped, and the promises I had made to risk -myself no more on the ocean! The next chapter will unfold the events -which transpired while I sailed in the _Boxer_. - - - - - CHAPTER XI - - -On shipping in the _Boxer_, I received three months’ advance, which, -excepting a small sum expended for clothing, fell into the hands of -my rapacious landlord. How much this gentleman contrived to filch -from me, it is not in my power to say; but that he was well paid, I -have no doubt. He had my hundred dollars, my advance, all I earned -for working on the wharves, and nine dollars beside, which I obtained -from the purser. All this, according to his account, I spent in -a few weeks, with the exception of a very small sum laid out for -clothing. As I had no means of proving his statements false, there -was no alternative but submission, and a return to a life of toil and -danger, to earn a fresh supply. - -As the method by which I obtained the nine dollars, above mentioned, -from the purser, will exhibit one of the modes in which seamen are -sometimes cheated, I will relate it. While in the _Siren_ I drew but -half my allowance of grog. By the rules of the service, I could claim -the balance in money. This I overlooked when we were paid off, but, -when my funds got low, it came into my mind. I proposed to some of -the boys, who had a similar claim, to visit the purser. They only -laughed at me, and said it would be of no use, for he would not pay -it now we were discharged. Finding they would not join me, I went -alone to the City Hotel, where the purser boarded, and inquired -for him of the bar-tender. He came down stairs, and I spread out -my complaint before him. He blustered and said I had no such claim -allowed; I insisted, and told him it was my right, and he must pay -it. Hoping to get rid of me, he told me to call again the next day. -This I did, when he paid me nine dollars. This will show the reader -one of the ways in which poor Jack is plundered, and that too by -GENTLEMEN! - -The _Boxer_ lay at the navy yard, whither we were conducted. The -vacillation of a seaman’s character was illustrated before we got -on board, by one of our hands running away: another went a little -beyond the first. He went on board, where he pretended to lose his -hat overboard. Begging permission to recover it, he seized the rope -which fastened the boat to the shore, dropped over the stern into the -boat, and pushing up to the wharf, leaped ashore and made off. Such -fickle-mindedness is not uncommon among sailors. - -We lost another of our crew in a more melancholy manner; he was in my -mess, an Englishman by birth, who had just left a British vessel to -enter the American service. He was at work on the main yard, and by -some means or other, losing his foothold, he fell. Unfortunately, he -struck a carronade screw in his descent, which inflicted a terrible -wound. The poor man suffered excruciating agonies for a short time, -and died. We buried him on shore, in a plain coffin, without form or -ceremony. Such are the contingencies which wait to hurry seamen to -the grave! - -We were kept busily at work upon the brig for some time; after which -our commander, Captain Porter, came on board. We soon found him to -belong rather to the race of Fitzroys and Cardens, than to that of -Decaturs, Parkers or Nicholsons. He was inclined to tyranny and -severe discipline. - -He soon gave us a specimen of his character in a most illegal act -of punishment. We lay alongside the _Hornet_ or _Peacock_, I forget -which. It happened that her captain and most of her officers were -gone ashore one day. Our captain accidentally saw one of her men -engaged in some act of misconduct: instead of entering a complaint -against the man to his own officers, he ordered him to be seized up -and severely flogged, notwithstanding the earnest entreaties of the -offender for pardon. Why the captain of that vessel did not call -Captain Porter to an account for this manifest invasion of his -prerogatives, I never knew, for we put to sea shortly afterwards. An -officer who would thus gratuitously volunteer his services to punish -a man, must be a tyrant at heart. So at least we thought; while many -misgivings, concerning the future, troubled our minds. - -As I was now rated an ordinary seaman, and not a boy, as heretofore, -I had a station assigned me in the fore-top, instead of being a -servant to any of the officers. I was also appointed to be one of the -crew of the captain’s gig. This made my lot one of more fatigue and -exposure than in any former voyage; a proof of which, I very soon -experienced. It being now late in the fall, the weather became very -cold. One afternoon, the pennant having got foul of the royal mast, -an officer ordered me to go up and clear it. I had no mittens on; it -took me some time to perform my task, and before I came down one of -my fingers was frozen. Thus it is, however, with the poor tar; and he -thinks himself happy to escape his dangers with injuries so slight as -this. - -The disposition of our commanding officer was still further revealed -to my discomfort one day, while we were at work on the cables. -Something I did, not happening to suit him, he gave me a severe blow -on the head with his fist, not far from the place where I had been -previously injured by the malice of the Malay boy. This unmanly blow -occasioned me violent pains for several days. - -Since that time, I have felt a peculiar hostility to a practice, -which is lamentably common in some schools and families; I mean that -of rapping children on the head with a thimble, or with the knuckles, -or anything else. The practice is the result of irrational passion, -it is dangerous, and cannot therefore be too severely reprobated. If -it is pleaded as necessary to enforce obedience and ensure respect, -I know it will fail of such effects; it will only excite feelings of -revenge, ill-will and malice. - -We now received sailing orders, and were very soon under weigh, -bound to the Balize at the mouth of the Mississippi. On this passage -we had further opportunities of learning the character of our -officers. Although Captain Porter was stern and severe, yet he never -used bad language. He always spoke with the utmost deliberation, but -with such obvious indications of feeling, that we often trembled -to hear his voice. Most of the other officers were by no means -novitiates in the art of swearing; but our sailing-master exceeded -all the rest in this diabolical habit. Whenever it was his watch on -deck, he exercised his voice, and practised the use of his choice -and varied vocabulary of oaths, by hallooing and threatening the -men continually. Whenever we had to set on sail, or to reef, he was -especially diligent in these matters; mingling with his curses, -threats of the lash to those who were tardy, or whose movements did -not exactly suit his taste. If such officers could only apprehend the -profound contempt and bitter hatred with which they are regarded by -their maddened crew, they would both tremble for safety, and despise -their own littleness of soul. No really great man would enact the -childish vagaries of a petty tyrant. - -There was one respect in which we were more annoyed in the _Boxer_ -than I had been in the _Macedonian_. In this latter ship, none but -the captain could order a man to be flogged; in the _Boxer_, the -lieutenant or the officer of the watch could send a man to the -gangway, and order the boatswain to lay on with a rope’s-end. This -is a liberty which the laws of the navy should prohibit. A man -should be secured the rights of a citizen, as well on the _planks_ -as on the _soil_ of his country. True, it may be said, severity of -discipline is necessary to good order in a ship. Not _severity_, -but _strictness_, is what is wanted. Let a strict discipline be -enforced, with pleasant looks, and a “Hurrah my lads, bear a hand!” -and obedience will be more prompt and more perfect than when every -order is accompanied with a “Damn you,” and with an exhibition of the -rope’s-end or cat-o’-nine-tails. Common sense, as well as experience, -will sustain this opinion. - -While these matters were passing on board, our little brig was -dashing through the waves in fine style. We arrived at the Balize, -from whence we dropped down to Ship Island, where we took in water. -A share of this severe task fell to my lot, for I was here taken out -of the gig, and placed in the jolly-boat, to make way for a smaller -and lighter lad in the former. We obtained our water by digging large -holes in the sand, into which we placed our casks; the salt water, -by passing through so much sand, would be so thoroughly filtrated, -that by the time it reached our casks it was fit for use. We then -emptied it into ten-gallon kegs, called breakers, which we carried -on our shoulders to the boat. This of itself was hard work, but we -had certain tormentors on this island, which made it a task of much -suffering. These were hosts of hungry, gigantic moschetos, which -assailed our persons, and especially our naked feet, in flying -squadrons, with a ferocity that indicated an uncontrollable thirst -for blood. But even these were not our worst persecutors. They -were attended by armies of large, yellow horseflies, which our men -called gallinippers. These merciless insect savages were always sure -to attack the very spot we had rubbed sore, after the bite of a -moscheto. Their bite felt like the thrust of a small sword; I still -retain scars on my feet occasioned by these fierce gallinippers. - -This island bore marks of the battle of New Orleans; for we found -various articles bearing the broad arrow and stamped G. R. We also -remarked several mounds, which had the appearance of being large -graves. We afterwards learned that this was the place where the -British brought their dead, after their unsuccessful attack on the -city of New Orleans. - -From Ship Island, we proceeded to New Orleans. This was a laborious -passage; the current ran down the river with amazing force, bearing -huge logs on its bosom, which, if suffered to strike either our bows -or cables, were capable of doing much damage: to avoid them required -no trifling exertions. Sometimes we endeavored to track her, or draw -her along with ropes, as canal-boats are drawn by horses. But, as -this brought us into shallow water, it was abandoned. - -The banks of the river displayed large numbers of alligators, -luxuriating on the numerous logs that were fast in the mud. We made -many attempts to get near enough to these scaly monsters to pierce -them with a boat-hook; but they kept too sharp a look-out for us; -invariably diving into the stream before our boat got near enough -for us to strike them. But, if we failed in capturing alligators, we -obtained an abundance of palm-leaf, from the shore, with which we -furnished ourselves with hats. - -An instance of our commander’s tyranny occurred while we were -ascending the river. He had requested a seaman, named Daily, who was -somewhat acquainted with the river, to act as pilot. By accident -or negligence, he suffered the brig to strike the bottom, though -without the least injury. The captain flew into a passion, ordered -him to the gangway, and commanded the boatswain’s mate to lay on -with his rope’s-end. I did not witness this flogging, for the hands -were not called up to witness punishment, unless administered by the -cat-o’-nine-tails, but one of my messmates said that he received at -least one hundred lashes. I saw him several days afterwards, with -his back looking as if it had been roasted, and he unable to stand -upright. He wore the same shirt in which he was flogged for some -time afterwards. It was torn to rags, and showed the state of his -back beneath. His object in wearing it was to mortify and shame the -captain for his brutality. - -The severity of flogging with the rope’s end is justly described in -Mr. Dana’s excellent book, called “Two Years before the Mast.” Though -not _so_ cruel as the cat, it is nevertheless a harsh, degrading -punishment. Our men used to say that “they would as lief be cut up on -the bare back with the cat, as have back and shirt cut up together,” -as was poor Daily’s. In truth, that flogging was both unjust and -illegal. The articles of war provide, that not more than _twelve_ -lashes shall be given for a crime; but here _one hundred_ were -inflicted for _no crime_--for an accident, which might have happened -to the best pilot who ever ascended the Mississippi. But though the -captain was thus rendered amenable to the law, who would believe a -poor sailor? Had he complained, it would doubtless have been to his -own injury; for law, and especially naval law, is always on the side -of the strong. This was not the only case of illegal flogging; but -the justification of these excessive whippings, was found in the -pretended existence of _several_ crimes in the helpless offenders. - -On one occasion we were at our quarters, exercising in the various -evolutions of war; now at our guns, and then going through the forms -of boarding an enemy; now running aloft, as if in the act of cutting -down our enemy’s rigging, and then rushing below, as if to board her, -firing our pistols, stabbing with our boarding-pikes, and cutting -on all sides with our cutlasses. In the midst of this excitement, -the movements of one of the men not happening to please the captain, -he seized a cutlass and struck him a tremendous blow with its flat -side; heated with passion, he let it glance as he struck, and the -edge, entering the man’s back, made a deep flesh wound, which was -very sore a long time. Some of our men swore that if they had been -the sufferer, they would have shot the captain dead on the spot! Are -men of such brutal tempers fit to command a man of war? Is it not -wonderful that mutiny is so rare under such a discipline? Such an -officer might do to command a crew of pirates, but not of freemen, -such as Americans feel proud to entrust with the keeping of their -national honor on the deep. - -On reaching New Orleans, our ship was overhauled and repaired. We -were sent on board the _Louisiana_, an old guard-ship, but had to -cross the river every morning to assist in working on the brig. -Several of our men, and myself among them, were quite sick here, -owing to the free use of river water. The _Louisiana_ had a number -of men confined on board, for some crime; they wore chains round -their legs, which were fastened to a large ball: the nature of their -offence I did not ascertain. - -The effects of Captain Porter’s severity were seen here in the loss -of two of the crew. They belonged to the gig, and ran away while he -was on shore. He made a strict, but unsuccessful, search after them. -To deter others from a like attempt, or because he wanted an object -on which to wreak his vengeance, he gave one poor fellow a cruel -flogging for what, in sober fact, was no offence at all. The man was -on shore, with some others, fixing the rigging, and, for some purpose -or other, had walked a short distance from the rest, without the -slightest intention to run away. But the captain wanted a victim, and -this served for an excuse. - -Our brig being finished, we returned on board, and were soon back at -our old station off Ship Island, where we found several other small -naval craft. While here I saw a man flogged through the fleet, or, as -this might more properly be called, the squadron. His was the only -instance of the kind I saw while in the American navy, and, although -his back was most brutally mangled, yet I do not think he suffered -equal to those who are flogged through an English fleet. Still, the -indignity and brutality are the same in _kind_, though differing in -degree: a MAN should never be made to endure it. - -Not far from our station, at a place called St. Lewis’ Bay, our -captain purchased some land, and actually sent some of our men to -make a clearing upon it, and to erect a log house. Whether this was -a legal employment of the strength and skill of his men or not, I -cannot decide; but it struck me as being a perversion of the national -resources to his own private benefit. Why should a captain of a ship -of war be permitted to employ the time and energies of his men for -private uses, while an officer of the government, who should employ -its funds for his own advantage, would be charged with embezzlement -and fraud? The cases are precisely alike, except that one uses the -public money, the other what costs that money. It is a fraud on the -country, and an imposition on the men. - -A tragic event occurred at Lewis’ Bay on the 4th of July, which -occasioned a fearful sensation throughout the ship. I was sent -thither that day in the launch. Feeling fatigued, I remained with -another in the boat, which was anchored near the shore. After some -time one of the crew, named Thomas Hill, came back for a pistol, -for there were several in the boat, and deliberately charged it. -My companion, an old _Macedonian_, named Cox, asked him what he -wanted with a pistol. Hill, who was a very desperate fellow, told -him to mind his own business, or he would shoot him. Cox, knowing -his character, thought it best to let this insult pass, supposing he -was only going off to shoot a dog or snake, as the latter creature -abounded there. Having loaded his pistol, Hill went off, and we -thought no more of the matter. Presently a man came running down to -the boat to inform us that two of our men were quarrelling. Just -at that moment, we heard the report of a pistol: hurrying to the -spot, described by our informant, we found a shipmate, by the name -of Smith, bleeding on the ground, with a pistol-shot lodged in his -breast by Hill. We gathered round him; in his agony he begged us to -shoot him dead, for his suffering was not to be endured. Supposing he -was dying, our testimony to his statement that Hill was his murderer, -was taken on the spot. The victim was then removed to a suitable -place to be taken care of; the next day he was carried on board the -brig, and from thence to a sort of hospital on shore, where, after -lingering a few days, he died. The murderer was seized and placed in -irons on board the brig. He was afterwards removed to another ship, -but what was done with him I never heard with certainty; it was -reported that he was pardoned. - -The cause of this fatal affray was that great instigator of crimes, -RUM. The men were both under its influence; fired with its fumes, -they lost all discretion, and commenced a quarrel: from words they -proceeded to blows. In this struggle Smith had the advantage. Finding -himself worsted, the other ran down to the boat for a pistol. With -this, he returned and threatened to shoot his adversary. Smith -demanded a pistol for himself, that, as he said, he might have fair -play. At that instant his cowardly opponent shot him! Had they both -been sober, this tragedy would never have been enacted. Who can -reveal the effects of alcohol? - -From this station we sailed to Tampico, where we lay but a short -time, meeting with nothing worthy of remark, except that we found -abundance of turtle in the river; during the day we could see their -heads peeping up from the river in all directions. At night we used -to send our men ashore to take them. This was done by tracking them -on the sand, whither they went to deposit their eggs. We used to turn -them over on to their backs, and drag them down to the boat. When -alongside they were hoisted on board with a tackle; some of them -weighing four or five hundred weight. They were then killed, and -converted into a soup for the whole ship’s company. - -The day after we left Tampico on our passage to Vera Cruz, I was -looking out on the cat-head or starboard bow; seeing a sail, I -shouted, “Sail ho!” when three other vessels hove in sight. These -were all patriot privateers, so we were ordered to our quarters; but -the vessels, discovering our character, kept clear of our guns, and -we pursued our own course. - -About ten o’clock, A. M., we saw two more of these privateers, -crowded with men, but mounting only one long gun. Mistaking us for -a Spanish brig, with money on board, they fired most lustily for us -to heave to. We mounted short carronades, excepting two long nines -at the bows, so we bore down, all hands being at their quarters, to -bring our short guns to bear upon them. Meanwhile we kept one of the -long nines in full blast. I was stationed at this gun; and it being -my duty to sponge and load, I had to exert every muscle and strain -every nerve, as, firing only one gun, it was necessary to discharge -it as often as possible. Before, however, we came near enough to -injure them, they discovered what we were, fired a leeward gun in -token of friendship, and hauled off. If they had not, our men very -_elegantly_ observed, they would have found they had taken the wrong -pig by the ear. - -We soon came in sight of the beautiful revolving light, which throws -its friendly beams on the port of Vera Cruz, where, as in the former -places, we lay a short time, and then, after visiting some other -ports, we returned to our former station at Ship Island. Here, -however, we remained for only a brief period, before we were under -weigh for New Orleans, from which place we sailed to Havana. Such is -the constant change kept up by men of war on a cruise. - -On this passage, I was placed in a position which exposed me to the -punishment of the lash, though by a mere accident I escaped. There -was a habit indulged in among us, which is common among all sailors -at sea; I mean that of stealing a nap during our watch at night. -Seated on the carriage of a gun, or on a shot-locker, with folded -arms, we indulged in many a minute of sweet sleep, notwithstanding -it was contrary to the rules of the ship. To prevent this as much -as possible, the officer of the watch used to give the first man he -caught napping, a handspike, with which he was compelled to walk -the deck until he found another sleeper, to whom he was allowed -to transfer his burden. One night I was caught dozing, and had to -perform the consequent march with the handspike. After walking about, -without success, in search of a sleeper, for some time, I thought it -might be well to try my fortune in the tops. Scarcely had I set foot -on the top, before the officer below cried, “Fore-top, there!” - -“Sir?” - -“Aloft, and take in the fore-top-gallant sail!” - -This order caused every man to spring to his station. Supposing no -one would pass before the mast, I stood my handspike upright against -it. But there happened to be a man, by the name of Knight, dozing -there; and when he was aroused by the command of the officer, he -passed before the mast to get on to the starboard side. As sailors -usually grasp something when aloft, he missed his hold of what he -intended to catch, and seized my handspike, which of course fell. -To my consternation, he fell with it. Tumbling out of the fore-top, -he fortunately struck the foot-rope of the fore-yard, which broke -the force of his fall. When he reached the deck, he came bouncing -on a tall, stout Irishman, named Tom Smith, who, not imagining the -cause of so rough and sudden an assault, roared out, as they both -fell together on the deck, “Och! indeed you have killed me!” Here, -however, he was mistaken; he was more frightened than hurt; and -the innocent cause of his fright was able to resume his duties, -after two or three days’ respite. Very fortunately for my back, the -unlucky handspike was not suspected; and my share in this serio-comic -accident remained a secret within my own breast. - -It has often been a subject of surprise to my mind, that men so -seldom fall from the tops, in the long night-watches they keep there. -Often have I stood two hours, and, sometimes, when my shipmates have -forgotten to relieve me, four long, tedious hours, on the royal -yard, or the top-gallant yard, without a man to converse with. Here, -overcome with fatigue and want of sleep, I have fallen into a dreamy, -dozy state, from which I was roused by a lee lurch of the ship. -Starting up, my hair has stood on end with amazement at the danger I -had so narrowly escaped. But, notwithstanding this sudden fright, a -few minutes had scarcely elapsed before I would be nodding again. How -wonderful that more are not swallowed in the hungry deep! - -When the weather was rough, we were indulged with permission to stand -on the fore-top-sail yard, or on the top-gallant cross-trees; and, if -the ship rolled heavily, we lashed ourselves to the mast, for greater -safety. I can assure my readers, there is nothing desirable in this -part of a sailor’s duty. In whatever the pleasure of a life at sea -consists, it is not in keeping a look-out from the mast-head at night. - -But the most disagreeable of all is, to be compelled to stand on -these crazy elevations, when half dead with sea-sickness. Some -suppose that sailors are never sea-sick after the first time they -go to sea. This is a mistake; it is very much with them as it is -with landsmen, in respect to being sick in a coach. Those who are -of bilious temperaments, are always affected, more or less, when -they ride in a stage or sleigh; while others are never sick on these -occasions. So with seamen; some are never sea-sick, others are sick -only when going out of port, while some are so in every gale of wind. -Mr. Dana mentions some of the crew in his ship, who were sick, after -being at sea two years, as they came to Boston. I was usually sick -after laying some time in port, and have often stood at the mast-head -when so sick that any landsman on shore, in a similar state, would -think it hard if he could not lie abed. For a sailor, there is no -allowance made for sea-sickness; he must remain at his post until it -is time to be relieved. - -When we entered Havana, we came to anchor near the Spanish fort, and -fired a salute, which was courteously returned by the Spaniards. We -had been here but a short time, before an Irishman, named Dougherty, -who had formerly deserted from the Spanish garrison, took it into -his head to run away from our brig. This he accomplished by the -assistance of some Spaniards, to whom he made himself known. Several -others also left us, in this port, among whom was our swearing -sailing-master; and a great deal was said about running away -throughout the ship. The man who was flogged on suspicion at New -Orleans, now endeavored to get off in reality. He strayed from the -boat, but the officer, meeting him, endeavored to force him back. He -resisted; a struggle ensued; the officer fell to the ground, and the -man called to the Spaniards to assist him. They left him, however, to -fight his own battles; and the officer, having succeeded in getting -the advantage, presented a pistol to his breast, and he surrendered. -For this offence, he was flogged most fearfully. In the British -service, he would have been hung! It is certain death with them, to -strike an officer. - -Hearing so much said about running away, and feeling almost as -unhappy as when in the _Macedonian_, I began to think of it myself. -Sometimes I thought of trying to get into the Spanish garrison as -a soldier; at others, of joining some of the numerous slavers that -lay there, and in which our men said a good chance could be had. Sad -chances, as they now appear, especially the latter; but I was young -and ignorant. My feelings and the advice and opinion of my shipmates -influenced me more than the dictates of an enlightened understanding. -Resolving to make a trial, if opportunity offered, I one day put -on an extra shirt and drew on a second pair of pantaloons. When -thus prepared, the officer of the deck happened to discover the -two waistbands of my trousers; he questioned me with a suspicious -curiosity. I told him as specious a tale as I could invent on the -spot; which was, that I had been mending my trousers, and, before -they were finished, was called to go ashore in the boat, and not -having time to put them away, had slipped them on. Fortunately, a -needle and some thread which I had about me, confirmed my story and -saved me from difficulty. It was pretty obvious, however, that the -officer, though silenced, was not _satisfied_; for I was so closely -watched, after that day, I gave up the idea of escape as utterly -futile and hopeless. - -From Havana we returned to the mouth of the Mississippi, where -we captured the _Comet_, a patriot schooner, on suspicion that -the patriotism of her crew had degenerated into something less -respectable. Harsh as it must have sounded in the ears of her -officers, we charged them with piracy; took possession of the -vessel, and brought her hands, as prisoners, on board our brig. Her -master’s name was Mitchell; his crew were all stout, fierce-looking -blacks, having all sorts of odd names, such as Monday, Friday, &c. -She had a rich cargo, and contained large sums of money. It was -reported that they had attacked an island somewhere in the Gulf -of Mexico, and murdered its governor. We put them in irons, with -sentries over them, who were charged to cut off their heads if they -dared to lift them above the hatchway. I performed this duty a part -of the time, parading round the hatch with a drawn cutlass; but they -showed no symptoms of resistance, and were sent in their vessel to -New Orleans. Their fate I never ascertained. - -This adventure cost one of our own crew, an Irishman, by the name of -Tom Smith, a severe flogging. Smith was quite a moral philosopher -in his way; though it is to be regretted that his philosophy was -a little infected with lunacy. Its premises were certainly sound, -but, unfortunately, its conclusions bore but little relation to -the parent of whom they boasted. He taught that man was born to do -good; that his chief good was the promotion of his own interests; -and that, per consequence, he should help himself to whatever he -could lay his hands on, without regard to the rights of others. With -these views, Tom earnestly defended the rightfulness of piracy, and -could he have managed to get on board a pirate vessel, or even have -contrived to wrest our own ship from the hands of her officers, and -hoist the black flag, he would have cheerfully done so. But somehow, -although he had made a number of disciples among his shipmates, our -captain paid no manner of respect to his theories; for, when Tom, in -consistency with his often declared principles, deliberately carried -off a large sum of money from our capture, to his own quarters, the -captain, who perceived the theft himself, ordered him to the gangway, -and administered as many hard lashes, as if Tom had had no philosophy -at all. - -But, although Tom Smith’s philosophy did not save its unlucky -advocate from the unphilosophic punishment of the whip, it -nevertheless exerted a baneful influence on the morals of our crew. -Many of them were doubtless bad enough when they came on board; but -a more complete school for the practise of iniquity never existed, -than that on board our brig. Profanity, blasphemy, lying, licentious -conversation, and even a system of petty stealing, were practised on -a large scale. Many of the men were ripe for any crime within the -power of depraved humanity to commit, and I have often thought that -even the decks of a privateer or a pirate, could not lead one faster -and deeper into the extremes of wickedness, than did the influence of -our main deck. - -With what a voice do such pictures of sailor immorality, call for -exertion on the part of an enlightened Christian community, in behalf -of seamen? Where is the presence of the meek spirit of Christianity -more needed, than on the decks of our merchant and naval vessels? -Where would missionaries and Bibles accomplish more than here? There -is no sphere of Christian usefulness so important, so promising as -this. Every vessel in the navy should have its chaplain. Not one of -your proud, fun-loving, graceless wine-bibbers, but a humble, devoted -man, who would not think it beneath his dignity to mingle with the -common sailors, as a pastor among the flock of his affections, -moulding their rough, but susceptible natures into the image of -virtue, by the force of his pious example, and the influence of -his effectual prayers. Then, in the merchant service, a species of -itinerant missionary might be indefinitely useful. He might be sent -out by a society, pledged for his support; and, by permission of -the owners, sail in a ship on her outward passage. Arrived at her -port, he might sail to another place, in a different ship, and then -return home in a third. In this way, a score of devoted men of the -right stamp, could exert an unparalleled influence on the character -of sailors. Vice, irreligion, profanity, and insubordination, would -presently flee away before the beautiful purity of religion, and -our ships, instead of being designated as floating hells, would -become houses of God, arks of holiness, consecrated Bethels! Pray, -Christian, that this desirable consummation may be speedily attained; -and be not satisfied with merely praying; add _action_ to your -prayers. Stir up your church to the claims of seamen! Give your money -to assist in supporting sailors’ missionaries, Bethels, and the like. -Make it the settled purpose of your heart, not to rest until you -behold the sailor elevated to his proper position, which is that of a -CHRISTIAN MAN! - -[Illustration: (Decorative Separator)] - - - - - CHAPTER XII - - -After a short stay at the Balize, we put to sea once more, for the -purpose, as it was understood, of touching at Havana, and then -returning to New York. This was a cheerful voyage; the idea of a -speedy return to America, spread a feeling of exquisite delight over -the whole crew, and converted the performance of our duty into a -pleasure. One effect was, to set those hands, who were gifted with -the talent, so highly prized in a man of war, of “spinning yarns,” -busily at work during every spare moment, when a group could be -gathered to listen. Foremost among these intellectual time-killers -was Richard Dickinson, a messmate of mine, a good-natured Englishman. -He called himself the son of Old Dick, by which epithet he was -usually called. Dick’s powers were now in great demand, and he -exercised them to our universal satisfaction, but with how great -regard for truth I cannot determine. It is probable, however, that -truth entered very little into Dick’s productions. He was a sort of -off-hand novelist; all he cared for was _effect_, and where truth -failed him, fiction generously loaned her services. So bewitching -were Dick’s stories, that I used to long for the hour when we could -lay in our hammocks and listen. My first salutation, when we lay for -the last time in the port of Havana, was, “Come, Dick, tell us a -yarn.” - -“What is the use? you will go to sleep,” he used to reply. - -“No I won’t, Dick; I can listen to your yarns all night,” was my -usual answer. - -Dick would then begin some yarn, which, if not so interesting as the -thousand-and-one stories in the Arabian Nights’ entertainments, was -at least as true to nature, and, in respect to its humor, might be -compared to some of the sayings of that illustrious personage, Sancho -Panza, the renowned squire of the immortal Don Quixote; but, in -spite of my promises, I usually gave notice of my condition after a -short time, by performing a concord of nasal sounds, vulgarly called -snoring, which would set Dick to swearing, and often put an end to -his performances for the night. - -I need scarcely say, that these “yarns” were by no means favorable -in their moral effects on the listener. They generally consisted -in fictitious adventures on the sea and on the shore, plentifully -interlarded in their recital with profane oaths and licentious -allusions. When seamen become elevated, and are properly instructed, -these filthy stories will be superseded by reading good and useful -literature, with an abundance of which every ship should be supplied -by the benevolence of the Christian public. - -On the passage to Havana, Dick and myself fell under the displeasure -of the captain. We were stationed one night in the fore-top, where we -were comfortably dozing away the time. The captain was on deck. The -officer of the watch hailed the fore-top. We did not hear him until -the call was repeated two or three times. For this we were ordered -below, and told by the captain that we should be flogged the next day -before the whole crew. With this consolatory information we returned -to our station, without the least inclination to sleep again for that -watch. With a sort of philosophic desperation, I laughed and said, -“Dick, which would you rather do--have your grog stopped awhile, or -take a flogging?” - -Dick was very fond of his grog; so he replied, “Oh, I had rather -they would stop my wind than my grog, and would sooner be flogged by -considerable than lose that.” I question, however, if he had been -left to choose between grog and whip at the gangway, whether he would -not have altered his tone in favor of his grog. Still, his answer -shows, how strongly sailors are attached to their beloved rum. I am -happy to know that this regard is dying away, and that temperance is -doing something among sailors. May it go on, until cold water is as -popular in a man of war, as grog was twenty years since. We never -heard, however, of our offence again. Dick was quite a favorite -with the officers, and, except a blow in the head, given me by the -captain, I had never been punished. Perhaps these were the reasons -why we escaped the gangway. - -At Havana we got a large amount of Spanish dollars aboard for some -merchants in New York. These were smuggled from the shore. Our men -were sent off in the boats, with their pockets and bosoms well -stuffed with the precious metal; and in this way we soon got it all -safely lodged in our hold, except that the captain’s servant, falling -desperately in love with them, furnished himself with all he could -carry, and ran away from the ship. - -After adding to our freight of dollars a fine supply of oranges, -lemons, pine-apples, &c., we cheerfully weighed anchor and set sail -for New York. We reached that port after a short and prosperous -voyage; meeting with no incident, except that the cold weather caused -us a little suffering, and enabled the purser to add a few dollars to -the profits of the voyage, by supplying us with a lot of red flannel -shirts. - -When I was on board the _Siren_, I was contented. The officers were -kind, the crew were peaceful and well-behaved; but in the _Boxer_, -some of the officers were severe, and the crew corrupt, and I did -not enjoy myself at all. Some said that in time of war the men were -better treated than in time of peace; but though this may be true -to a limited extent, yet I think the difference in these two brigs -was owing more to the character of their respective officers than -anything else. Be this as it may, my experience in the _Boxer_ had -completely sickened me of man of war life, and I determined, if -possible, to get free of it at once and forever. - -My station, as one of the crew of the jolly-boat, gave me frequent -opportunities to accomplish my purpose. So, one day, at the -solicitation of a shipmate, I resolved to make the attempt. Cruel -treatment was my excuse; yet I have sometimes been ashamed of my -course in this instance; and would heartily advise all boys in the -naval service to stay their time out. We were successful in escaping; -and as we had but little money, I therefore proceeded directly from -the shore to a pawn shop, and there disposed of our pea-jackets, -which were new, and for which the purser had charged us ten dollars -apiece. We obtained the pitiful sum of six dollars for the two. With -this, we started in a hack, which was to carry us outside of the -city. We then travelled hard all day, resting at night in a barn, -where we suffered extremely from the cold. The next day we pursued -our way towards New Haven. The day after, we were still on the road. -This was the Sabbath, and we felt strangely at seeing the good people -of the village, through which we passed, going to meeting. The -foot-stoves, that the grave matrons bore in their hands, were things -I had never seen before; so, to the great merriment of my companion, -I observed that they were excellent contrivances to carry their books -in to meeting! We reached New Haven on Monday evening, where we put -up at a sailors’ boarding-house for the night. Here my shipmate left -me, and I proceeded alone to Hartford, begging my support by the way, -for my money was by this time all exhausted. - -At Hartford I tried to ship on board some merchant vessel. Not -succeeding, I strove to find some one to take me as an apprentice to -instruct me in the art of bootmaking, but with no better success. -These repulses discouraged me. It was Christmas day, and the -associations connected with the day--the merry-makings of my early -boyhood--were anything but pleasant to me in my distress. The bell -was tolling for the funeral of priest Strong, and it seemed as if -the melancholy of the mourners fully accorded with my feelings, and -was preferable in my mind to the spirit of rejoicing that prevailed -among those who were keeping merry Christmas in merry mood. Perhaps, -if they had invited me to partake of their cheer, I should have -changed my opinion. As it was, with only five cents in my pocket, I -wandered lonely and sad through the city. With a feeling of despair -I stepped into a cellar for something to drink. They charged me five -cents, and left me at once friendless and penniless. At the bridge, -the toll-keeper demanded a cent. I looked at him fiercely, and told -him I had nothing. He let me pass over toll free. Towards night, -feeling tired and hungry, I endeavored to hire myself. But who would -employ an utter stranger? I went to a number of houses, imploring a -lodging for the night. With freezing coldness, I experienced repulse -after repulse, until my heart chilled with horror, with the fear -of spending that long, cold night out of doors. At last I called -on a kind-hearted Presbyterian, who gave me a supper, lodging and -breakfast. Their morning and evening devotions were peculiarly -interesting to me; for, excepting while a prisoner at the Cape of -Good Hope, I had never listened to an extemporaneous prayer. - -The next morning I left this truly hospitable family, and pursued my -inquiries for employment. Some asked if I could chop wood; others, if -I knew anything about farming; and when I answered “No,” they shook -their heads, and I trudged on. Sometimes I offered to work for my -board, but, being a sailor, and having no recommendations, people -were afraid to take me into their families. Still I pushed on. A man -overtook me in the town of Coventry, and began a very interesting and -faithful discourse about religion. I listened respectively; he took -me home with him, where, although he was a deacon, he gave me some -cider-brandy: but these were not the days of temperance. After this -he sent me to Pomeroy’s tavern, where he thought they would hire me. -This application failing, he advised me to apply at the glass works -which were a little distance from that place. With this advice, I -took leave of Deacon Cook, and proceeded towards the glass-houses. - -Before reaching them, however, night came. A family, who occupied -a red house, received me, whose hospitality I returned by singing -a number of sea songs. Early the next morning, I tried to get work -at the glass-house, but though I was willing to stay for my board, -they would not take me. Mr. Turner, the agent, very kindly gave me -a breakfast, and then I left him, determined to get to Boston if -possible, and go to sea once more. - -My situation was really a trying one: my only clothing was a blue -jacket and trousers; shoes more than half worn out, and a little -tarpaulin hat stuck on the back of my head, in genuine sailor -fashion.[27] Mittens and money were alike far off from my fingers, -and friends were as scarce as money. People, too, seemed afraid of a -sailor; and this, in addition to all my other troubles, rendered me -an object of suspicion. At such times, I assure my young reader, that -the picture of a kind mother and a good home, are but too faithfully -presented to the mind, filling it with a thousand vain and useless -regrets. No young man need desire to be in the outcast prodigal -condition in which I stood, in the depth of that cold winter. - -When I reached the town of Mansfield, I called at the house of a -Mr. Nathaniel Dunham; the kind manners and friendly language of -whose lady I shall never forget. She told me that if I was honest, -Providence would shortly open some way by which I could live. -Her words fell on my ear like a prophecy, and I left the house, -confident of some favorable turn in my affairs before long. At -Mansfield Four Corners, I inquired of Dr. Waldo, who, with several -others, sat under a piazza, and afterwards of a Mr. Edmund Freeman, -for employ. They gave me no encouragement. Persevering, I at last met -with a Mr. Peter Cross, who, seeing my sailor garb, asked what ships -I had sailed in. Hearing me mention the _Macedonian_, he said, “There -is a man here whose name is William Hutchinson. He was taken in her. -Do you know him?” - -“Yes,” said I, after a moment’s recollection; “he was our armorer’s -mate.” - -Of course, I lost no time in seeking for my old shipmate. After -crossing various lots, and getting vexed and perplexed for want of -proper direction, I reached his comfortable homestead. He did not -recognise me at first, on account of the great alteration a few years -had made in my size and appearance; but, when he did recall me to his -recollection, with the generous frankness of a sailor, he offered -me all the hospitality and assistance in his power. A good supper -was speedily spread; and then, seated before his ample fireplace, -sparkling and crackling with a cheerful blaze, we recounted our -adventures. He had wandered into Connecticut, and married a very -respectable woman. They now owned a house and some land, and were -in tolerably comfortable and thriving circumstances. With such -discourse, we talked away the better part of the night, when the old -tar showed me my chamber, archly observing that “my bed would not -rock much.” - -The next morning, he said I should not leave him until I was -provided for in some way or other. Through his influence, a Mr. -James, his brother-in-law, employed me to work in his cloth-dressing -establishment. As I was ignorant of the business, and was not really -needed, my board was to be my only compensation. - -My new situation soon grew delightful to me, and I felt happier than -I had ever done since I left Bladen. My time passed very pleasantly, -especially my evenings, when the neighbors came in to hear me spin -sea yarns and forecastle songs. Some of the young men of the “baser -sort” judged me to be a fit instrument to act Samson for their -enjoyment, in the house of God. So they invited me to attend the -meetings of the Methodist Episcopal church in that place. But they -greatly misjudged the character of seamen; who, as before remarked, -usually pay respect to the ordinances and ministers of religion. -I attended the meeting, but not to make sport. The result of this -ill-designed invitation on myself will appear hereafter. - -The winter months fled, and the spring found me unfurnished with -means co-extensive with my wants. Determined to remain ashore, if -possible, I hired myself to a farmer for my board. In the evenings I -braided straw hats, and thus obtained a scanty supply of clothing. -A little incident, illustrative of the thoughtless playfulness of -sailor character, may not be displeasing to my young readers. - -Whoever has seen a perfect novice undertake to guide an ox-team, -may form some idea of the ludicrous adventures through which I -passed during my agricultural novitiate with these horned animals. -Perseverance, however, gave me some little control over our team, -when, as fate would have it, my employer “_swapped_” them for another -pair. When they came home, after some little hallooing and whipping, -I succeeded in “yoking” them; then seizing the goad-stick, with as -much dignity as ever Neptune wielded his trident, I mounted the -tongue, (which I called the bowsprit,) and with the ladders rigged up -at both ends I gave the word of command to my team. They, however, -showed signs of mutiny, and, taking to their heels, bore me off in -triumph. This was sport indeed; there I stood, my head and shoulders -passed between the front rigging, laughing as if my sides would -burst, while rakes, forks and boards were playing leap-frog, at the -tail of my cart, and my master’s boy was half frightened out of -his wits. At length the angry voice of my master roused me from my -sportive mood; he did not relish the rough usage his farming tools -were receiving, and coming up with my horned steeds, he speedily -stopped their speed and my sport. I need only add that his rebukes -made me more careful afterwards. - -When the haying season commenced, I left my first employer, and -obtained the sum of eight dollars per month, and board; the wages, -however, in accordance with the true Yankee method of making money -out of everything, were to be payable at the village store. This -change led me into a situation which proved another link in the -chain, which ended in my conversion to God. The son of my employer -died; he was about fourteen years of age; in company with a pious -member of the Methodist church, I sat up one night with the corpse. -With the faithfulness of a true Christian, he improved the occasion -by seriously conversing with me on the great concerns of immortality. -His discourse, together with the funeral services, had a very -softening and gracious influence on my feelings, though the only -present, practical effect was a more punctual attendance on the -services of the sanctuary. - -Towards winter, I went to live with Mr. Joseph Conant, to learn the -business of filing augers and steelyards. Here my acquaintance was -considerably enlarged, as several young men were attached to the -establishment. Among them was one who made a profession of religion. -As is usual among the young, we were devoted triflers; and he, to my -astonishment, was as jocose and merry as the rest. Ignorant as I was -of religion, his conduct appeared strangely inconsistent; I wondered -he did not converse with me about my soul. One day I took him aside -and faithfully expressed my views of his conduct. He acknowledged -his guilt. Afterwards we attended meetings in company, and he was -faithful in speaking with me about the things that belonged to my -salvation. He urged upon me the importance of giving myself up to -God at once, and affectionately invited me to attend class-meeting. -My mind was seriously inclined, but I could not yet venture upon so -close an intercourse with the people of God. - -One Sabbath evening, my friend, Ela Dunham, who had dealt so -faithfully with me, when we watched together over the corpse of Orson -Kidder, asked me, “When do you intend to set out and seek religion?” - -I replied, somewhat evasively, “Any time.” - -“Well,” said he, “are you willing we should pray for you, and will -you go forward for prayers to-night?” - -To this I replied, that I would think of it. The meeting proved to -be intensely interesting. My desire to express the inward workings -of my mind, grew strong. Of the forms and practices of Christians -in revivals, I was altogether ignorant, having never witnessed a -conversion in my life; still, it seemed to me highly proper to -declare my feelings in the presence of Christians, that they might -give such instructions as were necessary to lead me into the right -way. With these views, I determined to rise and speak, though the -evil one whispered, “Not yet! not yet!” in my ears. Just as I stood -up, some one, not seeing me, began to sing; this, I took to be a -suitable excuse for further delay, and sat down, heartily wishing -that no one had seen me. Fortunately, my friend Dunham had witnessed -my movement. He requested them to stop singing, because a young man -wished to speak. Thus encouraged, I told them I was then nineteen -years of age, and it seemed to me too much of life to spend in sin; -that eternity was a solemn idea, and I desired them to tell me how -to prepare to enter upon it with joy. They proposed to pray with me. -We then all kneeled down together. Most fervently did they pray for -the divine blessing to rest on the stranger youth, bowed in penitence -before them, and most sincerely did I join my prayers with theirs -before the throne of God. After prayer, they sung the following -familiar lines, which I insert both for their intrinsic excellence, -and for the pleasantness of the associations connected with them in -my own mind. - - “Alas, and did my Saviour bleed! - And did my Sovereign die! - Would he devote that sacred head, - For such a worm as I? - - O the Lamb! the loving Lamb! - The Lamb on Calvary, - The Lamb that was slain, - Yet lives again, - To bleed and die for me.” - -Although these words were very sweetly applied to my mind, I did not -feel any evidence of the favor of God that night. The next day, with -a strong purpose to live for eternity, I entered on my daily tasks. -Religion was the theme of my thoughts and discourse; during the day, -a sweet calm came over me; peace and joy filled my soul. It was the -pardoning love of God applied to my guilty spirit. - -Ah! thought I, this must be religion; but desiring to be right, I -went to my employer and communicated my feelings to him. His reply -rather damped my joy. He was a moralist; morality, he said, was -all-sufficient to secure a man’s well being both in this life and -in that to come. This, however, did not satisfy my mind. To me it -seemed certain that genuine repentance, and a change of heart, were -all-essential to my happiness; and these, if not already mine, I -determined to possess. - -The remarks and experience of the Methodists, at their prayer -meetings, were greatly blessed to my comfort. Gradually the light -broke; the day-star shone. Peace, like a river, filled my breast; -joy, as from an unfailing fountain, bubbled up within me; love -animated my affections; by day and by night I sang the praises -of God, and the society of Christ’s dear people seemed precious -indeed to my soul. I thought this sweet frame would last forever. I -determined it should, so far as my efforts were necessary for its -continuance. Alas! I knew not my own heart: a dreary wilderness state -was before me, and I, like many an unwary soul before me, heedlessly -stumbled into its gloomy shadows. - -By a sudden change in the condition of my employer, I was led to -seek employment in Ashford. Here, in the shop of Mr. Giles Stebbins, -I was surrounded by many light-minded, trifling young men. Falling -into the same snare for which I had reproved a professor before I -was converted, my peace and calm were lost, every evidence darkened, -and the wretchedness of a backslider in heart filled my soul. -This apostacy lasted several months, when, through the love and -long-suffering of a gracious God, I was once more restored to a state -of salvation. Since that time, though I have not gained all that is -desirable, and that is offered in an abundant gospel, yet I have been -trying to stem the torrent of iniquity, which runs through the earth, -and striving to make my way to the port of Glory. - -The next fall I walked eighteen miles to a camp-meeting in Thompson, -Conn., the first I had ever attended. Though the scene was novel, I -soon took a deep interest in the services; especially when informed -that a sailor was going to preach one evening. This sailor was -no other than the well-known Rev. E. T. Taylor.[28] His text was -in Philippians iv. 19: “But my God shall supply all your needs;” -which he handled in his usual happy and eccentric, powerful manner. -I had never before seen a religious sailor; to hear one preach, -therefore, in such forcible and effective style, was to me a source -of unutterable delight. Nor were the listening masses before the -stand, who hung with intense eagerness on his lips, less pleased than -myself. They broke out into loud expressions of praise to God for his -wonderful mercies. “This,” said the speaker, “is but a drop from a -bucket! What will it be when we drink from the mighty ocean itself?” - -At this meeting I saw sinners yielding to Christ with tears of sacred -penitence, for the first time in my life. Never in all my life had a -spectacle more sublimely beautiful met my eye. I do not believe the -world affords a more grateful sight than that of a sinner weeping and -repenting before his Creator. - -The parting scene of that meeting left an indelible impression on my -memory. Even now I see that affectionate company marching in regular -and joyful procession before the stand, each shaking hands, as he -passed, with the preachers. Still I feel the tears chasing each other -down my cheeks, as I grasped the hand of the sailor preacher so -firmly, that it seemed I should never let it go; while he, seeing my -emotion, observed, “Never mind, brother; we are on board of Zion’s -ship now.” I had stood tearless alike amidst the wailings of the -tempest and the roar of the battle, but here, among a few Christians -at a camp-meeting, my heart was soft as a woman’s, and my tears -flowed like rain. Does the reader inquire what made the difference? I -answer, it was the love of God. - -When I returned home, one of my first acts was to unite myself with -the Methodist Episcopal church: an act which has led to the formation -of many pleasant friendships, and which has proved the source of much -religious enjoyment to my soul. - -My mind often reverts, with a mixture of joy and sorrow, to the -fate of the three hundred men and boys who sailed with me in the -_Macedonian_, when I left England for the first time. Of these, -alas! how many perished in battle! The rest were scattered over the -four quarters of the globe. Beside myself, I never heard of but one -of them who embraced religion. This was John Wiskey, one of our -quartermasters. He settled in New London, and when he met in class, -for the first time, he said he blessed God he had got out of that -floating hell, the _Macedonian_. He afterwards removed to Catskill, -on the North River, where he maintained a good Christian reputation. - -My shipmate, who received me so hospitably in Mansfield, became -unfortunate, lost his property, and died, but not before I had the -satisfaction of offering a prayer at his bedside. - -The little fellow who escaped from the _Macedonian_ with me met -with a melancholy fate. This I learned one day from the following -paragraph in a newspaper: “Drowned, out of a pilot boat, off -Charleston Bar, Mr. James Day, one of the crew of His Britannic -Majesty’s late frigate _Macedonian_.” Thus have I been signally -favored--a brand plucked from the fire. For this special favor I hope -to render my heavenly Father the eternal tribute of a grateful heart. - - - - - CHAPTER XIII - - -During the various scenes, dangers and wanderings of these years -of my youth, I had not forgotten the home of my boyhood; and, now -that I was becoming somewhat settled in my prospects, I wrote an -affectionate letter to my mother. After a delay of several months, I -received two letters in reply, one from my mother, and the other from -my sister. That from my mother is inserted in this narrative, for the -purpose of exhibiting to the young reader, who may fancy that his -parents feel no very great interest in his welfare, another instance -of the deep, undying love of a mother’s heart. - - BLADEN, December 23, 1818. - - My dearly beloved Child:-- - - I cannot describe the sensations I felt when I received a letter - from your dear hands. It was the greatest pleasure I have enjoyed - since you left me. I have never been sorry but once since you - left, and that has been ever since; but I hope the Almighty has - ordered it all for the best. I have never forgotten to pray for - you morning, night, and many times in the day, though I talked - very little about you to any one, because I did not wish to make - any one else uncomfortable. But that God, who knows the secrets of - all hearts, sees how sincerely thankful I am because he has been - pleased to hear my prayers that I might hear from you again; for - I was fearful I never should. But now I have great hopes that the - blessed Lord will protect you, and spare our lives to see each - other again. - - My dear child, you have not stated how you came to be separated - from the crew when the ship was taken, nor how you have been - employed since. You must be the best judge whether it will be safe - for you to venture home. It would be a great pleasure for me to - see you, but if there is danger of bad consequences, on account - of your having been in the service against your country, and if - any bad consequence should follow your coming home, it would make - me more unhappy than I have ever been yet. If there is no danger, - I should be very happy to have you come home and learn a trade; - as, thank God, I have it in my power to do something for you; and - nothing shall be wanting to make you comfortable, that I can do. - You say it may be one or two years before you come; but pray come - the first opportunity, as you will be gladly received by us all. If - it is a want of money that prevents you from coming, and you cannot - work your passage, perhaps you can get one by showing the captain - of some ship my letter, and he may depend on being paid as soon as - you arrive in England. If neither will do, send me word; and if - there is any place in London where your passage money can be paid, - I will pay it there for you. You are right in supposing yourself - twenty-two years of age on the nineteenth of March (1819). Your - sister Maria is twenty. She is grown a fine young woman; I am happy - to say is very steady and thoughtful; though not of a very strong - constitution. She is at service in London. She has written to you, - and I hope you will receive her letter with this. - - * * * * * - - I hope, my dear child, you will not fail to come home. Send me all - the particulars of your life, at the first opportunity. I am afraid - you have gone through a great deal of trouble and hardship since - I saw you. But the merciful Lord has been pleased to bring you - through the whole, and He is able to carry you through more, if you - put your trust in Him. It gave me great comfort to hear that you - are so well disposed, as I am sure you are, from the spirit of your - letter; it was more pleasure to me than if you had gained all the - riches in the world. I wish I was as well acquainted with religion - as yourself; but I will try to make a better use of my time, and - should it please God to let you come home, I hope you will be the - means of great good to me. - - There are a number of Methodist meetings about us. The people - who live in our yard are very strict ones. I never disliked the - Methodists; I think they have a great gift of religion. I sent - your letter to Lady Churchill, formerly Lady Francis Spencer. - Both Lord and Lady Churchill were glad to hear from you, and are - your well-wishers. The Duke and Duchess of Marlborough are both - dead. Blenheim is much altered for the worse, since his son has - become Duke. Lord Francis, that was, makes a very good master; and - when the Duke died, he left Blenheim. His country house is in the - forest. Your father is his carpenter in the timber yard; he has - filled this situation six weeks. He comes home every Saturday; and - next spring they are going to place me and the children in a lodge - near him. We hope to have the happiness of seeing you there. - - * * * * * - - It is eight years the twelfth of last July, since you left us. - * * * Your father, brothers and sisters all join with me in hearty - prayers to Almighty God, that his blessing may be upon you; and if - it is his blessed will, we shall see you again; if it is not, we - must be resigned to what is fitting for us, and pray that we may - all meet in heaven, where all tears shall be wiped away. That God - may bless you, my dear child, is the sincere prayer of - - Your ever loving mother, - SUSAN NEWMAN. - -Notwithstanding the earnestness of my mother’s spirit, breathed out -so ardently for my return in this letter, I dared not risk myself on -British soil. Her expression of sorrow, if bad consequences should -ensue, had its weight in determining me to remain; but a conversation -with the celebrated Lorenzo Dow, who had recently returned from his -English tour, settled the question. He said he had seen four men -hung, who, like me, had been in the service of some other country, -after deserting from their own. This was quite sufficient; for, much -as I longed to visit the homes of my childhood, I had no disposition -to do it with a gallows suspended over my head. I therefore wrote -my mother, that, not having a regular discharge from the navy, it -would be best for me to continue where I was; but I begged them to -seriously think of emigrating themselves; since my father-in-law, -being an excellent carpenter, could do well in New England. Alas! it -was not for him ever to consider of this proposition; for, when my -letter arrived, they were performing the sad obsequies of death over -his breathless corpse. A prevailing fever had terminated a life of -fifty-seven years, after a sickness of two weeks. My mother, now a -widow the second time, after twelve years of pleasant union with her -last husband, thought it unfitting, at her time of life, to venture -across the ocean; and therefore all my plans for collecting my -relatives on American soil, were blasted in the bud. - -Perhaps, after following me through the changes of my life at sea, -the reader may feel a little interest in knowing how I succeeded -as landsman. He has seen me escaping the breakers that met me on -my first approach to the shore; and now, if his patience be not -entirely exhausted, he may pursue my fortunes a little further. - -He left me, when my episode about home led him away from the -thread of the narrative, busily at work as a filer of steel-yards, -at Mansfield, Conn. From thence, I returned to Ashford, where I -continued a year or two. At last, doubting the stability of my -employer, and fearing lest what he owed me might be lost, I took up -the whole in the shape of a wagon and a stock of steel-yards; then, -purchasing a horse, I travelled from place to place to sell them; and -in this manner got into a business which I have followed more or less -ever since. After acquiring, by economy and diligence, a few hundred -dollars, I opened a small store in Mansfield, with the intention of -leading a still more settled life; though about that time my mind was -strongly exercised with a desire to devote myself to the religious -benefit of seamen. My sense of unfitness for so great a work, at last -prevailed; and I proceeded with my plans of worldly business. - -The days of which I write were those on which the bright star of -temperance had scarcely shone. Ministers, deacons, Christians, all -used the deadly drinks. Was it surprising, therefore, that I, but -so short a time before a rum-loving sailor, fell into the common -current, and became a rum-seller? No, it was not strange! but it was -a strange, a glorious display of restraining grace, that prevented me -from being drawn into the snare I was thus thoughtlessly spreading -for the poor drunkard. - -But even in those early days of temperance, I was not without -my trials of mind in respect to the unholy traffic. Once, when -at Hartford, making purchases for my store, of which rum formed -no inconsiderable article, I accidentally heard of a lecture on -temperance, to be delivered at Dr. Hawes’s[29] church. This was the -first discourse on the subject I ever heard. The speaker excited -a deep interest in my mind, as he told of the origin of rum, its -primary costliness and rank among medicines, of the growth of -distilleries, the consequent decline in its price, and the attending -spread of drunkenness. So deadly a plot against the peace of the -world, he said, could only have been contrived in hell. - -This discourse fell like a light on some dark opaque; it illuminated -my understanding, disturbed my conscience. No sleep visited my eyes -that night. Duty said, “Send back your team without rum in the -morning.” Fear of men, public opinion, interest said, “No. Every -other store-keeper sells it, and so may you.” The latter argument -prevailed. Conscience was rebuked; the rum went to my store. - -Shortly after this struggle, I married a member of the Methodist -church in Hartford. We removed to Somers, Connecticut, where I -continued to sell rum, though, as before, with great caution and -with much inward struggling of mind. At last I could hold out no -longer, and in spite of the example of ministers, (some of whom often -drank, though sparingly, at my house,) in spite of the sneers of the -scornful, and of the fear of loss to my trade, I gave it up! It was -for the poor, untaught sailor to set the example of sacrifice to the -store-keepers of Somers. Three others imitated me in a short time. -Not to me, but to the grace of God, be the glory of my decision and -resolution. I can assure the modern rum-seller, whose lashed and -tortured soul still cleaves to the rum barrel and the toddy stick, -for the sake of the profit, that I have ever regarded that act as -among the best of my life. - -Finding my present residence ill adapted to a successful prosecution -of business, I closed up my concerns, and removed to Wilbraham, -Mass., the place of my present abode; a pleasant town, but which is -rendered more so by the very superior opportunities it affords for -the education of children, in its most excellent and flourishing -academy. - -Here my life glided pleasantly and quietly along, affording no -incidents worthy of special record. Happiness presided at my domestic -board, prosperity accompanied my temporal enterprises, and religion -reigned as the ruling genius over the whole. My ways were committed -unto the Lord, and he directed my steps; for which I praise him with -my whole heart. - -In this delightful manner several years fled away; when, my business -having led me, on one occasion, to New York, I heard that my old -ship, the _Macedonian_, was in port. Animated with that regard for an -old ship, which always inspires a genuine seaman, I went on board. -She was so altered, I scarcely recognised her. Change, with an -unsparing hand, had remodeled the decks and cabins, so that I felt -somewhat lost where once every timber was familiar. This was rather -a disappointment; however, I stood on the spot where I had fought in -the din of battle; and with many a serious reflection recalled the -horrors of that dreadful scene. The sailors, on witnessing the care -with which I examined every thing, and supposing me to be a landsman, -eyed me rather closely. Seeing their curiosity, I said, “Shipmates, I -have seen this vessel before to-day: probably before any of you ever -did.” - -The old tars gathered round me, eagerly listening to my tale of -the battle, and they bore patiently, and with becoming gravity, -the exhortation to lead a religious life, with which I closed my -address. They appeared to be very susceptible of religious feeling; -as, indeed, sailors are generally. Should any doubt this fact, let -them hear the Rev. Mr. Chase, in New York, or Rev. E. T. Taylor, -in Boston, in whose usually crowded houses of worship, the face -of the rough, weather-beaten son of the ocean may be seen bedewed -with penitential tears; especially at the church of the latter -gentleman--than whom none know better how to adapt discourse to a -sailor’s soul. - -During the flight of these years a constant correspondence had been -kept up between me and my mother. She had constantly urged me to -revisit my native land. To remove the last obstacle, she addressed a -letter to Lady Churchill, to ascertain if I might safely return. She -sent her the following note, the original of which is still in my -possession: - - Lower Brook Street, Nov. 7, 1821. - - MRS NEWMAN,-- - - I consulted my brother William upon the subject on which you wished - for advice, as neither Lord C. nor myself could undertake to - answer your inquiry; and I am glad to hear from him the following - explanation in reply: “There is nothing to prevent Mrs. Newman’s - son from coming home; for when the war was terminated, he was safe, - even if he had entered into the enemy’s service; but he will of - course forfeit the pay and any prize money due to him.” - - * * * * * - - I am, much yours, - F. CHURCHILL. - -This note relieved me of all fear, but now it had become no small -undertaking for me to go to Europe. To go alone would be very -expensive; but to take my family, consisting now of a wife and three -children, was much more so. Hence, I put it off year after year, -still writing and begging them to visit me. When the late lamented -Dr. Fisk[30] was in England, he visited my mother and brother, and -related to them some of the facts in my life, which he had often -heard me mention. She sent me two silver table spoons, which had -belonged to my father, by the Doctor’s hands. My mother wrote about -this visit of that “great, good man” with evident satisfaction. - -At last, I received a letter from home, which decided me to undertake -the often postponed and long delayed voyage to my native land. -This letter stated that there was a young man in Albany, with whose -friends they were all well acquainted, and that he was about to -visit his mother. I found this gentleman, whose name was William -Warrington, and agreed to join him with my family in his intended -voyage. This agreement made, we set about making preparations for the -undertaking. If the reader desires to know the events of that visit, -he must consult the ensuing chapter. - -[Illustration: (Decorative Separator)] - - - - - CHAPTER XIV - - -Weighed down under a pressure of despondency, arising partly from -temporary illness, and partly from the greatness of the enterprise I -had undertaken, and whose event was so uncertain, I left Wilbraham -on Thursday morning, June 3d, 1841. A pleasant passage, by the way -of Springfield and Hartford, brought us into New York early the next -morning. By the following Monday, the 7th of June, we were all snugly -stowed in a state-room of the second cabin[31] on board the splendid -packet-ship, _George Washington_, bound for Liverpool. - -Before we sailed, however, I was fleeced of seven dollars by the -cook of the ship. As passengers in the _second_ cabin, we had the -privilege of furnishing ourselves with provisions. For the sum just -mentioned, the cook had agreed to do all our cooking at the galley, -insisting, however, on being paid in advance, because, he averred, -several passengers, on former occasions, had obtained his services -and failed to pay him; besides, he wanted to leave all the money he -could with his wife. These arguments were, of course, unanswerable, -and I paid him the sum demanded. Judge, then, of my surprise, when, a -few minutes before we hauled off, the captain engaged another cook; -the first having suddenly made himself among the missing. Should the -reader ever have occasion to voyage, he may profit by the remembrance -of this anecdote. - -We then hauled off into the stream; towed by a steamboat, we soon -cleared the harbor of New York. Sandy Hook speedily lay behind us; -the pilot wished us a pleasant voyage, and away we dashed into the -wide Atlantic, buoyed up by the confidence of the hope that a few -weeks would behold us safely landed on the shores of dear old England. - -The details of a voyage across the Atlantic have been so often laid -before the public by travellers, that they have now lost most of that -interest which they would possess were they less familiar. I shall -not, therefore, detain the reader with the particulars of my passage, -except to quote the experience of one day from my journal. - -Saturday, June 12th. Went on deck early in the morning; found it -very warm. We passed two ships on the same course with ourselves. I -saw a rainbow on our starboard quarter, which reminded me of the old -saying among sailors, “Rainbow in the morning, sailors take warning.” -It was then blowing a stiff breeze from the west. All the sails were -up, studding sails out below and aloft. The wind increased during the -morning, with rain. We soon had heavy thunder, with sharp lightning; -the weather growing squally, we took in our studding sails. Passed -another ship; wind increasing with violent rain. - -One o’clock, P. M. Sailors have plenty to do to shorten sail. Furled -top-gallant sails, reefed mizzen topsail, fore topsail, and main -topsail. We are running before the wind like a race-horse, at the -rate of twelve knots an hour. - -Two o’clock, P. M. More thunder and lightning, which threatened -vengeance on our poor ship. The lightning is very sharp; we have no -conductor up; it plays all around us, and, as it strikes the water, -it hisses like red-hot iron. Several of the sailors felt a shock -in descending the rigging, especially the first and second mates. -We expected it would strike us every moment, but a kind Providence -protected us. The sea runs very high, and the ship flies about as if -crazy. We have two men at the helm, who can scarcely keep her right; -it seems that she will pitch under every moment. - -Eight and one-half o’clock, P. M. Sea still rolling heavily; we have -shipped several heavy seas. - -Nine o’clock, P. M. Wind has shifted, and the weather is clearing off. - -During the whole of this gale, many of the passengers were much -alarmed, and some of them spent their time in praying and crying to -the Lord. How strange that men will leave their eternal interests to -an hour of danger, and forget them again the moment it passes away! - -The first Sabbath of our life at sea, by permission of Captain -Barrows--who, by the way, was a very gentlemanly, kind commander--I -held a religious meeting on the quarter or poop-deck. My audience -contained all the cabin passengers, with most of those in the -steerage, the captain and his mates, together with most of the crew. -I told them I was not a parson, but I would talk to them as well as I -could. After singing and prayer, I spoke from Jonah i. 6; alluding, -among other things, to the late storm, and exhorting them not to -trust to storm religion, but to become the followers of God from -genuine principle. My audience favored me with profound attention. -Whether they were benefitted or not, the great day must determine. -It was in this same ship that the eloquent Robert Newton returned to -England. He favored her crew and passengers, every Sabbath of the -voyage, with one of his excellent and powerful discourses. - -The following Sabbaths, owing to the weather and adverse -circumstances, I contented myself with distributing tracts and with -discoursing personally with the passengers and crew. - -On the 26th of June, we saw the Irish coast on our weather-beam, and -on the evening of the 27th, we came to an anchor off Liverpool, after -a short passage of twenty days. Here, a steamboat came alongside, -bringing several custom-house officers, who came on board, and -carrying our cabin passengers ashore. The next morning we hauled -into the magnificent docks of this celebrated city of commerce, -where our baggage was landed under the spacious sheds that surround -the wharves. From thence it was conveyed, in small carts, drawn by -donkeys, to the custom-house for inspection. This tedious process -over, the passengers separated, each bound to his respective home; -for, having passed the ordeal of the custom-house, every man is left -at full liberty to go whither he pleases. I and my family proceeded -to a tavern, contrasting, as we went along, the dark, dingy aspect -of Liverpool, everywhere discolored by the fumes of coal-smoke, with -the light, cheerful aspect of our American cities; and giving the -preference to the latter, notwithstanding my English prejudices. - -The next morning we all took seats in the railroad cars for Stafford, -some seventy miles distant from Liverpool. After passing through the -tunnel, under the city, of more than a mile in length, we emerged -into a beautiful country, adorned on all sides with antique buildings -and rural scenery. These passed before us like the scenes in a -panorama, and, by ten o’clock, A. M., we reached the stopping-place, -a short distance from Stafford. Here we were literally in danger of -being torn asunder by the eagerness of two hackmen, who, as we were -the only passengers left at the _dépôt_, were especially zealous for -our patronage. A police officer, one of whom is stationed at every -_dépôt_ on the road, speedily relieved us from their importunity. -Stepping up, he asked me which man I would employ. Pointing to one of -them, the other dropped my baggage, and in a few minutes, we were at -the door of my brother-in-law, Mr. William Tills. - -Although I had not seen my sister for thirty years, yet, no sooner -did she see me, than, throwing her arms around my neck, she -exclaimed, “Oh, my brother!” I need not add, that our reception was -cordial, and our stay with them characterized by every trait of -genuine hospitality. - -The town was alive with the bustle of an election; flags and -streamers were floating over every tavern-sign and public building. -Men, women and children crowded the streets, flushed with the -excitement of party rivalry, while the continual pealing of the bells -added a vivacity and liveliness to the scene, of which an American, -who has never heard the merry ding-dong of a full peal of bells, can -form no adequate conception. By five o’clock that afternoon, the -polls closed, and the ceremony of chairing the successful candidates -took place. First came a band of music, playing lively airs; next -followed the members elect, richly dressed, with ribbons on their -hats, and seated on chairs wreathed with flowers and ribbons, and -surrounded with banners bearing various devices. These chairs were -borne on men’s shoulders, who proceeded through the streets, amid -immense cheering from the crowds who followed, and from the ladies -and citizens, who appeared waving their handkerchiefs from the -windows; the members, meanwhile, bowing, with their hats in their -hands, until they reached the spot where their chaises waited to -convey them to their respective homes. The sight was one of great -interest to a stranger, and I advise every American who visits -England, by all means, to witness an election day if possible. - -We remained with my brother-in-law about a week, visiting the -various places and buildings whose antiquity or public character -clothed them with especial interest. The town itself contains about -eleven hundred inhabitants, and is the shire town of the county of -Staffordshire. Its chief business is the manufacture of shoes. Among -its ancient buildings, are the remains of a baronial castle, whose -moss-covered battlements insensibly conduct the meditations of the -beholder back to the days of feudal grandeur and knightly chivalry. -St. Mary’s Church is also a venerable Gothic structure, of solid -masonry, whose walls have withstood the storms and changes of about -ten centuries. They were about to expend £10,000 in repairing the -dilapidations of time. I heard one discourse from the curate, and was -especially delighted with the grandeur and sublimity of the music -from its magnificent organ, as it pealed along the aisles of the -time-worn building, with an effect never witnessed in our smaller and -more modern structures in America. - -Here also is the county prison, modelled, in most of its -arrangements, after the state-prisons of America. It contained five -hundred prisoners. A lunatic asylum and a hospital, or infirmary, for -the poor, are found among the products of its benevolence: the former -contained three hundred unfortunate occupants. - -The poor-house is a large commodious building, constructed of brick -and stone, surrounded with large airy yards and gardens. It has -also yards or courts within its walls, used as play-grounds for -the children. The order within was excellent; every room looked -remarkably neat and clean; the children were comfortably clothed, -and wore an air of satisfaction and contentment. The whole house -was under the control of a governor and matron who were subject to -the inspection of the board of overseers, chosen by the people. -One excellent rule of the house struck me as being very useful: -it provided for the admission of poor travellers to a supper and -lodging; requiring them, if dirty, to undergo a thorough ablution -and to change their linen. In the morning two or three hours’ work -was exacted as payment, and they were suffered to depart. The house -had its teacher and chaplain; and altogether I thought that a great -improvement had taken place in the poor-laws of the country. - -Having been so long away from England, everything peculiarly English -struck me with almost as much force as it would a native American. -Hence, my feelings revolted at the sight of the innumerable beggars -and vagrants, who crowded the streets. Italians, with their organs, -white mice, or monkeys; poor barefooted children, with their baskets -of matches; and, worse than either, houseless families imploring a -crust for their half-naked little ones, with many a tale of sorrow -and woe, were sights which greeted my eye and pained my heart every -day. A sad spectacle indeed, and one which robs the lustre of the -British crown of many a brilliant ray. The true glory of a people is -their internal prosperity, and not the extension of their territory. - -The fifth of July renewed the excitement of the day I arrived. It was -the time appointed for the _county_ election. Similar scenes to those -before described took place, accompanied with excessive drunkenness. -Every tavern, and the number seemed endless, was crowded, mostly with -the laboring classes, who were spending their hard-earned pence, for -foaming tankards of English ale, the favorite beverage of John Bull, -and one of the greatest hindrances to the progress of the temperance -cause in that country; though it is hoped that the triumphs of -tee-totalism will ultimately overcome this national love for John -Barleycorn, as beer is humorously called in the old song. - -After spending an extremely pleasant week in Stafford, we bade adieu -to my affectionate sister and her husband, and, aided by omnipotent -steam, we soon reached the great manufactory of Britain--Birmingham. -From thence we took stage for Woodstock, subject, however, to the -incessant exactions of the host of waiters, guards and coachmen, -that constantly assail the traveller in England, with a request to be -“remembered” for every little service rendered. The country through -which we rode was delightful; all nature wore her greenest, brightest -garments; the roads were level, and as smooth as the most thorough -Macadamizing could make them. Soon after seven in the evening, the -stage drew up at the Marlborough Arms, the very hotel from whence -I started thirty years since to go to sea. The first object that -arrested my eye, was the revered form of my mother, waiting on the -sidewalk, eager to embrace her much-loved, but long-absent son. -Springing to the ground, I felt myself locked in her fond embrace. -That was a moment of exquisite enjoyment, both to me and to my -mother. Though deeply moved, she maintained a calm dignity of manner. -In a few moments, she was showing the way, with the agility of a -young woman, leading a new-found grand-child in each hand, to her -residence, which was close at hand. Very soon we were all seated -round the well-loaded board, the happiest family party in the world. - -Though it afforded me and my family great pleasure to visit scenes -round Woodstock and Bladen, which had been familiar to me in my -boyhood, yet, as the description would only prove tedious to the -reader, it is omitted. A brief account of our visit to Oxford, so -celebrated for its university and colleges, may not be uninteresting. - -Oxford contains nineteen colleges and five halls. Of these, we -visited only Christ Church and Lincoln colleges. Christ Church is -the largest college in Oxford. We were forcibly struck with the -magnificence of the octagonal tower, which is over the principal -gateway. It has a dome top, and is ornamented in the Gothic style, -from designs by that renowned architect, Sir Christopher Wren. It -is also remarkable as containing the celebrated bell, known by -the familiar name of “Great Tom,” and weighing 17,000 pounds. It -is 7 feet 1 inch in diameter, 6 feet 9 inches high, 6⅛ inches -in thickness. I got under this massive piece of metal, and found -abundant room to move about; by standing on the clapper I could reach -the top over my head. This is the largest bell in England; though -Russia contains several of a much larger size. I also gratified -myself by a survey of the splendid picture galleries and the -spacious library, the former containing some of the finest specimens -of painting in the country, and the latter a large and valuable -collection of books, manuscripts, prints, coins, &c. - -I made inquiries of our attendant for the room in which Charles -Wesley studied while a member of this college; but, although -quite communicative on other subjects, he manifested a peculiar -sensitiveness on this; and I declined pressing the question. After -quitting the college, happening to pass the residence of the Wesleyan -minister, Mr. Rodgers, I called upon him, and related to him how the -porter avoided my questions. He smiled, and said that they regarded -the Wesleys as dissenters, and would therefore do them no honor. Mr. -Rodgers was extremely obliging; he conducted us over his beautiful -chapel, and then bore us company to Lincoln college, where he -pointed out the room in which John Wesley studied when a member of -this institution. He also showed us the other localities of Oxford, -made sacred to me by their association with the person of Wesley’s -grandfather, the preaching of the Wesleys themselves, and the studies -of Dr. Coke, the great missionary hero of the Methodist church. - -He then led us into Broad street, to the consecrated spot where -Latimer, Ridley and Cranmer sealed their faith by enduring a martyr’s -death. Three stones mark the spot where their ashes fell; and never -did I feel a holier feeling than that which thrilled my heart, while -I and my family stood on those time-worn stones: the spirits of the -martyrs seemed to hover around us, breathing the same high, religious -determination into our minds that filled their own bold and daring -spirits. That moment amply repaid us for all the toil of our journey -home. - -The following Sabbath I attended the chapels of the Wesleyans at -Woodstock and Bladen, and in the evening had the pleasure of saying a -word to my old Bladen associates, in the prayer-meeting. - -After receiving the utmost kindness, hospitality and evidences of -friendship from my family and friends, I took leave of them forever. -Many of the neighbors, with my mother, accompanied me to Woodstock. -There I wished her adieu, and when the coach whirled away, she -stood following us with her eyes, the last of the company, until a -projection of the park wall hid us from each other. Who could forbear -a tear in such a moment? I could not, and therefore suffered the big -drops to roll down my cheeks at will. There is a luxury in such grief. - -That evening beheld us rolling through Hyde Park into the city of -London, where I tarried a few days with my brother, by whom I was -very cordially entertained. Here also I found several cousins, in -prosperous circumstances whose kindness contributed not a little -to my enjoyment. Having visited St. Paul’s, the Museum, Madame -Tussaud’s magnificent collection of wax figures, and other curious -and remarkable places, I took a trip to Walthamstow, the former -residence of my aunt Turner. This good lady was dead, and almost -forgotten by the people; her twenty-two children were all either dead -or wandering, the neighbors knew not whither. Alas for the mutations -of time! - -A walk of two miles farther on, brought us to Wanstead, my -birth-place. Here everything seemed natural, though great changes had -passed over the people since I lived there, a thoughtless child. My -common school teacher and my Sunday school teacher had gone to their -spiritual destiny. My aunt was yet alive. My brother asked her if -she knew me. Peering through her spectacles, and summoning up the -imagery of the past, she at length called to mind her former protégé, -and clasped me to her arms, with evident gratification. It occasions -melancholy feeling to see the ravages of time on the persons and -places one has not visited for years! - -After a hasty visit to that noble home for the worn-out sailor at -Greenwich, and a glance at the arsenal at Woolwich, I returned to -London. - -We next visited the City Road Chapel, built by the exertions of the -great Wesley himself. The sexton told us that when that wonderful man -held the collection plate, one Sabbath, it was thrice filled with -gold by the enthusiastic generosity of the congregation: a striking -example of his personal influence over his hearers. After examining -the chapel, I walked over the parsonage adjoining, and while standing -in the room where, with his dying lips, the immortal founder of -Methodism exclaimed, “The best of all is, God is with us,” I felt -inspired with his great spirit, and mentally resolved, like him to -laboriously live, that like him I might triumphantly die. From this -sacred chamber I visited the tombs of Wesley, Clarke, Benson, Watson, -Cooper, and other illustrious men of the departed army of faithful -warriors in the cause of Christ; and, as I stood over their ashes, my -heart said with Peter on the mount of transfiguration, “Master, it is -good for me to be here!” - -Crossing the road into Bunhill fields, I stood before the tombstones -of the celebrated Dr. Isaac Watts, and the less learned but equally -renowned John Bunyan. Here the wicket gate, the wanderings of the -pilgrim, the land of Beulah, and the river of death passed vividly -before my mind’s eye, until, overcome with a rush of powerful -feeling, I wept and walked away, a better man than when I entered -those solemn resting-places of the glorious dead. - -The time allotted for my visit having nearly expired, my mind began -to look towards the country of my adoption, filled with a strong -desire once more to tread its free soil. Strong as is the love of -home, it was not strong enough to induce a preference in my mind for -England. America had become the dearer of the two. Indeed, I saw -so many unpleasant things amidst the grandeur and pageantry of the -rich, that I often felt disgusted. Such hosts of street beggars, -such troops of poverty-stricken children, such a mass of degraded -laborers, such enormous taxation, made me shrink from bearing any -part of so great a burden, and desire to link my future destiny -with the rising fortunes of America. How the laborer of England -lives, with such low wages, and such high prices for the staple -commodities of life, is above my comprehension. Meat was from twelve -to twenty-four cents per pound; tea from one to two dollars; coffee -from twenty-five to forty cents, and other things in proportion. -To this add the intemperate habits of the poor, and how they live -becomes a problem I know not how to solve. Yet, with all this poverty -and woe, taxation is laid upon the public with merciless severity, -to furnish means to maintain the splendor and fatten the minions of -royalty. First, they have to pay the annual interest of eight hundred -million pounds, then come the enormous salaries of the monarch and -the satellites of the throne. The queen, for her private purse, has -£150,000; the queen dowager, £100,000; Prince Albert, £30,000; the -Lord High Chancellor, £20,000; the Bishops, an average of £20,000 -each. Besides these, follow sinecures and pensions innumerable, -until the resources of the nation are preyed on by the throne, -with the unsatisfied appetite of the grave--taking all, and still -crying, “give, give!” I felt happy, when beholding these things, -that Providence had, after many trials in early life, cast my lot in -America. - -On the 25th of August, we all sailed from London, in the cabin of -a fine ship, commanded by Captain Eldridge, bound for Boston. The -particulars of our stormy and tedious voyage would neither gratify -nor amuse the reader, and they are therefore omitted. Suffice it to -say, that the Atlantic passage could scarcely be more unpleasant -than it was to us; but, by the care of divine Providence, after -being seventy-five days at sea, exposed to every variety of wind -and weather, deprived of religious advantages, and surrounded only -by the ungodly, we safely landed, and found comfortable quarters -at the United States Hotel, in Boston. From thence we proceeded to -Worcester, and then to Wilbraham, where we were hailed with joyful -congratulations by our neighbors, who had begun to mourn us as among -the lost at sea. Most gratefully did we all unite with the minister, -the following Sabbath, in a thank-offering to Almighty God, for his -goodness in preserving us from the dangers of the stormy sea. - -Thus, courteous reader, I have conducted thee through the mazes of -my changeful life. Should the facts detailed in these pages lead -thee to feel more interest hereafter in the elevation of the sailor, -my labors will not have been in vain; and should the recital of my -Christian experience induce thee to embrace the same Saviour, who has -become my redemption and sacrifice, I shall joyfully hail thee, when -we meet together in the port of eternity. - -To my brothers of the sea, let me add one word. Yours is a life of -danger, of toil, of suffering. Few men care for your souls; but Jesus -regards you. He watches you in all your wanderings; he woos you to -be his! Will you not be persuaded, by a fellow-sailor, to heed his -voice. O sailor, “TURN, TURN, FOR WHY WILL YE DIE!” Go! rest in His -bosom, who says to you, “Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy -laden, and I will give you rest.” - - - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[1] Near this bridge is a spring, called Rosamond’s Well, where Henry -II. is said to have contrived a labyrinth, by which his guilty fair -one communicated with the castle. - -[2] This form of “step-father” seems not to have been unusual in -England 1800-50. _Cf._ Sam Weller’s addressing his father’s second -wife as “mother-in-law.” - -[3] Reuben James. See his life by C. T. Brady. - -[4] To prevent the recovery of these men by their consul, the -press-gang usually went ashore on the night previous to our going to -sea; so that before they were missed they were beyond his protection. -Sometimes they were cleared on our return to port. - -[5] The crew of this vessel mutinied, killed their officers, and ran -the ship into a Spanish port, where she fell into the hands of the -Spaniards, then at war with England. Large rewards were offered for -these mutineers; many were taken, and all who were taken suffered the -penalty of death (1797). - -[6] Narrative of the Life and Sufferings of William B. Lighton (an -Englishman), a private in the 60th Regiment--the Rifles.--Troy, N. -Y., 1846. He enlisted at 16, in 1820. - -[7] James Holmes, boatswain. - -[8] James, in his History of the British Navy, gives this name as -Thomas James Nankivee. - -[9] Dennis Colwell. - -[10] The colors of the _Macedonian_ are preserved at the Naval -Institute, Annapolis, Md. A number of her cannon are placed on the -green near the Commandant’s quarters at the Brooklyn Navy Yard; and -when she was broken up, many of her timbers were taken to City Island -(now part of New York City), and used as the frame of a hotel still -(1909) standing there. - -[11] The official report, from James’ _History of the British Navy_, -of the _Macedonian’s_ casualties was: - - David Hope, First Lieutenant, wounded, leg and head; - - John Bulford, Third Lieutenant, wounded; - - Henry Roebuck, Master’s Mate, wounded; - - George Greenway, Midshipman, wounded; - - Francis Baker, “first-class volunteer,” wounded. - - Of the crew, 36 killed and 68 wounded, of whom two seamen died of - wounds, and two boys had each one leg amputated. Nine Marines also - were wounded. - - Aboard the _United States_: - - Second Lieutenant John M. Funck, mortally wounded; one seaman - mortally wounded; five seamen badly wounded. - - (Unless the five all died, Captain Carden’s statement in his - official despatch home, “I saw a lieutenant and six seamen thrown - overboard,” was unfounded.) - -[12] John B. Nicholson. - -[13] The word “thus” should undoubtedly be placed before “the,” so -as to make the line read: “and thus the flag of a frigate,” etc. -The _Guerrière_ was the first frigate captured, the _Frolic_ (taken -October 18) being a brig.--(ED.) - -[14] The first lieutenant of the _United States_, William H. Allen, -took the _Macedonian_ to port. - -The list of the _United States’_ officers and their subsequent -records follows: - - Captain Stephen Decatur, who was killed by Captain Barron in the - historic duel, 1820. - - Lieutenant John B. Nicholson, who appears afterwards in this - narrative as commander of the _Siren_, 1815, but whose name does - not thus appear on the navy records. He was captain of the _United - States_ in 1832, and died in 1846. - - This list has been compiled from various sources, but the Navy - Department records show an additional midshipman, John J. McCaw, - who resigned Feb. 23, 1818. - - Lieutenant William H. Allen, who became Commander of the _Argus_ in - 1813, and was mortally wounded in the action with the _Pelican_ in - the British Channel, August 14, 1813, and is buried at Plymouth, - England. - - Lieutenant John M. Funck, mortally wounded, as before noted. - - Purser John B. Timberlake. Mr. Timberlake’s wife, who was known - in Washington as “Peggy” O’Neil, married after his death John - H. Eaton, Secretary of War, 1829-1831, and became the cause of - the celebrated “ladies’ quarrel,” as Calhoun termed it, which - terminated in the disruption of Jackson’s Cabinet in 1831. - - Midshipmen-- - - Joseph Cassin, Jr., who died a Lieutenant in 1826. - - Philip F. Voorhees, who died a Captain in 1862. - - John P. Zantzinger, who appears on the Navy List as “dropped” - in 1855, but who was purser of the _Hornet_ in 1815, when she - narrowly escaped capture by the British 74 _Cornwallis_. In that - memorable stern-chase all the guns but one, the cables, boats - and nearly everything else movable, were thrown overboard to - lighten the vessel. From the Congressional records we find that in - 1850--_thirty-five_ years after--Congress passed an act allowing - Mr. Zantzinger payment for what he had been obliged to sacrifice - under these circumstances, when even the knives and forks were - thrown overboard. - - Richard Delphy, who was killed in the _Argus_-_Pelican_ encounter, - August 14, 1813, and is buried at Plymouth, England. - - Dugomier Taylor, who died at sea, as a Lieutenant, October 5, 1819. - - Richard S. Heath, who became Lieutenant, and was killed June 2, - 1817, in a duel with Midshipman J. L. Hopkins, at New York. - - Edward F. Howell, who was killed in the action between the - _President_ and the _Endymion_, January 15, 1815. - - H. Z. W. Harrington (Henry W., on navy records), resigned April 12, - 1813. - - William Jameson, who died a Commodore April 6, 1873, his record - surpassing even that of Sloat. He was doubtless the last survivor - of the famous encounter of sixty-one years before. - - Archibald Hamilton, who became a Lieutenant and was killed in the - action between the _President_ and the _Endymion_, January 15, - 1815. He was son of Paul Hamilton, then Secretary of the Navy. - - Lewis Hinchman (or Henchman). } - - Benjamin S. Williams, } of whom no record is found. - - John N. Carr, } - - John Stansbury, who was killed in Macdonough’s victory on Lake - Champlain, September 11, 1814. - - George C. Read, who died a Rear-Admiral in 1862. - - Walter Wooster, drowned June 1, 1813. (The Navy Department gives - his name as “Winter.”) - - John D. Sloat, who died a Rear-Admiral in 1867, having the - wonderful record of forty-four years’ active service, having - entered the navy as a midshipman in 1800--served one year - until discharged by the peace-establishment. He re-entered as - sailing-master 1812. In 1847 he secured possession of California - just in time to forestall the British designs on the Pacific Coast, - and was on the active list until 1855; retired 1861, but promoted - until 1866--thus being on the navy list for fifty-seven years. - - Surgeon Samuel R. Trevett, Jr. (died 1822), when surgeon on the - sloop-of-war _Peacock_. - - Surgeon’s Mate Samuel Vernon, who died February 5, 1814. - - Lieutenant of Marines William Anderson, who died a brevet - Lieutenant-Colonel, in 1830. - - Second Lieutenant of Marines James L. Edwards, who resigned in 1813. - - The complement of the two vessels, as given by James, was: - - _Macedonian_, 262 men and 35 boys. - - _United States_, 477 men and 1 boy. - -[15] This was the celebrated Dr. Nathan Strong (1748-1816), pastor of -the First Congregational Church. - -[16] This was Captain Grey, the adjutant-general, son of General -Sir Charles Grey, of the Paoli massacre, September, 1777. Lossing -(_Field-Book War of 1812_) says a drummer-boy cried, “Perhaps not -yet,” fired, and mortally wounded him. - -[17] Leech is not to be blamed for his belief in the burning of -witches in New England--in 1909 a New York orator repeated the same -hoary blunder.--(ED.) - -[18] George Parker, formerly first lieutenant of the _Constitution_. - -[19] The _Grand Turk_ was a noted privateer, commanded at that time -by either Captain Breed or Captain Green, and owned by the famous -Salem merchant, William Gray. - -[20] James B. Nicholson, the same who was on the _United States_. - -[21] The Washingtonian was a temperance society of the day. - -[22] Captain Augustus Bruce (James’ _Hist. British Navy_). - -[23] The Barbary sheep entirely resembles the tame kind, excepting in -the tail, which is very much loaded with fat, is often more than a -foot broad, and weighs upwards of twenty pounds. Among this kind of -broad-tailed sheep, there are some whose tails are so long and heavy, -that the shepherds are obliged to fasten a small board with wheels, -to support them as they walk along. This tail, which is a substance -between marrow and fat, is considered a great delicacy.--_See System -of Natural History. Boston: Carter, Hendee & Co., 1834._ - -[24] Twenty-four doublegees made a rix dollar. - -[25] An instance of maternal imprudence was said to have occurred -in this port on board another ship. A poor woman went on board and -inquired for her son, who had run from the British service, and was -then among the captive crew of an American prize. They told her there -was no one of that name among the crew. “He is among the Yankees,” -said she. Hearing this, the prisoners were called up, and the poor, -affectionate, but ill-judging mother, singled out her son, and -embracing him, said, “I have brought you a clean shirt!” - -The lieutenant, who stood by them, stepped up, remarking to the -thunder-stricken man, “It’s a clean shirt you want, is it? I will -give you a clean handkerchief”--meaning that he would be hung. The -unhappy youth was accordingly ironed, in presence of the astounded -mother, who now beheld herself the unintentional murderess of her -son. A court-martial was held, and the brutal prediction of the -lieutenant verified. - -[26] We were captured July 12, 1814; it was now August, 1815. - -[27] If the reader wishes to know why seamen wear their hats on the -back of their heads, let him put his hat on as usual and ascend a -ladder. He will find himself unable to look up until he places it -on the _back of his head_ as a sailor does. Sailors wear their hats -thus, because they could not otherwise ascend the rigging of a ship. - -[28] Edward T. Taylor (1793-1871). From 1800 to 1817 he was a sailor. -In 1819 he became a Methodist clergyman. In 1827 he served as -chaplain on the _Macedonian_, which took supplies to the famishing -Irish people. He was a pastor in Boston during the rest of his life, -was known as “Father Taylor,” and was a most successful worker, -particularly among seamen.--(ED.) - -[29] Rev. Joel Hawes (1789-1867), for forty-six years pastor of the -First Congregational Church. - -[30] Rev. Wilbur Fisk (1792-1839), one of the greatest Methodists -America has known. - -[31] It will be _á propos_ to here quote a letter from Thoreau to his -sister Sophia, describing Emerson’s quarters on board the packet-ship -_Washington Irving_, on which he sailed from Boston in 1847: “I went -to Boston to see Mr. E. off. His stateroom was like a carpeted dark -closet, about six feet square, with a large key-hole for a window. -The window was about as big as a saucer, and the glass two inches -thick--not to mention another skylight overhead in the deck, of the -size of an oblong doughnut and about as opaque; of course it would be -in vain to look up if any promenader had his foot upon it. Such will -be his quarters for two or three weeks,” etc. - -Such were _first-class_ accommodations six years after Leech made -his voyage, with a certainty of being at least twenty days cooped up -thus, and possibly _seventy-five_, as we shall see actually occurred -on his return. [ED]. - - - - - TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE - - Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been - corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within - the text and consultation of external sources. - - Except for those changes noted below, all misspellings in the text, - and inconsistent or archaic usage, have been retained: for example, - top-sail, topsail; boot-making, bootmaking; fire-side, fireside; - phrensied; disparted; yclept; wofully; apostacy; whisky. - - Pg 15: ‘special attenton to’ replaced by ‘special attention to’. - Pg 31: ‘hard and succesfully’ replaced by ‘hard and successfully’. - Pg 32: ‘whle standing on’ replaced by ‘while standing on’. - Pg 33: ‘I dd not learn’ replaced by ‘I did not learn’. - Pg 48: ‘unceremonously thrown’ replaced by ‘unceremoniously thrown’. - Pg 51: ‘being rapdly’ replaced by ‘being rapidly’. - Pg 98: ‘We eat together’ replaced by ‘We ate together’. - Pg 125: ‘and boarding-spikes’ replaced by ‘and boarding-pikes’. - Pg 133: ‘degredation, if ever’ replaced by ‘degradation, if ever’. - Pg 140: ‘bed-clothes, makng’ replaced by ‘bed-clothes, making’. - Pg 147: ‘for our ecsape’ replaced by ‘for our escape’. - Pg 147: ‘a mssionary, was’ replaced by ‘a missionary, was’. - Pg 166: ‘is justy described’ replaced by ‘is justly described’. - Pg 176: ‘were prastised on’ replaced by ‘were practised on’. - Pg 185: ‘off in trumph’ replaced by ‘off in triumph’. - Pg 197: ‘successful prosecuton of’ replaced by - ‘successful prosecution of’. - Pg 204: ‘drawn by donkies’ replaced by ‘drawn by donkeys’. - Pg 209: ‘avoided my questons’ replaced by ‘avoided my questions’. - Pg 213: ‘thence we proceded’ replaced by ‘thence we proceeded’. - Footnote 5: ‘and run the ship’ replaced by ‘and ran the ship’. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Thirty Years from Home, by Samuel Leech - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THIRTY YEARS FROM HOME *** - -***** This file should be named 63273-0.txt or 63273-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/3/2/7/63273/ - -Produced by MWS, John Campbell and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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