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sending in to obtain leave. These singular | remembrancers of each other. Having preregulations did not prepossess the ship's sented my new warrant to the captain of the company in his favour; but, on the contrary, Lizard, I inquired for the doctor, whom I no gave scandal an opportunity to be very busy sooner saw, than I recollected him to be one with his character, and accuse him of main- of those young fellows with whom I had been frolic with Jackson, as I have related before. taining a correspondence with the surgeon committed to the round-house, during our not fit to be named. In a few weeks, our ship being under He received me with a good deal of courtesy, sailing orders, I was in hopes of revisiting and when I put him in mind of our former my native country in a very short time, when acquaintance, expressed great joy at seeing the admiral's surgeon came on board, and me again, and recommended me to an exceedsending for Morgan and me to the quarter- ing good mess, composed of the gunner and deck, gave us to understand, there was a master's mate. As there was not one sick great scarcity of surgeons in the West Indies: person in the ship, I got leave to go ashore that he was commanded to detain one mate the next day with the gunner, who recomout of every great ship that was bound for mended me to a Jew that bought my ticket England: and desired us to agree between at the rate of forty per cent discount; and ourselves, before the next day at that hour, having furnished myself with what necessawhich of us should stay behind. We were ries I wanted, returned on board in the thunder-struck at this proposal, and stared evening, and, to my surprise, found my old at one another some time without speaking: antagonist Crampley walking upon deck. at length the Welshman broke silence, and Though I did not fear his enmity, I was offered to remain in the West Indies, pro- shocked at his appearance, and communicated vided the admiral would give him a surgeon's my sentiments on that subject to Mr Tomlins warrant immediately; but he was told there the surgeon, who told me that Crampley, by was no want of chief surgeons, and that he dint of some friends about the admiral, had must be contented with the station of mate, procured a commission, constituting him lieutill he should be further provided for in due tenant on board the Lizard; and advised me, course: whereupon Morgan flatly refused to now he was my superior officer, to behave quit the ship for which the commissioners of with some respect towards him, or else he the navy had appointed him; and the other would find a thousand opportunities of using told him as plainly, that if we could not me ill. This advice was a bitter potion to determine the affair by ourselves before to- me, whom pride and resentment had rendered morrow morning, he must cast lots, and abide utterly incapable of the least submission to, When I recalled to my or even a reconciliation with, the wretch by his chance. remembrance the miseries I had undergone who had on many occasions treated me so in England, where I had not one friend to inhumanly; however, I resolved to have as promote my interest, or favour my advance-little connection as possible with him, and to ment in the navy, and, at the same time, reflected on the present dearth of surgeons in the West Indies, and the unhealthiness of the climate, which every day almost reduced the number, I could not help thinking my success would be much more certain and expeditious, by my staying where I was, than by returning to Europe. I therefore resolved to comply with a good grace, and next day, when we were ordered to throw dice, told Morgan he needed not trouble himself, for I would voluntarily submit to the admiral's pleasure. This frank declaration was commended by the gentleman, who assured me, it should not fare the worse with me for my resignation. Indeed, he was as good as his word, and that very afternoon procured a warrant, appointing me a surgeon's mate of the Lizard sloop of war, which put me on a footing with every first mate in the

ingratiate myself as much as I could with the rest of the officers, whose friendship might be a bulwark to defend me from the attempts of his malice.

In less than a week we sailed on a cruise, and, having weathered the east end of the island, had the good fortune to take a Spanish barcolongo, with her prize, which was an English ship bound for Bristol, that sailed from Jamaica a fortnight before, without convoy. All the prisoners who were well we put on shore on the north side of the island; the prizes were manned with Englishmen, and the command of the barcolongo given to my friend the master's mate, with orders to carry them into Port Morant, and there to remain until the Lizard's cruise should be ended, at which time she would touch at the same place in her way to Port Royal. With niards as well as Englishmen, who amounted him I was sent to attend the wounded SpaMy ticket being made out, I put my chest to sixteen, and to take care of them on shore, and bedding on board a canoe that lay along-in a house that was to be hired as an hospital. side, and having shook hands with my trusty This destination gave me a great deal of friend the serjeant, and honest Jack Rattlin, pleasure, as I should for some time be freed who was bound for Greenwich hospital, I took my leave of Morgan with many tears, after we had exchanged our sleeve-buttons as

service.

from the arrogance of Crampley, whose on two or three occasions since he was inveteracy against me had already broken out

become a lieutenant. My messmate, who | sion, which was extreme, he clasped me in very much resembled my uncle, both in figure his arms, and bedewed my face with tears. and disposition, treated me on board of the prize with the utmost civility and confidence; and, among other favours, made me a present of a silver-hilted hanger, and a pair of pistols mounted with the same metal, which fell to his share in plundering the enemy. We arrived safely at Morant, and, going on shore, pitched upon an empty storehouse, which we hired for the reception of the wounded, who were brought to it next day, with bed and other necessaries: and four of the ship's company appointed to attend them and obey me.

He

geon, through the scandalous aspersions of Crampley-the captain dies-Crampley tyrannizes over the surgeon, who falls a victim to his cruelty-I am also ill used -the ship strikes the behaviour of Crampley and the seamen on that occa sion-I get on shore, challenge the captain to single combat-am treacherously knocked down, wounded, and robbed.

me, was already firmly established. therefore set out for the dwelling-place of my friend, with a letter of introduction from me; and, being received with all the civility and kindness I expected, returned to the ship, not only satisfied with my character beyond the power of doubt or insinuation, but also charmed with the affability and conversation of Thomson, who loaded him and me with presents of fresh stock, liquors, and fruit. As he would not venture to come Now that I could return to my native counand see us on board, lest Crampley should try in a creditable way, I felt excessive pleaknow and detain him, when the time of our sure in finding myself out of sight of that departure approached, I obtained leave to fatal island, which has been the grave of so go and bid him farewell. After we had many Europeans; and as I was accommodavowed an everlasting friendship, he pressed ted with every thing to render the passage upon me a purse with four doubloons, which agreeable, I resolved to enjoy myself as much I refused as long as I could without giving as the insolence of Crampley would permit. umbrage; and, having cordially embraced This insidious slanderer had found means each other, I returned on board, where I already to cause a misunderstanding between found a small box, with a letter directed to the surgeon and captain, who, by his age and me, to the care of Mr Tomlins. Knowing infirmities, was rendered intolerably peevthe superscription to be of Thomson's hand-ish, his disposition having also been soured writing, I opened it with some surprise, and learned that this generous friend, not contented with loading me with the presents already mentioned, had sent, for my use and acceptance, half a dozen fine shirts, and as many linen waistcoats and caps, with twelve pair of new thread stockings. Being thus provided with money, and all necessaries for the comfort of life, I began to look upon myself as a gentleman of some consequence, and felt my pride dilate apace.

by a long course of disappointments. He had a particular aversion to all young men, especially to surgeons, whom he considered as unnecessary animals on board of a ship: and, in consequence of these sentiments, never consulted the doctor, notwithstanding his being seized with a violent fit of the gout and gravel; but applied to a cask of Holland gin, which was his sovereign prescription against all distempers. Whether he was at this time too sparing, or took an overdose of his cordial, certain it is, he departed in the night, without any ceremony, which indeed was a thing he always despised, and was found stiff next morning, to the no small satisfaction of Crampley, who succeeded to the command of the vessel. For that very reason, Mr Tomlins and I had no cause to rejoice at this event, fearing that the tyranny of our new commander would now be as unlimited as his power. The first day of his command justified our apprehension; for, on pretence that the decks were too much crowded, he ordered the surgeon's hen-coops, with all his fowls, to be thrown overboard; and at the same time prohibited him and me from appearing on the quarter-deck. Mr Tomlins could not help complaining of these injuries, and, in the course of his expostulation, dropped some hasty words, of which Crampley taking hold, confined him to his cabin, where, in a few days, for want of air, he was attacked by a fever, which soon put an end to his life, after he had made his will, by which he bequeathed all his estate, personal and real, to his sister, and left to me his watch and instruments as memorials of his friendship. I was penetrated with grief on this melancholy occasion; the more because there was nobody on board to whom I could communicate my sorrows, or of whom We depart for Europe-a misunderstand- I could receive the least consolation or ading arises between the captain and sur-vice. Crampley was so far from discovering

Next day we sailed for Port Royal, where we arrived safely with our prizes and as there was nothing to do on board, I went ashore, and, having purchased a laced waistcoat, with some other clothes, at a sale, made a swaggering figure for some days among the taverns, where I ventured to play a little at hazard, and came off with fifty pistoles in my pocket. Meanwhile, our captain was promoted to a ship of twenty guns, and the command of the Lizard given to a man turned of fourscore, who had been lieutenant since the reign of King William, and, notwithstanding his long service, would have probably died in that station, had he not applied some prize-money he had lately received, to make interest with his superiors. My friend Brayl was also made an officer about the same time, after he had served in quality of a midshipman and mate five-andtwenty years. Soon after these alterations, the admiral pitched upon our ship to carry home dispatches for the ministry; and we set sail for England, having first scrubbed her bottom, and taken in provision and water for the occasion.

CHAPTER XXXVII.

Nothing but a speedy deliverance could have supported me under the brutal sway of this bashaw, who, to render my life the more irksome, signified to my messmates a desire that I should be expelled from their society. This was no sooner hinted, than they granted his request; and I was fain to eat, in a solitary manner, by myself, during the rest of the passage, which, however, soon drew to a period.

the least remorse for his barbarity, at the likelihood, he should be in eternity in a few news of the surgeon's death, that he insult- minutes. "All's one for that," said the ed his memory in the most abusive manner, plunderer, "let us live while we can." and affirmed he had poisoned himself out of "Miserable wretch that thou art," cried the pure fear, dreading to be brought to a court-purser, "what must be thy lot in the other martial for mutiny; for which reason he world, if thou diest in the commission of would not suffer the service of the dead to robbery ?" 66 Why, hell, I suppose," replied be read over his body before it was thrown the other, with great deliberation, while the overboard. purser fell on his knees, and begged of heaven, that we might not all perish for the sake of one Jonas. During this dialogue, I clothed myself in my best apparel, girded on my hanger, stuck my pistols loaded in my belt, disposed of all my valuable movables about my person, and came upon deck with a resolution of taking the first opportunity to get on shore, which, when the day broke, appeared at the distance of three miles ahead. Crampley, finding his efforts to get the ship off ineffectual, determined to consult his own safety, by going into the boat, which he had no sooner done, than the ship's company followed so fast, that she would have sunk alongside, had not some one wiser than the rest cut the rope and put off. But before this happened, I had made several attempts to get in, and was always baulked by the captain, who was so eager in excluding me, that he did not mind the endeavours of any other body. Enraged at this inhuman partiality, and seeing the rope cut, I pulled one of my pistols from my belt, and cocking it, swore I would shoot any man who should presume to obstruct my entrance. So saying, I leaped with my full exertion, and got on board of the boat with the loss of the skin of my shins. I chanced in my descent to overturn Crampley, who no sooner got up than he struck at me several times with a cutlass, and ordered the men to throw me overboard; but they were too anxious about their own safety to mind what he said. Though the boat was very deeply loaded, and the sea terribly high, we made shift to get upon dry land in less than an hour after we parted from the sloop. As soon as I set foot on terra firma, my indignation, which had boiled so long within me, broke out against Crampley, whom I immediately challenged to single combat, presenting my pistols, that he might take his choice; he took one without hesitation, and, before I could cock the other, fired in my face, throwing the pistol after the shot. I felt myself stunned, and imagining the bullet had entered my brain, discharged mine as quick as possible, that I might not die unrevenged: then flying upon my antagonist, knocked out several of his fore teeth with the butt-end of the piece, and would certainly have made an end of him with that instrument, had he not disengaged himself, and seized his cutlass, which he had given to his servant when he received the pistol. Seeing him armed in this manner, I drew my hanger, and having flung my pistol at his head, closed with

We had been seven weeks at sea, when the gunner told the captain, that, by his reckoning, we must be in soundings, and desired he would order the lead to be heaved. Crampley swore he did not know how to keep the ship's way, for we were not within a hundred leagues of soundings, and therefore he would not give himself the trouble to cast the lead. Accordingly, we continued our course all that afternoon and night, without shortening sail, although the gunner pretended to discover Scilly light, and next morning protested in form against the captain's conduct, for which he was put in confinement. We discovered no land all that day, and Crampley was still so infatuated as to neglect sounding; but at three o'clock in the morning, the ship struck, and remained fast on a sand-bank. This accident alarmed the whole crew; the boat was immediately hoisted out; but, as we could not discern which way the shore lay, we were obliged to wait for day-light. In the mean time, the wind increased, and the waves beat against the sloop with such violence, that we expect ed she would have gone to pieces. The gunner was released, and consulted: he advised the captain to cut away the mast, in order to lighten her; this expedient was performed without success: the sailors seeing things in a desperate situation, according to custom, broke up the chests belonging to the officers, dressed themselves in their clothes, drank their liquors without ceremony, and drunkenness, tumult, and confusion ensued. In the midst of this uproar, I went below to secure my own effects; and found the carpenter's mate hewing down the purser's cabin with his hatchet, whistling all the while with great composure. When I asked his intention in doing so, he replied very calmly, -"I only want to taste the purser's rum, that's all, master." At that instant the purser coming down, and seeing his effects going to wreck, complained bitterly of the injustice done to him, and asked the fellow what occasion he had for liquor, when, in all