recollect, Madam, there were but two styles of dress among the seamen;
one was that worn by those who sailed in the northern seas, and the
other by those who navigated in the tropical countries, both suitable
to the climates. The first was the jacket, woollen frock, breeches,
and petticoat of canvas over all, with worsted stockings, shoes, and
buckles, and usually a cap of skin upon the head; the other a light
short jacket, with hanging buttons, red sash, trowsers, and neat shoes
and buckles, with a small embroidered cap with falling crown, or a hat
and feather. It was this last which I had always worn, having been
continually in warm climates, and my hair was dressed in its natural
ringlets instead of a wig, which I was never partial to, although very
common among seamen; my ears were pierced, and I wore long gold
earrings, as well as gilt buckles in my shoes; and, by degrees, I not
only improved my dress so as to make it very handsome in materials,
but my manners were also very much altered for the better.

I had been at Liverpool about two months, waiting for the ship to
unload and take in cargo for another voyage, when a privateer
belonging to the same owner, came into port with four prizes of
considerable value; and the day afterwards I was invited by the owner
to meet the captain who commanded the privateer.

He was a very different looking person from Captain Weatherall, who
was a stout, strong-limbed man, with a weather-beaten countenance. He,
on the contrary, was a young man of about twenty-six, very slight in
person, with a dark complexion, hair and eyes jet black. I should have
called him a very handsome Jew--for he bore that cast of countenance,
and I afterwards discovered that he was of that origin, although I
cannot say that he ever followed the observances of that remarkable
people. He was handsomely dressed, wearing his hair slightly powdered,
a laced coat and waistcoat, blue sash and trowsers, with
silver-mounted pistols and dagger in his belt, and a smart hanger by
his side. He had several diamond rings on his finger, and carried a
small clouded cane. Altogether, I had never fallen in with so smart
and prepossessing a personage, and should have taken him for one of
the gentlemen commending the king's ships, rather than the captain of
a Liverpool privateer. He talked well and fluently, and with an air of
command and decision, taking the lead in the company, although it
might have been considered that h