being onboard, finding the boatswain's mates did not carry
canes, entered. The nurse, sergeant, doctor and his dying patient were
rated quartermaster's and gunner's mates, and the remainder topmen. We had
been a month refitting when we made another attempt to procure seamen at
Kingston, but only sent one boat with a lieutenant, myself, and twelve
seamen. On landing, we made for the house we had not entered on our last
visit, where we knocked at the door, and had to wait some short time
before it was opened, when a mulatto man appeared and asked "What Massa
Buckra want? He hab nutting for sell; he no hab any grog." "Why, that
copper-skinned rascal," called out one of our men, "is the fellow who
deserted from the _Thorn_ sloop of war when I was captain of the mizzen
top." "Take hold of him!" said the lieutenant; but before this could be
done he slammed the door against us; this was the work of a moment. Three
of our seamen instantly set their backs against it, and with a
"Yo-heave-ho," they forced it in. We now entered the house. After passing
through two small rooms, which, as an Irishman might say, had no room at
all, for they were very small, dirty and barely furnished, we came to a
door which was fastened. We attempted to open it, when an elderly, dingy
white woman made her appearance and informed us the house belonged to
herself and sons, who were coopers, and at work in the cooperage. "That
door," said she, "leads to it, but I have the key upstairs; wait, and I
will fetch it." The old woman, on going out, turned the key of the room we
were in. I remarked this to the lieutenant, who, apprehending some
treachery, ordered the men to force the door we had endeavoured to open.
It soon gave way, when we suddenly came on four men dressed as coopers.
Two of them were knocking a cask to pieces, the other two drawing off a
liquid which had the appearance of rum. They did not desist from their
occupation, nor were they surprised at our visit, but told us very coolly
we had mistaken the house. So should we have thought had we not seen our
copper-faced acquaintance who had in such unmannerly fashion shut the door
in our faces. "Come, my lads," said the lieutenant, "there's no mistake
here; you must leave off drawing rum for your old mother, who wished to
take great care of us by locking us in, and go with us, as we want
coopers." "Rum," said one of the boat's crew, who had tasted it, "it's
only rum of the fore-hold. A fellow can't