nd the first lieutenant and my messmates told me I
looked more like a person who had been doing something he was ashamed of
than a happy Benedict.

"When I got below, my mates informed me the sloop was to fit foreign and
going to the West Indies. My mind was like a coal-barge in a waterspout
when I heard this, and I was determined to cut and run; but when I
reflected next morning on the probability of my gaining my commission
shortly after our arrival, as I should go out on Admiralty promotion, I
clapped a stopper on my determination, and held on. We were to sail in two
days, and I contrived to get leave to go every evening to the farm, and
return by 8 o'clock next morning. I told my wife our destination, and the
probability of my promotion. 'Never mind me, William,' said she, with her
sweet voice; 'go where duty calls you. When in that path you cannot be
wrong. The hope of your promotion cheers me. Let us do all we can to merit
the blessings of a gracious Creator, and the good-fellowship of our
fellow-creatures, and we shall not be very unhappy, although far distant
from each other.' The last morning I spent with my wife was a mixture of
cheerfulness and grief. At last I tore myself away. I have now given you
the whole history, from the main-royal truck down to the kelson."

"Come," said I, "let's have another glass of grog, and I'll drink your
wife's good health and speedy promotion to yourself." "That's a good
fellow," said he, giving me his hand, and brushing away a tear. "Should
you ever be spliced, which I hope for your own sake will not be for some
years, may you anchor alongside just such another saucy frigate as mine."
I am truly happy to inform my reader that my good-hearted messmate was
shortly afterwards promoted into a frigate going to England.

After cruising with the squadron for some days, we had permission to go in
search of adventures, and next morning, as we were running down along the
coast of Porto Rico, we discovered five sail of vessels in a small bay.
The water not being sufficiently deep to admit the ship, we manned and
armed three boats and sent them in. I had the six-oared cutter, with nine
men; we were soon alongside of them. They proved Spanish vessels, four
small schooners and a sloop laden with fruit, principally oranges and
shaddocks, and a quantity of yams and plantains. We sent them all down to
Jamaica--why, you must ask the captain, as by the time they reached their
destination almost