a pause of some minutes, "So,"
resumed the captain, "this is the manner King's ships are to be fitted
out. Why, it will take us a month of Sundays before the lower masts are
rigged. What the devil did they send those old codgers with their wooden
legs here for? I will go immediately to the Admiral, and point out the
state we are in." In the afternoon another lieutenant joined the ship,
junior to me. I began to think I should be the first, when on the
following day I was unshipped, for two others came on board by some years
my seniors. The captain also sent four young mids on board and the
Admiralty two oldsters, one of whom was a sprig of nobility. On the
morning of the fourth day we were masted, and a lighter came alongside
filled with riggers from London, and soon afterwards we received our
complement of marines, with a captain and two lieutenants. We were now
beginning to get animated and to make some show, when, as I was giving an
order to the boatswain, Mr. Brown, whom I ought to have introduced before
as the gunner, reported a barge coming alongside with prisoners. "That is
surely a mistake," replied I; "I hope they do not take us for the prison
ship." Bump she came, stern on. "Hulloa!" I called out; "do you wish to
try what the bends are made of?" Before I could say anything more, up came
and stood before me, cocked-up hat in hand, a consequential, dapper little
stout man dressed in black, with his hair in powder. "Please you, sir, I
have brought, by the order of the magistrates at Maidstone, fifteen men to
belong to your ship. They be all of them tolerable good men, except five,
who have been condemned to be transported, and two to be hung, but as they
be contrabanders like, the Government have sent down orders for 'em to be
sent on board your ship." "I am sure," said I, "I can in the name of His
Majesty's officers offer many thanks to His Majesty's Government for their
great consideration in sending men who deserve hanging to be made sailors
on board His Majesty's ships." He then, with a flourish, presented me a
paper with their names and the offences of which they had been guilty.
Nine of these honest, worthy members of society were stout, robust
fellows, and had only taken what did not belong to them. Two of the
remaining six had been condemned for putting brave citizens in bodily fear
on the King's highway and borrowing their purses and watches. The other
four were smugglers bold, who wished to oblige their fr