lood in consequence of my expenses
whilst on shore at the "Tap" at Sheerness--I had a drive upon Dock. The
flag-ship in Hamoaze was the _Salvador del Mundo_, a three-decker taken
from the Spaniards in the memorable battle of the fourth of February. The
day after anchoring I was ordered by the captain to go with him on board
the _Sally-waiter-de-Modo_. I reflected a short time, and not knowing
there was such a ship on the Navy List, turned to the first lieutenant and
asked him if he had heard of such a man-of-war. "No," said he, smiling,
"the captain chooses to call her so; he means the flag-ship." On repairing
on board her, my commander said to me, "You help me to look at those
fellows' phizes," pointing to a number of men who were toeing the seam on
her quarter-deck. "I am to take thirty of them; they are queer-looking
chaps, and I do not much like the cut of their jib. But mind," added he,
"don't take any one that has not a large quid of tobacco in his cheek."

I went up to the second man, who had a double allowance of Virginia or
some other weed in his gill, the captain following me. "Well, my man,"
said I, "how long have you been to sea?" "Four months," was the reply.
"Why, you d----d rascal," said our skipper--for observe, reader, he never
swore--"what the devil business have you with such a quantity of tobacco in
your mouth? I thought you were an old sailor." "No, sir," answered the
man, "my trade is a tailor, but I have chawed bacca from my infancy."
"Question another," was my order. I interrogated the next, who was a
short, slight, pale-faced man. "And pray," said I, "what part of the play
have you been performing; were you ever at sea?" "No, sir," said he; "I am
a hairdresser, and was pressed a week ago." "D----n these fellows!" said my
captain; "they are all tailors, barbers, or grass-combers. I want seamen."

"Then," said Captain N., who was the flag-captain, and had just come on
board, "I much fear you will be disappointed. These are the only
disposable men, and it's Hobson's choice--those or none."

"The admiral promised me some good seamen," returned my skipper, rather
quickly. "Then I fear the admiral must find them," was the answer, "as I
have not more than twenty seamen on board besides the petty officers. The
last were drafted a few days ago in the _Defiance_. Will you take any of
these men, Captain W.?" "What do you think," said my captain to me; "shall
we take any of them?" "Suppose," returned I, "we