his vessel the "Britannia" in the autumn of 1781. An extract from his
diary here follows:--

"Friday, Sept. 7--About 10 a. m. arrived safely into St. John's
river, went ashore and dined with Mr. Hazen whom I find to be
every way the man I have ever heard him characterized.

"Saturday, Sept. 8--Dined with Mr. Hazen. Sold him and Mr. White
some tobacco, wine and chocolate. Mending sails today. Wind
blowing very hard at N. W.

"Sunday, Sept. 9--Am in hopes of having a convoy to Annapolis,
shall know more of it tomorrow; if one, shall wait for it. Dined
ashore at Mr. Hazen's.

"Monday, Sept. 10--Still waiting in hopes of a convoy and have
some prospect of carrying garrison stores to Annapolis, in that
case shall have a party sufficient to keep off pirate boats. Spent
the day rambling about the country which hereabouts is very
broken, barren and but little cultivated, but abounding in vast
quantities of excellent limestone. Fort Howe is built on a single
limestone--'tis a pretty large one. Delivered Mr. Hazen his two
hogsheads of tobacco, which I couldn't do before, we have had such
blowing weather the two days past.

"Tuesday, Sept. 11--Dirty, rainy, wind at noon S. and S. S. W.

"Wednesday, Sept. 12--Waited till 12 o'clock at noon to sail with
the men of war and the mast ships."

Benjamin Marston sold a portion of his cargo to Hazen & White; but
he found his stay at St. John very monotonous during the fortnight
he was detained by contrary winds. He tried to break the monotony by
the composition of the following rhyme, for which, under the
circumstances, we are disposed to excuse him; it was St. John's
first attempt in the poetical line and is as good as some that has
been attempted since:

"I'm almost sick and tired to death
With staying in this lonesome place,
Where every day presents itself
With just the same dull-looking face.

Oh! had I but some kind fair friend
With whom to chat the hours away,
I ne'er would care how blew the wind
Nor tedious should I think my stay.

Ah! that was once my happy lot
When I with house and home was blest,
I'd then a fair companion got
With many female charms possesst.

Nor scantily did Heaven shower down
Those gifts which ren