n shore always find out when a ship is to be paid,
and very early in the morning we were surrounded with wherries, laden
with Jews and other people, some requesting admittance to sell their
goods, others to get paid for what they had allowed the sailors to take
up upon credit. But the first lieutenant would not allow any of them to
come on board until after the ship was paid; although they were so
urgent, that he was forced to place sentries in the chains with cold
shot, to stave the boats if they came alongside. About eleven o'clock
the dock-yard boat, with all the pay clerks and the cashier, with his
chest of money, came on board, and was shown into the fore-cabin, where
the captain attended the pay-table. The men were called in, one by one,
and as the amount and wages due had been previously calculated, they
were paid very fast. The money was always received in their hats, after
it had been counted out in the presence of the officers and captain.
Outside the cabin door, there stood a tall man in black, with hair
straight combed, who had obtained an order from the port-admiral to be
permitted to come on board. He attacked every sailor as he came out,
with his money in his hat, for a subscription to emancipate the slaves
in the West Indies; but the sailors would not give him anything,
swearing that the niggers were better off than they were; for they did
not work harder by day, and had no watch and watch to keep during the
night. "Sarvitude is sarvitude all over the world, my old
psalm-singer," replied one. "They sarve their masters, as in duty
bound; we sarve the King, 'cause he can't do without us--and he never
axes our leave, but helps himself."

Then the purser's steward came out; he was what they call a bit of a
lawyer, that is, had received more education than the seamen in general.

"I trust, sir," said the man in black, "that you will contribute
something."

"Not I, my hearty; I owe every farthing of my money, and more too, I'm
afraid."

"Still, sir, a small trifle."

"Why, what an infernal rascal you must be, to ask a man to give away
what is not his own property! Did I not tell you that I owed it all?
There's an old proverb--Be just before you're generous. Now, it's my
opinion, that you are a methodistical, good-for-nothing blackguard; and
if any one is such a fool as to give you money, you will keep it for
yourself."

When the man found that he could obtain nothing at the door, he went
down