I took up my quarters on board her. I invited also some of
the more gentlemanly and pleasant of the midshipmen to live on board her
also, so that we were able to form an agreeable society among ourselves.
At New York there was none in which we could mix with any satisfaction.
Whenever I went on shore I did not fail to visit the house of my old
Dutch friend, the widow Von Tromp. It was already so crowded with
soldier officers that I could not live there altogether, had I been so
disposed, but in truth I preferred remaining on board ship with my
brother-officers. As I was allowed a guinea a day for my table I was
able to live in comparative luxury and comfort.

On the 10th we began to discharge our prizes, which were loaded with
tobacco. On clearing the Rattlesnake I had indeed reason to be thankful
that I and those who had been with me on board were still in the land of
the living. Her entire bottom was completely rotten, and all who saw
her were astonished that she had made the passage from Portsmouth to New
York. It seemed a miracle that the water had been kept out of her. Her
whole bottom had to be replanked before she was again fit to put to sea.
This is only one of the numberless escapes from destruction which I
have had during my life.

The widow Von Tromp was delighted to see me, and especially interested
in all I had to tell her. I was amused with her notions about the war.
Her sympathies were evidently with the American party, but at present
she assuredly reaped no small profit from the custom which the military
brought to her house. She tried sore to reconcile the two opinions--she
wished well to the patriots, and yet she was in no hurry to see the war
brought to an end. Often since have I seen people on more serious
matters halting between two opinions.

"Ah me, Mr Hurry, I wish the war were ended and my dear friends from
the south would come back, but den dees nice young officers all go away
and I see dem no more! Oh, it is vary sad, vary sad!" she used to
exclaim, after descanting on the liberality of her guests. "But den you
come back, Mr Hurry; member dat. You always come and see de widow Von
Tromp."

Of course I promised, and intended faithfully to fulfil my promise,
little dreaming at that time the course which events would take.

Having discharged faithfully and, as I hoped, to the satisfaction of all
concerned, the duty on which I had been sent, I requested the commanding
officer of