dships
to which I might be exposed.

Many others have, I suppose, thought and felt and hoped as I did, and
many others have been disappointed.

"Hurrah for the West Indies--Spanish galleons--dark-eyed Creoles and
prize-money!" was the general toast on board the Charon.

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.

PUT INTO CORK HARBOUR.--SAIL WITH CONVOY.--CAPTURE OF THE COMPTE
D'ARTOIS.--ARRIVE OFF CHARLESTON.--BRITISH TROOPS MADE PRISONERS.--SAIL
FOR NEW YORK.--HEAR OF MADELINE THROUGH MY HOSTESS THE DUTCH WIDOW.--
RECEIVE GENERAL ARNOLD AND HIS MEN ON BOARD FLEET.--IN COMMAND OF
ARROW.--REACH THE CHESAPEAKE.--HEAR OF HURRICANE IN THE WEST INDIES.--
LOSS OF THUNDERER, 74, AND OTHER SHIPS.

Instead of at once proceeding on her voyage across the Atlantic, the old
Charon was, we found, ordered to put into Cork harbour. We arrived at
that port on the 11th of August, 1780, and found there HM's ships
Lennox, Bienfaisant, Licorne, and Hussar, with a hundred sail of
transports.

Before I recount the events of our voyage I may as well make a few
remarks about the ship and my brother-officers. Captain Symonds was
himself a thorough sailor, and he showed his love of his profession by
sending four of his sons into the navy. His eldest son, Jermyn John
Symonds, was, though very young, our third lieutenant,--a fine, handsome
fellow. He was afterwards, when in command of the Helena sloop-of-war,
lost with all his crew in her on the coast of Holland. Another son,
William, (see Note 1), though at that time a mere child, was, I believe,
borne on our books as a midshipman. It was with no small satisfaction
that I welcomed my old friend Paddy O'Driscoll, who came on board as a
supernumerary, to rejoin his ship on the American station. I welcomed
him the more gladly as so few of my old shipmates I was ever likely to
meet again. Where were they? The deep sea--West India marshes--the
shot of the enemy best could tell. But avast! I have bad enough of
sentiment in these pages. I must not indulge in this vein. The rest of
our officers were fine, gallant fellows, knowing their duty, and ready
and able on all occasions to do it. What more can you ask of a man?
Having a gentleman, and a kind, good man as our captain, our ship was a
very pleasant and happy one, and that is more than can be said of many
ships in my day. Captains were of necessity despots, and as they had
very rough, untutored, disorderly subjects to deal with, too often very
cru