Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

THE BARGE'S CREW.

Then stretch out and pull away, jolly boys,
To the mercy of fortune we go;
We're in for it now,-'tis a folly, boys,
To be down-hearted, yo, bo!"

LE
ET me see-let me see- -who was
the last man? Oh, aye,
Jack
Junk, Billy C―, and the grey mare;
and that reminds me too that the grey
mare is often the better horse;-ax
Sir else which on 'em carries
the Admiral's flag? But I sharn't
spin my yarn to-day, though I've got
Junk to work upon, if I don't turn the
winch better. Jack Junk was a man-
of-war's-man every inch of him. He
was brought to bed-no, no, I mean
born in an arm-chest, cradled in a fri-
gate, rocked by the billows, and nurs-
ed by the Captain of the forecastle.
He soon came to be a plaything for
all hands, quaffed his grog and chew-
ed his pigtail like an angel. As soon
as he could speak, the Boatswain's
Mate tutored him in the vulgar tongue,
taught him to wind his whistle, and
whistle to the wind. At six years of
age, he had larned to read from the
lids of bacca-boxes; and then he serv-
ed as a powder-monkey under Hawke,
and took to squinting because he
would watch two guns at the same
time, but he supplied his own the
best. His head-sheets were flattened
in by a spent wad. Well, he went
through the usual gradations, from
Boatswain's boy to Quarter-master,
and always did his duty like a Briton.
Jack's in Greenwich now, (for he lost
his arm in Duckworth's action in the
West Ingees,) and we often cuff
away an hour talking about the Barge
and old times. Alongside of him,
upon the same thwart, was Jem Head-
fast, a steady old boy, who had been
round the other side of the world, and
outside of the world, along with Cook.
Many a mid-watch he's kept our ports
open listening to his tales about their
discoveries off Cape Flyaway, and
drinking grog with the man in the
moon; how he carried the princess
Lotochechowquanquischechimo, sister
to King Longtomjackjemjerryjoe, at
one of the Society Isles; how he con-
varted them all, and was going to be
made head chief, when the Captain

ges,

cotch'd him, and give him two dozen for running away; how the giants at Paddygonia were fifteen feet high, and carried their head under their arms; how the New Zealanders were savaand eat human flesh, and he called them Anthonypopinjays, I think, or some such name; how kind all the ladies were at the Sandwich Isles; and last, how poor Cook was killed. Jem had a kindly heart, and after weathering many a gale and fighting many a battle, he was wrecked in the St. George 98, upon the coast of Jutland; but his life was saved. "That was a dreadful night indeed, (said Jem;) our ship lay struggling upon her beamends, groaning and writhing like a giant in the agonies of death, and the darkness which surrounded us was the darkness of the grave. Oh with what anguish we heard the shrieks of our messmates as they buffeted with the waves, and saw their dark forms for a moment while struggling on the white foam of the billows; and then the sea closed over them, and they sank to rise no more! The jury-masts were gone, and every hope had vanished. Hundreds had been washed away by the breakers that beat over us, and the ship could not be expected to hold together much longer. It was determin ed to get the Admiral upon deck, for he had retired as every exertion was unavailing. I and another descended through the sky-light into the cabin; the lamp was still burning, and threw its dim rays so as just to lighten up the gloomy scene. The Admiral sat in his chair, which was lashed to the deck, his arms folded on the table, and his head resting on them. He raised himself as we approached; but never shall I forget the countenance. He was a father-he was a husband, and his heart fainted within him. Only those who have been in danger like ours can tell the nature of the feelings at such a moment, when every blast is the seaman's knell, and every wave a summons to eternity. He did not fear to die, but he thought of the anguish of those whom he should never see again. I yet see before my eyes the sickly paleness of his face and the

agitation of his look. We slung him, with a couple of ropes under the arms, and he was hoisted upon deck. The officers who remained assisted to secure him to the stump of the mizenmast. A lantern was brought, and the few survivors who were near, clinging to whatever they could hold by, crowded round, and joined in the prayers which were read by one of the officers. Oh! what a moment was that, when every heart poured forth its petition in fervency of spirit, while death was waiting to receive his prey. Before the officer had closed the book, and while the Amen yet trembled on their lips, a wild shriek was heard from forward. The wave came like a huge mountain, curling its monstrous head, sparkling with foam, which rendered it more horrible in the blackness of the night-it struck the ship, rending her fore and aft, and engulphed us in its dark abyss. There was a loud yell-it grew fainter--and all was hushed but the howling of the gale and the roaring of the billows. Myself and eleven others alone were saved." Poor Jem, however, was reserved for another fate; for, at the close of the war, he became an outpensioner; but, still desirous of braving the ocean, he shipped in a West Ingee-man, and made two or three voyages; but the last trip they were taken by the Pirates, and all hands murdered. Jem used to come and visit us old hulks at Greenwich; and one day he told us a rum-story of a North-country lad, apprenticed to a Newcastle-man. "D'ye see, (says Jem,) we were laying just below the Dock-gates at Blackwall, waiting for water in, when a Collier brig brought up, and swung alongside of us; and having nothing much to do, we went below to dinner. Well, aboard comes one of their apprentices to beg a little sugar. Taking off his hat, he preferred his petition to a huge baboon of the Captain's dressed in a blue jacket and trowsers, with a great furry cap, that was seated on a cask upon the quarter-deck. Jacko took no notice of him, except to grin a bit, while the poor fellow kept booing and booing, like Sir Pertinax Mac

sycophant in the play; but, finding all his requests were disregarded, he came forward, and was descending the forescuttle, when we demanded what the lad wanted, and whether he couldn't find any body upon deck? "Eh, (says Jock,) I saw the auld gentleman of a mate aft there—a deadly sulky-looking sort of a body too, but he would nae answer me."-"Hush! (says the Boatswain,) he'll hear you. That isn't the Mate, but a passenger we brought home from the island of Jamaica. He's a very rich sugarbaker, but dreadfully cross and spiteful

we're all afraid of him."-" Èh, be good unto us! (returned, the simple lad;) are all the sugar-bakers like unto him? They must be a main comical set!" He was directed to go down the half-deck and take a little out of a cask; but he wouldn't attempt it till one of his companions descended with him. "Eh, Jammie, (says the first,) did you nae see the ootlandish passenger body sitting aft on the quarter-deck?"-"Na, Jock, (replied the other,) wha was it ?"-" I dinna ken, but they tellit me he was a sugar-baker from Jemakee; but such an ugly cat-faced looking-Eh, Sir! (taking off his hat on observing the monkey grinning at 'em down the hatchway as if listening)-Eh, Sir, 'twas nae you we were talking aboot, but anither gentleman, a sugar-baker in Soonderland. Eh, Sir, we would nae offend your countenance for the warld!" However, no persuasions could induce them to come on deck till they were convinced that the gentleman passenger had forgiven them, and gone quietly to his cabin.

Upon the next thwart was Joe Hendersen, him as is Boatswain of the yacht building at Woolwich. Joe was a hair-brained, careless fellow, but open and free-hearted; ready for any thing, so that it did but promise mischief. He was in the Triumph at the Mutiny, and was bow-man of the barge. Well, when Sir E left the ship, the boat landed at Sallyport, and Joe runs out the gang-board, while he observed a rough-looking Captain waiting on the beach, who hailed their old skipper with, "Good morning, Sir

Erasmus, good morning."-" Good morning, Captain E, (replied Sir Erasmus ;) I understand you are appointed to the Triumph, and I am very sorry to say you will have a set of mutinous scoundrels to deal with.""Never fear, Sir Erasmus, I am as mutinous as any of them, and I have no doubt they will speedily discover it." So after shaking hands he jumped into the boat, and they pulled aboard. Well, the hands were turned up, the commission was read, and every one expected a speech, and a speech they had. "I'll tell you what it is, my men: I would advise you to keep a sharp look-out, or I'll hang one half of you." This made them feel

comical; and as soon as the Boatswain's Mate piped down, a meeting was summoned to know whether they shouldn't send him ashore again; but an old Quarter-master advised to try him first, for says he, "I knows the gemman-he came in at the hawseholes, and understands what a seaman is; therefore it arn't fair to shove him out of the cabin windows." This settled it, and they never had cause to repent of their delay. But I haven't time to tell you more now, Mr. Editor; however, I'll try and recollect something else about Joe and Captain E-and the old Triumphs, as, d'ye see, they are all connected with the Barge's Crew.

AN OLD SAILOR

LETTER FROM WILLIAM COBBETT

TO MR. JAMES, AUTHOR OF NAVAL OCCURRENCES, &c.
Kensington, 22d July, 1824.

OU have sent me a copy of the above

6

your compliments. In page 359 of the work, you quote the following words from the New Annual Register for 1814. 'It would seem, too, that, when we were victorious over the Americans by sea, we were generally indebted for our success, to a greater superiority than even they had when they were successful.' This was perfectly true; and even far within the truth; for, in many cases, they were victorious with an inferior force, both in men and guns. Yet, having quoted this remark from the Annual Register, you ask: Could an American Editor, or Mr. Cobbelt, have uttered a more unblushing falsehood than is contained in this effusion of spleen? And that, too, from so respectable a work as the Annual Register?'

After this, no respectable man will expect me to treat you with any sort of ceremony. I am about to remark on the book that you have sent me, and in which I find the above passage; and I shall unquestionably ascribe its infinite mass of lies to intention, to what it is evidently meant to obtain you, namely, the favour of Blue and Buff, and the sale of your poor, shuffling, badly written book, before you attempted to make which, you ought to have besought some one to teach you how to put words

[blocks in formation]

hear of you or your work; never once heard either named, until Capt. Phillimore,

[ocr errors]

introduced you and your book to the public.

Another preliminary remark. The mo ment I heard of the beating, I said, that I strongly suspected that you deserved it; not for exposing the faults of the naval officers; but for your endeavours to hide those faults and to gloss over the shocking dis graces which we incurred during the war with America. Never, as I shall clearly show, was suspicion better founded! Nothing can have a more mischievous tendency. It is to do all that you can to prevent such a change in the Navy as shall enable us to face the foe another time. It is basely sa crificing the interests of the country to your own interest, gratified by the sale of your book to those whom you flattered and apologized for. Never did man better deserve a beating from some hand or other; but, really, it was ungrateful in Blue and Buff to lay on the stick! The devil will, I should suppose, pretty nearly get you for the lies that you have told to screen Blue and Buff; and, for them to beat you! Oh! it is too much! I would, if I were in your place, put forward, to the Court of King's Bench, the great merit, public spirit, and patriotism shown by my lying at such an uncommon rate. Here,' I would say, see, my Lord, and Gentlemen of the Jury, how I have lied for the honour of our be loved country! And then, turning round my naked shoulders, I would exclaim, ‘and, behold my reward!

I shall now make some remarks on your

book, which, from its very manner of be ginning, from its very tone at the outset, bids us expect a tissue of miserable apolo

gies. When, un'il now, did the historian of

[ocr errors]

English naval fights think it necessary to write a preliminary essay on the nature of timber and shot, on weight of metal, on the effect of this or that sort of powder, and the like? But, I am a little before my story, and will return to it presently. When, until now, did the historian of English naval fights think it necessary to set out with a sweeping declaration, that all the accounts of the enemy were false? With boundless abuse of all belonging to that enemy? These are very bad signs: and these signs we find in almost every page of your history. I have only to notice your base attack on the American Commander, Porter, in order to show how shameless your conduct has been in this respect.

In your preface, you say, that you shall not meddle with the causes of the war. That was a very impartial resolution to be sure! The cause of the war was a very singular one, and was very necessary to be mentioned. You would not say any thing either, as to the manner in which it was conducted by the two parties. Why so shy upon these points? You can go out of your way often enough to abuse the Americans collectively and individually; and yet you will not say a word upon the cause of the war, of the manner of conducting it! Singular forbearance, in a man whose every page teems with abuse of the enemy!

With your leave, I will, however, say a little upon both these points; and, if there be any blood beneath that skin of yours; if there be any pores in that skin through which for the blood to appear, pray, Mr. James, do prepare to treat us to a little blush for once in your lifetime.

The cause of the war, and the sole cause of the war, was the impressment of American seamen on board of American ships by English men of war on the high seas. This was the sole cause of the war. And was it not cause enough? Was there ever any thing more unjust, cruel, or tyrannical, than to take Americans out of their ships, put them on board of our ships of war, take them for years away from their home, parents, and friends; compel them to expose their lives in fighting for us, and fighting too against their own friends and allies? This was the real and sole cause of the war; and it ought to have been stated by a man who was about to give an account of the manner in which these Americans fought to avenge their wrongs.

Now, as connected with this matter, let me come to your abuse of Commodore Porter; and, in observing upon that abuse, I will show what a surprising hypocrite you are. You tell us at page 85, that Sir James Lucas Yeo felt indignant, at reading in the public papers of the ill treatment of a "British Sailor” by Captain, or Commodore Porter. You tell us that Sir James expressed his contempt of Captain Porter for "this ill treatment of a British Sailor." You tell us that Sir James Lucas Yeo was very likely to express his abhorrence of the

occasion of this treatment. Your humanity breaks forth upon this occasion. You rival Sir James in his tender feelings for the poor British sailor. In short, the exceedingly well known humanity of all such persons, seems to have been very predominant upon this occasion. But here you were less cunning than you generally have been. You give us the injured British subject's deposition. You were foolish for that. You should have confined yourself to a round assertion without any particulars. Particulars are always injurious to historians like you. You begin the story of the ill-treated British subject thus: "Shortly after the declaration of war, Captain Porter ill-used a British subject, for "refusing to fight against his country." You should have stopped there; for, though every one who knows any thing of the Americans would have been sure that this is a most wicked lie; yet as only a small part of the people of England do know the Americans in this respect, the lie might have passed currently enough; but you, like a very foolish man, must refer to the New-York paper for the truth of your assertion; and must insert, forsooth, the deposition of the ill-used Englishman, who was, and who proves himself to have been, a most profligately fraudulent scoundrel, who deserved a hundred thousand times the punishment that Captain Porter inflicted upon him. However, here is the scoundrel's deposition, as inserted by yourself.

"The deposition states, that John Ewing was born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England that he resided within the United States since 1800, and has never been naturalized; that, on the 14th of October, 1811, he entered on board the Essex, and joined her at Norfolk; that Captain Porter, on the 25th of June, 1812, caused all hands to be piped on deck to take the oath of allegiance to the United States, and gave them to understand, that any man who did not choose to do so should be discharged: that when deponent heard his name called, he told the Captain that, being a British subject, he must refuse taking the oath; on which the Captain spoke to the petty officers, and told them that they must pass sentence upon him; that they then put him into the petty launch which lay alongside the frigate, and here poured a bucket of tar over him, and then laid on a quantity of feathers, having first stripped him naked from the waist; that they then rowed him ashore, stern foremost, and landed him. That he wandered about, from street to street, in this condition, until Mr Ford took him into his shop, to save him from the crowd then beginning to assemble; that he staid there until the police magistrate took him away, and put him in the city. prison for protection, where he was cleansed and clothed. None of the citizens molested or insulted him. He says he had a protection, which he bought of a man in Salem, of the same name and description with himself, for four shillings and six pence, which

he got renewed at the Custom-House, Norfolk! He says he gave, as an additional reason to the Captain why he did not choose to fight against his country, that if he should be taken prisoner, he would certainly be hung Here, then, this villain confesses that he entered on board the American ship Essex, and got the bounty, of course; that he did this as an American citizen; that he imposed upon the American Captain and officers, by means of a certificate of birth, which he had bought at Salem, from an American of the same name and description with himself; and that he had even got the certifi.

cate renewed at Norfolk. He could not

get this done without a false oath; but, when the scoundrel was called up to take the oath of allegiance to the United States, he, with his false certificate in his pocket, put forward his character of British subject, in order to get discharged, and to cheat the United States out of the bounty!

And, Mr. James, humane Mr. James, this is the British subject, is it, on account of whose treatment, by Captain Porter, Sir James Lucas Yeo felt so indignant! Oh! hypocrisy these are the days of thy power! But, come, Mr. Historian, Mr. Sincerity; come, what was this ill-treatment? -Was it flaying alive, or pretty nearly flaying alive, such as we shall see an inno. cent and gallant American seaman experiencing? No; Captain Porter, or rather his petty officers, tarred and feathered the atrocious, the fraudulent, the hypocritical, the perjured villain. They then rowed him ashore, stern foremost,' and landed him. He was, and Captain Porter knew very well that he would be cleansed and clothed' by the people of Norfolk; and there the detestable villain was left to claim his birthright as an Englishman, to enjoy the friendship of Sir James Lucas Yeo and to have you for his historian and eulogist!

Now for a proof of your sincerity. You know very well what had been the treatment of American seamen impressed by our ships of war; but, not one single word would you say of that. I have recently republished the case of James Tompkins, of Ulster county, New York; but I will here republish it again. The reader will observe, that these things were the cause of the war, and of all the disgrace that arose out of that war.

"Duchess County, state of New-York---ss:
"James Tompkins, being sworn, saith,
that he is a native of Ulster county, oppo-
site Poughkeepsie; that he sailed out of
New-York in the month of April, 1812, in
the ship Minerva, bound to Ireland; that,
on the homeward-bound passage, in July
after, this deponent, with three other Ame-
rican seamen, Samuel Davis, William
Young, and John Brown, were impressed,
and taken on board of the British ship Ac-
tion, David Smith, Captain. We were tak-
en on Saturday evening; on Monday morn
ing we were brought to the gangway, and
informed we must enter on board ship, and
live as other seamen, or we should live on
oatmeal and water, aud receive five dozen

lashes. This deponent says, himself and the
other three impressed with him, did refuse
to enter, and each of them were then whip-
ped five dozen lashes. On Wednesday fol-
the same offer made to us to enter, which
lowing we were again brought up, and had
we refused, and we were again whipped five
dozen lashes each. On Saturday after, the
like offer was made to us, and, on our refu-
sal, we were again whipped three dozen
lashes each. On Monday following, still re-
fusing to enter, we were again whipped two
dozen each. On Wednesday following we
were again whipped one dozen each and
ordered to be taken below and put in irons
till we did enter; and the Captain said, be
till they did enter. We were then put in
would punish the damned Yankee rascals
i-ons, and laid in irons three months. Dur-
ing the time of our impressment the ship had
an action, and captured a French ship. Be-
fore this action, we were taken out of irons,
and asked to fight, but we refused; and af-
ter the action, we were again ironed, tili the
ship arrived at London. After arriving there,
we first heard of the war with America, and
that the Guerriere was taken. This depo-
nent took his shirt, Samuel Davis and Wm.
and stars for the American colours, and hung
Young took their handkerchiefs, made stripes
it over a gun, and gave three cheers for the
victory. The next morning at six o'clock,
we were brought up and whipped two dozen
lashes each, for huzzaing for the Yanice
flag. Shortly after this we were all releas-
ed, by the assistance of the American Con-
sul and Captain Hall, who knew us. This
deponent further saith, that they bad all
protections, and showed them and claimed
to be Americans at the time they were im-
pressed.
JAMES TOMPKINS.”

"Sworn before me, this 17th day of April, 1813, at which time the said James Tompkins showed me his wrists, which, at his request, I examined, and there appeared to be marks and scars on both of them, occasioned, as I suppose, from his having been in irons. WM.W.BOGARDUS,Just. Peace."

I call upon the reader to compare the treatment of these four innocent, gallant, and faithful men, with the treatment of the villain for whom you affect to have felt so much compassion. I beg of the reader to observe, that you say not one word of these instances of intolerable oppression; that you keep a guarded silence upon this subject; I beg of the reader to observe this, and then I am sure he will not want any thing to enable him to make a just estimate of your sincerity. I do not, and I never did, take upon me to VOUCH for the truth of these American affidavits. I say, as I always said, that there is not a man on earth who would more sincerely rejoice to see these affidavits contradicted in form, and from authority. But, never have they been thus contradicted; and they contained a statement of those allegations which, true or false, produced that war of indelible disgrace to England, to disguise or disfigure the facts of which war, is the object of the work of which you have sent me a copy; for which work you say that you have received the applause of the Duke of Clarence, and for which you have my hearty contempt.

I now return to notice the novelty of your manner of beginning to write a history of

« AnteriorContinuar »