when I found the hold of the Dolphin was crammed with lumber; not
a space having been left large enough to stow away the ghost of a
belaying pin. Finding the captain in a pleasant mood one day, I
ventured to ask him what would be the consequence if the brig
should spring a leak in her bottom.

"Spring a leak in her bottom!" he replied, in his gruff manner;
"why, we should go to the bottom, of course"

The brig was now ready for sea. The sailors were shipped, and I
watched them closely as they came on board, expecting to find the
noble-looking, generous spirited tars I had become so familiar
with in books. It happened, however, that three out of the five
seamen who composed the crew were "old English men-of-war's-men,"
and had long since lost any refinement of character or rectitude
of principle they originally possessed. They were brought on
board drunk by the landlord with whom they boarded; for the "old
tars" of those days fifty years ago had no homes; when on
shore all they cared for was a roof to shelter them, and plenty
of grog, in which they would indulge until their money was gone,
when they would go to sea and get more.

Now ensued the bustle incident to such occasions. Captain
William Boyd, who had volunteered to pilot the brig down the
harbor, came on board; the sails were hoisted; the deck was
crowded with persons to take leave of their friends, or gratify a
morbid curiosity; and what with the numerous questions asked, the
running to and fro, the peremptory commands of the mate, the
unmusical singing and shouting of the crew as they executed the
various orders, together with the bawling of the handcartmen and