n. Fortunately for them and
for me, I was not long permitted to trifle away my time. We were
ordered to cruise on the coast of North America. It was winter and very
cold; we encountered many severe gales of wind, during which we suffered
much from the frequent and sudden snow-storms, north-east gales, and
sharp frosts, which rendered our running-rigging almost unmanageable,
and obliged us to pour boiling water into the sheaves of the blocks to
thaw them, and allow the ropes to traverse; nor did the cold permit the
captain to honour us with his presence on deck more than once in the
twenty-four hours.

We anchored off a part of the coast which was not in a state of defence,
and the people, being unprotected by their own government, considered
themselves as neutrals, and supplied us with as much fish, poultry, and
vegetables as we required. While we lay here, the captain and officers
frequently went on shore for a short time without molestation. One
night, after the captain had returned, a snow-storm and a gale of wind
came on. The captain's gig, which ought to have been hoisted up, was
not; she broke her painter and went adrift, and had been gone some time
before she was missed. The next morning, on making inquiry, it was
found that the boat had drifted on shore a few miles from where we lay;
and that having been taken possession of by the Americans, they had
removed her to a hostile part of the coast, twenty-two miles off. The
captain was very much annoyed at the loss of his boat, which he
considered as his own private property, although built on board by the
king's men, and with the king's plank and nails.

"As my private property," said his lordship, "it ought to be given up,
you know."

I did not tell him that I had seen the sawyers cutting an anchor-stock
into the plank of which it was built, and that the said plank had been
put down to other services in the expense-book. This, however, was no
business of mine; nor had I any idea that the loss of this little boat
would so nearly produce my final catastrophe; so it was, however, and
very serious results took place in consequence of this accident.

"They _must_ respect private property, you know," said the captain to
the first lieutenant.

"Yes," answered the lieutenant; "but they do not know that it is private
property."

"Very true: then I will send and tell them so;" and down he went to his
dinner.

The yawl was ordered to be got ready, and hoiste