ess at which human natur'
revolted; he knew a man in Stunin'tun who had five names, and he should
like to know what they would do with him, if this practice should
come into fashion there; he had no objection to a little paint, but no
red-hot knitting-needle should make acquaintance with his flesh, so long
as he walked his quarter-deck."

The keeper of the seals listened to this remonstrance with singular
patience and decorum; a forbearance that was probably owing to his not
understanding a word that had been said. But there is a language that
is universal, and it is not less easy to comprehend when a man is in
a passion, than it is to comprehend any other irritated animal. The
officer of the registration department, on this hint, politely inquired
of me, if some part of his official duties were not particularly
disagreeable to No. 1, sea-water color. On my admitting that the captain
was reluctant to be branded, he merely shrugged his shoulders, and
observed that the exactions of the public were seldom agreeable, but
that duty was duty, that the stamp act was peremptory, and not a foot of
ours could touch Leaphigh until we were all checked off in this manner,
in exact conformity with the registration. I was much puzzled what to
do, by this indomitable purpose to perform his duty in the officer;
for, to own the truth, my own cuticle had quite as much aversion to the
operation, as of Captain Poke himself. It was not the principle so
much as the novelty of its application which distressed me; for I had
travelled too much not to know that a stranger rarely enters a civilized
country without being more or less skinned, the merest savages only
permitting him to pass unscathed. It suddenly came to my recollection
that the monikins had left all the remains of their particular stores
on board, consisting of an ample supply of delicious nuts. Sending for
a bag of the best of them, I ordered it to be put into the register's
boat, informing him at the same time, that I was conscious they were
quite unworthy of him, but that I hoped, such as they were, he would
allow me to make an offering of them to his wife. This attention was
properly felt and received; and a few minutes afterwards, a certificate
in the following words was put into my hands, viz.:

"Leaphigh, season of promise, day of performance: Whereas, certain
persons of the human species have lately presented themselves to be
enregistered, according to the statute 'for the