shot with
pistol or musket.

During his short stay on board the frigate, he had one of his temporary
fits of insanity, probably induced by excessive intemperance, if
intemperance admits of superlatives, while on shore. He suddenly started
up from a gloomy, stupid reverie, and ran about the decks like a wild
beast, striking and knocking down, every one he met; then all at once
plunging down the main-hatchway, he attempted to get possession of one
of the boarding cutlasses, but fortunately they were well secured in the
racks over the guns, to prevent them from falling down with the motion
of the ship. Before he could make a second and more regular attempt, he
was secured, put in irons, and placed under charge of a sentry. Had he
succeeded in arming himself, he would have made bloody work on the
quarter-deck, towards which it seemed evident he was steering his course;
the uniforms of the officers, and marine guard, probably calling up to
his diseased imagination, and memory, scenes of by-gone days connected
with or the remote cause of his present insanity. The officers seemed to
be so far acquainted with his history, as to feel compassion for his
most wretched situation; for, as he manifested no symptoms of
derangement the next morning, except his usual deep melancholy, he was
discharged from confinement, to the great astonishment of the ship's
company; for though the discipline on board was as mild as it could be
consistent with the preservation of good order, and perfectly free from
that tyranny that but too many of our navy officers think
indispensable, they certainly were not accustomed to seeing such quiet
jail deliveries.

Williams afterwards re-entered on board the same vessel that he came
from, and I lost sight of him of course, as our frigate was on the point
of quitting the station to return home. He has, in all probability, long
ere this, reached the grave towards which he seemed to be hurrying, with
all the speed of intemperance and insanity combined.

* * * * *

MORTON

* * * * *

MORTON.

CHAPTER I.

Bel and the Dragon's chaplains were
More moderate than these by far:
For they, poor knaves, were glad to cheat,
To get their wives and children meat;
But these will not be fobb'd off so,
They must h