the account in his
own words; for, having been written a full quarter of a century later,
they record the deepest and most lasting impressions made upon him
during that susceptible period when first becoming familiar with the
calling he was to adorn:--

"The business with Spain being accommodated, I was sent in a
West India ship belonging to the house of Hibbert, Purrier, and
Horton, with Mr. John Rathbone, who had formerly been in the
Navy, in the Dreadnought with Captain Suckling. From this voyage
I returned to the Triumph at Chatham in July, 1772; and, if I
did not improve in my education, I returned a practical Seaman,
with a horror of the Royal Navy, and with a saying, then
constant with the Seamen, _'Aft the most honour, forward the
better man_!' It was many weeks before I got the least
reconciled to a Man-of-War, so deep was the prejudice rooted;
and what pains were taken to instil this erroneous principle in
a young mind! However, as my ambition was to be a Seaman, it was
always held out as a reward, that if I attended well to my
navigation, I should go in the cutter and decked long-boat,
which was attached to the Commanding officer's ship at Chatham.
Thus by degrees I became a good pilot, for vessels of that
description, from Chatham to the Tower of London, down the Swin,
and the North Foreland; and confident of myself amongst rocks
and sands, which has many times since been of great comfort to
me. In this way I was trained, till the expedition towards the
North Pole was fitted out; when, although no boys were allowed
to go in the Ships, (as of no use,) yet nothing could prevent my
using every interest to go with Captain Lutwidge in the Carcass;
and, as I fancied I was to fill a man's place, I begged I might
be his cockswain; which, finding my ardent desire for going with
him, Captain Lutwidge complied with, and has continued the
strictest friendship to this moment. Lord Mulgrave, whom I then
first knew, maintained his kindest friendship and regard to the
last moment of his life. When the boats were fitting out to quit
the two Ships blocked up in the ice, I exerted myself to have
the command of a four-oared cutter raised upon, which was given
me, with twelve men; and I prided myself in fancying I could
navigate her better than any other boat in the Ship."

It will be recognized