board the Chatham, and
was thus able to assure the Hessians who I was. They made all sorts of
apologies, which afforded us a very small amount of satisfaction.

Thanking General Pigot for his timely rescue, we set off to return to
our ships, heartily sick of our day's adventures--hungry and battered,
indeed, very much in need both of cook and doctor.

The next day we weighed and, parting from the Phoenix and the other
ships with which we had been in company, ran up between Blackwell's
Island and the main. As we were running at the rate of some four or
five knots an hour a shock was felt which made the ship shiver
throughout her whole frame. The pilot turned pale, as if he expected to
be shot on the spot. He had put us on a rock. Captain Hudson, cool as
usual, issued his orders as if nothing particular was the matter, and we
quickly swung off again and proceeded on our way till we brought up
snugly in Turtle Cove. While the ship lay there I was sent, on the
25th, with dispatches to Lord Howe, then residing on Staten Island. My
boat's crew on this occasion consisted either of pressed men or of
fellows whom I knew to be among the greatest blackguards in the ship.
On the way down they showed signs of an unruly disposition by pulling
slowly and not putting out their strength when I ordered them. Their
conduct, however, did not trouble me, and I forgot all about it as I
walked up to present my dispatches to his lordship. I have always
entertained the greatest respect for Lord Howe. He was a good seaman--
of bravery undoubted--cool and thoughtful in danger--generous and kind,
and considerate for those under his command and careful for their
interests. He was much abused by the royalists in America, as well as
by many in the army and fleet, as also at home, because he did not seem
anxious to push matters to extremes at once with the rebels and allow
fire and sword to be carried throughout their territories. But he
looked upon them as fellow-beings and fellow-subjects, and though
misguided, he considered that they had too much reason for their
rebellion to be treated with the severity others proposed. I have heard
that after an action he would go below and visit each wounded man as he
lay in his hammock, and stop and talk to him, and would send wine and
poultry from his own stock to those whom the surgeon thought required
it. Such are the deeds by which an officer can easily win the hearts of
seamen. I had not t