r night. On the 24th a suspicious
sail hove in sight, which we made out to be an English brig, though she
showed no colours; but, as she did her best to get away from us, we made
chase after her. A shot brought her to, when we found that she was
bound from the coast of Guinea, had a thousand pounds' worth of ivory on
board, and had been taken by the Congress and Chance privateers Her
captors looked very blue, but had to submit to their fate. Captain
Hudson ordered Kennedy, with four hands, to take charge of her, and to
carry her into New York.

"We shall meet there I hope soon, Hurry," said he, as he was shoving off
to take possession of his new command. "If we can but contrive to spend
some little time there, we'll manage to amuse ourselves now that the
place is free from those dunder-headed rebels."

"I hope so too. It will not be my fault if I do not follow you soon," I
replied, "only, I say, Kennedy, take care that the brig is not
recaptured by any of those same dunder-headed rebels."

"No fear, no fear; I'll keep too bright a look-out for that," he
answered, laughing.

He had a fair wind and every prospect of a quick run, so that I hoped to
find him at New York when I got the chance of going there.

On the 30th we again parted from the Daphne, and soon after gave chase
to a sleep, which, after firing a few shots, we brought to. I was at
once sent on board to take possession. I found her armed with eight
carriage four-pounders, fourteen swivels and four cohorns, and laden
with rum, porter, flour and bread, and I dare say she would have proved
as ugly a customer to any small craft she might have fallen in with as
she would have been a welcome guest at the port to which she was bound.
Grampus and Tom Rockets had accompanied me as part of my boat's crew.
Scarcely had I got on board when another sail was seen from the
mast-head of the Orpheus, so Captain Hudson ordered me to keep them and
another man, and to send the prisoners on board with the rest of the
crew, which done, I was to cruise about in the neighbourhood to wait his
return. A midshipman's personal comfort is not much considered on such
occasions, so that I was unable to get any clothes or even a change of
linen before my ship was standing away with all sail set in chase of the
stranger last seen. My prize, I found, was called the Colonel Parry.

"What do you think of our craft?" said I to Grampus, who had been
running his eye over her, inside