who had served with me in campaigns in India, arrived at the
depot, and, immediately recognizing me, my history was made known to the
commanding officer, and I was promoted to the rank of sergeant. I
remained at the depot about three months, at the expiration of which we
were ordered to India, and I embarked as acting quarter-master on board
the _New Warren Hastings_, Captain Larkins, and sailed from Spithead on
the 8th day of January, 1808.

We experienced a most terrific gale in the British Channel, and were at
last obliged to run for Torbay, where we brought up near where the East
Indiaman, the _Abergavenny_, was lost. Near us lay a ship of war, from
which, at the imminent hazard of the lives of an officer and six men, a
boat was sent off to our ship, the crew of which, after riding in safety
over the mountainous waves, desired us, in a most authoritative tone, to
throw out a rope. All hands were at the leeward side in a moment, when
there was a general whispering amongst the tars. "Shiver my timbers,"
said one, "but that looks like a press."--"Start me," said another, "but
so it does." Thus went round the general buzz, when the man of
authority, in size not much larger than a quaker,[12] with a sword as
long as himself, and a huge cocked-hat, as big as a gaff top-sail, which
he skulled off with as much grace and majesty as a grand bashaw, flew up
the side of the ship in an instant. He saluted the quarter-deck, as is
usual, then mounted on tiptoe, and danced up to the captain, who was on
deck, and, with the authority of an admiral of the red, demanded to see
the ship's books. At this sound every sailor writhed his features and
limbs into the most ludicrous distortions; some limped, others stooped,
and all did their utmost to appear as decrepit and unfit for service as
possible. As our ship was then in imminent danger of going ashore, the
captain remonstrated, setting forth the perilous situation of his ship,
the number of lives, and the amount of property on board; but
notwithstanding that we were at that moment dragging our two anchors,
the little officer persisted in obeying the orders of his commander, and
walked off with six of our very best seamen. By the loss of these men,
our ship was involved in double the danger she was in before, as they
were our ablest hands. Whether or not this was a justifiable act, I am
unacquainted; but its enforcement at such a conjuncture seems sadly at
variance with the principles of