assured, and actually found it so: whereupon,
demanding his warrant, it was delivered to him, and the oaths
administered immediately. That very afternoon he went to Gravesend
in the tilt-boat, from whence he took place in the tide-coach for
Rochester; next morning got on board the "Thunder," for which he was
appointed, then lying in the harbour at Chatham; and the same day was
mustered by the clerk of the checque. And well it was for him that such
expedition was used; for, in less than twelve hours after his arrival,
another William Thompson came on board, affirming that he was the person
for whom the warrant was expedited, and that the other was an impostor.

My friend was grievously alarmed at this accident, the more so, as his
namesake had very much the advantage over him both in assurance and
dress. However, to acquit himself of the suspicion of imposture, he
produced several letters written from Scotland to him in that name, and,
recollecting that his indentures were in a box on board, he brought them
up, and convinced all present that he had not assumed a name which did
not belong to him. His competitor, enraged that they should hesitate
in doing him justice (for to be sure the warrant had been designed for
him), behaved with so much indecent heat, that the commanding officer
(who was the same gentleman I had seen) and the surgeon were offended at
his presumption, and making a point of it with their friends in town, in
less than a week got the first confirmed in his station. "I have been
on board," said he, "ever since; and, as this way of life is becoming
familiar to me, have no cause to complain of my situation. The surgeon
is a good-natured, indolent man; the first mate (who is now on shore on
duty) is indeed a little proud and choleric, as all Welshmen are, but
in the main a friendly honest fellow. The lieutenants I have no concern
with; and, as for the captain, he is too much of a gentleman to know a
surgeon's mate, even by sight."

CHAPTER XXV

The behaviour of Mr. Morgan--his pride, displeasure, and generosity--the
economy of our mess described--Thomson's further friendship--the nature
of my duty explained--the situation of the sick

While he was thus discoursing to me, we heard a voice on the cockpit
ladder pronounce with great vehemence, in a strange dialect, "The devil
and his dam blow me from the top of Monchdenny, if I go to him before
there is something in my pelly. Let his nose be as yello