Captain H. treated me very kindly wishing me to remain with him during my apprenticeship. I preferred returning to Boston where I found one of my uncles who had just returned from the coast of Sumatra, his ship had been cut off by the natives or Malays, and himself severely wounded. He insisted on my studying navigation immediately, saying to me at the same time that if it was my determination to go to sea, I must be bound to some experienced shipmaster as taut as parchment could bind me. I commenced the study of navigation, and got along quite fast. The Constitution frigate was then ready for sea lying off Long wharf bound for Tripoli. I was desirous of getting a midshipman's warrant and entering the navy, but as that was rather difficult, being attended with a great deal of ceremony, I gave it up, as there was a prospect of a war with England or France, and our commerce much cut up, I concluded to learn a trade.
One day, shortly after my return, I met my old schoolmaster who flogged me so nicely, he was glad to see me and appeared very affectionate, and asked how I liked going to sea, and expressed much regret for the cause of our separation, saying, " you are a good scholar and 1 hope you will make a good seaman." We parted with a mutual good feeling. A large portion of our merchant vessels were hauled up and all kinds of business prostrated. A non-intercourse act by our government, put a stop to all commercial business, except those who had obtained permission to go after property that was considered in jeopardy. Then came the long embargo which put a stopper on American commerce, the carrying trade then fell into the hands of foreigners which made business for many.
Our political horizon now became very much obscured, there were two parties in evident opposition, one called the war party, the other for peace on any terms, and had the latter succeeded, our glorious Stars and Stripes would have decorated Westminster Abbey and these prosperous States would have been numbered with the Colonies, the shackles firmly clenched and the boasted liberty of this great Republic thrown back upon our children with taunts and insults. In April, 1S08, I was bound apprentice to a shipwright, and served my regular apprenticeship; I shall always entertain the highest respect for my master and mistress, though both are dead. The recollection of their kind treatment to me will always be cherished with sentiments of profound gratitude.
Many a time in after life have I in retrospect gone back and reviewed my apprentice days, which were the happiest in my life, with only those exceptions, where boys are eagerly lookino; forward to their maturity, and feeling the many restraints which apprentices must be subjected to, as rather irksome and " grievous to be borne." But we seldom find a man who, after having arrived at the meridian of life, that ever complained of a too strict bringing up while an apprentice. When 1 look around me now, (1856) and enquire for any of my fellows, or those who were apprentices contemporary with myself, 1 can find but one, Mr. E. D., who has retained his integrity, prospered in his business, and reared a numerous and respectable family.
I believe many of the rest went long ago into the drunkard's grave. There were many customs in those days that were pernicious and destructive to the morals and habits of boys. I allude particularly to that of supplying grog at eleven A. ML, and at four P. M. This was the incipient training for drunkenness, and I have known both masters and apprens to have been inmates of the Alms House at the same \ me. And there is no doubt that their sensibilities were too much blunted for mutual recriminations. Some that were my associates and quite respectable, who were learning different trades, took their grog, frequented the theatre, and other places where low and obscene jests and songs went round, and spent the Sabbath in boat-sailing or riding.
Now, all this seemed perfectly harmless, the influence upon future character was not thought of, neither did these young men think, at the time, that the foundation they were laving would destroy every principle of integrity, and ultimately prove their ruin. Three of these which I have just alluded to served out their terms in the State Prison for thefts. And two of them after beins liberated ended their days in a most miserable manner, being frozen to death while in a state ot intoxication. And I could record the sad end of many others, but the few that have been noticed, may suihce to show young ap] r ntices how easy it is to imbibe bad habits, and how hard to scape the consequences.