I just stepped back and called an officer, who passed me out, and when upon the wharf, I turned round to get a look at this (as I then called him,) infernal scoundrel, and surely, he could not well be mistaken. He was a tall, gaunt, lantern-jawed Irishman, with but one eye, freckled and horribly scarred with the small-pox. I never saw him afterwards and probably it was well for both of us that I did not. Perhaps the reader may think that in my description of the gunboat, and the receiving ship, Alert, that 1 have dealt altogether in superlatives, or that I have painted things in too high colors; but I assure you, that the half has nob been told.
1 find mvself at a loss for words and sentences, that will give an adequate idea of scenes that I have witnessed, while in the United States Navy; but more particularly, during the war with England. It may be, that I was more sensitive than I should have been, considering my place and position; and took more notice of things and circumstances, which appeared so unpleasant to me, and which, perhaps, to another would hardly have been noticed. I have also spoken, and shall have occasion again to speak, in what may be thought a disrespectful manner, of officers with whom I have come in contact during my service in the United States Navy. It is well known to every one, at all acquainted with the United States or any other navy, that in the time of war, besides the regularly commissioned, and warrant officers, there. are those, who enter the naval service, as subordinate officers.
Such as masters, mates, and sometimes sailing masters, without either warrant or commission, and men of whom nothing is known of their previous habits; the only qualification required is seamanship. It is of this class that I have had occasion to speak thus harshly. But I regret to say, that before I get through with my naval life, I shall have occasion to state facts highly derogatory to the character and standing of both commissioned and warrant officers. I return again to the old Alert, and to scenes in the Brooklyn navy yard. Additions were daily made to the Alert's crew, by men that were shipped in New York, and also of exchanged prisoners, many of which had lately arrived in New York.
One day there came on board, a boat load of men from the rendezvous; and among them was a man who, although intoxicated and in sailor's garb, I know at once was not a sailor. But strongly suspected that he was a victim either of rum or some rascally land shark, and very probably of both; he was tumbled on board with the rest, like so many dead hogs. Neither of them had a rag of clothing or a cent of money. I kept the run of the mail just alluded to, until he was sober, when I commenced a conversation, but I soon saw that his mind was not sufficiently composed to enter upon the subject I wished to broach.
Next day, I succeeded in catching him sober, and at leisure, said I to him," you are not much of a sailor, I presume? " " No," he answered with a deep sigh. " I am no sailor, nor do I ever expect to be." " How long have you been shipped?" " Yesterday morning."' " Did you get any advance wages? " " No; the fellow that took me to the rendezvous became my security, and took the two months advance." "Who was this fellow?" " It was a landlord, that I had staid with a few days. I had been drinking freely, and he told me I must pay my board and liquor bill, and in order to do this, I bad better ship tor the navy as landsman; the pay is eight dollars a mouth.
It was quite immaterial to me what I did, so I shipped, and he put me on board this recieving ship without any clothes, but what I stand in." "You. shiver very much, are you not cold?" " Yes, I am very cold, and have been shaking all night; I don't feel very well neither." It so happened that it was a stormy clay, and we should not be sent on shore, which would give me a good opportunity of finding out my new acquaintance. I led him into my berth, where we were not likely to be interrupted, and then requested him to tell me his story, which he began as follows: <k My name is James Harris, and I have been a merchant in Boston for the last thirteen years.