I went below to my room, and began to sharpen up my teeth, and get my mouth in good shape, for a breakfast, which I had not had for a fortnight. Directly, the boy came down, and told me that black Williams, the captain's cook, had driven him away from the galley, it being jammed full of cooks. I sprung up, and in an instant was among them, and caught up a piece of the oar, about ten feet long, and "dropped the nigger." He soon picked himself up again. I saw that the wool began to grow red, and I began to grow sorry. I told Sam to cook his steak, which he did; or rather warmed it through, and I ate it like a cannibal.
I now began to repent of my rashness, went to the poor fellow, and told him that I was sorry, that I was in a great passion, driven to it by hunger. " 0, never mind, sir; 1 hiotued you dioVnt mean nothing, I only got a little bumjj on my head." And sure enough, there was a lump on one side of his cocoanut, as big as my fist. So I made the matter up with him in good shape, and in material form, and thought after all that I was the worst nijnyer of the two. I met him in Boston, seven years after the affair, when we had a good laugh over the beef steak, and the knock down.
From Annapolis, we came to Hampton-roads; and from thence to New York, where we arrived on the 27th of May, 1817. Scarcely had our anchor ov>ne from the bow, before the ship was surrounded by land sharks and bail women; the latter, however, were not permitted to come on board; and only a few of the former. They obtained permission only by urgently desiring to see some particular friend. As none of the crew were allowed to go on shore, the landlords went off, but soon returned with any quantity of good things, such as pies, puddings, roast beef, chickens, and had also contrived to smuggle on board an ample supply of good stuff, to wash down the savory viands, notwithstanding, they were strictly forbidden against bringing any intoxicating liquor on board, the master at arms was placed in the gangway, with orders to search everything, and everybody, and "the Maine liquor leuw in full force," there were bottles of brandy, gin, rum, and wine enough to supply a regular bachanalian feast.
Tailors and watch venders came along-side; and all, knowing that the boys had between three and four hundred dollars a piece, coming to them; were very willing to trust them with any amount. Nothing pleases this sort of sailors so much, as to show a willingness to trust them; and what was very remarkable, nearly every one of those skulking lubbers, that had been in the sick bay during all the bad weather, and were so sick that they could not be turned over in their hammocks without a crowbar, were the most lively and vociferous among the whole crew; and with the rest, were all blind drunk before morning. Many of these fellows had bought nice long-tailed coats, pantaloons, new hats, watches, and dandy boots; and everything, to constitute a fine go-a-shore-rig; for which, as it subsequently appeared, they were charged one hundred dollars, and some of them put on their new rig, to see how they would look.
One fellow would try to haul a pair of dandy pantaloons over a thick pair of blanket drawers, and a great brawny leg, which would tear them, of course, and then off they go, and he must have another pair, which, with considerable trouble, and with the assistance of the tailor be managed to get on; then his legs looked like well stuffed sausages. Another would try to get a narrow backed coat, over a pair of broad shoulders, when, away goes the back, and another twenty dollars out of the fool's pocket, and in this way these land pirates contrived to rob this crew. The next morning, these fellows who had tried on their toggery the night before, and who thought it was not worth while to take it off again, as they would in all probability go ashore next morning, exhibited a ludicrous appearance, their fine clothes were covered with vomit and sand from lying on deck; their new beavers jammed up into the shape of a cocked hat, and many quite sick from their night's debauch, and all over the birth deck, there were strewn the remains of puddings, half-gnawed chicken bones, broken bottles, and all kinds of filth.
The ship hanled into the wharf, in the afternoon, and all whose times were out, were allowed to go where they chose. As the money for paying off the ship had not been provided, nearly all went ashore leaving only about a dozen, who had a few weeks longer to serve; and among those was an old fellow named Tom Smith. A lieutenant ordered him to do something, and Smith being a little corned, refused, saying, 11 my time is out." The lieutenant knocked him down, and then kicked him on the head; and at one kick, the toe of his boot struck under his ear, tearing it from his head. I saw this noble act, and know the gentleman that performed it.