Sentence of court-martial carried into effect at Algiers, — Visited by Algerine officials, — Sail from Algiers, — Cruise on the Barbarv Coast, — Death of Lieut. Elliot, — Return to Mahon, — Christmas at Mahon, — Double allowance of grog, — Fighting, — Remarkable English boxer, — Trouble on the berth deck, — Orders to prepare for home, — Ship ready, — Good men taken out, — Convicts and hospital rangers in their stead, — Leave Port Mahon for Malaga,— Sail for Gibraltar and Cadiz, — Sail from Cadiz for Annapolis, — First part of the passage pleasant,— Latter part continued gales, — Poor crew,— Arrive on the coast, — Fall in with wrecks, — Make Cape Henry, — Take a Pilot, — Get lost, — Go back to Cape Henry, — Take a new departure. — Arrive at Annapolis, — Came near killing a nigger, — Was very sorry, — Made it all up with him, — Sailed for Norfolk, and for New York, — Arrive at the Navy Yard, — Deprived of their money, — Ludicrous scene on the birth deck, — Cruelty to Tom Smith, — Sailors in jail for debt, — Scheme of a midshipman to obtain leave of absence, — Obtain leave of absence, — Return to Boston, — Receive orders to join my ship again, — Not liking her destination apply for orders to Charlestown, — Wishes complied with, — Dissatisfied, — Obtain a furlough for a voyage to India, — Join my ship, and prepare for the voyage, — Missionary passengers, — Sail for Bombay, — Man overboard,— Was saved — Turned out to be a great rascal, — Commence calking the deck, — Trouble with the Missionaries,— Villany of the captain, — Cruel treatment of a female passenger,— Make Ceylon, — Natives come off to the ship, — Pleasant sailing up the coast of Malabar, — Visit of the natives, — Speak a ship with dogs.
While our fleet were at Algiers, the sentence of a courtmartial was carried into effect upon a man who was convicted of cowardice and desertion, and exciting others to follow his example. The following are the particulars of the charges, and of the transactions: It appeared that while the Washington, 74, was lying at Marseilles, that she took iire in the hold from the accidental dropping of a candle from a lantern. The alarm spread through the ship that she was on fire below! It also appeared in evidence, that upon the alarm spreading among the seamen,, and when the firemen were called, that this man sprung forward upon the forecastle, singing out, " now is your time boys, get ashore before she blows up," and jumped overboard, but was caught before he reached the shore.
This was the ground of the charges against him. The court adjudged the following sentence, viz: that he should receive a certain number of lashes at the gangway of the Washington; and be shown through the fleet, in a suitable boat, in which there should be erected a gallows; with a halter around his neck and a white cap on his head, on which should appear, in large letters, the word Coward. According to sentence he was carried along-side each ship, the crews of which had previously been called to witness punishment. After this he was turned out of the ship, and sent on board the Constellation Frigate. I saw this young man several times afterwards, and he appeared to be a very clever fellow, having had no bad intentions, but was evidently frightened.
We left Algiers and sailed for Mahon. and after fixing up a little, sailed again on a cruise, first visiting Algiers. This time we ran in very close to the batteries, and being a single ship, of course the Dey could not be afraid of us. Our consul came off, attended by several Algerine officials who had expressed a wish to see the inside of an American ship-of-war. We were very politely treated, and our consul had also been well treated since we were there last. We found it neccessary to vist these chaps pretty often, well knowing their perfidious and treacherous character. During this cruise, we were called to mourn the loss and perform the last duties towards a worthy and meritorious officer, Lieutenant William Elliot.
He was sick but a few days, and left us for another and I hope, a better world, and with appropriate ceremony we committed his body to the deep. Perhaps the reader may never have witnessed a burial at sea, and as I have alway looked upon it as solemn and impressive. The ceremony differs somewhat between that of a merchant ship, and a man-of-war. On board the former the ceremony is quite simple, seldom having any formality, but in all cases the body is properly sewed up in canvas, and a sufficient weight attached to sink it. When a death occurs on board a man-of-war, the body is brought from the sick bay and laid in some convenient place on the after-part of the gun deck, and over which is placed the national flag.