He told me many amusing anecdotes about hounds, some of which quite surprised me. He said, that when a hound showed any disposition to fawn, or as we would say, to be docile, he was immediately killed, no matter how valuable he was, for as soon as there was any perceptible relaxation of his savage nature, he was useless. He next obtained a situation as chief butler to a nobleman, who was so eccentric in his habits that he allowed do one but his wife to see him. No other eye had seen him for eighteen years; he made all his bargains and transacted all his business through a screen. He lived with this nobleman seven years, and as he had now nearly five hundred pounds in his possession, concluded to try something on his own hook.
There was at this time an auction sale of mattresses that had belonged to the English army; after the Battle of Waterloo these beds were ordered to be sold. They were stuffed with wool; he bought the lot, on which speculation he realized eight hundred pounds profit. He confessed that he was frequently intoxicated, and " now," said he, "the foundation of my fortune I attribute to a drunken freak. I had been drinking ail night with some friends, and was quite intoxicated when I left them. In the morning, on going home, passed a crowd of persons who were listening to an auctioneer. I stopped and bid something over the last, when the auctioneer knocked it off to me, and asked my name.
I was sober enough, however, to behave well, and to give my name and residence, not knowing what I had bought; and after reaching home and becoming cool enough to remember that I had purchased something at an auction, began to be alarmed, feeling certain that I had been cheated. " " While ruminating over what I supposed to be my folly, two gentlemen called upon me with a roll of papers as large round as my arm. I assure you I felt ashamed and considered myself ruined. The gentlemen began to congratulate me on my good purchase, and I soon ascertained the nature of my bargain; and the first payment took more than half of all that 1 owned.
" As it was getting late we went below. He finished his story by saying that the purchase was a lot of land containing about 22,000 feet, and I think he told me that he had paid one shilling sterling per foot, and that he had sold one small lot for ten shillings per foot; the residue was now worth thirty — would soon bring a guinea; and on the strength of this purchase, he had engaged in the lace business and had been very successful. But the poor fellow died in New Orleans, and that was the last of poor Tialo. One day the Boston gentleman was not at the dinner table in time to commence with us, so the captain sent the steward up to find him, when he came down, quite indignant that we should have began without him.
I knew what was coming and felt glad that an opportunity would soon offer when I could give vent to my feelings. I asked him why he was offended? " If you did not hear the bell it was not our fault; we heard it and came down, and when we found that you did not come, the captain sent the steward for you, and as far as I am concerned, don't consider your conduct or conversation has been such as to merit much attention on board an American ship. Your remarks in many instances have been highly derogatory to the character of an American citizen. Remember, sir, that neither you or any of your family are Americans, although born in Boston.
You have in that box the price of American blood: you have enjoyed all the benefits of a free country, while that box contains the reward of a dastardly opposition, when our country was struggling for freedom! I am a passenger with yourself, and know my position too well to make any trouble on board this ship; but if ever we meet on shore, I may remind you of your sneering epithets during this passage. " We arrived in Boston, Oct. 4th, 1830, in thirty-eight days from Liverpool. On our passage, an accident occurred which resulted rather differently from what any one would suppose. Two men went aloft to send down the main-royal yard, as it looked very much like a blow, and the captain wished to have everything snug before night.
The men had just got upon the yard when the ship gave a heavy roll and away went the royal-mast, yard and all, and the two men came tumbling down; one went overboard clear of everything, and the other came down head foremost through the mainsail, and was jammed in between the pumps. The man that went overboard fell flat upon the water but did not sink. I caught a coil of rope from the belaying pin and threw it over his head, and thus saved him. He was hauled on board, was quite black, and unable to speak; while he that fell on deck was hardly hurt, and in a few days went about his duty; the other was unable to leave his hammock during the passage. z