DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70303#0201
SENT ON BOARD THE BRUNSWICK.
175
answers to his Lordship’s questions were founded on the
hardships I had experienced, and in no shape framed to
deceive. This statement joined no doubt to the French-
men’s declaring my unwillingness to act in defence of the
lugger, with the beating I had a little before experienced
from Le Sage, gained me a favourable dismissal from
Lord Howe, and served as a passport to a situation on
board one of the ships in his Lordship’s fleet, on board of
which I was immediately sent.
Elated with joy on beholding myself placed once more
among my countrymen; as, after my examination before
Lord Howe, I was stationed on board the Brunswick,
Captain John Hervey, where the story of my adventures,
with the hardships I had suffered, gained me among the
seamen as many friends as hearers, particularly for those
I had undergone while on board the Frenchman. Our
object in this cruise was to seek the fleet of the enemy, and
bring on an engagement. The service allotted me, was
to serve at the second gun on the quarter deck, and hand
cartridge to the men ; or, to speak in the seaman’s phrase,
to act in the capacity of powder monkey. I had not however
been long on board before Captain Hervey, observing my
cleanliness and manner different from many lads on board,
called me to him, and questioned me as to my friends,
and whether I had not run away from some school, to try
the sea : finding by my answers I had been better brought
up and educated than most in my present situation, he
observed, if I would consider him as a confidential friend,
and tell him the whole truth, I should find a protector in
him, as he had children of his own, and could not tell
what hardships they might encounter if he was dead ; on
which I told him I had neither father nor mother living,
and that oppression from the person to whose care I was
entrusted, had first caused my quitting home; and that
in short, I was wholly destitute of any friend in the
world.
175
answers to his Lordship’s questions were founded on the
hardships I had experienced, and in no shape framed to
deceive. This statement joined no doubt to the French-
men’s declaring my unwillingness to act in defence of the
lugger, with the beating I had a little before experienced
from Le Sage, gained me a favourable dismissal from
Lord Howe, and served as a passport to a situation on
board one of the ships in his Lordship’s fleet, on board of
which I was immediately sent.
Elated with joy on beholding myself placed once more
among my countrymen; as, after my examination before
Lord Howe, I was stationed on board the Brunswick,
Captain John Hervey, where the story of my adventures,
with the hardships I had suffered, gained me among the
seamen as many friends as hearers, particularly for those
I had undergone while on board the Frenchman. Our
object in this cruise was to seek the fleet of the enemy, and
bring on an engagement. The service allotted me, was
to serve at the second gun on the quarter deck, and hand
cartridge to the men ; or, to speak in the seaman’s phrase,
to act in the capacity of powder monkey. I had not however
been long on board before Captain Hervey, observing my
cleanliness and manner different from many lads on board,
called me to him, and questioned me as to my friends,
and whether I had not run away from some school, to try
the sea : finding by my answers I had been better brought
up and educated than most in my present situation, he
observed, if I would consider him as a confidential friend,
and tell him the whole truth, I should find a protector in
him, as he had children of his own, and could not tell
what hardships they might encounter if he was dead ; on
which I told him I had neither father nor mother living,
and that oppression from the person to whose care I was
entrusted, had first caused my quitting home; and that
in short, I was wholly destitute of any friend in the
world.