A VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD ON BOARD A MAN‑OF‑WAR

I went to school until I was thirteen. Then, at my own choice, I was apprenticed to the printing business. I was fond of reading, and printing seemed to me, therefore, a most delightful trade. But my constitution would not bear the confinement. Before I had been six months in the "office," I was weakly and puny, and was taking medicine for general debility. I became alarmed, as my friends thought I should become consumptive if I continued at my trade, and I began to cast about for some means to recruit my health. I had always had an absorbing desire to see somewhat of the great world, and the thought of doing this in the capacity of a sailor, pleased me exceedingly, and soon took entire possession of my mind. Sleeping or waking, I thought of nothing but the sea, ships, sailors, and the wonders of foreign lands.

So much for the cause which led me to choose the roving life of a sailor, or rather, for the reasons by which I sought to justify to myself the step I was about to take that of 11 running away" from home. I had very ill-defined notions of the new phase of existence in which I was about to embark. Sea novels and tales are delightful reading, but scarcely calculated to give one true views of the life they pretend to describe.

Having managed to save out of my earnings in the printing‑office the sum of five pounds, I thought myself amply provided with funds for an independent start in the world. After due consideration, therefore, of the step I was about to take, one bright September morning, in the year 18‑‑ 1 took my money in my pocket put two clean shirts and a pair of socks in a bundle, and engaged passage on a steamer about to start for Wheeling, in Virginia. From there I proceeded to Baltimore, which place I had determined upon as the one in which to make my first trial at obtaining a situation on board ship. Of my sensations upon finding myself actually leaving home it is not necessary here to speak, except to say that the feeling of satisfaction at being about to attain a cherished desire, drowned out all regrets.

At Baltimore, I spent the first day in wandering about the docks and quays, looking up at the vessels, watching the sailors hoisting in or out cargoes, or busy about their various other duties, and listening admiringly to the songs with which they enlivened their labours. I made choice, in my own mind, of a large vessel, from which were being landed crates and boxes, and which I therefrom took to be a China ship, as the one on board which I would on the morrow apply for a berth.

The next morning about eight o'clock I went on board my China ship, and, after looking about deck‑, a little, walked up to a gentleman whom I heard called captain, and making him my best bow, informed him that I was desirous of obtaining a place as cabin‑boy or sailorboy in his vessel) and asked him to give me 9, berth.

" Ship you, you little scamp!" said he; "not 1; we don't carry runaway boys. Clear out this minute, and don't let me see you about the ship again." And the captain pointed significantly to the gangway.

This was my first disappointment, and it was a severe one. I had pleased myself with the idea that I should get a place on that ship just for the asking, and had never contemplated the possibility of such a rebuff.

“But never mind," thought I to myself, 11 try again better luck next time.

But my better luck did not come that day. I walked about the quays all day, applying on. board nearly every vessel I could get on board of‑but no one wanted a boy. Some "had too many lazy boys already;" others "wouldn't give a boy I‑Lis Salt;" and others did not even allow me to state my business; but as soon as my head got fairly over the rail, ordered me back on shore with

"We want no lazy boys here."

Having made application on board nearly every vessel in the harbour, I thought of Philadelphia as the place where I would try next. I bad read of the kindness of 'the Quakers, and having heard Philadelphia called the 11 Quaker City," indulged the hope that there I should meet with a better reception, and should, perhaps, be able to induce some kind‑hearted captain to take me with

On examining into the condition of my finances, after paying my passage to Philadelphia, I found that I had but ten shillings remaining. My heart sank a little when I saw myself getting so near the end of my means.

‑After changing from boat to railroad, and back to another boat, we finally arrived at Philadelphia at four o'clock in the morning‑ As soon as it was broad day‑light I took my bundle in my hand, and went on shore. There were but few ships ranged along the wharves‑a fact which inspired me with a resolution to ‑seek work on shore for the present. Walking up Dock‑street, I espied a sign,

Daily Sun," and immediately under the board a notice, Boy wanted‑apply within." Without stopping to consider, I walked immediately up the front steps and into the office, and asked a gentleman there if he would please give me the situation which I saw by his notice was vacant. After questioning me concerning my whereabouts and my abilities, he, concluded to take me on trial, Promising MO a permanent situation if I proved trustworthy and competent. That evening I was inducted into my now post, which was that of 11 devil," or boy of all work. My labours lasted from six, p.m., until the time of going to press, generally about midnight, and this it was arranged should pay my board. To defray my other expenses, for clothing, &c. I was allowed to set type during the day‑time, and was shortly able to earn easily from eight to sixteen shillings per week.

My desire to become a sailor I confided to no one; yet it continued as strongly within me as ever, and I generally spent my Saturday afternoons (a holiday for the employees on a daily newspaper) down among the shipping, occasionally asking for a berth on board Vessels nearly ready for sea, but invariably without success. I was not discouraged, however, but determined to bide my time.

I soon became convinced that I should not be able to succeed in my desire of going to sea in a merchant vessel, unless I could enlist my new friends in my favour; for when I applied to the owner of a vessel, to whom I was one day shown, he at once refused to ship me because I was forced to acknowledge that I could bring neither parents nor guardian to him to engage me; and as I was a minor, I could not make an engagement myself. But when I hinted the matter to my friends, they were so unanimous and decided in their disapprobation, that I did not dare to push my entreaties with them.

About this time, a paragraph went the round of the press, to the effect that the United States ship C‑‑ of seventy‑four guns, had just been put in commission, under the command of Commodore R‑‑, and would shortly proceed on a voyage to China and Japan, making a stay of some time in the East Indian seas, and finally returning home by way of Cape Horn, thus circumnavigating the globe; and, furthermore, that the naval rendezvous were at that time shipping hands for this vessel. I determined within myself that such a cLuce, should not be lost by me.

I immediately proceeded to the naval rendezvous, and made application to Ship, but was told that they were not yet prepared to ship boys. Calling a few days afterward. I was informed that a sufficient number of boys were already enlisted. This was a severe blow to my eager hopes.

Baffled but not disheartened, and more determined than ever not to be overcome this time I set my wits to work to consider the next step; but I was completely at a loss' and finally' in my extremity frankly laid my case before the recruiting officer. After listening patiently to my short story, he said gruffly

"Well, I can’t do anything for you. You're too late, and we couldn't 'hip you now, even if your folks were willing, without YOU got a special order from Commodore Elliott."

This suggested to me a new idea, which I immediately proceeded to carry out. The editor of the " Sun " newspaper, upon which I had so fortunately obtained a situation, Mr. Lewis C. Levin, was an intimate political and personal friend of Commodore Elliott, at that time commandant of the Navy Yard, and I felt certain that the latter would not hesitate to grant any request of Mr. Levin, whom, therefore, I determined to bring to my assistance. Part of my daily duty was to carry to his house proof‑sheets of his articles for his final revision. I took occasion one day when he was in a good humour to lay my case before him, telling him briefly that I entertained a very strong desire to go to sea; that the United States ship C‑‑‑ was about to sail on just such a voyage as I desired to go, but that the written permission of Commodore Elliott was needed, to make my enlistment practicable. I finally asked him, as a very great favour, to give me a few lines to the Commodore, stating to the latter that I was not an apprentice to the office and asking his intervention in my behalf Mr. Levin, who knew nothing of me beyond the fact that I was the office boy who brought his editorial articles after a little consideration, wrote me a few lines, as follows:­

"Dear Commodore,‑The bearer, our office boy, or, devil,' desires to go to China in the United States ship C‑‑‑ He says, that in order to do this, it is necessary to obtain your permission. ‑Please give him a hearing

 I made no delay in bringing myself under the notice of Commodore Elliott. He was frequently at our office, and it was only a day or two after I received Mr. Levin's note, that I found him alone in the ‑'sanctum " when I brought in the morning Papers. Handing hi ' in the papers I took the same opportunity to put the note into his band. After deliberately reading it over, he turned to me and said ‑

  ‑ You young scoundrel, you want to ruin yourself do  you? You want to go a to sea.  Haven't you a father or  mother?" "No, Sir." ; "No guardian?"  "No, sir."  "'What do you do here?" "I am errand‑boy   . ‑and also  set type, sir.'' " Why do you want to go to sea? " I want to see the world. "You want to be a fool!

You ought to' be sent,‑ to the house of correction.  The commodore turned to his papers with an air as  though he thought he had settled that matter, while I  stood silently by, his chair waiting for a final answer.  Seeing that 'I made no move to go away, he finally said  to me, but in a kinder tone of voice:­   "Look here, my lad; take my advice: get this crazy  notion out of your head; learn your trade; study your books; continue a good boy, and you will grow up to be a  useful man. It you go to sea, you will be nothing all  your life but a vagabond, drunken sailor‑‑a dog for every  one to kick." Then, getting up to leave he added:  Now, think of what I have said you don't want to  become a dirty, ~ drunken old sailor‑a miserable fellow  who can't 'be admitted, into any decent society. Stay i   in  your place, and be contented to let those who are bigger  fools go to sea. Look at me,'; ~ I ‑have been in the navy  all my life, and an officer, which is more than you would  ever get to be; but see what a miserable old hulk I am.  Boy, if I had a dozen sons, I would see them all in their  graves, sooner than at sea."  With these words he went 'out of "the room, leaving  me disappointed and downcast, but, I was too thoroughly 0  determined not* to be Put off by one denial. Waiting two  or three days, I waylaid the commodore, and told him, that  after considering upon all ‑ he had said to me, I was still  inclined seaward a, strongly as ever ; and therefore  requested him to write for in, the few necessary words to

the recruiting officer. So saying, I laid before him paper Pad pen, and put on my most beseeching look.

Confound the boy," said he; "I suppose I shall have to do what he wants."

He wrote: "Officer of the naval rendezvous, will ship the bearer‑‑a boy.‑‑Com. C. Elliott," and threw it to me. I thanked him, and took the nearest way to the rendezvous, determined to lose no time in testing the efficiency of my "permit." The shipping officer was standing at the office door as I came up, and at the sight of my rather too well‑known face turned impatiently into the room. I followed him in. He looked round, and said pettishly

"Boy, I've told you a dozen times that we can't ship you. Go away, and don't let me see you any more."

In reply to this, I quietly handed to him the note from the commodore. He looked at it, then at me; then Ids whole manner changed.

"This note alters the case, my lad," said he.” So your father is acquainted with Commodore Elliott I" And without stopping for an answer, he rapidly continued: "I should think some one would have come down with you, to see you sign the articles; but, I suppose, they just gave you the commodore's note, eh ? I mechanically said Yes."

The articles of agreement were read over to me in a monotonous drawl; and I was asked if I, of my own free will, did propose to sign them‑‑a question which, in my ignorance, I considered highly superfluous, seeing that I had been at so much pains to obtain the chance so to do. At the tinkling of a small bell, I was requested to walk into an adjoining room, where a naval doctor examined into the stoutness of my frame and lungs, and the general soundness of my constitution a report, in lead pencil, of the result was placed in my hands, which I rendered up to the man of the drawl, who expressed his satisfaction thereat; and told me to "touch the pen," while he very ingeniously wrote ray name for me‑‑a matter that I could have performed much more satisfactorily and legibly myself

I was thereupon asked, "when I would go on board." I answered, "immediately;" received a paper certifying that 1, ‑, was shipped on that day, as first‑class boy, for general service in the Navy of the United States; was placed under the care of a rascally‑‑looking Jew slopseller, who, looking at me twice, picked me out a small bag of clothing; was then stowed, together with the bag of clothing and a bundle of straw, into a furniture‑cart, which drove down to the navy yard, and in less than half an hour after speaking to the old commodore, found myself on board the U. S. Receiving Ship experiment lying off the navy yard, Philadelphia '