get off, but both boats were swamped, and two
of the Deal men, belonging to the boats, were
drowned. Now, here I was on shore in a
heavy gale of wind, and my poor shipmates
out there by themselves; for our captain,
as I told you before, was very poorly,
and had been so ever since we left Gibraltar;
and there were only three men and
two boys on board beside himself; but I
could not help them, if I had given a hundred
guineas.

I could not get a boat to take me on board
of the " Jane Ellen." When I found that
none of the boats could go off with me, I
went to Lloyd's Agents, and acquainted them
how I was situated, for I knew that the brig
and cargo were insured; but they told me
that I must content myself till the weather
moderated, and they would take care to send
me on board as soon as possible. But as night
came on, the  gale was still increasing, and
there were no hopes of me getting on board
that night. But I could not sleep, though
several people offered me a bed, and I stayed
on the beach till day-light next morning. But
it was still blowing very hard, but the weather
was clearer, and we could see no vessel in the
Downs, only one large ship, and that was a
man-of-war, and the poor "Jane Ellen " was
nowhere to be seen. What to do, or what
to think, I did not know; but I concluded that
the brig was lost, and all hands perished. I
went to Lloyd's Agents again, and asked them
what they thought of it? They told me that
they expected she was lost; and they told
me that I ought to think myself very lucky
that I was on shore out of her; but still, the
captain of the brig was to blame to send any
of his crew on shore out of the ship, while
she was lying in an open roadstead, and
especially this time of the year; and that was
all the satisfaction I could get from them.
Now I was on shore, but scarce any money in
my pocket; for I had nearly been two years
in this brig, and had no occasion to draw any
money from the captain; for, when I joined
her, I had my pay from the " Friendship " to
fit me out, and I had money on board, beside
my clothes. But here I was hove upon the
wide world once more; and I stayed in Deal
for one week, to try if I could hear anything
concerning the " Jane Ellen; " but hearing
nothing by New Year's Day, I intended to
travel up to London, and go and see if my son
was alive or not. Now, all the money I had
in my pocket when I started from Deal, which
is seventy-two miles from London, was three
shillings and sixpence; and it was bitter cold
weather, for I started from Deal on the 2nd
day of January, 1825; and, thanks be to God
and good friends, I arrived in London on the
6th of the month; and tired enough I was;
and all the money that I had left was two-pence.
I had middling good clothes on my
back, and I went to Mr. Mellish to inquire
after my son; and when I told Mr. Mellish of
my new misfortune, he told me that I was a
wonderful man. But when I asked him
concerning my son, he told me that he was
married to his housekeeper, and that they
were doing very well; and that he had
paid the sixty pounds to my son, according
to my wish. I thanked him very kindly, and
he told me that my son, in coming home in
the " Seringapatam," had the misfortune to
fall out of the main-top and broke his left
arm, and it not being properly set, he had
partly lost the use of it; and when he came
home, having a very good character, Mr.
Mellish made him wharfinger at his wharf,
and after a little time he got married.

I told Mellish how I was situated in
regard to money, and he was kind enough to
give me five pounds; and he told me, that if my
circumstances would ever allow me to pay
him I might, but he should never ask me for
it. I thanked him very kindly for it, and I
asked him if he would be kind enough to send
for my son, which he did; and when my son
came in, he was quite surprised at seeing me,
and he and I went home to his house. And
when I came to tell him how I was situated,
he called his wife in, and told her that I
should have to stay along with them a few
days, and that I was his father; but I could
see by the first appearance of her actions that
I was an unwelcome guest, for she said she
did not know how to make room for me. I
told my son; " Francis," said I, " seemingly
your wife, whom I thought to embrace as a
daughter, is not agreeable for me to stay
here." Give me a few shillings, so that I
can go and get a lodging somewhere for
the night; " for I did not let him know
that Mr. Mellish had given me five pounds.
He told me he would try what he could
do, and away he went; and I heard him
and his wife having very high words outside
of the room, and between other words
that passed, I heard her calling me a beggar.
My temper at that present time could not
stand that, and I got up and went out, and
wished them a good night, and I left the
house, and I have never seen her since; and
away I went down to Tooley Street, in the
Borough, and there I got a lodging.

In a few days I got pretty well round again,
and I went to Lloyd's Office to report the loss
of my brig, and likewise to see if I could
recover any of my wages; for I was sent on
shore on duty, and certainly I ought to be
entitled to my wages to the time we sailed
from the last port; and they told me that as
I gave in my claim for wages due to me for
the " Jane Ellen," that as soon as they had
returns from Sierra Leone, they would pay
me what was due to me. Now, I knew well
enough that it might be five or six months
before they got any returns from Sierra Leone.
I went to Mr. Mellish and acquainted him
with it, and the next day he went along with
me, and I empowered Mr. Mellish to receive
any money that might be due to me from the
"Jane Ellen; " and Mr. Mellish told me that