DIARY OF CAPTAIN LAMSON 175 



Monday I proceeded to Boston and settled 

 up all concerns relative to the voyage and 

 returned home on Wednesday. 



I shortly looked up a voyage and shipped 

 on board the ship Wells 1 of Salem, Ezra 

 Smith master, as a light hand. On the day 

 of sailing, our chief officer was taken sick 

 and the second officer promoted chief, and 

 I was made second mate, and for the first 

 time, then seventeen or eighteen years old, 

 paraded the quarter deck. How trifling 

 some of my relations may appear, yet an ob- 

 serving man or a man fond of discipline on 

 board his vessel will see their importance. 

 My having been as a boy with the crew, 

 and they able seamen, for several days they 

 naturally thought they had a chicken to 

 pick, and, as I reflected on all the disad- 

 vantages attending me, I came to the reso- 

 lution to check the first liberty taken ; and 

 off Baker's Island, not two hours out, one 

 of the oldest seamen contradicted me in an 

 abrupt manner and significantly ; but I first 



1 Ship "Wells," 205 tons, William Gray, owner. 



