DIARY OF CAPTAIN LAMSON 187 



I asked him if he had examined my papers ; 

 he replied he believed he should send me to 

 England. I replied, "If you do I have good 

 friends there." He did not like my laconic 

 reply. He says, "You may walk on deck," 

 so I told him I was obliged to him for his 

 politeness. Being nearly eight, the ward 

 room officers (who were perfect gentlemen) 

 invited me below to supper and refresh- 

 ment, and gave up their accommodations 

 for me and treated me with the greatest 

 urbanity. 



I passed the night on board as comfort- 

 able as circumstances would admit, and in 

 the morning I called on his Lordship for 

 his determination. He replied that he 

 should send me to England. I told him that 

 he had better have a survey on my ship and 

 look at her shattered state, before he en- 

 acted a useless order. 



He sent on board his boatswain and car- 

 penter who made a report to suit his Lord- 

 ship's views when they came back. I told 

 them their report was incorrect, they did 



